Thoughts On The Blues with Simon Brew | An independent Birmingham City podcast

After defeat to Cardiff City last time out, Birmingham City headed to Lincoln City in the EFL Championship for a tricky away game. Ahead of the game, there was doubt that August Priske would start - but two goals and an injury later, those doubts were gone.

Simon Brew rounds up the game, along with the bizarre legal threat that Aston Villa appears to be aiming at Jamie Carragher. Don Goodman is currently quaking at the thought.

Plus: Jhon Solis, the mighty Christoph Klarer, Ryan Allsop, Alex Cochrane, and no legal threats whatsoever...

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Ah, it was going too well! Birmingham City took their unbeaten run, their amazing away form, and their collection of clean sheets to the set of Singing In The Rain for an afternoon EFL Championship fixture.

It was Cardiff City vs Blues in a soaked encounter, that raised eyebrows for Blues fans immediately when we realised August Priske was injured, and Luis Vazquez was starting. Things did not really improve from there.

There was a penalty. There were bad passes. There were slips. There were occasional moments where we remembered where the goal was. Simon Brew rounds it all up, with Lincoln City just around the corner...

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Birmingham City took on Queens Park Rangers - QPR to their mates - at a busy St Andrews (at Knighthead Park) in the EFL Championship. Tom Wagner was in attendance and buying the drinks. Chris Davies was naming an unchanged team. Could the Blues build on their wins against WBA and Preston North End?

Thanks to Liam Millar and Demarai Gray, the answer was yes. And in this latest episode of Thoughts On The Blues, Simon Brew digs into the match, shares a thought or two on Manchester City, and explores the perils of popping off to the toilet at just the wrong moment...

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Okay, what's going on? Ten games into the EFL Championship season, and The Blues sit in third place. What's more, we've finally got a home win, and in some style against a Preston North End team who turned up, moved around the pitch a bit, and went home.

Two goals from August Priske, one from Liam Millar, another from Demarai Gray. A red card, a stress-free Tuesday night (apart from the traffic!), and a few things for Simon Brew to ponder in this latest episode.

A statement win? A big moment? No idea. But 4-0 wins like this don't come along very often, and heck, we may as well enjoy it. Simon rounds it all up...

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After the seemingly neverending international break, finally the EFL Championship is back up and running, with Birmingham City heading over to The Hawthorns for a local derby battle with West Bromwich Albion. A game settled by an August Priske penalty - and a wonder save from Max O'Leary too - wasn't short of talking points. Fortunately, or otherwise, Simon Brew can talk, and does.

With a special few words for Don Goodman as well as the Blues chalk up their third win of the season...

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Oh lord, where do you start? Middlesbrough were the latest visitors to St Andrews (at Knighthead Park), aiming to go top of the EFL Championship and repeat their performance against Birmingham City from last season. And with August Priske injured, and Luis Vasquez drafted in, they might just have fancied their chances too.

But Blues had other ideas. And in a pulsating 3pm Saturday afternoon kickoff, a 2-2 draw ensued, with Liam Millar on top form, the referee absolutely not on top form, and Simon Brew's car parked in a bush somewhere.

In the latest Thoughts On The Blues, Simon loads up some cherryade and gets down to work...

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On Thursday 17th September, Birmingham City held the latest of its Open House sessions at St Andrews (at Knighthead Park.) The big takeaway from the evening was changes to the Sports Quarter project, and that Chris Davies has been sent the picture of himself from the end of the Derby County game. But there was much else to talk about too.

Somehow, Simon Brew got a ticket. Taking with him a sizeable bag to collect, er, 'souvenirs' while nobody was looking, here's his report from the evening...

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Following defeat at Norwich City, Chris Davies took the Blues to Derby County for our second EFL Championship away game on the bounce. This one went better. It went on for hours, granted, but goals from Carlos Vicente and Paik Seung-ho helped us get over Luis Vazquez's aversion to putting the ball into an empty net.

Meanwhile, John Eustace looked stern, Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann must be knackered, and Birmingham City have their second win of the season.

In this latest episode, Simon Brew rounds it all up...

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Birmingham City took their unbeaten record in the league to Carrow Road, for a midweek EFL Championship fixture against Norwich City. The teamsheet looked thin, with Patrick Roberts and Demarai Gray on the injury list, Alex Cochrane on the bench, Kristoffer Lund getting a start and two goalkeepers in reserve.

The game? Well, we went for it, but the Blues hit three key problems. In the latest Thoughts On The Blues, Simon Brew looks at the offside goal, the Norwich double response, and a Kyogo moment for Carlos Vicente as well...

Plus: Sky. A few words there.

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The first local derby of the season, shifted by Sky Sports to a Sunday lunchtime. Blues found themselves up against Wolverhampton Wanderers, for a lunchtime EFL kick-off where we'd learned ahead of time that Jhon Solis was injured.

