Welcome to Forever Blues, your essential podcast for all things Birmingham City FC! Hosted by veteran Blues journalist Colin Tattum and club legend Paul Tait, we deliver unfiltered opinions, deep tactical analysis, and passionate debates you won't find anywhere else. Every week, Tatts and Taity dissect the true Birmingham City identity, bringing you honest match previews, post-match verdicts, and the real story from St. Andrew's. Your new home for genuine BCFC insight and a heavy dose of Keep Right On spirit!
#BCFC #KRO #BirminghamCity #Blues #EFLChampionship
On The Up! Chris Davies' Masterplan, Priske's Form & Preston Win
It’s Episode 58 of Forever Blues, and Colin Tattum and Paul Tait are buzzing as Blues go "On The Up" into the fringes of the top two following back-to-back victories over West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End!
The boys dissect the contrasting tactical styles Blues used to secure the wins and clean sheets. Tatts highlights the patient, possession-heavy dismantling of Preston (boasting 76% possession and 41 touches in the box), while Taity praises the physical, set-piece dominance that overpowered Albion in the local derby.
They dive deep into Chris Davies' masterplan for the side, discussing his demand that Blues become a genuine "top team" rather than an Average Joe that just floats by. The lads also give massive flowers to the back four—with Christoph Klarer, Phil Neumann, and Alex Cochrane earning special praise for stepping up their levels this season.
Elsewhere, the guys discuss the blossoming form of August Priske as he hits five goals for the season, and debate whether Jay Stansfield's evolution into a deeper, all-round player is costing him in front of goal. Finally, Tatts officially retracts his praise for Albion's Jimmy-Jay Morgan and "sends him back," while breaking the news that Blues stalwart Tomoki Iwata is likely heading back to Japan at the end of the season.
A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law
And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and become a member on our website for the best Blues coverage around: https://foreverblues.counterpress.media/
0:00 - Introduction and thanks to Davisons Law
1:15 - Back-to-back wins and much-needed clean sheets
1:45 - Preston analysis: 76% possession, patience, and breaking them down
3:40 - Playing out from the back and learning to move the ball quicker
6:20 - The set-piece threat and Alex Cochrane's elite deliveries
7:44 - August Priske hits five goals and grows in confidence
8:44 - The back four evolving: Klarer, Neumann, and Osayi-Samuel stepping up
11:00 - Taking risks: Chris Davies wants a dynamic, attacking Blues
15:38 - Stat Attack: Massive possession and 41 touches in the opposition box
17:00 - Dominating the Hawthorns derby and fighting fire with fire
22:37 - Jay Stansfield's new role: Great all-round play, but missing goals?
25:52 - Tatts sends Jimmy-Jay Morgan back to Albion
27:20 - Transfer news: Tomoki Iwata set to leave for Japan at the end of the season
30:30 - Max Bird's return and the midfield depth conundrum
33:05 - Chris Davies' utopia: Becoming a true "top team"
37:33 - Are Blues genuine playoff contenders this season?
40:11 - Outro and thanks to The Big Bulls Head
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The countdown to Derby Day is officially on! In a special crossover episode, Colin Tattum is joined by former Birmingham Mail colleague and renowned local media figure Steve Tudgay from the Full Throstle podcast to preview Birmingham City’s highly anticipated trip to the Hawthorns.
Steve gives the inside track on West Bromwich Albion, explaining why James Morrison's side have a major point to prove after freezing on the big stage against Wolves. The guys discuss the Baggies' selection headaches, the worrying form of frontman Aune Heggebo, and Albion's shift toward younger player profiles.
For Blues, Tatts highlights the formidable centre-half pairing of Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann, the air miles racked up by Jhon Solis and Paik Seung-ho on international duty, and why Chris Davies' front-foot hybrid style will make this a back-and-forth classic. Both hosts also pick the one opposition player they’d steal for their own squad, heaping praise on Solis and Jimmy-Jay Morgan.
The episode wraps with a brilliant trip down memory lane, covering the miserable 1984/85 double-relegation season, Peter Ndlovu and Dele Adebola causing havoc, and the infamous Paul Robinson and Damien Johnson red card drama.
A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law
And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth (Pop down to watch the game on the big screens if you aren't travelling to the Hawthorns!)
🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and KEEP RIGHT ON!
