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Wigan Preview in Association with EZE Group
Blues make the trip up to the DW Stadium for the final match before the first international break knowing that their modest points total of five could and probably should have been nine.
Wigan
Wigan come into the game having won one and drawn the other game they have played so far this season. Last Saturday’s home win against Blackpool represented their first win and clean sheet of the season and Uwe Rosler will be hoping his team can build on that.
The Latics remain without Ben Watson, James McClean and Chris McCann, while Shaun Maloney faces a late fitness test while former Blues loanee Emyr Huws could line up against his former compatriots.
Blues
Blues come into the game having lost to Sunderland in midweek and will in all probability change the team back to something that resembled the team that played against Brentford with Darren Randolph likely to return in goal and Jonathan Grounds coming back in at left back.
The big call will be up front – will Blues continue with 4-4-2 or will Clark revert to the 4-2-3-1 he preferred last season? Judging by the tiredness of Wes Thomas and Clayton Donaldson against Brentford I wouldn’t be surprised to see Blues rest one of them and go with Lee Novak and David Cotterill supporting the front man – although I think the mercurial Mark Duffy would be a better choice than the hardworking Novak.
I fully expect Blues to emerge from this game with nothing because of tiredness; it really will be on Clark to ensure that the team are fresh and ready to go and because of that I hope people don’t criticise him if he does freshen up the lineup somewhat.
Tags: Clayton Donaldson, David Cotterill, Jonathon Grounds, Lee Novak, Wes Thomas, Wigan Athletic
242 Responses to “Wigan Preview in Association with EZE Group”
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It’s a big ask, expecting players to do 7 games in 21 days, of course players are going to be a bit leggy. As OP said, Thomas and Donaldson were looking a bit tired against Brentford and, now, they have 90 minutes against Sunderland to add to it. I’ll be surprised if both of them play today.
If Clark does go one up front, he has to have experience up there, which points to Novak, but for me, I’d go with a front line of Duffy, Donaldson, Cotterill in a 4-3-3 / 4-5-1. On the defensive side, he may replace Hall with Robbo, for a bit of experience alongside Edgar.
ide go exactly the same staffs with formation and players as youhave said……cant make the game because of work commitments but be cheering them on from the radio or Andy walkers blog so lets hope we dont throw any more points away as weve done in the previuos two league games and get a morale boosting win. KRO.
For away games, I use both the BCFC blog and the radio. I like to see if both sides agree… it gives a more balanced view.
exactly, so with the radio the blog and my mates views who have gone to the game i get an alround balanced opinion of the 90 mins…..and then come up with my own opinions when ive watched the game in more detail, perfect!! KRO.
Spot on. :-)
For crying out load, Staffs. A big ask ? They are supposed to be highly trained professionals, they should be able to play three games in 8 days. They are pampered enough.
Like most footballers really. I’m not saying that shouldn’t play that many, I’m say that players today aren’t fit to cope with it. Can you see premier league players playing 7 games in 21 days? Absolutely no chance.
I think you have hit the nail on the head in saying the Players aren’t fit enough, Before today, how many times have we conceded in the last ten minutes or so ? Too many to just be coincidental. B that way, is that 7 games in 21 days a typo, they didn’t play that many in our young days of watching :-)
The old first division played 42 games, only 4 less than today’s football league clubs. Players were much tougher back then, both physically and mentally.
He has to play both Duffy and Cotterill to give the forward line some width, with Donaldson in the middle.
He can use Thomas to freshen up the second half and even introduce Johnstone or Novak. Duffy was exceptional for me against Sunderland and should have stayed on.
I thought Eardley had one of his better games Wednesday, maybe I have misjudged him, if he is not injured then play him instead of Robbo, who for me doesn’t seem to have curbed his headstrong physical approach that bought him so many bookings last season.
Again he could be used to consolidate and rally the defence come the latter stages if needed.
KRO+DNM
I seem to remember that his headstrong approach did some severe damage to one of our players when Robinson was with the Albion. Didn’t he get sent off for it? Hoping for a draw today, or better, and that we have Cotterill and Duffy together to give us more chance. KRO
No he didn’t , he didn’t even get booked if I remember rightly.
I would favour 4-4-1-1 with the back four of Spector, Hall, Edgar, Grounds;
Midfield of Duffy, Gleeson, Davis, Cotterill; behind the striker Caddis; and Donaldson upfront and Randolph in goal.
A draw if we are lucky in my opinion. What do you think of the hatem Ben arfa story laughable or what.
i will be laughing with utter joy if we can pull that one off Gary….ben arfur on the left flank would be heaven on earth…bring it on and i wiil put a fiver towards is wages. KRO.
4-2-3-1 formation about pretty much what clark would pick, enough said, fingers crossed. KRO.
I’m quite happy with the selection today. 4-4-2 again too.
Still no Duffy, what does he have to do to get a game.
He has come on for the second half but at 3-0 I think it is too late.
Why play Robbo, yet another booking after only 10 mins means he is walking a tight rope, he is becoming a liability rather than a leader.
