Crewe Alex 1-2 Birmingham City - 6 Thoughts

There we go then. The last of the Alex's tests against higher level opposition done for pre-season, their final home game done and only 1 major friendly left, that being next week's visit to Chester. So, what to make of today's encounter? Here are 6 thoughts:

Insulting

Let me start with a rant. I know some of you will roll your eyes reading this and claim it doesn't matter, but to me it does, so I'm going to vent. I think it's frankly insulting that Birmingham, in filling out squads for what for them was a double header, didn't make it more or an even split between this game and their one at Northampton. The only major first teamer at Gresty Road was Jay Stansfield.

Yes, Ryan Allsop, Jack Robinson and Patrick Roberts are part of that group as well, the consensus amongst Birmingham fans on social media was that the far stronger group was at Northampton. Heck, they didn't even allow James Beadle to return to Gresty Road. I know it's been 4 seasons since his loan spell, but still.

12 months ago they did the same when splitting the squads, but that was more understandable given the other opponent was L1 Burton. Why, for two L2 teams, couldn't they balance the it more evenly? Whilst I appreciated Stoke coming and playing a strong side last week, Birmingham have shown their disdain for the Alex by doing this 2 years in a row. Sack them off and find a L1 opponent next time.

15 million pound man

Speaking of Stansfield, it can't have been many times that the Alex have faced an 8 figure player before can there? Were any of Stoke's signings in the last few years that much I wonder? I can't imagine so. Stansfield does get mockery on social media for his inflated price tag, not that he can control that. But today he showed a small glimpse of his quality by ghosting in between Demetriou and Offord and rolling the ball into the corner. Thankfully we are unlikely to see a striker of his quality or price tag again at Gresty Road this season.

T & T

The Alex were missing 2 players from their squad today, those being Joel Tabiner and Owen Taylor. Tabiner was withdrawn after only 20 or so minutes of action against Telford on Tuesday with a tight groin and whilst the management elected not to use him today, it's still a small concern that he's struggling for fitness, given his injury issues in 23-24 and 25-26. Hopefully this is nothing more than a minor issue and he'll back in action against Chester and then Accrington a week later.

Taylor is more of a worry even despite his junior status in the squad. He didn't feature much last season due to unknown ailments and he hasn't played a single minute of pre-season so far. Whilst he wasn't likely to factor in to their first team plans, him missing valuable training and fitness work now is going to impact him once the season gets going, given there is no U21s games for him to play. What is the plan for him and some of the other fringes players I wonder?

Starting XI

If this was the first dress rehearsal for the Accrington game in 2 weeks time, then I wouldn't say I was particularly wowed by much of what I saw. They created chances and held onto the ball well for spells, but they also came up short against a weak Birmingham team as already mentioned. Calum Agius off the right, Matus Holicek at CM alongside Conor Thomas, Owen Lunt in the number 10 role. All things I thought had been tried and discarded?

I get they are being cautious and some players are being handled carefully, but we have to hope that Lankester and White are in a position to start fairly quickly into the season, because the Alex can't afford to have players of their talent level sat on the bench. All that being said, we know results and performances mean very little. They battered a similar Birmingham side 4-0 12 months ago and they finished 11th in the league. Losing 2-1 today doesn't mean they are in for a bad season.

Standouts

On a more positive note, I thought there were a couple of players who distinguished themselves today. Jordan Gibson is the first. He was superb down the left. Yes, he'll face tougher tests pretty soon, but after his 1-on-1 miss last week, he's now bagged 2 in 2, with another well taken finish here after finding space. He was a real menace the whole game and you can see why teams like Carlisle, Bradford and Doncaster have signed him and play him so much. He will need spells out of the starting XI and he'll frustrate on occasions I'm sure, but when he's on his game, he should be a superb player to have.

Another standout was the aforementioned White. Surprisingly wearing the number 10 shirt, he came on and instantly looked calm and collected in midfield. His range of passing, both forward and back, was impressive and it hopefully bodes well for him once he finds his feet, builds his fitness and works his way into games from the start. But this was a promising first outing back in a Crewe shirt and hopefully he can build on that.

Transfer News

Ok, this isn't related to the game, but given the rumour broke as I was walking home from the ground, I thought I'd stick it in here. Journalist Alan Nixon revealed that the Alex are apparently interested in striker Will Keane and are looking to sign him. Now, the red flags are obvious. He's 33 and will be 34 in January. He's had injury problems which have limited him to less than 300 league appearances across a 15 year career to date. Only once has he cracked 20 goals and only 4 times has he hit double figures.

We've seen the Alex get burnt on what could harshly be described as ageing former top end players who are on the way down and are close to retirement. See Kane Hemmings, see Louis Moult. Both had similar CVs to Keane and both offered little to nothing in the solitary year they were at the Alex. Why would Keane be any different?

In addition, since he was released in mid-May, he has sat out there as a free agent, yet nobody seems in a rush to take him. He's been playing for the PFA free agents team in recent weeks to keep his fitness up and his name out there.

However, on the flip side, he's 6ft 2in, so would add a different profile of player. He would add height and a physical presence up front, something they don't really have with March and Thibaut. He has spent his entire career playing at a higher level and he's only 3 years removed from scoring 13 with Preston in the Championship. So perhaps it is worth a gamble?

I will say I'm in between on this one. If they sign him, we had better hope he turns out better than their previous ageing veteran strikers who came and provided negligible benefit. If they don't and he moves elsewhere, I wouldn't shed any tears.