Big Eck in line for big money
March 18th, 2010 by Mark McCaddenAlex McLeish must be the envy of his peers as he lines up for a fresh round of contract negotiations at Birmingham City. Given his record at St Andrew’s there would be few bosses in the English game in a stronger position than Big Eck.
His current deal expires at the end of next season but the former Scotland boss might as well strike while the iron is hot.
Few would have expected his Birmingham side to be anything other than relegation fodder this year after they nicked an automatic Premier spot on the last day of the 2008/09 campaign.
The performance of fourth-from-bottom Wolves, who finished seven points ahead of the Blues last season in the Championship, is more the style of promoted sides – with a few obvious exceptions.
In the five seasons prior to last year’s Championship, the majority of the promoted teams tended to struggle badly with the giant leap to the mega-money top-flight – with eight of the 15 going straight back down.
The ones who bucked the trend included a Kevin Doyle-inspired Reading, who followed up their 2005/06 promotion with an 8th place finish the following year in the Premier League.
West Ham and Wigan both went up in 2004/05 and they secured 9th and 10th spots respectively.
What could yet set McLeish’s Birmingham apart from the most successful promoted sides in recent seasons is their final points tally. When Reading and West Ham enjoyed bumper maiden seasons in the Premier League they did so by accumulating 55 points each.
With nine games remaining, including matches against Blackburn, Sunderland, Hull and Bolton, Birmingham have already collected 44 points and are incredibly just five points off neighbours Aston Villa, who harbour strong European ambitions.
So who could blame McLeish for sitting down with Brum owner Carson Yeung?
Next season is going to see pressure heaped on the Scot with Yeung set to bankroll him handsomely during the summer in his renewed quest to bring players like Aiden McGeady and Roman Pavluchenko to St Andrew’s.
Here’s how McLeish has been doing so far at Birmingham…
2007/08 (Premier League) – P 25, W 5, D 9, L 11
2008/09 (Championship) – P49, W 24, D 14, L 11
2009/10 (Premier League) – P 35, W 15, D 9 L 11
TOTAL – P 109, W 44, D 32, L 33
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As for Thursday’s bet, I fancy Lille to score at Anfield tonight so Liverpool will have to triumph by at least a scoreline of 3-1 (10/1) to progress.
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Categories: Soccer
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