Stunning Xabi Alonso and a beer promise - the result of Birmingham City's transfer decision
It was late in the summer transfer window when Birmingham City sanctioned the departure of mercurial playmaker Koji Miyoshi, a little over 12 months after he'd joined the club. Blues had irons in the fire with Luke Harris and Emil Hansson signed up, Scott Wright and Ayumu Yokoyama on their way at the very end of the window and with Keshi Anderson re-signed and Jay Stansfield to follow.
It was all change. Siriki Dembele was sold. Tyler Roberts, George Hall and Romelle Donovan all left on loan as Chris Davies rather ruthlessly assessed his squad and made calls before the window deadline passed. Miyoshi, who had racked up 46 league appearances for Blues and scored six times, was maybe a little more surprising a departure, but the Bundesliga called.
For Miyoshi, on paper, it looked a no brainer - the chance to play in Germany's top division rather than England's third, no matter Blues' intention for it to only be a whistle-stop tour. He headed out to Bochum fit and having had a pre-season under Davies, indeed racking up four appearances under the new Blues boss before his St Andrew's farewell.
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It's not been plain sailing, despite the change in environment, for the Japanese attacker, who the Blues fanbase took to during his single year in Birmingham; Bochum narrowly avoided relegation last year but for Miyoshi there's a familiar sinking feeling, with his new club winless in their first 14 games and bottom of the Bundesliga table.
There was brief elation for the new signing back in November, however; following heavy defeats to Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt who, between them, scored 12 goals across the two fixtures, Bochum welcomed reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen. When the visitors opened the scoring early doors, another pasting was on the cards, but Bochum kept the score to one and Miyoshi proceeded to pop up at the death and nab an equaliser and stun Xabi Alonso's men.
More recently, Miyoshi has conducted an unlikely reunion with fellow winger Oliver Burke, who was on loan at Blues last year before returning to parent club Werder Bremen - the two players shared the pitch together but Burke's side had the last laugh with a 1-0 victory.
Peter Zeidler, who signed Miyoshi as Bochum boss, had earlier in the season teased his squad with the reward of beers should they claim a win - and that that reward would be repeated for every victory they secured.
Three points [equals] three cases of beer,” Zeidler said in October, as he dangled a carrot for his players. "That would be a great pleasure for me. We can agree that the coach pays for three cases of beer after every win."
Yet here we are, in December, with Bochum still winless, no beers and, indeed, no more Zeidler, who was disposed of as boss following that lean run of form which has left the club at the foot of the table. The experienced Dieter Hecking has taken over the management of the club but the winless run continues.
Things got worse for Miyoshi, at an individual level, over the most recent weekend when, playing against Union Berlin, he was sent off just 13 minutes into the game. Despite playing with 10 men for the majority, Bochum secured a 1-1 draw and a point, but Miyoshi won't be available now until January 15 because of a two-match ban - and taking into account the German Christmas break.
