Match Day Thread Birmingham City Home

seems Harris is having a lively game.
And Etete needs the same luck to break for him as Watters.

We look as if we've come a long way since last season but still need better finishing.

 

Should have been a resounding win

 

Great footballing performance and unrecognisable from last term. I'm sure the extra goals will come otherwise I'm going to be a nervous wreck. Didn't think we were in much danger though.
Well done SM and the boys
Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds

 

Well watched that from Greece with a few cold ones.

Really good football.

Should have been 5 or 6.

 

Well done Hilts.
Have one for us.

Probably warmer in Barry Island though

 

Good build up, we're getting the ball in dangerous areas, but we'll come unstuck if we don't improve our conversion rate.

 

I'm still confident that it will come.
Hardly the words for drought conditions but floodgates to open soon.
Some poor unsuspecting team is gonna get a hiding. Any preferences?

 

3 points in the bin but 50 quid lighter. Why oh why couldn'e we get a second, third or even fourth!

Great football and a world away from the McCarthy dross. I'll take the 3 points every time, but our finishing must take advantage of this new found possession game.

 

Surely that was a pen on O Dowda (& s second yellow)

 

Just back from the game.

That first half, finishing aside, all I can say is WOW.

Our midfield 3 were outstanding and both wingers were well on it too.

Apart from one moment where Ng got rolled by Hogan we nullified them completely.

Should have been far more comfortable but just looking at the stats and even though Brum had a few "moments" Allsop didn't have a save to make over the entire 90+ minutes.

Will watch the game back later but all in all another really encouraging performance.

Well done SM and the whole team. They were clearly out on their feet by the end in that heat but they rarely dropped their intensity levels.

 

If Bond hadn't denied Brum one earlier, he'd have given that. He had the option of going half way and blowing for a free kick just outside but he bottled it altogether.

From where I was, maybe initial contact was just outside the box, but O'Dowda was definitely fouled.

 

The Hogan one was never a pen but you’re probably right he saw an opportunity to even it up.
Mind you if we’d had a pen, wonder whether Ruddy (who kept Bham in the game) would have repeated his pen save heroics when a canary - still can’t believe we missed both of those in injury time

 

Kipre will be a big miss v WBA. A debut for Simpson as surely he won’t trust Nelson or McGuiness

 

funny how our two wins have been 1-0. We hardly play like a 1-0 side.

Forgot about him missing that game.
With games coming thick and fast a bit of rotation won't harm.
Can imagine a couple other changes as well, though to be fair Morison seems good at using his bench, not leaving it until the last 5 minutes.
Other than the back 5 and wintle, don't think many have played a full 90 mins and NG has already had a rest game.
Wondered why SM made the 1/2 time change today then realised its a 'free change' as you can only stop the game 3 times for your 5 changes. The management team is on the ball.

 

WBA is a bit of a free hit don’t you think - so yes mix it up a bit and see what happens.

 

Musings from the Pick & Shovel - Mrs Brizzle too bushed to care.

So, as the dust settles on the day, Mrs Brizzle got home from a hard, long day at work (she's a wedding coordinator for a mansion house on the outskirts of Bristol) too bushed to really chat football but was welcomed by a very happy Mr Brizzle after today's result and performance.
The fact she was also greeted with a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc and woodfired pizza from the Pick & Shovel's outdoor pizza oven may have been the more welcoming sight from her perspective has nothing to do with it I'm sure!

Having attended the game with a mate (soon to appear on these very boards soon with a bit of luck (spoiler alert right there!)) I decided to talk at Mrs Brizzle about my takeaways from the game.

Plus Points

• Three more home points and a 100% home record this far after such a terrible home record last season.
• Giving up so few chances to the opposition again. After restricting Norwich, doing the same to a Brum team that must have been on a bit of a high after a solid start was really encouraging.
• Our midfield maestros. The rotation, movement and interplay between our midfield three was a joy to behold at times. It took a while to continue with the introduction of Colwill but some of it was sublime at times.
• O'Dowda delivers yet again. Came out as Sky's man of the match and was top rank for many stats during the game. As a freebie, if we can keep him going like this he could be a key player over the season.
• Xg on the rise. Our expected goals and shots before this game was one of, if not THE lowest in the division. Today we created plenty, but..... More on that later.
• Full backs full on again. What can you say about JC and Alpha Romeo? They have both been immense so far, Romeo being picked out by the gaffer for special praise today.

