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It may be the international break, but there's no rest for the Forever Blues podcast! In Episode 56, Colin Tattum and Paul Tait discuss a wide range of topics, featuring stars past and present. With a three-week hiatus underway, the boys discuss how Birmingham City are keeping sharp behind closed doors before the massive derby day showdown against West Bromwich Albion. They assess what the Baggies have been doing right and the tactical battles expected at The Hawthorns. Then, Taity fires up the time machine! He picks the one current Blues star he'd drop into the legendary 1994/95 double-winning side, and reveals which icons from Barry Fry's era—like Steve Claridge and Mark Ward—he’d bring back for Chris Davies today. Finally, the lads talk about Jude Bellingham's unstoppable rise to superstardom, whether he'll return to unretire the 22 shirt, and share classic stories involving Trevor Francis, Gianfranco Zola, and Eric Cantona's famous "seagulls" quote! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and check out the Forever Blues website for news, features, analysis, and nostalgia: https://foreverblues.counterpress.media/ A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth 0:00 - Intro and thanks to Davisons Law 0:15 - LIVE event at The Hayes 1:07 - International break - three weeks too long? 3:15 - Behind closed doors friendly and time off 4:35 - Max Bird and Taylor Gardner-Hickman returning 5:40 - Bird to partner Jhon Solis eventually 7:10 - Seven key fixtures up the next international break 8:45 - West Bromwich Albion freezing at Wolves and learning lessons against Blues 10:25 - Styles playing out of position for the Baggies and their transfer dealings 12:10 - Throwing internationals straight back in 13:04 - Albion's younger players and relative inexperience 16:00 - Earning the right to play in a derby 16:40 - Tight games at the Hawthorns, comparing to Blues v Aston Villa, Richard Sneekes 20:25 - Taity selects the current player to go into the 1994/95 team - and vice-versa 24:20 - Nomadic Blues and their training grounds 25:40 - Signing which player(s) for the current Blues side from Barry Fry's team 27:20 - Jude Bellingham - England's player of the year again 28:00 - Jude's first thought is to go forward, not taking the easy option 29:22 - Jude carrying team on his shoulders, like a Roy Keane or Bryan Robson 30:35 - Incomparable - he's a unique, all purpose football 31:00 - Does Thomas Tuchel like Jude? 32:15 - Jude back to reclaim the 22 shirt for Blues 33:30 - Adapting his game the older he goes 34:25 - Trevor Francis - so good in training as a manager, like Gianfranco Zola 35:05 - Eric Cantona's 'aura' and his made up 'seagulls follow the trawler' quip 38:04 - Outro and thank you to Davisons Law and the Big Bulls Head in Digbeth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Episode 55 of Forever Blues, and Colin Tattum and Paul Tait are delivering their definitive verdict on Birmingham City’s first 8 games of the Championship season! The boys dive straight into James Beadle's unfortunate howler against Middlesbrough, discussing how the young keeper will bounce back from the error. Taity heaps praise on Alex Cochrane as arguably Blues' star player so far, and the lads assess Luis Vazquez's first league start. 🚨 THIS FRIDAY: FOREVER BLUES - LIVE! 🚨 Our first-ever live show is just days away! Join Tatts and Taity this Friday, Sept 25, at The Hayes for an exclusive evening of Blues stories, nostalgia, and a live Q&A. 🎟️ Only a few tickets remain! Grab yours instantly here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/foreverblues/2381196 Are 11 points and 10th place a good return for this tough opening fixture list? Tatts and Taity debate whether fans need to remain patient as the team makes incremental improvements, or if the "watchable football" is enough for now. Finally, the guys dissect the massive news from the Open House regarding the Sports Quarter masterplan. With the training centre moving from the Wheels site, they discuss the knock-on effects for the academy and women's teams, the nightmare of matchday traffic, and debate where the new training ground—and Arsenal's £1m taxi model—could fit in. A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and KEEP RIGHT ON! 0:00 - Introduction and thank you to Davisons Law 0:50 - James Beadle's spill 1:50 - Reasons for the error - was there a foul? 3:00 - Beadle's general improvement and coming through 'turmoil' 5:25 - Middlesbrough changing their system, respect to Blues 6:20 - More aggressive Blues but allowing room in the box, fans staying in Bar 8 8:18 - A consequence of the new style, giving up more attempts at goal 9:40 - Blues resilience 10:40 - Alex Cochrane stepping up another gear - Blues star player? 11:59 - Verdict on Luis Vazquez first Championship start 14:20 - Liam Millar hitting the ground running 15:10 - Blues threat at set-pieces 15:40 - Overly-physical defending and 'nice' centre-halves 19:00 - Tiring Blues and (not) going defensive, bench depth 21:50 - Forever Blues LIVE event at The Hayes, September 25 22:30 - Blues in 10th going into the break 23:10 - A good start, watchable football, tough fixture list 24:40 - Hybrid Blues, more attacking, Chris Davies' different mantra, jeopardy 28:30 - Steady growth, Blues even better next season? 29:00 - How many players are Blues short? 