00:00Birmingham City are gearing up for life back in the Championship
00:06and with the momentum of a title-winning League One campaign,
00:12there's growing optimism they can make an impact at the higher level.
00:16Chris Davis, renowned for his calm authority and attacking philosophy,
00:20has revitalised the squad and built a side with both resilience and flair.
00:26His ability to blend experienced head with emerging talents has been central to the club's rise.
00:31The Championship's relentless schedule will be a different test,
00:35but Blues are determined to carry the belief and intensity that drove their promotion into the new campaign.
00:42To get more of an insight into Birmingham's prospects,
00:45we spoke to Charlie Haffenden of Birmingham World,
00:49who says the mood around St Andrews is one of measured ambition,
00:52a recognition of the challenges ahead,
00:55but also a quiet confidence that Blues can more than hold their own.
01:01So, Charlie, as the summer sort of wilts to a bit of an end
01:05and the football starts getting underway again,
01:09Birmingham City, we've mentioned, you know, going into the summer,
01:12we weren't really sure how they'd operate,
01:14how they could afford to generally go and spend big again.
01:18And they've ended up spending incredibly well with some sort of proven Premier League talent in there,
01:23the likes of Tommy Doyle from Wolves, an incredible signing.
01:27You know, we cover Wolves a lot as well and we saw him, you know,
01:31I think that's a perfect snatch for Birmingham City for a club to go and get him
01:34and how good he was in the Championship with Sheffield United as well.
01:37I mean, they've really, really strutted their stuff, this window.
01:43It's been a massive intent again and it's also sort of setting up for this,
01:48you know, another season under this regime, under this new era.
01:53And, you know, Blues fans are certainly excited now.
01:57Oh, absolutely.
01:58I mean, I wasn't expecting them to spend masses of money this summer,
02:02but we knew they'd spend something because Blues have been projected
02:05to be amongst the top five for revenue this season in the Championship,
02:08which is incredible, really, isn't it, when you consider they're in League One last season.
02:11But Tom Wagner, the main owner, and then Tom Brady as well,
02:14getting involved in the transfer business, in the revenue side of things.
02:17It's all going so well.
02:19Tommy Doyle, as you mentioned, what a signing that is.
02:23He can play, obviously, a little bit further back in central midfield
02:25or he can play as an attacking midfielder as well.
02:28His technical ability in the Championship, that's a joke.
02:31I mean, I know he didn't play much for Wolves, but I think that's because Vito Pereira
02:34prefers some of those more kind of defensive-minded central midfielders.
02:38And then you had Cunha in that 10-year-old last season.
02:42Doyle for Blues should absolutely shine.
02:43And as should the likes of Kanya Fujimoto, Kyogo Furuhashi,
02:48two Japanese players brought in this summer.
02:50Kyogo, if you're any Celtic fans watching along,
02:53will know exactly who he is or anyone who's been keeping any eye
02:55on the Scottish Premiership.
02:57He scored so many goals for Celtic before landing a move to Rennes in France.
03:01Didn't quite work out and Blues have spent about £10 million to bring him in.
03:06He can play out front.
03:07He can play on either wing.
03:08He can play as a number 10.
03:09You've got Jay Stansfield as well, of course,
03:11who they broke the transfer record for last summer.
03:15You've got Kanya Fujimoto, who I mentioned as well,
03:18who played very well in the Portuguese top flight.
03:21And then in defence as well, they've also bolstered Phil Newman,
03:24who was at Hanover, really quick and tall centre-back,
03:27expected to start alongside Christophe Clara.
03:30Bright Osoe Samuel, who was playing for Fenerbahce under Jose Mourinho last season,
03:35he's coming in at right back to offer competition for Ethan Laird.
03:38There's just so many exciting new additions.
03:40Blues fans can't quite believe what they're seeing at the moment.
03:42And the fact they're already being discussed for promotion to the Premier League
03:46is incredible.
03:46I can see why.
03:47Yeah, I mean, it's great having all these players surrounding the job,
03:52but the pressure will be mounting on Chris Davies in the managerial dugout.
03:56I mean, he showed a lot of character last season to come into this role,
04:00you know, with all the turbulence that had gone before him,
04:03the likes of Wayne Rooney's spell,
04:05and then that sort of downfall and obviously the relegation.
04:08I mean, he's a massive feather in Blues' cap to have a young manager,
04:14an ambitious manager, who also believes in the project.
04:16It seems like the owners are really backing him.
04:19How confident are you that he's going to really impress
04:21in the Championship this season?
04:23Well, he's definitely the right man for the job, no doubt about it.
04:26Coming into League One, I know everyone expected Birmingham to walk it,
04:30and they should do really with the signings they made,
04:32but you've still got to make all these new players gel.
04:35But just because of the step-up in levels and performance
04:37and fitness as well, it's going to be a tough challenge.
04:40But I think Blues have got what it takes to get up there
04:42into those promotion spots.
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