West Midlands football latest: Wolves and Villa signings of the season and Blues managerial latest
A full version of the BirminghamWorld Q&A.
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00:00 Charlie, let's look at Wolves and their best signings for this season, who've joined the club over the summer or January even as well,
00:10 and have made an impact and afforded their stay at the club. Who stands out for you as Wolves' best signing this season?
00:20 Well, obviously, it's been a season where Wolves haven't been able to spend big money,
00:25 having to stay on the correct side of financial fair play, the Premier League's very strict profit sustainability rules.
00:31 We've seen how that's ended up for the likes of Everton and Nottingham Forest with points deductions.
00:35 So, not much money could be spent. And as a result, I've gone for a player who I suppose technically was a signing from last season,
00:42 but became permanent at the start of this. Matthias Kuhnje has just been unbelievable in a Wolves shirt,
00:48 getting 12 goals and 7 assists in his 32 Premier League matches, season just gone. A hat-trick against Chelsea as well.
00:55 A goal of the season contender away at Nottingham Forest, the one where he dribbled through pretty much the entire team down the left-hand side.
01:01 A clever turn in the box to put it in the back of the net. I think he's just been so, so impressive.
01:07 But not just with his goals and assists, but just his general build-up play, the way he drives through the centre with the ball.
01:12 It gives Wolves a bit of impetus and attacks, which we didn't really see under Bruno Large.
01:16 Lopetegui as well. I know he did a fantastic job, but they weren't exactly scoring goals with fun, were they?
01:21 But Kuhnje, his drive through the middle, working with the likes of Neto and Huang has been really impressive.
01:26 So, I think he's been the signing of the season. But I think an honourable mention has to go to Tommy Doyle, of course, who joined from Manchester City.
01:33 It was an initial loan. That's now going to be permanent for a very small fee.
01:38 I think he's been impressive in the middle of the park. His passing range, I think, is one thing that has been particularly impressive.
01:45 It just gives Wolves a bit more of an outlet in midfield. Rather than just having the physical players, the likes of Lamina and Jao Gomes,
01:52 you've got someone who can maybe thread a pass through the centre a bit better. So, I think Doyle's been a good signing too.
01:58 Yeah, and just on Tommy Doyle, obviously, more out of the home nations. Wolves have taken a route of signing foreign players over the last five, six years,
02:09 even since Fosen took over. He's a great example of why you need to look at the Premier League clubs as academies and just try and loan players.
02:18 And then they might fall in love with the club. He seems like a fan favourite. And as you say, a fantastic season.
02:24 How important is it that Wolves don't always take the foreign route with transfers?
02:29 I think as well, the homegrown quota, having to have a certain amount of players registered that are homegrown, that's important.
02:36 As well, having someone who's going to be coming through in the British ranks, I think is important as well for the younger players, English-speaking players.
02:44 Also, for a Manchester City club that's got such an impressive academy, you can get these players on the cheap because they're not going to have the opportunities.
02:53 So many world-class players in this field. And I think Wolves have taken good advantage of that and getting a real coup for just a few million pounds.
02:59 Charlie, in terms of Aston Villa, obviously we've mentioned an unbelievable season, one of their best in the top flight for a number of years.
03:09 In terms of their signings, who came into the club and who's benefited them, whether that be over the last couple of summers or in terms of improvement under Unai Emery, for example.
03:19 Obviously, we've seen the likes of John McGinn. Not a new signing, but he's almost playing like a new signing this season. How fantastic he was.
03:27 Who stands out in that area of players who have just been fantastic? Vavilla and obviously quite a newer face at the club.
03:36 I think Leon Bailey in that argument of not new signings, but feels like one could also be in that conversation.
03:42 In terms of actual new signings, I think the main man fee-wise, £52 million, the big marquee signing was Moussa Diaby.
03:51 I don't think he's lived up to that price tag. As much as he's got quite a few goals and assists this season, especially in the Europa Conference League,
03:58 I don't think he's quite been the player that Villa fans were expecting. He's been quite inconsistent and in some matches his decision-making just hasn't been good enough.
04:05 A little bit like Bailey was actually when he first joined. So maybe there's hope that Diaby can eventually settle and become that player that they want him to be.
04:13 But Paul Torres stepping into defence, just over £30 million he was signed for. He's been world-class from the moment he arrived.
04:21 It sometimes takes these players from the likes of La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Liga to come to the Premier League.
04:27 It takes him a bit of time to adjust, but you can just see his experience. The fact he's already a European, continental player.
