Birmingham’s troubles continue as pressure mounts on Karanka

Since Birmingham City’s monumental League Cup victory in 2011, the overall trajectory of the football club has gone downhill.

From having 13 different managers to scraping survival year-in year-out, Blues fans have pretty much seen it all. Remarkably, they are yet to plummet into the third tier for the first time since 1995.

Blues have clocked up just two wins in their last 13 matches, more than twice as many losses as wins and are positioned 23^rd in the table; relegation is looming over the West Midlands outfit with boss Aitor Karanka and co in deep, deep trouble.

The player recruitment has been dynamic over the last two windows with the club hiring Neil Etheridge, Ivan Sanchez, Scott Hogan, George Friend, Adam Clayton and Mikel San Jose last summer as well as Alen Halilovic, Sam Cosgrove, Keyendrah Simmonds, Leonardo Dos Reis, Yan Valery and Rekeem Harper in the most recent window. Despite the vast number of new arrivals, the team are integrating into the drop zone more and more.

Karanka’s management has been pretty difficult for Blues fans to comprehend. The Spaniard is unavoidably to blame at times. He has a habit of rushing into substitutions, Saturday’s loss to Luton a prime example when using all five substitutes by the 70th minute, as the 47-year-old continues to alter the starting XI every game and projects minimal optimism in post-match interviews.

The Blues boss’ pessimism often aggravates the fanbase, stating it will be “impossible” to avoid relegation from the second tier if his side continue to play so poorly.

The pandemic can inevitably be used as an excuse for football clubs, but the current climate is undeniably having a huge toll at St Andrew’s. Blues’ home ground is renowned for being ‘‘one of the most hostile places to come in the world’’, as stated by Sir Alex Ferguson, but sadly the cardboard cut-out replacements aren’t projecting the same antagonism.

Blues have the worst home record in the division, with just nine points from 15 matches. They went into Saturday’s game with just one victory in their previous 11 games. In the entire EFL in 2020/21, only Rochdale (one) have won less home games and Blues have encountered six goalless draws in the division.

It was imperative for them to put an end to a horrifying home record, but the defeat to Luton has done nothing to alleviate fears about the club’s turmoil.

The visitors’ opener epitomized Blues’ season so far. As Nathan Jones’ men celebrated, a glance into the Birmingham box displayed a scene of confusion. Bereft of responsibility, authority or communication, the Blues’ backline need to find some leadership, and fast.

Luton’s Harry Cornick launched a Rory Delap-esque throw-in into the box aiming for a flick-on. Blues captain Harlee Dean put in a tame effort to get above his marker, which made it a simple task for James Collins to bring the ball down and swing a left-boot at it.

Birmingham City’s player of the season so far, Neil Etheridge, pulled off a fine reaction stop originally, but you could have put a blanket over the amount of Blues players ball-watching within the same proximity. Full-back Daniel Potts scored his team’s seventh away goal of the campaign and it was undoubtedly his easiest effort of his career to secure the Hatters three points.

Birmingham boss Karanka spoke to BBC WM and was extremely sceptical post-match:

“It is impossible to believe and keep the faith. I was positive and strong over the way we played the last four games. But the way we played today it’s going to be difficult.

“It was really poor. It was difficult to understand how Luton, who had only six more points than us before the game, wanted to win more than us. We didn’t realise how important the game was.

“I don’t want to think that the players don’t realise what our situation is.

“It’s not an easy situation. But they have to work harder and today was the opposite.

“Every single corner was a chance for them as we didn’t defend as strongly as we should.”

Steering away from the action on the pitch, the motive behind Birmingham City’s depreciation has stemmed from decisions made behind the scenes. The ground is licensed to alternative owners and losses are hefty despite them cutting over the last few years.

On BBC WM, Blues CEO Ren Xuandong stated that three years ago the club lost £39 million, two years ago £22 million and last campaign around the region of £18 million. Despite the pandemic, which has caused issues for the vast majority of clubs, the losses for Blues this year is £6.7 million, which is pretty miniscule in the scheme of things. Regardless, if this correlation continues and things don’t change, the extent of administration may be on the horizon; and as we’ve seen with Wigan, Bolton and Bury, it would be simply devastating for a club of Birmingham City’s stature.

To personify the club’s problems, two of the biggest stands at St Andrew’s, ‘The KOP’ and ‘The Tilton’, failed to pass council safety guidelines this season, meaning they’re currently closed and are undertaking remedial work.

On a more positive note, the club’s development phases are flying. Blues’ under 18s and under 23s are in impeccable form in their respective leagues.

The 18s have won seven of their last eight matches and are at the top of the league. Steve Spooner’s under 23s picked up a fourth successive victory on Monday afternoon as they beat Barnsley 2-1. First year pro Tate Campbell assisted second-year scholar Amari Miller before getting on the scoresheet himself.

Off the pitch, the club have been striving for Category 1 status of the Academy. It’s been an aspiration of Birmingham’s for a while, but the club’s training ground hasn’t had the facilities to go ahead and do so. The dream is now becoming reality, with Blues investing £77,000 on floodlights for the 3G astroturf to meet the Category 1 protocols.

On the whole, Birmingham City have to start winning football matches. If Aitor Karanka doesn’t start picking up results in the forthcoming gameweeks and drag his side out of the drop, the board will have an easy decision to make.

It’s mandatory for Blues to get points on the board before it gets to the business end of the season, and for Karanka to maintain his role at a football club which will feel they should be challenging at the upper echelons of the division.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt