Birmingham 1-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Totton Saint]

22 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Hit nail on head. Most of our players cant play 60 mins. That's why the come off. Scienza also gets targeted and kicked but that's a coaching tactic teams have deployed since 70s. Any one too good we can catch just take him out. So out dribblers come off early and if get injured then next game we are tucked no attack option. The 5 subs makes it worse as players only need to train fir fitness for 40 or 50 mins. 

Saints have developed into a teo half team and 45 min players. I cant remember any game where one of our players has run around for 90 mins or even jogged.

I can remember when no subs were allowed.   Bert Truotman when he broke his neck at Wembley cup final could not be replaced.

 

 

 

 

[IFHP]

Can see a shock result here to be honest a fighting 1-1 or 2-2 draw or even a 2-1 win.

[Football Special]

14 minutes ago, IFHP said:

Can see a shock result here to be honest a fighting 1-1 or 2-2 draw or even a 2-1 win.

That would be a shock, Birmingham home record is very solid isn't it? 

[Dr Who?]

25 minutes ago, Football Special said:

That would be a shock, Birmingham home record is very solid isn't it? 

Yeah they have only lost once in the league at home this season, but they have drawn a few of late, hammered the skates and Millwall at home. One of my best friends in a blue nose, and he is right down in the dumps at the moment. We are good at picking teams up though! 

[die Mannyschaft]

3 hours ago, rallyboy said:

This is a big night for the manager, an indicator of what he's about.

You want to end the year feeling like progress has been made and with hope for 2026 - not with another gutless away defeat that gives the impression that little has changed and all the rearranging of managerial furniture has been pointless.

Let's end the year on a positive.

A draw would be a big result. 

[Toadhall Saint]

Away win

[macca155]

4 hours ago, rallyboy said:

This is a big night for the manager, an indicator of what he's about.

You want to end the year feeling like progress has been made and with hope for 2026 - not with another gutless away defeat that gives the impression that little has changed and all the rearranging of managerial furniture has been pointless.

Let's end the year on a positive.

So true and I am expecting another horrible defeat.

However, the players will be well aware of the criticism they have received. Been pretty unanimous reading the thread. On occasion they do seem to put a bit more fight into a game, when that happens.

Just my opinion but I'd go

McCarthy (just to give Bazunu a kick up the arse)

Wellington THB Wood Manning

Downes Bragg Jander

Fellows Armstrong Scienza 

Subs

Baz

Edwards

Quarshie

Robinson

Azaz

Matsuki

Sesay

Williams

Oyekunle 

Deliberate team and sub selection to make a point. The 3 U21s will at least want to prove themselves. They really can do no worse.

Not happy about dropping Azaz, but his form has dipped. Looking to bring him on once the midfield has been controlled. There is a danger of the three starting getting in each other's way, but somehow Saints have to control the midfield.

If Frazer Romeu or Aribo are anywhere near tonight's squad, then it will be weaker. 

 

 

[S-Clarke]

I thought Birmingham played pretty well at our place, and we were somewhat fortunate to come away with the 3-1 - which probably flattered us a bit I'd have to say, we were just very clinical. 

I think they're without some players, so we'll see how it goes. They're clearly a club with momentum and some finance behind them, so expect them to go big in January $$ wise - so in that sense we're probably playing them at the right time.

[AlexLaw76]

That sitter their player missed

Christ

[Saint Fan CaM]

Meh…thought it was a 3pm ko. Keep off the post Xmas wine and beer kids. 🙄

Edited 7 hours ago by Saint Fan CaM

[sambosa75]

Any away friendly pubs near the ground?  Taking my 6 year old lad to his first away game.  Curious if anywhere nearby for away fans or is best bet the concourse?

[SWLondon Saint]

Been busy and could only watch the last 25 mins of the Oxford game which was obviously a bloody stupid decision on my part to waste that time! They have a great home record, we can't defend or stop crosses to save our lives. Reckon it'll be 3-1 to them unfortunately, but hopefully they'll prove me and the other pessimists (realists?) wrong.

[saintant]

I'd say our chances of winning this are about the same as the likelihood of a snowball surviving in Hell.

[adrian lord]

4 hours ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Away win

On the festive drinks early again I see!

[Raging Bull]

Couldn’t care less anymore 

[pimpin4rizeal]

If tonda has anything about him bazunu gets dropped tonight, talking about needing to keep clean sheets whilst fielding the hologram every match makes no sense . Actually think we can win this game though we created enough chances vs Oxford towin that game . 3-1 saints 

Edited 4 hours ago by pimpin4rizeal

[Charlie Wayman]

3 hours ago, sambosa75 said:

Any away friendly pubs near the ground?  Taking my 6 year old lad to his first away game.  Curious if anywhere nearby for away fans or is best bet the concourse?

