h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/4667678.stm

This strikes me as a very naive bit of dealing by Brucie. Campbell's in his mid-twenties now and, to my reckoning, has only played two good games ever. He was crap against Scunthorpe. This is an impulse buy that the Blues will surely regret.

Either that or Birmingham are already preparing for life in the Championship. What do you think?

B

That does seem to be a lot of money for someone who hasn't got a lot of experience. But then again at the game I saw at Southampton it was very much a case of Theo who. The guy was totally anonymous, but that hasn't stopped someone paying squillions for him.

As for preparing for life in the Championship, well Birmingham need to get out of the habit of paying money for players.

That sounds a bit rich, seeing as the Blades have spent £5m plus this season.

And at least Theo Walcott is only 16 and has the best youth training in the country ahead of him.

B

Short, Mulligan, Nix, Shipperley, Gillespie, Unsworth, Deane, Flitcroft and Dyer all came for free.

Yes, Akinbiyi has cost £1,250,000 (plus another £500k based upon promotion and appearances). But this is offset by the £1,275,000 income we've recieved for Gray, Sharp and Harley.

So I've no idea where you get the idea that Sheffield United have spent £5,000,000 this season.

I've not seen Cambell - but it might pay off - at least he's got his strength without complications.

Walcott looked like a baby - yes he's fast but he's lightweight, and he tends to put his head down. (Based on 90 minutes)

I think it's a bad move for Walcott, a big money move with lots of pressure to sit on the bench a handful of times a season and then spend the rest of the time playing with the French U21 squad? Would've been far better for him to get a solid season of lower level football under his belt, the same way Aaron Lennon did before he signed for Spurs.

They can have Sol too if they like

Ledley King for England centre-back!

And we'll have David Bentley too. Bloke deserves a bloody medal.

B

Bentley? Wasn't he the chap who for years it seemed was being touted as Arsenal's next great thing? Then it turned out he wasn't French, so Arsene couldn't have him in the team.

Perhaps if he changes his name to Peugeot...

B

To be fair, he wasn't that great for Norwich, nor where he was playing before Blackburn, so still might be a flash in the pan.

sprout

I thought he was quite good for Norwich, bearing in mind he was crocked for about 4 months.

B

Two goals in 23 starts and several substitutions, when you're one of the target men for scoring goals, is not a good return.

Of the games I've seen him in recently, Dudley Campbell Junior was reasonable against Swansea on Boxing Day, and brilliant against Huddersfield a week and a half ago (unfortunately my commentary for his goal was rubbish). And he's scored 8 goals in the last six games. Basically I think he's got up to the pace of professional football and started playing for Brentford like he played for Yeading.

With some players, you know they won't be able to do it at a higher level because they're lacking in either pace, skill or strength. Now he's got himself in shape and sorted out that last factor, I don't see why he won't be able to make a go of it in the Premiership.