Alex McLeish has called on fans to give his new signings time to gel and adapt to Premier League life.
Blues boss keen to give new boys time
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has called on fans to give his new signings time to gel and adapt to Premier League life.
Blues brought in the likes of Nikola Zigic, Jean Beausejour and Alexander Hleb this summer, although the team have yet to hit top gear.
Birmingham are a creditable 11th in the ladder, but they have been a little toothless in front of goal with seven goals from their six league outings to date.
McLeish insists he is still to establish his best starting XI and has called for fans to give some of the club's newer players time to settle at St Andrews.
Patience
"I am still trying to find the right blend. We've got to be patient and persevere with the guys," said McLeish.
"Alex (Hleb) is still searching for sharpness and fitness as is the case with Beausejour. Alex has not played a lot of games, not a lot of football. That game (yesterday) will help him and we've got to get the ball to him better than we did at times.
"Alex knows the quality of some of the guys but we are not quite Arsenal where everyone seems to be available and their one and two touch passing is sublime.
"Arsene Wenger is able to sign the very top players and nurture the very top young ones. But Alex has got to fit into our style as well and realise he can make a difference.
"Nikola Zigic is still trying to adjust to the English game. It's hurly burly, 100 miles an hour, and people expect him to win every ball in the air.
"But he doesn't really play that way on the continent or international level. Like I said, they all need time to adjust, just like some of the lads last season after coming in."
