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Alfie May- Progress at Birmingham

KingKinsellaKingKinsella
edited September 28 in General Charlton
Interesting discussion on You Tube Birmingham fans podcast "Keep Right On".

Glowing analysis of the B vs Wrexham game leading to interesting discussion about Alfie's future role in the Birmingham team (about 21 mins in).
Clearly his personality and goals have  quickly made him a fans favourite at St Andrews, but the discussion was  punctuated by a few comments like "he has to accept it won't be all about him" with Jay Stansfield in the squad.
They played better together in the view of one fan in that game, discussion of a embarrassment of riches (a la Real Madrid).
Jay Stansfield has scored  13 goals in the Championship.... in the view of one vblogger to be a major differentiation.
Questions about whether he was told when he signed that they were after Jay Stansfield as well.
I reckon he'll match JS for goals (injuries permitting etc if they play the same number of games)

But he;s second in the pecking order (for now)

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Comments

  • ChizzChizz
    Yameifla 
  • fenaddickfenaddick
    PragueAddick said:
    Did they say why he was subbed, was it a change of formation? 

    I’d hoped I might find out from the “match report” on the Athletic, but of course that report was all about who was in the stands. Fucking pathetic, I’m getting really pissed off with all that. Picked a fight in the comments with a Wrexham TV fan, who tried to tell me I was bigoted re Americans. I enjoyed pointing out that he obviously isnt aware we have American owners, the difference being they don’t want the story to be about them.
    To be fair to The Atheltic they don't really do standard match reports and haven't since conception but that's a different story! 

    In terms of the sub, the game was already won and they had a £1m striker sat on the bench. No harm in resting May in that scenario
  • fenaddickfenaddick
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Swisdom said:
    Alfie would have gone there expecting to be top dog.

    He got the raging hump when he heard we were trying to sign Luke Berry as he saw it as a threat and I dare say it contributed to his departure.

    But he told me he had limited time left playing and had to go "where the money is - if it means going to the Emirates I would do it".  He just wants to provide for his family.  So I don't suppose he's over the moon with the embarrassment of riches at Brum but I also think he has the comfort blanket of a nice bumper contract to soften the blow
    Why would he get the hump when we were trying to sign Berry? - Why would a Midfielder be a threat to him?
    Think Swisdom means in terms of being the star, Berry coming down from the Premier League could be perceived as being the main man. I'm guessing Berry will be on high wages too
  • MarcusH26MarcusH26
    fenaddick said:
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Swisdom said:
    Alfie would have gone there expecting to be top dog.

    He got the raging hump when he heard we were trying to sign Luke Berry as he saw it as a threat and I dare say it contributed to his departure.

    But he told me he had limited time left playing and had to go "where the money is - if it means going to the Emirates I would do it".  He just wants to provide for his family.  So I don't suppose he's over the moon with the embarrassment of riches at Brum but I also think he has the comfort blanket of a nice bumper contract to soften the blow
    Why would he get the hump when we were trying to sign Berry? - Why would a Midfielder be a threat to him?
    Think Swisdom means in terms of being the star, Berry coming down from the Premier League could be perceived as being the main man. I'm guessing Berry will be on high wages too

    Yeah I'd agree , I know we haven't quite seen it yet from him but I'd count Berry as a "statement" signing based on his record. 

    Think May could be on the move again next summer if Brum get promoted because they'll want another champ proven striker to go with Stansfield and Dykes. 
  • eastterrace6168eastterrace6168
    edited September 18
    Oh dear so Alfies not top dog, and been subbed already...well, if and when Birmingham get promoted can't see he will  be hanging around for long before they offload him...🤔
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  • jimmymelrosejimmymelrose
    Swisdom said:


    But he told me he had limited time left playing and had to go "where the money is - if it means going to the Emirates I would do it".  
    Sounds reluctant.  Must be a Spurs fan.
  • sirjohnhumphreysirjohnhumphrey
    I think I recall him playing as a 10 under Appleton at times - or certainly in a more flexible role than up front. I don't think it was a bad idea. May has more about his game than scoring goals and seems to have a decent eye for a pass. Maybe he will end up playing slightly behind the front two.
  • ScohamScoham
    sirjohnhumphrey said:
    I think I recall him playing as a 10 under Appleton at times - or certainly in a more flexible role than up front. I don't think it was a bad idea. May has more about his game than scoring goals and seems to have a decent eye for a pass. Maybe he will end up playing slightly behind the front two.
    The Sky Sports app said he played as a 10 behind Stansfield on Monday. Given the type of player he is that’s effectively 4-4-2 with May dropping deeper. Going to be interesting to see if he keeps his place and if so where he plays.
  • fenaddickfenaddick
    He’s actually great as a 10, just not sure he thinks so 
  • eastterrace6168eastterrace6168
    sirjohnhumphrey said:
    I think I recall him playing as a 10 under Appleton at times - or certainly in a more flexible role than up front. I don't think it was a bad idea. May has more about his game than scoring goals and seems to have a decent eye for a pass. Maybe he will end up playing slightly behind the front two.
    Alfie May has just one thing on his mind when on the pitch, and that is scoring goals, which he rather good at, and passing was very much second choice, iirc there were many occasions during his time with us when a pass was on to a better placed team mate, and he just either ignored it or didn't see it, ending up in losing possession and the chance was lost...

  • thenewbiethenewbie
    Swisdom said:
    fenaddick said:
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Swisdom said:
    Alfie would have gone there expecting to be top dog.

    He got the raging hump when he heard we were trying to sign Luke Berry as he saw it as a threat and I dare say it contributed to his departure.

    But he told me he had limited time left playing and had to go "where the money is - if it means going to the Emirates I would do it".  He just wants to provide for his family.  So I don't suppose he's over the moon with the embarrassment of riches at Brum but I also think he has the comfort blanket of a nice bumper contract to soften the blow
    Why would he get the hump when we were trying to sign Berry? - Why would a Midfielder be a threat to him?
    Think Swisdom means in terms of being the star, Berry coming down from the Premier League could be perceived as being the main man. I'm guessing Berry will be on high wages too
    Both really

    He knew Berry was Nathan's "boy" and also felt threatened in the attacking/goalscoring midfielder role.  He was really pissed off by it.  At the time Luke Berry wasn't someone I was aware of otherwise I would have told him to stop worrying about it.  I think it was only a contributing factor as I think Nathan had made it clear what he did, and didn't want
    I think it's just the double edge of being the "main striker" type of player. He is an excellent goal scorer and he is aware of that, it's not necessarily ego or arrogance if you back it up (which he does).

    But the other side of that is seeing signings of other goal scorers (either midfield like Berry or strikers like Stansfield) as a personal attack, as though implying he doesn't score enough.

    All a bit psychoanalysis by me and could be way off the mark but it does seem to fit for me.
  • BrazilianceBraziliance
    Stansfield is the main man there now, and who will be their star if/when they get promoted. 

    I imagine May will be a bit part player or be playing back in this league if they manage the job, or to a championship side with less ambition. 

    He will undoubtedly be thought of fondly when it's all said and done with his time at Brum, but you can just tell by their other signings the direction they're going in. 

    I don't think he will mind and probably knows his age is against him. 

    Either way, I can't wait for us to be beating Brum in a few weeks and be chanting at the little git how he should have stayed.  B)
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  • killerandflashkillerandflash
    fenaddick said:
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Swisdom said:
    Alfie would have gone there expecting to be top dog.

    He got the raging hump when he heard we were trying to sign Luke Berry as he saw it as a threat and I dare say it contributed to his departure.