KRO+DNM
One comment that Tom Ross mad today was that our midfield was outnumbered beacuse we played 4-4-2 and they played 3-5-1 and we should have at least matched them for numbers in midfield. However,
I feel that missing out Duffy made it easy for them. He would have kept their midfield with more to do trying to contain him. Novak doesn’t have the pace to keep any defenders or midfield players occuped. Still, apart from that we were up against better class players, many of whom have played in the Prem . LC is a good man manager but tacticly naive. Neither Clark nor any of our players will t be replaced unless we get new owners. Please God, bring it on! We don’t want to be relegated before the season is over! KRO
Getting cheesed off with this “Hold on, this is waiting to be approved by http://www.oftenpartisan.co.uk” all the time, just for the post to disappear every time. What gives?
Hi Staffs;, It is still happening then, ?. I have not posted often lately, – but had no problems since that long publisised event weeks ago.
myheart says WIN today, but would welcome a point at least,.
If it was something defamatory etc, I could understand it. If you get that message, you might as well delete your post, because you’ll never see it again.
No win today I’m afraid.
Why is Robinson playing when we have got two better left backs at the club in Grounds and Hancox. Too old, too slow and booked again.
his should be asked of Clark . Just WHY is Robinson playing ? He is way past it and we ship goals when he is in the side.
I can’t believe it, 4-4-2.. most of our ‘better’ players and still they ship goals.
We go three league matches unbeaten which if it wasn’t for some bad substitutions could have been three wins on the trot so why change it?
It’s what LC does, he has to change things for the sake of change.
Robbo has had his day, good to have around the camp but not on the pitch.
KRO+DNM
Getting booked a lot doesn’t actually mean passion and commitment. It means he is too slow and dives into crazy tackles out of desperation. For me it’s a wasted wage that could have gone on what we really need – a left sided midfielder/winger.
I’m beginning to think it is a new manager, LC doesn’t seem to be able to motivate and is still changing for the sake of change.
We have had eight games and we don’t seem to be any further forward and I can’t see how LC can improve things.
KRO+DNM
I’m beginning to think that you might be right… not because I don’t think Clark is good enough, but because the players aren’t. Would a change would give the place a lift? I doubt it.. but, hey ho, let’s give it a try.
I’m sure that when Clark leaves St Andrews, it won’t be his last job… not by a long way.
He never seems to be on anyone’s shortlist when managerial vacancies come up though and there have been dozens over the last year or so. I don’t think he is quite so highly rated in the game as you think he is. We are stuck with him because the clowns we have in charge won’t pay him off.
We’ll never know for sure either way until he leaves here. I certainly don’t expect him to be here next season.
I don’t think anyone will come in for him, he won’t resign and they won’t pay him off so god knows how we will ever get rid of him.
If he doesn’t get us away from a relegation battle this season, I really can’t see him being here for a 4th season. Could he really look forward to more struggle next season? I’m almost certain that if we do get taken over, he has no chance of surviving anyway, even if we do finish in the top half..
He should have walked end of last season.
He would have walked away on a high at least.
I can’t see him lasting the season, take over or not.
Three teams appear to be worse than us and they will have money to change things, we haven’t.
KRO+DNM
we’ve had a couple of million come in over the last month.Pay him off and get somebody in with new idea’s. Some decent people will still want this job,it’s Birmingham City.
The only problem I can see with that Steve, our financial and ownership issues are well documented that I don’t think any half decent manager would consider us.
Roy Keane, Alan Curbishley and even Neil Warnock all turned us down even before CY was convicted.
We’d be lucky to get Steve Keane or Hockerby, so as much as we need a new manager with fresh ideas I’m not sure of the quality we would attract.
KRO+DNM
I like Clark but I’m beginning to think he is limited, he has his own players but there were some good Championship players going to lower clubs and I’m not sure it was all about wages.
I agree he has not been helped by the board, but he doesn’t do himself any favours with his constant tinkering and he still doesn’t seem to know his best XI.
I can’t see any alternative but a change in personnel other than a new owner, which is still a long way off, imo.
KRO+DNM
I believe that most players from the Championship up wouldn’t entertain 5 grand a week. Those players who will, will be those who have been on less…. and they are league 1 and 2 players… which is what we’ve got. Even Donaldson wouldn’t have come for £5k. Unfortunately, that’s where we’re at.
Chris it has taken you two and a half years to realise that.for gods sake are you related to the guy?.
No I’m not, I have been critical of LC since day one, I never wanted him.
He has been dealt a bum hand but he hasn’t learnt in the last two years and even with his own players he still isn’t playing the best players in their favoured roles.
I said give the guy 10/12 games to see where we are, well we are 2 thirds into that and we don’t seem any further forward so someone at the club should be taking him to one side, whisper, no YELL in his ear, “You have 5 games to get 5 results or your P45 will be in the post”
KRO+DNM
Sorry Staffs,this team aren’t a promotion team,but they aren’t a relegation team either. What’s changed from the first few games? It seems the same problems are occuring.
