Birmingham Vs Saints - Match Thread

[Hawkswood]

9 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Here we go again, please don’t make me feel like I’m stuck in Groundhog Day!

Hoping for:- 🙏🏼

No goalkeeping errors, No defensive errors, No goals from crosses, No easy/give me goals, High energy/faster play, more forward/direct/positive play, Fight/Physical strength 💪, rapid closing down (certainly around our goal area), no stupid substitutions.  Sure that I’ve missed plenty!? & am asking for far too much,  it’s only been like this for years! 🙄

Got to see some fight & improvement - please! COYR - I’m clinging on

 

You might have to pick just one out of that lot

[SW11_Saint]

27 minutes ago, Dark Munster said:

No excuse for that joke of a goalkeeper to keep his place. Macca is far better by virtue of not being totally shit.

He isn’t though is he? They equally poor. 

[hypochondriac]

Didn't Tonda say something about Leo not being used to playing lots of 90 minutes? Bizarre that a football player can't manage it after months of training and halfway through the season.

[macca155]

I don't like Scienza being on the bench, but I can live with it. Robinson has enough about him to cause problems. If Leo is carrying a knock then probably sensible. He may be more effective for 30 mins when Birmingham have lost their edge.

What is ridiculous is yet again playing 3 CBs. Yet again the opposition will exploit the huge gaps in midfield, and put the defence under pressure.

At least Frazer and Romeu are up in the stands. Bringing Scienza and Matsuki on as impact subs, should provide something to watch.

[Hawkswood]

5 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Didn't watch the first hour of the Oxford game, was Scienza poor / knackered? Otherwise only thing I can think of is he's hoping to keep it tight then let Scienza run at a tired defence? 

He was our only outlet. Once he was taken off  Fellows became our only outlet. Then he was taken off. I dont think I am exaggerating 

[saint michael]

You couldn’t make it up. Clowns. I’ve watched football for all these years and I’ve never seen anything like this. I would love to hear the internal conversation that by leaving Scienza out gives us a better chance of winning 

[LGTL]

Birmingham have so many players out, and a striker who hasn’t scored yet. We all know how this ends. 

Edited 1 hour ago by LGTL

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, macca155 said:

I don't like Scienza being on the bench, but I can live with it. Robinson has enough about him to cause problems. If Leo is carrying a knock then probably sensible. He may be more effective for 30 mins when Birmingham have lost their edge.

What is ridiculous is yet again playing 3 CBs. Yet again the opposition will exploit the huge gaps in midfield, and put the defence under pressure.

At least Frazer and Romeu are up in the stands. Bringing Scienza and Matsuki on as impact subs, should provide something to watch.

Do you think Birmingham are glad that Leo isn't starting? I bet they're fucking delighted.

[whelk]

Just now, LGTL said:

Birmingham have so many players out, and a striker who hasn’t scored yet. We all know how this ends. 

Seems like every team we play has key players out yet means fuck all in terms of we never roll them over

[Harry_SFC]

1 minute ago, whelk said:

No way Saints would be pushing on like Ipswich if we had a 1-0 lead

Nope we'd have dropped 30 yards deeper onto our own goal line. 

[bangkoksaint]

4 minutes ago, whelk said:

I liked Coventry a lot more before Lampard’s antics. Long shot but do think they might blow it

TBF I thought Fat Frank was quite measured after the game. He said you give it and take it but move on. He said he has no issues with Saints fans. He’s right, it’s football. We all give a bit but let’s be adults and just move on after a bit of bantz

[lambtiss]

7 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

He isn’t though is he? They equally poor. 

He is a better shot stopper and much better at coming for balls into the box 

[macca155]

Just now, saintant said:

Do you think Birmingham are glad that Leo isn't starting? I bet they're fucking delighted.

I said I didn't like it , for that very reason. If there is a genuine reason then I can live with it. Robinson can at least provide some excitement.

The rest is bollocks.

[HarvSFC]

Birmingham have only won 1 of their last 7, losing 3. Including our form team seeing them off fairly easily. They haven't got Gray tonight and their manager must also be getting pressure on him now given the money spent. They may be coming into this match in a worse state than us, so hopefully we actually turn up.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, macca155 said:

I said I didn't like it , for that very reason. If there is a genuine reason then I can live with it. Robinson can at least provide some excitement.

The rest is bollocks.

You should definitely be in goal though Alex.

