Ryan Deeney

#BCFC went into this season aiming for promotion. It hasn't quite worked out like that.

A piece on:

- Experience and knowhow
- Confusion between noise & reality
- Craig Gardner & Chris Davies
- What happens now

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Millwall 3-0 Blues A sobering evening as Birmingham City's unbeaten run ends at the hands of Millwall at The Den, compounded by a red card and injury.

#Millwall 3-0 #BCFC

Beaten by the better side.

- Report
- Tactics
- Goals conceded
- "Welcome to the Championship"
- Millwall
- Next up

A tough one to take & change is expected for Boro.

#MFC #KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Norwich City 1-2 Blues Carlos Vicente and Marvin Ducksch give Chris Davies' side their biggest away win of the season as we move one step closer to a top-six berth.

#NCFC 1-2 #BCFC

A good test & a good win on the road.

- Report
- Tactics
- Goal analysis
- A big win
- Depth
- James Beadle
- Norwich
- Next up

Millwall. It's always midweek in winter.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Blues 1-1 Leeds United (2-4 Penalties) A brave Birmingham City performance against Premier League opposition but we are knocked out of the FA Cup.

#BCFC 1-1 #LUFC

Belated report again, sorry.

- Report
- Tactics
- Goal conceded
- An outlet?
- Goalkeepers
- Centre-backs
- Leeds
- Next up

I'm looking forward to the next three. Proper tests.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Blues 0-0 West Bromwich Albion An afternoon where all the key moments just didn't swing Blues' way as our local rivals held on for a point at St.Andrews.

#BCFC 0-0 #WBA

Could & probably should have been all three. But positives to take.

- Report
- Tactics
- Referee
- The trial run
- Osayi-Samuel
- West Brom
- Leeds

Sunday feels like the final break before the big tests arrive.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Blues 2-1 Leicester City Ibrahim Osman and Jay Stansfield goals ensure Blues put ten-man Leicester City to the sword and make it 10 unbeaten at home.

#BCFC 2-1 #LCFC

Tougher tests to come, but this felt good.

- Report
- Tactics
- Goal conceded
- Options
- Marvin Ducksch
- Jay Stansfield
- Leicester City
- Next up

Now just 2 points off the play-offs.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

YouTube video by Keep Right On - A Birmingham City Podcast Chris Davies hopes addition by subtraction equals promotion

Hopped on the KRO pod to discuss the January transfer window.

#BCFC #KRO

youtu.be/9Nxwkpx3BwY?...

Match Report: Blues 1-1 Stoke City Blues are held to a fourth 1-1 draw in five matches at St.Andrews as Phil Neumann's own goal cancels out Tomoki Iwata's opener.

#BCFC 1-1 #SCFC

Another home draw as Blues fail to take their chances.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Room for improvement
- The new lads
- Stoke
- Next up

Honestly, it wasn't that bad.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Blues Marvin Ducksch and Kyogo Furuhashi goals are enough to see off bottom of the table Sheffield Wednesday.

#SWFC 0-2 #BCFC

Two late goals are enough to secure a rare away win for Blues.

- Report
- Tactics
- It's a win
- Big Jhon
- Scott Wright
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Next up

A seven point week would be lovely.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Swansea City 1-1 Blues Blues and Swansea play out a 1-1 draw at the Liberty thanks to goals from Zan Vipotnik and Patrick Roberts.

#SCAFC 1-1 #BCFC

A decent point on the road.

- Report
- Tactics
- Goals
- Taking the point
- Stansfield
- Swansea
- Next

A big week is well under way.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Cambridge United 2-3 Blues A nervy finish, but Blues advance in the FA Cup thanks to Kai Wagner, Kyogo Furuhashi and Marvin Ducksch goals.

#CamUtd 2-3 #BCFC

A nervy finish, but Blues advance thanks to Wagner, Kyogo & Ducksch.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Advancing
- Work to do
- Cambridge
- Next

Here's hoping for more positive news on the transfer front.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Blues 3-2 Coventry City A much-needed win for Birmingham City as Marvin Ducksch and Lewis Koumas secure three points against the EFL Championship league leaders.

#BCFC 3-2 #PUSB

A much-needed victory as Blues beat the league leaders.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Much needed
- Coventry
- Next up

Not perfect, but much, much better.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Watford 3-0 Blues Another shocker of an away display as Blues fall to a heavy defeat at Vicarage Road.

#WatfordFC 3-0 #BCFC

Another away game. Another heavy defeat. More crap goals conceded.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Away day blues
- Change to come
- Watford
- Next up

I think we all need a break.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Blues 1-1 Southampton A positive display but Birmingham City remain winless in six as Chris Davies sees red amid a controversial equaliser at St.Andrews.

#BCFC 1-1 #SaintsFC

A better display, if not perfect.

- Report
- Tactics
- The equaliser
- Change
- Sampsted
- Koumas
- The rest
- Southampton
- Next

Will a left winger make themselves known please.

#BCFC #KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Blues 1-1 Derby County Chris Davies and John Eustace level out in a game that saw two goals, two reds and the crossbar hit in the 98th minute.

