Birmingham away

[StanSP]

I doubt Begovic starts. 

[Chelmofox]

1 hour ago, Richmondfox said:

If he plays Ayew and allows him to constantly play the same way, then King can get in the bin.  If he has a clue and understands the detriment to the team then he needs to get the balls to fix it. 
 

Nothing will change unless King has actually tried to change the way we play.
 

This is the game where we will know if he’s trying or just as useless. 

Starts Ayew - Kings in trouble.

 

The crowd were singing 'f**king useless at him' after the penalty. No way he starts him. It will have to be Richards with Daka coming on 2nd half.

 

Richards could be an absolute lunatic and not be worse that Ayew.

 

[lcfcsnow]

I predict the turgid two becomes three. Aribo Reid Ayew

[lcfcbluearmy]

                  Stolarczyk 

Ricardo nelson lascelles Aluko

               Skipp  aribo

Fatawu.    Mukasa.     Monga

                  Richards

[Richmondfox]

35 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

Starts Ayew - Kings in trouble.

 

The crowd were singing 'f**king useless at him' after the penalty. No way he starts him. It will have to be Richards with Daka coming on 2nd half.

 

Richards could be an absolute lunatic and not be worse that Ayew.

 

At this point it’s not about replacing Ayew for what he does upfront but the impact he has across the pitch. 
 

I can’t stand the bloke, he has zero qualities we need. 

My patience might be less forgiving but King has no excuses to make the same mistakes. 

[RumbleFox]

2 hours ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

I've applied for the managers job and if I get it I'll bear you in mind as you clearly know your stuff 

I’m glad someone finally noticed. 

[splinterdream]

                               Begovic

 

Ricardo      Nelson        Lascelles     Aluko

 

                               Winks

 

Richards     page           skipp          mavididi

 

                             Mukasa

 

 

[DJ Barry Hammond]

On 04/02/2026 at 10:44, RizLCFC said:

Why are we so obsessed with playing the same formation under different managers, and only having one striker up front? Now that we have Lascelles (hopefully fit to start), we should go 3 at the back and ditch both full backs who are absolutely awful. Get a second striker up front. I genuinely feel like we would get much more out of both Ayew and Daka if they were alongside each other rather than isolated. I know they are both awful, but I think even Richards would benefit from having one of them next to him.

This is beyond silly.

 

1.) There isn’t the coaching time available to do this effectively - playing 3 at the back needs a clearly defined structure, pinpointing how the wide and central midfielders react to threats in wide areas etc - a poorly coached 3 at the back often ends up being a back 5 and you just get pinned back inside your own half (see Sadler’s attempt to do this against Brentford as a case in point).

 

2.) Assuming you’re suggesting some combination of Fatawu / Mavididi / Monga as the two wide players - you’ve now put extra defensive responsibility on them, which they’re not ideally suited to - and as a result it lessens what they can do going forward.

 

What’s even worse is if the opposition play with a pair of wide players on both flanks, it becomes very easy to double up and negate the wide threats without giving up much in other areas - a basic and easy game plan would be to allow the 3 centre halves the ball and keep a compact and balanced shape that asks the question - are your 3 defenders good enough with the ball to break us down? 

 

3.) In addition - because of the lack of width with this formation, you really have to play your two wide players with their strongest foot on the outside - the transitional shape would be horrible if your only wide threats are driving inside all the time.

 

So that would be Fawatu on the left and whoever you suggest on the right - and that puts them at a disadvantage in terms of situational familiarity.

 

4.) With injuries and suspensions - we’re rather light at centre back, so playing 3 from the start seems counterintuitive to what is available to us.

 

5.) Why would you advocate a system that provides more opportunity for Ayew to play than less? 
 

6.) Our fullbacks would look better if we could address the overall structural deficiencies in our play - especially in central midfield and defence. I’m hopeful that the signings made can help address those.

[splinterdream]

2 hours ago, lcfcbluearmy said:

                  Stolarczyk 

Ricardo nelson lascelles Aluko

               Skipp  aribo

Fatawu.    Mukasa.     Monga

                  Richards

Do you not think playing with 6's leaves our wingers unsupported? It's fine playing this system if you have decent full backs who can support the wingers and get back if needed, and 6's that can press as well as move the ball through midfield. We don't have that, so play with 8's to support the wingers, get the full backs to play defensively with caution, playing as the 6 because we know he's the best player we have in that system, Ricardo is also adept at playing that inverted role with winks, and yes i know winks is a knob 

[cruzFOX]

On 04/02/2026 at 01:25, PaulW said:

You're only here for the glory!?

