Twelve months ago, when we were trimming the staff to remove the big earners Ryan Woods appeared. Presumably he was cheaper than those on their way out, but was given a better deal than the one Stoke City or Millwall his loaners, could come up with.
A local lad, he expressed he was ‘Coming home’ and feeling that at Blues he could really,” set his roots down”.
Well, those roots have hardly touched the floor and he’s been whisked off to Hull City. He abandons his expensive home in Solihull, the most affluent town in the country, possibly, and will battle the cold, wind, sleet and rain as the North Sea laps around his latest luxury dwelling. Who would be a footballer?
Ryan was bought for a purpose and with the shape of the team frequently changing Woods found himself in and out of the team. This year, with all of last year’s midfield injured or returned to home base, Woods was given the major midfield role. He would play with solid support in James and Bacuna. Two games, 4 points and Ryan was suddenly the man. Midfield general able to feed the front runners and bring out wide men into the game.
Cardiff warm up
Suddenly, and almost as he warmed up for the Cardiff game he was gone. Replaced by a debuting teenager, things did not go well. A one-nil defeat at Cardiff, where we created very little, and had NO shots on target showed Woods’ value and was being missed. An improved performance against Watford, caused mainly of adding the pace of Williams got a point. 4 games gone 5 points. Bottom 6 form.
Its of course a very small sample but what worries me is we are forced, through financial restraints, to sell players and risk going from possible Play-off candidates to relegation possible overnight.
Got him at a snip
I’ve seen one or two comments whether Ryan was expendable or nothing to worry about losing but that really isn’t the point. The League’s top team wanted him. They got him at a cut rate price. Hull must be dancing in the street.
If the gales and rain are not restraining them. We are being picked to the bone. The beggars in the Bull Ring are like us in that they might get a tiny insult of a donation or told to move on as they are a nuisance.
My most favourite mantra says that we have to manage the situation that is, not what we hope it is. The fact is, we had to sell a senior player hoping we could find a replacement at a tenth of the price. That is not going to work. I trust John Eustace is about to receive some replacements.
We live in hope that the youngsters who have come in learn quickly and reach the standards we require. They will then want the kind of wages Woods and Deeney were on. If we can’t afford it the guys will want to leave and because of that the fees offered for them will be minimal. And so, the sickly cycle goes round and round.
The state of the ground, the catering, the Academy status, access to St Andrews, getting away from St Andrews, the age of the main stand matter little if we cannot get it right on the pitch. That is the coalface. That is where the money is made.
Monday 22nd August 6.30 its back……..
THE TILTON TALK SHOW
Is back.
Have your say MONDAY AUG 22th 2022
17 Replies to “The Blues Hokey Cokey – Players in and then out”
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After last week’s rant and questioning some of the character…
Absolutely agree with every word.
I bet Blues are hoping for the return of the YTS an 80’s scheme introduced by the government to get the youth into work. That paid £29.50 a week in your first year
I was on this for nine months to get into Banking. 36 years later I’m still in banking
Anyway thanks Mr Chairman for the insight as always.
When you’ve seen it, done it and own the right to tell it who are we to dispute it.
We may see it from younger eyes but the sad truth is every single word you’ve said is spot-on.
I wish it wasn’t
KRO 💙
he wasn’t a good player , average at best and moving him on is better all round, if we were selling to balance books then George Hall would have been sold as this is what we have done in the past, if you offered me Woods or Bielek i would take Bielek every time even with his history of injuries
Many of my main concerns are the comments coming from the manager who seems to just except what is going on. He says we just have to carry on, well I think that is just far too easy and he could say it isn’t ideal and will eventually damage the club terminally. I don’t understand how the present owners are selling of the clubs assets and the future owners do nothing.
do but he can speak
Woods sidewards and backwards player Gets overun because he is lightweight and slow Hull a top team ??? The one player we will not miss
An honest blog which is difficult to ignore.
I’m sure, in my opinion, that if John Eustace had any input into the transfer of Ryan Woods, he would have tried to avoid his transfer, simply because Blues have a very thin squad at present.
Hull is not that bad! Beverley is one of the best 10 town in the North (Times). Easily better than Solihull.
I’m not sure I agree with you about Ryan Woods. I didn’t rate him at all.
All true, but Blues are overrun with midfielders and since Che Adams left they haven’t addressed the real problem which is the forward line. We just don’t score enough.When was the last time (Luton last season excepted) when we had an easy win.So many matches won by the odd goal, hanging on in the last 10 minutes for 3 points.There must be a good League 1 striker that can step up to the mark. E.g. Ivan Toney.This would be the first priority for me.
Hull is a s**t hole and Beverley is not Hull – however Woods will be a miss because he was better than the rest of the rubbish that we are left with that’s not saying much though – we are relegation fodder with that team, that system, that set up everything about the club stinks the early season promise has sucked us in and we’re set for a long hard season I’m afraid – Richardson / Lopez deal doesn’t inspire me either if that goes ahead anyway- they’re probably more money than you and I but not enough to buy a Chinese ridden debt company – my football team – however KRO but that road is getting longer and harder and League One beckons if not worse I’m afraid
I agree with most of what you say, but you omit to mention Bielik, who is (reportedly) a better player than Woods, and will be replacing him soon. With Woods, Bielik, Gardner and 4 youngsters available, that area was looking over-loaded so an offer for Woods was easy to accept.
Very negative blog. Woods would have only been a bit part player and 5 points from 4 games is not bottom 6 form, it equates to 57-58 points for the season, but far too early to make any valid comment Kro
Not good player average at best, Beilek come in as replacement who is a better footballer, if it was about balancing books Hall would have gone for more money, ne et rated Woods
Woods was ok but sadly his best years were behind him, he was outstanding at Brentford but has lost his pace and gets caught in possession too much.Agree with everything else said although l think the Club has made a decision to emphasise on youth instead of going down the path of keep buying or loaning older players which was leading nowhere.We must and l emphasise must keep hold of our youngsters like Hall,Williams,James,Gordon and Bellingham to name a few and if we can get Bacuna playing consistently as well l am convinced we can get to the play offs this season if not next but if we keep selling our gems we will get nowhere fast.
The proof of our direction of travel will become much clearer if we sell Hall to Leeds or keep for the future.
With so many loans coming in and selling the senior players, it would seem that short term survival is the order of the day even at the higher risk of falling through the trap door.
Put pressure on Woods and he’s not that good
Hull is a s**t hole and Beverley is not Hull – however Woods will be a miss because he was better than the rest of the rubbish that we are left with that’s not saying much though – we are relegation fodder with that team, that system, that set up everything about the club stinks the early season promise has sucked us in and we’re set for a long hard season I’m afraid – Richardson / Lopez deal doesn’t inspire me either if that goes ahead anyway- they’re probably more money than you and I but not enough to buy a Chinese ridden debt company – my football team – however KRO but that road is getting longer and harder and League One beckons if not worse I’m afraid
Agree with much of that Watto – except :-
– I don’t believe we were ever anywhere near being play off contenders-
– the reality is that, until new owners come in and the whole structure and culture of the club is changed, we will continue to struggle. Objectively , until we get significant change we can only realistically expect to do about the same as last season – or maybe not even quite as well as that..
– I agree with other posters that Woods was not a particularly effective player for Blues. Worth his place in our side relative to the other options ? Yes certainly – but not that good.