Like the majority on here (it seems), I really want Cleverley to work out. He really does get us. He knows what the club’s all about. He’s been with us a player when the chips were down, but also when we were at our mightiest. Obviously he will need guidance (god knows who can give him it), but he has heart for our club.. which is more than can be said about the other manager’s that we’ve seen come through our doors. The realist in me tells me we won’t see him beyond this season. And let’s be honest, the probability is we won’t. However, the optimist [and opportunist] in me screams to me that this is the sort of manager that we’ve been needing all along. We’ve needed someone to come in, that is here for the growth and future of the club, and not necessarily here for the pay check, but to grow themselves as a manager, and to do so by building up a team within a club that they by all accounts love.
Just watching the highlights and we didn't look too horrendous, created some chances and didn't look too open (again from the brief gameplay I managed to see). A well taken goal by Dennis after some hesitation in the Brum defence. Hopefully it gives the team something to build on going into the horrendous run of fixtures we have.
We were wide open at times through midfield. And we started the match very slowly. The most encouraging aspect of the performance was the determination from the players, even though we weren't playing that well. The defence was solid, though I didn't think Andrews had his best match. We make some really silly mistakes sometimes but we got away with it yesterday. And with a little bit more ruthlessness, we could steamroller some of these teams.
I actually want all our managers to succeed. Will be a bit more painful if Clevs fails though. Thankfully we don't need points to stay up so in my book he can concentrate on how he wants to play and be a bit more adventurous with team selections and young players.
Thank you very much for the insight, great to here that the players were up for it despite a sub par performance. Sounds as though we are lacking in confidence at the moment.
Yes, I think that lack of confidence is very evident. If Cleverly can keep improving that, we will upset a few teams in our final eight matches.
I missed it, apologies. I had drunk a fair amount of wine celebrating yet another glorious away victory.
Totally agree about the lack of confidence. We are not as bad as some people have made out and have just been on a very bad run which has also happened to other teams in this division. I do wonder what the club approach to sports physiologists is as feel we could have benefited some help in a number of seasons.
I'd say they had a lot of snap shots that went wide, none with any real pace that would cause Bachmaan any real problems. No better than Bayos across goal effort, Asprilla from a tight angle or Dennis between his goal and HT Sunjic leapt on Pollock's only mistake, but god knows how he didn't at least make the keeper work
After going from January last year until October without a solitary away win, yesterday was our 7th on the road since then. Thank goodness really, as our home form is so awful. Yesterday was the first time Dennis has scored and not been on the losing side for us since Villa away. We’d lost the last three matches in which he’s scored, and in fact 5 of the last 6 too. Yesterday was only our 10th clean sheet of the season. It was DB’s 8th.
I agree. They also need a coach they can trust and who will last beyond a season. We don't produce an environment for them to fully realise their potential.
Glad it’s Cleverley cutting his teeth with us, not Deeney. TD told Skysports earlier this week that playing Rajovic is a no brainer because he scores goals. Words to the effect of “he scores goals, so you have to stick him in.” Personally I think playing Dennis is a no brainer. And sometimes, as we know, Troy can be a bit of a no brainer.
Yes! I think we have a chance of two more doubles, Hull and Preston? And a 3rd consecutive win with a clean sheet too over Birmingham. And a 5th successive unbeaten match against John Ruddy (4 wins, 1 draw), a run which of course started with a certain match at Wembley!
That should of been brought in the season we got relegated in 19/20. Clearly the players' we had even then were shot for confidence on the pitch and as the squad is a lot younger now (thankfully) it would almost certainly help with morale when things are getting tough. It's always nice to talk to somebody, but you get the feeling if Gino was going to invest in that sort of structure he would of done so. We thought we were doing that when Edwards came in, but look how that turned out. Problem is the culture of the club. Most managers see us as a "toxic environment" or an "easy payday". Recruitment has been poor because we have hardly any leeway in the transfer window and still work with a crooked agent. He needs to go first and foremost but we all know that won't happen unless Gino leaves. There are a lot holes to be plugged and it's been going wrong from the top down for far too long now.
That Miyoshi had a really good chance when 1 on 1 with Bachmann, that and the Sunjic chance were both far better chances than the tight-angled chances Bayo and Asprilla had (whether Asprilla could have squared it I don't know), but Dennis should have made it 2 but for a poor contact and a good save
Rajovic had been scoring goals, but he's now spent for this season and needs the summer break. He's already played months more football than anyone else this season and it's showed.
It was also only the third occasion this season, and the first away from home, where we have led at half time.
Go on the Stato Army above! Love a stat me - last page has been like a stat-off. What music would be good to listen to during a stat-off?
There's a statman waiting in the sky He'd like to come and meet us But he thinks he'd blow our minds Hmmm.... Maybe this could be @reids signature tune.
That should put any relegation fears to bed. Big summer ahead, but that is a debate for another thread. Birmingham City FC. Summer 2023. The Blue's fans were ecstatic! the club owners, who were the devils incarnated, had just sold the club! "I thought we would be stuck with these terrible owners" said many blues fans. The new American owners promised the earth, and with Sir John Eustace in the managers chair things were looking great! Hasn't quite turned out as many Blues fans would have hoped for! The "soccer" project was given an overall in October 23 and Wayne Rooney was appointed as manager despite Sir John Eustace guiding the team to 7th in the table. Well, I could go on, but i think most of us know what happiend next. Birmingham city looked every inch a league 1 team yesterday, and I expect them to go down With our current situation, including rumours of American investors, food for thought.
