While there has never been any doubt as to striker Alfie May’s prowess in League One, some question marks have been raised as to whether his switch to Birmingham City was the right choice.
In a team now filled with superstars at this level, May’s overall impact has seen a mild drop-off, despite the fact he is now playing in a team of much higher quality.
After his £775,000 move from Charlton Athletic in the summer has seen him feature regularly for a Birmingham side currently sitting in second place, we look at how the forward’s influence has altered in the last few months under the stewardship of Chris Davies.
Alfie May has been the focal point of his last two teams
Before diving into the player’s current role at St. Andrew’s Stadium, it is important to note May’s influence at his previous two clubs, Cheltenham Town and Charlton.
After two seasons at Whaddon Road in League Two, Cheltenham’s promotion to the third tier sparked a change in quality for May, who swiftly became one of the division’s most prolific strikers.
May managed 43 goals in 85 appearances for a decidedly sub-par Cheltenham side and was the league’s third and fourth top goalscorer in respective seasons. Most notable, perhaps, was the striker finding the net 20 times in 39 games for a team that finished merely nine points above the relegation zone.
It is no surprise, therefore, that Cheltenham were relegated in 2023/24 after May’s £250,000 move to The Valley that summer. The Englishman kept up his scoring record in London, managing 23 goals in 43 appearances for a Charlton side that, fittingly, also avoided relegation by only nine points.
Across the last three seasons, May has made a total of 128 appearances in League One, bagging a staggering 66 goals for teams languishing in the lower reaches of the table.
One would assume, therefore, that his move to a team as proficient in attack as Birmingham would have increased his goal-scoring even further. This has not quite been the case, however.
A position change has hindered Alfie May in front of goal
A spending spree from Birmingham after relegation from the Championship has not only resulted in higher competition for a starting spot at the club but also meant that May has moved position on several occasions.
The striker has featured in all of the club’s 18 matches so far, starting 14 times, but on five occasions he has been deployed in an attacking midfield role as opposed to his preferred number 9.
May has only found the net once while playing in the hole, which came against Huddersfield on the 1st of October.
Furthermore, Birmingham’s squad depth has proved a hindrance to May’s minutes on the pitch. He has only played 1068 minutes out of a possible 1620, often being withdrawn between the 60th and 70th minute of games in which he has started.
His record of seven goals and four assists is still impressive, but it is probably weaker than most fans would have expected considering the quality he has displayed over the past three seasons.
Projected finish and Alfie May’s influence on the team
When weighing up May’s statistics at this point in the season, one can assume that he will finish the campaign with 35 starts to his name, barring any injury issues.
If this is the case, at his current rate he will also finish the season with around 18 goals, which would be his lowest tally since the 2020/21 season when playing for Cheltenham in League Two.
For a player valued as an out-and-out goalscorer, it is clear to see that use in the number 10 is not effective for May, and he has enjoyed a lot more success when deployed in the lone forward role, with Jay Stansfield as a second striker.
This was demonstrated against Stockport County on 4th December. Two first-half goals from May gave Birmingham a 2-0 win, which was particularly impressive seeing as he was withdrawn in the 61st minute in favour of former Queens Park Rangers forward Lyndon Dykes.
Overall, it is clear that the English forward still has a very large part to play in Birmingham’s promotion campaign, with the Blues currently sitting one point adrift of table-toppers Wycombe Wanderers, with May being the club’s second-highest scorer.
However, what is also evident is the increase in his efficacy when used in his natural role.
With 26 matches still to go, there remains an abundance of time for May to establish himself as Davies’ sole selection up top and return to being one of League One’s most potent attackers.