![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/briandick.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBirmingham City have won half of their six Championship matches and have made a solid start to the season – that hasn’t stopped Chris Davies making some big changes<\/p>\n
Football Correspondent for Reach, journalist covering the Premier League and EFL for more than 20 years, a lover of most non-animal based or traffic-related sports and extreme cold water.<\/p>\n
![\"Phil](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Stoke-City-v-Birmingham-City-Sky-Bet-Championship-Football-Bet365-Stadium-Stoke-on-Trent-UK-1.jpg\")
Phil Neumann of Birmingham City (L) defends against Divin Mubama of Stoke City.(Image: Lindsey Parnaby\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Birmingham City’s pursuit of Phil Neumann<\/a> was as determined as it was long.<\/p>\n Craig Gardner tried to sign the German in the summer of 2024 – a move the centre back admitted he wanted at the time<\/a> – but was made to wait as Hannover 96 played hard ball.<\/p>\n Blues eventually reached a pre-contract agreement with the 2. Bundesliga outfit in mid-January – and fuelled by irritation angered his club by announcing the deal around the time he was playing for them.<\/a><\/p>\n The 28-year-old finally arrived in the summer with the idea that he and Christoph Klarer would give Chris Davies <\/a>as physically an imposing partnership as there is to be found in the Championship.<\/p>\n It started off well, Neumann’s pace and athleticism got Blues <\/a>out of a few holes against Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.<\/p>\n But something wasn’t right. Or, more accurately, left.<\/p>\n Neumann’s arrival shunted Klarer on to the other side of Blues’ defence, forcing the Austrian to play next to Alex Cochrane.<\/p>\n The idea made sense, Neumann’s speed made him better suited to defending in the wider channels vacated by Davies’ galloping right backs.<\/p>\n When Blues were in possession Neumann would stay right, Cochrane would tuck in on the left and Klarer could remain central.<\/p>\n However, the result was slightly displeasing in that playing a right-footer as the left centre back reduced the passing angles in Blues’ build-up play.<\/p>\n On Saturday Davies addressed that issue by dropping Neumann to the bench, moving Klarer back to his original spot and introducing Jack Robinson as the left centre back.<\/p>\n It worked well, the team kept a clean sheet, Robinson played well and the whole set-up looked more balanced in a 1-0 win over Swansea City.<\/a><\/p>\n Davies noted the difference in an interview with BBC WM <\/a>afterwards: “With our build up play up obviously having a left-footer, we had it with Ben Davies, when the ball does come across to you, you have more options to play forward.<\/p>\n “I think Neumann has been doing absolutely fine, no issues, there but I think Jack’s experience was big for us for us today.”<\/p>\n Having chased him for 12 months, Blues now had Neumann on the bench and he could be forgiven when the next opportunity is coming because the Ben Davies reference might be telling.<\/p>\n If last season told us anything it’s that Chris Davies is not a tinkerer for tinkering’s sake – particularly in defensive areas.<\/p>\n It might be that he brings Nuemann back to face Coventry this weekend<\/a> – but that hasn’t been his modus operandi so far.<\/p>\n The historic 2024\/25 campaign started at home to Reading with Dion Sanderson and Krystian Bielik in central defence. That lasted one match.<\/p>\n Klarer came in for Wycombe and for the next four matches played with Bielik, until the Pole was sent off against Wrexham.<\/p>\n Davies joined the current skipper for the win at Rotherham but once Bielik had served his suspension he returned for the next three games.<\/p>\n However, in October things changed. Bielik was replaced by Davies after picking up an ankle injury at Charlton.<\/p>\n Klarer and Davies then played the next three matches and might have continued for good had the Rangers loanee not been ill for the Northampton draw.<\/p>\n Bielik came back in but after the shock at Shrewsbury it became the Klarer and Davies Show.<\/p>\n Indeed they both started 24 of the next 25 league games – and it wasn’t until promotion was secured five months later that Bielik was given a run out at Peterborough on the night the title was secured.<\/p>\n There were a few starts at right back and a few games around the busy Christmas period but the manager had alighted upon his preferred duo.<\/p>\n There’s no saying that’s what will happen to Neumann, injuries, suspensions and losses of form do happen – Robinson knows that all too well from his run in with Sheffield United last season – but what we do know of Davies, is that he like consistent selections and partnerships.<\/p>\n As one door has opened for Robinson, Neumann may have to be patient, very patient for another to reopen for him.<\/p>\n What’s Blues’ best central defensive partnership? Have your say here<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a349<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755016403_380_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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