Ryan Deeney
banner
ryandeeney.bsky.social
Ryan Deeney
@ryandeeney.bsky.social
Mostly Blues. National League Head Researcher for Football Manager.
#BCFC 1-1 #SCFC

Another home draw as Blues fail to take their chances.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Room for improvement
- The new lads
- Stoke
- Next up

Honestly, it wasn't that bad.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Blues 1-1 Stoke City
Blues are held to a fourth 1-1 draw in five matches at St.Andrews as Phil Neumann's own goal cancels out Tomoki Iwata's opener.
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:17 AM
#SWFC 0-2 #BCFC

Two late goals are enough to secure a rare away win for Blues.

- Report
- Tactics
- It's a win
- Big Jhon
- Scott Wright
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Next up

A seven point week would be lovely.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Blues
Marvin Ducksch and Kyogo Furuhashi goals are enough to see off bottom of the table Sheffield Wednesday.
open.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:39 PM
#SCAFC 1-1 #BCFC

A decent point on the road.

- Report
- Tactics
- Goals
- Taking the point
- Stansfield
- Swansea
- Next

A big week is well under way.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Swansea City 1-1 Blues
Blues and Swansea play out a 1-1 draw at the Liberty thanks to goals from Zan Vipotnik and Patrick Roberts.
open.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:53 PM
#CamUtd 2-3 #BCFC

A nervy finish, but Blues advance thanks to Wagner, Kyogo & Ducksch.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Advancing
- Work to do
- Cambridge
- Next

Here's hoping for more positive news on the transfer front.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Cambridge United 2-3 Blues
A nervy finish, but Blues advance in the FA Cup thanks to Kai Wagner, Kyogo Furuhashi and Marvin Ducksch goals.
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 10:46 PM
#BCFC 3-2 #PUSB

A much-needed victory as Blues beat the league leaders.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Much needed
- Coventry
- Next up

Not perfect, but much, much better.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Blues 3-2 Coventry City
A much-needed win for Birmingham City as Marvin Ducksch and Lewis Koumas secure three points against the EFL Championship league leaders.
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:05 PM
#WatfordFC 3-0 #BCFC

Another away game. Another heavy defeat. More crap goals conceded.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Away day blues
- Change to come
- Watford
- Next up

I think we all need a break.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Watford 3-0 Blues
Another shocker of an away display as Blues fall to a heavy defeat at Vicarage Road.
open.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:35 PM
#BCFC 1-1 #SaintsFC

A better display, if not perfect.

- Report
- Tactics
- The equaliser
- Change
- Sampsted
- Koumas
- The rest
- Southampton
- Next

Will a left winger make themselves known please.

#BCFC #KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Blues 1-1 Southampton
A positive display but Birmingham City remain winless in six as Chris Davies sees red amid a controversial equaliser at St.Andrews.
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:54 AM
#BCFC 1-1 #DCFC

Not necessarily a bad performance, but all the same issues remain.

- Report
- Tactics
- The opener
- Who plays next?
- Lewis Koumas
- Opposition
- Next up

I'm fearful.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Blues 1-1 Derby County
Chris Davies and John Eustace level out in a game that saw two goals, two reds and the crossbar hit in the 98th minute.
open.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Written up mostly before Saturday's abhorration, a look at:

- Patterns
- The bad
- January windows
- Performance position
- Conclusions

Temporary fixes rather than long term solutions, I suspect, but there's a lot to fix.

#BCFC #KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Birmingham City January 2026 Transfer Window
A big look at what we are doing well, where things are going wrong, what we need to add in January and what may happen.
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:17 AM
#CAFC 1-1 #BCFC

Improved performance from Blues, but patterns are becoming clear.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goal conceded
- The midfield
- Christoph Klarer
- Opposition
- Next up

Interesting run of fixtures ahead...

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Blues
Christoph Klarer and Tyreece Campbell were on the scoresheet as Charlton Athletic held Blues to a draw at St.Andrews.
open.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Absolutely seething with that performance and winner.
December 9, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Sometimes, it's therapeutic to write after a defeat.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- What we could have done differently
- Kyogo
- Saints
- Next up

Too many bodies ahead of the ball. Defenders backing off. Recipe for disaster.

#BCFC #SaintsFC

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Southampton 3-1 Blues
Birmingham City lose again on the road as Finn Azaz and an Adam Armstrong brace render Demarai Gray's worldie nothing more than a consolation.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Another year, another collab with @ntt20.com

Five National League players that could be in the EFL in the near future.

open.substack.com/pub/ntt20/p/...
Transfer Targets: National League
With the transfer window fast approaching, Ryan Deeney profiles the National League performers who look primed for a move to the EFL
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Four goals at home for the third game running. I find it more difficult to find talking points on days like that.

