MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (a)

[AthleticoSpizz]

Because we were playing a high pressing game which, unless you have 11 James Harpers (which we haven't), is very difficult to sustain effectively over 90+ minutes.

yes of course, and so we are destined for a whole season of cramped-up players in pursuit of that “high press”?

Don’t get me wrong, I know what I prefer…I love it, but these lads are (by and largely) young and fit atheletes…..game one…game fukcing one.

More understandable once the pitches become like glue pits in winter

It’ll be more that they’ll be fine once they get used to the intensity. Pre season just doesn’t match it. 3 to 4 games in and they won’t be cramping when they’re fully conditioned

good, that applies to every team

[Royal_jimmy]

That was a pretty enjoyable day bar the last 10 minutes. Shame we didn't hold out. Another 5 minutes though and I think we'd have lost it.

[WestYorksRoyal]

This team has so much potential and is great to watch, some of our movement and one touch passing was a joy to behold and the high press just scares teams to death!!
My concerns now is the lack of depth and how this team can sustain 3 games a week playing this style? I really hope this takeover is concluded soon or we may just run out of players!!
Three or four shrewd loans/Freebies if the takeover is completed in time and I'm convinced we will be one of the better teams this year.

A proper LB, another wide option, more solid back up for Smith up front. Basically all we need.

You say a proper left back, Dorset for me was the best player in the pitch untill he went off. He had their winger in his pocket all game.

Doesn't change the fact we're a body light at the back. Craig played RB and Abrefa came on at LB - not ideal. I see Dorsett as 3rd choice CB and 2nd choice LB all in one; reliable in both roles and will get lots of game time.

[On Strings]

A point is a great start to the season, and yet there's still moaning on this thread. A win at home next weekend and that's a f**king belter of a start!

Thought our fans more than outsung Birmingham for 90% of that match!

So many positives!!

We move on...

[Snowflake Royal]

why are we “always going to tire” ?

That is not a criticism of todays effort….just a lot of cramped players on our side….and yes Ian, their cramp is probably the result of that “high press”

Because we were playing a high pressing game which, unless you have 11 James Harpers (which we haven't), is very difficult to sustain effectively over 90+ minutes.

yes of course, and so we are destined for a whole season of cramped-up players in pursuit of that “high press”?

Don’t get me wrong, I know what I prefer…I love it, but these lads are (by and largely) young and fit atheletes…..game one…game fukcing one.

More understandable once the pitches become like glue pits in winter

We won't spend many games with as little of the ball, or chasing as hard.

The first few games the players aren't necessarily at full fitness.

We were also missing Azeez, meaning we were down on the number of fresh legs we could bring on to manage the press better later on. Same with Craig at RB and Senga injured, one less midfielder to bring in to freshen things up. Dorsett and Abrefa haven't had a pre-season. Knibbs didn't have a full preseason.

Much of the season will be less warm.

These things aren't particularly hard to work out.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Who”s moaning?

Moaning about the officiating, yes
Moaning about those fitness issues, maybe?
Not moaning about the result, it was great.
Maybe one or two goal scoring opportunities passed us by, but hey, inexperience and confidence will sort that out.

Sort out the fitness (and bench options) we’ll have a good season

[AthleticoSpizz]

Because we were playing a high pressing game which, unless you have 11 James Harpers (which we haven't), is very difficult to sustain effectively over 90+ minutes.

yes of course, and so we are destined for a whole season of cramped-up players in pursuit of that “high press”?

Don’t get me wrong, I know what I prefer…I love it, but these lads are (by and largely) young and fit atheletes…..game one…game fukcing one.

More understandable once the pitches become like glue pits in winter

We won't spend many games with as little of the ball, or chasing as hard.

The first few games the players aren't necessarily at full fitness.

We were also missing Azeez, meaning we were down on the number of fresh legs we could bring on to manage the press better later on. Same with Craig at RB and Senga injured, one less midfielder to bring in to freshen things up. Dorsett and Abrefa haven't had a pre-season. Knibbs didn't have a full preseason.

