Birmingham 1-1 Saints - Match Thread

[benali-shorts]

Terrible game. Birmingham very basic, we look similar when Leo has a quiet game. One tone CM, bench players no real impact. Shake on a point. 
 

chris Davies reminded me of Mad Nathan on the touchline, micro-managing every action and shouting like a lunatic. 

[Jack]

5 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

My opinion hasn't changed on Mubama. Can't hold the ball up. Didn't win any headers against their centre halfs today. Not the right profile for what we need.

They’re a very solid defence to go up against tbf, but yeah he got nothing out of them. Larin did, but had nobody close enough backing him up.

Their equaliser is so frustrating, if we’d managed to play out of that tight spot we had numbers and space out to the right, just got robbed. Passing was nowhere near as sharp as Saturday, we invited the press then didn’t do enough to play around it. Too many off the pace tonight but take a point 

[broken spoke]

jwp will become captain and will guide this side, just wait,  he showed good leadership tonight for a young team 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, broken spoke said:

jwp will become captain and will guide this side, just wait,  he showed good leadership tonight for a young team 

Which young team was that?

[gallaghert366@yahoo.com]

9 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Very disappointed in the performance, sluggish all round. 

Fair result but we should be winning it tbh.

They are very one dimensional, long ball and smack it in the box from anywhere. 

We just played so little football and we're sloppy 

Far too many unforced errors.

Edited 21 hours ago by gallaghert366@yahoo.com

[BS8Saint]

15 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

St Andrews under the lights vs a very tough and ugly Birmingham side. I think thats a solid point all in all. Especially given we're missing Jander, have had THB just taken out of the side with a new CB starting, and have JWP settling in.

Onwards and upwards.

Up the perspective 💪🏻

[saintant]

13 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Not the worst result. Subs didn't really contribute much. Overall probably a fair result.

Did you not watch Matsuki?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Not much of a second half. They scored as our centre halves let their forward stand between them. We had a Larin effort and a JWP free kick on target.

Birmingham swarmed our attacks. When we made subs, we just looked disjointed and lacking in ideas.  We did enough to stop them getting chances as well, with some solid blocks.

A point last season, and a point this one.

[Scummer]

5 minutes ago, OneMrsWallace said:

Without the four point deduction we would be 7th tonight I think, so we're doing ok.

We'd be 3rd without the 4 point deduction.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Scummer said:

We'd be 3rd without the 4 point deduction.

we'd probably be in the premier league to be fair.

[saintant]

11 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Very disappointed in the performance, sluggish all round. 

Fair result but we should be winning it tbh.

They are very one dimensional, long ball and smack it in the box from anywhere. 

We just played so little football and we're sloppy 

They very rarely lose at St Andrews.

[die Mannyschaft]

Bloody hell Birmingham gave game away missed 3 sitters.

I'll settle for draw we looked terrible in midfield gave everything away, didn't get many 2nd balls.

Created about 6 good chances bug need to shoot first time and get ball in quicker.

I keep having to say this,  Russell Martin has left why are we continuing to do suicidal passes to keeper then keeper to defender.  Very lucky today. Need to strengthen on wing and midfield and up front for Jan

Good support by Saints tonight.

 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Did you not watch Matsuki?

Don't think he was anything special. Tidy finish for the offside goal, bar that don’t remember him doing that much. Got turned far too easily on the half way line that gave them a breakaway. 

[Barton Saint]

Draw away

Win at home 

Simple

[die Mannyschaft]

4 minutes ago, gallaghert366@yahoo.com said:

Far too many unforced errors.

Must be most in any championship match if the stat exists. I think Azaz completed 1 pass all night 

[hypochondriac]

Who is pushing Larin and providing him with competition? Who is pushing Scienza? Or Azaz?

[CSA96]

Proper scrappy 1-1 under the lights, pretty much what I expected. Text my Birmingham mate yesterday to say I thought it would be a scrappy 1-1. They've only lost three home games in two years and matched our home record last season (44pts), so I'd have taken that pre-match. How good that point is probably depends on how we do up at Lincoln, if the week ends with 7 points from a possible 9 then that's a strong return

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Scrappy game. Didn't play well but got a point. Take that for sure.

[broken spoke]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Who is pushing Larin and providing him with competition? Who is pushing Scienza? Or Azaz?

calm down it's early in the season.... lets see how it goes, it won't be like last year

[hypochondriac]

Just now, broken spoke said:

calm down it's early in the season.... lets see how it goes, it won't be like last year

Perfectly calm cheers.

