John Eustace signing called "absolutely terrible" after fresh Birmingham City exit development | OneFootball

Tyler Roberts has sealed a permanent move to Mansfield Town in League One

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Birmingham City conducted a major squad reshuffle throughout the winter transfer window, with plenty of names who were not in Chris Davies' long-term thinking allowed to leave St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on a permanent or loan basis.

Blues are currently on a mission to regain their Premier League status for the first time since May 2011 under the ownership of Knighthead Capital Management, with majority owner, Tom Wagner, continuing to heavily back Davies in order for said goal to be achieved as soon as possible.

It has been well-documented that Birmingham, as a club, are a completely different entity to the one which was eventually relegated to League One for the first time in 30 years during a chaotic first season in the B9 boardroom for Wagner and Co., with years of stagnation and decline forcing the West Midlands outfit into a reboot.

After romping to the third tier at a record-breaking canter in what was Davies' first season in full-time management, it is fair to say that Blues haven't exactly had it their own way since returning to the Championship, as they currently find themselves on the periphery of the play-offs.

However, whilst the acquisition of six new signings in the form of Kai Wagner, Jhon Solis, Ibrahim Osman, August Priske, Carlos Vicente and Jonathan Panzo could see Blues gain a desired advantage over several promotion rivals, supporters have also made their feelings clear as several fringe players or outcasts saw their association with the club come to an end.

One of those deals surrounded Welsh international attacker, Tyler Roberts, who made his initial loan switch to Mansfield Town permanent on Deadline Day.

It clearly hasn't worked out for the 27-year-old who was previously on the books of Leeds United in the Premier League, with Football League World's Birmingham City fan pundit, Jason Moore, believing the aforementioned developments were the best course of action for all involved.

'Shocking' claim made as Tyler Roberts completes permanent Birmingham City, Mansfield Town transfer

Blues moved to sign Roberts on a four-year contract from Leeds in the summer of 2023, as he moved back to the West Midlands - having previously come through West Bromwich Albion's academy - in John Eustace's final transfer window as head coach.

The 20-time Welsh international arrived at the club two weeks before Knighthead's initial takeover was confirmed, although his only season of note in B9 proved to be disastrous.

Roberts sustained a calf injury on his debut against Swansea City, meaning he would only feature 19 times across all competitions as Blues were relegated under a plethora of permanent and interim managers, before making just two further appearances under Davies.

After failing to score for Birmingham, the experienced attacker was also unable to make an impact on loan at Northampton Town in the second half last season, scoring just once in 29 outings.

He has since scored three times in just nine appearances for the Stags after his loan move was exclusively revealed by FLW in September, turning his short-term agreement into a permanent move until the end of the campaign, which has pleased the likes of Moore from a Blues perspective.

"I think every single Blues fan thought we were getting an absolute 'baller' and thinking 'we're getting a Premier League proven player'," he claimed.

But he was shocking, he was absolutely shocking. Couldn't stay fit. Did one decent thing in the entire time it was at us.

"He was just poor, and probably showed you all that you needed to know that he was shunned out of the squad literally a couple of training sessions into Chris Davies' tenure," Moore added.

"Absolutely terrible. Very disappointed, but he just wasn't very good. And I'm glad to see he's gone.

"In terms of windows, it's just been a ridiculous window, the club can hold their heads high. I'm glad he's gone, and I'm glad I know the other 'deadwood's gone."

Birmingham City were able to reduce their wage bill by selling multiple fringe players

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Roberts at Field Mill. However, his exit, as well as that of multiple other fringe players, only added to the success which Blues enjoyed in the winter window.

Although it appears likely the six arrivals will be earning a strong sum of money between them, Blues will have been allowed the scope to put such finances on the table by offloading the likes of Roberts, Emil Hansson and Bailey Peacock-Farrell amongst others, on a permanent basis, with the trio only previously away from the club on loan.