Black Country news and blogs Monday 27 January 2014
Often Partisan
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Blues
Swans Revenge? FA Cup 4th Round Preview 
Often Partisan 25 Jan 14
Blues host Michael Laudrup’s Swansea City in the fourth round of the FA Cup with the Swans eager to avenge a 3-1 defeat inflicted by Lee Clark’s men in the League Cup at St Andrews earlier this season.
Blues
Referee Watch – Neil Swarbrick
Often Partisan 25 Jan 14
Barring any late changes, Neil Swarbrick of Lancashire will be in the middle for Blues’ fourth round FA Cup tie against Swansea City at St Andrews today.
Blues
The Winning Habit
Often Partisan 24 Jan 14
Blues take on Premier League opposition in the FA Cup at the weekend when they face Swansea City for the second time in cup competition this season with the prize of a place in the last 16 up for grabs.
Blues
Overload
Often Partisan 23 Jan 14
Birmingham City completed the signing on loan of Albert Rusnak on Tuesday to bolster their attacking midfield options in the wake of Jesse Lingard’s non-return from Manchester United.
Blues
Albert Rusnak: The Next Loan Star?
Often Partisan 22 Jan 14
Birmingham City yesterday confirmed the youth loan signing of Albert Rusnak from Manchester City.
Blues
Negativity Monday
Often Partisan 20 Jan 14
If a defeat to Yeovil Town on Saturday wasn’t depressing enough, reading this morning that Southampton may be bought out by China’s richest man Wang Jianlin really stuck the boot in.
Blues
Faux Outrage
Often Partisan 19 Jan 14
Birmingham City slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Yeovil Town yesterday to continue a shocking run of home league form stretching back eight games and over three months.
Blues
Once, Twice, Third time against Yeovil: Match Preview
Often Partisan 18 Jan 14
Blues take on Yeovil Town for the third time this season as they look for their first home win in the League since the start of October.
Blues
Referee Watch – Fred Graham
Often Partisan 18 Jan 14
Barring any late changes, Fred Graham of Essex will be in the middle for Blues’ Championship clash with Yeovil Town at St Andrews today.
Blues
EGM Analysis
Often Partisan 17 Jan 14
Birmingham International Holdings yesterday announced to the stock market that there would be an EGM of shareholders on February 5 to gain approval of proposals to float additional shares, to place two convertible bonds and to novate the debt…
Blues
Birmingham International Holdings Announce EGM
Often Partisan 16 Jan 14
Birmingham International Holdings today announced that the much awaited EGM to gain shareholder approval for the new placing of shares and deed of novation will be held on February 5 The 84 page announcement details in full the proposals to…
Blues
Homophobia and Blues
Often Partisan 16 Jan 14
Two Birmingham City fans were ejected from the American Express Community Stadium on Saturday after stewards and safety officers were informed of their homophobic behaviour by other Blues fans in the away end.
Blues
More Reason to be Cheerful
Often Partisan 15 Jan 14
Birmingham City advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup last night with a 3-0 victory over League Two side Bristol Rovers.
Blues
Blues to Provide Home Cheer? Bristol Rovers FA Cup Preview
Often Partisan 14 Jan 14
Birmingham City finally get their FA Cup campaign underway with a third round home tie against Bristol Rovers with the prize being a fourth round home tie to Premier League side Swansea.
Blues
Referee Watch – Tony Harrington
Often Partisan 14 Jan 14
Barring any late changes, Tony Harrington of Cleveland will be in the middle for Blues’ FA Cup 3rd round clash with Bristol Rovers at St Andrews tonight.
Blues
Opportunities
Often Partisan 13 Jan 14
Blues saw their ten match unbeaten run come to an end at the weekend with defeat to playoff chasing Brighton and Hove Albion.
Blues
A Rejigged Defence: Brighton Preview
Often Partisan 11 Jan 14
Blues return after a ten day break to action with a trip to the south coast and Oscar Garcia’s high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion.
Blues
Referee Watch – Roger East
Often Partisan 11 Jan 14
Barring any late changes, Roger East of Wiltshire will be in the middle for Blues’ Championship game against Brighton at the Amex Stadium today.
Blues
Carson Yeung: Outcome of the Trial Will Not Affect Running of BIH
Often Partisan 10 Jan 14
Carson Yeung has told assembled shareholders of Birmingham International Holdings that the outcome of his trial on five counts of money laundering will have no effect on the operations of the company at the company’s AGM in Hong Kong today…
Blues
BIH Announce Another Delay in New Share Placing
Often Partisan 9 Jan 14
Birmingham International Holdings have announced yet another delay to details with respect to the placing of new shares, convertible bonds and deed of novation that were originally announced back in November.
Blues
Nominations and Ruminations
Often Partisan 9 Jan 14
Lee Clark has been nominated for the SkyBet Championship Manager of the Month award for December along with Mick McCarthy of Ipswich, Billy Davies of Nottingham Forest and Steve McClaren of Derby County for a month which saw Blues continue…
Blues
Lovenkrands Going Nowhere
Often Partisan 8 Jan 14
Peter Lovenkrands has confirmed to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet that whilst he expects to leave Blues when his contract ends at the end of the season he has received no offers as of yet to move from St Andrews.
Blues
The Mclean Situation
Often Partisan 7 Jan 14
Steve Bruce has confirmed that despite scoring for Hull City in their FA Cup third round tie against Middlesbrough former Birmingham City loanee Aaron Mclean is likely to leave the KC Stadium in January and that Blues (amongst others) are interested…
Blues
Positivity Monday
Often Partisan 6 Jan 14
Birmingham City now know that they will face Swansea City at home in the FA Cup fourth round if they can beat (or lets be honest even get to face) either Crawley Town or Bristol Rovers in the third.
