v Birmingham City (a) - 1/4/23

[Mattyblue]

’Excellent’ signing? No chance, he’s shown glimpses of quality (when not injured, that is), and I’m certainly happy to see him at the club, but has been poor on a fair few occasions too, and now can’t even get in the team.

Edited April 1, 2023 by Mattyblue

[LDRover]

I'm not generally glass half full but blimey, some on here make Leonard Cohen sound optimistic. 

Yes a shit result but not unexpected if we're honest. Still 8 games to go and if we win 4 we will make the playoffs, more than doable and we'd have to be odds on rather than against to make it.

Edited April 1, 2023 by LDRover

[Mattyblue]

9 minutes ago, LDRover said:

I'm generally glass half full but blimey, some on here make Leonard Cohen sound optimistic. 

Yes a shit result but not unexpected if we're honest. Still 8 games to go and if we win 4 we will make the playoffs, more than doable and we'd have to be odds on rather than against to make it.

Yep, I’m not too disheartened, typical Rovers obviously to throw away the chance of a big cushion to 7th. But the reason we do lose games like this is because we have a pretty average/inexperienced bunch of players. 

So going into to Easter with a four point gap? Cracking place to be all things considered. 
 

Edited April 1, 2023 by Mattyblue

[Sweaty Gussets]

2 minutes ago, LDRover said:

I'm generally glass half full but blimey, some on here make Leonard Cohen sound optimistic. 

Yes a shit result but not unexpected if we're honest. Still 8 games to go and if we win 4 we will make the playoffs, more than doable and we'd have to be odds on rather than against to make it.

We're good at home, shit away. Our remaining home games are tricky. Lose the Norwich game and I think we're going to struggle to get the 4 wins. 

My glass is broken 🙂 

[roversfan99]

Is it little wonder that people are deflated when we have had a chance away from home against one of the poorer sides in the league and have put in such a poor performance, spurning an excellent chance to gain extra ground on our rivals? This late into a season, every game feels massive, especially an hour after it finishes.

[Exiled_Rover]

4 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Is it little wonder that people are deflated when we have had a chance away from home against one of the poorer sides in the league and have put in such a poor performance, spurning an excellent chance to gain extra ground on our rivals? This late into a season, every game feels massive, especially an hour after it finishes.

It's a bad, bad loss - albeit a disappointing performance, rather than a poor one.

It would have given us some breathing room going into a tough final month. We've handed that advantage back now to the chasing pack, which is why it's so disappointing. Can't afford to slip up again. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

50 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I think Hirst and Mola were last minute punts on once highly thought of England junior internationals. Neither worked out, obviously, but we were pressed for time.

Yeah we only had all summer.

[Sweaty Gussets]

JDT: “I think there were periods where we played really well but were lacking quality in the last third. We had attempts at goal but not the best attempts that you would want.”

I think that pretty much sums it up. 

 

[rigger]

Not a very good advert to sell next seasons, season-tickets.

[Exiled_Rover]

4 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Yeah we only had all summer.

Sure, apart from the 5 weeks without a manager in place...

[Leonard Venkhater]

19 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

JDT: “I think there were periods where we played really well but were lacking quality in the last third. We had attempts at goal but not the best attempts that you would want.”

I think that pretty much sums it up. 

 

A routine away defeat. Didn't do enough.

[yankfan]

Really wish we would have gotten that Undav deal over the line in January. Would have been a massive help today and for the push. 

[chaddyrovers]

44 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Can Brittain be considered a good signing? I am not sure it has worked out very well at the moment. I also don't get why he was brought on in the last 2 games. 

File that signing under average so far. In and out, often unavailable and not in our best 11. He has something about him but still.

Not many good opportunities at all for us.

Well you are fully entitled to your opinion but I think he is good signing and he isn't starting cos of the form of JRC and Pickering

44 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

Yes. We clearly bid for both but Undav turned us down at the last minute and Kone was apparently too expensive on the wages front. Maybe we'll go back in for 1 or both in the summer? We lack quality up top, that much is clear. It is letting the side down. Gally works hard but just has no natural strikers instinct. 

