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Another Defeat for Blues – But Maybe a Silver Lining
Birmingham City lost to Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 last night leaving them in 20th place in the SkyBet Championship with just six points from seven games. Second half goals from Stevie May and Jeremy Helan were enough to sink Blues who by most accounts had had a good first half.
I can’t really comment on the Sheffield Wednesday game as I wasn’t there to watch it but from what I read on twitter and from what people have told me it followed a similar pattern to the Leeds game; brighter first half from Blues where we didn’t finish or even create enough chances and then inevitably conceded in the second half when the away team stepped up a gear against tiring legs. It seems inevitable that this season will be a long hard slog and that predictions of midtable right now seem a bit pie in the sky.
As to be expected, Lee Clark copped a lot of flak again last night; however what was intriguing was that Panos Pavlakis himself tweeted that he had read and acknowledged the vitriol towards Clark. Whether that means the pressure is on is one question; however Clark has lost some security with the fact Blues can actually afford to sack him now should they choose to do so. I get the impression that Clark’s survival at the club is partially tied to the political situation there in that there are two “bosses” above him – Panos and Pannu – and that until Pannu moves on at the end of the month Panos might be holding fire to prevent any misunderstandings or mixups.
I’m not going to go on about which players are poor or even Clark being poor because I think neither can help their limitations; we are where we are because of a lack of investment in the team. Until that changes the team is always going to need something a bit special to change things because the lack of quality will be a hindrance.
One thing I have picked up from my HK sources in the past week is that while the complete sale of the club is still being looked at by the HKSE they have said that BIH can sell up to 24% of the club without issue provided that there are no strings attached – in other words no agreements in place to sell the club in full at a later date. What that means is that if BIH can attract an investor who is willing to work with them, then they can bring in some extra additional money into the club by that route. There is still some investigation by the HKSE into the audit of BIH baut it would appear that they are happy enough for BIH to try to attract investment at least. I’m going to add a shameless plug here – but if you want to know the full background why BIH are being investigated as well as the full story of what was going on in BIH, you can always read my book which comes out October 16.
I can understand why people might be reluctant to accept just investment – after all I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking a clean break is necessary. That being said with Carson languishing in prison pining for Just for Men and Pannu apparently out of the door at the end of this month, things are actually changing and it might not be so bad – especially if that investment can affect the team positively in January with money for players and maybe a new manager.
I’m heading out to HK next week to promote my book but while I’m out there I’ll also be trying to find out just what is happening with regards to this proposed investment – and also the departure of Peter Pannu. I’m holding a webinar on Sep 30 from HK where I’ll be talking all about that – you can sign up here if you are interested – and I will be putting the recording of the live transmission on youtube afterwards.
Tags: BIH, HKSE, Lee Clark, Panos Pavlakis, Peter Pannu
94 Responses to “Another Defeat for Blues – But Maybe a Silver Lining”
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Sorry but I think it’s catastrophic news from Hong Kong. Basically they can’t sell the club in full and keep their HK listing, now you are saying no one can even buy part of the club with a promise of a takeover at a set date in the future. That just leaves someone who will be stupid enough to hand over millions to the basket case that is BIHL and “work with them” that is just pie in the sky and will not happen. Looks like our downward spiral will continue for a long long time.
agree with you Ginge!
I think we knew this already
Not doubting you at all Dan, but interesting how you are so convinced PP1 is off at the end of them month. It seems to have been an open secret for a good while now, but I think (and I could be wrong) that this is the first time I have seen you so adamant it’s ‘tarra a bit’ to him.
I am of the belief that the board will part company with Lee Clark if results do not improve. Although there is no transfer cash to spend, Clark has been allowed to put his own squad together and there has been scope made available to tweak with the budget and allow Clayton Donaldson to go above the wage cap and there seems to be a five figure weekly salary waiting for a quality addition, ie, Ben Arfa/Malouda. I don’t think it is rocket science to think that Clark is now on borrowed time and it is now up to HIS players to ultimately save his job.
He needs to go before the end of November else we won’t be able to catch up. He should have walked end of last season on a high, he didn’t though so it’s no surprise we are back in the same situation as last year. He’s tactically inept with predictable substitutions etc.
