Thought this was quite an interesting inside view on DJ Campbell from a Brum fan. Gives a good indication of what he could offer (if he comes!) and hopefully will lift a few "Missing out on Heidar" blues! Now hailed by the press as "Deadly Dudley", DJ Campbell is reaching the status of a cult hero at Birmingham City. Blues fans are always in search of unlikely heroes and the former warehouse worker has found a place in their hearts this year. Unable to make a proper mark in their doomed Premiership campaign last year, DJ has taken his goal tally to twelve this season, with an enviable goals to minutes played ratio. Left out of the sixteen a few times, perhaps unjustly, he hasn`t moaned or complained, but got on with the job and made sure that Steve Bruce wasn`t able to ignore him for long. He turned up trumps again yesterday, making his mark on the scoresheet within three minutes of replacing the unlucky Cameron Jerome (who, incidentally had done a great job of softening up the Coventry defence). He got on the end of Kelly`s long ball and charged down hapless defenders who were already tired from fending off the attacks from Jerome, Bendtner and Vine. His second goal was, if anything, better as he launched himself forward on to Nafti`s cross and crashed the ball into the roof of the net. Two more real poacher`s goals from a player who has the knack of getting himself into exactly the right place at the right time. Campbell will never have the silky skills of players from the Arsenal stable, or the strength of the stockier powerhouses like Rooney, but he is the archetypal "fox in the box", always looking for the chance to score - and sometimes scoring in the most unlikely circumstances. Utterly fearless, he will run at defenders that dwarf him, and he is always first into the box for a goalmouth scramble. Probably best of all in a supersub role, the excitement peaks when DJ is ready in the technical area as the fans know that there is a good likelihood of a goal. Campbell loves his football at St Andrew`s and if Birmingham can hang on to an automatic promotion spot, the little guy will know that he has made a massive contribution.
He could be just what we're looking for. I like the fact that he didn't moan about being left out but just got on with the job at hand. He could fit Aidy's setup very well indeed.
You're right Job it does say it all, it says that when he is given a chance he takes it! Will be a quality acqusition IMO.
Does it? Brum hardly banged the goals in for fun and yet he rarely started. Just what we need another squad striker to add to the already swollen ranks.
Except I don't think that Fitzgerald ever scored a goal from outside the 6 yard box. Also he seemed completely unable to run with the ball. As I similarly said with HH, I'd rather spend near £2mil on Campbell than on Sharp or Eastwood. And jobr, I think he will add something extra as our only other nippy strikers are Hoskins and potentially Kabba, neither of which are really up to it.
Is that on Sky Sports News? Can't seem to find anything...I'm not fussed about D.J to be honest. I think we should make a move for Fowler, i imagine wages would be on the high side but he could also coach the players we have, especially the younger players Hoskin and Priskin
Wrong - scored a scorcher at west brom having come on as sub, which we lost 3-1 and HH got sent of in the last minute for a lundging (how the uck do you spell that word?) tackle on west broms goal line - hilarious sending off, very dangerous and in pouring rain. Scott Fitzgerald cost us nothing and his one season he scored goals - this player gets far too much stick considering his goals were quite vital to us.
I heard DJ was keen on joining us as he could be closer to home again. He was originally from Yeading. Leicester are northern pants anyway. I'd love to watch king and DJ pullling defenses apart every week. Bring him on!
Were a bit of a joke really aint we. Anyone watching our 'transfer activity' must be ******* themselves laughing
He sounds a bit hit and miss so maybe its no great loss we have missed otu but I agree it s aworry NO-ONE seems keen to come striker wise. We managed to get a goalie,winger and defender in quickly.
Scott Fitzgerald was our top league scorer in his first full season with 11 goals, and I have to say we wouldn't have been where we were without them. Yes he wasn't good enough to stay, but we should be grateful for the goals he did score for us. As for DJ, he signed for Leicester. HH has gone to Bolton. Let us hope we have more success in the transfer market over the coming weeks.
I'm not being ungrateful to Fitzgerald. I'm simply saying that I'd have been very uncomfortable spending a near club record fee on a player who can score poachers goals at this level (= "fox in the box") but has been dumped by his club as soon as they get promoted. Particularly when you watch how quickly Scott's career dropped right off.
