The Official Birmingham City v Champions Match Day Thread

[havanatopia]

Yo’ con see ‘um on a Sat’dee,

A’wundrin roun’ like sheep

They’re farces lung an’ miserable

They’re eyes art shut wi’ sleep;

A’looded up wi’parcels,

An’ shaping bags an’ all,

While they’re misuses stand gas sin’

Aroun’ the market stall.

 

It meks me sad ted see ‘em there

A’waitstin ‘art they’re life,

Jus’ dragoni round wi’ shappin’ bags,

Ter please a nagging’ wife;

That’s why these ‘ere men snuff it

much suener than they should,

‘Cos the treatment o’ they’re womenfolk

‘As nipped ‘em in the bud.

 

And so tons’ others o’men ge down Sa’andrews

They’re farces short an’ briyt

A mass of blue, white, caps and coats 

An'walkin’art the workmen’s cloob, high as a kite

That’s why these ‘ere men don’t snuff it

They brave the rayn, the snow and cold

to worship the w’on true lurv

And live to tell the tale when brum w’on the cup.

 

City are In the Black Country today and then for a reunion with Birmingham; That veritable city; the ubiquitous industrial behemoth that has been battered and beaten and, true to the character of those salts of the earth, rises again. There will be those who easily smear the country's second largest conurbation but as i said in a thread some weeks ago there is a lot more to Birmingham than the lazy rather myopic view of a place to avoid; it is actually and in reality far from that mis-conception. Few realise it has more miles of navigable canals than Venice or that in spite of the image has some rather leafy, clean and thoroughly desirable neighbourhoods throughout the city.

Birmingham also remains a major employer and is still an engineering powerhouse. I like industrial cities a lot; a place that breathes, has a soul and has a meaning rather than those places that do not actually make anything. So I salute the Brummies and the City of Birmingham.

 

Of course, it goes without saying, today all respect and love is left at Frankley services. There will be no Small Heath Alliance. Birmingham City Football Club was so named using the word Alliance because they played in the Football Alliance in the years from 1877 until they turned professional in 1885 and joined the Football League Second Division in 1892. It was a 'Test Match' against the long gone Darwen and were then promoted, in their first season, to the Football League Division 1 scoring 90 goals in just 22 matches.. Puts our 99 into a little perspective even if comparisons are somewhat impossible.

 

It was not until 1905 that Small Heath became Birmingham being the only professional football club in the city at the time. The 'City' tag was added in 1943. During those very early years the stadium had a capacity of 75,000 until it was bombed to bits by the Luftwaffe in World War II with all of the clubs records destroyed when a fireman used petrol instead of water to douse the flames.. duhhhh!

 

Major titles have eluded Brum until the League Cup win over.. erhumm.. Arsenal in 2011 although they were relegated in the same season and remain in the Championship. Trevor Francis sticks in the memory when I think of Birmingham City as being the first 1 million pound player although Jasper Carrot was none too pleased because he left, not joined, the club for Forest. Down the years Tarrantini, Cooper, Bruce, Gold and Sullivan and many more names synonymous or not have graced, or not, the club from Small Heath but it is perhaps Carson Yeung who has polarised the most inside St. Andrews. His incarceration continues and we hear this past week from their current manager, Gary Rowett, that his team were outbid to the tune of 50% for each of Liam Moore and Nathan Baker. Talk or fact? Who knows but for sure, as we fast forward to today's match, I am mighty glad Steve Cotterill managed to secure the services of these two defenders for this match and beyond.

 

I think we will only learn the significance of these defensive signings in the next 2-3 months but I strongly suspect they will significantly assist our back line enabling our tried and tested 3-5-2 formation to get back chugging away and give us the greater confidence to get forward fast as these players allow.

 

I am the eternal optimist in this 2014-15+ era of expansionist football so I cannot go with anything other than a sneaky City win. And maybe by more than one goal today. 0-2. Kodjia, Freeman.. back with a bang. We need to get our season going seriously and make a statement and maybe that day is today. Lets all hope so and what will not be in question is that we will likely come out the other end with more than 50% possession.

