@ExpectedBham

Football data, Blues bias. Player analysis, squad strategy and Championship trends - every Weds and Sun on Substack.

 Birmingham
xbirmingham.substack.com/
Joined November 2025
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Iwata missed one league game last season. Only Klarer played more minutes. He's expected to go home to Japan in June, and nobody in the squad does his job. Who could replace him and why the next man has to be a passer: 🔗xbirmingham.substack.com/p/t… #BCFC #Championship
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1/3 Blues play 4-4-1-1, so the midfield 2 have to do A LOT. It's working, but to go up another lvl, need to be able to pass through it better. Solis not a passer, yet. Neither is Iwata. Physically v. good though. Bird and Paik are the opposite.
Alex Dicken@alexedicken23h
🔵 Iwata's 'distinctive' position ⚪️ The area Davies wants Solis to improve 🔵 Bird 'a positional player' ⚪️ Iwata-Paik days appear to be over Analysing Birmingham City's midfield with some help from Chris Davies 👇 birminghammail.co.uk/sport/f…

Analysing Birmingham City's midfield through the eyes of Chris Davies

Chris Davies has five senior players to choose from in Birmingham City's engine room

birminghammail.co.uk
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2/3 Why we have to compromise. Middle is safe and physical. Send it long and wide for the good stuff. Ideally, the team would be able do it all - direct, short, fast, slow. Wide and central. Currently, can only really go direct and quick. Out wide.
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3/3 Getting Iwata/Solis/Stanno working as a 3 in midfield. Or looking to recruit players who can fit in without disrupting what's already working is going to be the next challenge for CD/recruitment. Lots working, but the middle is where we go up a lvl imo. Difficult.
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2/3 Why we go wide so much, as we don't have the quality in the middle. Really hard to fit a CM who can cover ground, pass, tackle, create - do it all. Why you kinda have to compromise. Blues are weighted more towards physicality at the minute, over creativity and progression.
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3/3 Think that's where the next step-up needs to be found somehow. Getting Iwata/Solis/Stanno working as a 3 in midfield. Or looking to recruit players who can fit without disrupting what's clearly already working. Difficult!
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I think he's right. Stoke haven't been performing well at all, but getting results. Unless performances pick up, they'll slide down the league soon enough. Derby aren't much better though...
Ryan Dilks@RyanDilks1Oct 18
“Stoke will finish below Derby this season” 😳 “You should not get carried away with them” 👀 “They’re well overdue a downturn in results” 😫 My thoughts on Stoke City’s run of 6 wins in 8… #SCFC
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If anyone cares, particularly Stoke fans, this is where I make the argument about performance and where each team sits. It's not the xG table. It had Hull in 8th last year. And I could be wrong, but currently Stoke are 22nd on it. xbirmingham.substack.com/p/a…
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1/8 Tomoki Iwata played 45 of Birmingham’s 46 league games last season and has started every league game this season. Chris Davies expects him to go home to Japan when his contract ends in June. Nobody else in the squad does his job. 🧵 #BCFC
xB | Expected Birmingham@ExpectedBhamOct 18
Iwata missed one league game last season. Only Klarer played more minutes. He's expected to go home to Japan in June, and nobody in the squad does his job. Who could replace him and why the next man has to be a passer: 🔗xbirmingham.substack.com/p/t… #BCFC #Championship
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7/8 Then the longlist. Ball winners: Khalifi, Ambina, Westh, Siltanen. All-rounders for the 8: Robertson, De Jonge, Michut, Humphreys. Robertson plays for Cardiff, where Blues go on Saturday. A close look at a player on the list.
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8/8 The cheapest option is still Iwata. Davies has left the door open if the season keeps going well. The plan should treat him as gone and keep the offer ready. Full piece, with the order I’d sign them in. xbirmingham.substack.com/p/t… #BCFC
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I've been watching a few players in the Belgian second division. Beerschot are 1st in the table and beat Anderlecht in the Cup. Mohamed is one that looks v. exciting. Former Parma. 21. Attacking mid. A couple of others: Kim Myeong-Jun Bo De Kerf
Tunisian Scout 🇹🇳@TunisianScoutOct 18
Anas Haj Mohamed double buteur lors de la victoire 2-1 de la Coupe de Belgique face à Anderlecht ! Il enchaîne bien, on va espérer que sa carrière décolle enfin
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Another player that seems to be doing really well - Jesse Randall, 24. Taken to the SPL with ease. A few players at #DUFC showing up well in the data. Iqbal, Tait, Forbes and Agyei.
The Niche Cache@thenichecacheOct 18
Jesse Randall keeps ticking over the goal contributions for Dundee United, this time it was an assist in a 1-1 draw vs St Johnstone #FlyingKiwis
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Smart recruitment from Stockport. They signed Jason Adigun from Chelmsford City in the National League South! 301 minutes into League One, he carries the ball and wins it back as well as almost any young attacking midfielder. Tiny sample, but keen to see his step up.
Stockport County
@StockportCountyJul 7
Welcome to County, Jason Adigun! 👋 The exciting young attacking midfielder joins us from Chelmsford City, signing a two-year deal at Edgeley Park. #StockportCounty

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xB | Expected Birmingham retweeted
xB | Expected Birmingham@ExpectedBhamOct 18
Iwata missed one league game last season. Only Klarer played more minutes. He's expected to go home to Japan in June, and nobody in the squad does his job. Who could replace him and why the next man has to be a passer: 🔗xbirmingham.substack.com/p/t… #BCFC #Championship
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