Birmingham City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Greg N'Ash]

We didn't lose. But one point isn't much good to us.

Thats patently not true.

This was a six pointer. Getting something was absolutely vital here. Can you imagine the mood that loosing would have caused at the club?

We need to start winning. Obviously it's better than losing, but we needed three points here. We're out of the relegation zone by a fanny hair. We've got games against both sets of Manc arseholes coming up. How's the table going to look then. I'm actually quite relieved as I expected a loss today, but am I worried about the pile of shit we're in? Yes, yes I am. Especially when he neutralise our main attacking threat by sticking him in midfield. 

The Blues have got the two Manchester teams in the next two games as well,not many teams get a result at the Sty,so a point aint too bad,weve gotta beat Wigan and Fulham coming up soon.

yep, we're both in a relegation battle and a point away is a decent result for us, less so for them

[richard moore]

Reo-Coker and Petrov need to be replaced. NRC just doesnt look bothered (unsurprisingly) and Petrov looks like he's not good enough.

It though Reo-Coker played well - used the ball effectively and covered defensively.  Petrov was admittedly anonymous, I've remained a fan for longer than most but his injury this season might have put the final nail in his coffin.

With respect to Reo-Coker, you know the old adage about everyone seeing a game differently!

[Clark W Griswold]

Overall defended quite well, and despite my disbelief at Collins starting ahead of Cuellar, i'm certainly glad he did now. Clarke looks very good at LB, i hope we sign Walker although he needs a bit of help with decision making at times, Dunne getting back to his best. Midfield was OK, Gabby's workrate on the left is an asset, no problem with him playing there myself, Nige did pretty well and was surprised he was replaced by the physically unfit to play in the middle Bannan. I think he will be a quality final third player though. Downing and Petrov were acceptable but no better. Albrighton still looks a threat when on the ball, but needed to get involved more. Carew was largely shit and the sooner we get rid the better. Fonz did well when he came on, but i still only see him as a supersub really.
I thought we played quite well in what was a decent match, but we desperately need a top striker and another good defender. Surprised at people being negative as we got a draw away in the local derby and were well worthy of it. Even when we were doing well it would have been an acceptable result.

[DB]

I kept losing the ball against all those empty seats.

[sfx412]

Loads of bottle today and unlucky not to win it. That sort of commitment the rest of the season and we'll be fine. Back 4 were great.

I'd mostly agree with that apart from the odd sliced clearance and awful distribution. They do need either to pull midfield back or head and kick further than they do. Some of the weak clearances made Gardner look good.

[mikeb1982]

but we are now out of the bottom three by GD.

Not according to the table on the BBC site we aren't.

According to SKY we are.

And Sky invented football, so I'd believe them

[Nastylee]

I can see a few signs that things are settling down and GH is starting to turn the tide. I don't think any of our players were shit as is being suggested. Carew was isolated, and the middle two were a bit cautious but that's understandable given the magnitude of the game. It's also worth remembering they're both only 3 games in after long injuries. We just need a break and things will turn. You can see how players are anxious to shoot/cross when in good positions but this is a confidence issue. As I said, there's a few signs and apart from the two Manchester games coming up we have the ideal fixtures to turn the corner and pull clear of the dog fight.

[lukey27]

That's three away games since the debacle at Man City and three better performances. If we're going to play that formation I think unless he plays Gab up front there's no point in having him on the pitch. Clearly not a winger and looked lost for large periods. Some real positives though and I hope this mean we're slowly getting there.

[pauliewalnuts]

Had we had Heskey playing today, we'd have won that.

When you're not scoring goals through your strikers, having someone to hold the ball up for you and bring other players in up front for you is important. To be fair to Carew, even when he was doing it for us, holding the ball up was never his strong point.

I do think that's the last we've seen of him for us, though.

[ronshirt]

 good win, and we aren't bottom as some predicted

Ask the nurses to think about decreasing your dosage.

[Nastylee]

Had we had Heskey playing today, we'd have won that.

When you're not scoring goals through your strikers, having someone to hold the ball up for you and bring other players in up front for you is important. To be fair to Carew, even when he was doing it for us, holding the ball up was never his strong point.

I do think that's the last we've seen of him for us, though.

I think Ash would have had a field day today and we would have probably won the game. It was so open and it would have suited him perfectly.

[Matt C]

Encouraging, deserved a point. Thought we edged the first half, them the second. Defence looked more settled we just need something more up front.

As an aside more stewards than fans for your 'cup final'?

[caster troy]

Positives:

We didn't lose
A point away is ok for us, especially after going behind
The Fonz looked really good when he came on
Plenty of fight
Makoun+Delph to come in centre mid will be a lot better than Petrov and NRC
Maybe a striker to come in so we don't have to play Carew

[Stu]

Who was it said he was shit? OK he occasionally gets caught out of position but his forward play is a revelation, that cut back that led to our goal would have had the Ashley luvvies playing with themselves had he done it.

Did Petrov play I didn't see the team sheet. Otherwise, good win...

Oh dear. No one said he was shit, you're making things up again. What was the final score by the way?

[sfx412]

My problem is the manager, there is enough fight and ability to put us in a mid table position but GH fucks the tactics and formmation up, this is not difficult, put your best players in thier best positions

You serious?

Let me know how playing the best players in the best positions is a problem

Its not but normally I'd expect Friedel to be keeper not striker, Clarke is our only viable left back, Walker  plays as a right back Collins, Dunne cb's, Petrov, Coker, Bannan, Albrighton midfield, Gabby, Carew, Fonz, up front, the ref normally ref's.