Going, going, gone?
Being a Blues fan, perhaps even more so than your friendly neighbourhood reporter, you tend to get a bit cynical over time.
So noises since the season's end that Blues are not angling to sell their best players has been greeted with a collective 'well, they would say that, wouldn't they?'
Following relegation from the Premier League in 2006 the 'crown jewels' were not going to go, fans were told at that year's AGM, and then in May
.
Emile Heskey, Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Upson ended up elsewhere.
This year's crown jewels are Sebastian Larsson and James McFadden. Is the same thing going to happen again?
Mikael Forssell has already departed, Championship football meant that Mauro Zarate's loan was not going to be made permanent.
Alex McLeish wants neither to be sold. He has said on more than one occasion that he might have to make a 'sacrifice' or two in order to generate resources.
That's because he has to balance the books this summer and will have to be creative if he is to rejig the squad to his liking.
Olivier Kapo is a more likely candidate to move on, and I understand interest in Fabrice Muamba is growing and Blues could sell him for the right price.
But Larsson and McFadden are untouchable as far as McLeish is concerned and, in my opinion, Blues don't need to cash in on them.
The club is financially healthy, there are no huge wage earners like in 2006 and the squad has a capable look about it.
Two or three additions - and McLeish has said he would only go for quality to 'enhance' what he has got - on top of Lee Carsley's signing should make Blues a serious promotion contender.
The board have told McLeish again on the back of reports from Sweden claiming Newcastle United want Larsson that they will not sell him.
This has also been stressed to me, both on an off the record, by the directors. The same applies to McFadden.
Now if a club comes in with a ridiculous offer - say, £8 million - does that stance change? Going on past history, probably.
But, with all due respect to Larsson and McFadden, would they attract such a high price?
What we have to take into account also is whether players want to leave, and are prepared to rock the boat to that end.
Heskey reported back for pre-season a stone lighter and in the best shape he'd ever been two years ago. He didn't say it, but it was obvious he wasn't keen on Championship football.
Pennant's body language in Blues final pre-season game in Marbella said it all: he had lost interest. Upson had already indicated he wanted out by refusing a new contract.
Both Larsson and McFadden are not, to my knowledge, actively engineering their exits behind the scenes.
My gut feeling is that Larsson would be prepared to give it a shot for a season in the second tier.
Blues have offered him a new five-year contract, which would keep him on his Premier League wage, and he knows he's a first choice.
Similarly McFadden doesn't strike me as the first to be scrambling over everybody into the lifeboat marked 'destination Premier League'.
He came to Blues because of the pull of McLeish and the chance to be the main man in club football, like he was on the national stage under Eck.
The views of Andy Watson, who worked with McFadden as McLeish's assistant for Scotland, are interesting.
When David Gold made comments before the season finished about Blues probably selling 'the big tickets' if they went down as in 2006, most interpreted it as meaning McFadden.
National newspaper stories speculated such and McFadden was taken aback and asked staff at Wast Hills what was going on, as it wasn't in his mind to go.
Since then, Gold has been more bullish and has recognised that such drastic measures are not needed.
And the board are well aware that should Larsson and/or McFadden go, the backlash would be considerable.
I suppose that as the transfer deadline doesn't pass until August 31 we shall have to wait. Seeing is believing.
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Colin Tattum
Mail man Colin Tattum’s view of what’s going on at Birmingham City FC.
Good stuff Tatts, interesting.
What do you make of Muamba moving on? I'm not sure - it seems a good price for him, and I like McLeish's thinking around getting more footballers in, but - and it is a big but - Muamba is our best midfield scrapper and destroyer in what will be a combative championship. Will we not miss those qualities, and his ability to cover every blade of grass? He was very important in the Championship last time round.
And - do we remember Brucie's abortive attempts to play our way out of the championship - although I back Big Eck to have more know how on how to play a passing game.
Also, I suppose Man City got promoted with Bernarbia and Berkvoic (I think) in Centre Mid - so it can be done!
What do you think?
