Birmingham City away match thread

[Lew-T]

I’d like to see us go down our right hand side more. We’re getting much more joy…

[And Its Smith]

1 minute ago, IAmNick said:

Is he going to be reading the forum at half time?

Quite a few players read the forum after the game. Just seems that he has done well recently but is 45 mins away from fans turning again 

[ExiledAjax]

I've watched dull football in my time ...but my goodness. 

It feels like we can win this but we need to change something. 

Not sure about Max not launching it once. I know his kicking isn't incredible but surely mixing in one or two launches might at least make the opponent think?

Not awful, but pretty flat and uninspiring imo.

[RollsRoyce]

5 minutes ago, Andy082005 said:

Mehmeti has morphed into Pre-Manning Mehmeti 

You mean he is playing like Mehmeti, he has not changed at all. Just had more game time. Same errors and decision-making, always cutting inside onto his right.. He was doing the same at Watford, but it was masked by scoring a goal. A lot of work still to be done with him. 

[Curr Avon]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

He’s a wide player.

Don't know his weight. 

[lenred]

5 minutes ago, johnheadbcfc said:

Mehmeti getting the Fontaine and skuse treatment again I see 

Yep.  Always got to be one!

[MelksRed]

8 minutes ago, petehinton said:

Bell on for Mehmeti please

Oh yes, the ever strong, ever present Bell.....who has the strength of two sticks of kit kat in a hot cup of tea. No thanks. 

Edited December 29, 2023 by MelksRed

[Davefevs]

50 minutes ago, Malago said:

Why are we playing in black.  We’ve won 3in a row playing red and white.  Why change?

Dirty kit?

3 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Why not support players instead of calling for them to be subbed at half time?  

Bloody ell Dave, you had an epiphany over Xmas?

[Baldyman]

Clear to see that we’re not a team that thrives on possession . We’ve beaten 3 attacking teams who were trying to win the game in recent weeks and Brums nervousness and lack of ambition seems to have stumped us ! 

[Major Isewater]

1 minute ago, Midlands Robin said:

Managed to miss the first 15 minutes

Is that you Anis?

[Super]

We've controlled the game just lacking in the final 3rd. Overall a decent half.

[Lew-T]

I’m getting a little nervy when Max is passing around the back. Pitch isn’t for it.

[red panda]

4 minutes ago, johnheadbcfc said:

Mehmeti getting the Fontaine and skuse treatment again I see 

Eh? He's indisputably had a poor first half, aren't we allowed to say that? 

[Fuber]

1 minute ago, BS3_RED said:

Can someone tell Stkes that you are allowed to take the full back on once in a while. 

He's being hampered by the fact he's stood almost man to man, Tanner needs to overlap more. The threat of it would force a cover and eliminate the 1v2 doubling up.

Meanwhile TGH needs to get closer to Anis when latter cuts in. No option when he cut inside to another 2v1 towards the latter end of that half.

Small issues are accumulating to a very mediocre performance. Sloppy passes, too casual.

[The Journalist]

Think we’ve controlled the game without having any real cutting edge. That said, if Mehmeti scores one of his two very good chances we’d all be describing it as the perfect away performance so far.

I’ve not seen us much under Manning so far - we seem more patient in and out of possession and less aggressive in and out of possession.

Not saying one is better than the other, but that would be my observation at a very basic level.

[Robin101]

This feels very familiar territory for us vs. Birmingham.

Normally we lose 1-0 to a 70th min headed corner.

[One Team]

A very drab first half from both teams. Certainly winnable but Mehmeti in particular needs to make more of the half chances. Williams looking pretty decent in midfield though. 

[Out of his pie crust]

Would be nice to show some more of the bravery on the ball in their half we show in our half. Knight started to take the ball on the half turn a bit more towards the end of the half which is unlocking them

Edited December 29, 2023 by Out of his pie crust

[RollsRoyce]

1 minute ago, And Its Smith said:

Quite a few players read the forum after the game. Just seems that he has done well recently but is 45 mins away from fans turning again 

Any player who reads a fan's forum is insane. They tell you to avoid social media comments in any top-line sport. 

[MelksRed]

Just now, Lew-T said:

I’m getting a little nervy when Max is passing around the back. Pitch isn’t for it.

This makes me incredibly nervous. Would be awful to lose a winning run due to a misplaced pass...

[REDOXO]

58 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

Why is that funny @REDOXO? Do you not think that the way we’re playing at the moment suits Wells more? 

I think we have a lot of games over a short period and ConwAy needs a rest. 
 

We are a lot more intent on possession today. Does that suit Wells more, I don’t know. However when we start to really stretch them we will see what happens. 

[johnheadbcfc]

Just now, red panda said:

Eh? He's indisputably had a poor first half, aren't we allowed to say that? 

But of course

[Dolman Block B]

 Possesion 

Birmingham 21% City 79% 
 

 

Edited

Edited December 29, 2023 by Dolman Block B

[Baldyman]

1 minute ago, ExiledAjax said:

I've watched dull football in my time ...but my goodness. 

It feels like we can win this but we need to change something. 

Not sure about Max not launching it once. I know his kicking isn't incredible but surely mixing in one or two launches might at least make the opponent think?

Not awful, but pretty flat and uninspiring imo.

We need Bell and Conway on for their pace . Nahki’s been passive so far . The game’s there for the taking if we’re brave ! 

[Lew-T]

1 minute ago, Baldyman said:

Clear to see that we’re not a team that thrives on possession . We’ve beaten 3 attacking teams who were trying to win the game in recent weeks and Brums nervousness and lack of ambition seems to have stumped us ! 

That’s been the case when sides have come to AG and sat in. Just need to move the ball that bit quicker…

[BCFC Rich]

Well, I'd say controlled, but a bit dull. Not helped by a pretty terrible atmosphere. We've had some okay chances mostly through crosses from Sykes. A few lazy passes here and there would like us to sharpen up a bit. 

Side note - interesting to see the difference between Wells and TC. To me, Wells seems to occupy defenders/make space by sitting a little deeper and pressing hard. Where as TC seems to occupy defenders more with his positioning, and moving them around.

[Glen hump]

3 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Quite a few players read the forum after the game. Just seems that he has done well recently but is 45 mins away from fans turning again 

Bit of a overreaction, he’s been poor so far , we are aloud to criticise sometimes.

[Jerseybean]

First half reflections.

45 minutes of poor quality football, which was sloppy, stuttering, and frustrating.

Their press has made us look uncomfortable at the back on numerous occasions, And so far key players in the attacking third have been uninspiring, AM should of at least hit the target with his header on the edge of the 6 yard box.

Knight, Memheti and Sykes, the players who often spark a bit of creativity, have been found wanting so far.

Feels to me like we need to get the ball out wide quicker and more often so that Memheti and Sykes can really attack down the wings.

Plenty for LM to focus on in his halftime talk, we can play much much better than this as we showed last time out.

 

 

[Ivorguy]

I am not convinced Wells can be used as a lone striker. We desperately need striker reinforcements

[And Its Smith]

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Dirty kit?

Bloody ell Dave, you had an epiphany over Xmas?

I can’t remember calling for a player to be yanked at half time but happy to be shown where I have!