 

 

And finally.. I would like to say once more how saddened I was, and I speak for all of us i am sure, with the passing of Bucksred this past week. We have had one of the best taken from us here and his wife and family must be shell shocked. Thoughts are with them today. Lets roar on the Reds to a significantly important 3 points this afternoon lads and lasses and do it for all those, including Bucksred, who have been taken from us too soon.

 

I salute the City fans making the trip.. well done, thanks and as always.

 

UTC

 

 

 

 

Edited September 12, 2015 by havanatopia

[...]

 

About b*****y time, but well worth the wait.

 

TFR

[havanatopia]

 

About b*****y time, but well worth the wait.

 

TFR

Stop yur wynin', get yourself down the blurry bull ring and shart yur hart owt.

[City Rocker]

A great read, thank you! Although strictly (and pedantically) speaking, Birmingham is not in the Black Country, I think you'll find.

I like your score prediction though, and I too expect Kodjia to get at least one today

[...]

MATCH DAY WEATHER

 

Match: Birmingham City Vs Bristol City (Don't get the websites confused (unless you are Aizoon)).

Venue: St Andrew's stadium, Birmingham, West Midlands

K.O. 1500 hrs BST.

Final Score: TBA

 

 

Todays Forecast:

 

A band of cloud and rain will push northeastwards through the first part of the morning, leaving largely dry and bright conditions behind into the afternoon. Despite the sunny spells, it will feel cooler than of late.

 

Match Conditions:

 

Weather conditions: sunny intervals

Temperature: 16 celcius

Humidity 50%

Visibility very good

Atmospheric pressure: 1007 hPa

Wind speed: 13 mph

Wind direction WSW

Sun Rise 0636 BST

Sun Set 1931 BST

UV Level: 4 

Pollution (surprisingly) Low

 

 

Evening Outlook:

 

Tonight we will have largely clear skies to start, with more cloud building in later. However, remaining largely dry, with temperatures dipping into single figures.

 

 

Nearest Observation Station:

 

Elmdon (Latitude 52:452; Longitude -1:741).

 

 

Video Forecast:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2655603

 

 

Weather presenter:

7/10

 

 

Your servant, TFR

Edited September 12, 2015 by Taxi for Rennie

[Coombsy]

Yes I agree 2 / 0 come on you reds

[havanatopia]

A great read, thank you! Although strictly (and pedantically) speaking, Birmingham is not in the Black Country, I think you'll find.

I like your score prediction though, and I too expect Kodjia to get at least one today

That is why i used the word 'then' on the first line after my prose. I have now added the word 'and' before it so it looks a little more clear that it follows the Black country.. i.e. you will likely drive through the Black country to get to Small Heath. That said the area is not specifically nor geographically defined and is also subject to some debate of what area it does cover; west and north of Birmingham is generally the agreed broad area though as i am sure you know already.

Appreciate the remarks.

[...]

We will NOT be 3-0 down by half-time, but if we are, why not give this a try??

 

TFR

[City Rocker]

That is why i used the word 'then' on the first line after my prose. I have now added the word 'and' before it so it looks a little more clear that it follows the Black country.. i.e. you will likely drive through the Black country to get to Small Heath. That said the area is not specifically nor geographically defined and is also subject to some debate of what area it does cover; west and north of Birmingham is generally the agreed broad area though as i am sure you know already.

Appreciate the remarks.

I hear ya. Thanks for the clarity

[Fordy62]

That is why i used the word 'then' on the first line after my prose. I have now added the word 'and' before it so it looks a little more clear that it follows the Black country.. i.e. you will likely drive through the Black country to get to Small Heath. That said the area is not specifically nor geographically defined and is also subject to some debate of what area it does cover; west and north of Birmingham is generally the agreed broad area though as i am sure you know already.

Appreciate the remarks.

I'm clearly not faulting you in any way Hav... A cracking read... but you don't drive through the Black Country to get to Small Heath, at least you shouldn't have to!

[BigTone]

Condensed Version:

Bimingham

Absolute and utter shithole in the Midlands.

RIP BucksRed, you will be sorely missed by us all

Edited September 12, 2015 by BigTone

[...]

