Birmingham City visit Swansea City for a Saturday Carabao Cup tie after spending less than £5million in a summer of tactical and structural changes. Manager Chris Davies has overhauled coaching sessions and recruitment methods at the club's Elite Performance and Innovation Centre training ground in rural Warwickshire.
The calmer pre-season follows years of instability for Blues supporters, who watched their club wobble on the edge of oblivion before US owners Knighthead announced £2-3billion investment plans. Those plans include a 62,000-seat stadium at St Andrew's, where Jude Bellingham, Wayne Rooney, and Tom Brady have appeared in recent seasons.
Knighthead built a high-profile rivalry with Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, bringing David Beckham to St Andrew's when the sides met in September 2024. The owners also signed Jay Stansfield for £15million in League One and featured in a six-part Amazon Prime documentary a year ago.
Promotion to the top flight remains the primary objective for Birmingham City, though senior figures now accept it may take longer than their initial two-year target. Davies previously noted how rarely teams secure back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, though the expanded six-team play-offs offer additional opportunities.
First Team Tactics and Coaching Additions
Birmingham are adjusting their playing style after struggling on the road last season despite strong home form under Davies' high-possession approach. The team won five times and lost 13 away league matches, prompting a shift toward a more direct style following a 3-0 defeat at Watford on New Year's Day.
Davies identified a physical deficit against Championship opposition, leading to the January signings of Jhon Solis, August Priske, Carlos Vicente, and Ibrahim Osman. Solis, Priske, and Vicente are set for key roles after six months of adaptation, while Blues are eager to re-sign Osman on loan from Brighton.
Set-piece coach Scott Fry joined from Rangers after helping Lincoln City score 30 set-piece goals in League One during 2024-25. Fry directed restarts from the technical area during a recent friendly against Barcelona as Birmingham refine their tactical preparations.
"It seems to be calmer than it was last year," Davies said. "That’s not to say we lack ambition, but I think that calmness bodes well. We know what we’re walking into, the players do, I do. We’ve got that continuity and it’s the best way to approach it."
Davies added that Birmingham deserved higher than their 10th-place finish last term following League One promotion. "We went through the ups and downs and emerged stronger, so I’m hopeful and excited," he said.
Recruitment Strategy and Data Use
Birmingham are seeking additions in midfield and attack while remaining satisfied with their defensive and goalkeeper options. Department leaders Joe Carnall and Micky Moore are directing recruitment using data following director of football Craig Gardner's departure in June.
Academy technical director Mike Rigg also closely tracks data as the club evaluates long-term replacements for Gardner. However, Davies cautioned against relying solely on metrics, citing Chelsea signing Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck this summer alongside James Milner retiring at 40.
"Football has gone data, data, data but it doesn’t measure character, personality type or leadership skills," Davies said. "There’s a very human side to it. I worked with Jordan Henderson at Liverpool, he’s 36 now but he’s gone to a massive club like Chelsea and went to the World Cup. That’s because of his personality and leadership skills."
Davies emphasized the need for resilient personalities during difficult Championship schedules. "I am happy with what we have here," Davies said. "We don’t have a team of mercenaries here for the money. These players want to win games for this club. I’d rather have a worse player on paper but I know he’s committed, than someone who’s a better player but you’re not quite sure."
Training Base Operations and Leadership
At the Henley-in-Arden training base, assistant manager Ben Petty has assumed a larger role in pitch sessions. The arrangement allows former Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou assistant Davies to oversee wider operations across the facility.
The facility features bare walls preparing for an upcoming rebrand, with fewer motivational quotes displayed. Staff from Tom Brady's fitness company TBRx continue managing player recovery, requiring players to report the day after matches without Sunday rest days.
Davies has encouraged shared leadership, asking squad members to conduct small-group tactical discussions during pre-season in Portugal. Defender Christoph Klarer serves as team captain, but Davies wants responsibility spread across the dressing room.
"If it’s just me explaining things to them, it’s like you’re preaching all the time," Davies argued. "When the players speak, nuggets come from it that I find really useful. We did it during pre-season in Portugal. They have to have a voice."
Off the field, chairman Tom Wagner continues his recovery after suffering a stroke in February. Knighthead confirmed in an update last week that Wagner is expected to attend a Birmingham match in the near future.
Birmingham will evaluate their progress when they travel to meet Wrexham in north Wales on August 28.
