Blues anti-climax of a 'finale' was the kind of stuff that gave going through the motions complacency and end of term apathy a really, really bad name.
Elsewhere, when Wigan Athletic plunged into crisis amid curious circumstances towards the tail end of the season, it meant that Barnsley, who would've gone down had it not been for the Latics punishment, finished just a solitary point behind Blues.
The 'behind closed doors' restart to the 2019-20 season, that had begun so promisingly with a hard-fought draw at the Hawthorns against Slaven Bilić's soon to be promoted West Bromwich Albion, turned into an unmitigated disaster, whereby they only picked up two more points, from unconvincing home draws against two of the relegated sides, namely Charlton and Hull City.
In actual fact, had it not been for Lukas Jutkiewicz's 93rd minute equaliser against Lee Bowyer's side in a dire game that finished 1-1 on Wednesday 15th July, then Birmingham might've been relegated instead of the Addicks on goal difference... while they also had to overturn a 0-2 half-time deficit in the 3-3 draw against bottom team Hull at the end of June.![]()
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Birmingham City need a new manager with a proven track record bringing in ASAP and then they must allow him to rebuild the squad sans any interference and influence from certain other people within the club.
In actual fact, had it not been for Lukas Jutkiewicz's 93rd minute equaliser against Lee Bowyer's side in a dire game that finished 1-1 on Wednesday 15th July, then Birmingham might've been relegated instead of the Addicks on goal difference... while they also had to overturn a 0-2 half-time deficit in the 3-3 draw against bottom team Hull at the end of June.
Some might say that both of these draws against other struggling sides showed a willingness to fight 'til the bitter end and a determination to dig deep to find the resourcefulness required to surmount all obstacles... hmm, some might.
Personally I'd be more inclined to ask what they were f*cking about at, getting dragged into such losing positions in those games in the first place... and don't even get me started as regards the rest of their below par July outings.
It became something of an horror show to endure having to watch the run-in to yet another year of underachievement and discontent at St. Andrew's, sans even the slightest of bijou traces of a coherent plan to get things moving in the right direction anytime soo...; coupled with a shameless lack of desire or inclination on the part of so many parties, to improve on such a lacklustre and disappointing showing.
It became something of an horror show to endure having to watch the run-in to yet another year of underachievement and discontent at St. Andrew's, sans even the slightest of bijou traces of a coherent plan to get things moving in the right direction anytime soo...; coupled with a shameless lack of desire or inclination on the part of so many parties, to improve on such a lacklustre and disappointing showing.
Effectively the club became a rudderless vessel off of the pitch, while a 16 year old (albeit a very talented and mature one) showing a level of composure, application, intelligence and commitment to the the cause that put the majority of his teammates to shame, was the only real positive to emerge on it.
One can only hope that some of the huge fee (AKA: money well spent) that Borussia Dortmund shelled out to secure the services of the 'Wunderkind', Jude Bellingham: will be invested wisely and used to steer Blues away from the stormy seas that lay in wait as the new season commences.
One can only hope that some of the huge fee (AKA: money well spent) that Borussia Dortmund shelled out to secure the services of the 'Wunderkind', Jude Bellingham: will be invested wisely and used to steer Blues away from the stormy seas that lay in wait as the new season commences.
But will that happen? Only time will tell and I'm not holding my breath in anticipation.
But KEEP RIGHT ON and the only way is up... hopefully.