Condensed Version:

Brimingham

Absolute and utter shithole in the Midlands.

RIP BusksRed, you will be sorely missed by us all

I always new Birmingham was 'not nice', but where is this 'Brimingham' place? Sounds worse than Knowle West.

 

TFR

[downendcity]

I always new Birmingham was 'not nice', but where is this 'Brimingham' place? Sounds worse than Knowle West.

 

TFR

It's brim full of brummies.

[BigTone]

Yo’ con see ‘um on a Sat’dee,

A’wundrin roun’ like sheep

They’re farces lung an’ miserable

They’re eyes art shut wi’ sleep;

A’looded up wi’parcels,

An’ shaping bags an’ all,

While they’re misuses stand gas sin’

Aroun’ the market stall.

 

It meks me sad ted see ‘em there

A’waitstin ‘art they’re life,

Jus’ dragoni round wi’ shappin’ bags,

Ter please a nagging’ wife;

That’s why these ‘ere men snuff it

much suener than they should,

‘Cos the treatment o’ they’re womenfolk

‘As nipped ‘em in the bud.

 

And so tons’ others o’men ge down Sa’andrews

They’re farces short an’ briyt

A mass of blue, white, caps and coats 

An'walkin’art the workmen’s cloob, high as a kite

That’s why these ‘ere men don’t snuff it

They brave the rayn, the snow and cold

to worship the w’on true lurv

And live to tell the tale when brum w’on the cup.

 

City are In the Black Country today and then for a reunion with Birmingham; That veritable city; the ubiquitous industrial behemoth that has been battered and beaten and, true to the character of those salts of the earth, rises again. There will be those who easily smear the country's second largest conurbation but as i said in a thread some weeks ago there is a lot more to Birmingham than the lazy rather myopic view of a place to avoid; it is actually and in reality far from that mis-conception. Few realise it has more miles of navigable canals than Venice or that in spite of the image has some rather leafy, clean and thoroughly desirable neighbourhoods throughout the city.

Birmingham also remains a major employer and is still an engineering powerhouse. I like industrial cities a lot; a place that breathes, has a soul and has a meaning rather than those places that do not actually make anything. So I salute the Brummies and the City of Birmingham.

 

Of course, it goes without saying, today all respect and love is left at Frankley services. There will be no Small Heath Alliance. Birmingham City Football Club was so named using the word Alliance because they played in the Football Alliance in the years from 1877 until they turned professional in 1885 and joined the Football League Second Division in 1892. It was a 'Test Match' against the long gone Darwen and were then promoted, in their first season, to the Football League Division 1 scoring 90 goals in just 22 matches.. Puts our 99 into a little perspective even if comparisons are somewhat impossible.

 

It was not until 1905 that Small Heath became Birmingham being the only professional football club in the city at the time. The 'City' tag was added in 1943. During those very early years the stadium had a capacity of 75,000 until it was bombed to bits by the Luftwaffe in World War II with all of the clubs records destroyed when a fireman used petrol instead of water to douse the flames.. duhhhh!

 

Major titles have eluded Brum until the League Cup win over.. erhumm.. Arsenal in 2011 although they were relegated in the same season and remain in the Championship. Trevor Francis sticks in the memory when I think of Birmingham City as being the first 1 million pound player although Jasper Carrot was none too pleased because he left, not joined, the club for Forest. Down the years Tarrantini, Cooper, Bruce, Gold and Sullivan and many more names synonymous or not have graced, or not, the club from Small Heath but it is perhaps Carson Yeung who has polarised the most inside St. Andrews. His incarceration continues and we hear this past week from their current manager, Gary Rowett, that his team were outbid to the tune of 50% for each of Liam Moore and Nathan Baker. Talk or fact? Who knows but for sure, as we fast forward to today's match, I am mighty glad Steve Cotterill managed to secure the services of these two defenders for this match and beyond.

 

I think we will only learn the significance of these defensive signings in the next 2-3 months but I strongly suspect they will significantly assist our back line enabling our tried and tested 3-5-2 formation to get back chugging away and give us the greater confidence to get forward fast as these players allow.

