https://www.efl.com/news/2018/august/birmingham-city-profitability-and-sustainability/ I have to hand it to the League. Just when i thought they couldn't be more ridiculous in their approach they've managed it. So they've finally confirmed, what every man and his dog had known for some time, less than a week before transfer deadline day, that Birmingham have broken the rules and so will be referred to a 'disciplinary commission' and will be RESTRICTED in new player registrations. Meanwhile their £2-3 million summer signing of a Danish international will be allowed despite the league being able to refuse to register him should they wish. They will also be allowed a further FIVE additions, should they require it. Be interesting to see what happens if Birmingham survive by the skin of their teeth again and someone else gets relegated at their expense, given one option (which I bet now will never actually happen) is to deduct points from a club. Stark contrast to when we were placed under an EMBARGO when the league immediately seized the opportunity to broadcast our non-compliance on their website. No mention of the other clubs also supposedly being sanctioned.

I suppose if a request is sent to Venkys now for funds for transfers then the authorisation might come through in time for January. That might be a benefit of loaning now with a deal in place for the winter window.

The problem then however is that this time next year we will need at least 2 strikers of sufficient quality. Graham might well be moving on after this season or no longer be able to perform, the loan you want will go back to his parent club, and Samuel and Nuttall might be surplus to requirements. That's why we need an heir to Graham now, to come in and play this season. Bringing in a loan to play 2nd fiddle is just delaying things until next season when it will have to be addressed on a bigger scale. As far as I'm concerned we need at least one striker now to call our own who we build around and who shares responsibilities with Graham. Ship Nuttall out on loan and see how he goes on. Give Samuel a chance when possible and make a decision on him and then next summer we make decisions on Graham and Samuel whilst still having someone else to fall back on.

If he gets the 5 he's suggested along with the 3 already in then that's 8 for the summer. I remember being shot down for suggesting we needed at least 7 new signings to go with what we already had.

Reads to me as fresh as in not the club or clubs that was or were previously interested, of which we might be one, though maybe not.

Interesting quotes from Steve Evans - 'Marcus Maddison was due back into the group today, but Barry Fry received a call from a fresh Championship club registering interest in his services. We'll see how that one progresses'

1,000 tickets sold. Available on the day at the away end turnstiles with no price increase.

When I carried out my rudimentary calculation the other night I just about reached 9,000 In terms of seats that were not available for purchase. That will also include complimentary for staff and I think also includes a small number restricted view seats in the Riverside.

I very much hope that we're aiming for better than Garner. I'm not interested that he's from Blackburn. We're supposed to be assembling a youthful squad that can grow in stature and value over a few years, not sure how he fits into that and his record in the Championship isn't particularly impressive.

Is he leaving? Thought he'd picked up an injury the other day which would scupper it.

Sounds like Middlesbrough are after Hugill and Waghorn. Spending some money. Must be knocking £80 million out in the last 3 windows if they get them two.

In the past we invited interest in our star players. No coincidence that clubs were queuing up to take our best players between 2015 and 2017 yet either side of that window we've managed to keep hold of them.

Strange isn't it. Particularly given he supposedly has a release clause set at £2.5 million and has been promised he can leave by the Peterborough chairman after they failed to go up.

Well a week tomorrow all will be clear. 4 players and some significant cash buys is a lot to get done in that time. Mowbray has my support and so I'll reserve judgment until the window shuts and I hope to be pleasantly surprised. Given how this summer has progressed to date and given the owners history I think my reservations are justified. If the window shuts and we're still short and the talk is then about using the loan market to our advantage instead I'll be disappointed but not surprised.

Quite a few usually meet in the pub opposite the train station on the riverbank which is a 5 minute walk to the away turnstiles.

Odd way of dealing with it really. You'd think if they were likely signings the last thing the manager would be doing is telling the press that those guys aren't at the top of the list. I'd be surprised if either came here now, so lets hope Mowbray has some better alternatives on the way. I also find it strange that Mowbray refers to experience and game time in the Championship as being an important factor in his recruitment and yet the 3 he has brought in are all young and inexperienced. Rothwell has no Championship experience (or negligible), Palmer about 40 games and Davenport less than 20.

