09/08/08 - Birmingham Match Thread

[DazBlade88]

Everything I've thought so far has been covered, so there's no point me saying the same things...

Although, why is everyone surprised Sun Ji Hai is a good player? Because he's Chinese? He's been in the Premier for years and has played alot of games. I had no doubt he'd be an excellent player for us, and I think he will show that the more games he plays.

 

[Linz]

I'm glad to see that some of the fans on here haven't started to panic yet like they have elsewhere.

If Birmingham are apparently the best team and tipped for automatic yet they can only beat us with a referee and an injury time winner, surely that bodes well for the season?

 

[Foxy]

Although, why is everyone surprised Sun Ji Hai is a good player?

Don't get me started on the amount of slating he's been getting pre-season/yesterday!

The blokes behind us were *hilariously* calling him Sun Jiwank all the match.

 

[City Till I Die]

If Birmingham are apparently the best team and tipped for automatic yet they can only beat us with a referee and an injury time winner, surely that bodes well for the season?

Nah, mate i'm sorry but you can't expect us to be amazing on our first game when we've not even had any competitive football and a few new players. Also you can't expect us to beat a team by a lot that put 5/6 players behind the ball everytime we attacked then hit us on the counter attacked. Athough it was a very effective tactic to use and was good managing from blackwell.

About the ref, i see where your coming from he had a awful game, everytime someone touched a player he seemed to give a foul and i was amazed when he booked stead for no reason. But tbf he did give a fair few dodgy decisions to us so you can't blame him four us winning, it was just a magic moment from super kev!

 

[City Till I Die]

And also.... Birmingham in my eyes is still a shit hole.

It's good that you have your own opinions but stop trying to wind me up by slating my city. Furthermore you have cut your own nose off to spite yourself imo because you said earlier in the topic that you live 20 mins away from the city centre so surely you must live in birmingham! Or on the outskirts anyway. All i'm gonna say is; Blues 1-0 Sheff utd, super kev. End of discussion.

 

[Greasy Chip Butty]

Nah, mate i'm sorry but you can't expect us to be amazing on our first game when we've not even had any competitive football and a few new players. Also you can't expect us to beat a team by a lot that put 5/6 players behind the ball everytime we attacked then hit us on the counter attacked. Athough it was a very effective tactic to use and was good managing from blackwell.

Surely both teams are in the same boat with not having competitive football and playing with new players! And as you say it was tactics by Blackwell and the players that almost carried it out to plan, you just adapt your tactics to try and counter ours.

 

[Linz]

It's good that you have your own opinions but stop trying to wind me up by slating my city. Furthermore you have cut your own nose off to spite yourself imo because you said earlier in the topic that you live 20 mins away from the city centre so surely you must live in birmingham! Or on the outskirts anyway. All i'm gonna say is; Blues 1-0 Sheff utd, super kev. End of discussion.

If you care to look, she lives in Wolverhampton.

I don't think you'd particularly like me pointing out the set of bottle chucking ingrates that occupy the stand to the right of the away end, or the scallies that decided standing in the middle of the road to offer out a small child on our coaches was a good idea...

Until they shit themselves when we pressed the horn at them and they ran off like little pussies

If you don't like reading what we have to say, then we thank you for your input, wish you well in your season (which I think is going to be harder than you think) and expect not to see you around here any more. I will not censor our members for having opinions and I do not expect other team's fans to come on here telling Blades what we can and cannot say.

 

[silverfox]

I wasn't at the match but out with about 18 lads from another forum who support various teams.

When watching the match all the discussion was about what a sh!t hole Birmingham is (mainly by 2 people who visit there 3 times a week for work.

I've not been recently but it seems to be the general opinion of most.

Back on topic......only one on target with that firepower?

 

[rachyblade]

Anyway...... I dont bite at Brummies comments, waste of time.

I've just watched the game again. Few things I would like to point out;

In my opinion, we were the better team on the day, we created more chances and had more shots on goal. I think the defence was outstanding as Paddy was only troubled once (which happened to be the goal).
I think our midfield was ok but room for lots of improvement. The strikers did the best they could from poor balls to them and fighting against a fairly solid Birmingham defence.

Bearing in mind this was the first game, it was away, and it was against Birmingham City (who are favourites to win the league), I think we played well and definately deserved a point if not more.

Having spoken to a few blues fans they have agreed with me and they do think we were very unlucky and a point shared would of been fair.

I still think that blues will be there or there abouts at the end of the season, and it will be interesting to see how many teams get something from St Andrews.

