It's Christmas time . . .

Well, are you hanging out your stocking on the wall?

And are you hoping for a road map or a Sat Nav to fill it at Christmas for all those tricky Euro trips next season?

Blues have 28 points points going into Christmas, their best return in the Premier League era.

If they get relegated from here, then we all might as well all pack up and try and buy West Ham United.

I've written it before, and I will write it again: there is no reason why Blues can't dare to dream, so long as there's a dollop of realism too.

Fulham should have gone down in 2007-08. Blues did. They then finished seventh, are playing in the Europa League, and having a ball.

Blues are seventh now. The manager is similar in as much as he's savvy and shrewd as Woy Hodgson (sorry, cheap gag) and there are a group of players at Wast Hills who not only are happy to be there, but are together, dutiful and want to do well.

I remember 2005-06. In 20 years of covering football and Blues mainly, the atmosphere then, the way the players were, the way it all drifted from boadroom to manager's room, was wrong. It was my least enjoyable period writing about the game I love, and the club I am passionate about.

Hopefully lessons will be learned. Eck wasn't there, of course, nor were the new owners. But they have been made aware.

That's part of the reason why you won't get much complacency from the current lot. Every interview is marked by players saying the main aim is to stay up and they won't get carried away.

And that is laudable. Their humility and realism is refreshing. Not that they are content and will switch off, but there is no arrogance in this Blues dressing room. That counts for a lot.

Keeping the same starting XI for six, probably seven, games on the spin has helped. Understanding, partnerships and trust are all built up. And Blues, however badly they may perform - first 20 minutes v Wigan and Everton for example - find a way through. That is innate, that is fate, too, as if it's not their destiny to be relegated again.

A couple of injuries here and there, and it will get tricky. Blues will have a bad spell and things won't go their way.

So that's why the January window will be important.

Despite Carson Yeung's pledge of up to £40 million, that amount is just not going to be spent, for reasons that have been outlined at length.

McLeish has impressed upon Yeung and the board that, at this stage, trophy signings are not the way ahead.

They have spoken face to face about this and Yeung, with his admiration for McLeish high, has agreed.

Inviting a £130,000-a-week striker into the dressing room, would that really be a good idea? No.

I suspect we will see Michel coming to St Andrew's (the Barry Ferguson heir apparent) and a couple of others. Maybe an Aiden McGeady, a mobile wide player. But no galacticos. Just a couple of players who would fit in and help, enhance. Nadir Belhadj neither, from what I can gather, despite the recent links.

January isn't the best time to buy, but at least where Blues are in the Premier League table has negated the need for panic.

The summer could be the really interesting time. Then it's an opportunity to take stock, identify and sell what you are trying to do to whatever player, rather than desperately add.

From me, a personal message: thank you for all your interest and support. It means a lot. This festive season enjoy yourselves and always remember to cherish what's close to you, especially family.

Happy Christmas.