Birmingham City’s post relegation signing of Boaz Myhill was a great addition, and they may try and repeat that feat this summer.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Birmingham was relegated from the Championship but could sign West Brom’s Josh Griffiths on loan, similar to the Boaz Myhill deal.
- Boaz Myhill helped Birmingham to fourth place in the Championship and a shot at European football during his loan spell.
- West Brom may still have plans for Griffiths, potentially affecting Birmingham’s hopes of securing him on loan next season.
Birmingham City’s 13-year stay in the Championship was brought to a sad end as, despite beating Norwich City 1-0, results elsewhere saw them relegated last Saturday.
However, their drop to the third tier of English football may give them hope of finishing a loan deal with West Brom for young keeper Josh Griffiths.
This would be reminiscent of the stellar move they made when they fell out of the Premier League in 2011, as they picked up Baggies keeper, Boaz Myhill, on a one-year loan.
Boaz Myhill wonder-signing
Having been a constant in a Hull City side in the late 2000s, Myhill made a reported £1.5 million move to West Brom on the 30th of July 2010.
Unfortunately, his first season saw him make just 13 starts and in the summer he swapped the Hawthorns for St Andrew’s.
Myhill would go on to play a big role in Birmingham’s season as he helped them to an impressive fourth-placed finish in their first season back in the Championship. Additionally, he got the one and only chance in his career to appear in European football, as the Blues faced off against the likes of Braga and Club Brugge.
They were knocked out of both the Europa League and the play-offs, with Myhill unable to appear in the Championship semi-final against Blackpool due to injury.
His return to West Brom led him to become a back-up keeper for the majority of his career. But, Blues fans won’t forget the work Myhill put in to help them achieve their highest finish in the past 12 years.
Birmingham should try and repeat the deal
Another man who will likely be second fiddle again next season is 22-year-old Josh Griffiths. Having been at West Brom since age 10, Griffiths is unlikely to be given a chance anytime soon, with the form of Alex Palmer keeping his understudy out of the team.
This may provide Birmingham with an ideal chance, and it would be no surprise to see the current promotion favourites go in for the Englishman.
His experience in League One is a further crucial aspect, having played over 50 times in the division for Portsmouth and Lincoln. His short spell at Pompey was a particularly impressive one, keeping seven clean sheets in 22 games and showing a strong ability for passing out of the back.
With present keeper John Ruddy out of contract next month, some fans will be asking for a replacement in goal. For a short-term fix, you can certainly trust Griffiths to provide you with consistent results next year.
| Josh Griffiths’ League One Career as per FotMob | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 55 |
| Goals Conceded | 71 |
| Saves | 144 |
| Clean Sheets | 9 |
Carlos Corberan may have other ideas
Current Baggies head coach, Carlos Corberan may have other plans surrounding Griffiths though. Having recalled the keeper from his loan at Fratton Park last season, the Spaniard gave him a chance towards the end of last season, as the shot-stopper played in 10 Championship games.
Ultimately, this campaign has seen very little game time, but Corberan clearly still has plans for Griffiths.
In a recent interview with Birmingham Live, the head coach stated this about the development of the youngster: “We think in football you only develop with game time, but in your career, that’s not the only way you have to develop”.
Corberan evidently takes a different method from that of many other managers, and West Brom’s league status could play a part in his decision-making next season.
Should the Baggies win promotion via the play-offs, it may be the case that Griffiths moves out on loan to Birmingham in a bid to continue his growth. However, Championship football could see a repeat season for the Hereford-born goalie, and he may have to continue his fight against the excellence of Alex Palmer.
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