We can’t really say with any certainty whether the team are a promotion team or a relegation team.. they’ve not been together long enough yet to really know. We were always going to have ups and down this season while they get used to playing together. 10 or 12 league games, that’s the time to assess. If it’s still not clicking by then, well changes might have to be made.
Agreed. We can’t get better players right now but surely a change of manager might boost our chances of staying in the championship. I don’f see how a new manager could do worse, Clark is taking us down as things stand.
I agree Chris.this isn’t a relegation team,but a relegation manager.He should do the decent thing and resign.
Absolutely correct. Robbo should retire, he can’t cope with the pace of today’s game. We’ve shipped 6 goals since he came back into the team. Agree too with the left sided player…. but please not Ben Arfur, he’s far too lazy. We need someone who can provide cover for the full back, as well as going forward.
I don’t understand dropping Thomas to play Novak up front instead. Novak is also too slow. We are very low on quality so two fast, mobile, physically strong strikers running the channels both with enough pace to get in behind defences and provide the first line of defence worked well.
Agree with that… but if you have two speedy strikers, you need two speedy wingers or midfielders to keep up with them, or they’ll just keep straying offside, waiting for passes. It’s difficult to stay onside when you’re not sure when the pass is coming. With proper wingers, they get to the bye-line and cross, for strikers coming in.
Robbo is not doing a captains job.Ben Arfur is too good for us.We’ve had players like Hleb and Nicky Butt who got slaughtered playing for us,but the truth is,they were on a higher level to us. The problem is,Elsie seems to have to find a way of playing Robbo.As much as i love him,i agree,he’s at best a sub.
There’s no questioning Robbo’s attitude, it’s top drawer… but the guy needs to stop fooling himself now and accept a coaching role. He can stay registered in case of emergencies. It’s got to happen, or we’ll just continue to ship goals.
In the 3 games Robinson has started, we’ve shipped 8 goals. Even when he came on towards the end against Ipswich, we let in the equaliser…. so I would tend to agree with you Steve, he’s not playing a captain’s role anymore.
The changes ain’t worked, goalless and a heavy defeat very very disappointing, Tom Ross and most blues noses think we are mid table, sorry can’t see that happening!
Tom Ross says he will not join a witch hunt against Clark and Broadhurst agrees, But its not a witch hunt,
its plain for all to see the man is not up to the task.
Tom has always been the same he will not get of the fence and who can honestly blame him?, he comes into regular contact with Clark he dont want to upset him.
Same with Tatts toe the line that’s him, his live coverage of the games is rubbish all he does is apologise for technical difficulties. Well how come Sunderland journalist don’t have these difficulties or Brentford’s?. He fits into the scheme of things well third rate coverage of a third rate team.. AHHHH MEN
Broadhurst has been Blues worst Critic.I agree with the comments about Ross and Tatts,but if they don’t ask the questions that we want them to ask,they’re not doing their job.
Broadhurst is a bitter man, who is always wise after the event. Can’t stand the pr*t.
He was never more than average as a player in my book Staffs
You got that right. He’s just bitter because he didn’t get the Blues job. But then, he didn’t pull up any trees at Northampton or Walsall.
True enough
I’ll support almost anyone who comes through the door Tony… except Broadhurst. I’d vote for you over him any day… so get your CV ready. :-)
Brushing up now lol
Btw, did I mention… you don’t have to have a Scottish, Cockney, or Geordie accent… but it would sure help. :-D
We are capable of mid table,but not with Clark in charge.
We can compete with the big clubs for endeavour and effort, but we’re never going to compete quality-wise. We don’t have the money or resources, it’s as simple as that. Most of the teams we’ve played so far will be in or around the top 6 at the end of the season. What we do need to do, is win the mini-league at the bottom. Those are the teams we need to beat, no matter what.
Yes but these heavy defeats kill confidence for when you do play the poorer teams and they are heavy defeats partly due to poor team selection. The best we could have hoped for today was a draw but at least pick a team that can make a fight out of it.
I agree, bad defeats can do your confidence, no doubt about that. But on the other side of the coin, players beaten 4-0, should be doubly determined to put things right in the next game. Or am I expecting too much?
I think you are Staffs.We need a new man in charge.
Whatever the club, I always think that when players suddenly start playing well when a new man comes in, it says more about their deficiencies and lack of pride than the previous manager’s. I have no time for those kind of players.
Maybe they improve because a new manager brings in new ideas and changes the mood around the club.
Possibly. But fans have screamed for 4-4-2 for the last 2 years… now we’ve employed 4-4-2 in most of the first half a dozen games and we’ve taken a couple of heavy defeats. So what now? Back to 4-2-3-1? I don’t see tactics as the problem, for me, it’s constant individual errors that are doing us. That’s what we need to eradicate.
But, if a new manager is what’s needed, fair enough. I’ll support a new man just the same as I have Clark, and previous managers.
staffs i got hit below the belt when mentioned individual errors….as steve in the know maybe he can ask friend…..lol
I,m not denying that some of it is down to individual errors,but some of his selections and his decisions leave a lot of people baffled and angry.