Blues
Begging For Scraps
Often Partisan 4 Jan 14
Blues find themselves with a free weekend due to a quirk of fate that sees their FA Cup third round opponents yet to be decided due to inclement weather on the south coast.
Blues
Defensive Crisis
Often Partisan 3 Jan 14
Birmingham City were yesterday plunged into a defensive crisis with the news that in addition to Kyle Bartley suffering a hamstring injury against Barnsley Dan Burn has been recalled by his parent club Fulham.
Blues
That Was The Year That Was
Often Partisan 2 Jan 14
With it being the new year I thought I’d share the 2013 statistics for Often Partisan and some details of what 2014 holds.
Blues
Not Good Enough: Barnsley Reflections
Often Partisan 2 Jan 14
Here are my reflections on the game between Blues and Barnsley at St Andrews yesterday.
Blues
Turning Over a New Leaf? Barnsley Preview
Often Partisan 1 Jan 14
Blues take on Barnsley today in the first match of 2014 looking to extend an unbeaten run of nine matches but also to win at home for the first time since October 1.
Blues
Referee Watch – Chris Foy
Often Partisan 1 Jan 14
Barring any late changes, Chris Foy of Merseyside will be in the middle for Blues’ Championship game against Barnsley at St Andrews today.
Blues
Birmingham International Holdings Announce Positive News Regarding Relisting of Shares
Often Partisan 30 Dec 13
Birmingham International Holdings have today confirmed to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that they have received a notice with respect to the resumption in trading of shares in the company.
Blues
All Over the Rovers? Blackburn Preview
Often Partisan 29 Dec 13
Birmingham City make a second trip to Lancashire in three days to face Blackburn Rovers as Lee Clark’s men look to extend their eight match unbeaten run.
Blues
Referee Watch – Scott Duncan
Often Partisan 29 Dec 13
Barring any late changes, Scott Duncan of Northumberland will be in the middle for Blues’ Championship game against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park today.
Blues
The Lingard Question
Often Partisan 27 Dec 13
The Birmingham Mail today reported that Lee Clark is hopeful that his Manchester United counterpart David Moyes will allow Jesse Lingard to remain on loan at Birmingham City to continue to aid his development as a footballer.
Blues
Four in a Row? Wigan Preview
Often Partisan 26 Dec 13
Lee Clark takes his Birmingham City side to face Wigan Athletic looking for a fourth win on the bounce away from home and to extend the current seven match unbeaten streak.
Blues
Referee Watch – Stephen Martin
Often Partisan 26 Dec 13
Barring any late changes, Stephen Martin of Staffordshire will be in the middle for Blues’ Championship game against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium today.
Blues
Merry Christmas
Often Partisan 24 Dec 13
I would like to wish everyone who reads and comments on this blog a very merry Christmas and a most prosperous 2014.
Blues
Deed of Novation Update: Carson Agrees to Swap Debt for Equity
Often Partisan 23 Dec 13
Birmingham International Holdings made an announcement on Friday that they have entered into a Deed of Novation with Carson Yeung which will see his loan of £15million to the club wiped out and thus make Birmingham City a much more attractive…
Blues
A Spicy Affair; Forest Reflections
Often Partisan 22 Dec 13
Here are my reflections on the match between Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest at St Andrews yesterday…
Blues
Tricky Game Against the Tricky Trees: Forest Preview
Often Partisan 21 Dec 13
Birmingham City will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to a seventh game today as they entertain Nottingham Forest at St Andrews today.
Blues
Referee Watch – Robert Madley
Often Partisan 21 Dec 13
Barring any late changes, Robert Madley of West Yorkshire will be in the middle for Blues’ Championship game against Nottingham Forest at St Andrews today.
Blues
Missing Figureheads
Often Partisan 20 Dec 13
The Birmingham Mail has carried a story over the last couple of days about the new Library of Birmingham being lit up in the colours of the mob from across the expressway and the furore that has caused amongst fans of Blues amongst others.
Blues
Further Delays For Birmingham International Holdings Share Placement
Often Partisan 19 Dec 13
Birmingham International Holdings today announced that there would be a further delay in circulating information to shareholders about the proposed share placement and convertible bonds.
Blues
Accounts and Directors Analysis
Often Partisan 18 Dec 13
Yesterday was a busy day for the club on the financial side of things with the release of the accounts for the club and it’s UK parent along with the appointment of three directors of the holding company in Hong Kong.
Blues
Birmingham City File Operating Loss of £9mil for Year Ending 2013
Often Partisan 17 Dec 13
Birmingham City FC and it’s UK parent company Birmingham City PLC have both filed their accounts with companies house for the year ending 2013 today.
Blues
Birmingham International Holdings Announce New Directors
Often Partisan 17 Dec 13
Birmingham International Holdings today announced the appointment of a new executive director and two new independent non executive directors.
Blues
Home and Away
Often Partisan 16 Dec 13
Blues won their third win on the bounce away from home at the weekend and continued an unbeaten sequence that stretches back six matches, climbing to fourteenth in the table.
Blues
Positivity Sunday
Often Partisan 15 Dec 13
Birmingham City stretched their unbeaten sequence to six games with a third away win on the spin against Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.
Blues
Three on the Bounce? Bournemouth Preview
Often Partisan 14 Dec 13
Birmingham City make the long trip south to the Goldsands Stadium today to face Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.
Blues
Referee Watch – Michael Naylor
Often Partisan 14 Dec 13
Barring any late changes, Michael Naylor of South Yorkshire will be in the middle for Blues’ Championship game against AFC Bournemouth at the Goldsands Stadium today.