04:34 He just steps into that left-hand side of defence. It's the way Unai Emery wants to play as well, having that centre-back who can drift out to left-back if you need and pass out from the back.
04:42 It's been so, so impressive. I know he's had the odd shaky performance here and there and his positioning maybe showed a lot to be desired against Brentford in particular,
04:51 as they unlocked Villa's defence with some low crossing. But I think in terms of that consistent force, he can become that with a bit more time.
04:58 And for the fee as well, £30 million to get a world-class defender, you can't exactly go wrong with that.
05:03 An honourable mention goes to Morgan Rodgers, who joined in the winter. He's already got three goals and an assist in 11 Premier League matches.
05:11 Played a lot in the Conference League as well and has been that player who can either drive through to centre with the ball using his physicality or can go out on the left.
05:19 He can probably play in that second striker role alongside Ollie Watkins as well. Just £15 million it will be altogether.
05:25 £8 million initially from Middlesbrough. A player who came through at West Bromwich Albion and went to Manchester City.
05:31 I think both of those clubs will now be regretting the fact he's at Villa because he's looking like a potential England player in the future.
05:37 If it wasn't for the likes of Cole Palmer breaking through as well, I think we could see Morgan Rodgers in an England shirt pretty soon.
05:42 Because for Villa, he's solved a lot of problems, especially when Jacob Ramsey's been out. And I think he's got a big future for Unai Emery's team.
05:49 It obviously becomes an interesting summer window for Aston Villa. You mentioned Diaby and Paltares there. That was before Champions League football was achieved.
06:00 That shows Unai Emery's pull that he has. How much of a pull does the Champions League now bring to these top players?
06:08 It seems like Villa are just going to keep on getting better and if they can keep getting these players to come in, these world-class players who have world-class seasons.
06:16 Diaby for Leverkusen before he signed was one of the hottest prospects in the world at the time.
06:22 It's going to be a massive summer for Aston Villa and it's something the fans can really get excited about.
06:27 Absolutely. I think with Emery, his pull, as you say, his experience, how successful he's been across European competitions, all those Europa League titles that he's got, it's been so impressive.
06:38 The fact he's so committed to the club, signing a new deal, showing that he wants to stick around for many years, potentially even a decade he was speaking about.
06:46 Players that are experienced, already established, can build into that and they can buy into that to want to join Villa for the long term as well.
06:53 On to Birmingham City, obviously news emerging about Tony Mowbray's departure from the club, something he won't look fondly back on and something that Blues will see as a real missed opportunity.
07:06 Obviously, his health coming into that. What's the latest you can tell us in terms of this summer?
07:11 Because it's going to be a real time to clear out and rebuild for Blues and ensure that they return to the Championship at the back end of next season.
07:21 I think personally, the best wishes to Tony Mowbray. I think he would be the first person to say he wants to be in the dugout.
07:27 He wants to help Birmingham. He's a proper footballing man, a real gent as well. Such a lovely bloke the few times I did speak to him.
07:34 You'll be gutted that he can't continue. But at the end of the day, his health has to come first.
07:38 He's had major surgery. We're not exactly sure what that is, but that doesn't matter.
07:42 He's still recovering from that. It was a few months ago and he's still having to build his health back at home.
07:47 I think it's the right decision at the end of the day. It's also been very selfless to tell Birmingham so quickly by the end of the season,
07:55 before the summer transfer window has begun, so the new manager can come in, he can begin to clear out of who he wants.
08:01 They can have a proper preparation ahead of next season because it is so important trying to get back to the Championship as soon as possible,
08:08 especially with the ownership and how ambitious they are.
08:11 There's a few candidates so far, but it's not going to be a very quick decision, I don't think, for Blues.
08:15 Maybe take a week or two to get their man in. I could be proven wrong.
08:19 Alex Neil, the old Stoke City boss, Sunderland as well, Norwich City he's managed before.
08:25 He's had three promotions in his career, so he's got a good track record.
08:28 I don't think Blues fans are too keen on him though, because of some comments he's made about the club in the past
08:33 and how he's been in opposition press conferences. He's not quite been that man that Blues fans are going to warn to straight away.
08:39 The initial reaction to that one's been pretty poor.
08:42 Paul Heckingbottom is another name who's been mentioned.
08:45 Of course, got promoted for Sheffield United to the Premier League a couple of years ago.
08:49 He was sacked halfway through the season because of how poorly the Blades were doing.
08:53 In the end, Chris Wilder came back and showed that it wasn't Heckingbottom's fault.
