Birmingham FC – CaughtOffside

21-year-old won’t play for Leeds United again

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:11:33 +0000

Leeds United are continuing to fly high under Daniel Farke in 2023/24.

In many respects the current international break has come at precisely the wrong time for the all whites, for they were really building up some momentum beforehand.

Daniel Farke will surely be hoping that another mid-season mini-hiatus doesn’t knock his side out of their stride.

Picking up points in most games has seen them move to within touching distance of Championship leaders, Leicester City and Ipswich Town, both of whom are on 39 points, just eight ahead of Leeds.

At this early stage of the season, that’s a gap that can certainly be bridged over the coming few months.

One player that won’t be involved in that particular promotion race in any way, shape or form is 21-year-old star, Cody Drameh.

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The player is currently on loan at Birmingham City, and Phil Hay, writing in The Athletic (subscription required), has noted that he has no intention of ever playing for Leeds again in the future.

Farke is unlikely to be best pleased by such a decision, however, he’s shown that he’s more than able to cope with whatever challenges have been put in his way this season.

After such upheaval in the summer transfer window, things were only ever going to get better, and Leeds, despite any disappointment, need to treat this as just another bump in the road to success.

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“My release was alcohol” – Wayne Rooney opens up on pressure of Man United move

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:04:03 +0000

Current Birmingham City manager, Wayne Rooney, has spent his entire career in the spotlight, and the now 38-year-old has opened up on the toll that it’s taken on him.

Rooney burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old at Everton, scoring the winning goal against Arsenal after coming on as a substitute back in 2002.

The way he ‘announced’ himself to the wider footballing public was symptomatic of his career at every stage.

Anything he did, everywhere he went, whose company he kept… it would all be scrutinised. Never more so than when he joined Man United as a 20-year-old.

His star continued to rise whilst at the Red Devils but, it seems, at a personal cost to him at the time.

“My release was alcohol when I was in my early 20s. I’d go home, and spend a couple of days at home and not leave the house,” he said on The Total Sport Podcast with Rob Burrow.

“I’d drink almost until I’d pass out. I didn’t want to be around people, because sometimes you feel embarrassed. Sometimes you feel like you’ve let people down and ultimately I didn’t know how else to deal with it.

“When you don’t take the help and guidance of others, you can be really in a low place, and I was for a few years with that.”

Making headlines for both the right and wrong reasons had been a feature of Rooney’s career, but to hear how low he felt from the horses mouth places a different spin on the narrative.

Now older and wiser, there’s no suggestion that Rooney still finds solace in the bottom of a beer glass, and indeed, it seems that he’s more than happy to pass on words of wisdom to others who may be treading the same path as he once did.

“Thankfully, now I’m not afraid to go and speak to people about issues,” Rooney added.

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“Desperate” – The reason why Jude Bellingham didn’t end up in the blue of Chelsea

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 06:39:13 +0000

If things had worked out differently, Jude Bellingham would’ve been wearing the blue shirt of Chelsea today rather than the white of Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

Still just 20 years of age, the England international has proven his immense worth to club and country over the past few months, and has started his Madrid career in spectacular style.

After just 14 games, he has 13 goals and three assists, per WhoScored, including two to win the recent Clasico against Barcelona.

So much so that his rise over the past year or so has seen him become the deserved winner of the Kopa Trophy, given to the best young player in the world.

How Chelsea’s board must be kicking themselves now given that in 2019, when Frank Lampard was first in charge, the west Londoners could’ve signed Bellingham from Birmingham City.

Then a 16-year-old without a senior appearance to his name, it was perhaps understandable why the Blues wouldn’t commit a £20m fee to get a deal over the line, however, Lampard’s intentions were clear.

“When I was managing at Chelsea I was desperate to bring Jude Bellingham in,” he told the Obi One Podcast.

“But I couldn’t get it through upstairs – the idea of paying £20m for someone his age…”

Football is littered with ‘what might’ve been’ tales, and if Bellingham continues on his upward trajectory, the Stamford Bridge outfit will surely be kicking themselves at the one that got away.

