Premier League preview: Birmingham City
Birmingham City exceeded all expectations last season by finishing inside the top half of the Premier League table. After winning promotion from the Championship, little was expected of Alex McLeish’s side, but a stunning effort saw them end the campaign in ninth place.
The pressure is now on to avoid the dreaded second-season syndrome – a condition which tends to affect certain clubs who punch above their weight in their first season back in the top-flight, before plummeting back to earth in the next.
Fortunately for McLeish, he has a little bit of money to spend, and has invested wisely in several new acquisitions over the summer months to avoid such an outcome.
Replacing the brilliant Joe Hart in goal was arguably the toughest challenge for the Scottish boss during this pre-season. The young English goalkeeper was one of the standout performers of last season, but returned to his parent club Manchester City in June.
McLeish ventured down a similar route in search for his replacement, and found Manchester United’s Ben Foster. The 27-year-old keeper endured a tough campaign at Old Trafford last season, but hopes to resurrect his career at St Andrew’s after signing a three-year deal.
It’s a shrewd piece of business by the former Scotland manager, who aims to continue building his reputation over the coming months. Along with Foster, McLeish also welcomes Spanish midfielder Enric Valles and Valencia’s towering striker Nicola Zigic to the club.
Valles is only 20, but promises to inject some creativity into the Birmingham midfield; while Zigic is widely-recognised because of his 6ft 8in frame and will trouble every defence he comes up against.
Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung promised the club a £40million transfer kitty to spend on new players last year, but has been forced to backtrack since, insisting that progress will be made “in steps” instead.
Regardless, McLeish will be confident that he has a side capable of finishing mid-table again this campaign. Last season’s ninth place finish was the club’s best for 51 years – repeating the trick will be no mean feat.
However, the spine of the team – with the exception of Hart – is still very much the same, and St Andrew’s must remain a fortress if they’re to push on and match last season’s achievements. Finishing above rivals Aston Villa in the league table would be massive in the eyes of the Blues’ supporters, who have often seen their club overshadowed by their neighbours over the years.
Fourteen points separated the two sides last season, though, and Birmingham will do well to finish the season inside the top half again.
But this is the aim of everyone associated with the club. With a good manager at the fore, money to spend and an impressive team-ethic, Birmingham City won’t be a team that the Premier League’s big boys relish facing this season.
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