[whelk]

A disgusting but value double tonight. Pompey and Birmingham to win

[benjii]

2 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Birmingham have only won 1 of their last 7, losing 3. Including our form team seeing them off fairly easily. They haven't got Gray tonight and their manager must also be getting pressure on him now given the money spent. They may be coming into this match in a worse state than us, so hopefully we actually turn up.

Inshallah brother.

[whelk]

4 minutes ago, bangkoksaint said:

TBF I thought Fat Frank was quite measured after the game. He said you give it and take it but move on. He said he has no issues with Saints fans. He’s right, it’s football. We all give a bit but let’s be adults and just move on after a bit of bantz

Yeah fair enough- it is only pantomime hate 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, HarvSFC said:

Birmingham have only won 1 of their last 7, losing 3. Including our form team seeing them off fairly easily. They haven't got Gray tonight and their manager must also be getting pressure on him now given the money spent. They may be coming into this match in a worse state than us, so hopefully we actually turn up.

They also subject their fans to the whole ‘50 passes between the keeper, centre backs and full backs’. Gave shockers away at Bramall Lane and the away end gave them hell. Be interesting to see if he ditches it tonight to pick up an easy three points. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

People need to calm down until they know the full facts

They have all this red zone stuff now, where they analyse players fitness levels & predict when they’re susceptible to injury. It could be that Leo is in that area, so being managed through this busy spell. It’s not the 1970’s where Managers look and notice a player doesn’t look himself, all decisions on fitness are based on data and sports science. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Lord Duckhunter

[macca155]

Just now, Gloucester Saint said:

You should definitely be in goal though Alex.

I wish, my last appearance in goal was a disaster. 1994 staff team, jumped for the ball, missed it, landed on my ankle, which promptly broke, they scored with a rebound of my arse.

On second thoughts that sounds familiar 😂

[Harry_SFC]

4 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

He is a better shot stopper and much better at coming for balls into the box 

The problem is he'll pass the ball straight to the opposition striker for a tap in every other game. What a sad state we're in. 

[lambtiss]

44 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

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

I could understand if he was unavailable but he's on the bench where Bazunu should be.

[suewhistle]

I'm not happy that Bazunu and Statue Jack are playing but I can see some rationale for Scienza being on the bench. We all know he's targeted by every defender going so perhaps today Robinson can get the full back booked and unlike against Oxford we can then put pressure on them with a fresh, and not battered and bruised, Scienza.

Either way, PingPong has it right with their depiction of the lawks-a-mercy brigade. Disagree by all means but overly dramatic attacks of the vapours could probaly be toned down a bit.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 minutes ago, whelk said:

Yeah fair enough- it is only pantomime hate 

Oh no it isn't!

[sandwichsaint]

Scienza to get an Ollie Watkins style double off the bench.

[SW11_Saint]

7 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

He is a better shot stopper and much better at coming for balls into the box 

But appalling with the ball at his feet, on distribution and has a terrible habit of throwing the ball to opposition strikers. 

[die Mannyschaft]

8 minutes ago, whelk said:

Seems like every team we play has key players out yet means fuck all in terms of we never roll them over

Its an indicator of the quality and level Saints are at this season. If we cant beat all the defective, injured, managerless, rubbish on paper teams then we are at thier level. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

4 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

People need to calm down until they know the full facts

They have all this red zone stuff now, where they analyse players fitness levels & predict when they’re susceptible to injury. It could be that Leo is in that area, so being managed through this busy spell. It’s not the 1970’s where Managers look and notice a player doesn’t look himself, all decisions on fitness are based on data and sports science. 

I wonder if the sports science was saying that Stewart was fit enough to play 3 games in short order. That it didn't take into account wider issues, such as his injury record.

Maybe Still just looked at Downs, and just did it anyway.

[davefizzy14]

Hopefully Leo comes on and gets two goals 😊

[lambtiss]

Just now, SW11_Saint said:

But appalling with the ball at his feet, on distribution and has a terrible habit of throwing the ball to opposition strikers. 

Not if he isn't asked to pass the ball along the backline. His delivery was not an issue until the obsession with meaningless passing amongst a back 6.

[benjii]

Regardless of the merits of Scienza being benched, we're going to need proper performances from Azaz and Robinson if we're going to be half decent.

I don't have a great feeling about this one.

[whelk]

It’s opening up for us boys. Boro losing

[lambtiss]

2 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

But appalling with the ball at his feet, on distribution and has a terrible habit of throwing the ball to opposition strikers. 

