Party like it's 1899

The reaction of Alex McLeish when asked to comment about Blues best ever start to a season said much about him.

"I hope it's the best finish ever, which would be even more important for us," he told the assembled media at the usual pre-match conference.

Not even the tiniest bit proud, Alex? Deep down, probably, but outwardly he wouldn't show it. The message was clear: we've done nothing yet, and we've not hit top form (or 'set the heather on fire', one of Eck's many Scots phrases).

Having won eight and lost just one of their opening 12 games, Blues are top of the Championship. They have improved on the club record start of 1899-1900, when teams like Gainsborough Trinity and Newton Heath were in contest.

Strange, though, that nobody seems to hold the side in much esteem considering what they've achieved and their position.

Ahh but Wolves are on fire (three defeats in the last four games), Reading score loads of goals (they are flaky away), Blues don't play good football (actually, they do, albeit in chunks, not over the entire 90 minutes - who does?).

Even at home, where weary Blues fans need to be excited and tend to have that 'seen it all before - you watch what happens in the summer if we go up' mindset.

That, and various other factors we've been over before, means there's not quite that buzz.

It's a shame for McLeish and his staff that they've walked into this kind of atmosphere as I think there's been a bit of head-scratching among them as to why the enthusiasm and vibrancy isn't quite there, or perhaps as you might expect it to be.

In the meantime, the team continues to get the job done and continues to grow and find itself. Blues have been pretty much metronomic this season, and that's a far better base point than erratic and unpredictable, collapsing to a 5-2 biffing like Wolves did in midweek for example.

I have a feeling that Blues fans might be pleasantly surprised by what's to come in the future under McLeish. This season, the goal is to get up, whatever it takes, then implement a remodelling.

Bringing in Nigel Quashie on loan, as a needs must to tide them over, is an example of that.

McLeish and his crew have already got an eye on that remodelling though, whether in January or the summer months.

Chief scout Paul Montgomery - who once had Didier Drogba lined up for West Ham United for £700,000 - has been busy beavering away in the background watching and checking on potential new recruits.

I understand some are foreign, maybe not too well known yet, some are exciting prospects in this country.

Ben Watson's disappointing performance on Tuesday for Crystal Palace - credit though Blues for pushing onto him and imposing their game, not allowing him to impose his - didn't do him any favours.

He's been mooted as a target, and the interest has been, and is, genuine. Blues have done plenty of homework on him.

Yet McLeish, ideally, wants players who can take Blues forward to the next level, to be definite upgrades on what they have got, when it comes to him making permanent signings.

That's his criteria. Of course, identifying players and then bringing them in are two different things. It's never always so simple.

So for the moment why not try to enjoy the ride as best you can - party like it's 1899, sort of - then see what materialises down the line.