Can Thomas replace King?
2March 12, 2013 by Made In Brum
On Saturday, loanee Wes Thomas scored his first goals for the club to give us an important 3 points against Derby. The result took us up to 14th, with a comfortable enough distance of 7 points between ourselves and the relegation places.
Thomas didn’t get off to the best of starts with us. He missed a one-on-one opportunity on his debut against Nottingham Forest, he failed to score a header from just 3 yards out at Peterborough, leaving many Blues fans to label him ‘not good enough’. Through this time, I would like to say that I’ve stuck with him. The fact that he’s on loan from Bournemouth and his missing of key scoring chances hasn’t exactly inspired confidence in his ability, yet whenever I’ve seen him play, he always works hard. I will support any player who does that.
He’s without doubt the paciest forward in the squad, and I think his impact as a substitute has been underrated. It was his harrowing and hassling of the Blackpool defence last Tuesday that forced them into panicky clearances, thus allowing us to take control of the match.
Although I was happy with his swift closing down in his first few games, I got the impression he was more of a workman than a finisher. With Marlon King out for the campaign, Lovenkrands only on 5 goals this season and Zigic only having scored once in his last 9 games, I was slightly worried about where our goals would come from for the remainder of the season.
However, on Saturday we saw a different side to Thomas’s game, which highly contradicted the idea that he lacks composure in front of goal. Both of his goals were in fact very well taken, he left the Derby right-back for dead for his first, finished off by an incisive finish from a tight angle. I thought his second goal had a feel of authoritative confidence to it, chesting down Redmond’s flick-on, and with his second touch, he fired a firm shot past the keeper.
In the aftermath of his brace, Wes has underlined his desire to secure a permanent switch to St Andrews. Whether the board will be prepared to dip into their pockets for a transfer fee I don’t know, because clearly they weren’t prepared to pay a nominal fee for Paul Caddis. Whether I would want to see Thomas make his stay here permanently greatly depends on his performances in the next few games. If he doesn’t score again for 5 matches, then my opinion of him will probably change.
But now that Thomas has got over that confidence barrier of scoring his first goal for us, I do feel hopeful he can take King’s place. If he can consistently run at and chase down defenders the way he has for his first few games, and combine that skill with the clinical finishing he showed against Derby, then maybe we won’t miss King after all.
By Gabriel Sutton
Made In Brum 
I really enjoyed that read..
One thing for sure is we will need a striker or 2 next season and he has a great chance to stamp a claim on one of those spots… but don’t stamp to hard as Thomas may end up at one of our rivals
KRO
King always flatters to deceive in our Kop opinion. The most offside player in the championship last year unfortunately, blaming everyone with shrugs and waving of hands. Need a striker urgently, of quality. However the source of our problems is the board with continual diatribe of displaced blame against all others. No investment etc. Wembley winners 2 years ago. 3 first class managers departed. Recently having been solvent as a club, now in total decline, even the tea lady is looking over her shoulder and may fetch a fee. Although in fairness to Mr Pannu, we lost Jack Butland to Stoke to help to pay our way, could have been more ? What gripes a bit is West HAM OWNERS investing over £35 million of their money last week to help stay in Prem. All the pomp and ceremony at take over, is obviously to many, a clouded front of hot air ., All smacks of Ken Weeldon or Kumars in many opinion.
Silver lining is, that reports state .that at last the Hong Kong accounts may be published soon, despite recent UK auditors resignation ,with comments of unreliability of data etc. The club cannot be sold without such publication,with audit by new team ,and it has to date been two years too late by law. What a surprise, considering the cost of purchasing the club, or a least share value at the time of initial purchase?
Many supporters of long standing, feel that just to be free of the current regime, we would be better off in Administration, with a strong chance of being able to accommodate the 10 points reduction and staying in the Champoinship. The club could then be sold ,hopefully to owners who have a strong interest in the club, and future progression in our opinion.
We have some excellent young players, on loan and from our youth set up who have all contributed to our current league position, but we agree with Mr Clarke that you have to nurture their progress, the classic of recent note being Nat. Redmond, who has earned peaks and troughs ratings, when he appeared in Blue.
In many respects we feel a bit sorry for Mr Clarke, but he entered with eyes open and unemployed at time.
He is earning, and should be given a chance to continue with his enforced prudent policy
as board directs: but roll on some creditable progress all round, to the benefit of BCFC as we all remember it .
Two years ago at Wembley, a wonderful memory in BCFC history with Mr McLeish at the helm, made us all proud . What a come down, now scraping the barrel. Maybe again it is all the supporters fault?
We have mirth at the prospect of BCFC progressing by way of play off to the Premiership, as the prospect of such Aladins cave riches for distribution, as directed by any owner at present, resulting in Paul Daniels being crowned Pope, and us playing Tamwort next season.. with supporters scratching their heads. again. .
We cannot continue as BCFC as we know it ,to swim against the tide of financial unrealism for the forseeable future , otherwise the road back may be unsustainable in the short term .
Thank goodness for local radio and supporters views, which may be ignored by owners etc, but Tom and Kevin , also Geoff do a good unbiased job, which may be helpful to most.? Unfortunately radio WM have decided to concentrate with the Aston side and we all say good luck, maybe see you next season.
Please hurry up with all the alleged progress. I have supported as a season ticket holder since 1963, and except for Alex and the fantastic unexpected historical day he gave us two years ago, there has been little cheer, except for Paul Tate and his vest, which was a chuckle.
Keep the faith
KRO
Bob