I agree to a point, especially with Robinson and Gleeson.. and maybe even Novak this season… but he played the same squad 2 or 3 games on the trot… so he’s not quite as bad. I believe that when we cut out the stupid schoolboy errors, we’ll have half a chance.
I think the problem is LC is trying to please those who were loyal last season, Robbo and Novak, he should be starting Duffy and Cotterill together with either Thomas and Donaldson and maybe introducing Novak or Johnstone towards the latter stages, if necessary.
At the back we need consistency so perseverance has to be the order of the day for at least a dozen games.
KRO+DNM
Here Here. I get the feeling that if Novak is fit LC will pick a team to play around him, regardless of the logic. So far this season he’s contributed very little. Novak is not (and never will be) a left winger, so what’s the logic in shifting a better player in that position (Cotterill) over to the right and ignoring players like Duffy and Gray altogether?
Not convinced by Grant Hall either yet, would rather see our own player (Packwood) allowed to develop alongside Edgar.
Robbo’s done for me as well – Grounds or Hancox every time at LB. I don’t want to point the finger at LC (because I think he did well with his summer signings), but you have to admit, his team selections continue to be very odd. If you’re not a tactical genius then don’t pretend – stick to your best 11 players in the right positions and aim for consistency.
No, you would expect that and so do the Blues supporters.
However, our next game is a televised one against Leeds and we never do well on TV and Leeds will also have a point to prove with possibly a new manager too.
KRO+DNM
Staffs,with Clark in charge we’re going down. That squad is good enough for this division.We need a manager with new idea’s.Clark isn’t up to it.
I’m beginning to think that no matter what he does, it’s never going to work. It might benefit him to leave now and become successful somewhere else. Let someone else ruin their career here.
staffs in agreement with your comments, honest and sensible…..kro ;)
most of the teams in the top six of the championship have strengthen and spent money…………..we talking about players who have only played pre-season and about 7 games so far blues this season blues need to ride a crest of a wave this season imo
When the likes of Forest can pay £5.5m for a League 1 striker, it just about sums it up.
Oh dear, dear o dear.
It is pointless criticising team selection. After 3 years of no money we are left with a squad of League 1 standard players and promising youngsters.
To criticise team selection is futile as they are all the same and it makes little difference who Clark selects.
Have to agree Richard. I said the other day you cant make a silk purse out of a cows ear.Wigan had far more quality on the pitch than we did and it showed.
Doesn’t really matter who he picks they are simply not good enough at this level.
Defeats can become a habit and I fear this is the case now,confidence will be shattered. Difficult to know what can be done, a strong charismatic manager might do the trick ,Clark is certainly not that. more a case of blind leading the blind in his case.
I just don’t agree with that. We go three matches unbeaten starting with the same team and it could have been a lot better except for some poor substitutions. He made two personnel changed today from the starting line up in those three games – Robinson and Gleeson for Grounds and Thomas. Add to that a couple of positional changes as well and that is a lot of p*ssing about after a good run. We are very low on quality but the last thing this lot need is Clark tinkering around for the sake of it.
So if Grounds and Thomas had started it would have been a different result?? I don’t think so.
It’s like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic!
richard i quite like that comment with the manager trying to steer a ship with no bloody rudder…….we are definately going to be hit and miss this season…..but hopefully more hits than misses please lol
No we probably would have still lost against a stronger side but getting battered like that is a killer for confidence and having Robinson at left back meant we were always going to concede goals and Novak up front severely reduced our chances of scoring any. None of the changes he made were enforced and actually weakened us.
Was Grounds injured ? If not why didn’t he play? He has been one of the better players this season.
Doubt he was injured as he was on the bench Steve.
I agree he has been one of the better players so why change for the sake of change, he is definitely better than Robbo, as much as I like Robbo, club captain but only a bit part player now.
KRO+DNM
I’m not quite that doom and gloom…. yet.
But we have all agreed on here so far that we need consistency within the team. That is not happening once again. LC is making changes for the sake of change.
The only change I could see was to start Duffy in place of Novak.
The back four should stay the same, unless injuries dictate.
KRO+DNM
Bo330x. That team are not relegation fodder. The manager is.
well beaten by a ex-premiership team with premiership players clearly shows the ever growing gap between rich and the poor…..yet shockingly wigan could only pull 11,200 fans at their home gate…..great away support by us never stopped singing 1300…….
absolutely comes down to quality……this why blues need to take their chances, spector on another day quite sound made mistakes, yes pace certainly left Robbo for dead….but collectively we failed to take a one nil into the break, the game is good as gone at 3 nil against a very good quality side….
Comes to something when Wigan the small rugby town are richer than us, we can all thank Carson for that.
Not Mark,he loves him.
But with Wigan, Dave Whelan bankrolls them. One rich man. When were we last owned by one rich man? Were we ever? Look what happened to Blackburn when they no longer had Jack Walker’s money. Same happened to Wolves. It makes a massive difference.
