Chris Davies Embraces Squad Rotation as Birmingham City Face Tough Fixtures
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has declared that he is no longer afraid to rotate his squad, a significant shift from his previous approach. Davies admitted that in the past, he "probably flogged some players too much" due to limitations in the team's depth, but the January transfer window has transformed his options.
New Signings Provide Strength-in-Depth
The Blues secured six new signings in January, giving Davies enviable choices across the pitch. The winger department, featuring Demarai Gray, Patrick Roberts, Ibrahim Osman, and Carlos Vicente, exemplifies the club's enhanced strength-in-depth. Davies emphasized that he now feels confident making strategic changes without a significant drop in quality.
"When I'm looking at games now, I don't feel that there's a big drop off," Davies told BBC Radio WM. "Previously I did – no disrespect to the other players – and I probably flogged some players too much and they probably lost their efficiency."
Strategic Planning for Upcoming Matches
This new flexibility comes at a crucial time, as Birmingham City kickstart a testing trio of fixtures in the Championship. They head to Norwich City this weekend, followed by matches against Millwall and Middlesbrough. Davies highlighted the importance of managing energy levels and player profiles.
"What I've got to be is quite strategic and pick based on the opposition, the game, the energy levels," he explained. "Some of our players played 120 minutes (against Leeds) and put a lot into it. These things are all in my mind when it comes to decision making."
Davies noted the unique attributes of his players, such as Vicente being different from Roberts, and August Priske offering a different profile to Jay Stansfield. This diversity allows him to tailor his selections to specific tactical needs.
Buoyed by FA Cup Performance
The manager was encouraged by Birmingham City's performance in last weekend's FA Cup tie against Leeds United. Despite falling short on penalties after 120 minutes of intense play, the team went toe-to-toe with Premier League opposition. Players like Ryan Allsop, Jonathan Panzo, and August Priske impressed, giving Davies additional considerations for squad selection.
"There's a few things that I'm considering," said Davies. "Everyone is getting into a good position and we've got players coming back from injury, the squad's getting a bit bigger."
He stressed the need to maintain high energy levels across the upcoming fixtures, acknowledging past shortcomings in this area. "I've said previously that in these weeks we've fallen short at times in terms of the energy levels of certain players so we need to get that right," Davies added.
With a bolstered squad, Davies believes it is now more feasible to sustain performance over 90 to 100 minutes, ensuring players remain engaged and focused throughout this challenging period.