Whether he would’ve enjoyed quite the success at Chelsea that he’s subsequently had at Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid is something that will never be known.

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“Future captain of England” – Wayne Rooney’s high expectations for brilliant Bellingham

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 08:17:41 +0000

After another astonishing performance, Jude Bellingham received more plaudits not least from former England great, Wayne Rooney.

The 20-year-old ran the show against Italy for the Three Lions and helped them qualify for Euro 2024, and the levels he reached in the match left many purring.

It follows on from a series of man-of-the-match showings for current club, Real Madrid.

Despite the pressure of wearing Zinedine Zidane’s old number five shirt, Bellingham has taken to life in the Spanish capital like a duck to water.

Rooney, now captain of Bellingham’s first club, Birmingham City, is in complete awe, however, he did sound a note of caution.

“He’s on such a good run of form and what’s important is that when [his form dips] — and it will dip at some point — we don’t kill him and we get behind him and stick with him,” he was quoted as saying by The Telegraph (subscription required).

“It happens to all players and it will happen to Jude. We’ve seen it with Marcus [Rashford] and Raheem [Sterling] as well.

“Jude has got the potential to be one of, if not the best, if he carries on the way he is going, so I think we really have to support him because in my eyes he’s the future captain of England. We need to protect him and really look at him as the future of England.”

It’s pertinent to dwell on the fate that has befallen those players that have gone before the youngster.

One day they’re the best thing since sliced bread, the next they’re yesterday’s man. It’s the harsh realities of a footballer’s life, particularly when you consider that every aspect of a player’s character and skill set is now analysed to death by a multitude of broadcast media.

Bellingham, however, does appear to have an old head on your shoulders, and his trajectory from Birmingham to Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid doesn’t appear to have fazed him in the slightest.

He’ll certainly need to puff his chest out and walk tall when he starts to get the brickbats thrown at him rather than the plaudits.

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Video: Wayne Rooney admits to very surprising career choice before DC United opportunity

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:56:37 +0000

There’s very little that surprises you in football these days, but Wayne Rooney’s recent revelation may have done just that.

The new Birmingham City manager was facing the media ahead of the Championship fixture against Middlesbrough on Saturday, a match that brings him into direct competition with his old Man United team-mate, Michael Carrick.

After leaving Derby County, it seems that Rooney had a completely different career choice in mind before the DC United opportunity arose.

“I applied to do a degree in law,” he admitted to reporters. “[…] It’s something I’ve always been interested in.”

?? “I applied to do a degree in law. It’s something I’ve always been interested in.”

Wayne Rooney reveals he had a new venture in mind when he left Derby County.???? pic.twitter.com/MT3HIFGSyt

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 19, 2023

Pictures from Sky Sports via Football Daily

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Video: Eddie Hearn teases Wayne Rooney super fight at Old Trafford

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 20:57:48 +0000

Ever the showman, Eddie Hearn has teased a Wayne Rooney super fight at Old Trafford whilst speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast.

Sitting down with Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Roy Keane and Ian Wright, Hearn noted how current Birmingham City manager, Rooney, still messages him after a big fight.

Coming from a family of boxers, Rooney evidently fancies his chances in this age of crossover boxing where amateurs in the guise of YouTubers and content creators appear to be King.

Hearn teased a Rooney vs Jake Paul fight at Old Trafford, and one can only imagine the viewing figures, ticket sales and pay per view numbers if he was able to pull it off.

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Video: “Nearest thing to Gazza” – Sam Allardyce heaps pressure on Jude Bellingham

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:27:16 +0000

There’s no doubt that Jude Bellingham is enjoying the best of season’s in 2023/24.

At just 20 years of age the Real Madrid and England ace has the world at his feet, and he appears to be thriving under the responsibility.

From Birmingham to Borussia Dortmund to Los Blancos, the youngster has taken each step in his stride so far, and that’s undoubtedly what’s led Sam Allardyce to compare him with Paul Gascoigne.