30:00 - Recruitment and the £7 million analytics spend 31:35 - Patience of owners Knighthead, discussion 35:35 - Big Bulls Head in Digbeth 36:00 - Sports Quarter changes - training centre moving 37:30 - Taity says training facilities should be away from the ground, and women and academy need to split 39:20 - Crazy designs at the Sports Quarter 40:00 - Clogged roads, academy, first team and Jordan James 42:00 - Where could a new training ground be? Develop Wast Hills with The Hayes next door 43:20 - Arden Cross potential new site 45:00 - Inner city recruitment and the central catchment area 45:30 - Arsenal's incredible £1 million taxi link-up 47:50 - Satellite facility at the Sports Quarter 49:10 - Outro and thank you, plus Forever Blues LIVE on Friday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Episode 54 of Forever Blues, and Colin Tattum and Paul Tait are buzzing about the "new" Birmingham City! The boys break down the gritty away win at Derby County, debating whether Blues were right to sit back and invite pressure in the final 15 minutes of added time. They also dissect Luis Vazquez’s unbelievable miss (would Kyogo have scored it?!), and heap praise on the "Nigel Gleghorn of Zaragoza," Carlos Vicente! 🚨 FOREVER BLUES - LIVE! 🚨 Don't forget, we are taking the podcast on the road! Join Tatts and Taity for an exclusive evening of Blues stories, nostalgia, and a live Q&A. 🗓️ Friday, September 25 📍 The Hayes, Redhill Road (Please note: This is opposite the Man on the Moon pub, NOT Alvechurch FC's Lye Meadow ground!) 🎟️ Tickets are selling fast—grab yours here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/foreverblues/2381196 Elsewhere in the episode, Taity gives his verdict on the Liam Millar vs. Ibrahim Osman debate, and both lads unleash a "Stat Attack" highlighting Blues' profligacy in front of goal and their heavy possession metrics. Finally, the guys preview the massive £40m test against Middlesbrough at St. Andrew's, reveal the truth behind Demarai Gray's hospital stint, and look back at Chris Davies' meme-worthy post-match celebrations at Pride Park. A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and KEEP RIGHT ON! 🎟️ Get your LIVE EVENT tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/foreverblues/2381196 0:00 - Introduction and thanks to Davisons Law 0:50 - It's a results business 1:05 - What a battle, last season Blues would have crumbled 1:44 - The 'new' Birmingham City, made of sterner stuff 3:12 - Game analysis, missed chances 4:00 - Vital goal from Carlos Vicente and avoiding Bobby Clark's strike 5:00 - Jhon Solis, Liam Millar and Vicente - what a leap and finish 6:20 - The fear of Blues at set-pieces 8:20 - Paik, grappling, shirt pulling and August Priske 11:00 - Luis Vazquez's amazing miss 13:00 - Would Kyogo have scored? 14:00 - Fifteen minutes, 17 seconds of added time; going to a 5-4-1 15:00 - Tiredness 'baloney' 15:48 - Invite pressure, or no alternative? 18:00 - Managers making decisions in the moment and attacking substitutions 19:30 - Blues relish backs to the wall; Preston North End away 20:30 - The Nigel Gleghorn of Zaragoza 22:00 - Vicente impact 22:50 - Liam Millar or Ibrahim Osman? Tait's verdict 23:50 - Millar's diligence 25:00 - Forever Blues LIVE at The Hayes on September 25 25:50 - Taity's stat attack! Possession and an enjoyable watch 27:25 - Tatts' stat attack! Big, big, big chances missed 29:25 - Blues league position on the fringe of play-offs, a good start 32:50 - £40m Middlesbrough test at St. Andrew's 32:10 - Don't fear anyone at home 32:38 - Taity as entertainments manager 33:10 - Berhalter, Cozier-Duberry and McGree 34:02 - Boro changed system last time, Blues on the front foot 35:00 - A three-week international break 37:06 - Hospitalised Demarai Gray injury and illness revealed 39:00 - Chris Davies meme-worthy celebration at Derby 41:22 - Venue clarification for Forever Blues LIVE at The Hayes 42:46 - Thank you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Has it been a positive start to the season, or is the Championship ultimately a results-based business? Colin Tattum and Paul Tait are back to give their verdict after Blues suffered their first defeat of the season at Norwich City. The boys dissect the 2-1 loss at Carrow Road, pinpointing the fine margins and big missed chances—including Liam Millar's controversial offside goal and Carlos Vicente's incredible miss. Taity explains why Blues must get tighter in key defensive moments and stop giving away preventable goals, while praising the league debut of Kristoffer Lund. Tatts and Taity also look back at the relentless, front-foot performance against Wolves, analysing the crazy own goal, Patrick Roberts' impact, and Jay Stansfield getting back on the scoresheet. Plus, the lads welcome the emotional St. Andrew's return of Tom Wagner, discussing the driving force behind the club. Finally, the focus shifts to Derby County where John Eustace is under pressure, a debate over Marvin Ducksch's role, and a passionate plea from Taity to give Blues' academy youngsters like Tyrese Warmington a proper chance in the first team. 🚨 FOREVER BLUES - LIVE! 🚨 We are taking the podcast on the road! Join Tatts and Taity at The Hayes on September 25 for a special evening of Blues stories, nostalgia, and a live Q&A. 🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/foreverblues/2381196 A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and KEEP RIGHT ON! 0:00 - Introduction and thank you to principal partners Davisons Law 0:20 - Norwich City game and not taking chances 2:00 - Liam Millar's offside goal, the assistant has form 2:59 - Loose Blues and how to prevent the first goal 4:48 - Defenders and doing the basics, don't blame tiredness 7:00 - Fine margins and Carlos Vicente 8:50 - Missing a lot of big chances 9:00 - Danger of getting dragged down the table 10:00 - Blues are on the front foot more 13:00 - Liam Millar's contribution so far 14:25 - Kristoffer Lund league debut 15:30 - The high foot tackle on Cochrane and Taity's view 16:10 - Blues performance against Wolves, camping in their half 17:58 - The crazy own goal 18:55 - Jay Stansfield and missing Patrick Roberts 19:50 - The Forever Blues LIVE event at The Hayes, September 25 20:20 - The emotional return of Tom Wagner 24:55 - Blues at Derby County - who is under the most pressure? 