[Captain Splarg]

After the Sunderland result we need to take 3 points here. It will be nice to see Stern John playing in the premiership though.

I think we should be able to win this one, but we have to fix everything we did wrong against sunderland. I think Bakke has had 3 bad matches in a row, so TV might opt to start with Dacourt which would be a great idea. Bakke needs some time in the reserves to remember how to pass the ball to someone in a white shirt. I would love to see either Dacourt of Batty take his place.

we'll see soon enough.

[tpm]

Would like to see Ollie as well - Bakke has been crap.

btw, is Bridges fit enough for the bench now that Robbie's gone? if not, maybe Singh gets that spot.

[Cruickinator]

Oh dear

[BerwynBlazers]

Wow, wow, wow.

Bakke got the start again, Dacourt came on for him in the 60th minute.

El Tel didn't have one striker on his bench for subs, he went with Martyn, Duberry, Kelly, Dacourt, and Wilcox.

We need a win vs Newcastle.

[Captain Splarg]

Birmingham did deserve to win today, they played very well. Organised and as a team. The opposite of what we did.

The match did contain 3 quality goals. Although the first Brum goal was down to lazy defending. Bowyer scores another class goal, playing a 1-2 with Viduka, collecting his backheel and tapping it over the Brum keeper. Bakke again was awful... REALLY REALLY AWFUL. His give away is what started the winner for Brum.

Looks like olly didn't get sold.... that's great. I really hope El Tel will sit him down on the bench for a while. Olly was class when he came on.

This 4-3-3 just isn't working.

[J. Books]

Originally posted by Captain Splarg

This 4-3-3 just isn't working.

Agreed. Especially since Smith has been unable to make any impact beyond the occasional collision with opposing players.

(I'm completely bamboozled that Smith started ahead of Keane after Robbie's goal against City. He'd looked much more dangerous and creative than Smith or Viduka combined.
I know people liked the idea of him as a "super sub" but was it really worth losing him? I just get this feeling he's going to score 16 goals for Spurs this season. Anyway it's spilled milk...hopefully Bridges will be fit to retake his place.)

Lack of creativity in front of the goal has been a problem, things seem to stall at the edge of the penalty area.

But I'd say the major problem so far has been passing. Every flick of the ball seems desperate and haphazard. And there are too many 50/50s.
Perhaps the 4-3-3 has something to do with this staggered passing.

On the bright side of the Birmingham game, we did hit the cross bar twice.
And though Bakke played a shitty game, I think he was unlucky to be called offside and was robbed of a goal (at least when considering the new offside rule states there must
be obvious space between the attacker and the defender. Bakke's head and shoulder's were ahead of the defender, but his legs were very much even).


Just like last year...we played like shite even when we won. There will have to be some changes before the Newcastle game.