His delivery was not an issue until the obsession with meaningless passing amongst a back 6.

[SWLondon Saint]

10 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Birmingham have only won 1 of their last 7, losing 3. Including our form team seeing them off fairly easily. They haven't got Gray tonight and their manager must also be getting pressure on him now given the money spent. They may be coming into this match in a worse state than us, so hopefully we actually turn up.

Pretty sure these are usually the conditions which guarantee we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory 🤔

[Holmes_and_Watson]

6 minutes ago, macca155 said:

I wish, my last appearance in goal was a disaster. 1994 staff team, jumped for the ball, missed it, landed on my ankle, which promptly broke, they scored with a rebound of my arse.

On second thoughts that sounds familiar 😂

Like Baz, you should be playing outfield. You were a cross between Scott Marshall and Ross Stewart. 🙂

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, SW11_Saint said:

But appalling with the ball at his feet, on distribution and has a terrible habit of throwing the ball to opposition strikers. 

Summary - at least one new goalkeeper needed and another when McCarthy is out of contract in the summer. Whoever came up with the dogshit vs cow shit analogy had it right. It’s not a choice a club of Saints resources should ever be needing to make ever.

And whoever thought George Long coming in a third choice (how bad do you have to be to not dislodge those two?) was a good idea is an imbecile.

[bugenhagen]

7 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

I could understand if he was unavailable but he's on the bench where Bazunu should be.

You mean where Long should be. Bazunu should be in the stands (at best)...

[saintant]

Just now, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I wonder if the sports science was saying that Stewart was fit enough to play 3 games in short order. That it didn't take into account wider issues, such as his injury record.

Maybe Still just looked at Downs, and just did it anyway.

Exactly. There's far too much emphasise on sports science. We play at walking pace for large chunks of games. Players are not going flat out for 90 minutes. They get plenty of rest periods. 

[danjosaint]

Lydon dykes to come on and bully Stephens for the winner 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, bugenhagen said:

You mean where Long should be. Bazunu should be in the stands (at best)...

At least Gavin would not obstruct your view if he sat in front of you, being a hologram and all. 

[Big M]

Erm, why oh why do we do this, 3 CB's is never working, and with Stephens and Manning unable to defend anything we will sit deep and invite a whole world of pressure. Manager needs to stop doing this he really does. 

 

[macca155]

1 minute ago, danjosaint said:

Lydon dykes to come on and bully Stephens for the winner 

Have to get close to him first

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, danjosaint said:

Lydon dykes to come on and bully Stephens for the winner 

Only after he’s taken Jack’s Cornish pasty money from Rasmus.

[Dark Munster]

4 minutes ago, whelk said:

It’s opening up for us boys. Boro losing

By "boys" I assume you mean Tractor Boys? If so, agreed.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Let me make some predictions, albeit fairly easy ones…

1. Possession stats will be high, but most of it for us will be in our half. There will be at least two calamitous incidents as a result where we get out pissing around.

2. Robinson will run around a lot and pressure their defence, but ultimately not see a pass and/or give the ball away running into a blind alley.

3. Manning will at least once stand off his man allowing a cross to an unmarked player. He will also find himself caught upfield at least once and amble back.

4. By the time Tonda reacts to us conceding a goal - possibly two - to bring on Scienza the game will be lost already. Therefore his stunning plan to get subs to make the team better will be pointless.

5. Despite Brum being on a bad run, we will ensure we make them look like Barca, particularly in midfield where we will be found wanting. Downes and Manning will pass backwards more than they pass forwards.

6. Score? 2-0 Brum.

Lets see how many I get right or even close.

[Disco Stu]

Good to see Matsuki on the bench.

[tdmickey3]

3 minutes ago, danjosaint said:

Lydon dykes to come on and bully Stephens for the winner 

No need for bullying because Stephens will just stand and watch anyway 

[Suhari]

My fanningness of Saints has relapsed and I'm feeling increasingly wearied again. Need a good performance tonight to put some lead back in my support-pencil.

[Lord Duckhunter]

7 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I wonder if the sports science was saying that Stewart was fit enough to play 3 games in short order. That it didn't take into account wider issues, such as his injury record.

Maybe Still just looked at Downs, and just did it anyway.

That’s probably exactly, what it was. Ultimately, unless it’s concussion it’s up to the manager whether he takes it onboard. I’d bet my life if Tonda was still “interim” he’d take the risk on Leo regardless of whether he’s in the red zone or not.