26:05 - A results-based business and Blues tough start to the season 28:00 - Difficulties of lack of central midfield options 29:20 - Paik and Iwata debate 30:30 - Marvin Ducksch potential impact? 32:30 - Blues 25-man squad and leaving out Scott Wright 34:00 - Bigging up Blues youngsters and Tyrese Warmington 35:00 - Giving youth more of a chance 37:00 - Taity's passion for Blues' own 39:30 - Outro and thank you to Davisons Law and the Big Bulls Head in Digbeth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The transfer window is officially slammed shut, and the boys are back to give their verdict on Birmingham City's summer business! Paul Tait and Colin Tattum assess a window that saw Blues sign seven players and sell a couple. Taity reveals why he feels Blues might still be short in a few areas, but shares his excitement over the deadline day capture of Liam Millar. The lads dissect what happened with the pursuits of Ibrahim Osman, Mohammed Fuseini, and Joe Gelhardt, before launching into a debate about Callum O'Hare: is he worth £7 million, and is he truly Blues? On the pitch, we praise the emergence of "tower of power" Phil Neumann, Carlos Vicente's form, and Patrick Roberts' fantastic display against a top Southampton side. Plus, we preview Sunday's massive derby at St. Andrew's against Wolves, welcoming back Jordan James, Tommy Doyle, and John Ruddy, and we celebrate Tomoki Iwata clocking up his 100th appearance! A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and KEEP RIGHT ON! 0:00 - Introduction and thank you to principal partners Davisons Law 0:30 - Taity on an 'indifferent transfer window' and areas to address 2:20 - Blues and the classic number 10 - Jay Stansfield and Finn Azaz 2:40 - Squad Cost Rules, Blues transfer spend and their change in profile 4:00 - Quality not quantity 5:01 - Where's Max Bird and Liam Millar's signing 6:07 - Taity view on Liam Millar 6:55 - Recruitment criticism fair? Want, want, want! 8:52 - What happened to Mohammed Fuseini and Joe Gelhardt 9:40 - Taity and Adrian Segicic - not ITK! 10:30 - Callum O'Hare - worth £7 million, and is he Blues? 12:50 - Phil Neumann's emergence 15:10 - Carlos Vicente and the St. Andrew's performances 16:30 - Patrick Roberts - on his game, he's fantastic - he needs to be trusted. 19:04 - Are Blues evolving for the better? 21:00 - Stansfield woe in front of goal 22:58 - Analysing Blues 1 Southampton 1 24:30 - Blues win at Wrexham and more missed chances 26:20 - The Blues Rotundas and Alex Cochrane delivery of set-pieces 29:20 - Forever Blues new website - become a member and support our independent Blues service! 30:08 - Blues v Wolves derby 31:40 - Wolves recruitment, manager change and the transfer window 33:20 - Jordan James and Wolves frontline firepower 36:26 - In praise of 100-up Tomoki Iwata 38:55 - Grading Blues transfer window 41:30 - Outro, thank you to Davisons Law and special event teaser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Episode 51 of the Forever Blues podcast! Paul Tait returns from his wedding planning duties in Cyprus, and he is in a suitably cutting mood after watching Blues draw against Bristol City at St. Andrew's. Taity gives his honest verdict on the team being "stuck in first gear," discusses Scott Twine running the show, and questions if there is a tactical disconnect happening on the pitch. With the September 1st transfer deadline rapidly approaching, the lads focus on what Blues desperately need in the market. Does Demarai Gray need to be handed a starting spot immediately? Will Chris Davies dip into the loan market for a game-changing striker? Taity puts forward Portsmouth's Adrian Segecic as a potential creative solution! Plus, we praise James Beadle's strong start to the season and look ahead to Friday night's highly anticipated clash against Phil Parkinson's Wrexham. A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and KEEP RIGHT ON! 0:00 - Intro and thanks to Principal Partners 1:13 - Taity's break to Cyprus 2:08 - Blues 2, Bristol City 2 recap 2:35 - Taity's view on the team selection and performance 3:38 - Scott Twine the answer for Blues? 4:00 - Methodical and limp 5:55 - Attack and getting the fans on board at St. Andrew's 6:28 - Bristol's tactical tweaks and breakaways 8:24 - A disconnect? 9:47 - Paik as the 10 and Jay Stansfield wide 10:15 - Injury to Max Bird a blow, Jhon Solis uncomfortable 10:58 - Demarai Gray wants to start; Taity wants more from him 15:18 - Unbeaten in first 3 games . . . 17:35 - Taity wants Adrian Segecic 19:55 - James Beadle's good start to the season 21:33 - Dom Ballard's outrageous goal 22:37 - Solis disallowed goal 23:52 - Tuesday and Friday night fixtures 25:54 - Wrexham seeking a first win and transfer movement 27:05 - 'Nightmare' Phil Parkinson 28:18 - Danny Imray and Kieffer Moore 31:28 - Blues needs before the transfer window shuts 32:30 - Big money signings and Ibrahim Osman 35:00 - The loan option 38:00 - Outro and thank you to Davisons Law and the Big Bulls Head in Digbeth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's milestone EPISODE 50 of Forever Blues, and we're back home at St. Andrew's! With Taity away on holiday, Tatts is joined by a true Birmingham City legend, play-off hero, and cup finalist: Geoff 'Hors' Horsfield! The lads reflect on a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Sheffield United, highlighting back-to-back clean sheets, the dynamic displays of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Jhon Solis' midfield commanding, and the fresh arrival of Max Bird from Derby. Hors also takes a fascinating walk down memory lane, sharing incredible tales from Blues' iconic play-off campaigns: ⚽ Trevor Francis taking the team off at Deepdale ⚽ Silencing the Lion's Den at Millwall with Olivier Tebily ⚽ The drama of Cardiff 2002, Darren Carter's penalty, and a 4-day party on Broad Street! Plus, we preview Bristol City's visit to St. Andrew's and break down their new £9m frontline. 