Saturday will be an embarrassment you could see the players heads dropping last night.
Every season the situation worsens. Grounds, Hall, Gleeson, Thomas, Donaldson all plied their trade in League 1 last season. Edgar couldn’t get a game for Burnley. Duffy and Cotterill played in a team relegated to League 1. Paul Robinson is past his best and Neil Eardley hasn’t shook off his serious knee injury.
In reserve we have Matt Green who we got from non league Mansfield and Denny Johnstone an untried youngster from Celtic. Hancox, Reilly and Packwood seemed to have been frozened out of the picture.
I don’t blame Clark for all the problems like some fans. To have no money to spend, coupled with a salary cap of £5k per week, trying to compete with other Championship clubs spending millions in the transfer market no wonder we are performing poorly.
I just hope and pray the situation doesn’t get irretrievable before the club is rescued by new buyers.
I agree with the above regarding the standard of players, i have no argument with that at all. But can you see a game plan when you watch the games? How do you think we set out to play? Do we look to counter attack? get the ball out wide and attack down the wings, go direct? I can’t see how he sets the team up to compete. Which for me is even more important if you have a poor selection of players to pick from. Having said all that, do you know many of the players that played for leeds/brentford/sheff wednesday? For me our team is very much the same level as them. KRO!!
The only game plan I can see LC has incorporated this season is “hoof the ball up to the box and hope for the best”. We NEED to start playing football where WE dictate the pace. I believe we have the quality within the squad to pass the ball about and keep possession. I try my upmost to stick behind LC but with each match I attend mirroring each other I am starting to worry that he has no other ideas and isn’t willing or brave enough to try something new. It seems that as soon as LC makes his first substitution the team go to pot and that’s when we seem to concede
Fitness plays a massive part in this league and its something we are lacking in massively. Every game we get to the 60 minute mark and the players have nothing left in their legs. We have a number of injuries that are strains/pulls/twist etc which points to unconditioned players. I think we may have been kidding ourselves in preseason when we play teams from considerably lower leagues, they have no where near the fitness regimes of professional teams so we came into the season completely unprepared and its telling big time now. If you can’t get the basics like this right then you have little to no chance of competing on any sort of even playing field. With regards to the sale of the club, i don’t see the above as good news at all. What legitimate decent businessman/men are going to invest in a company that has the track record of BIHL with no promise of a full takeover being allowed, its just a nonsense. KRO!!
I think this is a very good point bluemat, it does look like tiredness, hate to think our fitness isn’t top drawer!!
KRO
a change is needed on and off the pitch now ime sorry to say, BIHL should go and lee clark should go….my support for both is finished. KRO.
Good first half performance last night sadly blighted by poor finishing and also another slice of bad luck when Caddis hit the post – if that had gone in who knows why might have happened. Second half we looked like a poor championship side quickly running out of steam with our trademark terribly poor passing from all areas of the pitch. In all honesty we didn’t really look like scoring second half, apart from a late rally when it was too late anyway, but SW looked like they could add to their tally at any time. Of all Clark’s summer additions to me only Edgar has performed anywhere near consistently and the others look like poor to average league one performers. Even when Gray was brought on we failed to really get the ball to him so he had nowhere near the same impact as against Leeds. I can see nothing but another embarrassing mauling against Norwich, no doubt with Redmond and Jerome filling their boots along the way. I don’t think things will ever improve under Clark’s stewardship and should money become available to him I don’t think he would spend it wisely. He has spent a reported six-figure sum on both Johnstone and Davis; the former has hardly figured and the latter is now showing why Wolves were keen to ditch him so you have to ask if cash investments on these players were wise. My thoughts before a ball was kicked this season was that survival remained our only hope and even that is looking fainter now.
I may have misunderstood what you have stated, but why would anyone invest up to 24% without any future commitment? Surely that would just be waving bye bye to the money.
There is only one man that can save blues Tony Pullis !!!
cant see him leaving is current job to come to blues…unless hes brain dead!!! KRO.