Please don't take your 6 yo lad into a pub? Poor kid, it's bad enough for him that he has every prospect of being brainwashed into becoming a Saints fan.

[Willo of Whiteley]

3-1 defeat.

The Japanese striker to score his first goal for Birmingham.

[VimFuego]

Just now, Willo of Whiteley said:

3-1 defeat.

The Japanese striker to score his first goal for Birmingham.

just to spite our social media team

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Hopefully Saints can get back to the team playing forward football and quickly transitions. 

Not what we've seen for the last 3 games. 

Hopefully Fellows will back to his best before his injury. 

 

[Hawkswood]

1 minute ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

3-1 defeat.

The Japanese striker to score his first goal for Birmingham.

A striker that hasn't  scored for them yet ? Im going for a brace 

[Maggie May]

Stansfield x2, Gray. 

[davefizzy14]

Hopefully we can bounce back tonight. 2-0 to us tonight - Scienza and Adam Armstrong to score 😊 COYR 😊

[Barton Saint]

3 games in 7 days

Going to be interesting squad rotation 

[Saint NL]

? 👀

 

Robinson in for Scienza is a big downgrade. Otherwise no suprises

Edited 3 hours ago by Saint NL

[hypochondriac]

Sigh. Five at the back again with the only change being our best player on the bench. I've got no confidence we are going to fundamentally change anything.

[Scummer]

Scienza on the bench, Robinson in

[beatlesaint]

Leo on the bench 😡

[Turkish]

No Scienza 😂😂😂😂

[bpsaint]

No Scienza No points.

Staright out of the Will Still tomboys that line up.

[LGTL]

What the absolute fuck 😂😂

Another fraud. Time to fuck off

[Saint NL]

Matsuki on the bench, nice to see. Otherwise meh

[hypochondriac]

If plan A doesn't work the only thing to do is to do plan A again but with your best player dropped.

[Saint Matty 76]

Good thing we took Scienza off after 55 minutes to have him ready for tonight.

[obelisk]

Perhaps the plan is to win the 2nd half this time.

[adrian lord]

What's up with Scienza then?

[Galway saint]

Good to see Baz keeps his place

[aintforever]

WTF, Scienza is our best player by a country mile.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

No Scienza 😂😂😂😂

Reminds me of Branfoot dropping prime MLT. 

[SouSaint]

I hope this comes back to bite me but Robinson is nowhere near Championship standard imo. 

[Saint NL]

Just now, adrian lord said:

What's up with Scienza then?

Saving him so he's not injured for the January transfer window of course 

[Lighthouse]

Makes sense, three games in seven days is a lot for any player and Leo struggles to maintain his intensity for more than an hour at the best of times. Hopefully JR seizes this oportunity.

Glad to see Jely on the bench and Romeu not included. 

[HarvSFC]

Giving Scienza 30 minutes so that he can play on New Years Day..... 🤔

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

If plan A doesn't work the only thing to do is to do plan A again but with your best player dropped.

It's a genius move. No one imagined he'd leave Scienza out, so by doing that he'll catch Birmingham completely off guard and enable us to snatch victory as they'll have prepared how to deal with him, not the other talent we have on the pitch. We do things differently here 👏

[LGTL]

1 minute ago, adrian lord said:

What's up with Scienza then?

Knowing our utterly pathetic ownership and manager, we’re probably fucking selling him in January. 

[Harry_SFC]

What was the point of bringing Scienza off after 55 minutes then? Ridiculous.

[chownie20]

Robinson was our best player for the first half dozen or so games this season, so it's a bit harsh to criticise him IMHO. However yes dropping Leo is stupid unless he is physically not ready and able and managing minutes is that critical.

[AlexLaw76]

3/5 at the back. Exciting!!!

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Makes sense, three games in seven days is a lot for any player and Leo struggles to maintain his intensity for more than an hour at the best of times. Hopefully JR seizes this oportunity.

Glad to see Jely on the bench and Romeu not included. 

No it doesn't, particularly because he didn't even play an hour in the last game. Even if what you say is true, start him and give him an hour. If he's fit for the bench he needs to play.

 

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Makes sense, three games in seven days is a lot for any player and Leo struggles to maintain his intensity for more than an hour at the best of times. Hopefully JR seizes this oportunity.

Glad to see Jely on the bench and Romeu not included. 

You are one of those “Baz is fine for the championship “ aren’t you?