🌐 THE FOREVER BLUES WEBSITE IS LIVE! Our brand-new website on Counter Press is officially open! Head over to sign up for your 1-Month Free Trial and get exclusive content, early video access, and deep-dive Blues coverage. A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And a warm welcome back to our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth! 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and KEEP RIGHT ON! 0:00 - Introduction & thanks to Principal Partner Davisons Law 0:25 - Geoff Horsfield joins as special guest! 1:15 - Sheffield United 0-0 recap & back-to-back clean sheets 2:24 - Curing the 'Pep disease' & playing efficient away football 3:33 - Mixing it up on the road 4:08 - Hors' verdict on Jhon Solis 5:02 - Max Bird signing & squad depth 6:30 - Bright Osayi-Samuel's dynamic resurgence 8:00 - High intensity for full-backs 8:25 - Tactical subs: Ethan Laird & Patrick Roberts 9:45 - Hard-nosed fortitude in the group 10:25 - Hors on playing under Gary Megson & Steve Bruce 12:15 - Boosting firepower & the Coventry City template 14:00 - Bristol City preview: £9m new strikers Tolaj & Ballard 15:08 - Championship strength & 8th place play-off debate 17:00 - Play-off pressure: Hors' personal experiences 18:15 - 2001 Preston semi-final heartbreak & Trevor Francis 19:45 - Winning at Millwall & Olivier Tebily 21:15 - 2002 Play-off Final victory vs Norwich & Darren Carter penalty 23:49 - A legendary 4-day celebration party! 24:35 - Fortress St. Andrew's record 26:24 - Hors on August Priske 27:44 - Bristol City form & Michael Skubala 30:10 - High intensity & options off the bench 31:05 - Hors' score prediction! 31:38 - Forever Blues website relaunch: Become a member! 32:20 - Big Bulls Head Digbeth shoutout 32:40 - Outro & Keep Right On! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Championship gets underway for Blues at Bramall Lane! In Episode 49, Tatts and Taity are back in the studio to preview our massive Championship opener against Sheffield United. The lads break down the gritty 1-0 Carabao Cup victory at Swansea City, discussing goalscorer August Priske, a solid showing from James Beadle, and why Taity is a big fan of Lee Buchanan sticking around. Are Blues becoming "grinders" on the road? Chris Davies called the team a 'different animal'—we assess if he's right. Finally, we turn our attention to the Blades and a familiar face: former Blues Academy star Romelle Donovan. Having joined Sheffield United on loan from Brentford, we discuss why he couldn't break into the Blues side and pinpoint him as a major danger man for Saturday. Important: The Forever Blues website is officially relaunching! Please check out our website and socials for the exciting new updates. A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And appreciation for our Junior Partners: Big Bulls Head in Digbeth, DrainTech, and Bewdley Spirits. 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and KEEP RIGHT ON! 0:00 - Introduction and thanks to principal partner Davisons Law 1:21 - Carabao Cup victory at Swansea City - unexpected? 1:51 - Blues different to last season in a strange game 2:31 - Blues had Swansea where they wanted them and becoming grinders 3:34 - Compact Blues is the way to go and quality long balls 4:35 - Stansfield wasted on the left? 6:16 - Manager's trust in Paik Seung-ho - what about Patrick Roberts in the 10 role? 8:14 - August Priske's finish and his evolution 8:47 - Centre-forward movement and getting across defenders 10:24 - Jhon Solis to become an integral cog for Blues 11:53 - Acclaim for James Beadle 14:32 - Lee Buchanan's return and why Taity is a fan 17:24 - First win on opening day for 5 years 18:58 - Forever Blues relaunch - please check the website out! 19:50 - Sheffield United away in the Championship 20:19 - Undercurrent of uncertainty at Bramall Lane 21:24 - Expect backs to the wall 22:19 - A 'different landscape' for Sheffield, due to no more parachute payments 23:08 - Blues a 'different animal' away from home 24:41 - Romelle Donovan - ex-Blues academy star 25:14 - Taity's view on Donovan - he's never overawed 26:38 - Donovan's loan to Burton Albion 27:58 - Could Blues have persevered with the winger? 29:06 - Where would he fit in this Blues team? 30:35 - Blues likely line-up for the Championship opener 32:28 - Importance not to concede early 32:51 - Thank you to our principal partner Davisons Law and the Forever Blues relaunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HERE WE GO! The 2026/27 season is finally upon us. Tatts and Taity are back to look ahead to Blues' unusual Carabao Cup opening match against Swansea City. The lads give their verdict on Chris Davies' latest summer signings—Vazquez, Lund, and Beadle—and discuss the departure of the polarising Kyogo. Plus, we look back at the prestigious Barcelona friendly, analyse Blues' new set-piece routines, and ask: is the traditional number 10 role dead at St. Andrew's? A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law And a warm welcome to our new Junior Partner: Big Bulls Head in Digbeth! (Alongside our great friends at DrainTech, Bewdley Spirits, and AMG Logistics) 🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for weekly Blues updates all season long! 0:00 - Introduction & Happy Birthday Taity! 