I no longer feel gutted about yesterday as there are too many positives which out weigh the couple of negatives.

Roll on next week, I'm sure there are going to be a fair few teams who will not be looking forward to the trip to Bramall lane.

 

[jodman]

Everything I've thought so far has been covered, so there's no point me saying the same things...

Although, why is everyone surprised Sun Ji Hai is a good player? Because he's Chinese? He's been in the Premier for years and has played alot of games. I had no doubt he'd be an excellent player for us, and I think he will show that the more games he plays.

I have seen Sun Ji Hi play on quite a few occassions (a friend has season tickets at Man City and i sometimes go along if the circustances are propitious) and on each occasion he has been poor.

This was the only basis for my suspicions that he would follow the same path as Li Tie and be simply here are a figurehead for our Eastern connections.I can assure you that i would never form an opinion on a players ability based on the country from which he hails.

I was pleasantly surprised with his perfomance yesterday and i'm hopeful he can maintain that level of performance throughout the season.

 

[beightonblade]

Why was Henderson doing all the crossing ? thought mysen he'd have been better recieving em.

 

[Kev Gee]

I really hope that isnt Blackwells blueprint for away games.

We were to defensive & i just knew at the back of my mind what was going to happen when Phillips came on.

Tonge should have been taken off & Sun pushed into midlfield with halford at RB & brought Coterill on for the last 20 minutes.

It feels like weve been well & trully robbed & the next match is VERY important in terms of Morale.

Lets hope were alot more positive ah home. Especially when Blackwell kept stressing about getting forward & putting lots of balls into the box which we just didnt do!

Tonge - Absolute shocker of a game.

MOM of the match Killgallon.

 

[rachyblade]

I really hope that isnt Blackwells blueprint for away games.

To be fair St Andrews is possibly the hardest away trip we will have to make this season, I would of been very happy with a point and I believe Blackwell got the tactics right. Yes Tonge had a bad game and a change should have been made with Cotts I agree there. But we covered every area of the pitch and matched possibly out played them for the majority of the game. We were very unlucky at the end.

Speed said in an interview before the season started that they had a dressing room talk and that the squad have decided we are aiming to go up as Champions in style and that is what they have set out to do this season.

One little knock like yesterday will not knock their confidence, we have a lot of mentally strong players who will pick up the younger ones after any knock back.

If the players believe we can do and have the confidence to do we need to back them and support them all the way.

Blackwell will lead us back to the Premiership.

 

[Linz]

I might have missed the justifications somewhere in this thread... but two whole people thinking Billy Sharp was MOTM seems slightly strange to me

Anyone care to explain why they voted that way, or are they going to remain Anonymous Cowards?

 

[rachyblade]

I might have missed the justifications somewhere in this thread... but two whole people thinking Billy Sharp was MOTM seems slightly strange to me

Anyone care to explain why they voted that way, or are they going to remain Anonymous Cowards?

Wasn't me.

 

[stinkyblade]

Gutted. It might have been first game, but it really was hard to take. Maybe due to the fact we were a minute away from getting a point against the best team in the league (on paper). Still we might not have created many chances, if any, we limited a quality Birmingham side to probably less chances.

A draw was more than merited for a excellent defensive display. Morgs led the line, Killa was immense too while Sun Jihai-ya was neat and tidy on the ball and did his hob brilliantly. As soon as Phillips came on I said he was the more likely players to score, and voila, he pops up with such a soft goal.

Agree with Rachyblade though in two ways, one there were more positives than negatives and two, Birmingham is a shithole

Roll on next week. UTB

It is visible but I wrote this in like 10 minutes, but I am hoping to contribute towards the match reports more this season if the kind forum leaders don't mind :blush:

Birmingham 1-0 Blades

On paper these two sides are two of the main contenders for promotion, with a vast wealth of experience in both squads, however the game that was played rarely gave a glimpse of the quality it deserved. The hosts could even afford to leave Kevin Phillips on the bench, a player more than capable of cutting it at the top level and it was his introduction that proved to be the turning point so late in the game.

In all honesty neither side deserved to win the game, both defences were on top and lacked a real cutting throughout the game. In fact the game may have looked to some as a mid table, end of season game with nothing to play for. It seemed as though the game would ebb out to a draw, which was the fair result, but with their first meaningful effort on goal, Phillips turned too score past Paddy Kenny, who appeared to be caught off guard.