Dave, Tony Pullis is currently unemployed as he left Crystal Palace just before the season started, he is currently being linked to the Albion job that is currently held by Irvine.
He would be a good manager but would want overall control something he wouldn’t get at Blues and I’m not sure the fans would like his style of football.
KRO+DNM
being out of work is better than taking the blues job Chris and hed certainly want more than 6k a week so that’s a definite no. KRO.
Too true Dave, I believe Clark is on £1 Million a year, might be wrong, though I have heard it will cost £3 mil to get rid of him, whether that includes his backroom staff too and bringing in another not sure.
There are certainly some good talented managers on the market at the moment, so now would be a good time before they get snaffled up, Steve Clark would be a good fit for Blues.
KRO+DNM
gary rowett would be my choice. KRO.
Good call, but he is currently with Burton, not sure we could afford the compensation on top of settling Clark’s contract.
I do believe Cardiff are about to off load Solskjaer and Rowett has been muted in the valleys, I heard that on Friday at a wedding in Swansea.
KRO+DNM
Tony Pulis was born in Newport S.Wales I think he will end up at Cardiff.
Who not ask José Mourinho? , we have no chance of getting a quality manager like Pulis , sorry but your dreaming.
I was slightly amused/bemused to hear Tom Ross bemoaning missed chances in the first half when Blues were on top. He must have gone to a different game to me. It was fairly even in my opinion, two poor sides. In particular the Thomas chance was bemoaned. From my view point I thought Cotterill put far too much weight & height on the cross, might have been OK for Zigic, but Thomas had no chance. The Caddis one that hit the post was something out of nothing really. I think Tom & Kevan are grasping at straws more & more, avoiding criticism of the manager at all costs.
When you have so-called inferior players the one thing you should do is get them organised, make them difficult to beat & create an over my dead body spirit. This does get results without having world beaters. I’m afraid LC is failing on all counts.
You were at a diffreent game mate, Blues easily the better side in the 1st half – and I can think of at least three decent chances created compared to one for SW.
“Tom & Kevan are grasping at straws more & more, avoiding criticism of the manager at all costs.”
Tom, maybe… but Broadhurst? Not a chance.. he hates Lee Clark and takes every chance he can to have a dig… because he’s bitter and he thinks Clark has his job maybe?
But, I’m coming round to the fact we might need new management if we’re going to see an improvement in our fortunes on the pitch. That’s doesn’t mean I don’t support Clark or think he’s a bad manager, but he’s certainly a bloody unlucky one… and I think we need all the luck we can get right now.
I do believe, though, that the players deserve a massive share of the blame, especially the strikers. With the chances they’ve spurned so far this season, they should both be heading the goalscoring charts. The fact that they’re not, is the reason we’re not in the top 6 and probably why the manager will lose his job. Just my opinion of course.
absolutely staffsblue players whatever level they think they are, as team they need to battle harden up,man up, fight for each other, and give no quarter,If they want to define their season, each and every one player needs to look in the mirror. Starting on Saturday against Norwich………..
Regarding Kevan excellent player loved his no-nonsense attitude on the pitch for us…..as a commentator reasonably well glued in appears he can talk the talk….but himself he never make a manager in a million years……imo its easy to criticize when looking in to a situation from the sidelines with no real pressure to get results, then criticize further afterwards…
You just summed up Broadhurst perfectly!
hi staffs just giving my honest opinion :)
I think the time has come for Clark to be replaced.Our home record is shocking.I have grown tired of all the excuses.
I am full of praise for the hardy souls who go to all the games. Living far away from St Andrews, I don’t get the chance to come up that often. For the crowd, watching one pointless performance after another must be soul-destroying. I do agree that our players are not the greatest – but I am more and more convinced a different manager could do so much better. Imagine Tony Pulis with this lot…the results would soon turn around. Not saying I want him, just imaging a different situation.
clark barely had these players, and we are already looking for miracles, we need time and patience with this crop of players, again with this a set players it still working progress…we know most of us would take middle or play-offs…..IMO we need a full season to really judge Clark properly, and see where we end up at the end of the season.. 10 games is certainly not long enough when a full season is 46 games… Certainly if Clark is perilously close to the drop zone towards the end of the season when i would personally hold my hand up. But until then i will continually back Clark with getting his ethos over to the players…….
