The Championship season kicks off tonight. While we didn’t exactly enjoy a football detox, thanks to a marathon World Cup that ended in the usual, inevitable England exit, it’s a relief to finally get back to focusing on Blues.
Depending on who you speak to, last weekend’s win at Swansea was either a blueprint of exactly what is needed away from home or a shockingly poor performance which highlights all the problems Blues are going to have this season.
I’m leaning towards the first view. The fact it was a cup game is irrelevant. Blues won away from home and that can’t be a bad thing given the results on the road last season. Improving away from St. Andrew’s has to be the priority for Chris Davies.
But this is arguably the toughest ever Championship.
West Ham, Burnley and Wolves will all fancy their chances of returning to the Premier League at the first attempt; Southampton will be scorned from being booted out of last season’s play-offs; Middlesboro seem to have had a fantastic transfer window and will surely be in the upper echelons; Wrexham have spent big again. 17 or 18 teams will believe they can realistically push for a top-eight finish.
Blues should absolutely be in that chasing pack.
The lack of a consistent back four was a big problem last season. Constant chopping and changing prevented any real stability from developing, which doesn’t help the young goalkeeper behind them. Blues also played a large chunk of the season without a natural right back.
The arrival of Dael Fry undoubtedly strengthens the defensive ranks, he’s a significant upgrade on Jonathan Panzo. And the blow of Kai Wagner’s exit has been softened somewhat by the Krisoffer Lund coming in – and the pre-season form of Alex Cochrane.
Fewer question marks hang over James Beadle and Jhon Solis who were both at the club on loan last season. Blues opted to continue aiding Beadle’s development for a second loan stint while Solis made his move permanent. We know exactly what we will get from the pair and their continued improvement could be decisive in helping the team bridge the gap between mid-table contention and a genuine push for the play-offs.
Higher up the pitch, Luis Vasquez is the sort of player that will enthuse Blues fans. He’s not known being a prolific goalscorer but he thrives off the physical battle and unsettling defenders. He can cause chaos in the final third and his presence makes Blues less predictable.
Now that Max Bird’s signing has been confirmed, Blues appear to close to the end point of their summer recruitment, with a number 10 and a winger the remaining priorities. A lot of the important work was done in January with the additions of Carlos Vicente, August Priske and the aforementioned Solis. All three have now had a taste of Championship football, and that experience should stand them in good stead heading into the new season.
Prikse, in particular, is in fine fettle. His goal on the final day of last season the breakthrough he needed and although it didn’t change the outcome of the season, it felt psychologically important and he now looks set to play a pivotal role. His impressive pre-season form was carried into the Swansea game where his goal took Blues into the second round.
Then you have Demarai Gray. It sounds odd to say, but having a fully fit Gray available would essentially feel like a new signing. There’s no doubting his talent but the real test is whether he can stay out of the treatment room long enough to make an impact. When he’s on the pitch, he possesses match-winning quality that very few in this squad can replicate.
Honestly, this season feels like a real fork in the road. If the new players can integrate quickly and Davies finds the right balance, a play-off spot is well within reach. That said, after finishing 10th last term, just floating around mid-table simply won’t be acceptable.
Given the backing and ambition at Birmingham City, a top-eight finish is the absolute bare minimum—anything less is going to feel like a wasted opportunity.