Birmingham Post Match Thread

[Happy Fox]

I think he, as I would, would have brought in a winger in the summer. Plenty of us have been saying so.

He still has had a chance to get one in on loan but doesn't want to. It's worrying that he can't see that we need one.

Home/away from home, it doesn't matter. The formation we are playing is the best for the players we've got. If we had a winger it might be a different story though.

The point is, we have gone for it at home and have been winning games well against decent opposition. Away we have been very negative and it's not suited us, today it has cost us.

Fair enough, I cannot for the life of me understand why we don't bring at least one winger in on loan, it would certainly help us no doubt.

[Salieri]

As I said, I don't really care at this stage whether we're 13th or 2nd. All I care about is that we've not been distanced, despite having had an indifferent start to the season. I don't doubt one moment that we'll see more performances that are comparable to the Derby one, with the quality we have in our squad. I've been a staunch supporter of another old and supposedly passé manager in Morten Olsen for the past 12 years, even when the going got very rough, and look where his team are now. I believe Sven has the necessary qualities to get this team promoted, so shoot me down for that if you want.

You're wasting your breath, there are too many on here who can only swing wildly from elation to despair and back again, having any sort of perspective is an alien concept for them i'm afraid.

[Kitchandro]

And had we have won we would have been 5th and everyone would be overjoyed, very fine margins. It was a poor performance (not helped by dubious refereeing decisions) but let's not get carried away. We'll win our next two I'm sure which should put us up into the Play Off area.

It's our first defeat for about 8 games and a blip, but just a blip nonetheless.

It's not a blip regarding performances, all our away performances bar Forest have been very poor apart from defensively.

Draws are OK but not when you're off the pace, now we've lost because we were negative and will need to show some ambition away from home to make up that gap.

Looking at the league table doesn't mean we are dommed, but looking at the away performances, I'm very worried. We can't win many games playing like that, and we will continue to play like that if we are that negative.

[Guest nathan.]

I knew as soon as the smug inconsistent bellend strolled on that pitch hed have a huge say in the outcome.

What is it with refs and us

[Brizzle Fox]

First post so be gentle with me.

Today was the season thus far in microcosm and will be the season projected forward as well unless we change the whole psyche of the team in the way we set up for and approach away matches. As people have alluded to already we are a better team than Birmingham but we seem to have an inability to translate that into the way that we play. It was clearly evident after the first 15 minutes today that Brum were a team devoid of confidence and devoid of ideas, however we are not capable or willing to interpret the situation and go up the gears to take advantage. Frankly we should have been looking to put this game to bed by half time but we seemed to content to stick to Plan A, namely focus on a clean sheet with a hope that we sneak something at the other end.

For some games/ opposition/ circumstances this approach would be valid, but not today.

I have heard the old adage that you draw your away games and win your home games then you'll get promoted quoted many times on this forum. Theoretically true but in reality absolute tosh as this sequence of events/ results never happens. More pertinently this approach can put undue pressure on the home games to follow, as now, whereby anything but maximum points against Watford and Millwall will be regarded as failure.

I am assuming we that don't really believe that merely reaching the play offs this season would be viewed as an achievement? If so then we must be setting up to win the majority of our away games. I appreciate that this won't work out every time but such an approach would go some way to convincing ourselves and the opposition that we are the real deal and not a bunch of over hyped, expensively assembled wannabes.

[Guest Col city fan]

You're wasting your breath, there are too many on here who can only swing wildly from elation to despair and back again, having any sort of perspective is an alien concept for them i'm afraid.

13th in the table is not a 'perspective' it's a fact.. Are you content with this, given the money spent and the 'quality' of the squad?

Or are you going to do a 'all it needs is a good run and we are right back in there' sort of comment/statement...

Basically are you going to be 'real' and accept we are where we are or unreal and rely on ifs and buts?

As I said, I fully expect us to beat Watford... But the lack of consistency in performance is distinct/clear/apparent

Like it was last season... Or are you too blinkered to see?

Finally... And how many more times!! Against Derby we were SOOPER! Today we were DREADFUL!

Inconsistent.... See?

[Kitchandro]

First post so be gentle with me.