He’s had 2 years?? It was a fluke we stayed up last year.
so was Man city beating Utd to the premiership crown on goal difference so what! consigned to the history books…..
Ridiculas argument as usual, fact is Clark has had 2 full seasons in charge so far and we’ve got progressively worse.
10 games is all I would give him mark to be honest, hes had 7 and if we don’t get a win in the next 3 then he has to go for me, we cant leave it to late because then it might be to late to repair the damage …….ive respected clark for 2 or so years now but the jobs got on top of him and a new insight into tactics, formations and substitutions must be a certainty sooner rather than later. KRO.
Once again our home form is dire, unfortunately I an’t see our away form being much better this season.
Away games for me were the highlight of our season, free flowing attacking football, everything St ans was not. The start of the season when LC said he had his players and wanted to play high tempo further up the field I got just a little excited. However, after the debacle at Brentford and again against Leeds my heart has sunk to a whole new low becaus I cannot see these players under this manager improving.
KRO+DNM
I am amazed how many supporters are calling for Clarks head
He is limited to organizing a team with second rate players. These are players that if he had more money he would probably never buy. As to organization, anyone who has ever played football to a reasonable standard will tell you that once better players get the upper hand, organization goes out the window. You end up chasing shadows. Better players are normally quicker fitter and more intelligent that the ones we are able to afford. Any other manager with Clarks restrictions would struggle to compete in this league. Be careful what you wish for
Correct, when you have the standard of players we are blessed with you have to organise so that every one knows what is expected of them. You then create a spirit of never say die, then you have a chance.
Its been done plenty of times before Pullis did it at Stoke, the defensive unit is vital People go on about Mcleish and the boring football he produced, but what wouldn’t I give to have him back now, we were hard to beat under him. The one encouraging factor in all of this is the comment from Paviakis that he heard the protest against ,Clark hopefully he will do what should have been done 2 years ago and put Clark and us out of our misery. I truly struggle to understand the mans mind he knows the job is too much for him he is desperate but devoid of ideas to stop the rot.
He should have walked after the Barnsley debacle last year that remains the worst performance from a Blues side I have ever seen
Commons select committee meetings seem inappropriate to football but yesterday A guy was described as a Charleton, a man in love with his position, his salary and a total disgrace
That seems to fit Mr Clark get shut of him now.
you know what Tony, your propably right, no your definetley right. KRO.
Tony, we lost the game in the second half midfield battle last night, our midfield completely failed to retain possession or break down the SW attacks, don’t think you can blame the defence – when it’s a constant tide eventually something will give.
Richard we lost the game because of the managers preference in playing a high tempo front foot game, the attacks break down and the opposition pick us off its simple.
Its possible to organize a side to play with discipline, to minimize mistakes, personally all I care about is picking up points if that means parking the bus then so be it.
sorry, Tony so you only ever saw one bad performance, and it happen to be barnsley where have you been then lol
No Mark I have seen loads of bad performances but the Barnsley one typifies everything,I think when a man like Dave says Clark’s time is up then we all better believe it.
Hes a guy who hardly ever misses a game who travels away with them, a guy who has defended Clark come what may.
and no disrespect to Dave that’s his opinion, like all of us on here we all have opinions that’s what makes Daniel;s site NO.1
thanks tony but as mark said its just my opinion, I will be at Norwich Saturday supporting the players the manager and the club but ime not holding much hope that I will be travelling home in a good mood but you never know…..I am running out of excuses for lee clark so that’s why I think a change is needed but yes I do go to most games so ime entitled to say what I think so thanks for that pal. KRO.
One bad performance. You have got be joking. How many games over the last three seasons have games been lost by half time. It is beyond a joke. We are back to been a laughing stock again thanks to crap owners and a manager who is out of his depth. I actually don’t think it’s his fault this season because he has very few championship quality players if any. Whether or not he got them in if you pay football league 1 wages that is the standard you get.
so league 1 players have no chance reaching the promise land, me [personally disagree with you.