Were we on the back foot? Initially so when Wolves too the lead. But it all turned into a memorable afternoon at St Andrews (at Knighthead Park), with the emotional return of Tom Wagner, and a frenetic draw that neither side will forget in a hurry. Not just for the debut of Liam Millar, either. Simon Brew rounds everything up. Well, he will do, once he's stopped laughing...

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The transfer window slams shut with just Liam Millar added to the ranks, as Birmingham City took to EFL Championship action against Southampton. Last season, there was a gap between the two teams, and Chris Davies needed a home performance to help steady things too.

In then for his first start of the season came Patrick Roberts. Begging the question: why has he played so little football for us of late? Whatever the reason, Blues fought out a 1-1 draw in an entertaining game. Simon Brew reflects on the game, on deadline day, and what lies ahead at home to Wolves...

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In the game that nobody from Birmingham was calling the Hollywood Derby, Wrexham welcomed a shellshocked Birmingham City side for a Friday night EFL Championship game where the Blues needed a result, and needed a performance. With Chris Davies under immense pressure, BCFC supporters needed a happy end to a rotten week. And boy, did we get one.

In this episode of Thoughts On The Blues, Simon settles down with paintstripper wine to talk about our new star striker, Phil Neumann, our set pieces, James Beadle, the fact that Sky seemed to, er, 'not be fans', and a first league win of the season...

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Buckle up. Birmingham City won't be winning the Carabao Cup this season, courtesy of an absolute horror show at home to Brentford. The Blues have now shipped eight goals at home in four days, and against Premiership opposition, barely laid a glove on their opponents.

Is that it for Chris Davies now? Where does this leave BCFC? And with Wrexham coming up on Friday, is it time for change? Simon Brew, when he's finished crying, shares a few thoughts...

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The first competitive match at St Andrew's (at Knighthead Park) for nearly four months, and a full house was ready for the visit of Bristol City. After two ground out away performances, this was the moment for Chris Davies to take the handbrake off.

The same line-up, Jay Stansfield still on the wing. Paik behind August Priske. Marvin Ducksh on the bench, too. A game there for the taking. So why didn't we take it? Er, glad you asked...

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Ah, here we go. Bramall Lane. The EFL Championship opener. Sheffield United playing host to a Birmingham City, who have a good away performance this season already under their belt.

Chris Davies and Chris Wilder went head to head, and it turned out to be a game where James Beadle, Jhon Solis, Patrick Bamford and Bright Osayi-Samuel ended up as talking points. As well as a very welcome shot or two from Jay Stansfield.

Simon Brew, who'd been off to see, er, Mrs Doubtfire The Musical on the same day, has some thoughts to share...

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Birmingham City are back, in round one of the Carabao Cup (or whatever it's called!.) Thoughts On The Blues with Simon Brew is also back for the new season, and what's this? A 1-0 win? A shot? A clean sheet? This'll never catch on.

Simon catches up with the action, chats about transfer market activity, and wonders what's gone wrong with Swansea City's mascot...

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In a very special extra episode of Thoughts On The Blues, Simon Brew invites the brilliant Ryan Deeney for a chat about Birmingham City's season. Relive all the highlights! The dribbling defeat to Derby. The Millwall away performance. The sorrows.

But also! The wins! The hope! The unsung heroes! And where does the 2025/26 season leave The Blues? Could - whisper it - next year be the year?!

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Find Ryan Deeney's Substack at https://afootballblogbyryandeeney.substack.com/

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It started at home to Ipswich Town back in August, but Birmingham City's season ended at Fratton Park, with an away game against Portsmouth. Simon Brew returns with Thoughts On The Blues to talk about the game, about August Priske's first goal, about a massive punch-up, and a hot water tap....

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Birmingham City (men's team) took to the field at St Andrew's (at Knighthead Park, obviously) for the final time this season, in a home game against Bristol City. When the fixtures were originally published, there was a hope that this game might mean more than it did, but hey! Here we are.

Simon Brew was there, in Block 37, and still searching for hot water in the men's bogs. This time, he chats Phil Neumann, Chris Davies, Jhon Solis, and a very strange opposition mascot (UPDATE: which I've now been told isn't Bristol City's at all, but is a Birmingham Alabama promotion. Crikey.)

To support Sarah's half-marathon, the link is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sarahs-birmingham-half-marathon

Thank you!

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The penultimate home game of Birmingham City's 150th year season saw Preston North End head to St Andrews (at Knighthead Park) for a game that, realistically, meant precisely nothing. An end of term dead rubber, two mid-table teams, and the emptiness away end seen in a long time.

Simon Brew took his usual seat in Block 37 for a 2-1 home win, where Ibrahim Osman excelled, and Blues took the most bizarre attacking free kick seen in some time. All rounded up in the latest episode of Thoughts On The Blues...

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