Check out our website for news, features, and analysis: https://foreverblues.counterpress.media/
0:00 - Introduction and Steve Tudgay welcome
1:37 - Hair shortage and background at the Birmingham Mail and Sports Argus
2:30 - Covering Wolverhampton Wanderers and Steve Bull's elbow
4:30 - Tell Tale Tudge - famous non-league gossip column
6:30 - West Bromwich Albion have a point to prove - they froze at Wolves
7:30 - Blues getting after Wolves by comparison
8:30 - Passive Albion are going to get on the front foot
9:30 - Blues went into the break on a downer, to a degree, but both teams starting afresh
10:25 - James Morrison's selection posers
12:24 - A problem with Aune Heggebo for the Baggies and the right-back situation
14:38 - No great surprises for Blues line-up and altering the style and physicality
16:40 - Paik Seung-ho fitness concern for Blues and Jhon Solis' air miles
18:35 - Albion with the upper hand in recent Hawthorns encounters
22:35 - Blues back four - you don't want to bump into Klarer and Neumann on a dark night
23:40 - Tatts picks his Albion player to go into the Blues squad; Jimmy-Jay Morgan's impact
27:13 - Steve selects the Blues player he would have in the Albion team, plus Ousmane Diakité's rise
30:15 - Albion's shift to younger player profiles, Heggebo again and August Priske
35:20 - Previous Hawthorns derbies - the Adebola and Ndlovu impact; Blues glowing spell
36:30 - The 93/94 relegation shoot-out, Albion stay up at Blues' expense
39:35 - The miserable 84/85 campaign
41:00 - Damien Johnson's revenge and Paul Robinson
45:13 - Albion predicted finish
46:30 - Where Blues should finish, January plans and expectations
50:35 - Albion doing a Hull City?
52:02 - Steve and Tatts' derby predictions
54:01 - Outro and thank you
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28 Sept 2026
Derby Day Showdown! The 94/95 Team, Albion Preview & Jude Bellingham
It may be the international break, but there's no rest for the Forever Blues podcast!
In Episode 56, Colin Tattum and Paul Tait discuss a wide range of topics, featuring stars past and present. With a three-week hiatus underway, the boys discuss how Birmingham City are keeping sharp behind closed doors before the massive derby day showdown against West Bromwich Albion. They assess what the Baggies have been doing right and the tactical battles expected at The Hawthorns.
Then, Taity fires up the time machine! He picks the one current Blues star he'd drop into the legendary 1994/95 double-winning side, and reveals which icons from Barry Fry's era—like Steve Claridge and Mark Ward—he’d bring back for Chris Davies today.
Finally, the lads talk about Jude Bellingham's unstoppable rise to superstardom, whether he'll return to unretire the 22 shirt, and share classic stories involving Trevor Francis, Gianfranco Zola, and Eric Cantona's famous "seagulls" quote!
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and check out the Forever Blues website for news, features, analysis, and nostalgia: https://foreverblues.counterpress.media/
A massive thank you to our Principal Partner: Davisons Law
And our Junior Partner: The Big Bulls Head in Digbeth
0:00 - Intro and thanks to Davisons Law
0:15 - LIVE event at The Hayes
1:07 - International break - three weeks too long?
3:15 - Behind closed doors friendly and time off
4:35 - Max Bird and Taylor Gardner-Hickman returning
5:40 - Bird to partner Jhon Solis eventually
7:10 - Seven key fixtures up the next international break
8:45 - West Bromwich Albion freezing at Wolves and learning lessons against Blues
10:25 - Styles playing out of position for the Baggies and their transfer dealings
12:10 - Throwing internationals straight back in
13:04 - Albion's younger players and relative inexperience
16:00 - Earning the right to play in a derby
16:40 - Tight games at the Hawthorns, comparing to Blues v Aston Villa, Richard Sneekes
20:25 - Taity selects the current player to go into the 1994/95 team - and vice-versa
24:20 - Nomadic Blues and their training grounds
25:40 - Signing which player(s) for the current Blues side from Barry Fry's team
27:20 - Jude Bellingham - England's player of the year again
28:00 - Jude's first thought is to go forward, not taking the easy option
29:22 - Jude carrying team on his shoulders, like a Roy Keane or Bryan Robson
30:35 - Incomparable - he's a unique, all purpose football
31:00 - Does Thomas Tuchel like Jude?
32:15 - Jude back to reclaim the 22 shirt for Blues
33:30 - Adapting his game the older he goes
34:25 - Trevor Francis - so good in training as a manager, like Gianfranco Zola
35:05 - Eric Cantona's 'aura' and his made up 'seagulls follow the trawler' quip
38:04 - Outro and thank you to Davisons Law and the Big Bulls Head in Digbeth
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