Not the best of starts results wise but there were some encouraging signs. It’s inevitable that a team with a new manager and six new players will take a while to gel but some players are already catching the eye. Jordon Mutch and Chris Burke will be key players for us and Mutch in particular looks very comfortable at this level. Up front we look light but we do have players to come in to that area.
On the negative side the defending for both goals was poor and Derby could have had more. The goalkeeper was also at fault, particularly for the second goal. At first I thought it was deflected but looking again I don’t think it was. The Derby player should have been closed down better too. I’d love us to hold on to Scott Dann but I don’t expect it to happen. The other dissapointing thing for me was that when a lot of players were very tired towards the end the manager didn’t send Nathan Redmond on to help us get an equaliser.
On a final note I’d like to say that the fans were magnificent. Let’s hope for a another good crowd at home to Coventry next week.
I agree with the tone of this.Went to the game yesterday and couldn’t understand why I didn’t feel more disappointed given that we lost to a pretty poor Derby team. I think there are two factors at work. First, there were some encouraging signs both in the style of play and specific players. It looked like we went 4-2-4 for the final 20 mins which made for a really open and exciting game with lots of chances. Burke, Mutch, Gomis, Cauldwell all caught my eye for diferent reasons and I think all have potential to be solid chmpionship players for us. But the second factor is less obvious and is to do with expectations. This is the first season for a decade where I think the fans are going into the season with realistic expectations.Frankly, it is a relief not to be favourites to win this league with the expecation that this would bring with it. I feel like I can watch the game and enjoy the football even if we end up mid table at the end of the season. It is wierd but it is almost like we are back where we belong and we can stop pretending now…….
Prior to going 4-4-2, Derby were creating good chances: Eck would have put Murphy on for Fahey to try and mute their play but CH put a striker on. That was positive.
A bit of a shame he didn’t make more use of the subs though i.e. Redmond for a run out.
Hughton started with exactly the same set up as Alex did against Spurs with Beausejour just off the front striker. Alex would have thrown a striker on in most games but rarely had one!
What Alex would not have done would have gone into a match without a top class goalie. I know we have been spoiled for keepers for a long time but Myhill is a Conference player. (Note the baggies have signed a new keeper so Myhill is not good enough to sit on the bench for them)
Caldwell is slow and was dominaned arially by Derby’s small forwards and Davies is still costing us a goal a game. No clean sheets = No points same as last year.
The best players for us yesterday Carr, Mutch and Burke were all Alex’s signings. Caldwell, rRooney and Myhill were all Hughton’s.
Hughton is OK and will do a fine job. Make no mistake however this gangster Triad have cost us a top manager and the loss of THIRTEEN top class players.
If we can’t get anything at Derby (where we had never lost before) what hope is there?
We need to get 50 points from our home games to stop up. Can anyone suggest where an away win might occur?
Desperately need Jerome or King up front along with Rooney. I have no confidence in this keeper, I think we were duped into taking him as a swop for Foster. A WBA friend told me he made far too many mistakes, was totally on another planet with regards the rest of the defence, always appeared to lack confidence and hesitated too many times. Apparently he had a habit of not moving or being far too late to react, I think we have already experienced all these issues against Everton and Derby (bring back Taylor). I think C Davies has done OK, the odd slip I grant you, but not as many as we normally get from Ridgwell (did Ridgwell actually turn up for the game at Derby, I know he was picked). Mutch, Gomis and Burke have showed up well so far (but we need a good free kick taker) Carr as good as ever, apart from in front of goal. I think Redmond should have come on and Beausejour needs to be played in his correct position. Against Everton we played really well at times and in the first half at Derby for the first 30 mins we were even better but in both games (including the Oxford game) we could not cope when the opposition went up a gear, its as if we have a peak and the opposition sense when we have reached it. I think Dann and C Davies would be a better combination. Disappointed the lad from West Ham did not come on.
Need to find another couple of do or die 90minute box to box grafters
“we lost to a pretty poor Derby team”
We had as many new faces playing in our team as you did.The sooner you take those rose tinted specs off and realise you are’nt as good as you think you are the better.Enjoy your long stay in this league,and welcome back.
Chomez, I agree with everything you say. Birmingham are a shadow of the team we should be and we aren’t great. I for one have no expectations of grandeur for this season I can assure you but it doesn’t change the fact that the original statement “we lost to a pretty poor Derby team” is correct. It places where Blues are in the greater scheme of things into context. 😛
Chomez,
sorry, but we wont be in this league for long. We just have to learn from teams like Derby what not to do in this league. How many years have you been trying to get out of this league again?
45 games to go, we will talk again at the end of the season. +/- 20 shots on goal and hit the woodwork twice i would suggest you were a tad lucky, so enjoy your 3 points it is going to be a long season for both of us.
Weak and inept up front, very slow and brittle at the back. Mutch shone in midfield but along with Dann, Ridgewell, Jerome, Zidic etc I think if an offer came in for Mutch and Redmond which is highly likely before the window shuts, then the board will sell again.
i really worry that by the autumn, we will have sufficient players to make a team up and fill all the seats on the subs bench
Lets be honest we lost to a very poor derby team that will not be challenging to go up. I think it puts things into perspective – I would be delighted with a mid table finish this year. Agree with the previous posters regarding the McLeish transfers – Burke and Carr are our best players and McLeish has bought in 3 terrible signings. I think Myhill is one of the worst strikers in the league and Rooney doesn’t seem dynamic enough. Very worrying times and lets face it losing McLeish was the worst thing thats happened to this club in a very long time
Sorry – Houghton has made 3 poor signings not McJudas. The Covetry game will be a good measure – having seen them against Leicester they are very poor in front of goal – even Myhill should keep a clean sheet 🙂
Bluenose Bob, i don’t think losing McLeish was the “worst thing thats happened to this club in a very long time”. i do think Carson Yeung’s money issues may prove to be. Like most other posters i am not holding my breath about promotion this season – but it is at least comforting to hear from afar that we are trying to play some football this year. KRO from NZ