1:12 - Sponsor Thanks & Welcome Big Bulls Head! 2:07 - Blues Trivia: The World Cup Question 3:23 - Verdict on Vazquez, Lund & Beadle 5:38 - Is Vazquez our new focal point? 6:29 - The challenge for foreign players settling in 7:41 - Farewell Kyogo: The divided opinion 9:24 - Lund: A souped-up Kristian Pedersen? 10:44 - The Left-Back Issues 11:38 - Remembering Pedersen's amazing header 13:25 - Solis, Priske & the tactical shift 14:41 - Where Chris Davies still needs to strengthen 16:31 - The No. 10 role & Taity's worry for Stansfield 17:12 - Tatts calls for a traditional front two 18:41 - The Barcelona prestige friendly 20:44 - Blues set-piece analysis 22:12 - Taking more risks this season 24:26 - Disagreement over last season's finish 25:32 - Carabao Cup Opener: Swansea City Preview 27:42 - Swansea's £15m spending spree & new arrivals 29:15 - Dangerman: Zan Vipotnik 31:05 - Trivia Answer: The last time we started with a cup match! 32:51 - Outro & Thanks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Forever Blues podcast is back for the 2026/27 season! Colin Tattum and Paul Tait are here to assess a massive summer of change at St. Andrew's. We break down the first two transfer window signings, Jhon Solis and Dael Fry, and discuss Chris Davies' vow to bring a more powerful, hybrid playing style to the Championship. We also cover the surprise departure of Craig Gardner after his five-year tenure, the arrival of new set-piece specialist Scott Fry, and Aurelien Guernier's shock move to AC Milan. Is the squad still too threadbare, and where do Blues need to strengthen next? In This Episode: 00:00 - Welcome Back to Forever Blues! 01:42 - Squad Ins and Outs: Assessing the Window 02:10 - Jhon Solis & Dael Fry Transfers 03:39 - Defensive Tactics & Championship Power 06:45 - The Masterplan: Six In, Six Out? 09:30 - Chris Davies' New Hybrid Playing Style 13:59 - Do Blues Need Another Striker? 16:33 - The Impact of Set-Piece Coach Scott Fry 21:22 - Craig Gardner Steps Down: A Look Back 27:53 - Darren Carter & Scott Sellars Appointed 38:15 - Academy Finances & The Fabled "Pathway" 39:58 - Aurelien Guernier's Move to AC Milan Principal Partner: Davisons Law Junior Partners: Bewdley Spirits, AMG Logistics, and DrainTech. #BCFC #BirminghamCity #KeepRightOn #KRO #Championship #FootballPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2025/26 season is officially in the books! In Episode 46 of the Forever Blues podcast, Colin Tattum and Paul Tait deliver their ultimate season verdict. The lads kick things off with a recap of the final match of the campaign—a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth. Taity, who watched the game from the stands at Fratton Park with Liam Daish, rues the missed chances and discusses Paik's positive impact as a substitute in the Number 10 role. This sparks a wider tactical debate: Is Jay Stansfield unsuited to the classic 10 position, and has Marvin Ducksch damaged his brand beyond repair? Blues closed the campaign five matches unbeaten to secure a 10th place finish—their highest placing since 2015/16. But with an agonizing 27 shots hitting the woodwork and a horrific away record, the boys debate whether 10th is truly an acceptable finish or a massive missed opportunity. Tatts and Taity then turn their attention to the end-of-season awards. They discuss the sheer physical presence of the defense, praise the impact of Kai Wagner, and unanimously crown Christoph Klarer as their Player of the Season! Finally, the boys reflect on their favourite (and worst!) moments of the campaign, look ahead to a massive summer of recruitment for Chris Davies, and give a hilarious update on Neil Moxley. IN THIS EPISODE 00:16 - Introduction 01:44 - Portsmouth v Blues recap 02:10 - Pushing on in the second-half 02:30 - Disappointed with a draw 03:14 - Five big chances missed - Ibrahim Osman fluffing 03:58 - August Priske's first goal, Portsmouth's marking 05:44 - Blues corners and delivery 06:19 - Priske not the target man; more like a Jon Stead, Paul Gallagher type 06:46 - Moving Paik into the 10 role as substitute 07:46 - The end of Marvin Ducksch? Damaging the brand 08:25 - Jay Stansfield ill at ease as a classic 10 08:48 - Specialist role - Blues need a clever player in there this summer, a Sheringham 10:50 - Worry over Stansfield's ankle injury 11:31 - Adrian Segecic and the mass confrontation, sparked the game 14:10 - Taity likes Segecic, but did he dive trying to get a penalty? 14:45 - Blues finish 5 unbeaten and finish 10th in the Championship; all the what ifs . . . 15:29 - 27 times hitting the woodwork 15:56 - Rate Blues final position in the league; an opportunity missed for Taity 16:16 - Blues horrific away form, Jeremy Dale and 'building blocks' 16:55 - Look at Millwall, workmanlike and grind out results 17:37 - League will be tougher next season? 19:04 - A positive in that we can all see where improvements are needed 19:18 - Chris Davies a rookie manager and 10th place being decent 20:15 - Owners aren't here to mess around and they want results, not to finish in 10th 21:33 - A huge summer ahead, recruitment has to be spot on 21:49 - A 60/40 split on Davies 22:34 - Paik going to the World Cup and needs to sort his shoulder issue 23:11 - Is finishing 9th next season progression? 