Been saying it all along. Feeney and Ward out of contract, Davenport and Rothwell in on contract. Wharton out on loan for the year, Palmer in on loan for the year. I suspect there's very little if any room on the payroll and numbers authorised for more incomings, particularly permanent deals, until departures are secured first. Wouldn't surprise me to see Gladwin, Hart or Caddis paid off soon to make way.

It would be poor form from the club to peddle the whole agent benno thing if there wasn't something coming with Armstrong, given the whole thing is a reference to Bennett being on the case of trying to get him back here. Given the Telegraph's form for being non-committal I would expect Sharpe's 'update' to be something along the lines of Armstrong is a target but his fee/wages are an issue so instead there is a loan offer with Newcastle and we're waiting to see whether they accept it. Just my guess.

Think there's the 4/5 favourites - Stoke, Villa, Boro, Forest Then after that it could be anyone. For all the talk about Villa crisis I look at their squad and manager and simply cannot imagine them being top 6 at the minimum. I think Norwich will be up there after some good business and their German manager will be used to the division after an average season last year. I'd be surprised if PNE, Sheffield United or Millwall lived up to last year's levels. I don't think Swansea or West Brom will be anything more than play off pushing. One or two unknown quantities in particular Bielsa at Leeds and Lampard at Derby.

Not that I want to make excuses for Coyle but one problem was that our significant transfer business was left until the 11th hour when Williams, Gallagher, Emnes and Mulgrew arrived. By the time they were here and up to speed we were playing catch up. Now where does that seem familiar. So yes he was an appalling appointment who should never have been anywhere near this club but it seems getting our important business done at the last minute isn't a one-off.

Or I could just refuse to answer the question, as I tend to do when I think it is silly and needless.

Birmingham are in trouble with FFP because they spent heavily on players last summer. They might well have been fighting relegation for 2 years but that is better than getting relegated and being in League One for the last 2 years. Their problem was appointing poor managers in Zola, Redknapp and Cotterill. I think Monk is more clued up than those so should have enough nous to keep them up. If he walks then they are in trouble. The fact is that despite their embargo and our lack of one we've only added 3 players and spent £500k or so at this point. Not a massive difference. Have Birmingham lost anyone like we have? We may have some momentum to carry over which could help us as we have a confident group and are used to winning games. Why would you expect us to finish above Wigan? We finished below them last season, we are currently weaker than we were then, whereas to my knowledge they haven't lost any important players. That might change but I'm not interested in what might happen, only where we are now. Millwall had momentum last season and arguably overachieved, as did Sheffield United. I expect both will struggle to reach those heights again, of course might be wrong.

The likelihood of Lenihan, Mulgrew, Graham or Evans making it through a 46 game Championship season without getting injured is remote. Remove any of them for any length of time and we have no depth. We're relying on Downing or the unknown new CB to step in at the back, unproven Travis or Davenport in CM or Whittingham, and nobody up front at this stage other than Samuel. Lots of work to do so whilst satisfied with the Palmer addition there are another 3 required as a minimum, and they have to be good enough to play every week.

Sheffield Wednesday are charging £39 an adult for their game against Hull in a couple of weeks. Same price for 'non member' home fans. Members get a £5 discount. Outrageous prices. Sheffield Wednesday's justification for doing so is that they need to boost income to assist with FFP compliance. Whether that is true or not, it goes to show that those nonsensical rules are actually in some cases punishing supporters. In the absence of a maximum ticket price some clubs are shafting supporters to generate extra funds. If we get those prices at Hillsborough I certainly hope that Rovers repay the favour. One way around it would be to charge their fans £39 a piece and then have a members price of £20 a head for 1875 members. Repeat that for Leeds, Norwich and QPR who will screw our away fans and it suddenly brings in a lot of money and also makes the 1875 membership worth buying.

I'm not sure to be honest. People are tipping Birmingham to struggle because of their embargo and lack of new signings but they've an ok squad and haven't sold anyone. Brentford always seem to do well and surpass expectations. Wigan we finished below last season and we're currently weaker than then. We will have to finish above Rotherham and Bolton, and should be capable of finishing above Millwall.