08:56 It was just the squad not being good enough, they weren't prepared well enough for the Premier League.
09:00 So I think he'd be a really good appointment and I think Blues fans have been a bit more welcoming to his name on the books.
09:07 And then Liam Rosinia was the big standout candidate when the Mowbray News broke.
09:11 He's not going to want to drop down to League One, unfortunately, for Blues fans.
09:15 Looking over social media, it seems like Blues fans are resetting their minds.
09:21 The Championship's gone, it seems like the turnaround of being annoyed at the club is gone.
09:26 It shows that there is ambition there and they can really get behind the new owners.
09:31 As you say, they are very ambitious, despite a relegation, which is something that is absolutely terrible for the club.
09:38 It doesn't seem to be hitting the same as if another club got relegated.
09:42 So that does show some positive signs for this ownership under Birmingham City.
09:48 Absolutely. I think they'd be on thin ice had they not shown so much ambition.
09:53 The new stadium plans as well and obviously Tom Brady coming in has helped.
09:57 The promise of spending a lot of money, not just on the facilities, but on other players as well in the future.
10:02 If it wasn't for that, I think Blues fans would have turned on them and rightly so.
10:06 But they are showing that ambition. It is their fault, I suppose, that they have got relegated.
10:11 So much uncertainty last year, so many different managers, but they're trying to make amends for that.
10:15 They've got a second chance now to prove their worth.
10:18 And finally, Charlie, on to West Bromwich Albion.
10:21 Now, their retained list in terms of players staying over the club and another Championship season ahead.
10:27 Let's just discuss that first.
10:29 The play-offs wasn't to be in the end against Southampton.
10:32 How will they view this? Will they view it as a bit of a missed opportunity or something that they could have shown signs that they can compete at the top of the Championship?
10:41 And they'll hope to be there or even better this time in 12 months?
10:46 I think it's quite promising, the fact that they did finish in the play-offs.
10:49 It's a very competitive year in the Championship.
10:51 We kind of knew from the very beginning who the big teams were going to be.
10:55 Leeds United and Leicester City fighting at the top.
10:58 Obviously, Leeds didn't get automatics in the end. It was Ipswich Town with a very impressive display of the season.
11:03 And then Southampton as well, being relegated from the Premier League.
11:06 Probably one of the biggest triple ups of teams being relegated we've ever seen in terms of just quality and pure spending power.
11:13 And the managers as well in those dugouts, so, so impressive.
11:16 So it was always going to be difficult to get into those spots in the first place.
11:20 So the fact West Brom got in the top six, impressive.
11:23 Disappointing, yes, that they weren't able to beat Southampton, but it just proved too much for them.
11:28 The golfing quality on the pitch in that second leg was so, so clear to see.
11:33 And I don't think they really stood a chance, unfortunately.
11:35 And then even if they did win that and got to Wembley, anything can happen.
11:39 We know that in the play-off finals in the past, but Leeds United look unbelievable at the moment.
11:44 I'm so surprised they didn't get that second spot and they'll probably go up against Southampton.
11:48 So, yeah, disappointing, but expected in the end.
11:52 And just on their retain list ahead of the summer, what can Albion fans expect?
11:56 Who's going to stay? Who's going to maybe, you know, have played their final game at the Hawthorns?
12:01 There's quite a few players who've played their final games and a few who've been very good servants for the club,
12:06 but obviously not seen to be worth their wages in the future or they want to go on to fresh destinations.
12:12 Matt Phillips being one of them. He's been with the club for a number of years and is impressed in the Premier League
12:17 and in the Championship as well. Very versatile, but he'll be going.
12:20 Adam Reach, Nathaniel Chalabur, Eric Peters, Jan Amvir, who came in in the winter,
12:25 certainly has not impressed and settled in like many would have hoped.
12:28 Martin Kelly, who didn't even really play a game because of serious injury,
12:31 and then Jovan Malcom, the young striker as well, all going.
12:34 Mikey Johnston, who was a really impressive unknown from Celtic.
12:38 He won't be signing permanently unless something dramatic changes.
12:41 Andy Vyman, Callum Marshall and Pippa see the same fates.
12:45 And then the players that they've offered new deals to, I think West Brom fans will be relieved to hear.
12:49 Karl Bartley, Cedric Kipray and Alex Moet, all three of them very key players,
12:54 especially towards the end of the season. Kipray in particular has been trapped by Premier League clubs.
12:59 He's been offered a new deal. Whether he takes it or not awaits to be seen.
13:02 waits to be seen.