23:33 - Defensively Blues are good, on the whole, and not being ruthless enough at the other end 23:58 - Continuity. Davies the first manager since Lee Clark to start and finish two successive seasons 24:47 - If going with the same model next season, it's all about recruitment, bringing in Championship know how 25:33 - The sheer size of Klarer and Phil Neumann, who got better after thinking time out the side 27:12 - Klarer player of the season, again, the guys are in agreement 28:00 - A standout player who leads by example, a wish that others followed suit 28:52 - Honourable mentions for Demarai Gray, Stansfield and an unsung Tomoki Iwata 29:58 - Kai Wagner's impact, growing into the position of left-back 31:12 - Wagner or Alex Cochrane next season? Cochrane swearing on stage . . . 32:38 - The favourite and worst moments of the season 32:56 - The successive four-goal victories - we're going to kick on now 33:50 - Awful away performances hit Blues hard 34:42 - The Watford New Year's Day debacle. Tom Ince loves playing against Blues 35:29 - Blues dramatic winner in the eighth minute of added-time in front of 7,000 Blues fans at Blackburn Rovers 36:03 - Coventry City win, the Leeds United FA Cup tie 36:50 - Credit to the Blues fans this season, unwavering backing 38:06 - Outro and the latest update on Mox #BCFC #KRO #BirminghamCity #ChristophKlarer #ChrisDavies #EFLChampionship Principal Partner: Davisons Law Junior Partners: Bewdley Spirits, AMG Logistics, and DrainTech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a wide-ranging Episode 45 of the Forever Blues podcast! Colin Tattum and Paul Tait go through Blues' strong end to the season at St. Andrew's, following back-to-back 2-1 victories. The lads analyze how August Priske and Carlos Vicente are growing into their roles, potentially becoming key players for the upcoming campaign. Then, it's time for the big debate. With Blues hitting the woodwork a remarkable 26 times this season, the boys reflect on the "what ifs" and dissect the end-of-season messages from CEO Jeremy Dale and manager Chris Davies. Taity delivers some firm words on the current lack of Academy players getting an opportunity in the first team. With no Academy-reared player registering league minutes in the last two seasons, Taity admits the blocked pathway is a massive worry for the club's future. How will Blues ever produce the next Jude Bellingham if the kids aren't given a chance? Finally, the boys preview the final game of the season at Portsmouth, recall the day Jude and Agus Medina made their debuts at Fratton Park, and give a quick update on Neil Moxley's whereabouts! IN THIS EPISODE 00:24 - Introduction 01:24 - Important to finish the season in a positive frame of mind 02:29 - Tactical tweak to jump on Morsy - not rocket science though! 04:13 - Neumann's opener and Blues attacking set-pieces 05:21 - Priske's evolution and almost breaking his duck 06:27 - The benefits of a settled team and Priske growing into his role 07:35 - Landing on second balls and pushing on, thanks to the adjustment in style 08:21 - Midfielders breaking forward and winning duels 08:38 - 'Fantastic' Vicente 09:37 - Vicente's skill set and displacing Roberts; plus handling the rough stuff 11:32 - Blues top of the league - Tatts' stat attack! 11:43 - Hitting the woodwork 26 times - crazy 12:17 - Taity's stat attack - he makes it 1-1! 12:47 - The what ifs 13:25 - Blues' St. Andrew's strength: third best home record in the Championship, but away woes 16:10 - Taity no to fireworks (again) 16:28 - Big up Rich Goulding, the voice of St. Andrew's 17:15 - Jeremy Dale on Blues 'valuable experience gained' standing Blues in 'better stead' next season 18:09 - Of course he'd say that! Behind the scenes, probably sterner words being uttered 19:16 - David Sullivan would have let rip 19:35 - Chris Davies via Blues News programme, writing about a 'positive marker' of progress on the pitch 20:24 - He's got to say that, hasn't he - again! 21:05 - Trying to sign Maradona and Jean-Pierre Papin 22:22 - The big youth debate - why have no Academy lads been used? 23:01 - No Academy-reared player will have played league minutes in the last two seasons - not acceptable? 23:38 - Manager's focus is first team and first team players 24:04 - Rivals spending millions on kids coming through 24:31 - It is worrying, says Taity. The problem of split first team and Academy training sites 25:29 - Chris Davies skirting round the issue 25:47 - The pathway is becoming more blocked and the knock-on effect of trying to attract players 26:25 - Catch 22. Blues investing heavily in recruitment, but if there is no light at the end of the tunnel... 27:06 - Paying the money to buy players in. Taity speaking to Villa's Academy staff 27:57 - Blues playing catch up - not at that budget level 28:16 - First year pros could be earning towards and upwards of £10,000-a-week elsewhere 29:07 - Taity was on £28.50! 29:39 - Pressure to get into the Premier League and increasing the value of young players 30:21 - Isichei and Mazwi on the bench for six consecutive games; why not bring them on at 3-0 up at Cambridge? 30:48 - It's opportunity - you won't find out unless you try 31:06 - Taity on his debut at just aged 17 31:28 - It's down to the manager 32:28 - An argument for the powers that be upstairs telling the manager the club philosophy 33:29 - The loans issue; a new role being created as Blues have been behind the eight ball 34:34 - Managers' resistance 34:47 - Wolves approach to loans and 21s' football 35:52 - Young players training with the first team more - the manager has his neck on the line 36:32 - Portsmouth away last game - Pompey's pick-up since Easter 37:42 - Jude's debut at Fratton Park . . . and Agus Medina's 38:29 - First game away next season at Spurs . . . noon on a Sunday, or February on a night 39:16 - Medina went back to Cornella - Lionel Messi's new club 40:04 - Adrian Segecic - Pompey's Priske 40:44 - Who is going to leave Blues in the summer? 