#BCFC 1-1 #DCFC

Not necessarily a bad performance, but all the same issues remain.

- Report
- Tactics
- The opener
- Who plays next?
- Lewis Koumas
- Opposition
- Next up

I'm fearful.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Birmingham City January 2026 Transfer Window A big look at what we are doing well, where things are going wrong, what we need to add in January and what may happen.

Written up mostly before Saturday's abhorration, a look at:

- Patterns
- The bad
- January windows
- Performance position
- Conclusions

Temporary fixes rather than long term solutions, I suspect, but there's a lot to fix.

#BCFC #KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Blues Christoph Klarer and Tyreece Campbell were on the scoresheet as Charlton Athletic held Blues to a draw at St.Andrews.

#CAFC 1-1 #BCFC

Improved performance from Blues, but patterns are becoming clear.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goal conceded
- The midfield
- Christoph Klarer
- Opposition
- Next up

Interesting run of fixtures ahead...

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Absolutely seething with that performance and winner.

Match Report: Southampton 3-1 Blues Birmingham City lose again on the road as Finn Azaz and an Adam Armstrong brace render Demarai Gray's worldie nothing more than a consolation.

Sometimes, it's therapeutic to write after a defeat.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- What we could have done differently
- Kyogo
- Saints
- Next up

Too many bodies ahead of the ball. Defenders backing off. Recipe for disaster.

#BCFC #SaintsFC

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Transfer Targets: National League With the transfer window fast approaching, Ryan Deeney profiles the National League performers who look primed for a move to the EFL

Another year, another collab with @ntt20.com

Five National League players that could be in the EFL in the near future.

open.substack.com/pub/ntt20/p/...

Match Report: Blues 4-1 Norwich City Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield braces give Birmingham City another big home win as lowly Norwich City are cast aside with comfort.

Four goals at home for the third game running. I find it more difficult to find talking points on days like that.

- Report
- Tactics
- An important break
- Tommy Doyle
- Norwich City
- Next up

It's lovely playing against sides that leave their own box.

#BCFC

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

OUR GAMEWEEK 20 NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS! FT, ALDERSHOT V WOKING, BOSTON V CARLISLE YouTube video by Luke Walsh Football Podcast

Podcast with Luke Walsh predicting National League results this weekend.

www.youtube.com/live/71P6-JM...

YouTube video by Keep Right On - A Birmingham City Podcast I walked into a shambles at Birmingham City but Chris Davies is mustard

Good to see Birmingham Live managed to get the other Deeney on.

#BCFC #KRO

youtu.be/-2RmdjKZR_U?...

Match Report: Middlesbrough 2-1 Blues A hard-fought but ultimately fruitless affair on the road as Blues' woes away from St.Andrews continue despite an improved display.

#MFC 2-1 #BCFC

A better display on the road. Not quite good enough against an admittedly galvanised Boro outfit. Good tactical battle.

- Report
- Tactics
- Tired minds & legs
- Better on the road
- Paik
- Boro
- Next

#KRO

afootballblogbyryandeeney.substack.com/p/match-repo...

TWC21 - Our First Loss in a While, and Gateshead FA Cup Preview

New Womble Coefficient pod now out.

Review of Burton defeat. State of League 1 review. FA Cup focus and Gateshead preview/predictions.

Thanks to @ryandeeney.bsky.social for the Gateshead insights.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7lb6...

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Match Report: Bristol City 1-0 Blues Another stodgy display on the road as Blues succumb to Sinclair Armstrong's first goal of the season.

Solve one problem, another arises. This felt like a summary of our season.

- Report
- Tactics
- Breaking down the goal
- Back to stodgy
- An angering final 10
- Team for Pompey
- The opposition

Might be a good thing that I'm missing next Saturday.

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Preston North End 0-1 Blues Phil Neumann's return to the XI saw him score the winner at Deepdale as Blues ended their mini winless run.

#PNE 0-1 #BCFC

We've won, that's the important thing. Nerves settled.

- Report
- Tactics
- Job done
- Phil Neumann
- Heckingbottom comments
- Preston
- Bristol City

18-21 players. All capable. But probably a choice between 12.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Match Report: Blues 2-3 Hull City Blues' long unbeaten at St.Andrews ended in chaotic fashion as a Jay Stansfield double isn't enough to secure a result.

#BCFC 2-3 #HCAFC

Chaos ensues as Blues are beaten at home in the league for the first time since April 2024.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Jack Robinson
- A good performance
- A bad feeling
- Who plays next?

I hope I'm wrong.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

Birmingham City's Defensive Woes A long read breaking down Birmingham City's issues defending set-pieces and crosses.

#BCFC have conceded a lot of rubbish goals this season. Defending set-pieces and crosses has been a problem.

I've gone through every goal, big chance and Reed card conceded in order to work out what the issues are and look at how we solve them.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...

YouTube video by Luke Walsh Football Podcast WHO ARE THE PROMOTION CONTENDERS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE? EARLY SEASON NATIONAL LEAGUE REVIEW!

Did the YouTube thing with Luke Walsh and Off The Line Blog discussing numerous things National League related.

Check it out!

youtu.be/F5_tk1iVi9c?...