Match Day Thread Birmingham City v Cardiff City, Tale Of Two Cities!

Well away to Brum, a big side this in a bit of a difficult period....normally would be a bit concerned with this fixture, but should hold no fears for us! Brave talk Masky pal, this side could whip your arse, especially if Trevor Francis turns out as has been rumoured! Expect a win, with Ivanhoeeeeeeee hitting a brace to add to his transfer value, sadly it looks likely! 3-0 one off the chin, one off the todger and one off the Boris Johnson! Car for sale, red!

 

It's not often that we have played two league games at the same away ground in a single season. Let's hope for a better outcome than our earlier visit to St Andrews.

 

Interesting fact: the ref is Andy Davies who officiated the same fixture last season.

Ok I’ll put my anorak away

 

He did our awful 3.0 defeat at Reading last season. But that was more about us being rubbish than anything negative about him as far as I can remember.

Didn't have any involvement with us in 18/19 as he didn't do Prem games but refed 3 wins for us in 17/18 so not all bad.

He didn't ref any games at all between December 2020 and April this year. Strange unless he had health problems maybe, e.g. Covid. I can't find any reference to this.

Little known fact, he was a registered pro footballer with Gillingham, Pompey and Yeovil but had to retire at 28 due to injury. The only known ex footballer who refs at EFL level.

 

He chalked off a goal in our 3-1 win v Norwich several seasons back to give a penalty for a foul in the build up which fortunately Ralls potted - he then later gave another which Ralls missed!

 

That ref could have a big say in this one. Not one for the purists on the cards - a sluggers game with the best slugger coming out on top. Having said that, the lack of class throughout both sides should make for an interesting old fashioned Championship game if the ref allows it.

Bowyer has sorted them out to do what they're best at in much the same way that McCarthy did when he started with us. They both tweaked a few things when they arrived and got their clubs out of trouble - it's where we both go from here that will matter. Will either manager experiment or consolidate?

For me we know what we've got amongst the regulars - so sod the result and let's find out what else we've got under the counter before the window opens. We apparently can't spend what we haven't got, so lighten the wage bill and look inwards before we make more mistakes.

 

Phillips back - shouldn’t have been dropped.
Wilson gets a start but Bacuna
Is Morrison injured again?
Ralls LB again?
Plenty of youth on the bench - will any of them get meaningful game time?

 

1. Smithies was okay last game.
2. No Vaulks so little choice apart from youngsters.
3. Yes. Arm/elbow. MM commented on it yesterday.
4. Possibly or Bacuna right back and Ng left. Keep Ng right for me with Ralls left.
5. Who knows? I would have thought some will get a few minutes but not long.

 

Plenty of youth in the Brum team.

 

Harry Wilson

 

At least I get the correct scorer, if nothing else.

 

Harry Wilson (mark 2)

 

Wilson finishing the season on a high. Would we buy him if we could afford it?

 

I'd love to see him in a Cardiff shirt next season but as you say can we afford him?

 

It’s like waiting for a bus - not one quality goal but then another - where’s that been all season

Ps the ‘pundit’ on city tv likes Pack as a sweeper and Bacuna as a CM. Maybe MM at last has realised Bacuna is NOT an attacking player.

 

Come on you Swans.

Let's see Derby beaten.