Individual players like the present the blues crop, need time and encouragement, there probably only a few players who have double figures appearances for the club…….then look at the crop who got us down from the premiership……
Unfortunately Mark with the current situation time is something we are short of. The players have had 10 games plus friendlies and should by now starting to show signs of encouragement.
On talk sport last night someone interviewed one of the Neville brothers who went to an unnamed Championship club with a view of becoming manager, he was asked how long is the expectancy of a manager of a Championship manager, “2 to 3 years” he said “8 months ” was the reply, LC has had three years and nothing has improved, in fact it has got worse and showing more signs of deterioration.
The sooner BIHL realise this the better for all concerned at the club.
KRO+DNM
First half I have to say I thought we played pretty well – dominated possesion and looked the far likelier to score. We battled, won most of the lose ball, harried Wednesday, used the wings well, created chances and looked in no trouble at the back. Problem is you’ve got to score when you’re on top – Donaldson being the most wasteful with our best chance of the night from the edge of the box that he ballooned over the bar.
Second half was like a different team altogether. We got noticeably poorer when Shea was taken off, but by then Wednesday were completely on top. Seems to be a recurring pattern here, same thing happened at Brentford and to a lesser extent against Leeds. Is it a fitness problem?
I’m not sure exactly what people want or expect Clark to do, given the available resources. One thing that did really piss me off last night however, was the continued “hoof ball” from every goal-kick / feekick to the edge of the area – easy picking for the much taller SW centre backs, with the SW midfielders ready and quicker to the loose ball every time – we were entirely predictable and made it very easy for them.
There is the nugget of a decent team there I’m sure, certainly one that can compete and keep us up in this league – we just need to find some consistency in performance from somewhere.
spot on for me……
it seemed to me that blues could have,and should have killed the game dead in the first half……you could see straight away that any team coming to blues know if they can hang on until the second half they are in with a chance….Its up to the blues players that if they are not turning up for the second half bloody make sure got 2 or 3 goals in your locker before you dont turn up……simples
If our two strikers had netted even half the chances they’ve had, we certainly wouldn’t be in the bottom half of the table right now. 4-4-2 is what the fans cried out for… but it won’t work if your strikers can’t hit a cow’s a*se with a banjo. They need to shape up or ship out.
I hope your right Richard for all our sakes because its going to be a long cold winter with the luck were having, KRO.
i said it before, and i say it again, players errors need to be cut out, we need to take our chances when they come its not rocket science… players on the pitch need to start growing some balls and man up… how can a the manager be to blame…..people are so happy to find scapegoats it truly makes them happy….
Proof would be another manager taking this team over. Surely even you can see we have gradually got worse under Clark?
If he stays he takes us down, last year was just luck it won’t happen again.
Give it a rest mark, as soon as we get a good result all you do is praise clark and ask where all the boo boys are. It works both ways, a MANAGER manages meaning they get credit for good results or criticism for bad results and since we usually get nothing but bad results he deserves criticism, It’s that simple.
maybe if we had taken our chances we wouldn’t be having this conversation.. how can you criticize the manager does he shout at thomas or any other player , and say hey mate go on miss that…. but some people make me lol…..
That, in my opinion, is the No.1 reason we’re failing so far. We’re creating enough chances, but the strikers are continually fluffing their lines. The shots on target each game is the biggest indicator.
Both Donaldson and Thomas had excellent chances to score against Sheff Wed, but failed again. If those same two chances had fallen to Sheffield players, I’m pretty sure they’d have been buried.
When the strikers keep missing chances, the rest of the team must become disheartened. I know it shouldn’t happen, but these are delicate little flowers we’re talking about.
funny if it not Carson or PP WELL it might as well be Clark…..
If you read comments on opposition fan sites, most do say that Birmingham are a poor team. We all know what Joey Barton has predicted for Blues this season and Wednesday supporters expected a win last night. What concerns me is that I think teams come to St Andrews and expect to get the 3 points, just like last season. The writing was on the wall at Brentford against 10 men where a pattern has set in, playing the so called high pressing game, missing chances and then falling apart in the second half. This has occurred in the past 2 home games and the worrying thing is that Donaldson and Thomas are the only fit senior strikers. I would be inclined to put Gray and Koby Arthur up front at half time if Clark insists on playing a high pressing game for a full 90 minutes!
