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English Premier League preview: Birmingham City

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English Premier League preview: Birmingham City
After winning promotion from the Football League Championship in the 2008-09 season, Birmingham City surprised many with a ninth-place finish upon returning to the English Premier League. With such a successful season behind them, Alex McLeish’s side face a tough task if they are to make further progress but with such an intelligent manager at the helm it won’t be an impossible one.
McLeish joined the Blues after impressing with the Scotland national team. He came within a whisker of helping his country qualify for the 2008 UEFA European Championships after a strong run of results, most famously a 1-0 win over France in Paris courtesy of a 35-yard wonder goal by James McFadden, who later joined McLeish in the Midlands.
Birmingham snapped up McLeish at the end of 2007, but the appointment did not come quickly enough as they were relegated from the EPL that season. However, he helped the club to instantly bounce back after finishing second in the Championship. A 12-match unbeaten run in the EPL helped the Blues to achieve their highest-league finish in more than 50 years.
Their success in the last campaign was due in no small part to goalkeeper Joe Hart, who signed on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City. His stellar displays earned Birmingham more than a few points over the course of the season and helped them achieve their loft finish. After Hart returned to Manchester, McLeish moved quickly to snap up Ben Foster from Manchester United. A talented goalkeeper, Foster had found his playing time severely diminished by the form of veteran Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford and a move to another club will suit him and Birmingham well as he looks to once again receive England recognition.
Strong defensive unit
Defensively, Birmingham are a strong unit. Scott Dann and Roger Johnson forged an outstanding partnership in the middle of the back line as the club built a formidable home record.
Birmingham’s big problem last season, however, was goals or, rather, the lack of them. McFadden was shunted out on to the left to allow other strikers to flourish. However, that did not prove fruitful as Birmingham scored just 38 goals all season. Serbia international Nikola Zigic has been brought in and should provide more of an aerial threat as he is 6ft 7in tall, but McLeish needs another potent striker if he is to improve on last season’s good league standing.
It is perhaps in midfield, then, that Birmingham are at their best. McLeish brought in his former charge at Rangers Barry Ferguson who excelled on his first season back playing Premier League football. Sebastian Larsson is one of the best free-kick takers in the league – the former Arsenal man’s accuracy from dead-ball situations is almost unrivalled in the top-flight. Veteran Lee Bowyer had an excellent first half to last season and scored five goals in the league. However, his form dipped after the New Year and his age may be catching up with him.
Youngster impresses
To that end, McLeish has recruited Spanish youngster Enric Vallès Prat from Dutch side Breda. Although he impressed while playing in the club’s pre-season program, he looks more likely to be used as an impact substitute this season with one eye on the future. He has been described by the manager as "big, tall, lad, left-sided and maybe not (having the explosive pace) of some wingers, but a very good footballer.
With such an astute tactician guiding Birmingham’s fortunes, it would be a foolish man who writes off Birmingham’s chances of finishing further up the league this season – if, that is, McLeish can make the two or three signings that can turn his good side into a very dangerous one for his opponents.
Prediction: Eighth

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