It’s about time you woke up. we were completely embarrassed by a team on a worse run than us.How can you defend that today?There is no other option than for Elsie to do the decent thing and resign. Today was woeful,and it won’t get better with Clark in charge. That squad are not promotion contenders,but they’re not relegation fodder either. If Elsie loves the club as much as he says he does,then he would resign NOW.I am sick and tired of writing the same things week after week about the club we all love. Do us a favour elsie,FUKOFF now.
yes i woke up the sun is shining………No it was not woeful we were beaten by a far superior team get over yourself……i love writing the exactly same thing :)
what ever you come with the result would have been the same..Our players need to be at the races….if they dont turn up then accept the result..but some times quality rises as wigan did… if you cannot accept that you are definately living in cloud cuckoo land………you keep blaming the manager you not got no one else to blame……lol
our second performance would have been better if scott carson hadn’t made some tremendous saves…..but saying that wigan appeared never to get out of second gear….my guess they be in the top six….
Steve he wont resign he loves the money 300k a year he will never walk out on that. He is without honour ,he should have walked after the Barnsley debacle two years ago .There are a lot of things still to come to light about him and his two ex assistants.
There is such a thing as professional pride and he does not have any.
Don’t mention that you know things on here mate,some people don’t like it. One day it will all come out.
I’ve said more than once Steve, I’m not one to listen to hearsay and tittle-tattle, but, that when I see proof, I’ll believe it and come on here and accept that you were right. But, up to now, I’ve not seen a shred.
Wasn’t aimed at you staffs. It’s not tittle tattle or hearsay.
I wasn’t having a go Steve. If you know something, fair enough, but, I’m obliged not to believe stories until I see some proof. That’s been my stance since the rumours started last season.
Id love to blow it.
If you know something that would indicate that he isn’t a fit and proper person to be manager of our football club then why don’t you get in touch with someone in the media and ask them to investigate it properly. I’m no Clark fan as you are probably aware but it am not sure it is fair to put stuff like that on here.
Are you kidding Blue no one would print it but here is a taster
It is said he can only manage three keepy uppies in training
I wasn’t at the game, but funnily enough this result doesn’t bother me too much. Basically we are dross at the foot of the Championship and that is where we will be at the end of the season. Fortunately, there is at least one team – Blackpool – in a much crapper position than us. Their chairman said there was no point getting players in during the summer because it just means having to pay people during the close season. Dur!
Take over or no takeover the board should sack Clark.
Championship record since joining the club.
P…….109
W…..32
D……32
L…….45
%Win…….29.
Well, Pulis is kicking his heels at the moment… and he wouldn’t have to move house. ;-)
He would just have to take a 300% pay cut ,but he would be brilliant for us.
Yeah, but he’d probably save a million by not having to move house lol
Art….What you seem to overlook is that Clark and before him Hughton, have witnessed getting on for £50m worth of players leaving in the last 3 years.
They have been replaced with free transfers and loans. I defy any manager to thrive in those circumstances.
Richard,
I understand your opinion and you are right and this is why we need a manager who has enough nouse to tough out games,get the best out of his players and get the tactics right.
Apart from bring passionate and hard working what are Clarks strengths?
Perhaps you can enlighten me please.!
Art….It is difficult to get the tactics right and get the best out of the players when the players he has been able to acquire are inferior in the main to the opposition’s players.
Combine that with the fact that we are not winning matches, which means low confidence, all in all Clark has had his work cut out……..And has never once complained or made excuses.
Rihard why would he complain he has the best job in English football
yes tony he may have the best job
but the hardest job ever working in a bubble wrap factory
imagine the self control needed lol
He has made plenty of excuses, just the wrong ones. He has never come out and admitted he has got it wrong even when it was so obvious against Brentford and taking BOTH strikers off.
KRO+DNM
well he just made profit for a player he paid peanuts for…
We comfortably finished in the play-offs under Hughton and were very unlucky not to get to the knock out stages of the Europa Cup and had a decent run in the FA Cup. The last two seasons have been absolutely dismal particularly at home.
SB…….I agree that the first season after relegation wasn’t as bad as it is now, but we still had some of our Premier League stars then. We had Carr (20 games), Davies (42), Fahey (35), Murphy (33) Mutch (21), Redmond (24) Ridgewell (14) and Beausejour (22).
It has been a gradual decline as more and more of our best players have gone. Now Burke, Zigic and Adeyemi have left we have arguably no saleable assets left!
sorry did hughton get sacked at Norwich how unfortunate
What is Clark thinking with Novak up front…
It’s like he;s trying not to offend his best friend by playing every game.
Totally agree. No pace, not good in the air, not particularly good at holding the ball up or passing. A no trick pony.
how many goals did Novak score last season i rest my case dear sir,
http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140830-hall-we-didn't-deserve-anything-from-the-game-1886539.aspx? i do love players who come out, and tell it as it is……tinkering my arse…….glad the players accept responsibility shame some of the fans cannot accept it….
That page appears to have disappeared lol
:) oh dear lol
I wonder why?
KRO+DNM
And some fans can’t accept that the players won’t criticise the manager publicly.
