'They're going to win the league' - What League One managers really think of Birmingham City

Birmingham City have been the talk of League One for much of this season and Chris Davies will want his team to assert their authority over the busy Christmas period.

Blues have played 17 league games and are just one point behind leaders Wycombe with a game-in-hand. By now Blues have played most of League One and the second half of the season will begin on New Year's Day when they play Stockport County for the second time.

Rival managers have had a lot to say about Blues, their financial clout, and their incredible array of assets. Here is what League One bosses have said about Blues to date...

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Nathan Jones (Charlton)

When Blues beat Charlton 1-0 at The Valley in August, Jones spent his post-match press conference talking up the budget available to his opposite number. He then added: “These are expected to walk the league. Not win the league, walk it. And the margins were very small between the two teams. We’re in a decent place.”

Jones focussed on his own side after Charlton defeated Blues in League One in October, although he did have a bone to pick with Krystian Bielik for saying Blues are 'too good for League One'. Jones said: “It was that they are too good to be in League One. That was an extra bit of motivation. I tend to probably agree with him but it’s very naive to come out and say that.”

Matt Bloomfield (Wycombe)

Wycombe manager Bloomfield was fulsome in his praise, saying: “Birmingham City are going to get promoted this season. Absolutely - they remind me of what Ipswich did a couple of years ago.

“They’ve gone and recruited an incredible young coach, they’re spending millions and millions of pounds on the backroom staff, on the playing staff, on everything, and there's no point spending all that money if you're not going to do it right. They're doing it right and properly.”

Richie Wellens (Leyton Orient)

Speaking after his side narrowly lost to Blues in August, Wellens said: “I thought we were the better team, by far the better team. They’ve got quality, obviously, but we were the better team and definitely should have got something out of it.

“They can have passages where they pass it between the defenders and the goalkeeper so it takes the sting out of it, but I thought for the first half hour of the second half they didn’t get out of their own half. I’m disappointed but proud because you only have to look at what they’ve got and what they’ve spent. We’re a team of free transfers – not one player of ours cost a penny. You look at the riches that they have and I thought we were better than them.”

Shaun Maloney (Wigan)

Before the game, Wigan boss Maloney – who spent time at Aston Villa during his playing career – couldn’t have been more flattering. He said: “When you look at the resources and the level of investment at Birmingham, it’s them and then the rest of the league in my opinion. They’re a really good team with really good players. I know the left-back (Alex Cochrane) from Hearts – really good player. If you look at the financial side of things, it shouldn’t be a contest.”

Afterwards, Maloney reflected: “When you compare the teams, the level of investment, our academy players, what they did today was very good. I’ve honestly never been as proud as I have been watching a team like that come and really play, I think that’s why I’m so disappointed.”

Phil Parkinson (Wrexham)

Wrexham – who have crusaded through the leagues thanks in no small part to the spending power of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – lost their unbeaten record to Blues and Parkinson was quick to point to a difference in resources afterwards.

"Birmingham have had an extraordinary opportunity this summer with the resources they have had," said Parkinson. "Every player we were going for, they were going for them and outbidding us or offering more wages. It was almost 'let them sign who they want and everyone else will look for what else is out there'.

“No-one can compete in this division in terms of their spending and it would have been absolute madness to say we could compete with Birmingham City's spending, it's just impossible. They have spent more than any other club outside the Premier League. But, listen, if I was in their position with those resources available, you’d get the best possible players you can and that’s what they’ve done."

Parkinson stopped short of handing Blues the League One title, adding: "As much as we don't want to get too carried away with this defeat, we don't want to get too carried away with Birmingham.

"It was a good performance from them and they are unbeaten. But there's a lot of football to be played. But of course with the options they have got off the bench, they are going to take some beating. They have got talent and are a decent side."

Steve Evans (Rotherham)

Evans dubbed Blues 'the Galacticos of League One' and 'Real Birmingham' in the week leading up to the match at the New York Stadium, but he focussed less on their finances after watching his team get pulled apart on the pitch.

He said: “They’re the best League One team I’ve ever seen with the way they pass and they move. They are a terrific side full of good young players.

“We have absolutely no excuses. We couldn’t touch them. They were much better than us. I thought we were poor in spells but started well. Their goal was against the run of play.

“We changed it at half-time and were more disciplined. We were well beat. I am not going to make any excuses. Our season will not be defined by a defeat by Birmingham. We’ve learned lots of lessons. We will regroup and get ready for the next games.”

Darren Ferguson (Peterborough)

Peterborough threatened to cause an upset after going two-nil up at St Andrew's. Ferguson reflected: “I said before the game, and I meant it, I feel the relegation has been the best thing to happen to this club. It’s galvanised everyone, they have brought in a good coach, the place is flying now and they are going to have a right go at getting out of the league first time. The best thing that could have happened to Birmingham has actually happened.

“We wanted to come here and have a go at them. We wanted to be on the front foot if we could. We’re not going to play this team every week. They’ve recruited really well and have some outstanding players for this level. But we didn’t want to just sit here and let them win the game comfortably.”

Michael Duff (Huddersfield)

Huddersfield were well beaten by Blues on October 1, even if the scoreline was only one-nil, but the Terriers have embarked on an excellent run of form since to haul themselves back into the promotion picture.