The Blades forced the initiative early on without really troubling Maik Taylor in the Birmingham goal. Gary Speed saw a well hit strike comfortably tipped over while Stephen Quinn shot wide and Billy Sharp stung Taylor’s hands. Just before the break The Blues had their first attempt, Marcus Bent’s shot was blocked by the solid Matthew Kilgallon. The Blades defence held firm, and were surprisingly comfortable in the efforts at times.

The second took a similar pattern with both sides cancelling each other out, and chances at a premium. Birmingham manager Alex McLeish, sent on reinforcements in Phillips and Gary O’Connor but too no avail. The game looked to be heading for a stalemate until Phillips’ predatory instincts proved to be the deciding factor. O’Connor knocked down a long kick by Taylor, which found Phillips who turned and finished in the corner past a despairing Kenny. There was still time for Jon Stead to catch the post from a cross but Birmingham ran out victors in a game that promised so much but saw both sides equally solid in defence but devoid of ideas in the middle.

 

[Robbie]

I know it's been covered, but yes we were far too defensive.

I don't care whether it worked for "91 minutes", because what "worked for 91 minutes" was hoping for a draw, and we still didn't get that.

Nothing "worked" because we came away with a loss.

Yes there are positives, none more so than Sunny boy. However there are lots of negatives too, one of them being too negative.

Where was Hendrie? Why are still playing Sharp? Why did Morgs stand off Phillips for his goal? Why wasn't Cotterill playing? Why should we be "happy" with a point when 3 are available?

I know it sounds like a pointless rant and very negative from myself, but we need to be believing we can to places like St andrews and win, otherwise what we going to be like when/if we get back to the Premier League?

I'm disappointed because I know we can be better. I'm disappointed in Blackwell for not bringing Cotterill on, or having Hendrie on the bench. If Cotterill isn't fully fit, then leave him out the squad, like we have done with Sir Beattie. However if he is fit, it goes to prove that Blackwell is as negative as the person he replaced.
If Hendrie isn't part of his plans, why play him so heavily in pre-season games?

 

[TonyAgana]

Tonge should have been taken off & Sun pushed into midlfield with halford at RB & brought Coterill on for the last 20 minutes.

The thing is though, that would've been a massive change to make when we looked good for the draw. The only big issue I saw was with Halford. He misplaced far more passes than even Tonge did! So dropping him back in to the back 4, which was rock solid, I don't think was an option.

 

[TonyAgana]

Why did Morgs stand off Phillips for his goal?

Are you kidding? One touch with his back to goal, turns on a sixpence and it's in the back of the net! If Morgan had challenged him he'd have been tackling from behind, surely!!

Why wasn't Cotterill playing?

I'm sure playing Cotterill would've improved our chances of scoring to no end but with very little in the way of defensive attributes, away at Birmingham, I'd have been a bit twitchy hearing a line-up that included him to be honest.

 

[Robbie]

Are you kidding? One touch with his back to goal, turns on a sixpence and it's in the back of the net! If Morgan had challenged him he'd have been tackling from behind, surely!! .

There was only one way Phillips would have gone, Morgan should be attempting to either block the ball, or get a challenge in, obviously Phillips has had to turn to put the ball away..... what was Morgan doing at this point? Well Morgan was keeping him at arms distance (He was actually touching him to keep him away)

I'm sure playing Cotterill would've improved our chances of scoring to no end but with very little in the way of defensive attributes, away at Birmingham, I'd have been a bit twitchy hearing a line-up that included him to be honest.

Well this is the thing ain't it. Why go for the defensive route. You know what they say, goals win games.

 

[Foxy]

Well this is the thing ain't it. Why go for the defensive route. You know what they say, goals win games.

Considering we had a greater number of attempts on target, would this not mean we actually successfully played a more attacking game than the eventual winners?

 

[Robbie]

Considering we had a greater number of attempts on target, would this not mean we actually successfully played a more attacking game than the eventual winners?

That's not always necessarily the case.

You can have a better chance that is off target, than one that is on target.

For instance, a shot from 40 yards, that trickles to the keeper (not saying this of any of our shots) can be deemed as on "on target", a one on one with the keeper with the striker putting it wide is an "off target" shot, however the second would have been deemed more dangerous in the whole.

As I've said before, Stats can back your arguement as much as you want them too, used in the right way.

