Garry O'Connor Handed Six Month Deal
Birmingham City have given striker, Garry O'Connor, a six-month contract with the option of a further six months.
It's not been clear since the end of last season whether O'Connor would stay on at the club considering the fact that the Blues have just signed Valencia front man, Nikola Zigic.
However, he has been shown a little bit of faith and now has half a year to prove that he has what it takes to do well for the club and in the Premier League in general. Birmingham surprised a lot of people with the way they played last season and this news could be equally surprising to many.
There are many benefits to this deal for both sides. The player gets a little bit of security from the club he clearly wants to be at, while the club is not tied down to a player on a long contract.
The Player
O'Connor gets the chance to get his head down and work hard for half a year. By January he may have done enough to convince the club that he deserves a much longer contract than another six months.
He has no other incentive than to run around like a mad man and try to score goals. He is not going to get too many first team chances so it's important that he goes all out when he is in the team.
The move also provides him with the chance to prove that he is not as injury prone as everyone seems to think. There are a lot of these types of players at many clubs who always seem to pick up small injuries. O'Connor now has the chance to get fit over the pre-season program and show the club and the manager that he can stay fit for a long time.
The Club
The positive of this move for the club is that they have not tied themselves down to a contract with a player that they may not want in half a year. This allows them to judge whether O'Connor is up to the job as a striker or whether it really is time for him to move on.
It also gives the manager, Alex McLeish, a chance to see how O'Connor reacts over the pre-season program. If he does well and looks up for the fight through a current groin injury then McLeish could well pick the striker early on during the Premier League season.
The manager said: "Garry has had a chronic groin and hip injury and it probably goes back to his Hibs days and the days he spent in Russia when he played on a synthetic surface. If you imagine him fully fit without those problems then that's what we've got to see - what Garry can produce without these hiccups."
Betting Advice
Birmingham are shaping up to be one of the more unpredictable clubs for the new Premier League season. There is no doubt they will stand a much better chance of scoring more goals if O'Connor is in the team and playing well.
However, a huge deal depends on whether he can get fit during pre season. There will be a few friendlies so take a close look at each to see if you can see his name on the team list at any point.
The best option is to wait until the season starts before you decide to back O'Connor or Birmingham. You will then be able to judge form, consistency and make more calculated bets that will stop you throwing money down the drain.
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