Birmingham City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Somniloquism]

Pardon ?

Perhaps more than I thought don't understand basic tactical needs.

Well I do understand that Gabby has bulked up and can hold the ball up. He also has a tremendous scoring record against the blues.

Although Gabby was stopping some of Carrs marauding forward his main place as yourself acknowledge is up front.

[jembob]

Decent result but thought we deserved to win, and with Ash and Heskey we probably would have. Today shows how much we need a player like (i hope) Makoun will be to give us a bit of strength and quality in midfield.

My criticisms of today would be that we played too much long ball, slowed the attach down in possession and did too many dumb things but those are the sorts of issues you have when confidence is low. The result may well be important in helping to regain the self belief that we need at the moment and a decent result against Citeh will do us the world of good.

[TaxDodger]

22, 287. LOL.

[mikeb1982]

Just seen a picture on the BBC website of Collins celebrating in front of an empty stand, did they shut it? Can't believe they didn't sell the tickets, even to the knuckledraggers

[richard moore]

It's nice to see we seem to have complete unanimity at long last as regards Carew. He makes me see red to be honest with his tip tappying around the pitch like some bloody fairy...

[mal]

GH loves 451, which is a waste having someone like Gabby in the team......just don't see the point of Gabby being played on the left. He is right footed and he cant cross the ball...do the maths GH.

Is a good point. So shoot Heskey and sell Carew and play Delfouneso in the hole behind Gabby.

[garyshawsknee]

22, 287. LOL.

 They'll probably get even less for the semi final !

[pmk1981]

I don't know if to be happy or sad. Great we didn't loose but if we lost he would of been sacked

[deano22]

I dont  agree with Houllier on many things but when he said that Carew cant just sit on the bench and accept the fans singing his name without giving anything back on the pitch you have to agree. He has not turned up for too many games and I'm glad he is going. He was very poor today

[Greg N'Ash]

I don't know if to be happy or sad. Great we didn't loose but if we lost he would of been sacked

no he wouldn't

[Somniloquism]

Just seen a picture on the BBC website of Collins celebrating in front of an empty stand, did they shut it? Can't believe they didn't sell the tickets, even to the knuckledraggers

TBF unless they buy multiples of the stock it is hard to spend £35 in the club shop. Even Delboy wouldn't be able to ship Adult Shirts that struggle to fit a newborn.

[richard moore]

22, 287. LOL.

Well, I would, normally, but I'm not sure we are in a position to laugh about much at all....

[garyshawsknee]

It's nice to see we seem to have complete unanimity at long last as regards Carew. He makes me see red to be honest with his tip tappying around the pitch like some bloody fairy...

 He doesn't even seem able to run anymore. His main strengths were heading and holding the ball up,but it was bouncing off him today,and Johnson was beating him to alot of the balls,he was unlucky with the header he had,but we've had the best from him,time to look for new options.

[Clark W Griswold]

Where the game would have been won today would have been having a top class centre forward and either Young or Heskey up top rather than Carew and Downing. Nowt to do with Gabby. Did anyone notice the number of balls that were going into the box from the left hand pair and right hand pair? The problem was that most of the time the two centre backs were in there trying to finish, such was the ineffectiveness of the front two. Fair play to them both for their efforts though.

[SteveD]

That was much better in terms of work-rate and chances created, even if Foster had little to do. Dunne and Collins threw themselves at everything and I thought NRC covered a lot of ground. Allbrighton and Downing's deliveries were poor too many times but we do need a striker or a striker we already have needs the confidence of a goal or two. Thought we'd win it until we went a goal behind but a good reaction to get back into it. It was one of those games that if Gabby had scored after 30 seconds we'd have steamrollered them, they looked awful.