Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
Birmingham City supporters have had their say on the form of one transfer window recruit.
The Blues were ambitious in the summer transfer window following their promotion from League One to the Championship.
Birmingham spent around £12m this summer on transfers, with some excellent work also in the loan market.
However, the start of the second tier season has not gone to plan for one summer recruit, but the Birmingham faithful have jumped to his defence.
Birmingham City fans defend Kyogo Furuhashi despite poor start
Birmingham signed Kyogo Furuhashi from French top flight side Rennes in a deal worth in the region of £8m.
The Japanese international arrived with high expectations from the Blues supporters, but the former Celtic forward has scored just once in his first eight games for Birmingham.
As pointed out by the Second Tier podcast on X, Furuhashi’s poor form in front of goal is laid bare by the fact that no Championship striker has missed more big chances than Kyogo Furuhashi (6) this season.
Despite Furuhashi firing blanks in all seven of his Championship outings so far, the Blues fanbase has leapt to his defence and are adamant that he will come good.
One Blues fan said: “Off the ball he is fantastic. When he gets it he seems a bit rushed, heavy touches, not taking enough touches before he shoots etc I think it’ll be a case of when he hits one in the onion bag they won’t stop coming as it’ll settle him down”.
Another posted: “His movement is top class, the way he finds space is honestly mesmerising. First touch is usually top drawer as is his close control. He has a great footballing brain & outstanding vision… It’ll come.”
A third said: “He gets into some phenomenal positions with his clever movement. The goals will come”.
“His movement off the ball means he’s giving himself the opportunities. This is his game, we need to be patient with him”, argued one Birmingham fan.
One Bluenose said: “Once he gets one he’ll cook. Everything else about his game is top notch. Just needs that goal,” as another added: “Movement is unreal. Lacking confidence needs a goal and he will score 15-17 this season”.
- READ MORE: Birmingham City and Burnley beaten as Championship club lead way in vital English football stat
Patrick Roberts can help improve Kyogo Furuhashi’s form
Birmingham signed Patrick Roberts on loan from Sunderland in the window, and the tricky right-winger has already made a good impression for the Blues.
In the 1-0 win over Swansea City at the weekend, Roberts whipped a wonderful ball in after some stellar footwork which saw Lyndon Dykes leap to score the last-minute winner.
Former Blues boss Tony Mowbray called Roberts a “genius” only hours before his heroics against Swansea, and the Sunderland loanee could be key for Chris Davies to aid Furuhashi’s form.
Roberts can support Furuhashi with his clever link-up play in dangerous pockets of space, as he did so brilliantly alongside Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo during the 2022/23 season for Sunderland.
The Swansea win saw the Japanese forward’s goalless run stretched to six, and with Coventry City up next for the Blues, Davies must start Roberts in the hopes that Furuhashi’s barren run does not reach seven.