[SNSUN]

19 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Worth pointing out that accepting that some people still have to play, without the minus 4 we would be third.

Yeah was going to post this. Currently in play-off form. Beat Lincoln and we're on 2 points a game. 92 points over the season and automatic promotion form. Looking for the silver linings! 

[S-Clarke]

Decent point really, draw probably fair. They had some big chances they should have scored, but likewise I think Larin missed at least one banker - he'll be disappointed with that.

It was a bit of a scrap, when we did get time on the ball we looked the better side, but Birmingham pressed us hard and really frustrated Azaz - they were on him so quickly all night. 

I thought the subs (Matsuki and JWP) changed the game, and allowed us to regain the control and somewhat comfortably see it out I felt. JWP added some composure to the passing in CM, and it did make a difference to our ability to push up a bit - we weren't camped in our half, we had an out ball.

Frustrating game from the attack, but Birmingham handled it well. Big fan of Keven, a bit of a skew in the first half, but he seems to be a magnet for the ball - which is a good trait for a CB. Fantastic header too, if he can replace that THB set piece goals then we'll be laughing.

Onto the next one.

[Harry_SFC]

Thought Downes was the standout player yet again.

JWP and Matsuki did pretty well when they came on. Just not sold on Dobbin and Mubama at all.

Great header from Schlotterbeck but he made a couple of big errors that could've cost us.

Larin had a stinker but he's not used to playing 2-3 games in a week. This is where we are going to miss Stewart big time. 

[bugenhagen]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Who is pushing Larin and providing him with competition? Who is pushing Scienza? Or Azaz?

We all would like two equally good players in every position, but to answer your question, Mubama and Dobbin. Not up to it so far, but lets give them a little more time.

Who was pushing Leo and Azaz last season?

[broken spoke]

Just now, bugenhagen said:

We all would like two equally good players in every position, but to answer your question, Mubama and Dobbin. Not up to it so far, but lets give them a little more time.

Who was pushing Leo and Azaz last season?

but with more training, they will get alot better  we have many weeks left of the season....

[broken spoke]

remember  how shit theo was at the beginning

[Willo of Whiteley]

All tonight did was reemphasise how underwhelming our attacking options are from the bench.

[Micky]

Kev has a silky left foot, and it would appear is decent in the air.  But, his right foot is for standing on only, had a few dodgy moments on his weaker side.  Peretz needs to up his game, his kicking off the floor was poor on numerous occasions tonight, we got lucky that they didn't take advantage.  All in all though, away point at a decent side, can't knock it. 

[broken spoke]

1 minute ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

All tonight did was reemphasise how underwhelming our attacking options are from the bench.

sshhhhh that's our plan, don't tell everyone cause we cant spy.....

[tdmickey3]

2 minutes ago, broken spoke said:

sshhhhh that's our plan, don't tell everyone cause we cant spy.....

You are a strange one

Edited 21 hours ago by tdmickey3

[broken spoke]

Just now, tdmickey3 said:

You are a strange one

i'm trolling....   ignore me

[broken spoke]

1 minute ago, broken spoke said:

i'm trolling....   ignore me

i'm trying to sniff out the pompey people who are on our board

[bugenhagen]

14 minutes ago, broken spoke said:

but with more training, they will get alot better  we have many weeks left of the season....

I agree, but we want (and need) them to come good sooner rather than later. I think Dobbin has looked low on confidence after a decent pre-season, Mubama looks a little more like he thinks he is good enough.

[broken spoke]

how come my job requires me to remember every thing for the last 35 years in IT but football forget everything season to season.....

 

 

 

 

[UpweySaint]

19 minutes ago, broken spoke said:

remember  how shit theo was at the beginning

Nope. I remember the whole stadium atmosphere changing when he came on and started running at players with electric pace. This may be wholly subjective but I remember being very excited about Theo early doors.

[SNSUN]

2 minutes ago, bugenhagen said:

I agree, but we want (and need) them to come good sooner rather than later. I think Dobbin has looked low on confidence after a decent pre-season, Mubama looks a little more like he thinks he is good enough.

Mubama does have a confidence about him which is no bad thing for a striker. Dobbin just seems to need to get a chance, I'm not ruling him out as a poor signing yet. It's a long season and I think he'll have something to offer. 

[Patrick Bateman]

5 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Mubama does have a confidence about him which is no bad thing for a striker. Dobbin just seems to need to get a chance, I'm not ruling him out as a poor signing yet. It's a long season and I think he'll have something to offer. 

