The future's bright?

Now here's a question: is the squad taking shape stronger than the squad of 2006-07, the last time Blues were in the Championship?

Talking to current players who were here back then, they seem to think so.

And in various conversations with other journalists around the country who cover Championship clubs, most believe Blues will be the team to beat this season.

You have to say, it is looking promising. With Quincy Owusu-Abeyie to come on Monday, plus maybe another centre-half and a loan, if needed, Blues have a healthy feel about them.

When they opened on the first day two years ago, Olivier Tebily and Bruno N'Gotty were the centre-backs, Neil Danns started and Sebastian Larsson, Nicklas Bendtner and Fabrice Muamba - all having been rushed through on loan - were on the bench.

By the end of the season, the Martin Taylor-Radhi Jaidi axis was good enough to give Blues the best clean sheet record in the division, and Stephen Kelly was among the most accomplished right-backs around.

Mat Sadler has gone, but David Murphy has come, so has Stuart Parnaby and Liam Ridgewell while the goalkeepers look as sharp as I have seen them for several months.

Muamba has left, but Lee Carsley's signing should turn out to be key, the Stephen Clemence of operations.

Kemy Agustien arrives with a good reputation of a box to box player who is mobile and technically good, then you have the Naftis, Johnsons, McSheffreys and an improved Larsson, plus the emergence of Jordon Mutch.

Oh, and Owusu-Abeyie to do his thing and add to a forward line that is potentially as potent as any in recent years.

James McFadden can be the Bendtner figure, Kevin Phillips the DJ Campbell/Mikael Forssell and then some, and Marcus Bent will bring much needed presence and athleticism up top. Throw in Cameron Jerome and a rejuvenated Garry O'Connor, Blues shouldn't be short on goalscoring punch.

We all know that it doesn't matter what's there on paper in the player list. Blues apparently had the 'best squad in 25 years' (that quote will always haunt David Gold) and were relegated from the Premier League in 2006.

Alex McLeish will have to get the blend and balance right, as well assuage a few egos of those who don't get a regular sniff.

But Blues haven't had the guts ripped out of them following relegation - and everyone continues to insist McFadden and Larsson will not be sold.

And although McLeish has had to work to a very tight budget, he has recruited shrewdly and Blues are not (for once) in 'crisis'.

Let's not forgot, they are preparing for the Championship, not the Premier League, and at that level this bunch is not bad. Not bad at all.