 

I am the eternal optimist in this 2014-15+ era of expansionist football so I cannot go with anything other than a sneaky City win. And maybe by more than one goal today. 0-2. Kodjia, Freeman.. back with a bang. We need to get our season going seriously and make a statement and maybe that day is today. Lets all hope so and what will not be in question is that we will likely come out the other end with more than 50% possession.

 

 

And finally.. I would like to say once more how saddened I was, and I speak for all of us i am sure, with the passing of Bucksred this past week. We have had one of the best taken from us here and his wife and family must be shell shocked. Thoughts are with them today. Lets roar on the Reds to a significantly important 3 points this afternoon lads and lasses and do it for all those, including Bucksred, who have been taken from us too soon.

 

I salute the City fans making the trip.. well done, thanks and as always.

 

UTC

 

 

 

 

Cracking read again mate.  You must spend all week writing & researching these because I spend at least 2 hours each time on the condensed version !!

[BigTone]

I'm clearly not faulting you in any way Hav... A cracking read... but you don't drive through the Black Country to get to Small Heath, at least you shouldn't have to!

Yes, but remember he is coming from Manila !  If you take the wrong turn in Cairo it can really balls things up

Edited September 12, 2015 by BigTone

[ten minutes of rough]

More Canals then Venice.

[BigTone]

More Canals then Venice.

Indeed it does but Venice is a stinky dump as well

[havanatopia]

MATCH DAY WEATHER

Match: Birmingham City Vs Bristol City (Don't get the websites confused (unless you are Aizoon)).

Venue: St Andrew's stadium, Birmingham, West Midlands

K.O. 1500 hrs BST.

Final Score: TBA

Todays Forecast:

A band of cloud and rain will push northeastwards through the first part of the morning, leaving largely dry and bright conditions behind into the afternoon. Despite the sunny spells, it will feel cooler than of late.

Match Conditions:

 

Weather conditions: sunny intervals

Temperature: 16 celcius

Humidity 50%

Visibility very good

Atmospheric pressure: 1007 hPa

Wind speed: 13 mph

Wind direction WSW

Sun Rise 0636 BST

Sun Set 1931 BST

UV Level: 4 

Pollution (surprisingly) Low

Evening Outlook:

Tonight we will have largely clear skies to start, with more cloud building in later. However, remaining largely dry, with temperatures dipping into single figures.

Nearest Observation Station:

Elmdon (Latitude 52:452; Longitude -1:741).

Video Forecast:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2655603

Weather presenter:

7/10

Your servant, TFR

Clear blue skies up there today then Cab Driver?

I'm clearly not faulting you in any way Hav... A cracking read... but you don't drive through the Black Country to get to Small Heath, at least you shouldn't have to!

Cheers me dears.. just added a few line below under Big Tone's 20 Mins ..

Cracking read again mate.  You must spend all week writing & researching these because I spend at least 2 hours each time on the condensed version !!

About an hour this one took.

Yes, but remember he is coming from Manila !  If you take the wrong turn in Cairo it can really balls things up

Exactly Big Tone.. you tell that doubter Woodsy. And btw Woodsy.. Black Country is all over the place geographically and so was my last Minx classic so very conceivable I would have gone through Sandwell or Dudley to get to Small Heath.

Indeed it does but Venice is a stinky dump as well

In summer indeed it is.

[ten minutes of rough]

Condensed Version:

Bimingham

Absolute and utter shithole in the Midlands.

RIP BucksRed, you will be sorely missed by us all

Always get a little bit miffed when I hear our Cities being called sh1t holes etc, Birmingham is /was and Industrial power house, that had more Independent motor manufactures at the turn of the Century than anywhere else, we as a nation are in debt to the Brummies for their unique persona's that is a common bond, they really do work and play together, like no one else, witness Weston or Bream in the Summer, truly British, what is there to not like about Birmingham or the Brummies? 

I am a member of the Austin Angling Club that was formed many years ago, it was an arm of their then social club, where workers could fish and socialise at weekends, as is the mighty Birmingham AA also member, the matches  in the early days were legendry, with 100's of anglers day tripping by train all over the Midlands, I guess it is like a trip down memory lane when I visit Brum, which to me is no bad thing. 