In my opinion the game should have finished 0-0, it wasn't an entertaining game by any stretch. I just feel one team needed to go for it, but only one player had the balls to My Phillips

 

[Linz]

Highlights available from Virgin: http://www.football.virginmedia.com/page/championshipvideo/0,,12555~1362537,00.html

 

[Foxy]

As I've said before, Stats can back your arguement as much as you want them too, used in the right way.

As can the "perceived" game plan. Personally, I’d say out of the two teams we looked more likely to score, up until Super Kev stepped up.

To say we seemingly played defensively, I’d say this was some what of an achievement given the firepower at their disposal.

Goals do win games, therefore another very important ability in this league is to not concede many. With a little tweaking and a bit more ruthlessness in front of goal (the return of Beatts/an on form Cotteril/any incoming creative players) we'll not go far wrong this year with displays like that from the back 4.

 

[Robbie]

Exactly Foxy, perfect words. Back four.....

So why not have Cotts in front of them?

 

[Foxy]

Exactly Foxy, perfect words. Back four.....

So why not have Cotts in front of them?

Because in having a midfield inclusive of Cotts, Tongey, Quinn and to some extent Speed... It is very likely that the attacking talents of Birmingham would have caused much more trouble.

This would have been fine if Speed still had legs from years gone by. But, as fit as he still is, without support or just sitting back he'd be struggling to protect the defence.

In playing players like Cotts, Tongey and Quinny together against the top sides in this division... we either need to be on top form or we need a quick player who does the dirty work and covers/wins the ball back when we lose it.

All too often they'll lose the ball and then either stand still and watch the game continue (i'm looking at you Mr Tonge) or be caught too far up field to be able to track back.

No matter how well the defence plays, we can't have them exposed and stretched for periods of the game or the inevitable will happen.

As the game went on and Halford started neshing tackles, i'd have brought Cotts on myself, but I could see what Blacky was trying to do and to all intents and purposes, it was seconds away from working satisfactorily.

It does feel like we missed an opportunity to come back with 3 points, but I don't think its as simple as if we'd have played Cotts we'd have won.

I want us to go out and attack every team in this division as I think on our day we are more than good enough to beat anyone, this doesn't mean however we can go all out attack every week and disregard any threat the opposition brings. It's all about getting the balance right, which with players coming back to fitness (mainly Beattie) and a bit of tweaking in the middle of the pitch we should be able to achieve.

Annoying result, but overall I think there were plenty of positives to take out of it.

 

[DazBlade88]

The reason Cotterill didn't play is surely because he's lacking match fitness?

He's only played 1 pre-season game hasn't he? Give him a run against Port Vale and he'll be fine I think.

 

[TonyAgana]

The reason Cotterill didn't play is surely because he's lacking match fitness?

He's only played 1 pre-season game hasn't he? Give him a run against Port Vale and he'll be fine I think.

No, I reckon it was more a tactical decision. If he were lacking match fitness but on the bench then he'd have been brought on for the last 10 or 15 I reckon.

 

[Robbie]

There are positives I agree Foxy, even with me saying it was Morgans fault for the goal (it was) he had a fantastic game prior to that. The team looked ok in defence, midfield was hmmmm well it wasn;t "bad". The attack wasn't helped greatly.

However, saying Cotts may or may not be working well with others like Tonge and SQuin may or may not be correct. However..... should these be the players we should be playing? How many chances do we give Tonge in hope he can realise his once potential? How is SQuinns "pace" beneficial for a team? I'm happy for Speed to be there, but he needs someone else at the side of him. I won't say who because I think we know my opinions on that.

But like I say, we can't bottle things like we did on Saturday in the fact that Cotts, who is meant to be our new messiah the second (behind beattie of course) is left on the bench and not even given a run out? Its bemusing in all honesty. I've seen no statement to confirm why this was either.

It wasn't that bad of a performance, and the word I'd use for it is "solid".... but still we created nothing really that broke Birmingham into a sweat, except a good shot from Speed.

Whilst we say they didn't really create anything, nor did we.

We need to improve on it though, and I believe we will.

 

[Come from away]

There are positives I agree Foxy, even with me saying it was Morgans fault for the goal (it was) he had a fantastic game prior to that.

Actually, I do not believe it was Morgs fault. It was the dying seconds of the game, everybody knows B'ham are going to lob the ball into the box, so why weren't Halford and Speed back on the edge of the D blocking up the middle? If they had been anywhere near, either the ball would not have got to Philips or they could have blocked the ball. No, the team fell asleep thinking the back four can handle it, leaving Morgs isolated one-on-one, something any striker would love. Mental error, but not from Morgan.