havanatopia Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Good afternoon to one and all. And so it is another sell out today at Ashton Gate; what a truly remarkable statement that is given where we are in the league, without a permanent replacement for Steve Cotterill, and with only 3/4 of a stadium. That and the recent discussion about average attendances on another thread surely bodes very well for next season. Birmingham City, what a turbulent few years the club have endured since the Porn bosses left for West Ham. While Mr Carson Yeung Ka Sing, now out of prison, fighting the five counts of money laundering he was convicted for and building up his weight after looking a pale shadow of the man when he was first incarcerated, Mr. Panos Pavlakis presides. The football club have Ernst & Young to thank, perhaps with the cooperation and governance of Pavlakis, for turning a 12 million loss into one of less than 1 million last year. Birmingham City seem to be back and challenging at the correct end of the Championship and Gary Rowett must take significant credit for that along with the stability afforded him. The Brummies or Bromwicham as the 'town' was once known have something finally to look forward to and with the capture of Diego Fabrini and Ryan Shotton at the back from Derby on loan they probably pose a greater threat to us today. 25 year old Fabrini has been signed for £1.5 million from Watford. The Italian was on loan with Birmingham last season played 5 times without scoring but his tally of 5 in 14 for Boro, after that, looks decent. One thing City should and probably do know is that he has a penchant for being argumentative, like a lot of Italians, and picks up cards. Flint then needs to keep him well under control today. While not wishing to tempt fate Fabrini is still an unproven striker at all levels he has played at which, at 59 matches including his time with Udinese, is not exactly ground breaking given he is 25. Time will tell but I have little doubt he will not be anywhere near the incredible record of Joe Bradford who, from 1920 until 1935 scored 267 times in 445 games. Even more remarkable was the fact that he was their top scorer for 12 consecutive seasons. Trevor Francis, meanwhile, scored 133 goals in 329 appearances and sits second in that 'all time top scorer' table. What we would give for a goal machine like those two fellas. In all competitions City have won 15, drawn 15 and lost 27 against the Blues. Our opponents have won two major trophies in their history, lifting the League Cup on two occasions in 1961 and 2011 after surprisingly beating the Gunners; of course they also went down that season and remain in the second tier. Could this be their season? Will they sneak into the play offs or even achieve automatic promotion? City today should be revived with some interesting new signings and the probable partnership of Tomlin sitting just behind Kodjia at least on paper should test the Blues' defence. Shotton will have his work cut out wherever he slots in and if he plays. Personally I think he will be more valuable to the Blues than Fabrini will. For a historical read of Birmingham I have included a link to the first match against them this season. I am sure we are all looking forward to this match more than we have been of late. Let us hope the noise retention is gradually increasing as each match comes and goes; the West Stand is rapidly enclosing the ground and hopefully keeping that hostile atmosphere inside Ashton Gate. Can we sneak a win? Hit em hard City and hit em fast. 2-1. Tomlin with a debut goal and Kodjia. UTC 6 Quote Link to comment
Mr Popodopolous Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Cautiously optimistic. Unsure we'll win Birmingham in form but draw can certainly see possible... Since late 1990s we have a terrible record in this game so yeah, draw I think. Quote Link to comment
havanatopia Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Not arf... we have lost 8 and drawn 1 of the last nine in all competitions.. before that though we beat them 5 times on the trot.. something needs to turn our way today. Quote Link to comment
Mr Popodopolous Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Yep that's it. Most memorable game v them I remember was Benny relegation season. Actually thought we may stay up during that winning run in April and of course we were completely robbed in Birmingham home dodgy pen, was it Rob Styles?? Trundle's goal v em in 08 was also rather memorable. Quote Link to comment
Olé Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 4 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said: Yep that's it. Most memorable game v them I remember was Benny relegation season. Actually thought we may stay up during that winning run in April and of course we were completely robbed in Birmingham home dodgy pen, was it Rob Styles?? Mike Dean. Worst refereeing performance ever at Ashton Gate, still to this day. Quote Link to comment
Mr Popodopolous Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 1 minute ago, Olé said: Mike Dean. Worst refereeing performance ever at Ashton Gate, still to this day. That's the one...didn't we have a goal disallowed too? Quote Link to comment
Olé Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 7 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said: That's the one...didn't we have a goal disallowed too? Yep, their keeper and defender both collided with Akinbiyi so they blew for a foul by Akinbiyi. It's the only game where I've actually thought the ref was on the fix. Ndlovu's dive was abysmal. Trevor Francis had a set to with a steward too. Quote Link to comment