    But he told me he had limited time left playing and had to go "where the money is - if it means going to the Emirates I would do it".  He just wants to provide for his family.  So I don't suppose he's over the moon with the embarrassment of riches at Brum but I also think he has the comfort blanket of a nice bumper contract to soften the blow
    Why would he get the hump when we were trying to sign Berry? - Why would a Midfielder be a threat to him?
    Think Swisdom means in terms of being the star, Berry coming down from the Premier League could be perceived as being the main man. I'm guessing Berry will be on high wages too
    Berry rising through then divisions to play and score in the PL was a heartwarming story, but he's hardly been a star player for Luton, the sort of player who immediately becomes the big cheese at his new club.

    Even in the Championship he was very much a squad player for them, only starting 4 games. 

    I'm sure all May cared about at the time, was Charlton signing better players.
  • Todds_right_hookTodds_right_hook
    Swisdom said:
    Alfie would have gone there expecting to be top dog.

    He got the raging hump when he heard we were trying to sign Luke Berry as he saw it as a threat and I dare say it contributed to his departure.

    But he told me he had limited time left playing and had to go "where the money is - if it means going to the Emirates I would do it".  He just wants to provide for his family.  So I don't suppose he's over the moon with the embarrassment of riches at Brum but I also think he has the comfort blanket of a nice bumper contract to soften the blow
    So he signs for the biggest club in his career at that point, the squad massively underperforms and then he gets the hump when the squad is improved

    sounds like he likes being the big fish in a mall pond. I did notice that he didn’t run over to celebrate the equaliser on monday
  • Chris_from_SidcupChris_from_Sidcup
    Swisdom said:
    fenaddick said:
    ForeverAddickted said:
    Swisdom said:
    Alfie would have gone there expecting to be top dog.

    He got the raging hump when he heard we were trying to sign Luke Berry as he saw it as a threat and I dare say it contributed to his departure.

    But he told me he had limited time left playing and had to go "where the money is - if it means going to the Emirates I would do it".  He just wants to provide for his family.  So I don't suppose he's over the moon with the embarrassment of riches at Brum but I also think he has the comfort blanket of a nice bumper contract to soften the blow
    Why would he get the hump when we were trying to sign Berry? - Why would a Midfielder be a threat to him?
    Think Swisdom means in terms of being the star, Berry coming down from the Premier League could be perceived as being the main man. I'm guessing Berry will be on high wages too
    Both really

    He knew Berry was Nathan's "boy" and also felt threatened in the attacking/goalscoring midfielder role.  He was really pissed off by it.  At the time Luke Berry wasn't someone I was aware of otherwise I would have told him to stop worrying about it.  I think it was only a contributing factor as I think Nathan had made it clear what he did, and didn't want
    Seems a bit dramatic, it's Luke Berry not Kevin de Bruyne! You'd expect any player would prefer his club to sign better players so they could progress on the pitch.

    In any case he's got his move, got his 10k+ a week that he might not even have got with a move to the Championship, and he's playing regularly, so for now he can surely be reasonably happy.
  • soapy_jonessoapy_jones
    He will just have to lump it in the safe knowledge that with his latest contract he can buy up most of the Greater Birmingham area, although why anyone would want to do that..?
  • PragueAddickPragueAddick
    thenewbie said:
    PragueAddick said:
    I have to say none of this fills me with reassurance about NJs big plan. For me the jury is still  out on how we have replaced him. And as for the thing about Berry, when he cocked up from 1 yard, and then tried to look as if he knew all along he was offside, that made me relapse into grieve mode for Alfie all over again.

    Well, we’ll learn more in a couple of weeks time. He’s bound to start against us.
    Can't really agree - Jones' plan is fairly evidently to move away from having "a goal scorer" and more about having goals across the squad. And that's exactly what we've done. You don't necessarily have to like that but it's got us to third in the table and equal with points on 1st and 2nd (currently.) It is not fun to watch but it works.


    Sure I get the general point. I feel quite confident that we can hold a lead and see out a game. I dont feel the same way about us going forward. I am not sure we can say “goals across the squad” when there have been so few in total. I did not even feel that confident last night. I don’t see a settled game plan up front. But “jury’s out” means I’m more than happy to be proved wrong, starting Sat when I’ll be there! 
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