BFTG Brum

[RG7Fan]

Definitely a game of two halves. Overall a poor game of football, but we won. We were workmanlike in the second half. Good to get the equaliser early and the second knocked the stuffing out of the Blues and their fans. Birmingham were poor throughout. How have they got so many points? When they played at the Madejski they knocked it around quite nicely at times but now resemble just a Warnock team in a Pep Clotet disguise.

Swift was dreadful first half and Ovie non-existent. Morrison’s nd Miazga solid, and Yiadom did very little attacking. Looked like a definite tactic. I liked Omar Richards’ tenacity throughout the game. I’d have him as MOTM. We look better with Rino’s energy and driving runs in midfield too.

Cracking finish from Miazga which made up for his mistake for their goal. Not sure how Hogan missed the chance on the back post soon after they scored.

6’s all round except a 4 for Ovie and a 7 for Richards.

Good day out with 3points where I broke my away win duck. 1st half dire, 2nd half much better. Good fan atmosphere, nice acknowledgment at the end by the players & Bowen.

Lolz at the 50-60 year old Birmingham fan in the corner making a tit of himself acting like a teenager giving the whole tosser hand shake, etc. - I know we all do it, but he was embarrassing.

Not sure Horseman was a good choice of coaches given what they were used for a few weeks back ...

Horseman have done the away coaches for decades though.
Either the specific ones used for away travel weren’t used to transport the people who didn’t have flu, or they were and have since had a military level forensic clean.
Either way you were more at risk from your fellow travellers on the coach than you were from any virus lurking in the fabric of the vehicle.
Hope you’ve got plenty of pasta and loo roll !!

We stayed up for the night so probably got it from the local curry house ...

[Notts Royal]

Enjoyable day that was...nice curry in the Balti Triangle to top things off!

First 15 min was frantic & we couldn’t get the ball down & play our game. Was clear that we were the better footballing team which showed as the game wore on. Although have to bear in mind they had 1 less day to recover from their FA cup game.

Very impressed by Scott Hogan - reminded me a bit of Alfie. Very clever movement, clearly benefitting from playing regularly. Shame we didn’t get him (injuries aside) when we were after him years ago.

Big fan of Miazga...think he’s our best cb & think we should revert to a Moore-Miazga partnership.
Big fan of Richards...hope we don’t sign another LB & stunt his development next season
Always a big fan of Rino, although he struggled in the 1st half as the game passed him by
Ejaria - still not getting the hype in the 10 or so games I’ve seen. Slows it down too much for me. Personally I’d sign a winger and put Olise in Ejaria’s place next season

Overall we shouldn’t have won that 3-1 as they couldn’t finished us off early on. But a great 2nd half and with a bit of refining, this side could be very good next season. PLEASE...not another summer of wholesale changes. Complement what we have and shift some more of the deadwood.

Best chant of the day...”you’ve seen the Royals now oxf*rd off home”
Worst chant...”Reading TIL I die” 5 min into the game when they just scored. Tragic...save it for when life is really going against you!

[URZZZZ]

Well he’s been totally ineffective for 2 months so somethings up. Not sure it’s making wrong decisions.

Still don’t think CM/CAM is the better position for him, crowded out too easily there when teams tuck in, would probably prefer to give Olise a shot in the middle

Possibly right there. I think if we had more traditional wingers rather than an inside forward on the right in Meite and a sort of roaming playmaker on the left in Olise then he could probably be successful as a 10. I think the way we play is very narrow so it puts a lot of pressure on Ejaria in that central role to move the ball faster than he has done.

Olise might be better in that role as he has shown to have a better range of passing (he is also guilty of staying on the ball too long) and Ejaria was in his best form for us when on the left.

At least we have options.

Especially with Boye back soon!

[NewCorkSeth]

Still don’t think CM/CAM is the better position for him, crowded out too easily there when teams tuck in, would probably prefer to give Olise a shot in the middle

Possibly right there. I think if we had more traditional wingers rather than an inside forward on the right in Meite and a sort of roaming playmaker on the left in Olise then he could probably be successful as a 10. I think the way we play is very narrow so it puts a lot of pressure on Ejaria in that central role to move the ball faster than he has done.

Olise might be better in that role as he has shown to have a better range of passing (he is also guilty of staying on the ball too long) and Ejaria was in his best form for us when on the left.

At least we have options.

Especially with Boye back soon!

Forgot about him! Poor guy.

[Whore Jackie]

Once we'd got that soft, soft goal out of our heads, and Swift finally found his passing range, it was a very enjoyable second-half. Rino, Olise, Richards and Puscas were my picks, credit to Miazga too for making amends with a rather good goal.

3-1 flattered us a bit, but Birmingham looked much, much better at the Mad Stad. There really isn't much between any of the teams in the Championship, bar the top two. Good bit of trimming and recruiting our 3 best loans from the last 18 months could see us really challenge next season.

[Snowflake Royal]

Possibly right there. I think if we had more traditional wingers rather than an inside forward on the right in Meite and a sort of roaming playmaker on the left in Olise then he could probably be successful as a 10. I think the way we play is very narrow so it puts a lot of pressure on Ejaria in that central role to move the ball faster than he has done.

Olise might be better in that role as he has shown to have a better range of passing (he is also guilty of staying on the ball too long) and Ejaria was in his best form for us when on the left.

At least we have options.

Especially with Boye back soon!

Forgot about him! Poor guy.

he's shit.

[Millsy]

Very soft goal, these things happen.

Swift diabolical pretty much throughout although he got less bad as the game progressed.

Puscas game by game improving as a hold up man. Needs better service though to shine. Made some good runs just didn't work out for him.

Excellent subs obviously as oen sub (McCleary] passed to another sub [Gomes] who scored. Only confusion for me was taking Olise off, he was great.

3-1 did flatter a bit but we deserved the win with that performance.

lastly - Rino - brilliant wing work on the right for the 1st goal. And even better wing work on the left which almost lead to a goal. Rino on the wing?

[NewCorkSeth]

Especially with Boye back soon!

Forgot about him! Poor guy.

he's shit.

I meant poor guy as in his season is well and truly over and he dodnt make the impression he needed too for his career.

[NewCorkSeth]

Very soft goal, these things happen.

Swift diabolical pretty much throughout although he got less bad as the game progressed.

Puscas game by game improving as a hold up man. Needs better service though to shine. Made some good runs just didn't work out for him.

Excellent subs obviously as oen sub (McCleary] passed to another sub [Gomes] who scored. Only confusion for me was taking Olise off, he was great.

3-1 did flatter a bit but we deserved the win with that performance.

lastly - Rino - brilliant wing work on the right for the 1st goal. And even better wing work on the left which almost lead to a goal. Rino on the wing?

Reckon Bowen is cleverly protecting Olise. Not over playing him so as not to burn him out.

[stealthpapes]

Off The Pitch post

Later start than usual, as I was having lunch with my Dad (buffalo & rye, smokehouse) but The Wellington was well-chosen starting point. Black Country Ales' major Brum centre pub, with at least 17 lines on the go (there's more upstairs, but iirc they're the local ciders). Pre-match ale here with Green, JMW, papes Sr and my mate from the Red.

Half time pint was serviceable.

The Uber from Digbeth to our first post-match pub was fun, as I was probably the smallest of the three of us in the back and, truth be told, my athletic days are a while ago. Barely got my legs inside...

Hen and Chickens: pints of tribute and envious eyes at the curries on offer. Joined by two mates from Brum.

Rock and Roll brewhouse: up the hill to get here before closing time, Ramble On proved a solid session beer.

Burning Soul: pub in an industrial unit time! Also, back down the hill as RnR calls last orders at 1830. Drinks diverged somewhat here, pale ales for some, pilsners for others and 'experimental ale' for Green. Err, I hope he's ok this morning, it looked like dishwater.

Jewellers Arms: back up the hill, with myself straggling behind. Except I know the short cut and somehow managed to get there first. LOL? I had a pale ale called Quadhop, crisp and drinkable. The plum bitter selected by JMW and Green started well but each sip brought diminishing returns. Also, cobs made to order, how about yes?

Whisky Tasting Bar: apparently it was Brum whisky festival, so this place had taken a battering. Only one bottle of lager left in the fridge, no IPA and the choice between an IPA and a porter. While not to my tastes, and certainly not after a run of paler beers, I can certainly appreciate that it wasn't a bad beer, nice combination of bitter and smokey flavours.

At this point, JMW had to depart, with the last train to 'Ding at a mere 2105. Laughable, really. The two Brummie lads also departed, so Green and I finished off a solid tour of JQ hostelries in the Cask Inn Micropub with a 2/3 of Kona (Green) and a USA pale (me).

Hen and Chickens is great, though not as good value as it used to be prior to the refurb a couple of years ago. Could have done Indian Brewery as well, and the Wolf both very close to H&C

£10 for a plate of tandoori meat - yes.

Good call on the other two, the plan was to do the two brewhouses and the Jewellers.

Sadly the Church and the Clifden are faded beasts, the old school Church, with ribs and booths, was a top, top pub.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

I'd like to see Ejaria look up more, as Swift is doing. His dribbles are so intricate that I think they tax his short-term memory to the point he ends up in a blind maze, so in the end it's pot luck whether he comes out with the ball or disappears up his own arse. I love watching him, though--proper entertaining. But he must be tired after all these recent games.

This absoluely nails the Ejaria dilemma.

[URZZZZ]

Especially with Boye back soon!

Forgot about him! Poor guy.

he's shit.

Someone’s obsessed

[Snowflake Royal]

Forgot about him! Poor guy.

he's shit.

Someone’s obsessed

I know you are but what am I?

[Millsy]

Very soft goal, these things happen.

Swift diabolical pretty much throughout although he got less bad as the game progressed.

Puscas game by game improving as a hold up man. Needs better service though to shine. Made some good runs just didn't work out for him.

Excellent subs obviously as oen sub (McCleary] passed to another sub [Gomes] who scored. Only confusion for me was taking Olise off, he was great.

3-1 did flatter a bit but we deserved the win with that performance.

lastly - Rino - brilliant wing work on the right for the 1st goal. And even better wing work on the left which almost lead to a goal. Rino on the wing?

Reckon Bowen is cleverly protecting Olise. Not over playing him so as not to burn him out.

Yeah makes sense. Same reason I guess Bellingham was taken off. I was quite relieved at that, he was a bit of a handful and will go v far.

[NewCorkSeth]

Very soft goal, these things happen.

Swift diabolical pretty much throughout although he got less bad as the game progressed.

Puscas game by game improving as a hold up man. Needs better service though to shine. Made some good runs just didn't work out for him.

Excellent subs obviously as oen sub (McCleary] passed to another sub [Gomes] who scored. Only confusion for me was taking Olise off, he was great.

3-1 did flatter a bit but we deserved the win with that performance.

lastly - Rino - brilliant wing work on the right for the 1st goal. And even better wing work on the left which almost lead to a goal. Rino on the wing?

Reckon Bowen is cleverly protecting Olise. Not over playing him so as not to burn him out.

Yeah makes sense. Same reason I guess Bellingham was taken off. I was quite relieved at that, he was a bit of a handful and will go v far.

Looked a great player that Bellingham. I was surprised by his strength at such a young age and sleight build. Had a go at a teammate for a ball he wanted at head height which was odd to see from a youngster.

Birmingham seem to produce some good players. If their owners weren't so shit they could be a good club.

[Millsy]

Reckon Bowen is cleverly protecting Olise. Not over playing him so as not to burn him out.

Yeah makes sense. Same reason I guess Bellingham was taken off. I was quite relieved at that, he was a bit of a handful and will go v far.

Looked a great player that Bellingham. I was surprised by his strength at such a young age and sleight build. Had a go at a teammate for a ball he wanted at head height which was odd to see from a youngster.

Birmingham seem to produce some good players. If their owners weren't so shit they could be a good club.

lol @ Brum yeah

I do think they need to be careful with Bellingham so he doesn't turn into Bellendum. He had a needless go at Swift giving him an unecessary push and he did seem a bit of a mouthy git. He'll need to grow up a bit for sure.

[NewCorkSeth]

Yeah makes sense. Same reason I guess Bellingham was taken off. I was quite relieved at that, he was a bit of a handful and will go v far.

Looked a great player that Bellingham. I was surprised by his strength at such a young age and sleight build. Had a go at a teammate for a ball he wanted at head height which was odd to see from a youngster.

Birmingham seem to produce some good players. If their owners weren't so shit they could be a good club.

lol @ Brum yeah

I do think they need to be careful with Bellingham so he doesn't turn into Bellendum. He had a needless go at Swift giving him an unecessary push and he did seem a bit of a mouthy git. He'll need to grow up a bit for sure.

I missed that bit. When he had a go at his teammate they were 1-0 up and dominating us so I was a bit shocked. If he turns out to be a bell end I wouldnt be surprised based on his attitude during that game. Reminded me a bit of Barrow when things didnt go his way. Needlessly aggressive to his teammates.

[3points]

Off The Pitch post

Later start than usual, as I was having lunch with my Dad (buffalo & rye, smokehouse) but The Wellington was well-chosen starting point. Black Country Ales' major Brum centre pub, with at least 17 lines on the go (there's more upstairs, but iirc they're the local ciders). Pre-match ale here with Green, JMW, papes Sr and my mate from the Red.

Half time pint was serviceable.

The Uber from Digbeth to our first post-match pub was fun, as I was probably the smallest of the three of us in the back and, truth be told, my athletic days are a while ago. Barely got my legs inside...

Hen and Chickens: pints of tribute and envious eyes at the curries on offer. Joined by two mates from Brum.

Rock and Roll brewhouse: up the hill to get here before closing time, Ramble On proved a solid session beer.

Burning Soul: pub in an industrial unit time! Also, back down the hill as RnR calls last orders at 1830. Drinks diverged somewhat here, pale ales for some, pilsners for others and 'experimental ale' for Green. Err, I hope he's ok this morning, it looked like dishwater.

Jewellers Arms: back up the hill, with myself straggling behind. Except I know the short cut and somehow managed to get there first. LOL? I had a pale ale called Quadhop, crisp and drinkable. The plum bitter selected by JMW and Green started well but each sip brought diminishing returns. Also, cobs made to order, how about yes?

Whisky Tasting Bar: apparently it was Brum whisky festival, so this place had taken a battering. Only one bottle of lager left in the fridge, no IPA and the choice between an IPA and a porter. While not to my tastes, and certainly not after a run of paler beers, I can certainly appreciate that it wasn't a bad beer, nice combination of bitter and smokey flavours.

At this point, JMW had to depart, with the last train to 'Ding at a mere 2105. Laughable, really. The two Brummie lads also departed, so Green and I finished off a solid tour of JQ hostelries in the Cask Inn Micropub with a 2/3 of Kona (Green) and a USA pale (me).

Hen and Chickens is great, though not as good value as it used to be prior to the refurb a couple of years ago. Could have done Indian Brewery as well, and the Wolf both very close to H&C

£10 for a plate of tandoori meat - yes.

Good call on the other two, the plan was to do the two brewhouses and the Jewellers.

Sadly the Church and the Clifden are faded beasts, the old school Church, with ribs and booths, was a top, top pub.

Haven't been to the Church since its recent refurb, though doesn't sound like I'm missing anything. Used to live v close to Indian Brewery so know the area quite well, but moved out about 18 months ago and the area changes constantly

[Lower West]

Forgot about him! Poor guy.

he's shit.

Someone’s obsessed

I like him. Needs time to settle into Championship football. Likewise would play better in a settled team with a defined role within it. As with Meite and Miazga plays with his heart on his sleeve. Gives 120%. If anything was trying to hard to impress in his brief appearances off the bench.

[Zip]

he's shit.

Someone’s obsessed

I like him. Needs time to settle into Championship football. Likewise would play better in a settled team with a defined role within it. As with Meite and Miazga plays with his heart on his sleeve. Gives 120%. If anything was trying to hard to impress in his brief appearances off the bench.

I don’t think we will see him in a Reading short again. Nine games left and he is some way from fitness. Can’t see it happening. His loan will come to an end.