Agreed - he has a swagger, I'm sure he'll come good. I would start him and Dobbin against Lincoln tbh. 

[CSA96]

Re: Larin / Mubama

I do think we need to stop trying to carry on playing the exact same way we would if Larin was on the pitch when he’s not. Mubama looks decent enough when the ball is played into his feet and he’s hustling to get involved, but he’s not Larin in terms of his ability aerially or with his chest

What he is, though, is agile and with more acceleration and pace and likes to play off the shoulder of the last man. So we should be getting Azaz or the deeper midfielders to try and turn the opposition defences around and get Mubama onto some through balls that we perhaps wouldn’t play for Larin, especially when he’s fresh legs against tiring defenders 

Edited 20 hours ago by CSA96

[Fabrice29]

All a bit clunky but to get out with a point and some gelling to do feels okay. 

Agree with the above about Larin and Mubama though. Different players and Mubama will need us to actually create some chances for him. Suspect he takes one of the ones Larin missed today. 

[saintant]

Just to put a positive spin on things we have 7 points from 4 games which yielded only 3 points last season.

[Dark Munster]

8 minutes ago, saintant said:

Just to put a positive spin on things we have 7 points from 4 games which yielded only 3 points last season.

3 points this season as well!

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

I thought the subs (Matsuki and JWP) changed the game, and allowed us to regain the control

Yes, totally agree that these two were good when they came on. Didn't have the best view near the front, but they seemed to have the clearer chances.

From a match perspective, everything by us seemed a little rushed, mainly because our players were closed down quickly. Larin tried hard and held the ball up well. Azaz's passes didn't come off today but he was the main player looking for openings. Downes again was excellent. Wasn't that impressed with Schlotterbeck today who seemed to be having his own compo on how high he could kick the ball. But hey, a point away against a well drilled Birmingham team isn't that bad a result.

[SouthWalesSaints]

Just got home, very much “after the lords mayors show” type of performance. 
 

After West Ham I’d have snapped your hands off for 4 points from Milwall and Brum. 
 

Bragg could be a good player when he’s older. He shouldn’t be getting these minutes at the moment, it’s hurting us. You can feel his team mates frustrations as well. Manning, Azaz & Peretz all annoyed with his passing.  Gave the ball away for the goal as well? 
 

Matsuki & JWP need to come in Saturday. Dare i say it, I’d have Stephens in for KS as well, he looked tired tonight and we can’t flog him. 
 

Muamba I hope will do ok, but he’s a drop off from Larin.  Can’t see Dobbin being better than Archer or Edozie if I’m honest. Poor start for him, let’s hope he improves.  
 

Peretz needs to up his game as well, crosses and distribution miles away from last season. Hope ramsdale situation isn’t weighing on him. 
 

Wood & Downes MOTM. Bree was better tonight, their right back is best I’ve seen defensively - tonight and Wrexham he’s been top. Leo won’t face many like him. 
 

Win at Lincoln - 10 points from 12 since Watford. We’d settle for that. 

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Just got home, very much “after the lords mayors show” type of performance. 
 

After West Ham I’d have snapped your hands off for 4 points from Milwall and Brum. 
 

Bragg could be a good player when he’s older. He shouldn’t be getting these minutes at the moment, it’s hurting us. You can feel his team mates frustrations as well. Manning, Azaz & Peretz all annoyed with his passing.  Gave the ball away for the goal as well? 
 

Matsuki & JWP need to come in Saturday. Dare i say it, I’d have Stephens in for KS as well, he looked tired tonight and we can’t flog him. 
 

Muamba I hope will do ok, but he’s a drop off from Larin.  Can’t see Dobbin being better than Archer or Edozie if I’m honest. Poor start for him, let’s hope he improves.  
 

Peretz needs to up his game as well, crosses and distribution miles away from last season. Hope ramsdale situation isn’t weighing on him. 
 

Wood & Downes MOTM. Bree was better tonight, their right back is best I’ve seen defensively - tonight and Wrexham he’s been top. Leo won’t face many like him. 
 

Win at Lincoln - 10 points from 12 since Watford. We’d settle for that. 

Agreed, need to win at Lincoln now, expect some changes as Tonda will have an eye on top of the league Swansea game next Tuesday 

[East Kent Saint]

9 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

Thought Downes was the standout player yet again.

JWP and Matsuki did pretty well when they came on. Just not sold on Dobbin and Mubama at all.

