Birmingham City’s dream of back-to-back promotions is very much on.
Chris Davies’ Blues just keep moving up the Championship ladder, with the West Midlands giants now only two points off the coveted top six in the division, after overcoming a stern Leicester City test 2-1 at St. Andrew’s.
There will be some concerns from Birmingham fans, though, regarding first-team star Phil Neumann, with the forceful German centre-back having to come off towards the end of the contest with a visible knock. He battled well throughout, before limping off just after the hour mark.
Thankfully, Davies has deadline day recruit Jonathan Panzo, who he can throw into the heart of defence, if the ex-Hannover man is stricken with injury, with the Englishman surely keen to impress on his long-awaited return to the EFL.
What Panzo can offer Birmingham
It’s been some time now since Panzo was a regular in the EFL’s elite division, with his last spell in the league coming during the 2023/24 season for Cardiff City.
However, he only made five forgettable appearances for the Bluebirds in total, with his more long-lasting stint at Coventry City sticking out in the memory.
With the Sky Blues, Panzo would go on to make 32 appearances, with a goal and an assist falling into his lap when calling the CBS Arena home. Further winning 4.2 duels per league contest, and collecting 13 clean sheets overall, it’s clear why the 25-year-old was noted as being a “great asset” to possess by ex-Coventry boss Mark Robins.
Comfortable playing both in the heart of defence, or as a left-back, Panzo coming in on an initial six-month contract does look like shrewd business, with the number 27 offering Davies another body in the centre-back department, now Neumann could be pushed to the St. Andrew’s treatment room.
If he impresses and shows off his Coventry best once more, that six-month deal will no doubt be extended, with one experienced performer in the West Midlands surely fearful for his future now, on the contrary, if Panzo were to shine.
What Panzo’s arrival means for the Birmingham squad
Birmingham’s hunger to move up to the Premier League for the first time since relegation occurred at the end of the 2010/11 season will come at the expense of some of Davies’ troops.
Unfortunately, Jack Robinson may well fall victim to standards rising at St. Andrew’s, with the 32-year-old only just moving to Birmingham last summer from Sheffield United.
On the surface, this had all the makings of being a smart purchase, with Robinson exceptionally well-versed in what it takes to be a tough, battling defender in the second tier, having amassed 272 appearances at the punishing level with the likes of the Blades.
But he hasn’t been able to nail down a consistent starting spot under Davies’ fresh management style, with injury troubles plaguing his short stay so far and one too many up-and-down performances.
|
Robinson’s Birmingham numbers |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
Robinson |
|
Games played |
12 |
|
Wins |
3 |
|
Draws |
3 |
|
Losses |
6 |
|
Goals conceded |
24 |
|
Clean sheets |
1 |
|
Red cards |
2x |
Birmingham haven’t really felt Robinson’s absence since he pulled up with a hamstring concern against Cambridge United in the FA Cup, with the seasoned Championship defender only managing to collect one clean sheet from his 12 Blues appearances to date.
Moreover, instead of coming in and acting as a calm presence with plenty of know-how, he has often stood out for all the wrong reasons as a hot-headed figure, as seen in his two red cards.
Davies even said his first dismissal against Hull City, back in October, “ultimately cost us the opportunity to push on”, as the Tigers eventually ran out 3-2 victors, on a day where Robinson also scored a disastrous own-goal.
Since the Warrington-born defender has been out of the side through injury, Birmingham have further gone unbeaten in second-tier action, conceding just two goals from five clashes, with Davies surely more willing to try and add in fresh blood in the form of Panzo, over Robinson, potentially unsettling the Blues’ flow.
The 32-year-old will still likely feature when he’s back to full fitness, but with Neumann now settled in the Championship, and Panzo through the door, don’t expect Robinson to be one of Davies’ first names on the team sheet anytime soon.
Birmingham have struck gold on “monster” who is worth more than Priske
Birmingham City has already struck gold with this monster, who is worth more than brand-new signing August Priske.