Today was the season thus far in microcosm and will be the season projected forward as well unless we change the whole psyche of the team in the way we set up for and approach away matches. As people have alluded to already we are a better team than Birmingham but we seem to have an inability to translate that into the way that we play. It was clearly evident after the first 15 minutes today that Brum were a team devoid of confidence and devoid of ideas, however we are not capable or willing to interpret the situation and go up the gears to take advantage. Frankly we should have been looking to put this game to bed by half time but we seemed to content to stick to Plan A, namely focus on a clean sheet with a hope that we sneak something at the other end.

For some games/ opposition/ circumstances this approach would be valid, but not today.

I have heard the old adage that you draw your away games and win your home games then you'll get promoted quoted many times on this forum. Theoretically true but in reality absolute tosh as this sequence of events/ results never happens. More pertinently this approach can put undue pressure on the home games to follow, as now, whereby anything but maximum points against Watford and Millwall will be regarded as failure.

I am assuming we that don't really believe that merely reaching the play offs this season would be viewed as an achievement? If so then we must be setting up to win the majority of our away games. I appreciate that this won't work out every time but such an approach would go some way to convincing ourselves and the opposition that we are the real deal and not a bunch of over hyped, expensively assembled wannabes.

Very good first post, sums it up perfectly for me

Away from home, we play like you'd expect a team like Watford to play, knowing that it has inferiror individuals but trying to be solid and being happy with a draw, and hoping to nick a 1-0.

First we must ask the question about our individuals - are they inferiror or superior to teams like Barnsley, Coventry and Birmingham? If so, why do we not take the game to them, knowing that if we play to our fullest we are very likely to win? If not, what has Sven done with all that money?

[Kitchandro]

You're wasting your breath, there are too many on here who can only swing wildly from elation to despair and back again, having any sort of perspective is an alien concept for them i'm afraid.

As Col City Fan says, we've gone from a 4-0 home win against Derby and a very good performance to a horrible performance at Birmingham and have lost 2-0.

So, I don't know why you'd expect anything less than going from elation to despair, the difference between the 2 performances is vast and firghtening.

And for me, the major difference is the attitude we've gone to the pitch with in the 2 games.

[Guest Col city fan]

First post so be gentle with me.

Today was the season thus far in microcosm and will be the season projected forward as well unless we change the whole psyche of the team in the way we set up for and approach away matches. As people have alluded to already we are a better team than Birmingham but we

seem to have an inability to translate that into the way that we play. It was clearly evident after the first 15 minutes today that Brum were a team devoid of confidence and devoid of ideas, however we are not capable or willing to interpret the situation and go up the gears to take advantage. Frankly we should have been looking to put this game to bed by half time but we seemed to content to stick to Plan A, namely focus on a clean sheet with a hope that we sneak something at the other end.

For some games/ opposition/ circumstances this approach would be valid, but not today.

I have heard the old adage that you draw your away games and win your home games then you'll get promoted quoted many times on this forum. Theoretically true but in reality absolute tosh as this sequence of events/ results

never happens. More pertinently this approach can put undue pressure on the home games to follow, as now, whereby anything but maximum points against Watford and Millwall will be regarded as failure.

I am assuming we that don't really believe that merely reaching the play offs this season would be viewed as an

achievement? If so then we must be setting up to win the majority of our away games. I appreciate that this won't work out every time but such an approach would go some way to convincing ourselves and the opposition that we are the real deal and not a bunch of over hyped, expensively assembled wannabes.

Superb first post and sums it up for me...

Some counter attacking width away from home is soooo needed

[shen]

13th in the table is not a 'perspective' it's a fact.. Are you content with this, given the money spent and the 'quality' of the squad?

Or are you going to do a 'all it needs is a good run and we are right back in there' sort of comment/statement...

Basically are you going to be 'real' and accept we are where we are or unreal and rely on ifs and buts?

As I said, I fully expect us to beat Watford... But the lack of consistency in performance is distinct/clear/apparent

Like it was last season... Or are you too blinkered to see?

Finally... And how many more times!! Against Derby we were SOOPER! Today we were DREADFUL!

Inconsistent.... See?

He's right though, I am completely wasting my 'breath' trying to argue with you.

[wagfox]

WINGERS

[wagfox]

Just one thing............. WINGERS............ WIDTH...............PLAN B...............HOWARD............NUGENT WOULD LOVE TO PLAY OFF OF A TARGET MAN.

[Guest Col city fan]

He's right though, I am completely wasting my 'breath' trying to argue with you.

