Birmingham City's summer recruit has turned out to be a smart addition: Opinion
11/20/2024 10:16 AM
Birmingham City swooped to sign Ryan Allsop in the last transfer window to bolster their goalkeeping department.
Birmingham City snapped up the stopper to compete with Bailey Peacock-Farrell for their number one position.
Allsop, 32, was handed a three-year deal by the Blues this past summer running until June 2027. He initially had to bide his time for his opportunity between the sticks but has become their first choice over recent weeks.
The stopper is a vastly experienced player in the Football League and will be a very useful to have in and around the dressing room.
Birmingham City were relegated from the Championship last season and have since adapted well to life in League One. They have only lost once and are currently sat 2nd in the table with a game in-hand on Wycombe Wanderers above them as they prepare for their upcoming away trip to Shrewsbury Town this weekend.
Birmingham City’s shrewd signing
Allsop is comfortable with the ball at his feet and that is a crucial attribute for a modern day ‘keeper.
The ex-England youth international was at Hull City’s last term in the second tier and played 38 games in all competitions as they finished 7th, just three points shy of the play-offs in the end.
He dropped down a division to link up with the Blues and hasn’t looked back since.
Allsop has played just under 400 games so far in his career and that know-how will come in handy as his current club charge for promotion.
He has had stints in the past at West Brom, Bournemouth, Wycombe Wanderers, Derby County and Cardiff City and hasn’t played outside the Championship since 2020 which shows how much his game has developed over the last four years.
The Birmingham-born man saved a crucial penalty away at Lincoln City last month and said afterwards, as per a report by BirminghamLive: “I’m really proud. It’s obviously a club I grew up supporting, my dad used to bring me to the games, so it’s a huge honour and privilege to put on the shirt.
“It’s a bit surreal. I used to be the one in there singing, to have them sing my name makes me proud. I’m really proud of myself. My mom and dad were here, and my aunty, they come to every game. I’m sure my wife was watching at home with my kids. It’s a proud moment for me but we look to the next game back at our place and hopefully we can get the three points again.”
What now?
Allsop will want to keep his place in the starting XI ahead of Peacock-Farrell.
Davies is fortunate to have two solid options to pick from.
The Blues will be itching to return after the international break and leapfrog Wycombe Wanderers.
They pressed hard with their recruitment in the last window and Allsop is turning into a shrewd acquisition.
Birmingham City will have the chance to bring in some more reinforcements in January.
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