How many have criticised him since they’ve left? I can only recall one.. and he wasn’t good enough to get into the team anyway.
Would you slag your manager off?
They want to play, look what happened to Scott Allen last season, what did he do wrong to languish with the academy players all season?
KRO+DNM
unfortunately it appeared he might have had attitude problem, sadly WBA thought the same chris, as they quickly moved him on….
Hmmm.. I wonder. http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lee-clark-tight-lipped-over-move-7694903
Any thoughts anyone. A possible… or a not-in-the-reign-of-pig’s-pudding?
I,m not sure we can afford his wages can we ? Unless Newcastle pay something towards them. I think i would prefer him to spend any money he has on a striker. In our position i think he’s a luxury player we could do without.
I tend to agree. But, it would be nice to see a player with some flair down StAns again… someone who can change a game with a clever pass, or shot from outside the box.
A clever pass to get Donaldson away at the right time could get us a 20 goal striker, as he seems to play on the defenders shoulder. Just like Marlon did.
100% agree… for once. ;-) Although, a winger hitting the byeline would help too.
we are going to pay him hk dollars……..
Any thoughts?
Yes we need a new manager to get the best out of team which is clearly heading towards relegation.One new player, whoever he is won’t make a difference…..Clark is the problem -sacking him is the solution.
Thanks for your thoughts on Ben Arfur.
Sorry Staffs-I’m still angry following yesterday’s abysmal performance which mirrors what happened in a large number of games last year.
I don’t disagree with that Art, it’s just that I think I know everyone’s opinion on Lee Clark now and what they think he should do… I just don’t need constant reminders. I get it. The fact is, I’m beginning to feel that we’re not far from needing a change… not because I think Clark is a bad manager, but he’s certainly an unlucky one.
Staffs;, You, Me and almost everyone else is getting that feeling, that what would another manger be able do different even with the same bunch of players, ?.
Thoughts anyone, ?.
Play two wide men with both Donaldson and Thomas, play a consistent back four and possibly drop Randolph for a couple of games, not convinced he has improved on his weaknesses from last season, even if it meant bringing in a loan keeper, I think Butland is still kicking his heals a Stoke.
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I may be being a bit harsh…. on second thoughts, no I’m not, but I think Randolph could/should have stopped the first 2 goals on Saturday. One under his body and one straight past his hand. I have a sneaking hope that someone comes in for him today. I can dream.
I think he should go back to Basketball, not saying he is a bad keeper, but he just doesn’t seem to improve, maybe he isn’t being pushed enough.
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Well, when we have a second choice keeper who has been happy to sit on the bench for most of his career, he’s not going to have much competition is he?
Doyle needs to be released at the end of the season and maybe promote Townsend.
Whatever we think between ourselves, NOTHING is going to change until there is movement
on selling our club, !!.
Absolutely agree. The club is going from stagnating to stagnant very quickly.
that’s the problem me thinks chris.. lacklustre. KRO.
Your right Staffs he is bone idle ,probably disruptive. and who knows what, but he is a talent and would improve us no end playing on crutches
So you see… it’s not always the manager’s fault. ;-)
15 love to staffs lol
well staffs it appears they are all rushing to answer that one lol
like all bad boys blues have a wonderful habit of bringing the best out of these players, imo i believe the same could be done for Ben Arfra…least he will worth a punt until possibly January window….
Man U washed their hands of Ravel Morrison, so did Wet Spam but after some wrangling he seemed to get the point with Clark. Imo LC is a good man manager but not a football tactician
he not magician neither Raymondo with the greatest respect….
I’m not sure it would be good for morale or the right reasons?
Might fill a few seats but would it be good long term for the club.
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Can he play Left back ? Cos he will almost certainly have to try if Clark signs him.
Left back? Ben Arfra? Haha, he’s far too lazy for that. I doubt you’d ever see him in his own half. I’d liken him more to David Ginola in that respect. :-)
On the pitch we were beaten by a better team. Off the pitch we were beaten by a better manager and a better board.
I was expecting a heavy loss versus Wigan. Who I have to say looked on a different planet compared to our league 1 cloggers. Unfortunately no chance of a new manager until a change of ownership
The result wasn’t a one off look at brentford last week they had ten men for most of that game and they outplayed us second half ok I will except a team will try harder if they are down to ten men but our team should never be outplayed by ten men especially when we were one up and brentford are not a team with prem players I don’t like saying sack Clark but I think time is up for him and his coaches they are all clueless.
I still don’t think things are as bad as they seem. The main thing we have to put right is the goalscoring situation. If we’d scored just 2 measly goals more, we’d have come out of the Ipswich and Brentford games with 6 points… that (regardless of the Wigan game,) would have put us level with Charlton, who are 6th atm Then things would be looking a whole lot better.
We have to get the message through to the forwards, that if we don’t score when we’re on top, the likelyhood is that we’ll concede… because we can’t just defend, defend, defend the whole game. On chances, both our strikers should be on 4 or 5 goals for the season so far, at least.