On the contrary I’m here and have been thru thick and thin. It just pains me all that we have achieved as a club is fading away before our eyes. I’m hoping am really clinging onto Top’s promise to sort things out. I know a lot of our fans have lost his trust but what else do we have left. The new ‘loan’ signings seem hopeful. Our next manager just might be the most important signing since MON or Pearson in terms of saving this club. We need some Devine intervention and not just the player lol.

[BrummieFOX]

23 hours ago, squidsworth said:

Why would a game not being broadcast on TV in the UK be on in a pub in Birmingham? Surely the only way to watch the Saturday game is either being there or via dodgy stream? Which I doubt pub landlords would do.

Your be surprised how many use a dodgy stick. 

[Ashley]

We win this. Birmingham was the first game back after La Manga. 

 

Seige mentality. 

 

 

[EnderbyFox]

 

[lcfcbluearmy]

41 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

Do you not think playing with 6's leaves our wingers unsupported? It's fine playing this system if you have decent full backs who can support the wingers and get back if needed, and 6's that can press as well as move the ball through midfield. We don't have that, so play with 8's to support the wingers, get the full backs to play defensively with caution, playing as the 6 because we know he's the best player we have in that system, Ricardo is also adept at playing that inverted role with winks, and yes i know winks is a knob 

My thought was more keep Ricardo and aluko as actually full backs and either skipp/ aribo drops back when defending and the othe pushes forward probably should have shaped the midfield more as 

 

                        Aribo

            Skipp.           Mukasa

 

2  8's one 6 not 2 6's 1 8

[Ric Flair]

39 minutes ago, Ashley said:

We win this. Birmingham was the first game back after La Manga. 

 

Seige mentality. 

 

 

And still got relegated

[splinterdream]

6 minutes ago, lcfcbluearmy said:

My thought was more keep Ricardo and aluko as actually full backs and either skipp/ aribo drops back when defending and the othe pushes forward probably should have shaped the midfield more as 

 

                        Aribo

            Skipp.           Mukasa

 

2  8's one 6 not 2 6's 1 8

Just think it isolates the wingers, which is why abdul is constantly looking towards his own goal to recieve the pass. With Enzo system the 8's and wingers worked together. When we're struggling to make it work, we come too high up the pitch and then get hit on the break, this was marti's issue imo

[teblin]

Birmingham away seems to be a fixture after dark days in our history.

[lcfcbluearmy]

31 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

Just think it isolates the wingers, which is why abdul is constantly looking towards his own goal to recieve the pass. With Enzo system the 8's and wingers worked together. When we're struggling to make it work, we come too high up the pitch and then get hit on the break, this was marti's issue imo

I think it only isolates the wingers if the full backs don't push up and support them with overlapping runs. However you are right and I don't disagree with your view but want to see what the new players can do and what difference that makes, then start playing with the system

[Pita]

It’s a must win game after the points deduction 

[splinterdream]

11 minutes ago, lcfcbluearmy said:

I think it only isolates the wingers if the full backs don't push up and support them with overlapping runs. However you are right and I don't disagree with your view but want to see what the new players can do and what difference that makes, then start playing with the system

Pushing the full backs up.......thomas and Ricardo = 24 games without conceding 

[Paninistickers]

Would be lovely just to give ourselves a chance in a game and play 11 men. Even bad men. 

 

Instead, we play 8 plus BdcR and Ayew who make no contribution at all and Luke Thomas who does make a contribution, but for the opposition. 

 

Troublingly, they seem to be the first names on the teamsheet 

[Tomo260]

Imagine a reaction performance based on the news of a points deduction, where the players play with desire, passion and giving the fans what they are desperately craving.

 

Just imagine because it ain't happening 

[Blue-fox]

2 hours ago, Ashley said:

We win this. Birmingham was the first game back after La Manga. 

 

Seige mentality. 

 

 

The only mentality we have is a lazy, moody one now 😂

[Footballwipe]

Isn't there a small difference between seeing your three mates arrested for something they didn't do in front of the world's media and having something to prove.

 

Versus pathetic senior management and financial incompetence over a three year period and getting rightfully punished for what we've done?

[Lesterlad]

22 hours ago, Gazza M said:

                    Begovic 

Ricardo  Nelson  Vesty  Aluko

              Skipp  Winks 

   Fatawu   Mukasa  Aribo

                   Daka

 

Subs: Jakob, Lascelles, Thomas, Hamza, Page, Mavididi, Monga, Richards, S Thomas. 

Thankfully Hamza is injured