Great header from Schlotterbeck but he made a couple of big errors that could've cost us.

Larin had a stinker but he's not used to playing 2-3 games in a week. This is where we are going to miss Stewart big time. 

Unfortunatley Stewart is out for a few weeks with an injury 😄

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

6 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Just got home, very much “after the lords mayors show” type of performance. 
 

After West Ham I’d have snapped your hands off for 4 points from Milwall and Brum. 
 

Bragg could be a good player when he’s older. He shouldn’t be getting these minutes at the moment, it’s hurting us. You can feel his team mates frustrations as well. Manning, Azaz & Peretz all annoyed with his passing.  Gave the ball away for the goal as well? 
 

Matsuki & JWP need to come in Saturday. Dare i say it, I’d have Stephens in for KS as well, he looked tired tonight and we can’t flog him. 
 

Muamba I hope will do ok, but he’s a drop off from Larin.  Can’t see Dobbin being better than Archer or Edozie if I’m honest. Poor start for him, let’s hope he improves.  
 

Peretz needs to up his game as well, crosses and distribution miles away from last season. Hope ramsdale situation isn’t weighing on him. 
 

Wood & Downes MOTM. Bree was better tonight, their right back is best I’ve seen defensively - tonight and Wrexham he’s been top. Leo won’t face many like him. 
 

Win at Lincoln - 10 points from 12 since Watford. We’d settle for that. 

You saw the same match as me.

Also concerned about our attacking options after Larin. A couple of times JWP did really good crosses but Mubama seemed to be nowhere near challenging for the ball. 

[macca155]

7 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Just got home, very much “after the lords mayors show” type of performance. 
 

After West Ham I’d have snapped your hands off for 4 points from Milwall and Brum. 
 

Bragg could be a good player when he’s older. He shouldn’t be getting these minutes at the moment, it’s hurting us. You can feel his team mates frustrations as well. Manning, Azaz & Peretz all annoyed with his passing.  Gave the ball away for the goal as well? 
 

Matsuki & JWP need to come in Saturday. Dare i say it, I’d have Stephens in for KS as well, he looked tired tonight and we can’t flog him. 
 

Muamba I hope will do ok, but he’s a drop off from Larin.  Can’t see Dobbin being better than Archer or Edozie if I’m honest. Poor start for him, let’s hope he improves.  
 

Peretz needs to up his game as well, crosses and distribution miles away from last season. Hope ramsdale situation isn’t weighing on him. 
 

Wood & Downes MOTM. Bree was better tonight, their right back is best I’ve seen defensively - tonight and Wrexham he’s been top. Leo won’t face many like him. 
 

Win at Lincoln - 10 points from 12 since Watford. We’d settle for that. 

Good post and I always respect the view of those who are at the match. You see and feel so much more.

Good take on the game. I thought Bragg equipped himself well, obviously JWP is being eased in, but if you sensed frustration from his fellow players, then that's worrying. I still think he's a hell of a player. We will need him this season.

Bragg and Downes were battling like crazy in midfield, but we're yet again over run. Tonda needs to give them more support. I said that all last season though, so clearly wasting my breath.

Definitely needs patience with the younger players. This league is frenetic, must be overwhelming for young players at first.

Mubama clearly has a pedigree, he's no Downs, but Tonda needs to adapt the play to feed the ball to his feet.

Good week so far, win at Lincoln and it will have been an excellent week.

[warsash saint]

Biggest result from last one for me was returning to my car after the match & finding it still in one piece 😆

[Saint86]

11 hours ago, Tanlee said:

Thoughts on Mubama?  

Don't think I would want larin to get injured or suspended are mine 

Don't disagree on your last part, but I think he also needs to be given time. Larin has a very good understanding with the other attacking players, and azaz in particular. It was obvious last night that the new players aren't quite there yet - there were numerous times where short passes or through balls were made involving jwp, schlotterbeck, or Mubama that went to a run that didn't happen or a player who had moved and wasn't there for the pass.

I agree though, he (Mubama) could have started better - but the reality is that eckert wants to play a specific way and Mubama in particular needs to learn larin's role to be fully effective in this system (I think he has the attributes to do this though).

Edited 10 hours ago by Saint86

[Mr X]

11 hours ago, broken spoke said:

jwp will become captain and will guide this side, just wait,  he showed good leadership tonight for a young team 

At 31 it's unlikely he will play all of every game the same with Larin and who is larins replacement?