This is the thread for discussion on the Birmingham City Starting XI, opinions, banter, general chat etc

Didnt watch too many Brum games last season.. how big a factor was Hart to the Brum's 'success' last season (obviously he had quite a big impact).. I know McLeish sets his team up well, and the defence appears to be kinda solid, but it's gonna be a v tuff act to follow for Foster - If he starts bottling it after a couple of shaky games do you think the defence will give him enough protection or will you be in trouble??

RP's best XI (4-4-2):

Foster
Carr Johnson Dann Ridgwell
Larsson Ferguson Bowyer McFadden
Zigic Jerome

RP forecast the drop for the Blues. I do think they'll flirt with it but their defence is too good and their manager will have them too well organised to be easy pushovers. Foster coming in is a bit of a worry although I often thought Hart - good keeper as he is - was over-rated for his performances there. Zigic is an interesting buy; if he clicks with Jerome, they could net 20+ between them.

will zigic play every game for birmingham this season

No, I'm fairly certain he won't play every game - even Alex McCleish couldn't promise you that! I reckon he'll be in the starting XI for the first few games at least but, if doesn't settle then he might get dropped. And he's bound to miss at least one or two through injury or suspension.

Phillips badly injured yesterday - an "exploding calf muscle" - in the friendly against Real Mallorca. Could be out for quite some time and at 37, age isn't exactly on his side

This may push us to to try and sign Dembele. Also, the papers are saying Camoranesi will sign on Monday. Quite a coup if this is the case but I remain unconvinced...

West Brom have also been linked with Dumbele but if i was him i know i'm join a proven premiership club.

I feel gardener will play alongside ferguson this season. he has been amazing in pre season. deserves a place in the first XI

Will Gardener be a good season long bet as a cheap enabler in my team don't know too much about him is his place safe?

I would say almost certainly. Was by far our best player in pre-season and should continue to play a central role alongside Ferguson.

also i think people should keep an eye on derbyshire as he shud be playing thursday night. if he does well it may not be too soon before he starts in the league. and ye its going to be gardener and ferguson all season now think. i feel gardener can get 8+goals

I agree, he showed a few classy touches on Saturday when he came on as a sub. Zigic, on the other hand, looked like an immobile hatstand. I hope he gets better with a few games under his belt. Otherwise, this looks like 6 million quid down the swanny

i think mcleish will keep helping him adapt to the premier league game. if we get a winger it will help him as he will get more delivery. i feel he will improve. give him time :D also i hope we get n'zogbia and salcido

9 million seems a bit much for NZog, as good as he was last year. I'm not comfortable with us spending that amount of money on one player, especially as he has shown a somewhat questionable temperament this season at Wigan. IMO if he's spat the dum out once, he will do it again.

Salcido would be a useful addition but he's a left back isn't he ? Agent Ridgewell has done OK there. I would much prefer another right back, or cover, as Steven Carr will be found out for pace this year, as much as I admire his tenacity and committment.

well i feel we do need a gd quality left back as murphy isnt premiership class imo and then we will have 3 centre backs who can challenge for the 2 places. i too have concerns about n'zogbia but he is a class winger and we do need someone with pace. a babel or n'zogbia. we need someone.

Agree about the lack of pace, but Babel would have been a mistake. A nice loan signing would make sense.

apparently fulham are signing the left back salcido. so thts an thts another potential signing gone. i like the idea of a loan but its who to go for

News reports all over the place that Wigan have accepted Birmingham's offer for CNZ. Who will lose out to him? Larrsson?

It is apparently a 9.5million deal subject to a medical which will probli happen tomorrow. He wont be available to play sunday even if he passes the medical. I dont think he will replace larsson as larsson plays on the right. N'Zogbia will probli play on the left so maybe mcfadden will miss out or mcfadden will be played as a striker and another striker may miss out. Mcleish has a few options it will interesting to see what he does. But larsson will definately be in the first XI.

whatever club N'Zogbia plays for he will never be happy if i was a premiership manager i wouldnt touch him with a barge poll..

suprised birmingham lack the common sense to see this

people said that about bowyer when he came to us but mcleish is great at man management. he wouldnt have chased him for months if he didnt think he was worth it.

N'Zogbia is a rule to himself no amount of man management will see him sticking around and not kicking off when a bigger team comes in for him

ok we will just have to wait and see i am very happy with this signing

dont get me wrong i dont mind birmingham i hope it works out for you...

Watch this space. Up to 4 players may be signing tomorrow. Traore from arsenal who can play LB and LW. Hleb who most people will remember from his arsenal. I think he would be an amazing signing and could be good for FPL. Also we may be signing Jiranek for cover in defence and a winger called Beausejour. I feel Hleb could be a great Fpl pick.

...Zigic said: "My injury has healed, that is the most important thing. I am back on the training pitch and feel fit...

http://www.football365.com/story/0,1703 ... 07,00.html

Good news on the pitch at least. Off it, a few rumours circulating about Carson Yeung's funds (or the lack of them). Hope they are just rumours and nothing of any consequence.