Birmingham Doubts

Big Eck confirms that Zigic,Fahey,Bowyer & Bentley are all doubts for Wigan.Rest of #BCFC squad trained as normal.Details due up on bcfc.comless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®Birmingham City FC
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"Gardner and Ferguson are still out, but we think Jiranek has a chance and will be okay," said Alex McLeish speaking on Tuesday.

"We'll have a look at Zigic this afternoon because he is on the borderline.

It isn't sounding very encouraging for Zigic owners.

Meanwhile Nikola Zigic will attempt to train with his teammates this afternoon to see if he is fit enough to make the trip up the M6, following the groin problem that kept him on the subs' bench against West Brom.

Attempt to train the day before the match. Anyone laying odds here?

And while we're betting, what are the chances Martins underperforms Zigic again, regardles of whether or not the big Serb even plays? #notbitter

Season Preview: Birmingham

There isn't a great deal of transfer speculation ongoing that is likely to have a major impact on Birmingham's season or fantasy fortunes one way or the other.  The squad is likely set for the most part with only an oldster (Camoranesi?), a youngster (Clyne?) and a forward looking to climb a few levels of competition (Dembele) even in the "strongly rumored" stage of the transfer process.

Overall Outlook - It was an odd season for Birmingham but certainly a solid one for a team newly promoted.  That said, major questions linger about the sustainability of the form that saw them comfortably above the relegation fray all season.  First, how much of their prowess at the back was due to the heroics of now-back-at-City Joe Hart? Which defence is the real defence? The one that gave up a combined total of 6 goals over 10 matches in Novermber and December including draws with Citeh, Liverpool, Everton, and Chelsea and compiled 22 points over that stretch? Or the one that gave up 29 goals in 18 matches after the calendar turned to 2010?  The latter isn't a terrible team, but it certainly isn't a team you want to hitch your fantasy hopes to.  Now subtract Hart and sub in Ben Foster who isn't a bad option but certainly wasn't challenging to be England's Number 1 this summer.  Only one major addition so far in Zigic and I have to say I see a drop in fortunes for Brum going into this season. 

No Tall Tale: Zigic to Birmingham

A report claims that Birmingham have agreed a £6m fee with Valencia for 6'8" striker Nikola Zigic.

He never made the cut at Valencia, but on loan to Racing Santander last season he scored 13 goals in 19 matches. If he can be the proper foil for Cameron Jerome (or another striker to be named later) it will go a long way towards solidifying Birmingham's place in the Premier League's mid- to lower-tier.