The downside

• Poor Max Watters. It's just not falling for the guy right now and when put through one on one with the keeper he still couldn't finish. Hooked at half time though I note SM said he was ill. Just a cover story to spare his blushes? Maybe SM is learning that some players need a little more loving?
• Chances go begging. If only we had a player striker in the mould of Chops, Earlier or Bothroyd eh? On another day we could have been punished for spurning so many chances, but let's just be thankful we are creating the chances now eh?
• Sore Sawyers. Seeing Romaine leave the field with a suspect injury is a bit of a concern, especially as we'll be without Cedric in midweek against the Baggies. Let's hope it wasn't too serious.
• Build it and they will come. But will they? The attendance was a little disappointing today, but the heat and the fact it was on Sky could have played a part I guess? Hoping the fans start to get behind the team in better numbers as we progress.

All in all a good day (Jacks sneaking a late win aside) and once again, thank goodness we're not Man United fans eh?

 

Just watched brief highlights on ITV (hope to see more on the city website tomorrow) and we looked what we are, a changed side.
What is key this year is the bodies in the box. We get wide men in space down the channel of the 18 yard box. When the player looks up there are options in the box.
When we scored, Watters went near post taking players with him leaving Philogene open at the far post giving O'Dowda options.
The same with Etete's miss. Players running to the near post leaving Etete free at the far post, with Harris having the composure to pick him out.
And there were others.
Often, the reason a player is open isnt obvious, but it usually isnt luck.
Encouraging signs and good work by the coaches.
Half full.

 

Chalk and cheese from this time last year and a joy to watch.

There's a certain swagger about the side playing out on the floor from the back that belies belief in what is such a relatively short space of time. The confidence on the ball is a far cry from the previous "get rid of it" approach. The only problem I had was watching the clock run down just 1 goal up.

The approach work was excellent and to be fair on another day we'd have netted half a dozen without reply. Improving our performance in front of goal is the project now.

I've no doubt there are goals to be had in Watters and Etete as well as the rest of that front line we saw yesterday, but prising it out of them is Morison's big task - either that or get someone in who can do it.

 

Have now watched the whole game.
As a few have said on here, a huge difference from what has been served up the last few seasons.
From 1 - 11, and beyond, we have players comfortable on the ball.
There is balance and energy in the side meaning the press is effective and we continually pick up 2nd and 3rd balls.
The running off the ball gives opposition defenders decisions to make.
Despite the number of changes and the relatively short amount of time together this feels like a team and not a group of individuals, accepting that players misread each other now and then. They all know their jobs.
From what the coaching team have done in a short period of time, I feel players as individuals and the team as a whole will get better.

Allsop's longer kicks far better this week.
Watters general play looks ok, he just needs a goal.
Harris is a pain for the opposition off the bench and brings energy.
Because we play out when we win the ball back rather than just lump it up field (only a couple aimless clearances in 2nd half stoppage time), we don't invite the same pressure on to us in the closing parts of a game.
Our full backs don't half cover some ground.

As for other observations on the game, Alice bands aren't a good look for players, definitely not referees.

For all the other teams whinging that their owners don't spend any money, Morison has showed that you don't need to.
Not sure who signing of the season is so far, but for a total outlay of £0 we have O'Dowda, Romeo and Collins, with several others not far behind.

A long way to go. We will get undone. We will have difficult runs of games. And as cling as said, at some point the flood gates will open.
However, glass half full.

 

Just watched SMs post match interview.
A couple hacks started questioning Watters performance.
SM jumped down their throats.

Has been questioned over his interview technique, but nothing wrong with his defending a player whrn needed.