Well we've been here before Shen to be honest.

You're not making any argument really. I know what you mean about it's being too early to know where we are gonna be in a months time let alone come the end of the season. But there is no point in this 'if we win the next few games we will be in a better position' stuff. Of course we would, but we ain't won them yet.. Football is a points business and the table doesn't lie. We are where we are and I, for one, was expecting better at this stage of the season. As I would expect were honest City fans who are willing to admit it.

If you think this makes me 'negative' or not a 'real fan' then look at some of the posts I've made this week about Wembley finals I've been to ( and cried at)... Eg Blackburn

I just state what I think.. Under Sven we have either looked great, or shit.. With little in between.

And the inconsistency of performance is alarming.

If you wish for me to agree with you then don't just rely on suggesting what we 'should' be doing 'if' we get on a winning run.. Instead tell me how we are going to improve consistently and generally. Then I'd listen to you

[MC Prussian]

Onwards and upwards. Blips happen sometimes and today was such a wasted day with a wasted opportunity to set a signal.

I'm saying this again - today we were really poor. Solid in the back, but no pressure or motivation to create anything going forward.

Our midfield was a waste of space and the lack of at least one winger evident.

Don't blame it on the referee (who got both decisions spot on) or Sven (who chose the same starting eleven that beat Derby 4-0).

In the end, we all had to endure watching a team that was none.

There was no creativity, no leadership.

For all the possession we had in the first half against a rather tame Birmingham side, we lacked that decisive sucker-punch ability in the final third of the pitch.

There was hardly anything going through the middle - too often, Konchesky had to play wide in midfield. No wonder he ran himself ragged in the end.

Our strikers missed service from midfield desperately. Fernandes, Danns, King, Abe - I'm talking to you.

Crossing was poor throughout the game, standards wasted.

The players let the manager and the fans down.

But here's to two home wins next week. This away record had to come to an end at one point. Yes, I'm not overly happy with the "effort" put on display today.

Yet we're still very much in the mix and four to six points would put us in or just near the playoff places again.

[Schlupp]

That beausjour should've been sent off for diving and cheating,I agree with the Mills descion thou haven't had chance to catch any replays but I knew it was an instant red.King should've had a peno.We just wasn't good enough if we was good enough we would've been leading before the break.

[lovelcfc]

tbh i dont think we played that badly we knocked it around ok we werent as bad as people are making out we need to be more brave when going forward and we will score more the quality is up front through beckford and nugent you cant just judge beckford on today anyway it was a diffcult game to come into vassel need to go out wide more yes we did lack width but at home we should be more brave when coming forward anyway it was just a bad day at the office now to watford

[unreachable]

Despair and elation are the two extremes but surely disappointment is a realistic emotion?

Until we consistently play good football, score goals and dominate games I feel entitled to have no confidence in the team or formation.

I never expect Leicester to win but am very happy when they do.

[Guest Col city fan]

I'm saying this again - today we were really poor. Solid in the back, but no pressure or motivation to create anything going forward.

Our midfield was a waste of space and the lack of at least one winger evident.

Don't blame it on the referee (who got both decisions spot

on) or Sven (who chose the same starting eleven that beat Derby 4-0).

In the end, we all had to endure watching a team that was none.

There was no creativity, no leadership.

For all the possession we had in the first half against a rather tame Birmingham side, we lacked that decisive

sucker-punch ability in the final third of the pitch.

There was hardly anything going through the middle - too often, Konchesky had to play wide in midfield. No wonder he ran himself ragged in the end.

Our strikers missed service from midfield desperately.

The players let the manager and the fans down.

But here's to two home wins next week. This away record

had to come to an end at one point. Yes, I'm not overly happy with the "effort" put on display today.

Yet we're still very much in the mix and four to six points would suit us just nicely.

A very honest account of the performance today and here's hoping we win the next two.. Which I think we will

[Kitchandro]

Onwards and upwards. Blips happen sometimes and today was such a wasted day with a wasted opportunity to set a signal.

I'm saying this again - today we were really poor. Solid in the back, but no pressure or motivation to create anything going forward.

Our midfield was a waste of space and the lack of at least one winger evident.

Don't blame it on the referee (who got both decisions spot on) or Sven (who chose the same starting eleven that beat Derby 4-0).

In the end, we all had to endure watching a team that was none.

There was no creativity, no leadership.

