As Birmingham City approaches the conclusion of yet another demanding League One season, Chris Davies will be suffering from significant selection issues.
After swift victories over Lincoln City and Bolton Wanderers, the Blues’ last League One opponents for the next two weeks will be fourth-place Mansfield. Next week’s top priorities are the FA Cup trip to non-league Sutton United and the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, where the Blues will meet Fulham under-21s on Tuesday.
Scott Wright and Kristian Bielik will not play for Mansfield against the Blues, and Emil Hansson is doubtful after complaining of leg pain during Tuesday’s victory over Bolton. The Blues’ journey to Field Mill is probably going to change.
Alex Dicken
It seems to me that it’s time to switch up the midfield and bring Marc Leonard back. The last time the Blues played three games in eight days, they were defeated by Charlton in the final, and Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-ho looked fatigued. However, given what we saw on Tuesday night, it is impossible to argue that either of them should be excluded.
It’s difficult to see Emil Hansson playing, and as we saw against Bolton, it might give Leonard a chance to make the squad, but I’m betting on Jay Stansfield. Additionally, I believe Lyndon Dykes could be worth starting this time at Alfie May’s expense. Dykes is due for a start after May misfired against Bolton.
The only other change I envisage is at right-back. Ethan Laird has done well but Taylor Gardner-Hickman is fresher after playing the role of finisher on Tuesday.
(4-2-3-1): Allsop; Gardner-Hickman, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Iwata, Paik; Willumsson, Stansfield, Anderson; Dykes
Brian Dick
Despite the Charlton example, which seemed to suggest that Paik and Iwata were being asked to go too far, I would be tempted to start all three central midfielders.
Putting all three of them on the same team makes a 4-2-3-1 look a little forced, but Davies has demonstrated that such ideas are just numbers and that the real structure is much more flexible, with Blues rarely, if ever, playing.
Sometimes Iwata appears to be the only player in a set position, while other times it appears to be a box with Willumsson falling into midfield. However, I believe Leonard gives Paik more freedom to move where the space is while simultaneously adding a little more control.
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