Much of the season will be less warm.

These things aren't particularly hard to work out.

whatever you say Ian

[Orion1871]

According to the Brum fans we have no fitness issues and were just faking going down with cramp.

[AthleticoSpizz]

According to the Brum fans we have no fitness issues and were just faking going down with cramp.

twas getting a bit ‘worrying’ tbf

[From Despair To Where?]

According to the Brum fans we have no fitness issues and were just faking going down with cramp.

Are these the same Birmingham fans who were saying "Oh fcuk, this league is better than we thought" on their forum at half time?

[Hound]

According to the Brum fans we have no fitness issues and were just faking going down with cramp.

Might not be far wrong there tbf

Selles a class act as always with the interviews. Can see clubs starting to circle him if we keep playing like that

[Orion1871]

According to the Brum fans we have no fitness issues and were just faking going down with cramp.

Might not be far wrong there tbf

Selles a class act as always with the interviews. Can see clubs starting to circle him if we keep playing like that

Cramp has been a problem for quite a while. Azeez was going down with it a lot last season. Don't think we're faking it at all personally.

[Pepe the Horseman]

According to the Brum fans we have no fitness issues and were just faking going down with cramp.

Might not be far wrong there tbf

Selles a class act as always with the interviews. Can see clubs starting to circle him if we keep playing like that

If Mbengue was faking he deserves an Oscar. Managed to get his whole body spasming.

[Hound]

According to the Brum fans we have no fitness issues and were just faking going down with cramp.

Might not be far wrong there tbf

Selles a class act as always with the interviews. Can see clubs starting to circle him if we keep playing like that

If Mbengue was faking he deserves an Oscar. Managed to get his whole body spasming.

Mbengue clearly wasn’t faking. Some of the others a bit though

[AthleticoSpizz]

According to the Brum fans we have no fitness issues and were just faking going down with cramp.

Might not be far wrong there tbf

Selles a class act as always with the interviews. Can see clubs starting to circle him if we keep playing like that

Cramp has been a problem for quite a while. Azeez was going down with it a lot last season. Don't think we're faking it at all personally.

there is a reason for that?

They are young very fit athletes these days…(fcuk off Ian btw…. …..the high energy, high press is no excuse, if it were, why employ it if it renders your team disabled for the last 30 minutes plus).

[Hound]

Might not be far wrong there tbf

Selles a class act as always with the interviews. Can see clubs starting to circle him if we keep playing like that

Cramp has been a problem for quite a while. Azeez was going down with it a lot last season. Don't think we're faking it at all personally.

there is a reason for that?

They are young very fit athletes these days…(fcuk off Ian btw…. …..the high energy, high press is no excuse, if it were, why employ it if it renders your team disabled for the last 30 minutes plus).

It’s because they’ve just not played that intensity for months. Can’t replicate it really, even the hull game was at walking pace last 20m

They’ll be fine in a couple of games time. They are clearly very fit in basic terms, just a bit of conditioning still

[AthleticoSpizz]

Yep, of course.

Just a pity that we are not ‘one step ahead of that game’….could’ve been three points.

Game fukcin’ one…..almost inexcusable

Still, just happy to still have (an evidently) competitive team….but could do better

[Royal_jimmy]

A lot of sides won't go to Birmingham and play football like we did. They'll put 10 men behind the ball, foul and frustrate. For an hour we gave them a good run for their money, tried to score and were pegged back due to a fairly harsh penalty. Not many teams will take points at St Andrews in this league.

[Sutekh]

A lot of sides won't go to Birmingham and play football like we did. They'll put 10 men behind the ball, foul and frustrate. For an hour we gave them a good run for their money, tried to score and were pegged back due to a fairly harsh penalty. Not many teams will take points at St Andrews in this league.

And the next league away game will be just as intense and knackering for the players. Let's hope Parky does us a favour and gets Hollywood to leave a few holes in their defence.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Tremendous team performance, could have won 3-0 , great point , shame we couldn’t hang on , only good things about that game , Brum grossly overrated