I thought Kone move didn't happened cos his club sold their main striker to Nice so keep him there. 

Gallagher performed best what he doesn't think about it but just do it. like that back heel for Hedges against Reading.  

35 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

I don't remember too many excellent performances from him even when he has been available.

QPR and Sunderland at home were 2.  

23 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Is it little wonder that people are deflated when we have had a chance away from home against one of the poorer sides in the league and have put in such a poor performance, spurning an excellent chance to gain extra ground on our rivals? This late into a season, every game feels massive, especially an hour after it finishes.

Firstly I wouldn't said it poor performance but disappointed one that lacked in the final third. 

Also I wouldn't say Birmingham are one of the poorest side in the league. One of the best teams that I have seen at Ewood. Think their head coach John Eustace has done good job in a difficult situation regarding ownership problems and stadium problems.  

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Well we had a two week break and we came back like we’d never seen a football before. They wanted it more than us and once again we were out enthused by a team much lower down the table than we are. Huddersfield Town at home - look out because they’ll be at it no problem. I was going to put today’s game in the drawer marked “ Out-enthused again  “ but I can’t because it’s full up. 
I found room for it in the “ Games we’ve won after going behind “ drawer - that was empty.

We’re not physical enough, we’re not aggressive enough, we’re too passive by half. Dolan thinks being aggressive is squaring up to bloke when a decision has been given - stupid. How many times did they get outnumbered and we still let them come away with the ball. Exactly what happened for their goal.

We’re getting done in centre midfield all the time. Teams run through us. It was like the Stoke game only Stoke had better finishers. Two playing in front of the back four, Szmodics on the half way line, two out wide all the time. Acres to play in in that space for opponents. A three or a four will always cut us open. 
 

Maybe more later when I’ve had  a think.

Scores

Pears 6 Did nothing wrong, made a couple of decent saves. Just got beat by Khadra’s only touch of the ball that I saw.

JRC 7 Usual up and down the pitch performance.  We missed him when he went off - again.

Carter 8 Star man. Gave 100% at both ends of the pitch.

Hyam 7 Did nothing wrong, steady and resolute.

Pickering 6 Teams target his lack of pace. Did ok going forward.

Hedges 6 OK, I prefer him on the left.

Morton 5 He’s a luxury we can’t afford, got Travis booked, not for the first time either.

Travis 7 Playing on his own in centre midfield.

Dolan 6 I keep saying it - we need him more in their half than in ours. Childish booking.

Szmodics 5 I’ve got to say it - I’m not a fan. Not in the game anything like enough for me. Again in the first half I’d forgotten he was playing.

Gallagher 5 Absolutely no physical presence at all. Paul Dickov was half his size but who would you want to play against ? OK the service to him was shite but you’ve got to impose yourself on the game more than that. Missed a good headed chance right at the death.

Subs - all brought on way too late. Thomas - poor,  but by thevtime he got on we were 1-0 down and they’d got 10 behind the ball and he’d no space to run in to. Dack - hardly got a touch. BBD - ditto but why was it that his every touch was like he was trying to control a rugby ball ?

In all - very disappointing.

Edited April 1, 2023 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Sweaty Gussets]

2 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

thought Kone move didn't happened cos his club sold their main striker to Nice so keep him there. 

Gallagher performed best what he doesn't think about it but just do it. like that back heel for Hedges against Reading.  

I might be mistaken. One didn't happen because of cost, GB said as much. So there was a 3rd striker. 

[chaddyrovers]

Just now, Sweaty Gussets said:

I might be mistaken. One didn't happen because of cost, GB said as much. So there was a 3rd striker. 

Yes that was another striker but no name has been mentioned

[roversfan99]

41 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

It's a bad, bad loss - albeit a disappointing performance, rather than a poor one.

It would have given us some breathing room going into a tough final month. We've handed that advantage back now to the chasing pack, which is why it's so disappointing. Can't afford to slip up again. 

Indeed, it is a very emotionally driven part of the season, every win and loss feels particularly big. Add in what happened last season and also the Sheff United heartbreak and it will be a nervy end.