I thought we gave as good as we got in the first half and with a little luck could have gone in one up had caddis not hit the post.
Once again, Shea looked lively and was far above everyone else, so the question is why take him off?
If he is not 100% why play him, get him fully fit and give him 90 minutes, it is demoralising for the players on the bench.
Talking of which, what has happened to Hancox and Packwood, both who gave 110% for the cause last season?
Packwood should have replaced Hall instead of Robbo, who for me has had his day now; he is becoming a liability and is looking at another ban before long, he was lucky not to be shown a red last night.
Caddis is not an attacking midfielder for me and should have dropped back when Eardley was injured, Cotterill seems scared to take on defenders, I thought Burke was one-dimensional Cotterill is even less.
What does Duffy have to do to get a game; he excited me in pre–season games and thought he looked sharp and took players on, got to the by–line and whipped in crosses.
Clark continues to make unnecessary changes, Eardley obviously cannot play two games a week, is not fully recovered from his injury, as I said Shea was the bright spark in a damp box, Gray was not given the same service when he came on, so why not start Gray and use Shea until he is fully fit.
How many times last night did we get the ball down the wings only to find that both Donaldson and Thomas were the ones chasing down the lines and not in the box. How many times did we hit the ball across to the back post, something that rarely occurred when we had a 6’7” striker, only to find no one coming in and the cross too high for both our strikers causing it to skim off the head or attacked on the up?
No one is taking control in midfield, which is what Davis was bought for, probably our best midfielder, Edgar, is being deployed in defence.
Randolph insisted on pumping the ball up field last light and neither striker won a ball, the defenders had a field day, defenders should offer an option and drag players away from the middle, it is basic coaching even at school level.
If, as Dan says, we can afford to pay Clark off then now is the time, for all his passion I feel he has taken BCFC as far as he can, with or without money, at very best he is a league one manager or a number two.
Personally I cannot see where any goals ore coming from, we have had 10 games with virtually the same personal so they should know each other now.
KRO+DNM
I am amazed at all these complaints, about how poor the players are, or their lack of fitness. Also the criticism of Lee Clark and his style of play and substitutions. When will people realise, all of these problems have been brought about by the owners of the club and the club will continue on a downward spiral until they go. Most of the players are out of their depth in the championship, but we have these players because, the directors will not provide money to bring in players of championship standard. Lee Clark has been tasked with making a silk purse out of a pigs ear. Don’t waste time writing about the teams performances, just complain about this bunch of incompetent directors, who are ripping this club of ours to pieces. They have no interest in the club, apart from how they can get money out of it. Every problem that exits at the club, is the fault of the DIRECTORS, aim all your criticisms at them. It is imperative that they go !!!
John, we all know that the root of the problem is BIHL and we are well aware that not much will change until they sell up.
Unfortunately they will not sell because they will lose their HKSE listing, they cannot sell because of the ongoing investigation by HKSE over certain irregularities in past years, no one will buy the club while the current asking price is so high and because of the ongoing investigation.
However, with the current squad, many from last season, you would expect the minimum of 100% effort and commitment, both are sadly lacking, the manager is lacking motivation and drive, this seeps through to the players and appears to be in abundance.
Lee Clark, for all his passion he showed at Bolton, has taken BCFC as far as he can, he asked for these players stating: “They bought into his ethos”, well they are not doing it on the pitch. It doesn’t matter how good they are in training, how hard they work, what matters is what happens on the pitch and they would be out played by an half decent pub team.
Sorry, but what happens on the pitch is down to manager, tactics and players.
I bet if you took 11 supporters from the stands and put them on the pitch and asked them to perform you would get 11 people giving 100%+, that is all the fans want, a bit of fight, fire in the belly will send the fans home happy, but last night they rolled over second half and I firmly believe it was down to unnecessary changes which disrupted tatics.
KRO+DNM
spot on Chris , only one team in a league can have the best players , but any team can be the most committed.
John……I agree 100%.