I think things are probably worse than a lot of us Bluenoses think, think back to last season when we comfortably beat Sheffield & Millwall also Charlton were poor for the majority of the season, those teams have progressed spending very little, go back to the season before when Burnley finished on the same points as us & the following season they get promoted after spending very little money, there are lots more examples of teams getting better due to having half decent managers/coaches on the other hand we couldn’t afford to keep the only quality we had in Burk & Zigic and we have a very poor manager who is tactically inept and his decision making is at best baffling so in my opinion we will be fighting relegation again
Ben Arfa rejects Birmingham loan move well that’s he’s problem if he dont want to come to a great club like ours, as the pardew said it be a long long stay in the reserves imo….does he care about football obviously not….
obviously wants to sit on his backside and pick up his wages mark and not play regular football with us so is football is very important to him and not what hes earning….YEAH RIGHT. ..your right mark its his loss!!! KRO.
With an attitude like that, he’s no loss to us.
hes off to Swansea apparently. KRO.
its a shame because that would have been clarks best signature to date, no argument imo. KRO.
Better than Macheda? Ben Arfur has always flattered to deceive, at least Macheda has had some success.
He would have gone to a decent championship team, that lets us out.
Really can’t understand why he would reject a move to Blues.!!
How dare he!
Lol
Obvious really, he didn’t fancy playing Right back.
have a nice day tony…don’t know why you bother to SUPPORT your team…unbelievable really.
We are not a decent championship side Dave
Zer man from Del Newcie….. He say no! :-)
i think he didnt want to change his georgie accent to french speaking brummie bless him…..
obviously some players think they are bigger than the club its self, great when a manager brings them back down to earth…..in any team…..
it must be utter dreamland then playing for a contract not for the team………
Apparently, Southampton are keen on Nathan Redmond. Is there a sell-on clause?
Stoke City too.
staffs the money just keeps rolling in lol
Another little dollop of cash would be nice, thank you very much. :-)
i bet you a hk dollar lol
Not sure why we don’t offer Shay Given a contract, could also become Goalkeeping Coach as I don’t think John Vaughan is doing a very good job with Randolph.
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Is Dave Watson still employed, or did he leave Norwich with Hughton? I know he’s part of the England set up too, but that’s not full-time.
I believe he took the gk coach at Southampton Staffs.
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Staffs and Chris W;, There is one who got away, unfortunately. Bloody good g/kpr-coach, Dave Watson.
Too right he was.
Cheers Chris, didn’t know that.
Sorry Staffs I posted it and you must have overlapped the delay in it being published.
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First class idea, Chris W.
Looks likely that Seb Hines a 6’2″ 26 yo central defender may be signing from Middlesbrough.
That can’t be good for morale or confidence when Will Packwood will be pushed down the pecking order.
I think he deserves his chance to play alongside Edgars, would benefit him no end and the club.
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I have to agree. Hines was very well thought of at Boro, but Packwood deserves his chance.
According to the SS website, looks like a done deal, with the player on his way for a medical. It’s a shame that it will probably be an ‘undisclosed fee,’ I would have liked to have seen how much he’d cost. He was pretty well fancied not so long ago.
He’s not joining.Negotiations have broken down.
Just read that. Wonder if Clark has a back up choice?
Andy Walker has gone home so it doesn’t look likely. The loan window opens again next week,so maybe something then.
Maybe another season long loan.. or at least until Xmas. Roger Johnson is available. ;-)
Just heard on SS that Palace are interested in Demarai Gray. :-O
According to the reporter outside Palace, the clubs are in talks… so who knows.
Looks like Oscar Cordoza on freeforums could be right Staffs.He said Pannu would announce his resignation early.
Yes Steve, I’ve been following that thread. Fingers crossed eh?
I’ll believe it when it is announced on HKSE or the club web site, can’t see him walking away without some form of severance pay.
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His contract is up anyway at the end of the month,so there is no severance pay. This bloke on freeforums seems to know a lot of Stuff. Sky have reported it as well.
He is not going to relinquish his directorship on both boards though, so he will still be pulling the strings unless the other directors vote him off and since our biggest shareholder is his best mate CY I can’t see that happening any time soon.
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Well i believe what this bloke has said.He predicted Jeremy Wray before it came out.And now he has predicted this,so we’ll wait and see. Whatever happens,he will be gone at the end of the month anyway.
Not according to Tatts and the mail.
Jeremy Wray seems to be dead and buried too so I’ll go with the HKSE as they seem to be pulling the strings regarding any take over and the clubs official web site.
Most forums usually add their own little spice to attract readers, one of the reason I prefer OP, we get to have an opinion and Dan seems to be first with any new updates.
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Well Dan didn’t predict Jeremy Wray and he poo pooed this bloke when he said PP would announce his resignation today. He got dogs abuse when he named Wray and they all ate a lot of humble pie a few days later.
I’ll still wait for the official announcement, I would trust PP if he told me today was Monday. Not saying your man is wrong but PP will still be a director of BCFC and BIHL along with being a shareholder so he isn’t going away, it is only his consultancy fees we will be losing.
