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Martin Taylor (footballer, born 1979)

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For other people named Martin Taylor, see Martin Taylor (disambiguation).
Martin Taylor
Personal information
Full name Martin Taylor
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Birmingham City
Number 4
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2007

Martin Taylor (born November 9, 1979 in Ashington, Northumberland) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender. He currently plays for Birmingham City. He has the nickname "Tiny", given to him by his teammates because of his 6' 4" frame.[1]

Club career

Blackburn Rovers

Taylor joined Blackburn Rovers as a schoolboy at the age of 17, signing his first full contract at the start of the 1997–98 season.

Loan spells at Darlington and Stockport served to improve his self-belief,[2] and in May 2001 he won his first and only cap for the England U-21 side, as a half-time substitute for John Terry in a 3–0 friendly win against Mexico U-21. Though part of the squad for the 2002 European Under-21 Championships, replacing the injured Ledley King, he made no further appearances for the side.

Also in 2002, he played throughout Blackburn's League Cup campaign, culminating in a 2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Millennium Stadium.

Blackburn manager Graeme Souness felt that Taylor had enough ability to reach the top, but had for some time believed that without adopting a more aggressive physical approach he would not fulfil his potential.[1] He had initially been viewed as a potential replacement for defenders Henning Berg and Craig Short, but, as Berg left the side, instead of giving Taylor his chance to play, Souness signed Lorenzo Amoruso, and when he was injured, took Markus Babbel on loan.

Though reluctant to sell, Souness needed to generate transfer funds,[3] so in January 2004, Blackburn proceeded to accept a £1.25 million bid from Birmingham City.

Birmingham City

On February 2 2004 Taylor left Blackburn for Birmingham City, signing a contract due to end in 2007. Former Blackburn teammates David Dunn[4] and Damien Johnson[5] highlighted Taylor's footballing ability and comfort on the ball. Rob Kelly, then head of youth coaching at Blackburn, while complimentary about his reading of the game and ability with both feet, felt that working with Birmingham manager Steve Bruce, a former top-class centre-half, in new surroundings might help bring out his unfulfilled potential,[6] an assessment with which Taylor himself agreed.[7]

He made his Birmingham debut in a 3–0 victory against Everton, and in his next game, a 3–1 victory against Middlesbrough, he scored his first league goal for the club. Unable to dislodge the established central defensive partnership of Matthew Upson and Kenny Cunningham, he played regularly for the remainder of the season, but mainly in his less favoured position of right back.[7]

When Bruce brought Taylor to Birmingham he mentioned his admiration for the player's ability to play in any defensive position;[8] this versatility ideally suited him to a backup role in the event of injury to any of the first choice defenders. In the following season, the form and fitness of Upson and Cunningham, together with the arrival of Dutch international fullback Mario Melchiot from Chelsea, considerably restricted Taylor's appearances. In the second half of the 2005–06 season he had a long run in the side due to Upson's ankle injury, a run which coincided with some of Birmingham's better performances.[9]

The departure of Cunningham and Melchiot following Birmingham's relegation from the Premiership, with Upson still injured long-term, provided an opportunity for Taylor to establish his first-team place alongside newly-arrived Bruno N'Gotty. But Bruce also recruited Tunisian international Radhi Jaïdi, and preferred the more robust physical approach of Olivier Tébily while Jaïdi built up match fitness.[10] However N'Gotty's suspension proved the catalyst for an upturn in fortunes for Taylor. He was named captain after Damien Johnson suffered a broken jaw, and his rapport with fellow centre-back Jaïdi has helped Birmingham to maintain a strong position in the Championship in the 2006–07 season. In recognition of his value to the club, in April 2007 he signed a new three-year contract with an option for a further two years.[11]

However, he wasn't first choice with Birmingham back in the Premier League, not playing a league game. On November 1 2007, he became new Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder's first signing, joining on a month's loan, due to end on December 8 2007.[12] In his debut game for Norwich against Ipswich Town on November 4 2007, Taylor played a large role in his side's first goal, as his header was deflected in off Ipswich defender Owen Garvan. Garvan was eventually credited with the own-goal. Taylor went on to score with a diving header against Blackpool and added considerable solidity at the back for Norwich. Though Norwich hoped to extend the loan, this was not possible so Taylor returned to Birmingham at the end of the initial month.[13]

