Former Aston Villa and Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has been assessing both clubs’ Championship promotion hopes.
Alex McLeish has suggested to Sky Sports that while he would prefer to see Birmingham do better, he expects Aston Villa to have a greater chance of reaching the Championship play-off places this season.
With just over a week to go until the new season begins, fans are starting to look at how their teams are shaping up with new signings coming in – and McLeish has joined in by looking at the fortunes of two of his former clubs.
Alex McLeish
Unsurprisingly, given that he spent nearly four years with the Blues compared to one largely unhappy year with Villa, the Scotsman has admitted that he is particularly keen to see Harry Redknapp’s men do well, but conceded that he expects Steve Bruce’s side to be in a better position to be in the promotion mix.
“My heart strings for the Blues having spent more time there, and I would like to see them get in the top six,” he told Sky Sports.
“The probability is that Villa have the better chance of being in that top six, but there are no guarantees in this Championship.
“You cannot predict a result from week to week. It’s so unpredictable.”
As McLeish suggests, it is difficult to predict how the second tier will play out this term, and it is fair to say that both sides have reason for optimism because of last season – even if the campaign ended in disappointing finishes for both.
Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp and Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
Birmingham were in promotion contention under Gary Rowett and improved during the brief spell following Redknapp’s appointment, while Villa looked considerably better once Bruce arrived considering that he was working with predominantly the same squad that Roberto Di Matteo could not inspire.
And while Villa’s signing have been more eye-catching – especially the acquisition of John Terry – Birmingham’s signings of the likes of Marc Roberts and David Stockdale appear to be smart additions, and thus, they will probably be quietly optimistic that they can also challenge near the top of the table.
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