Cheers Dan personally I can never under any circumstans conceive of anyone wanting to invest with these eejits, but I do think there is massive opportunities for new owners if they could meet BIHL`s asking price,. The figure of 30 mill is often bandied about but that would only be on Blues making it back to Prem. Present value half of that.
KRO
John, I think every Blues fan is sick to the back teeth of talking about the owners, it had become such a circus everyone gave in and will just sit back to wait and see what happens. The manager on the other hand will be a talking point, yes he is tasked with making a silk purse out of a pigs ear but the team is currently making a pigs ear out of their second half performances!
I think Andy there comes a point where you have to say “I can’t do that” and walk away, that is where LC is now, he cannot make pigs ear out of a pigs ear so he has no chance of a silk one.
KRO+DNM
We have to do whatever we can to make sure we stay up this season, forget trying to play attractive footballl this season, I don’t believe we have the end product for it. I would happily go to Mcleish type tactics as I think we have a better chance of moving up the league as we always seem to leak goals.
nothing wrong with mcleishes tactics matt, our home record under him was magnificent, if only we could get anywhere near that now. KRO.
We are shipping goals because the midfield is weak and the two strikers are too easily beaten from the constant pumping of high balls down the middle. We need a holding midfielder who can hold the ball and someone who can drive forward with the ball, Davis and Caddis are just not doing it or working together.
We need a change in style, LC boasts he want to learn how Barcelona train and play, I think he came back and did the complete opposite.
Our players can’t even play 90 minutes because of a lack of fitness and I have watched my grandsons under 12 team play better tactics.
KRO+DNM
when you are losing all your frailties come to the top, when you are winning all your frailties are masked……..totally in agreement with staffs Clark at this moment in time has been extremely unlucky, we could be talking about top 6, but we are languishing a lot lower funny its amazing the fine line….
11/12 season we lost our relegation’s status, but against bolton we survived……..dont you just football in its entirety……..
*love
I agree in part, but you also make your own luck, LC, against both Brentford and Leeds to a team form winning to holding out for a point by stupid and necessary substitutions, no luck needed.
His team selections are unbalanced, Robbo should not be in the team, he has had his day and he causes more problems than he solves, he has become a liability.
KRO+DNM
Really it all lies in the hands of the owners, money talks and Blues have none. They really need to quickly find a solution to the ownership of Birmingham City. However, is Lee Clark to blame for any of the dire football being put on display every week? Yes, we know he hasn’t had much money and he has had to sell his best players. If we go back to two seasons however when we did have some decent players, we were still useless. Never being able to defend a lead, players constantly being played out of position. The players are nothing compared to what we have been use to in the past, but they are not organised, not pressing quick enough, not capable of passing a 6 yard pass and don’t really seem to know what they are doing. I believe if we can’t solve the major problem of selling the club, we need to solve the other problem of Lee Clark. It’s amazing how far, good management and coaching can get a club.
I thought there were positive signs in the Leeds game, but 6 points out of a possible 21 are difficult stats to argue with. Lack of investment has left us with lower league players coming up against a lot of teams that have either come down from the PL or have PL players. I find it difficult to support LC any longer, I’m afraid, but not certain who would actually replace him? Also, as a businessman, there is no way I would buy a 24% stake in a business that has failed to produce credible accounts and received ongoing auditor queries. It’s difficult to see an early end to either the on or off field problems, but no doubt we will see some light eventually. It’s not as if we have a trouble free history ;) KRO
Dave…when you say you’re a “businessman”, you’re not in the running to take it over yourself are you?
Can we have tony pullis please! Clueless Clark needs to go before we’re down n out.
Has Disque gone?
Hopefully, OP paid the ransom and got his blog back.
How can Clark and his coaches not get the blame we were just as bad last season remember we stayed up because Leicester got a dodgy pen to beat Doncaster and we had some decent players then unfortunately we have become consistent at one thing under Clark and that’s EXCUSES for dire performances. And nobody is going to buy into blues in the circumstances that these people want you would have to be as stupid as these people who own us. I’ve said this before and I will say it again the only way we are going to get rid of these idiots is to go into ADMINISTRATION but I know it won’t happen.