41:45 - Alberto Tarantini and jumping into the crowd 42:12 - Final thank yous and an update on Mox's whereabouts . . . #BCFC #KRO #BirminghamCity #AugustPriske #JudeBellingham #EFLChampionship Principal Partner: Davisons Law Junior Partners: Bewdley Spirits, AMG Logistics, and DrainTech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the season reaches its final straight, the big debates are kicking off at St. Andrew's! In Episode 44, Colin Tattum and Paul Tait recap the hard-earned draw at Hull City, with the lads disagreeing on whether Blues should have taken all three points. Taity advocates for the Barry Fry "lunacy" school of football, whilst the boys discuss Chris Davies' new tactical buzzword: the "finalisation position". The debate then turns to the future. Should Blues make Jhon Solis a permanent signing this summer? Taity wonders if the Colombian even wants to be here, while Tatts argues he will be vital next season—but only if he starts. There is also serious concern over Jay Stansfield's goal drought (1 in 27 appearances). Is the number 10 role ruining his form, and should Blues be looking at Coventry City's powerful frontline as a template? Plus, Tatts drops a snippet regarding the future of Chris Davies amid a looming summer debrief, Taity tells a hilarious story involving Liam Daish in the toilets at a pre-season friendly, and the boys preview the final home game of the campaign against Bristol City. IN THIS EPISODE 00:55 - Hull City recap - a decent point 01:38 - Taity wants more! A weird game, expecting better from the Tigers 03:14 - Partnerships across the pitch and Klarer/Neumann rocks at the back 04:30 - Good partnerships but two points dropped 04:36 - Context of away performances and form - statto Tatts is back - showing more resilience 05:45 - Gray impact and Blues moving to a back five to see it out 06:53 - Gung ho at the end - but were Hull really going after it, asks Taity 07:25 - Taity is from the Barry Fry 'lunacy' school of football 08:29 - Attacking midfielders, Tomoki Iwata and the 'finalisation position' 09:16 - A new buzzword, getting forward and playing forward 10:38 - Iwata did get a nosebleed being that high up 11:02 - Holding midfielders, having the legs and energy 11:35 - Jhon Solis permanent signing - yes or no? 11:45 - Does he want to be here, speculates Taity 12:21 - Buy Solis, but start him 13:09 - Solis probably doesn't feel wanted 13:45 - Adapting to the Championship, and Chris Davies making him a regular now 14:30 - The six . . and eights 14:41 - Don't mention double pivots in the toilets next to Taity and Liam Daish . . . 15:38 - Solis has a Fabrice Muamba kind of feel. Sign him, says Tatts 17:13 - Another stat! About Jay Stansfield - 1 goal in 27 appearances 17:45 - Stanno not suited as a number 10; he's not a traditional 10 18:35 - Getting frustrated and doing all his work outside the box 18:53 - Where are the goals going to come from? 20:03 - Concern for next season about where does Stanno fit in? 21:26 - Blues have to find ways to get chances for Stanno and August Priske 21:47 - Look at Coventry City's frontline - very physical 'lumps' who score goals 23:42 - Potentially a lot of upheaval in the summer 24:14 - A snippet on Chris Davies' future as manager 25:23 - Phil Neumann - a 'different beast' 25:41 - He's got the hang of the Championship 26:44 - Davies learning, continuity and adding more powerful players 28:37 - Having clarity on the type of player for the system this summer 29:48 - Are players on the beach, with nothing to play for? 29:51 - Personal pride, players playing for contracts and not short changing fans 30:57 - Blues under Alex McLeish finishing 10th in the Premier League 33:02 - £5 if you can make Liam Daish smile at Portsmouth on the final day 33:53 - Looking forward to next season already; more difficult as a supporter than a player 36:06 - Blues last home game of season against Bristol City 36:44 - Play-off qualification at eighth place next season 37:39 - Blues away at Bristol City - they weren't great against us, but heads had gone 39:27 - Blues will have a lot of the ball; it could be a more possession-based performance 40:17 - A thank you to our principal partners Davisons Law #BCFC #KRO #BirminghamCity #JayStansfield #JhonSolis #EFLChampionship Principal Partner: Davisons Law Junior Partners: Bewdley Spirits, AMG Logistics, and DrainTech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Birmingham City secured a massive, much-needed 2-0 victory over Wrexham to fire up hopes of finishing the season with a flourish! In Episode 43, Colin Tattum and Paul Tait break down exactly how Blues out-battled and out-worked their big-spending opponents, limiting them to zero shots on target. The lads heap praise on the "unplayable" Ibrahim Osman, the influence of natural left-back Kai Wagner, and Carlos Vicente—asking why it has taken so long to see this level of performance from him. Has Chris Davies finally found the right formula? Tatts and Taity discuss the noticeable shift to a more direct, runner-heavy style, sacrificing possession to do more with the ball. Taity urges the manager to keep a settled side and play August Priske every game to build vital partnerships. Finally, the boys preview the upcoming trip to Hull City. Expect an extra edge to this one following the October fracas at St. Andrew's, and keep your eyes on the technical area with Sergej Jakirovic! IN THIS EPISODE 00:56 - All that money spent and out-battled, out-worked, no shots on target 01:29 - Less possession and doing more with the ball 01:55 - Big game for both Blues and Wrexham - what changed exactly? 