- Report
- Tactics
- An important break
- Tommy Doyle
- Norwich City
- Next up

It's lovely playing against sides that leave their own box.

#BCFC

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Blues 4-1 Norwich City
Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield braces give Birmingham City another big home win as lowly Norwich City are cast aside with comfort.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Podcast with Luke Walsh predicting National League results this weekend.

www.youtube.com/live/71P6-JM...
OUR GAMEWEEK 20 NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS! FT, ALDERSHOT V WOKING, BOSTON V CARLISLE
YouTube video by Luke Walsh Football Podcast
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Good to see Birmingham Live managed to get the other Deeney on.

#BCFC #KRO

youtu.be/-2RmdjKZR_U?...
I walked into a shambles at Birmingham City but Chris Davies is mustard
YouTube video by Keep Right On - A Birmingham City Podcast
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
#MFC 2-1 #BCFC

A better display on the road. Not quite good enough against an admittedly galvanised Boro outfit. Good tactical battle.

- Report
- Tactics
- Tired minds & legs
- Better on the road
- Paik
- Boro
- Next

#KRO

afootballblogbyryandeeney.substack.com/p/match-repo...
Match Report: Middlesbrough 2-1 Blues
A hard-fought but ultimately fruitless affair on the road as Blues' woes away from St.Andrews continue despite an improved display.
afootballblogbyryandeeney.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Reposted by Ryan Deeney
New Womble Coefficient pod now out.

Review of Burton defeat. State of League 1 review. FA Cup focus and Gateshead preview/predictions.

Thanks to @ryandeeney.bsky.social for the Gateshead insights.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7lb6...

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
TWC21 - Our First Loss in a While, and Gateshead FA Cup Preview
open.spotify.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Solve one problem, another arises. This felt like a summary of our season.

- Report
- Tactics
- Breaking down the goal
- Back to stodgy
- An angering final 10
- Team for Pompey
- The opposition

Might be a good thing that I'm missing next Saturday.

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Bristol City 1-0 Blues
Another stodgy display on the road as Blues succumb to Sinclair Armstrong's first goal of the season.
open.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:18 PM
#PNE 0-1 #BCFC

We've won, that's the important thing. Nerves settled.

- Report
- Tactics
- Job done
- Phil Neumann
- Heckingbottom comments
- Preston
- Bristol City

18-21 players. All capable. But probably a choice between 12.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Preston North End 0-1 Blues
Phil Neumann's return to the XI saw him score the winner at Deepdale as Blues ended their mini winless run.
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:05 AM
#BCFC 2-3 #HCAFC

Chaos ensues as Blues are beaten at home in the league for the first time since April 2024.

- Report
- Tactics
- The goals
- Jack Robinson
- A good performance
- A bad feeling
- Who plays next?

I hope I'm wrong.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Blues 2-3 Hull City
Blues' long unbeaten at St.Andrews ended in chaotic fashion as a Jay Stansfield double isn't enough to secure a result.
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
#BCFC have conceded a lot of rubbish goals this season. Defending set-pieces and crosses has been a problem.

I've gone through every goal, big chance and Reed card conceded in order to work out what the issues are and look at how we solve them.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Birmingham City's Defensive Woes
A long read breaking down Birmingham City's issues defending set-pieces and crosses.
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Did the YouTube thing with Luke Walsh and Off The Line Blog discussing numerous things National League related.

Check it out!

youtu.be/F5_tk1iVi9c?...
WHO ARE THE PROMOTION CONTENDERS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE? EARLY SEASON NATIONAL LEAGUE REVIEW!
YouTube video by Luke Walsh Football Podcast
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
#Wxm 1-1 #BCFC

A decent point in the "Hollywood Derby" and a relatively improved performance on the road.

- Report
- Tactics
- Improvement
- Set-pieces
- Beadle
- Midfield options
- Wrexham
- Next up

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Wrexham 1-1 Blues
The "Hollywood Derby" ends in a score-draw as Blues control without penetrating following a difficult first period.
open.substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM
#BCFC 2-2 #SWFC

A weird night, an okay performance, an important late goal.

- Report
- Tactics
- Subs booed
- Doyle
- Cashin
- Wednesday
- Next

We're not far off, but feel so far away.

#KRO

open.substack.com/pub/afootbal...
Match Report: Blues 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Another late show at St.Andrews as Demarai Gray keeps Birmingham City's long unbeaten run in tact to break Sheffield Wednesday hearts
open.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 6:10 AM