Two sugars please, Eck

By Colin Tattum on Jul 16, 08 12:36 PM

Alex McLeish watches Blues alongside Colin Tattum Sshh. Men at work.

Got an interesting perspective on Blues opening win of the Austria tour.

At SV Westendorf's tight ground, there is only one elevated viewing section, a wooden construction above the dugouts that houses the PA.

After bagging my position on a wooden bench alongside Chris Alcock, of Blues World televsion, and press officer Chris Kershaw, Alex McLeish clambered up the steps and sat down beside us in the only space left.

Notebook in hand, I thought he had come to offer his services as my assistant or tea boy.

Not quite. It's not often you get to see and hear what a manager does during a game, even a stroll in the evening sun like last night's 7-0 victory over Kirchberg, at such close quarters.

McLeish certainly keeps a beady eye on proceedings and jots down short memos as the game goes on.

He also demands high standards, as he tut-tutted at a lack of quality on a couple of occasions when balls were not delivered accurately enough.

He was on at Sone Aluko to stay wide and provide width when he noticed him drifting inside too much.

But then he wasn't criticial for the sake of being critical: 'Suppose can't be too harsh, it's the first game and they trained hard on the morning' he said to himself.

McLeish is determined to rid Blues of a default defensive mindset that has been ingrained over recent years.

Mehdi Nafti played a short, square pass when there was space up ahead; McLeish urged quicker ball movement to the attack.

Stuart Parnaby checked his position and held off when in possession; 'Parns, go for, go forward' he ordered.

At half-time, with Blues 3-0 up, he implemented a 4-3-3 formation, with Kevin Phillips and James McFadden coming on to play alongside the impressive Garry O'Connor.

He shouted instruction to ensure that the midfield kept the right kind of shape, and there were examples of the dry sense of humour he is noted for.

When Phillips missed two - for him - sitters, McLeish leant over the balcony and quipped to Roy Aitken: 'Roy, is this his brother we've signed?'

McLeish purred over the potential of 16-year-old Jordon Mutch when he glided past three players in the centre of the park and delivered a defence-splitting pass behind the full-back for McFadden.

But when enthusiam got the better of him and he mishit a ball straight out of play, McLeish barked: 'Slack, Jordon, keep it simple'.

Blues were left with 10 men for the final quarter of an hour or so as Parnaby came off suffering from cramp. All the available substitutes had been used, but McLeish's attention was attracted by Aitken.

"Big Doylie, he's willing to go on at right-back," the joint first team coach informed him with a grin.

Colin Doyle had played the first-half and been withdrawn.

Eck thought about it and despite a wry grin breaking out on his face - imagine, a hulking 6ft 6in 'keeper on an overlap - he was having none of it.