Following Alex McLeish's arrival as Birmingham manager, Taylor was told that he was surplus to requirements; the club accepted an offer from QPR, reported at £1.25 million, but the player rejected it.[14] However, injury to Rafael Schmitz, Jaïdi's absence on international duty and McLeish's failure to sign any of his defensive targets gave Taylor a first league start of the season in a 1–1 draw with Derby County in January 2008.[15] He kept his place for the next match despite the availability of Schmitz and Jaïdi, and his impressive form left him in McLeish's plans for the remainder of the season.[16]

Eduardo da Silva leg break incident

On 23 February, 2008, Taylor was sent off for a tackle on Arsenal's Croatian player Eduardo da Silva which resulted in a double compound fracture of his leg.[17] Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger suggested immediately after the game that Taylor "should never play football again",[18] though he retracted this comment the next day, saying it came in the heat of the moment and was "excessive".[19] Both current manager Alex McLeish, and former manager Steve Bruce, defended Taylor. Both described him as a gentle and unmalicious player, asserting that the resulting injury could not have been intentional. McLeish described the player as 'distraught' in the dressing room after he was sent off.[20] Bruce went further, stating "He has mis-timed the tackle, and I've seen it. Some would say it is not even a yellow card".[20]

Birmingham City released a statement soon after the game; "Martin Taylor is adamant there was no malicious intent in the tackle and he is deeply upset by the extent of Eduardo's injury. Having reviewed the incident, this (no malicious intent) is clearly the case. The club and Martin Taylor would like to send their very best wishes to the player for a speedy recovery".[20] The day after the game, Taylor visited Eduardo in hospital to find out the full extent of his injury, and to pass on his best wishes for a speedy recovery. He had tried to visit him the previous day, but Eduardo had been in surgery. At the end of the match in question, he had tried to seek out Wenger in the tunnel, to inquire about the player's condition.[21]

Honours

League Cup winner, 2002.

References

  1. ^ a b "Souness pleads with 'Tiny' Taylor to get tough". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 2002-01-26. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  2. ^ "Blackburn squad profiles". BBC Sport. 2002-02-19. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  3. ^ Tattum, Colin (2003-09-01). "Blues target tipped for England". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  4. ^ Dunn, David (2004-02-04). "Good bit of business". The Football Association. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  5. ^ Tattum, Colin (2004-01-31). "Damien backs Tiny to walk tall". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  6. ^ Clarkson, Ian (2004-02-01). "Taylor looks set to sign". (Birmingham) Sunday Mercury. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  7. ^ a b Tattum, Colin (2004-02-03). "Taylor: I am back on track". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  8. ^ Curtis, John (2006-01-20). "Taylor completes City switch". PA Sport. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  9. ^ Tattum, Colin (2008-02-12). "Martin Taylor targets the ton for Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  10. ^ Tattum, Colin (2006-08-26). "Wolves boss targets Blues duo". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2007-03-27. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Tattum, Colin (2007-04-06). "Taylor signs new long-term Blues deal". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  12. ^ "Roeder swoops for defender Taylor". BBC. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  13. ^ "Taylor returns to Birmingham City". BBC. 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  14. ^ Tattum, Colin (2007-12-14). "Martin Taylor rejects QPR move". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  15. ^ Tattum, Colin (2008-02-12). "Martin Taylor targets the ton for Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  16. ^ "Martin Taylor wins back his Birmingham City place". Birmingham Mail. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  17. ^ Rob Parrish (2008-02-24). "Corluka Reveals Eduardo Agony". News. Sky Sports. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ N/A (2008-02-23). "Wenger calls for lifetime ban for Taylor". News. ESPNSoccernet.com. Retrieved 2008-02-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Sky Sports: Wenger retracts comments about Taylor
  20. ^ a b c "Wenger fury after Eduardo injury". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  21. ^ Sky Sports: Taylor Makes Eduardo Visit
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