There is no escaping the fact we have had a bad run of late but citizens let us not get too downhearted by this one total catastrophe... If we went back to late September and were told by our crystal balls we would be 5 points outside the top 2 and still to play 3 teams above us at this vital stage - I think most would be happy and accepted the challenge. I think there is a swagger to our game that is exciting. It is risky but when it works it is beautiful to watch. Let's draw a line under the last sequence of games and focus on the next 5 and get back to our hunter role. Birmingham look beatable to me
Saturday, 2nd March 2024 Sky Bet Championship Birmingham City v Southampton (15:00) Referee:- JAMES BELL Assistants:- Ian Cooper and Craig Taylor Fourth Official : James Linington James Bell has done three games for us this season QPR (H) won 2 - 1. 4 yellows (Manning, Alcaraz, Stu Armstrong and Fraser) . Stoke (A) won 1 - 0, 1 yellow (Downes). Cardiff (H) won 2 - 0. 1 yellow (Downes).
Just back from a night stay at ‘Pool overall the experience was great but the performance was exactly what I thought it would be. It demonstrated the difference between a manager like Klopp and a manager like Russ. We stick to 1 game plan. We stick to that game plan even if it’s not working. We stick to that game plan even when it’s blatantly unecassary and you have 5 thousand saints fans shouting at them to not do that. When it’s the 93rd minute and Stephens is still looking for a sideways pass instead of just booting the ball up to create something it’s just a bit depressing cause they’ve clearly been drilled to play one way and one way only. Whereas Liverpool adapted as the game went on and by the last 20 minutes they had us completely and utterly nullified by a second team. They set up one way at the start and you could just see them adapting to our tactics over the course of the game. That’s the alarming difference to me. I need to see proof in upcoming games that Russell has a plan B or at least other tactics. We just can not keep playing this way when it’s so obvious we have been found out and teams know how to stop us so efficiently. I think he’s done a great job but we’re in that worrying area now where we need to know if we have a manager that knows his flaws and how to beat them. I really think it could go either way, this stubbornness to play the exact same way no matter the competition is moronic. How last night went is exactly how every Premier League game will go if we go up.
I know it’s been said for a while but this definitely seems like a make or break. Get a win & I think we’ll be able to consider ourselves back on track & can keep hoping for the autos. Lose & we’ll be resigned to play offs. Sure, some might say, ah Leeds form will dip but effectively being 9 points behind 2nd place, we ain’t catching.
I still don't think Ipswich will be in the fight come the end of the season. Mind you, I'm not sure we will be either.
One thing I need to say that I’ve really really noticed this season. We need some new songs, it’s the same two on repeat and you’re lucky if you get one good round of it
Watched the first hour of their game last week and they looked like a league 2 outfit for the first 20 minutes, slowly got into the game but seem pretty toothless up front. First 15 of the second half they were probably the better team without looking dangerous, then my stream went. You'll win this one, fairly comfortably
Birminghams results in February: Ipswich 3-1 Birmingham Birmingham 2-1 Sunderland Birmingham 1-0 Blackburn Sheff Wed 2-0 Birmingham West Brom 1-0 Birmingam They are far far better at home than away. Home: 7 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses Away: 3 wins, 2 draws, 15 losses They've also had a weeks break since their last game whereas we played on Wednesday night. If we were in form I wouldn't be too concerned by any of that, but we are not...and are juggling fatigue and injuries. This will be a tough game, but one that we need to find a way to win.
We can field a relatively rested team; Baz Bree THB Beddie Manning Downes Stuie Aribo Brooks Che Adarma It's only Aribo and Bednarek out of that lot who have started the last two games. And Aribo had most of January off.
True, that should help, and hopefully Downes is actually back for this which would be a big boost to the players and fans! Maybe this is just me making **** up, but feels like we have a lot of mental fatigue from a game every 3 days for a month whilst being in poor form too. Someone on TSP mentioned RM finds that tough to deal with and he's not the one playing! Aribo did look leggy from about the 60th minute. Suspect we might see Smallbone in his place despite having played a lot more in the last month (and if his head is in the right place after the online abuse). 2 starts in 3 days for Bree after being out for a while might be asking a bit much too, even though he came off on the 58th minute on Wednesday, that would have been as part of his return to fitness, not as part of the plan for him to start again tomorrow as we obviously weren't expecting the KWP injury when he came on. RM seems to think the team needs Stephens too, so expect him to be in the team in one of about 5 different positions.
Yeah, the mental fatigue is probably a thing, but, that's the difference between winners and losers. True winners and champions thrive on that sort of pressure. Bree was only out for about 6 weeks, so I can't imagine he'll need too much protection. Maybe Stephens can replace him in the second half or something. Yeah Aribo seemed to tire, that's true. Still, I'd imagine he'll be good for another 60 mins at least. We have Charles/Smallbone/Rothwell/Dibling who can all come on for him. Personally I'd give Smallbone a couple of games out of the squad entirely. Just let him get a proper rest.
Hope you're right about Bree. Aribo is a far better impact off the bench than Smallbone or Charles. Smallbone alongside Downes again with more license to get forward should hopefully see the best of him again. I just don't see Martin dropping/resting Smallbone in the league. He gave him most of the Liverpool game off, presumably because he'll start this one. Rothwell should exclusively be used as a Stu replacement imo. Have a feeling that Brooks will be the difference maker for us in this game.
