Well here we go again.  After what must be the longest season gap in recent history (We haven’t played since May 3rd!!) it all kicks off again on Sunday.  So what can we expect from this season.  It’s about one thing, it’s about staying up.

Even the most optimistic (Or unrealistic) Blues fan will agree that a 17th place finish will signal a job well done that we can all be happy with.  Obviously we would all prefer to mirror the 2002-03 season where we stayed up comfortably in 13th but a last day survival will give the same result. Well with extra hair loss and heart strain.

So what else can we expect from 2009-10.  For a start we will win less games but each win will mean so much more.  How many times last season did you walk away from a game being dissatisfied even though we won.  That won’t happen this year, mainly because we won’t get away with those poor performances in the Premier League.  The other difference is that our season will be split into ‘Our games’ and ‘Bonus games’.  Our games are the ones against those teams who are likely to finish in the bottom half of the table.  In these I would include Wolves, Hull, Burnley, Portsmouth, Wigan, Stoke and maybe Blackburn.  The bonus games are against the big sides where any point is an unexpected bonus…hence the name.  Against the big four (Or should that be five now) as long as we don’t get embarrassed I can handle a defeat.  The Villa games of course are not in either group.  They are special.

Key Players
It’s probably stating the obvious but a lot will depend on whether Christian Benitez lives up to the hype.  If he does he will score the goals that will keep us up, if he doesn’t I don’t see who else will.  I expect though it will take him a few games to settle in so I don’t think we can expect too much from him until September.  The other key players for me are McFadden, Larsson, Fahey and Roger Johnson.  McFadden and Larsson are our big players but have not performed for the last twelve months.  We need them to step up their performances now that they are back in league that they expect to be playing in.  Keith Fahey might be our surprise package.  He will be relatively unknown to opposition managers but he is our one player capable of putting through an incisive pass and he will add a few goals from midfield.  I’ve picked Roger Johnson as we need our defence to hold firm and he will have be the leader with Ridgewell not back until November.  Our staying up may rely on squeezing out 1-0 wins so clean sheets are a must.  In our last season in the Premiership we drew 1-1 at home to Derby, Reading and Fulham.  Winning just one of those games would have kept us up.

The Manager
This will be the season when we see what Alex McLeish is all about.  Last season was a tough slog but there’s a school of thought that his management style is better suited to the Premier League. Whether that’s true or not he needs to be given time.  Let’s not start calling for his head if we don’t beat Stoke.

Predictions
A lot of football experts (and Mark Lawrenson) have us to go down and on paper I can see why. However I have a feeling that we will have just enough fighting spirit to scrape those 1-0 wins when needed and secure that 17th spot.  A good start is essential with games against Portsmouth, Stoke and Hull coming up in the first six.  If we can be on ten points or more by the end of October I think we will stay up.

As for the United, game that’s just one to enjoy and not worry too much about the result.  They have a few players missing but so have we and I worry that our makeshift defence may be breached a few times.  Hopefully United will not be firing on all cylinders and we can get away with only a narrow defeat.  My prediction 2-0 to United.

Enjoy the season….Whatever happens.