I think most people are agreed, that it probably is the only way we’ll get rid… but the buggers won’t let that happen.
Force them into administration by not feeding them with money (as I’m doing )and will continue to do so until they clear off,
I appreciate it’s not popular and it’s a personal choice but In my view it’s the only way forward.
force them into administration?? with the money that just recouped from season tickets, players transfers, you got along wait..the awards blues keep receiving for their high class hospitality at the club ….imo….by the time you get to that eventually, if eventually comes Carson will probably be free…..
oh by the way well done to you for not feeding the club…..i forgot its really hurt them lol
I suggested that at the end of last season and was vilified for the suggestion, but it is the only way we are going to rid ourselves of BIHL.
Unfortunately with the extra season ticket sales and added transfer monies it isn’t going to happen any time soon.
In my opinion, the only way forward now is a step backward and BIHL are forced to sell with relegation becoming imminent. Alternatively, the FA and/or the Football League get proof that CY is still pulling the strings and along with HKSE they begin a thorough investigation into the running of BCFC.
Either way the only sufferers will be the loyal faithful, those actually running the club at St Andrews and us the supporters.
Players will be sold and move on, managers will be sacked and move on, we will still be here, supporters are like marriages, they commit to one club for life.
KRO+DNM
Mark,
The life line of any business is MONEY.
Stop the supply and they won’t have a business and yes the club may survive this season but they would be forced to sell next season .At the moment the club is being systematically raped of its finances and if you wish to encourage this /that’s fine but I won’t.
Art, that was my argument last season, a little like calling for a boycott, it will never happen.
BIHL have received the season ticket sales, all the media and sponsorship monies so they can function for another season, top that with the added transfer monies and BIHL could be sitting comfortable.
Match day money is pittance in running a professional football club today, might cover the ball-boys, stewards and ancillary staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
KRO+DNM
Guys, Lee Clark will never get the chance to prove himself at the Blues. With the current set up it doesnt matter if we have Lee Clark or Jasper Carrott. No manager in the world could make a decent Championship side out of lower and non league players and freebies, especially given the wage cap which probably rules out 95% of players who would genuinally improve the team. Each season we sustain our interest and morale by pretending that this is the season when Clark turns everything around. The absolute truth of the matter is that until we rid ourselves of the indifferent morons who are running our parent organisation things are not going to change. It is great to have banter and differences of opinion that is part of what keeps us going. In the meantime, I am off to the local BUPA Hosiptal to see if they can put me to sleep for 5 years, then hopefully when they arouse me, we may have sold the club.
http://www.touchlinetalk.com/lee-clark-hurting-hungry/105500/? clark clearly states nothing to do with fitness, imo they stopped playing collectively in the second half…..which gave the opposition the impetus to have a go at us….kro
look like the bookies dont give us a chance on saturday against Norwich with odds of 7-1 blues win sweet
It depends how Clark sets us up mark. If he goes 4-4-2, yes, we’ll probably lose heavily. You don’t go away to a team bang in form and play 4-4-2. I remember Hughton doing that away to Southampton. Suicide.
For me, I’d go either 4-2-3-1 or, preferrably, 4-5-1/4-1-4-1. It’s pretty certain Robbo will replace Hall with Spector in for Eardley. Saying that, I’d go something like this: (never gonna happen though)
Randolph
Spector Edgar Robinson Grounds
Davis
Caddis Gleeson Reilly Hancox
Donaldson
Keep it tight in defence and midfield and hope for a breakaway. If needs be, Edgar can step forward alongside Davis and Reilly, with Caddis and Hancox dropping back to double up with the full backs. Stifle the buggers. I don’t care how defensive it looks… you have to win the battles to have a chance of winning the game. If we come away with even a point… job done.
FAO Richard Granfield: In the “Indian Website Takeover Hoax” blog, you asked where I had first seen the article. Well, it was here. http://bcfc.freeforums.org/indian-takeover-t12684.html
Apologies for not answering sooner, but I was laid low with food poisoning for 3 days. When I just looked at the blog, it appears to be locked, so I couldn’t answer you on there.