Birmingham City supporters have been reasonably upbeat in recent times despite seeing their side fail to win either of their two Championship games prior to the international break.
Garry Monk’s men went into their clashes with Derby County and Hull City having won their preceding four league games and having not tasted defeat since back in August, a run which moved them up into the top half of the table. Yet the Blues weren’t able to extend their unbeaten league run to 12 games after losing 3-1 to Frank Lampard’s Rams, before drawing 3-3 with Hull City in a thrilling match at St Andrew’s last time out.
Nonetheless, there have been many satisfied Birmingham fans following their side’s recent upturn in form, with defender Harlee Dean playing as big a part as anyone in their rise up the Championship table in the last few months.
And it was former manager Harry Redknapp who got a deal done for the 27-year-old for just £1.94 million (as per Transfermarkt) back in 2017, an inspired decision from which current manager Monk is certainly reaping the rewards.
Ultimately, former boss Redknapp guided the Blues to safety in the 2016/17 season in winning two of his three games in charge, and then used the summer window to set about building a squad he hoped would be capable of challenging for promotion.
And defender Dean was one of several additions made by the 71-year-old that summer, what with the English centre back impressing greatly during his five-year stint at fellow second tier outfit Brentford to thus earn a move to the Midlands club.
In fact, Dean was one of the most highly-rated defenders in the division during his time at Griffin Park to underline the coup Redknapp pulled off in signing him, and it is current chief Monk who is really reaping the rewards from his inspired decision given how impressive the 27-year-old has been so far this season.
The former Southampton defender has started all 17 of their Championship games so far this term and completed the full 90 minutes in all but one of those matches, in which time he has helped the Blues to four clean sheets as well as five wins in their ascent to 12th place in the table.
And while the front men in Che Adams and Lukas Jutkiewicz will receive many of the plaudits for their efforts in the final third, just as significant have been the tackles, blocks, and clearances made by Dean at the other end – he has been a rock in Monk’s team so far this term to make that £1.94 million they spent on him look like an absolute bargain.
Yes, it may not have worked out for Redknapp during his time at St Andrew’s, but there is no doubt that some of his signings during his one and only summer transfer window are continuing to have a positive impact on the club.
And that is none-more-so evident than 27-year-old Dean, with Redknapp’s inspired decision to sign him equipping Monk with a Birmingham lynchpin.
Birmingham fans… what do you think? Let us know!
