Match Day Thread Brum v Hull City

The most telling post on this thread yesterday was the one off a tweet from Phil Buckingham about Magennis screaming after he was taken off....

 

It's hard to fathom out. After the Charlton game, which clearly exhibited our weaknesses, there seemed to be a strong glimmer of hope in the first half performance yesterday against Brummy. I haven't seen the video yet, but even Swanny & Burnsey seemed impressed with the effort & quality in the first half when I listened to the audio commentary. McCann tinkered too much with his substitutions in the second half, which seemed to demoralize the players - hardly surprising. He doesn't seem to be able to read the game very well and obviously is not demonstrating effective man- and team- management. It may be a cliche, but 2-0 is oft touted as the most dangerous mid-game score. 3 subs at once ? Bizarre - go for the 3rd and then perhaps shuffle the pack a little ?

 

Strong first half everyone playing well and doing their job, it was Birmingham who changed it in the 2nd half, taking off a DM and bringing on Bela to play left wing, they also moved Crowley further forward. Everything went down their left 2nd half, and they got A LOT of crosses into the box, and generally moved through our midfield with impunity, with Crowley their AM sat in acres of space and Bela ripping Penno a new one. McCann's response was actually to NOT tinker with anything, 5 like for like changes, nothing done to support Penno at RB, nothing done to tighten up in midfield. We went back ahead against the run of play and even at 3-2 it never ever ever felt safe.

 

This ^
They changed their shape and went a lot wider
We stayed exactly the same, because that’s what we do...it’s our footballing philosophy

 

I do think that one of the reasons we struggle against crosses, and have done all season, is this system which relies on the wingers staying really far up the pitch. It was noticeable yesterday that Scott on the left was actually working back to support Elder, Wilks and subsequently Bowler (who may as well have not been on the pitch) though were not dropping in as much. All our fullbacks have struggled at times this season, a coincidence it ain't

 

Making 5 like for like changes, when the original 10 outside players had done a very good job in the first half is tinkering too much in my mind if it wasn't counteracting the tactical changes made by the oppositions manager. To tinker is an attempt to improve something without a plan. He's good at that.
He doesn't appear to have faith in his players, or his own judgement. Not encouraging for his players.

 

This may well be the case.

Relegation may well guarantee it.

 

Agreed.

For some people it seems that to critique the manager's failings seems to be the be all and end all of it for them.

What's wrong with backing your home town club through thick and thin, and avoiding calling **** out ot the players and manager?

It;s like we have a group of neutrals/pundits among the support who are football purists first and foremost, and who have too much time watching Sky soaking up the pundit mentality.

 

You mean I refuse to slag off the players and manager?

 

Did you enjoy your free HD stream Plum?

 

OK, well leaving the owners (who i despise) aside for a minute. When we had Bowen & Grosicki, we played some (lets call it) interesting football of an unpredictable level which was at least entertaining. Since their departure (not unexpected) we have been terrible, repeating the same mistakes again and again until we are in the relegation zone. What would you like me to be positive about? Since Bruce, we have gone from "success in the Premier league is too expensive" to "success in the Championship is too expensive" etc. I expect its probably too expensive to be successful in League 1 as well. It could be argued that a combination of Ehab and McCann isnt trying, or if they are trying, they aren't trying very hard. We have now got to the situation when I find it hard to find anything positive other than we haven't gone bust yet. Reasons to be cheerful...

 

I don't think there's any clear evidence of anyone trying to 'defend the indefensible'.The fan base appear to be clearly split into two definable groups,both groups of hope.

The first group seems to hope we play ****e(so they can be the first to say 'I told you so'),that McCann is proved to be inadequate at this level,that Ehab Allam will get his comeuppance and see his plaything relegated,that someone will buy a league 1 club and give us a couple of back to back promotions.

The other group hope that we can rattle up a couple of results,that under new ownership(hope)in the Championship we can put ourselves back together(somehow),that Grant McCann would be surplus to requirements under new leaders and the ultimate hope that one day we can all be 're-united' in our one true aim......The future of a Club that we've supported since we were young kids!!!

It's got nothing to do with defending the indefensible,it's got everything to do with having an opinion as to where you want the Club to be next season?

 

In a nutshell once the owners decided too abandon ship they’ve gradually got rid of all the expensive fixtures and fittings and it’s biting us on the arse every week now.

 

It was obvious Birmingham would change something at HT, McCann didn't seem to expect it or have any plan for dealing with it. Getting someone in Crowley's face, and reinforcing the right side, might have got us a win. If McCann couldn't see that when even numpties like me could spot it, then he's in the wrong job.

 

There is a third group, Ric. The one that hopes we play great and string some results together and remain a championship club this season, but know that isn't going to happen.

 

Couldn't find it!

 

Everyone including the commentators could see Bela was ripping Pennington a new arsehole and Crowley was running the midfield in the Second Half but obviously Terry couldn't because he did nothing about it. He tried unsuccessfully to defend a 2 goal lead and failed miserably.To compound matters he withdraw our only creative players Scott Lopes and Wilks

 

Apologies if I missed it but why wasnt Samuelsen involved yesterday?

 

Sadly, he was injured, as he could have been useful in that 2nd half

 

I would. (end of!) But then, I would have given us 3 points at half time! Most teams in any division would assume they could hang on to a 2 goal advantage at half time. Poor half time team talk I think.