The cost of play-off failure

[ONEDUNME]

Written by someone over at http://www.letsbet.ie/forum/showthread.php?13092-The-Cost-of-Defeat

Interesting. I'd be interested to hear what the local view is (Swoops? Punter- you're not that far away are you?). It never occurred to me that Brum would do anything but push on and strive for the play-offs or better next season.

Any views?

The Cost of Defeat

As I watched the play-off semi final second leg between Birmingham FC and Blackpool, I was in awe of the effort Birmingham put in during the second half, and were it not for a wet ball slipping through Doyle's hands on the stroke of half time then, well who knows?

For Chris Hughton's team to have enough energy (considering the number of games they had to play) and talent (considering the fire sale pre season) to bring them within a squeak of promotion to the premier league is simply amazing in my opinion.

As the final whistle blew, I was penciling in a bet on Birmingham to win the championship next season and began wondering about prices, but as I thought it through I have to admit I've turned full circle.

What price Birmingham to be relegated?
I'm sure everyone has the full low down on what has happened to Birmingham since Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung took over, and everyone knows that Birmingham have had some financial issues leading to the sale of their best players last summer. It strikes me that news surrounding their financial issues has subsided of late, and with no new investment reported I can only assume that it has been a case of wait and see for Birmingham's creditors.
Wait and see if Birmingham can get promoted and the financial wind fall that would have come their way. From reports today it appears there was some mention of the financial difficulties in last night's match program.

In reality Birmingham could be starting next season with a 10 point deduction, Chris Hughton may well be on his way and paying players such as Zigic £50k a week will be a distant memory.
The remaining few players Birmingham actually own, will surely have to be sold and whatever manager is in charge will more than likely have to feed off other clubs and rely on the youth squad.

In my opinion The Blues may be on the same slippery slope as The Sky Blues.

I may be a little too pessimistic about Birmingham's future but I'll be an interested party when the prices are put up for next season.

It will be interesting in a morbid sort of way, to see how much last night's defeat will cost them, if anything.​

 

[Punter]

It could go that way for them i suppose.

Round this way there is a fair amount of support for the blues, not as much as Villa, but i do know a dozen or so blues fans that i speak to now and again. I'll keep my ears open and see what developes over the summer but personally i dont think they'd go down the same route as Coventry, even though bigger clubs have. Even with a 10pt penalty i'd expect them to survive. It's not quite a Portsmouth situation yet is it

It's a good post that could be proved right but my initial thoughts are the bookies would be onto this before they release the odds, i dont think there would be a value price up for relegation. When do bookies price up though?

I'll ask for thoughts when in company of blues fans.

 

[swooperman]

There was a lot of talk like this at the start of this season. I personally felt, supported by a fair few Blues fans, that to go straight back up would be a problem football wise. As good a job as Hughton has done, starting badly in the prem in the circumstances they could have been in could have seen Hughton sacked around november, being a disaster. i think if he stays that if they can give him support he will do well next season.
Your article has some valid points. There are rumours around here of their accounts about to be filed meaning the transfer embargo lifted? I dont see how Zigic can stay tbh, on that money he simply has to go, but for a very crap player he doesnt half score some important goals. Redmond looked good, he was the difference, spurring the comeback.
They were single figures to win it & finish bottom this season.