Saturday’s 3 points were a relief, not just to Blues fans – but I imagine to the players and manager too. The 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday gave Karanka his 7th win at Blues – but more importantly, a victory over one of our relegation rivals. Hogan scored again, redirecting a Bela strike, which passed by the hapless keeper.
So what of the victory? Has that kick started things? Well I guess we can hope so, but the fact that Karanka’s win rate is only 20%, (21 to be precise), you have to think probably not. Our next two games will be difficult. Firstly Norwich at home on Tuesday. Up to our victory on Saturday, we’d lost 3 in a row. Norwich have won their last 3 and of course looking like dead certs for promotion. Saturday sees us at home again against QPR, that although are mid table, have won their last 4 matches. We have only won two games at home this season, and these two are form teams. Sorry I can’t see us getting anything.
Going back to last Saturday – it wasn’t all good news – there were some issues. Firstly we struggled to beat a side that are poor and were down to 10 men. After we took the lead, Karanka substituted Sunjic for Halilovic. His substitutions have been criticised all season. However this was a positive move.
So may be things were looking up, however he then bought on San Jose and Roberts. Both defensive for two attacking players at a time when we were on top.
If this had been at 85 minutes, I would have accepted it. However it was with 15 minutes still to go. He just invited Wednesday to attack. The thing is – we need to improve our goal difference, so why not go for it? No his default is defensive – even when we’re on top. It shouldn’t be forgotten that if it hadn’t been for Etheridge pulling off a brilliant save – we’d have only got 1 point.
So the win was great, however it wasn’t as clear as it could have been, and in my opinion, just a plaster over a big wound. The issue of substitutions, which has been rubbish all season to be fair, continues to be an issue.I’m not convinced the players are playing for him, the response on Saturday could easily have been due to a poster that was put up outside Wast Hills.
Although I’d love it if he DID turn it around, he genuinely seems a nice bloke. I’m afraid I can’t see a long term recovery while Karanka is in charge. I suspect the next two games will seal his fate.
blues continued as a sinking ship into this season,blues players were substandard and i think kranki has improved the over all squad depth.this season was always going to be a struggle.Your comment on going for it against 10men is pure “nievity and silly!.This will go down to the wire,as in the past few seasons,but hopefully the players can take heart in there perfomance against wendsday and get us movig up the table.whatever manager had come in this season was going to struggle with the team we had,so you cant blame kranki for what he inherited,as for subs,…well everyman and his dog has an opinion on that.
I was also amazed at Karanka’s substitutions. We know he is very negative manager but doesn’t he realise that goal difference might be what keeps us up or sends us down this year? A goal and a man up and we still go negative, and remember Wednesday had a decent chance in the last few moments of the match.
Like you I can’t see us getting anything in the next 2 matches and I’m convinced that by Sunday we will be back in the bottom 3. Fingers crossed I am wrong but statistics suggest I’m not.
I completely agree with you. We did not have a shot at goal for the last 25 minutes. I would like to know the stats for the amount of time Bela, Jukey and Hogan have spent on the pitch together this year. When it comes down to we have to win at home we all know 4-4-2 is the way to go. Unfortunately I don’t think it’s in the managers makeup to play it. He is so cautious he must wear two pairs of underpants when he goes out.
As usual another good article. However we are miles apart with our views. This laboured,leggy squad of under par players simply cannot compete in this Championship league. Ever since Karanka was appointed he focused on the wrong pairings of Juke and Hogan. Secondly he wanted the ‘comfort around him’ with old pals such as Clayton and Friend. Throw in mediocrity with aged,well past it midfielders and you have the framework of a very fragile team. Barnsley,Luton,Millwall,Coventry,Preston to name just five have something about them with energy and pace with others such as Wycombe and Blackburn showing desire every single game. This current situation at Blues has nothing to do with ‘playing for the manager syndrome’ but simply an assembly of ill matched players- who in my opinion are quite poor and could never be compared to the likes of Keifenbeld and Davis.San Jose and Sunjic are not anywhere near the standard required with Leko and Harper not wanted by their struggling club. Big question is whether we can survive this time around with what we have,and the feeling I get is very doubtful. We haven’t the drive nor the energy or the guts of a Caddis,Adams or any blood and sweat do or die Keifenbeld or Davis. This is not about papering over the cracks with last Saturday’s victory but more about the reality that our beloved club is in both the wrong hands on and off the pitch and by the law of averages we had to fluke a win at some time. Sheffield were that side but come end of season I know who will finish higher.
I agree 100% this win papers over the cracks and gives kranky another few weeks if not the season to stay in the job and relegate us. I think we should have gone for a 2nd goal to kill them off and the subs were very strange and caused us more issues. If I was wednesday I would be down but I would think, hand on this birmingham team are poor and tactically cr.p. san jose should not be near the team. I am also starting to think sanchezs end product isnt good enough and he slows us down too much at times. But what options do we have. We have had our pants pulled down with leko and 1 million is robbery. Lazy, must try harder would be his report status. Pederson was improved but I am guessing against norwich we will be back to square one and are likely to get a hiding. the only think in our favour is the pitch isnt that great for football atm. Cov dont seem to have any problems with playing on it so not sure why we do. sods law it could be the cause (along with tactics) for our poor home form and relegation. And cov stay up with the best home record