12 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Well you are fully entitled to your opinion but I think he is good signing and he isn't starting cos of the form of JRC and Pickering

I thought Kone move didn't happened cos his club sold their main striker to Nice so keep him there. 

Gallagher performed best what he doesn't think about it but just do it. like that back heel for Hedges against Reading.  

QPR and Sunderland at home were 2.  

Firstly I wouldn't said it poor performance but disappointed one that lacked in the final third. 

Also I wouldn't say Birmingham are one of the poorest side in the league. One of the best teams that I have seen at Ewood. Think their head coach John Eustace has done good job in a difficult situation regarding ownership problems and stadium problems.  

He is partly not starting due to the form of others but his lack of appearances is part of why I don't think he can be deemed a good (or excellent) signing, not yet anyway. Even when he has played in the main I think he has been average.

Gallagher does perform better when he doesn't have to think. Mainly when sat on the bench.

I don't get how you can argue on how the performance was based on a game you haven't seen! I watched it and Birmingham had a host of much better chances compared to us in that first half, we were poor when we got in the final third. After the goal, our play was too slow and as per usual when losing we seldom looked like scoring.

And Birmingham are the 9th poorest side in the league, even lower before the game. League table proves that.

[Ossydave]

Half expected it to be honest, the games after the internationals are usually a bit scatty, deserved a draw at least but never mind.

Home wins would lead us to the top 6, Friday a must win. Its typical that Huddersfield click into place just before we play them too 🤦

 

[Waggy76]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Can Brittain be considered a good signing? I am not sure it has worked out very well at the moment. I also don't get why he was brought on in the last 2 games. 

File that signing under average so far. In and out, often unavailable and not in our best 11. He has something about him but still.

Not many good opportunities at all for us.

My taking on Brittain , he was signed to replace Nyambe and  got hurt  early on , as luck would have it  JRC has turned out to be far better than the 2 of them...

He might improve but credit to JRC it is his at the moment on merit !

[benhben]

4 hours ago, benhben said:

Had no idea Khadra was at Brum. You know he's going to score probably for the first time since he last scored against us. 

You just knew it didn't you. Absolutely nailed on to happen

[roversfan99]

8 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

My taking on Brittain , he was signed to replace Nyambe and  got hurt  early on , as luck would have it  JRC has turned out to be far better than the 2 of them...

He might improve but credit to JRC it is his at the moment on merit !

There is definitely lots of misfortune contributing to why I couldn't consider him a good signing at the moment.

[chaddyrovers]

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

He is partly not starting due to the form of others but his lack of appearances is part of why I don't think he can be deemed a good (or excellent) signing, not yet anyway. Even when he has played in the main I think he has been average.

well we have to agree to disagree on Brittain won't we? 

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

I don't get how you can argue on how the performance was based on a game you haven't seen! I watched it and Birmingham had a host of much better chances compared to us in that first half, we were poor when we got in the final third. After the goal, our play was too slow and as per usual when losing we seldom looked like scoring.

I have already said we were poor in the final third despite created chances and controlling the game. I can based my opinion on the commentary I listened to. Thanks. You might have access to watching these 3pm kick off games through what ever means it is. I will watched the game tomorrow morning thanks. 

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

And Birmingham are the 9th poorest side in the league, even lower before the game. League table proves that.

I based my opinion on what I seen and they are one of the best teams that have come to Ewood this season. Others have said the same. 

[Hasta]

1 hour ago, LDRover said:

I'm generally glass half full but blimey, some on here make Leonard Cohen sound optimistic. 

Yes a shit result but not unexpected if we're honest. Still 8 games to go and if we win 4 we will make the playoffs, more than doable and we'd have to be odds on rather than against to make it.

11/10 Skybet. Fill your boots pal.

Edited April 1, 2023 by Hasta

[LDRover]

7 minutes ago, Hasta said:

11/10 Skybet. Fill your boots pal.

4/6 on bet 365.

Wonder if Waggott is on Skybet's payroll....

[norwichblue]

11 minutes ago, Hasta said:

11/10 Skybet. Fill your boots pal.

Max bet is peanuts on Sky. 1.8 on Betfair Exchange. 

Edited April 1, 2023 by norwichblue