[Sir Colby-Tit]

Think we'll score three today, and concede one or two.

If Flint scores first and we win 3-2 I'll be off on holiday 

[BigTone]

Always get a little bit miffed when I hear our Cities being called sh1t holes etc, Birmingham is /was and Industrial power house, that had more Independent motor manufactures at the turn of the Century than anywhere else, we as a nation are in debt to the Brummies for their unique persona's that is a common bond, they really do work and play together, like no one else, witness Weston or Bream in the Summer, truly British, what is there to not like about Birmingham or the Brummies? 

I am a member of the Austin Angling Club that was formed many years ago, it was an arm of their then social club, where workers could fish and socialise at weekends, as is the mighty Birmingham AA also member, the matches  in the early days were legendry, with 100's of anglers day tripping by train all over the Midlands, I guess it is like a trip down memory lane when I visit Brum, which to me is no bad thing. 

Agree entirely but still a shithole .................. or so my research tells me.  Have you caught many Austin's in the Birmingham Canals ?  Every time I fish there I am more likely to hook up on a Sainsbury's trolley.  Maybe I need to ask Matt Hayes where I am going wrong ! 

[Port Said Red]

More Canals then Venice.

Havana obviously ignored a threat which was on another thread bringing up that hoary old chestnut.

Indeed it does but Venice is a stinky dump as well

Having experienced both cities I can say that one thing they have in common is, if you get off the beaten track it is far less inviting and scenic. Venice in particular appears to be falling into the water everywhere except the tourist ares.

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

In a slightly different part of the country- Reading creamed Ipswich 5-1 last night. Bit of a surprising result and just goes to show how easily even a good team can be severely punished for defensive lapses.

I think it could be a long old season ahead.

[RobArnold10]

Sat in Walsall right now clearing out my other half's great aunts place, not allowed to go and I'm actually closer than I normally travel for a home game! Feeling confident today, at least a draw, COYR!

[RedYoshi]

 

I am the eternal optimist in this 2014-15+ era of expansionist football so I cannot go with anything other than a sneaky City win. And maybe by more than one goal today. 0-2. Kodjia, Freeman.. back with a bang. We need to get our season going seriously and make a statement and maybe that day is today. Lets all hope so and what will not be in question is that we will likely come out the other end with more than 50% possession.

 

A great read, thank you! Although strictly (and pedantically) speaking, Birmingham is not in the Black Country, I think you'll find.

I like your score prediction though, and I too expect Kodjia to get at least one today

Get thee to the prediction thread!

Excellent work once again Havana.

And you, @BigTone, of course.

[reddogkev]

For some reason I feel alarmingly confident we'll win today.

2 -1 to City, with a surprise debut double from Nathan Baker, leading to a bit of a scuffle with Flint, who believed he should've got his head on the corners, and not the bearded man from Villa.

COME ON YOU REDS!

 

[ten minutes of rough]

Agree entirely but still a shithole .................. or so my research tells me.  Have you caught many Austin's in the Birmingham Canals ?  Every time I fish there I am more likely to hook up on a Sainsbury's trolley.  Maybe I need to ask Matt Hayes where I am going wrong ! 

Its the river Arrow I fish Tone, a lovely little River (very clean) just outside Stratford On Avon, Barbel Chub Otter, all there, don't ask MH anything he will only want a fee.

Brum does have it's problems, I agree. 

Edited September 12, 2015 by ten minutes of rough

[BigTone]

Its the river Arrow I fish Tone, a lovely little River (very clean) just outside Stratford On Avon, Barbel Chub Otter, all there, don't ask MH anything he will only want a fee.

Brum does have it's problems, I agree. 

I normally fish Cumberland Basin for Crocodiles, Mud & Turds

[I Am A Cider Drinker]

5 minutes til the next temple meads train gets in, let's drink Birmingham dry of zider!!!

[Bristol_Badger]

The same Birmingham who haven't lost this season.

I for one will be delighted to get out of there with a point!