Controversies persist regarding the future of Birmingham City’s forward lineup at St. Andrew’s.
Birmingham City has continued its resurgence under new ownership, securing a victory over local rivals West Bromwich Albion on Friday evening. The team appears rejuvenated this season, with the latest developments at St. Andrew’s heralding a promising future for the club, leaving behind their days at the bottom of the division.
John Eustace’s team has bounced back impressively after a five-game winless streak, with convincing victories against Huddersfield Town (4-1) and West Brom (3-1) in their recent outings. Their fifth win of the season against West Brom has propelled them up the table, a stark contrast to their initial position in the top six after the opening fixtures, which included wins against Leeds United, Bristol City, and Plymouth Argyle.
The influx of new signings this summer seems to have rejuvenated the team, and their newfound financial strength is paying off early in the Championship season. After seven consecutive seasons languishing in the lower half of the second tier, Birmingham City is aiming to set the record straight this term and build on these impressive results.
Nevertheless, with a squad composed of both new and familiar faces, it’s time to examine the future of one of the longest-serving members of the team.
Is it time for Birmingham City to consider replacing Scott Hogan?
Scott Hogan, a former Aston Villa forward, is entering his fifth season at St. Andrew’s, boasting an impressive track record in the EFL. Despite his accomplishments with clubs like Rochdale, Brentford, and Stoke City, Hogan currently finds himself lower in the pecking order at Birmingham. However, fan pundit Mike Gibbs suggests that the club should not rush into any decisions regarding his future.
In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Gibbs stated, “I don’t believe we should part ways with him unless we can find a suitable replacement. Stansfield, in my opinion, should be our number nine.
He proved it last night against West Brom, even though he didn’t score. He held the ball in challenging positions, made runs, and brought other players into the game – a truly excellent number nine performance.”
“Beyond that, we have Jutkiewicz. While Oliver Burke can play up front, he isn’t a natural number nine. So, unless we can secure a replacement in January, I would suggest keeping him. His contract expires in the summer, so it’s unlikely that we’d receive a significant fee for him in January. Instead, I’d advocate retaining him unless we can find a top-quality, genuine number nine as his replacement.”
How has Scott Hogan performed for Birmingham City recently?
The seasoned goal-scorer achieved double figures in Championship goals for a second consecutive season last year, matching his 10-goal tally as Birmingham City finished 17th in the second tier. While he notably scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 away win against West Brom last season, his goal-scoring prowess dwindled in the second half of the season, with only one goal from the penalty spot in a 4-3 victory over Swansea City.
This season, the 31-year-old has scored just once in 11 appearances, opening the scoring in a 2-1 home win against Plymouth Argyle by tapping in Koji Miyoshi’s cross.
The arrival of Jay Stansfield, on loan from Fulham, has recently pushed Hogan out of the first-team picture. Stansfield, along with Siriki Dembele, leads the club’s goal-scoring chart with three goals each this season.
Birmingham City hopes that Hogan can end his goal drought sooner rather than later, with Lukas Jutkiewicz as the only other viable option to lead the forward line.
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