Make no mistake, Birmingham are quality side so as long as the whole team are involved up and down the pitch we should be good. With midfielders covering in defence and the likes of O'Dea and Lees getting on the scoresheet, the mutual cover and team workrate has been much improved of late. I can see Leeds doing the business on this one. The lads have done fantastic and are now playing right up until the final whistle.... (Unlucky P'boro!) 2-0 Leeds
With the best will in the world and having noted the form B/Ham are in, I think we'll struggle to keep a clean sheet. But I think we will just about scrape this one. 2-1 I think.
That's right Boggers.... Lonergan out so will definately agree on that one. As long as the lads focus for 90 odd minutes anything is possible. FFS, Man City battered the scum, QPR beat Chelsea anyone see that coming! Red cards played a big part in those games.... Discipline is the key. (That and having a good ref!)
Good to note that we didn't kick off when the Posh player was sent off. Didn't look a good challenge, but nice to see that we appear to have learned from our earlier indiscressions.
Birmingham are on form, but so are we! Plus, they played Thursday (180 minutes) and Sunday, whereas we played Tuesday and early Saturday, so our players should, in theory, be fresher than theirs. I'd keep the team the same, if Snodgrass isn't fit. I know Varynen didn't do great, but I'd put him in the centre alongside Clayton and move Howson to the right, or play a diamond formation, with Pugh, Clayton and Varynen in the centre, with Howson just ahead. I rate Sam, but I just don't think his fitness is great. I'd rather we have the option of him to come off the bench and make an impact (which with his pace and ability he can, especially against a potentially tiring Birmingham. I'd like to see McCormack given 90 minutes. He said after the Brighton game he was confident because the manager was giving him full games, and since then his goal record has dropped. Against Palace, Rovers and Brighton he got late goals, he's a goal threat throughout the whole game and is as likely to get a goal late on than anyone else. Tough game though.
Vayrynen has great pedigree, remember he was making his first start of the season in a new country out of position. If we were to switch to 4-2-3-1 I'd stick Vayrynen in at CM next to Clayton. EDIT: Just watched the extended highlights and it looks like Vayrynen would be very useful in the role I just mentioned.
they are on LUTV, but if you search for Stealingfromkenbates on youtube, he posts them for most games and somehow gets away with it.
they will be right on us, not that i care because if i was festa, i'd be a hell of a lot more worried about myself...
Snoddy is fit for anyone who was wondering. Hope we put in a big performance tonight and show that we don't just do pressing for the cameras.
Sorry guys, the live footie links are all commentry only, though 606 ers can at least post http://uktvsports.webs.com/sports4.htm
Lets hope he is 100% fit because when he has been played not fully fit in the past, he has been woeful.
Agreed. I thought he was a good bloke and all but not a great keeper. Made me nervous, cannot imagine how he made his defenders feel.