Mr Popodopolous Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 2 minutes ago, Olé said: Yep, their keeper and defender both collided with Akinbiyi so they blew for a foul by Akinbiyi. It's the only game where I've actually thought the ref was on the fix. Ndlovu's dive was abysmal. Trevor Francis had a set to with a steward too. Yep it's all coming back now. Daylight robbery that one, Francis v steward also had forgot about that. Had we won who knows we may have surged to safety but after that I think we all knew. Quote Link to comment
1960maaan Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Just thought I'd leave this here, as Joe Bryan says ... magnificent hair Quote Link to comment
Kala Taro Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 1 minute ago, Olé said: Yep, their keeper and defender both collided with Akinbiyi so they blew for a foul by Akinbiyi. It's the only game where I've actually thought the ref was on the fix. Ndlovu's dive was abysmal. Trevor Francis had a set to with a steward too. I was trying to remember their forward's name, Peter Ndlovu, that's the guy. He actually kicked the back of his own calf (left foot to right calf), no contact with any defender, when in the box and went down like a sack of potatoes. Clear as day to everyone in the Atyeo but before the laughter had died away that ref had given a pen. Quote Link to comment
havanatopia Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 How do u guys remember all those details? Quick google search i suppose is the reason and if not i need to eat more fruit. Passion fruit no doubt... Gonna go buy some i think. Talking of fruit i have two bananas inside one skin... Is that dodgy to eat? Can u google fiends check that please?! Quote Link to comment
Major Isewater Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 16 minutes ago, havanatopia said: How do u guys remember all those details? Quick google search i suppose is the reason and if not i need to eat more fruit. Passion fruit no doubt... Gonna go buy some i think. Talking of fruit i have two bananas inside one skin... Is that dodgy to eat? Can u google fiends check that please?! It's a Chernobanana . Turn your lights off and it glows . Step away from your banana . Quote Link to comment
Lack of Action Man Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 31 minutes ago, 1960maaan said: Just thought I'd leave this here, as Joe Bryan says ... magnificent hair Majestic. It almost reminds me of... 5 Quote Link to comment
Olé Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 3 minutes ago, Tomarse said: Was that the game Scott Davidson ran onto the pitch to confront him at FT? No that was Sunderland 1-1 dodgy last minute penalty, midweek game. Great memory me @havanatopia Quote Link to comment
Northern Red Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Cheater Ndlovu. I've held that against Mike Dean every time he's refereed us since then. Sent Tinnion off against Cardiff the following season too. Quote Link to comment
Olé Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 6 minutes ago, Northern Red said: Cheater Ndlovu. I've held that against Mike Dean every time he's refereed us since then. Sent Tinnion off against Cardiff the following season too. At the time of the Birmingham game his job description in the programme was "Poultry Waste Manager" so henceforth he has always been known to me as Chicken Sh-- Dean. Quote Link to comment
EstoniaTallinnRed Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 45 minutes ago, havanatopia said: How do u guys remember all those details? Quick google search i suppose is the reason and if not i need to eat more fruit. Passion fruit no doubt... Gonna go buy some i think. Talking of fruit i have two bananas inside one skin... Is that dodgy to eat? Can u google fiends check that please?! Give it to a MInion! Quote Link to comment
Aaron-Bcfc Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Fabbrini is a midfielder. Quote Link to comment
EmersonsRed Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 The key today is in central midfield. Whoever wins that battle wins the game. Quote Link to comment
... Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Someone say something. Uncle TFR Quote Link to comment
EstoniaTallinnRed Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Nothing to say at the moment, no team news yet. Quote Link to comment
djb6162 Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 1 minute ago, EstoniaTallinnRed said: Nothing to say at the moment, no team news yet. Look at TM's post last night there's your team news Quote Link to comment
joe jordans teeth Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 I'm feeling strangely confident about today for some reason,coyr Quote Link to comment
EstoniaTallinnRed Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 1 minute ago, djb6162 said: 2 minutes ago, djb6162 said: Look at TM's post last night there's your team news I just hope all the new signings are not left on the bench. Quote Link to comment
djb6162 Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 2 minutes ago, EstoniaTallinnRed said: Just one Quote Link to comment
And Its Smith Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Decent line up Quote Link to comment
And Its Smith Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 #BristolCity v Birmingham: O'Donnell, Little, Flint, Baker, Golbourne, Pack, Smith, Reid, Tomlin, Freeman, Kodjia. Quote Link to comment
Shtanley Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Very strange team, Reid and Freeman on the wings? Tomlin and Freeman on the wings? Where is Bryan? Quote Link to comment
djb6162 Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 1 minute ago, Shtanley said: Very strange team, Reid and Freeman on the wings? Tomlin and Freeman on the wings? Where is Bryan? Injured Quote Link to comment
Shtanley Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 1 minute ago, djb6162 said: Injured How badly? Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.