Birmingham City Manager Chris Davies Outlines Tactical Evolution for 2026/27 Promotion Push
Following a 10th-place finish in the Championship, Chris Davies signals a strategic shift towards direct play and robust defending to bridge the goal-scoring gap with the league’s elite.
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has announced a tactical evolution for the 2026/27 Championship season, aiming to integrate greater physicality and set-piece efficiency into the club’s established possession-based framework. The strategic adjustment follows a 10th-place finish in the 2025/26 campaign, which Davies characterised as a necessary learning period as the club adapted from League One dominance to the rigours of the second tier.
The club has bolstered its squad with the signings of August Priske, Jhon Solis, Carlos Vicente, and Dael Fry, alongside the appointment of specialist set-piece coach Scott Fry. Davies emphasised that the addition of physical presence, particularly through the acquisition of the 6ft 4in centre-back Fry, is essential to cope with the man-to-man pressing and direct play prevalent in the Championship.
Davies noted that Birmingham scored 57 goals last season, falling short of the 70-plus targets typically required by the top six teams. The manager outlined a specific objective to bridge this deficit by securing six to seven additional goals from set-pieces and two to three from counter-attacks, thereby reducing the burden on general open-play scoring.
Commercial and structural developments under owner Tom Brady have further stabilised the club’s position. Birmingham recorded the highest revenue of any Championship club not reliant on parachute money, with over 20,000 season tickets sold and significant growth in global supporter clubs. The departure of director of football Craig Gardner has been downplayed, with the club leaning on the experience of Mike Rigg to maintain operational continuity.
The tactical shift builds upon adjustments made during the closing weeks of the previous season, where Birmingham adopted a more direct approach to secure a five-game unbeaten run. Davies affirmed that while the club will retain its effective pressing structure, the new focus on flexibility and transition play aims to make Birmingham a more pragmatic and robust force in their pursuit of Premier League promotion.