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Just checked the teams and Hines played against us on the opening day, when Boro beat us 2-0.
Haha!! Give that lad a season ticket. :-D [IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/iwn5lf.jpg[/IMG]
Priceless, Some people have some bottle….
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is there some kind of decontamination process that could be tried , or is there no hope for him now.
I believe he’s been put in quarantine for at least 2 weeks.
Nah, it’s a supa doopa blues shirt… repels even the nastiest sh*t!
Andy Walker has gone home,so it looks like nothing happening for us tonight.
Seems that way.
Hines deal off, Demarai Gray enquiry laughed off. But word is that Lee Clark went to Swansea with the U21s.
Wonder if we’ll get to know why Clark pulled out of the Seb Hines deal? According to Tatts, “he travelled down to talk terms and a medical, but Birmingham City opted
not to pursue the permanent transfer (for an undisclosed fee.)”
Maybe a deal on loan instead?
The only thing I could think of is our wage structure.
I’m not overly bothered really as I think we have what I believe could be a great Centre back in Will Packwood given the right coaching and playing with David Edgar.
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I’m of the same mind.
I see Emir Huws has signed permanently for Wigan. So much for Viera’s forecast that he would be a big player for Man City in the future.
It makes you wonder what BIHL are doing with BCFC?
If they put money into the team they would have assets and probably a successful side.
What do they hope to achieve by letting the club flounder like a beached whale until it eventually dies.
We could have signed Huws and kept Adeyemi, with a couple of other decent signings who knows.
I doubt very much we will ever get promoted with LC, with or without money.
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I doubt we’d get promoted with money… with or without Clark.
The Club has been on a downward spiral ever since we won the cup. I can’t see throwing a few million at it doing much good. The only way is to get a fighting spirit within the squad… and cut out the Sunday League mistakes.
Which beggars the question “What do BIHL hope to achieve”
They can’t afford to run us, we are not worth anything to them from a financial point as we don’t generate a profit.
The only asset we give them is a HKSE listing, they can’t diversify because they have no income coming in.
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I think everyone knows now, that all we are to them, is the SE listing. We mean nothing more than that. Other than the first season, when have they invested in us? Season after season, they provide just enough to keep us ticking over, not a penny more. No successful business can be run like that.
Seems Peterboro and Coventry are preferable to us Staffs what a disgrace.
There was something iffy about the whole thing I reckon. He was down for the medical etc…. so something must have occurred for Blues to pull the plug. Was the player or agent trying to play us off against Coventry? He just happened to go another club in the area. Something stinks mate… and I don’t think it was on our side.
I can’t believe a player of his experience would choose league one over the Championship, you either take a sideways step or better.
Coventry must have a bigger sofa to offer more money.
KRO+DNM
The important thing to remember here, is that he didn’t choose… WE called off the deal. At that late hour, perhaps Coventry was the only choice he had left.
The loan window opens next week so he had options available, we were looking at a permanent deal hence the fee.
As you say something stinks and from him or his agent.
Will Packwood is probably a tad happier as it is still in contention :-)
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A few hours after we pulled the plug on Seb Hines… he signs for Coventry on a season long loan. Hmm.. I suppose, as he was in the area…
Did they pay a fee?
Seems BIHL want everyone on a freebie.
As much as I hate to say this but I just wish we would go into administration, sometimes you have to amputate a useless limb before you can live a full life again.
It would appear to be the only way we are ever going to progress, the alternative is to be relegated, and that can really backfire, as Coventry and Portsmouth have found out.
Is it the Chinese that do the honourable thing when they fail, seppuku, or is that just the Japanese?
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There was definitely going to be a fee involved, because it’s been stated by the BM that it would have been an ‘undisclosed fee,’ not an undisclosed freebie. I think that the player and his agent were up to some shenanigans… because it was US who pulled the plug, not them.
Looking at Blues U21 defeat to Swansea, I’m not surprised Lee Clark was looking for another centre back. As much as I like the lad, Will Packwood looked like a carthorse for all 3 goals. Out of position and plodding back. Maybe I’m being harsh?
Maybe he is demoralised, did he know LC was considering another centre back?
Did LC want Hines or was it the board who decided, maybe LC told them he didn’t want him when he got back?
We will probably never know the real reasons.
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I doubt we’ll ever know the reasons either. As for another centre back, we’re one down, so it’s not rocket science to think we might need a replacement, especially after shipping 9 goals in our last 3 games. ;-)
After watching and analysing the goals I do think Randolph should have done better for at least two against Wigan and I would be concerned with the number of players who are slipping, is it the length of the studs, design of the modern boot or too much water?
Defensively we are all at sea, making pretty basic errors.
Maybe LC should be looking at the goalkeeping department for strengthening too. Randolph does not command his 6 yard box, he could have claimed the cross for the Ipswich first goal, his kicking is erratic and rarely starts with an attack with a short throw-out.
Maybe a loan could be beneficial
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Agree with every word. Paddy Kenny is a free agent atm. ;-)