Are Birmingham City players ready for the Championship return?

National World - LocalTV

A look at Blues and the attitude of their players.

Transcript

00:00Charlie, let's look at Birmingham City and Alex Cochrane specifically. I mean, he's a

00:07player who's again another versatile sort of cog in Chris Davies' plans. It seems like

00:13he's played a lot of players in multiple different positions throughout this campaign and really

00:17had a look at them for the future. I mean, obviously, you know, we've mentioned it looks

00:22like they're definitely going to be a championship club next season. What sort of impact has he

00:26had and what future has he got ahead? He's only obviously 24 years of age, plenty to play,

00:31plenty ahead of him. What sort of impact has he had at Birmingham City this season?

00:37I think he's really gone under the radar at Blues this season, Cochrane. He's played the second

00:42most minutes out of any player in that squad. Obviously, the goalkeepers have been in and out

00:46the team, who's first choice, who's second choice. So, even beating the goalkeepers,

00:50Christoph Klarer is the only man to play more in all competitions this season than Cochrane.

00:55The left back, of course, holding that position because of injury for Lee Buchanan at the start

01:00of the season and then another injury for Buchanan keeping out for the rest of the campaign.

01:04That does help, but he still had to step up. He still had to be consistent and spoke to Chris

01:09Davies recently about Cochrane and just how consistent he's been in that position. He's been

01:13so impressed with how he's coped, not only 1v1 against some of League One's best wingers, but

01:19also just bombing down the left-hand side, crossing the ball into the box, changing and adapting

01:25when the system changes in matches, inverting inside into midfield to create an overload when

01:30needed. Cochrane has been able to do all of that. He's taken it in his stride. As you say, he's

01:34still 24. He's not quite in his prime years just yet. He didn't quite make it in English football

01:40at Brighton, obviously at Hearts in Scottish football for three years. That definitely

01:45helps, but a very different kettle of fish playing in the physical leagues in England.

01:49I think he's coped really well. I think we can see more from him. Whether Buchanan can take over

01:53that left-back spot in the Championship, I'm not sure. Cochrane has been so impressive and

01:58he might even be able to hold it down in the next division.

02:03Yeah, and obviously, as I mentioned there with the sort of question, the

02:07versatility of so many Blues players this season playing in and out of different positions. We

02:12mentioned Taylor Gardner-Hickman before as well. Do you feel that's a sustainable

02:16sort of play going forward in the Championship? Do you think it could massively benefit a few

02:21players and really help Blues in terms of those really tight games on a Tuesday night, for

02:25example, where you have to go away and get a win or you're at home and you want to

02:30shift something up because a lot of teams in the Championship are so hard to break down at times?

02:35Yeah, I think versatility is very important and we see that in all divisions. It's when you get

02:40those injuries racking up and you want a bit of consistency in a starting XI, you can call upon

02:44someone like a Taylor Gardner-Hickman to move to right-back or we've seen him on the left wing

02:49even recently, the complete opposite side of the pitch, he's able to fill in. Mark Leonard has

02:53played in attack midfield, he's played defence midfield, a bit of a utility player for Blues.

02:57Even Jay Stansfield, I mean, he's led the line at times, he's played on both flanks,

03:02even as a number 10. Lyndon Dykes, very much an out-and-out target man, centre-forward,

03:07has played as a number 10 at times to hold up the ball for Blues, knock on with headers and

03:12out to wide players. Keshie Anderson, someone who's really impressed me this year,

03:17he can play on either side. When enjoying Blues, he was more of a right winger, but

03:21I think his best performances recently have been as a number 10, getting in between the lines. So,

03:26yeah, as you say, it's very important, versatility. Chris Davies, in particular,

03:30loves having players who can play in multiple positions and that'll definitely put them in

03:34good stead in the Championship. And looking again at the defensive line,

03:40I mean, there's so many Blues players who have had a great season. Alphonse Samstedt, the low-knee,

03:46what do you sort of see from his future in terms of the summer and Blues' position on him? Is it

03:52likely to advance into a permanent move? And if so, how do you think he'll fare in the future for

03:57Blues? Yeah, so Samstedt, originally a loan deal, but he has confirmed himself in a recent press

04:03conference. He was like, should I be saying this, should I not? He revealed it anyway. He is joining

04:08Birmingham on a permanent deal next year. I think it's good to have depth at full-back in particular

04:12on the most strenuous positions, especially in Blues' high-tempo system.

04:16Ethan Laird is probably going to be the starting right-back going forward. We've mentioned Gardner

04:21Hickman in that position as well, but having someone like Samstedt sticking in and stepping

04:25up at the moment, at least in the last few matches, has been crucial for Blues and hopefully

04:29continue next season.

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