It’s perhaps pressure that the player doesn’t need, though it’s difficult to argue with any of what ‘Big Sam’ espoused.

?? “The one man difference is massive today. He might be the nearest thing to Gazza we have seen.”

Sam Allardyce on Jude Bellingham. ? pic.twitter.com/jfCu1yoy0s

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 18, 2023

Pictures courtesy of Sky Sports via Football Daily

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Wayne Rooney eyeing up former England teammate as first Birmingham City signing

Sean Walker — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 18:28:11 +0000

Wayne Rooney is reportedly considering making a move for his former international teammate Jack Butland in the upcoming January window.

The Manchester United legend started his new job as Birmingham City manager on Wednesday, replacing John Eustace as head coach.

Currently 6th in the Championship, Rooney will aim to restore the Blues back to the Premier League and reportedly has his eyes fixed on a former teammate to help get him there.

According to the Sun, Butland is at the top of his transfer shortlist.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper only joined Rangers in the summer after his Crystal Palace contract expired but Rooney is keen on bringing him back to Birmingham.

Jack Butland

38-year-old former Premier League defender gets first international call up

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:53:20 +0000

It’s not often that there’s a heartwarming story to be told in football circles, but for one former Premier League defender, all of his dreams appear to have come true at the ripe old age of 38.

At one stage in his long career, which began in 2003 at Luton Town and still isn’t over in 2023 at Cheltenham Town, Curtis Davies would almost certainly have had aspirations to play for the England national team.

Unfortunately for the former West Brom, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Hull City and Derby County centre-back, a call-up for the senior side never materialised, and three U21 caps were all that he had to show for his troubles.

The very last thing he could’ve expected was a call up in a season that’s expected to be one of his last in the game, but that’s exactly what’s happened.

It will be a proud moment for me to pull on the shirt of The Leone Stars and make my family in Sierra Leone proud but most of all my dad. He did everything in his power to give me the best chance to become a footballer, so I dedicate this all to him. ??

— ?????? ?????? (@TheCurtisDavies) October 9, 2023

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Davies announced that he will be playing for Sierra Leone, the country of his father’s birth, in their upcoming friendly matches.

He’s able to do so because of having never appeared for the Three Lions at senior level. A similar situation occurred with Ryan Giggs who represented England at schoolboy level before changing his allegiances to Wales.

Even if these next games are the sum total of his international career, it’s clear from Davies’ posts just how proud he is.

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Birmingham City fan slams “atrocious” Wayne Rooney appointment and hopes his appointment fails

Connor Holden — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:29:56 +0000

A Birmingham fan on talkSPORT has given his opinion on the sacking of John Eustace stating it is “disgusting” and “atrocious”.

This Birmingham City fan was bemused at the sacking of Eustace, who couldn’t believe the decision to sack him when he had them in a playoff position. He went on to make the point that “John is too nice to be in football in my opinion” as he said Eustace had been walked over.

Later in the discussion, this Birmingham fan goes on to say that to a degree he hopes Wayne Rooney fails, and that the decision backfires on the Birmingham board due to the treatment of Eustace.

“I hope Rooney fails & it backfires!” ??

“The board don’t deserve success when they treat people like that. It’s disgusting!”

This #BCFC fan is absolutely ENRAGED after John Eustace’s controversial sacking. ? pic.twitter.com/8Wa2BVlCFv

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 10, 2023

Eustace who enjoyed a 19 year playing career, played for the likes of Coventry, Stoke, Watford and Derby County, making 422 appearances in his career across all his clubs.

Since moving into management, the 43-year-old has managed Kidderminster Harriers, has been the assistant and caretaker manager at QPR, the assistant for the Republic of Ireland and of course managed Birmingham City.

After leading Birmingham City into the playoff places at the start of this season, with five wins, three draws and only three losses, Eustace will surely get some attention from other clubs and get back into management in the near future.

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