Duff said: "They wore us down in the end by sticking to the patterns that they do. In the end we were soundly beaten, there's no getting away from that. I don't think we're going to get judged on Birmingham away.

"We didn't want to come and just sit in and wait to get beat, we wanted to be positive and at least have a go. We've got to take the positives and move on because we're not going to play them every week. They are the best team, there's no doubt about that. You look at the players they've got, not only the goals but you look at the two centre-midfield players, they never turn the ball over.

"They're a good team with a good manager. They can make changes, look at the people they are bringing off the bench. No one knows Alfie May better than I do, I worked with him for four years and he's scored 70-odd goals at this level. Credit to them, we haven't got that spending power. That's not me booing, that's the reality of where we're at."

Michael Skubala (Lincoln City)

Lincoln put Blues under pressure at Sincil Bank with a first minute goal but Davies' side recovered to record a 3-1 victory. Speaking afterwards, Lincoln chief Skubala said: "They're a really good team. The two sixes in there are full international players that really know how to manage and control a game.

"I think we caused them a lot of problems. I've watched them three or four times and I don't think there's many teams that will cause them the problems that we did. There's no doubt about it, they are a strong outfit and everyone knows what they are doing this season, so I'm proud about the performance.

"They're a really good counter-pressing team. They get you because they lock you in. There's no doubt about it, they are a good team, but we'll be better the next time we play them at St Andrew's."

Ian Evatt (Bolton Wanderers)

Promotion hopefuls Bolton were soundly beaten 2-0 at St Andrew's in October and their manager Ian Evatt was very complimentary about Blues.

He said: “They’re a really good team, and they should be, with the finances that have been spent here. They’re as good as I’ve seen at this level.

“With the personnel we had available, we had a plan to be tight and be in the game at 60 minutes and then we could get the attackers on, be a bit more adventurous and go for it.

“The disappointing thing was we conceded very early on. We lost a duel in midfield that we shouldn’t have lost and then it was brilliant, but the goal was a bit self-inflicted. We hung in there and got the moment we wanted – John had to score.

“If he had, that would have been 1-1 with five, 10 minutes to go, we’d have been in the ascendancy and it would have been a really positive result. Two minutes later, Will (Forrester) was trying to block the ball and his momentum carried him through.

“You see that tackle so many times during games and the referee – who I thought was very poor – couldn’t wait to give the penalty. I was disappointed that it was another big game where a big moment has cost us.”

Nigel Clough (Mansfield)

Mansfield gave Blues one of their toughest League One tests of the season to claim a point at Field Mill. Nigel Clough's team could have won it in the second half with three good chances but Blues stopper Ryan Allsop stood strong to keep them at bay.

"Technically they are exceptionally good," Clough said of Blues. "The quality of the players they have and you saw some of the one and two-touch was above this standard. I thought we were in the ascendancy for a little period but you always have to be very careful because of the quality they have all over the pitch.

"The pace, that was the thing today. They are bringing on lads in wide areas with a lot of pace and skill and we just about dealt with them."

Gareth Ainsworth (Shrewsbury)

Ainsworth masterminded Shrewsbury's shock 3-2 victory over Blues in his first game in charge. Bottom-of-the-table Salop became only the second side to beat Blues in League One this season.

“Some of the Birmingham players I know said when they came off that ‘your boys deserved that because they have given us one hell of a game’,” Ainsworth said.

“The players were committed. They went for every tackle, header and they never stopped running. It is not surprising that some of the players were going down injured and going off with tightness and they were knackered. To a man, the commitment that they showed today was sensational, it really was."

Gary Caldwell (Exeter)

The Grecians were beaten twice by Blues in the space of two weeks, once in the league and once in the Vertu Trophy, and manager Gary Caldwell is convinced their stay in the third tier will be a short one.

He said: "I said before the game that they're going to win the league and I'm even more convinced after seeing them live. We won't play teams like Birmingham every week and that's a good thing, obviously, because they are going to win the league by a long way in my opinion."

Dave Challinor (Stockport)

Stockport caused Blues a few issues in the game at St Andrew's on December 4. Dave Challinor gave a balanced assessment of a competitive 90 minutes.

"We've given the best team in the league a few scares. Although I hate losing, I'm alright losing in a certain manner. We can take a lot from tonight.

"Let's be clear. We've had to be at our maximum there to, if at all, stop a really good team. In terms of a gulf in class... they've got some really good players. The front six... the two central midfielders are fantastic, the front-line is a real threat."

Darrell Clarke (Barnsley)

Barnsley barely led Blues for a minute before Jay Stansfield turned on the style at Oakwell. Stansfield's brace handed Blues a comeback victory and Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke let rip at his players afterwards.

Clarke said: "You want your players to enjoy a goal, then I want a ‘reset’ and the ball to be in the back of our net 30 seconds later is not good enough. Those are the fine lines whether you actually want to be a winner or consistently winning. We have to be better than that.

"To give the second goal away from a set-piece and players not doing their jobs is unacceptable. You are not going to hear hard luck stories from me. As I said to the players after the game: ‘Be a proper winner, not a nearly man.’

"To be a proper winner, you have to make sure you get the second or third goal and focus for 95 minutes and not switch off when you score a goal. You have to be ruthless when you are on top in games and show that desire and we’ve fallen short of that in the last five or six games."