For all the possession we had in the first half against a rather tame Birmingham side, we lacked that decisive sucker-punch ability in the final third of the pitch.

There was hardly anything going through the middle - too often, Konchesky had to play wide in midfield. No wonder he ran himself ragged in the end.

Our strikers missed service from midfield desperately. Fernandes, Danns, King, Abe - I'm talking to you.

Crossing was poor throughout the game, standards wasted.

The players let the manager and the fans down.

But here's to two home wins next week. This away record had to come to an end at one point. Yes, I'm not overly happy with the "effort" put on display today.

Yet we're still very much in the mix and four to six points would put us in or just near the playoff places again.

So it's the players that decide to be positive at home and negative away?

I really think that's the manager telling them to do that.

I'm not defending the players at all but I don't think being told to 'keep it tight and try and nick a goal if possible' helps, and I'm pretty sure that's the kind of thing Sven is telling them, because the difference between the home and away performances is consistent. Positive at home, negative away.

[Happy Fox]

"At half-time I felt that we would at least achieve a draw, so to come away with no points is a huge disappointment for us."

Sums it up for me negativity from Sven

[MC Prussian]

So it's the players that decide to be positive at home and negative away?

I really think that's the manager telling them to do that.

I'm not defending the players at all but I don't think being told to 'keep it tight and try and nick a goal if possible' helps, and I'm pretty sure that's the kind of thing Sven is telling them, because the difference between the home and away performances is consistent. Positive at home, negative away.

The same players that won us 7 points on the road so far and helped the club to remain unbeaten in our previous 5 away games?

Yeah, they're always so negative away from home and it's the manager's fault. Right.

Sometimes, you're playing awful on foreign soil. Today was such a day. It happens (of course, I would've loved the team to prove me otherwise).

[Trav Le Bleu]

the good news..thought Peltier had a quality game again, seems like one of our better signings without doubt.

Aye.... everyone seems to be saying Bamba though. Maybe, like the BBC pundits, they were watch a different game.

(Bamba had a good game - but Pelts was better.)

[m4DD0gg]

Yet another inept display. The lack of width like many have commented is a major worry.

Watching konchesky pump in another over hit diagonal ball is painful. You can see nugent is fed up by his body language.

I really do like Sven he is a great footballing man but I can not see him lasting much longer, perhaps have him as a director of football to keep his elusive contacts and experience. No idea who i would replace him with.

[Kitchandro]

The same players that won us 7 points on the road so far and helped the club to remain unbeaten in our previous 5 away games?

Yeah, they're always so negative away from home and it's the manager's fault. Right.

Sometimes, you're playing awful on foreign soil. Today was such a day. It happens (of course, I would've loved the team to prove me otherwise).

Yeh they remained unbeaten, but we've only won 1 away. We have been negative in all but 1 away game, that's my point, they've not just played negatively away out of the blue today. Yes we got some draws playing that way but the opposition played poorly in those games, bar maybe Boro.

Sven is sending them out to be too cautious away, that's why we are struggling to score. Today the performance was very similar to all the other away games, the only difference was that we were punished for a silly defensive mistake this time and then a poor challenge. Then we were chasing the game but of course we had lost the momentum and still couldn't find a cutting edge.

You see what I'm saying? We deserved to lose today because we are inviting it on ourselves with this mentality at away games. Being negative can help you keep some clean sheets but ultimately it will backfire when you concede. If you have the momentum going forward and score some goals you can afford to concede, like against Southampton at home, we defended awfully but won, and they are a good side. Yes we got lucky but the point still stands. And when teams go 2-0 down most won't come back into it.

In our last 4 away games, we've had 3 draws and a loss. If we had been more positive, we could have lost 3 and won 1 and we'd have the same amount of points. But if we were as positive as we were against Derby I'm confident we would have got 6 points from those 4 at least consdering how the opposition played, and that's better than 3!

We need to be more positiv away from home, and it's blatantly obvious Sven doesn't agree. We have a much better defensive unit than last season so we do not have to be negative but we are anyway.

[dimmerchant]

It was a penalty.

It was a red card.

It was touch and go for King's penalty shout; probably given at KPS.

Peltier was best of a poor bunch.

Beckford is not shit, just hasn't got going yet.

We were quality at Derby.

We've got two very winnable games in the next 6 days.

Let's forget today and push on.