Often Partisan

Cotterill injured, Jones Loaned Out.

Birmingham City have confirmed that David Cotterill will be missing for at least a month having picked up a knee injury in the game against Blackburn Rovers. The Welsh international was withdrawn from his international squad to face Netherlands this week due to injury but will now likely miss more time than first anticipated.

As infuriatingly inconsistent as Cotterill is at times, I think his injury is going to be a big blow – particularly as it’s currently listed as “at least a month”. It’s kinda worrying that the Blues don’t know exactly what is up and they won’t be able to get a better look until the swelling has gone down – which will take two to three weeks.

Cotts has been a big player for Blues, scoring 11 goals for the team since signing (2 this season) along with countless assists. He can be greedy, shooting when it looks like it would be better to cross but the reason he has scored so many is because he does take chances – and you can only score goals if you’re prepared to take chances on shooting.

Gary Rowett said in his interview on Tom Ross’ show (on youtube here if you’ve missed it) that there was an opportunity to take a really good winger a few weeks back that the club passed on – purely as they felt that Viv Solomon-Otabor was worthy of his spot on the bench. With Cotterill now out for a period I wonder if this will change; although Solomon has done well in his cameos it’s a lot to ask a youngster to maintain that consistent form when just breaking into the team.

Although we have missed Cotterill I think Jacques Maghoma has stepped up to the plate in recent weeks admirably. He’s a different kind of wideman to Cotterill; rather than using skill and trickery Maghoma is all about pace and power and I think when Blues employ the 4-3-3 style they have done in recent weeks Maghoma holds up the wide forward position well. This will be a good chance for the Congolese international to really make his mark at Blues, to show that he is worthy of a first team place and maybe to give Cotterill a bit of a push to show his mettle when he is back from injury.

In other news, Alex Jones has been loaned out until December 12 to National League side (Conference in old money) Grimsby Town. Jones has yet to make his first team bow for Blues and I think this move is to give him some first team opportunity, to help him understand where he needs to improve and give him a taste of matchday action. The loan cannot be recalled within 28 days and Jones has been given permission to play in the FA Cup and FA Trophy for Grimsby.

Interestingly, the only loanee Blues have not allowed to be cup-tied is Mitch Hancox; does this mean he is still somewhat in Gary Rowett’s plans?

I’ll be interested to see if Blues bring anyone in now; Richard Wilford of Radio WM hinted on twitter it’s a possibility in this break and I’ve been repeatedly assured the funding is there to bring in a decent loanee should Blues require it. Rowett did say that he felt he had adequate cover up front with just Donaldson and Brock-Madsen; whether he changes his mind we’ll see.

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18 Responses to “Cotterill injured, Jones Loaned Out.”

  • OllieBluenose says:

    Personally don’t think we’ve got adequate cover up front, but good to see that Rowett has faith in Brock-Madsen and, I suppose if we were to bring someone else in, it would seriously dent the confidence of both Nikolai and the likes of Wes Thomas and Novak.

    One thing I would say though – and I don’t think I’m the only one saying it – is that we should be being a bit more aggressive at home, particularly against the lesser teams. There’s nothing wrong with having an extra man in midfield if we’re against a top team who like to play possession, but at home, if we go behind, teams will just do to us what we do so well to them: sit back and counter.

    Unless I’m mistaken, we’ve only come from behind to win once this season and that was against QPR. I think that going out, being more aggressive with the aim of going 1 or 2 up and then, later on in the game when they’re chasing it, going 4-5-1 and countering would not only really, really suit us but may see us see off those lesser teams at home.

  • Steve says:

    If Cotterill is out for a few weeks maybe someone who can fill in there plus i also 5hink he may be looking at another central midfielder as he hasn’t showed any faith in Reece Brown yet.

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    You won’t see Novak or Thomas playing for us again

  • rhees says:

    Garry did say on youtube vid he had the opportunity to strengthen in the international breal

  • Dave Mann says:

    Let’s hope he’s got someone or two in mind to replace cotterill because they would have to be very good to shift maghoma and I never thought ide be saying that at the start of the season.. If it’s the case then it don’t look good for a Brock or Lowry does it !! Kro

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I always knew you’d change your mind about Maghoma Dave, that’s why I kept asking your opinion. I had every faith in him and knew he’d come good given a run. :)

      As for players coming in, as I said earlier, if they’re not 1st team ready, why bother? If they’re just going to warm the bench (ie B-M.. Lowry) we might as well seat a couple of the youngsters there instead. We might as well save our money, because with the limited funds we do have, we need VFM… and bench-warmers rarely are.

  • Ken says:

    Managers are always intentionally vague about injured players…I recall last season Morrison being out for 6 weeks when the original “indication” was 2 weeks. With signings / loanees I really wouldnt be at all surprised to see Tesche back….obv he’s been out since August when he broke his foot but if I recall correctly he’s in the final 12 months of his contract at Forest….

  • StaffsBlue says:

    One thing we do need, is to replace Cotterill’s dead-ball skills. A lot of our free kicks and corners in recent weeks have been abysmal (and that’s being kind.) Hancox, for me, is the best crosser of the ball at the club, followed by Cotterill, followed by.. no one. It’s a hole that needs filling imo.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Staffs, I’ve no problem admitting when I’ve misjudged a player and maybe maghoma was one of them .. I thought Koby would be a regular this season in the summer so here’s another one you can add to my misjudged list …. But looking at our dead ball situation maybe Toral or Gleeson can do free kicks and corners , as for crosses in the box your right , can’t think of anyone so maybe a left winger type who can also defend and get forward when possible putting pressure on Grounds at left back ? .. So maybe two in to take free kicks , corners and get crosses in the box , get that right and its premiership football next season .. Gary do your stuff and keep us going forward . Kro

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I still can’t understand why Hancox has never been tried on the left of midfield, he’d also be decent defensively, although I don’t think he’s a great defender. But supporting the left back, I think he’d be ideal. I remember him working well in tandem with Shane Ferguson for a while.

      • Shirley Blue says:

        You could put Hancox wide left midfield in a 4-4-2 or the left wing back in a 3-5-2. Don’t think he fits in GR’s preferred set ups ie. either 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3. He hasn’t allowed him to be cup tied because he is the only cover he has for Grounds not because he has any strong desire to play him. I think Hancox will be moving on when he is out of contract (end of the season?) and we will see another left back come in.

        • StaffsBlue says:

          I don’t think there’s much doubt that Hancox, along with Novak, Thomas, Duffy, Edgar and Johnstone will be shipped out at the end of the season.. before if possible. I just think it’s a shame that Hancox was never tried left midfield, because defensively, he’s never been good enough.

          But, he’s done well at Crawley, so best of luck to him.

          • Jazzzy786 says:

            I hope Johnstone is given a proper chance. He’s scored 6 goals for Morton on loan. For the u21s he scored regularly and was forging a great partnership with Jones. I think he would make a great number 10 as he comes across as very creative.

          • StaffsBlue says:

            I think we just have to face the fact, Jazzzy, that there are some players Rowett just doesn’t fancy. It’s best those players find a new club for their own good.

  • Dave Mann says:

    I think with Hancox being seen mixing it with the blues fans in the crowd and maybe is attitude being along side Browns then Rowett obviously doesent think he’s proffessional enough to trust and rely on ….. Just a thought . Kro

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Cotterill is an interesting player. He has great skills and great flaws. His skills are his dead ball threat from free kicks/ corners and his crossing at pace.
    His flaws are his tackling, lack of aggression and inconsistency of performance.
    These flaws are just as well for Blues, because if he hadn’t got them he would be a Premier League regular.


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