Good piece Tatts and reflects my own thoughts on the issue of our better players staying or going.The messages have been mixed from David Gold with him at first saying if we went down the better players would have to go and now promising to keep the players Alex Mc wants.The question will be if they want to stay?It is encouraging to hear that they have not made noises about wanting out but suspect that if they do stay they will see how things are going at Christmas and if we are not looking like serious promotion contenters will want out.
Not so sure about your thoughts on the values of the players.Prices are crazy in the Premeirship reflecting the shortage of quality available.A decent Euro 08 and Larsson will easier command £6-8m in my book.
My sister Rose used to work with you on the mail and sends her regards.
Let your heart beat strong and all that.
Tatts I have to say I am full of so much anger and negativity at the moment. We have never had a team of young and hungry players like this yet we choose to cash in on Muamba and leave Nafti and Johnson in the side! Excuse me while I catch my breath from excitment!
It just got better and better for me when you reported we had missed out on Bradley, Edmilson and Behrami...that was a fantastic day!
We need a change of ideas, a fresh approach, no more Gold, Brady, Sullivan and I am afraid to say stale management from Brucey and now McLeish (it has to be said) we should have gambled on Slaven Billic look at what he is doing with one of the minnows of the Euros! What is more is that he has a personality about him not just standing on the touchline but actually swamping the management and subs when you score a lot like Mourinho. A MAJOR factor in Chelsea winning what they did was the charismatic almost intimidatory attitude of Jose towards other clubs. Croatia MURDERED Germany yesterday and thats what Birmingham should be (and wont) be doing next season, absoloutly destroying teams like Reading did a few years back! Its time for everyone concerned at the top of Birmingham City to step down. NOW!
here we go again! selling our better players and banking the cash, sound familiar? who next Kapo, then Larson? the manager will be given next to nothing to 'Invest' in new players. It would be funny if we had'nt seen it time and time again. We must be the richest team in the country with all the money we have banked over the last few years, or should i say the richest board! I've had enough!
The sale of Fabrice Muamba is a devastating blow to Blues fans - it is both shortsighted and unlikely to help the Board regain the confidence of Bluenoses!
Here we have a talented midfielder with grit and determination who is only 20. True his replacement will give us all this and a little more but probably for only two years maximum. The sale of Muamba will come home to haunt this club for sure!
My season ticket is bought but unless the club changes it's outlook then whatever division we are in come this time next year I will not be renewing after nearly two decades of loyal support.
The Board are driving away the fans in droves. What a pity!
I was not going to renew my season ticket this year after relegation.But after 17 years of having one in the last week i had started to waiver.So i would like to personally thank the board for todays decision to cash in on Muamba.
Stunning business why keep an up an comming u21 international who with good coaching will become an immense player when you can have someone on a free at the end of his career (Carsley)
You have now made my mind up for me, i will not renew and will only attend away matches until this money driven board get there wish and sell up.
Total lack of ambition yet again following in a long line of selling boards Latchford,Francis,Burns,Seaman,Dennis,Heskey,
Upson,Pennant you thought i would be use to it by now but i honestly thought this lot would be different.Larsson will be next
So another player sold to 'an offer we couldn't refise'.
So, just how good was this offer that will allow AM to go out and replace an under 21 England International with immense promise?
This Board are bancrupt( not literally)and the sooner they offload the club the better.
I am afraid the fans/board relationship is beyond repair.They have messed up over a number of years,and are totally embarrassing with every,daily it seems, utterance.
How a group of people can preside over such a shambles and keep their posutions is beyond me.
Clare from The Apprentice could do better, and if Karen Brady is to be believed she may have to. God help us.
For once I don't mind the board cashing in on an offer for a player. The price was more than fair.
Muamba disappeared too often during games last season (to be fair, like a few of 'em). And can anyone remember him making a stunning pass or scoring a great goal?
Forsell gone, Muamba gone,Kapo shortly gone, chances are at least one of McFadden or Larssen gone.
Board staying, fans gone....