'Special players' - Hull City boss Shota Arveladze nails Birmingham City's tactics
Birmingham City face Hull at St Andrew's this weekend looking to move six points clear of the Tigers
Shota Arveladze says Birmingham City will make it tactically difficult for his Hull City side at St Andrew’s tomorrow.
The Georgian, who was not in charge of the Tigers when they beat Blues in November, insists he has done his homework on Blues - and has identified ‘special players’ within their ranks.
It’s been some time since any Championship manager has said that about a Blues team but the return to fitness of Tahith Chong and arrival of Onel Hernandez and Juninho Bacuna has changed perceptions around the league.
Chong scored his first Blues goal in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Bristol City, while Hernandez has been a revelation since joining on loan from Norwich.
Arveladze has been impressed and unlike some managers, has a good handle on what Lee Bowyer is doing with his team.
“They have some very interesting and special players in their squad – good individuals who can decide a game themselves, individuals who have just come back from injury and make them stronger,” he said.
“They could play two different tactics – diamond sometimes, five at the back – they could do this during the game and make it difficult. They are a strong, physical, solid team and if you let them play, they will show what they can do.
“We have to look at what we can show them and our own strengths.
Hull lost at home to West Brom last time out - but they have produced some good results away from home lately and are looking to draw level on points with Blues.
Arveladze continued: “Even though we had a bad result, we had a lot of positive things in the game,” he said. “We want to see this more in games, we want to deliver this more.
“We had a good full week to train and prepare for another very important away game. It’s been a week where we could really concentrate on our good and strong sides.
“We’ve worked well and we’ve done our homework to go and play this important game.”