Bolton’s Ian Evatt says he won’t moan about spending in League One after a spat between Charlton and Birmingham bosses.
The topic of Birmingham City’s spending in League One has indeed stirred controversy and discussion amongst fans, pundits, players and managers.
The Blues had a £30million transfer kitty in the summer and spent more on Fulham’s Jay Stansfield than Bolton’s playing budget for the entire season.
Birmingham City, under new ownership by Knighthead Capital Management, have set record transfer fees and wages, spending £30million as they look to get themselves out of the third tier at the first attempt.
The investment includes not only in players but also in infrastructure, with notable upgrades to St Andrew’s stadium, aiming to modernise and increase its commercial appeal.
The club’s strategy involves signing high-calibre players for the division, including notable transfers like Jay Stansfield, aiming to dominate possession and high-press tactics.
And it’s paying off, with Birmingham sitting top of League One with 25 points from 10 games.
However, he became understandably frustrated during a post-match interview after watching his side’s first defeat of the season against Charlton at the beginning of October.
The Blues boss Chris Davies claimed the Addicks had ‘spent a fortune’.
Birmingham boss Chris Davies after their 1-0 defeat at Charlton:
🗣️ “Charlton spent a fortune. They spent a lot of money on their side and are a good team”
Ermmmm 😳 pic.twitter.com/bwX30SSE8t
— The #EFL Zone (@TheFLZone) October 5, 2024
WHAT BIRMINGHAM’S CHRIS DAVIES’ SAID:
“Absolutely, again, Charlton spent a fortune. They’ve spent a lot of money on their squad and they’re a good team so there’s no doubt in my mind that there are multiple teams in this league that are well equipped to be successful.
“We are one of those teams, it’s not Birmingham and the rest. It’s League One. Every game is a different challenge for us that we have to face, and we have to prove how good we are every single game.
“It was one of those games, only one shot on goal. It’s unusual for us, I think that’s the first time that’s happened this season. I think in the final third we normally have a little more creativity and a little more danger when we get there.
CHARLTON’S NATHAN JONES’ RESPONSE:
Jones defended Charlton and his tactics last week, telling South London Press & Mercury: “We play a certain way – regardless of who we play. We have certain principles that we don’t come away from. How we set up is how we feel we can hurt the opposition.
“Contrary to what some people say, we don’t set up just to stop people playing. We have to be very good in possession and then have more than them in possession. Regardless of how people want to see it, you have to stop Birmingham playing and we are ourselves in every game.”
On Davies’ dig about spending: “There aren’t many Championship clubs who have spent what they spent. I don’t know what he classes as fortunes. We have spent more than a lot of League One sides, but I wouldn’t quite call it fortunes.
“We have been very thrifty in the transfer market. I don’t like commenting on others. Birmingham spent fortunes but if they can do that then there is no problem with that, from my point of view. I don’t want to get into an argument about it.
“We know how much we have spent and we can’t spend fortunes because there are restrictions at the club – financial fair play. So we can only spend what we can spend. Have we spent money on players? Absolutely. Is it fortunes compared to a lot of sides? It’s health.”
WHAT BOLTON’S IAN EVATT SAID:
Ahead of Bolton’s meeting with Birmingham on Tuesday (21 Oct) he said, per Bolton News: “It is a big test for everyone, me and the team. I am not going to sit here and start moaning about finances because you shouldn’t be jealous of what other people are doing.
“They are an anomaly at this level, no two ways about it, and it hasn’t been seen at this level before but it’s one thing to do what they have done, it is another to start as consistently as they have done. They have picked up results and they are a difficult team to play against.
“Obviously they have a coach who has vast experience at a much higher level, even though he hasn’t been a manager before. He has got off to a good start and they do things that can hurt you.
“We need a plan, and it’s as tough as it gets, but what a great opportunity to show what we can do.
“I think we’re top of the form guide, which post-Huddersfield you would have taken with both hands. Me being me I am disappointed it isn’t five out of five, it should have been.
“Winning games isn’t easy at any level, not consistently. You saw at the weekend Arsenal beaten by Bournemouth, Manchester City needed the very last minute to win at Wolves, you shouldn’t just disregard any opposition because everyone has a plan, everyone is well coached.
“It has been a challenge to us, there are huge challenges ahead for us, but in the next bit of this international window we’ll know exactly where we are at.”
On watching from a TV gantry: “The view, tactically, was excellent, almost perfect, in fact,” he added. “It was not an experience I necessarily enjoy because I like to be in the hear of battle on the side but in terms of watching the game from an analytical point of view it was beneficial.
“The most important thing on Saturday was to win and, as usual with football, there was context. The spine of the team was missing and with the injuries we had it was a job well done, and now we know there are bigger tests to come.”
Birmingham City captain Krystian Bielik stated at the end of September that he believes Birmingham are “too good for League One” and will be “a Championship team again” at the end of the season.
“It seems like we always find a way to come back – we got two big punches in the face but we came back,” Bielik told BBC Radio WM.
“Full credit to the players, the manager and coaching staff.
“We’re working so hard for these sorts of games when it’s not going your way in the beginning but we find a way to win.
“I stayed because I wanted to win something. I missed the feeling of winning games.
“The last two years at Birmingham was really average. We’d win one game and then lost two or three in a row. It was tough and we had to go through those moments.
“What is happening now, we fully deserve. Obviously we got relegated, and we’re in League One, but we’ve played very well and we play very enjoyable football.
“I’m here to enjoy football again because I haven’t enjoyed it for a while.
“We’re League One but I don’t think there are any players in this team who are League One players.
“All of them are at a higher level. In six months time we’ll be a Championship team and a different animal.
“We stay humble and keep our feet on the ground and we don’t want to choke on it. But the reality is we’re too good for League One.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login