02:48 - Immense Christophe Klarer, winning the battles and August Priske leading the line 03:07 - Jay Stansfield worry - doing all the work outside the box 04:49 - Ibrahim Osman unplayable in parts and playing the right, quality balls and not smashing it 06:58 - Blues not slowing it down, runners beyond and utilising the wide players' strengths 07:38 - In praise of Carlos Vicente - but why has it taken so long? 08:57 - Playing Priske every game and keeping settled side 10:53 - Next season is going to be tough and Spurs tipped to go down 12:08 - Priske and how to play to his strengths 12:28 - Building up an understanding as pair, Priske and Stansfield 13:49 - Movement, finding space and when Blues are at their muddled worst 14:38 - Kai Wagner's influence, having that natural left-back 16:39 - Keeping on playing the same team and show trust in them 17:54 - Centre-halves Klarer and Phil Neumann chat 21:09 - Would you take Blues not being as pleasing on the eye but winning? 21:58 - Roy Keane and being 'brutal' getting the second balls; mentality 24:18 - Getting fans off their seats 25:03 - Style is changing but don't ignore the core Championship needs. Lessons to be learned 25:31 - Hull City, Blues next opponents 26:07 - Why there will be an edge on this game after the October fracas at St. Andrew's 26:31 - Sergej Jakirovic - watch the technical area at Hull! 27:41 - Taity impressed by Hull and Joe Geldhardt 29:11 - Lewis Koumas doubt, John Lundstram suspended 30:02 - Up to the Blues players to finish the season off on a positive note 31:28 - Geldhardt tormenting Blues for Wigan Athletic as an Under-18 32:25 - Talking transition away from home 32:53 - Too much 'noise', says Taity about how football is played 34:08 - A parting thank you #BCFC #KRO #BirminghamCity #WrexhamAFC #HullCity #EFLChampionship Principal Partner: Davisons Law Junior Partners: Bewdley Spirits, AMG Logistics, and DrainTech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Birmingham City salvaged some pride at Ipswich Town on Easter Monday, but should they have taken all three points? In Episode 42, Colin Tattum and Paul Tait assess a rollercoaster Easter weekend, starting with the dismal Good Friday defeat to Blackburn Rovers. The lads then dissect the vastly improved second-half display at Portman Road, where the handbrake finally came off—only for Blues to be denied by a "joke" of a decision from the assistant referee. Taity pulls no punches this week. He calls out Demarai Gray for flattering to deceive, discusses Jonathan Panzo's painful afternoon, and delivers a brutal verdict on Kyogo, labelling his injury-ended, one-goal season as a "nightmare". With the season in danger of fizzling out, both Tatts and Taity demand continuity. It’s time to stop the chopping and changing, play the January signings like August Priske, and push Jhon Solis further forward. Finally, the boys look ahead to the visit of "big spending" Wrexham. With Phil Parkinson's side chasing the play-offs without a team of "superstars," the lads debate whether the Welsh club has provided the exact template Blues need to follow in the Championship. IN THIS EPISODE 01:19 - Blues hard done by - 'joke' to disallow the equaliser at Ipswich Town 02:02 - Taking the handbrake off 02:48 - Assistant referee guesswork and Jhon Solis pushing on 05:45 - First-half frustration, conceding two goals in four minutes 06:05 - Painful afternoon for Jonathan Panzo 07:20 - Demarai Gray flattering to deceive? 08:18 - Positive changes down the left, wildcard Ibrahim Osman 09:12 - Forget xG, how about xW? 10:40 - Finishing chances off - Blues bad conversion rates 12:12 - Seven alterations to the side, August Priske assessment 13:09 - Taity 'don't change the team' - continuity is key, play the January signings 13:32 - Football Prevention Officers 14:12 - Priske fighting fire with fire 14:20 - Working on runs into the box, variety of movement 15:33 - Building an understanding, Priske and Stansfield 17:07 - Blackburn Rovers defeat and performance - bad passing and a team tuned out to the season? 17:19 - Paik lung-busting run, Doyle the same - they can't do it consistently 18:48 - Why Taity hoped Blues went a goal down. Yes, you read that correctly! 20:03 - A couple of players hiding against Blackburn Rovers 21:11 - Apathy by the end, Chris Davies admitting a few players lacking confidence 22:27 - Chris Davies' praise for Jhon Solis . . . so why not play him every week? 23:26 - Not having natural left-backs available due to injury is hurting Blues 24:50 - Phil Neumann return to the side 25:55 - Kyogo out for the season - underwhelming and a disappointment 27:57 - Tatts' stat attack! 28:59 - A big 'in' tray for someone this summer 30:18 - Kyogo a 'nightmare' to play against - and with 33:31 - Who is going to be happy with a 17th place finish - a big inquest coming 33:49 - Compare and contrast with Wrexham, Blues next opponents 35:15 - 'Big spending' Wrexham under Phil Parkinson, chasing the play-offs 35:51 - Blues landing on second balls at last, as seen at Ipswich Town 36:48 - Can Blues learn any pointers from Wrexham's recruitment? 38:05 - No superstars in Wrexham's team, but they work for each other and play to a certain way 39:01 - Best away following in the league 41:21 - Running through brick walls Blues - no excuses 42:01 - Don't let the season fizzle out and the summer will take care of itself #BCFC #KRO #BirminghamCity #IpswichTown #WrexhamAFC #EFLChampionship Principal Partner: Davisons Law Junior Partners: Bewdley Spirits, AMG Logistics, and DrainTech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices