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Swans Revenge? FA Cup 4th Round Preview
Blues host Michael Laudrup’s Swansea City in the fourth round of the FA Cup with the Swans eager to avenge a 3-1 defeat inflicted by Lee Clark’s men in the League Cup at St Andrews earlier this season.
Swansea City
The Swans lie fifteenth in the Premier League having only won one game since the fourth of December in all competitions – the third round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford. They haven’t kept a clean sheet since that game either but have only failed to score three times in the ten games since that fixture.
Swansea have had some issues within their training camp with rumours of a bust up between Garry Monk and Chico Flores. An injury to Jonjo Shelvey leaves Leon Britton as the only fit central midfielder at the club and the Swans look stretched with injuries in wide positions too although they are hopeful winger Pablo Hernandez will return this weekend.
Blues
Lee Clark welcomes back Peter Lovenkrands and Tom Adeyemi to the squad whilst Kyle Bartley will miss out despite being fit due to Swansea being his parent club. Amari’i Bell is cup-tied meaning Blues are short at the back but Albert Rusnak comes straight into the squad and could make his debut.
Blues could well make changes to the team that lost to Yeovil with Adeyemi likely to come in for Olly Lee or Reece Brown and Rusnak likely to feature behind Zigic. Colin Doyle is also probable to come in for Darren Randolph between the sticks.
As much as I would love Blues to win this one I cannot see it; I think the most we can hope for is a positive performance and the possibility of a bit more money from a replay at the Liberty Stadium.
Tags: Albert Rusnak, FA Cup, Peter Lovenkrands, Swansea City, Tom Adeyemi
152 Responses to “Swans Revenge? FA Cup 4th Round Preview”
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My sentiments regarding a positive display, good for morale, get the supporters behind and lifted after the Yeovil result, with a decent slice of luck and an off day for Swansea, then maybe we can pull it off.
That said I feel the best we can hope for is a draw, I reckon 1-1.
My better half is praying for a draw, her sister lives in Swansea and she is already packing for a couple of days. With that in mind I am really hoping for a Lingardesque début from Rusnak or a hat trick from Doyle.
KRO+DNM
I think we need a draw more than a win, purely for the money front. That said I’d like a win, though we’d want ‘big’ opposition for that again for the gate money.
our defence looks so poor now – i fear a 3-1 defeat
Am very worried about the size of the crowd today but will go for a 1-1 draw.
Brilliant piece of work again by Lee to convince young Reece to sign.
We have no defence in fact have we EVER had a worse centre back pairing than Mullins and Robinson ? I even think poor old Gary penury had a better squad than this!!!
Take that back just remembered Richie moran
Today will be about the elements who master these first. Blues have opportunity to go to the fifth round surely they dont need any further motivation………..long with double scalping the swans. Blues must go again like they did against the swans in lc. The prices are reseasonble for the game…. But I feel the two derbies coming up is there most fans will plum their money……..blues to win 2-0 rusnak to score on debut……….
What elements ?
Come on guys, REDUCED TICKET PRICES, lets fill St Andrews
We will be lucky if it’s a third full.
good positive Blues enthusiasm there.
We may as well give up now then and call it a day
Just being realistic mate. Only the Kop and Tilton are open for blues fans anyway.
People don’t like realism on here mate.
I’m sick of hoping for anything so I go 0-2 Swansea. It’ll be a toothless, ineffective performance that’ll have Dan posting a blog entry on Monday called “Scuppered by the Swans” or something like that.
Leicester and Derby are not derbies
We have as much chance of winning this as Swansea. We’re both suffering from injuries, we’re both struggling for goals… we’re at home and with a soaking wet pitch, if we get those tackles in early, we could pull this off. I’m still going 2-1 Blues.
Well said staffs
I see all the armchairs are pushing there usual negativity!
We will give these a game today no problem.
Narrow win I reckon.
Jamie Carragher fancies us for a win in the Mail.
Giant-killers. Got a nice ring to it. :-)
you wouldn’t think so staffsblue with the earlier comments……………wind blowing, driving rain, its definately anybody game…………blues could win this just playing ugly…….. blues.must take the chances when they come, you very rarely get a second chance against premier sides….. pack out the midfield and protect our defense at all cost. To win this would be amazing achievement by the team…………
I’m just getting ready to leave, at the moment I have glorious Blue skies overhead in Nottingham, I’ll pack them up and bring them over, that should quieten the doom and gloomers. While I would love a win I think a 1-1 unless we get some luck today realistically.
KRO+DNM
Chris,Atm it,s a beautiful day in Brum.
Where are you Mark ?
you wouldn’t think so staffsblue with the earlier comments……………wind blowing, driving rain, its definately anybody game…………blues could win this just playing ugly…….. blues.must take the chances when they come, you very rarely get a second chance against premier sides….. pack out the midfield and protect our defense at all cost. To win this would be amazing achievement by the team…………
well I will be there come rain or sunshine mark
Well you got the Rain and shine,BC
Talking to yourself Mark ?
call me a fantasist but wouldn’t be great if the young lads coming through, were our equivalent to man utds “class of 92”.
great news about the possibility of lingard possible returning……….
wonder if clark can ask moyes if there any young Man utd defenders who want to come and experience the championship……..
Nice thought… but if there were, I reckon they’d be in their first team. Their first team defence has been pants all season. We might get one from Man City though.
What a blow to the Vile if we got Lescott on loan…. Only dreaming, but you may be right about a city youngster Staffs.
Why was Viera at the match last week, having a look to see where he could help out hopefully.
KRO+DNM
Well, they chatted for a few hours apparently, so you never know.
They think he was watching Brown.He left after Brown was taken off.
Fine. Give us Negredo or Aguero in exchange… or naff off.
Maybe Brown signed for Blues with a clause allowing Man City first refusal, or something like that, in exchange they will help us with some loans?
Funny old game, to quote greavesie, but who knows how contracts work these days.
KRO+DNM
The thing is Staffs,we all know if a decent offer comes in the board will sell.
Worh giving the lads a game and hope the exuberance of youth
pays off. I’D Go 4-3-3
Doyle
Caddis
Pack wood
Robinson
Hancox
Brown
Adeyemi
Howard
Gray
Rusnak
Lovenkrands
No Mullins and zigic on the team sheet will give the crowd a lift !
This competition is important to Lee Clark, so I think you’ll see the strongest team possible. I doubt there will be too many surprises. Not sure what formation he’ll use, but I think he’ll maybe go for;
Doyle, Caddis, Hancox, Mullins, Robinson, Burke, Lee, Adeyemi, Rusnak, Howard, Zigic.
The player with the biggest incentive? Got to be Colin Doyle. The more we progress, the more games he plays. Unless Clark surprises us and picks Randolph.
Only change I’d see there is either Lovenkrands for Zig, but that could come second half sub.
Packwood for Mullins, in the 3 games I have seen him A) he is not a central defender, B) though he didn’t have too bad a game at Brighton he has got lazier over the 3 games. My opinion only that is.
KRO+DNM
I was going for what I think Lee Clark might go for Chris. The team I would pick is a bit different.
doyle
caddis hancox packwood robinson
burke brown Adeyemi howard rusnak
Lovenkrands
zigic,gray,mullins,randolph,lee on bench
novak on bench
doyle
caddis hancox packwood robinson
burke brown Adeyemi howard rusnak
Lovenkrands
zigic,gray,mullins,randolph,lee on bench
£12 for season ticket holders and £15 for others. No excuses get down to St Andrews today!
If I was to pick the side today, I’d go for;
Doyle
Caddis Packwood Robinson Hancox
Adeyemi
Burke Rusnak Howard Ferguson
Novak
The same for me. A bench with Brown, Arthur & Gray would be nice! See you all soon!!
I heard theres only approx 12000 there today, which is still rubbish for the prices, West ham had 16000 at a no hoper GAME fans need to get heads out of the sand and support our youngsters
I would pick Doyle, Packwood, Robinson, Ferguson, Lovenkrands, Brown, Elliot ,Rielly, Rusnak, Novak, Howard, Bench Townsend, Hancox, Burke, Adeyemi, Lee, Zigic, Mullins
KRO
1-1
There could be more of them than us.I,m not going today and i,m looking forward to my first stress free Saturday for weeks.If they pick a strong side,i don’t give us much hope.If they pick a weakened side,as reports suggest,we may get something.I,m gonna go 1 1.
I’ll be going as per usual but all my mates have said they are now boycotting the home games until YEUNG has gone, despite having season tickets. They talked about bringing the bed sheets out for today but that now looks unlikely as the impact may not be that positive for the team. The team is too fragile to cause extra problems towards. I will be singing loudly even if no-one else is. I hope we play well and don’t lose by a bucketfull.
Team announced. I like the look of it.
Happy with team sheet but can’t understand Lee in for Howard. KRO
Valiant effort. Hard luck boys.
That was one of best first half I seen for along time. Swansea one effort in that first half…….boney was the different…….well-done to packwood on his return… It was a good team effort, very surprised ziggy did not make the bench……a few minutes of lapses let us down…proud of the lads effort……imo now I take two home wins in league….kro
Fantastic performance in the first half. Packwood made a huge difference at the back and with Robinson suspended for two games now after getting booked he will and deserves to keep his place. Lee and Brown controlled the midfield in the first half and allowed the front four to play. I thought Ferguson gave us balance on the left and meant we had a threat down both sides. The new lad was full of tricks and Novak did well up front. We obviously lack a finisher or we would be looking forward to the fifth round draw now. We were a bit naive for their winner and over committed but Bony and Routledge made a difference when they came on.
Disappointed to be out but a totally different feeling from last week. I would still have Zigic on the bench as an option. I am not a fan of Lovenkrands.
Laudrup admitted that he had to bring Bony on earlier than he intended.
With Paul Robinson out for the next 2 games, who will get the captain’s armband? Isn’t Elliott the vice-captain? If so, surely he won’t be picked just because of that… so who will get the job?
Possibly Caddis.
I would be in agreement with caddis unless clark decides to give to a midfielder…..
Wasn’t he captain at Swindon when he fell out with Di Canio?
Yes, I think you’re right. They did well under him too I believe. Good call.
Great game today, pity we couldn’t get that second goal.
Packwood was excellent and with Bartley back the defence should cope without Robbo.
Answer to your question, Caddis, Randolph or even Bartley are the stand out options.
If I had one complaint or moan today, it would be Burke and his crosses, he toiled well but he just couldn’t beat the first man on a lot of occasions.
The difference was £12m striker, Zigic is half the price but unfortunately nowhere near half as good.
According to BBC WM after the match LC put something in the programme about Ziggy, reading between the lines it didn’t bode well for Ziggy and another rumour he is on his way to the Baggies?
Maybe we swap him for Anelka….
KRO+DNM
Hope Kyle Bartley is fit for Tuesday. The form Leicester are in a point is going to be a very good result. Other than him for Robinson that I wouldn’t change a thing.
Bad me. I forgot Bartley was fit again. Sounds like a good partnership, Bartley and Packwood.
Enjoyable game. Great first half and brown was excellent once again. Great performance from pack wood.
Left subs too late and this seems to be a common problem!! Time to concentrate on the league.
Kro
Though lads did well and didn’t disgrace themselves. I thought Brown looked jaded in the second half and became less effective as the game went on. Yet Clark made substitutes too sparingly and too late. If he had given Adeyami a run earlier I think it would have made a difference. Caddis got caught too far up the pitch which put pressure on the defence. Without Boney, I think Swansea looked average at best. I agree with the above we need a experience at the back. Having said that, Packwood and Robinson cant really be critised too much.
Missed Zigic though ;-O
I honestly don’t think we did. We hade a better variety of attacks today than we’ve had for ages.
I thought the midfield controlled the game, strange not bringing Howard on and I would have put Adeyemi on at half-time in place of Brown, he worked his socks off first half.
We created plenty again, that hasn’t been a problem this season, it is having someone to stick it in the net consistently.
I agree with the blocks, they always went safe, when we get in the way it ricochets into the net or a spare attacker.
Still, can’t fault the effort today and that is all we can ask.
KRO+DNM
Nice to read Positive reports . Well done.
Correct he did leave the subs much to late 15-20 mins some were out on their feet Adeyemi should have been on after 60 mins. down to Clark again Im afraid.
So easy to Manage from the Armchair after the Match. We were beaten by a better Team, get over it.
Not according to reports we weren,t.
I do think Lee Clark made his substitutions 5 or 10 minutes to late. But it wasn’t that which lost us the game.. it was not taking advantage of our superiority again when we had it. I don’t know what else we have to do to score. Every keeper we come up against lately seem to play a blinder… and the shots we’ve had blocked or kicked off the line is nobody’s business. Eventually, those breaks have got to start going for us.
Glad to read that we played well.Hopefully the fact that our next 2 games are against two of the better sides will keep the side focused.If Packwood played as well as reports suggest,then we might not miss Robbo so much.Had a nice stress free day today.Beers with the lads i go to the game with,then a meal with the wife.I,m now ready for the Leicester and Derby games.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing – if we’ve made the subs five minutes earlier we might have lost 3-1 or 4-1. Who knows? Well done the lads, roll on Tuesday. It just makes you think — there’s nothing great about Swansea, they’ve just got loads of money after being promoted. It’s all about money these days — what you have dictates your league position.
Don’t you guys ever get fed up about losing games.?
Hopefully another loss shortens the managers employment.
And who else would be willing to manage a team in such circumstances?
You sir, are an idiot.
Sh!totv, as much as I understand and agree with your comments, try to insult him with a bit more decorum :-)
Disagree, he doesn’t deserve any decorum for his idiotic views.
Frankie,
Why are my views idiotic?
Chas,
I think he has actually insulted himself .
Sotv,
Suggest you think about your blog name before calling me an idiot!
Nothing will ever dampen my support or enthusiasm for The Blues, so a couple of defeats certainly won’t. We’re only a striker short of being a top half of the table team.. but then, we’re in the same boat as 75% of football league clubs. Strikers these days are at a premium… they certainly don’t come cheap, let alone for free.
Apart from Kevin Phillips.
I’m sure we could have competed with Leicester for his his signing,by offering first team football,we all know he will get the odd 15 minutes with Leicester.
If we are relegated,not finding the wage will be regrettable.
Lee Clark obviously knows his budget where wages are concerned. Phillips was (still) a premier league striker. I doubt he’d have got out of bed for 5 grand, let alone played.
It was great effort from all the players, but I have to say if we put the other chances away we would have won that very easy. So I say well done Clark, Players, Staff
The FANS who were there was also singing so well done to us as well.
The REF well I thought he was one SIDED through out the game and there was a challenge from a Swansea player with STUDS showing not even a Yellow he was a disgrace.
IF the BOARD saw the game we need a Championship CB and a STRIKER who knows where the net is.
HAS for the Fans staying away cause of YEUNG in charge its time to them to smell the coffee and support the club.
Mr Art Watson has you their sunny Cyprus and didn’t see the GAME how can you Comment and have ago on Clark.
KRO
Tracy,as people keep telling me.You don’t have to go to the game to have a comment.Many people on here don’t go but think they know it all.As for having a go at Clark,you only have to look at the stats.Not all of the poor results are down to having no money.A lot are down to his tactics and team selections.
I understand what you say about comments Steve but this guy been on about Clark and BOYCOTTING all season it just a record now
KRO
At the end of the day Tracy, there will always be people whose glass is half full and those whose glass is half empty. It’s human nature. I’m a glass half full man myself.
I must be too, because I can see what LC is trying to do under such difficult conditions.
As long as the players put in a shift, as they did yesterday, I will come away from the ground content.
We are all armchair managers, and we can see changes during the game, I would have put Adeyemi on at half time and took either Lee, who I thought gave the ball away too often, or Brown who worked hard for 45 minutes but is still young and raw.
We lost 1-2 but deserved more and it is down to no backing from the board and directors this time in not financing a decent striker.
I look forward to both Leicester and Derby because if we can re-produce that sort of commitment we can easily get 4 or even 6 points.
KRO+DNM
Tracey,i,m a season ticket holder and go away.My boycott has been cup games.I,m not and never will be a Clark fan.I can’t wait for him to go.He has baffled me that often it’s beyond a joke.At the end of the day ,i,m blue through and through,but Clark is making it difficult.Staffs.I’m usually a glass half full bloke.But not with Lee Clark.
That’s fair enough steve. Each to his own.
Only thing I would say, is that things could have looked a whole lot different this morning, if we’d put away another one or two of the chances we had, or individuals had not gone to sleep at crucial moments. No manager can legislate for those things. As I said last night, I would criticise Clark for not putting the subs on 10 minutes earlier. Other than that, he got the selection and tactics spot on. We were good enough to force Laudrup to change his plans and put Bony on earlier than intended.
That’s fair comment Steve, I not keen on Clark but we cant do anything about it so I just say to myself have to get on with cause noting will change.
But I do say the Bloke Clark is trying to build a shed with fire wood if you know what I mean.
He does make some strange choices and I wouldn’t give him million’s to spend either.
There are teams in prem that’s not won many home games either like Vile, Swansea and Man u but that’s football, but people turning their back on the club because of this need to get real.
KRO
But Tracey,Vile,Swansea and Man U are not playing Barnsley,Yeovil and Doncaster.2 points at home against the bottom 3
And we’ve not got millions in the bank to buy ourselves out of trouble.
I think what Tracy is trying to say we have what we have and can’t change thinks, the Premier clubs have that facility, as £12 miliion striker proved yesterday, until Bony came on Swansea were fairly average and never really threatened.
KRO+DNM
Chris,nothing you can say can defend that points tally.Whatever team we put out should have done better than that.
Tracy,
My views on Clark are based on his record over the last two years and nothing else.
It’s not a personal attack and if you are happy to lose or draw most of the games under his management that’s fine but please don’t expect me to accept second best or the pathetic excuses from a man being paid over £300k pa ….Do you honestly think he will survive under new ownership and would you give him loads of money to take the club into the premiership?
Art
Ive said early I wouldn’t give him millions to spend.
He does make mistakes hes only human I think, I do wonder about his choices as well, but I ask who will come in and do this under the current board and what can you do with throw away scraps.
They played well yesterday and I do give him credit for that
KRO
Agree on most points, you forgot the woeful linesman, sorry, referees assistant on the kop wing, he missed so much and was so far behind the run of play.
The crowd were better and did make a change to hear them try and lift the crowd.
I do believe CY watches every game, but I doubt he or the board give a flying hoot about the needs of the team. I would suspect that all they saw was ££££’s and noughts while watching young Reece Brown grow and grow.
Unfortunately, it is a fact of life, those who tend to criticise the most rarely see things first hand, or lack any understanding of the state we are in.
KRO+DNM
If he watches every game, he must see that the manager and players are giving everything for the cause. It’s a pity he can’t say the same for himself and the board.
SOTV Most people would do a job for 300plus k also you dont need to see a game to comment on the mistakes that are repeated week after week so carry on Art
the drummers boys are out again :-0
the cup run over move on leicester next at stans hopefully another great atmosphere with them bring 2400 fans………………………but more importantly we take the 3 points…………kro
Away end sold out.
Why not give them all of that end & cash in,we know we cannot afford Phillips on loan but we need to find Pannu,s wages.
OK,not technically a loan but until the end of the season.
We’d all have loved to see Phillips back here, but at the end of the day, he’s a journeyman. Since he left Sunderland a decade ago, the longest he’s spent at one club, is 3 seasons. He was never going to come back for the love of the club. I doubt he’s moved for footballing reasons, wherever he ended up, he’d be no more than a bit part player I would suspect. This could be his last contract, or penultimate… he’s gonna make as much as he can before he retires. I suppose you can’t blame him.
I think you’re being disrespectful to him Staffs.He moves because he wants to play.He could have seen his contract out at Palace,but was never gonna play.Imo,he moved to Leicester because he thought he could play more.He’s retiring at the end of the season.He could have took the easy option but didn’t.
I’m not being disrespectful. Time will tell how much game time he gets this season, but he has to be thinking about the end of his career and getting at least one more good contract. He wouldn’t have got that with us.
.He’s retiring at the end of the season.He would have been on a better contract at Premiership Palace than championship Leicester.I think he left because he had more chance of playing Leicester.I don’t think it was about money.If it was,he wouldn’t have moved.
He was also quoted as saying he didn’t want to keep travelling. he lives in the Midlands and wanted to stay in the Midlands and was looking for a local club.
I don’t think money was too much of a factor, mind you I’m sure he will get mote than £5k a week at Leicester
KRO+DNM
Chris,he only travelled twice a week.The day before match day and after the match.He was allowed to train on his own nearer home.He didn’t have to leave.
Maybe I’ve become cynical in my old age. And maybe not.
Footballers make you cynical Staffs.But i think Phillips is a genuine bloke.
I’ve got nothing against Phillips. He’s a cracking player, always has been. I just can’t see him getting any more game time than he did at Palace, with Nugent and Vardy on fire. I hope I’m wrong, because he’s still got a lot to offer. Saying that, he’s bound to score against us next week.
I think he will play more at Leicester.Only has an impact player.It was his clever run the other night that let Nugent in to give them a late win.I think he has a lot to offer coming off the bench in this division.Also,it’s another medal for him if he goes up.
I hope he does get more game time. At that age, you don’t want to be sitting on the bench all the time. I think he’d have played more at Blues, but never mind.
I agree Staffs
I can’t believe that, if Lee Clark thought we could afford him, he wouldn’t have at least made an effort to go for him. He obviously knew there wasn’t any point.
On BCFC’s Twitter: Lee Clark also reveals that, through his connections, he made an approach to get Kevin Phillips back at the club but was outdone by Foxes offer.
Nuff said.
I heard a quiet rumour he had made an enquiry.
I would have been surprised if he hadn’t, the old adage, “If you don’t ask you won’t know, they can only say Yay or nay” Think he offered to help Messi back from his injury too….. In My Dreams
KRO+DNM
He could have still earned more sitting in the stand at Palace.
Steve I know they not playing Doncaster, Yeovil, Barnsley, vile and Swansea may have to next season Man u lost to sunderland didn’t they and west brom so it does happen
KRO
We can only dream about the Vile coming down Tracy,but Sunderland and Albion are no comparison really.
I’d love Blues, Albion, Wolves and the Witton lot to all be in the same division… I don’t care which one.
Not Wolves.I really hate them from the Mark McGhee days.As for the other two,they were the first fixtures i looked for.
But the derbies are great games mostly. There have been some real humdingers between us and the dogs over the years. I miss all the derbies and, if we were all in the same division, there would be 6 per season.
Put Walsall and Coventry in too and we would have half a season of local derbies, if you counted the East Midland clubs too.
Just think of the savings on the environment not to mention our pockets.
KRO+DNM
I remember the days of the old “Big Six” in the Argus. Blues, Vile, Albion, Wolves, Coventry and Wallsall. Great days, rushing back from the match to get the early edition. :-)
I could never understand how the Argus got home before me.
For me, the pink paper is a great loss for West midland footy fans.
Putting ziggy aside imo I actually think we played alot better without him………….
I said the same last night mark. Our attacks very much more varied. But, it was our first game playing like this, I’m sure we’ll do well now, not having to lump the ball up front all the time.
Rusnak only had two training sessions, bet he didn’t even know all the names. You could tell he was out of sorts a couple of times when trying to link up with Burke, he wasn’t sure where to go or put the ball.
After that performance we can only get better and we looked quite comfortable going forward, all we need now is a poacher in the box to snap up those chances. Looking forward to both Leicester and Derby with a more positive attitude after that performance.
On the Ziggy front, anyone have any ideas as to why he was completely bombed, rumour has it he wasn’t even allowed at the ground?
KRO+DNM
All Lee Clark would say is “For football reasons.”
I think he’s learned from his mistake of being honest with everyone last time and just kept it in-house this time.
Probably the best. To be fair I think LC has been too open on too many fronts, sometimes you have to deal with things behind close doors.
I’m sure the press will jump on the bandwagon with all sorts of speculation. As I said, I heard a rumour on the radio that the baggies are looking to take him, I think it depends on the Anelka situation, or just pure scaremongering.
I couldn’t get a programme Saturday, with the weather and two young grand kids in tow, but Radio WM said LC wrote some strong words regarding Zigic in his programme notes, any enlightenment staffs?
KRO+DNM
Tbh staffsblue he needs a big kick up the arse, imo he just winding down his contract, simply does not want to go in there hurts, with ziggy its the pretty football he likes…………how we miss someone like the horsfield who gets in there where it hurts, and plays for the team rather than showboat.
No Chris, no idea.
Kevan Broadhurst has the theory that Zigic wants to play in the hole and be a No.10. But he hasn’t the skils to be a No.10. I’d agree with that.
I think he may have been dropped because Lee Clark has just run out of patience with him. With all the crosses we put into the box against Yeovil, Clark was screaming at him to get in the box, but Ziggy weren’t having none of it. That’s just my opinion of course. But, another few months and it won’t be an issue either way.
For what we paid he isn’t a number 9 either.
Maybe LC will loan him out for a decent striker, just an idea…
Ziggy is one of those who are happy to pick up a wage packet….
Should be the same as any normal work place, you don’t perform or consistently under perform, 3 warnings and then out….
They keep saying its a result industry, but it is always the manager that gets sacked never the tools he has to work with. You wouldn’t use a penknife to chop a tree down, you would find or buy an axe….
LC has to keep his penknife keep sharpening it till eventually he can’t no more, which is Ziggy.
KRO+DNM
Asante when he fit in a couple of weeks will clark more options…………
*give
Aim has to be 30 point in the last 20 games and to win the play offs
Clarks record since joining the Club.
All matches.
Played……82
Won……….26
Lost………..29
Draws……..27
Win %….32. Loss % 35. Draw % 33.
Now tell me he’s a good manager.
He’s a good manager.
sorry Art i second this……….. yes you can make wild assumptions on Clark from a distance thats you prerogative, read the papers or articles put you point across, but this simply does not give you a true perspective of the games if you are not there watching it………….we are all entitled to opinions best of luck with yours Art………………..
I’m pretty sure that, with a bit of money to spend, we would have seen a different kind of player coming into the club in the last 18 months. There would still have been players like Randolph and Adeyemi I think, but overall, there would have been a higher standard of player I would have thought.
But, we are what we are at the moment and that is a club with the begging bowl firmly glued to hand. With what he’s had to deal with, I don’t think he’s done that bad. For a team to pass Swansea off the park, is a massive plus in itself. There’s no shame in finally being beaten by a £12m premier league international striker. If we’d had a striker like that, we would have buried Swansea with ease.
It helps to put things into context.
Birmingham City 12 December 2001 19 November 2007 270 100 70 100 37.04 steve bruce record obviously he had money to spent………………….100 wins 100 loses with 70 draws………
You’re right Mark.He’s worse than those stats give him credit for.
Are you related to him?
That’s always the best you can come up with when someone actually supports him… Pathetic
Nope. I’m not totally biased against him either.
What a great cup tie that was, just like the old days in shocking conditions which made the performance even better for me as we still managed to control the ball and make few mistakes. That weather was the most bizarre I’ve ever been out in let alone to a football match. I had a warning from the commentator at Molineux that there was thunder and lightning and 40mph winds over there which made me chuckle. I pulled up in sunshine and our bad weather only started once I got to The Roost and it went from ok to chaotic in seconds. First a massive roll of thunder, then right next to me a flash of lightning. I really feared that someone may get tagged it was that close. Then the slight drizzle which had started became the fastest, heaviest hail stoning I’ve ever seen. The stones were massive being blown at you by 40mph winds, actually stinging your face. Valiantly I carried on to the ground, I had no other choice and thankfully the hailing only lasted 10 minutes and was replaced by heavy cold rain. My heart sank when I saw the queues. Halfway across the Kop car park and at every entrance. Blues have to look at this as there were little kids having to endure the conditions. I know the stay-awayers have forced the closure of two sides of the grounds but still we can’t have a repeat of that. There was no other choice but to join the queue and after half hour of getting soaked I got into the game. Sodden and freezing I was not really looking forward to it.
Looking at the starting 11 I thought it looked solid and was glad to see Zigic not even in the squad. I say this with a heavy heart as I loved the lad for the cup run and win but he has been taking the p*ss recently without a doubt, Took me back to last season when Lee dropped him and told everybody that he had just witnessed the worst ever training session of his career by Zigic which split the fans. Looks like he’s been proven right. Packwood was back and looks like he’s been on steroids since his injury, he’s twice the size now, a real big old fashioned centre half but he has a nice touch too. Reece Brown was in as was the new boy Runsak. I have to give Lee credit for both of these signings and as it turned out they were two of our best players on the day.
The game was actually enjoyable despite how I was feeling and the shocking conditions. We were by far the better team in the first half and Novak took his goal excellently from a great Caddis cross. You’ll remember Lee Novak of course, the worst player ever to have played for Blues according to some jokers. Rusnak had one cleared off the line, Brown and Burke came close with shots and Hancox had an excellent shot saved by a worldy from their keeper. They also had two open goals but fired wide but all in all we were on top easily in that first half and what impressed me most was how well we were using the ball and how few mistakes we had made in terrible conditions. The difference in the second half was undoubtedly Wilfred Bony. He started quietly but Hancox’s last minute tackle on him in the box was a signal of what was to come because 10 minutes after that tackle he had scored his two. Nothing spectacular but finishers goals putting them 2-0 up but still we kept going and Adeyemi could have evened it up in the dying seconds of the game but it wasn’t to be. So as I said great old fashioned cup tie in shocking conditions and every one of our players acquitted himself well. It is obvious these players will run through walls for Lee which is another good reason for dropping Zigic we don’t want his attitude spreading to the rest of em. The thought of him sitting on his warm sofa watching TV while we we were all wet and freezing made me sick to be honest. The man has zero personal self-respect or pride and couldn’t give two about us fans and the club. Similar to McLeish he is fast ruining the exaltation he gained from the cup win and now I wouldn’t be bothered if he never played for us again.
I have to bring up the pitiful crowd again. Along with Robbos scandalous booking and the bad weather it was the big downer of the day. Take away the Swans fans and we had just 10,000 fans in the ground. At £12-15 a ticket it’s an absolute joke. No point in lingering on it though those who don’t go will always find an excuse as they always have. Roll on Tuesday night as I think we can give Leicester a game and a big KRO to all those who endured the conditions yesterday.
The legend is back poke in the eye to the stayaway fans, I just have a stressful free weekend some said.one of the 10,000 proud to be a bluenose who was there………crowd attendance was sh*t…………
Thanks for the match report Paul – maybe you should write your own blog?
Bloody hell Dan it weren’t that good (I assume you’re taking the pee here)