Birmingham City (H) 28/07/07

[Kiansmom]

Excellent game, if today is how next season is going to be I can't wait! Caneiro did more in his first 5 minutes than Butler did in 60!. Roper had a poor game, Gerarrd played well as did Fox in his new role :lol: We missed a few chances and were unlucky to lose

UTS

[Cheesebag]

Caneiro did more in his first 5 minutes than Butler did in 60!.

Put yer tin hat on, I said more or less the same against Stafford but was told my comment was Shocking :?

[Kiansmom]

Caneiro did more in his first 5 minutes than Butler did in 60!.

Put yer tin hat on, I said more or less the same against Stafford but was told my comment was Shocking :?

Thanks for the warning :wink: tin hat on :shock:

[cariad_saddler]

but we wan't going to win this one because they are two leagues higher than us

It will be the same again against Villa

Why do people think we have to win all of these matches against teams that are far better than we is

We need to beat teams in our league not premiership teams

Peopleshould be realistic and optimistic and not unrealistic and moaning all of the time

[Goose277]

Just got back and I have to say I was impressed for a friendly. Nothing spectacular but no major concerns. Mooney worked hard and showed he's going to do more than just a job for us. Ishy is going to play a big part this year IMHO and I also thought Dobbo had quite a good game.

[Goose277]

but we wan't going to win this one because they are two leagues higher than us

It will be the same again against Villa

Why do people think we have to win all of these matches against teams that are far better than we is

We need to beat teams in our league not premiership teams

Peopleshould be realistic and optimistic and not unrealistic and moaning all of the time

I hope my last post was optimistic enough for you :D

[Purple Toucan Saddler]

Got to say I am optimistic for next season. Here's my view of today's team performance:

Ince - No fault for the goals. Kicking hasn't improved but Rome wasn't built in a day
Wrack - Quality performance at right back keeping McSheffrey in check
Boertien - Awesome, if he can continue as he has today we will have no issues for attacks down the left. Also ventured forward at times with good effect
Gerrard - Didn't really stand out for good or bad reasons - Solid when he needed to be
Roper - See Gerrard comment
Dobson - Solid performance defensively but partly responsible for the first goal. Ball got tangled between his feet more than once when breaking forward
Sonner - How anyone can doubt Sonner for next season is beyond me. Showed some nice creative touches today.
Hall - Reasonable game, but would like to see him cut in a bit more.
Fox - Some quality cross field balls, and did reasonably well in the new position, but I'm not convinced he is the best we can get for midfield
Butler - Usual workhorse performance, and started to link up well with Mooney. Not enough penetration though
Mooney - Another workhorse performance, and definitely created options with off the ball runs and trickery. Tired towards the end
Subs

Bossu - Excellent performance on the bench :lol:
Nicholls - Looked dangerous on the break, and linked up well with Deeney on one attack in particular
Ishy - A little wasteful whjen he first came on, but then settled in to his game, linked up well with Mooney as well, and a well saved shot towards the end
Smith - See Bossu comment
Mcdermott - See Bossu comment
Caniero - Looked useful, and with more time to gel with team, and against lesser opposition looks like he may score a few goals this season

[Fred Mumford]

We were $h1te again today.
Buttler = toss
Hall = toss x 2
Gypo Sonner = looks a disgrace
Fox = Why is he taking corners & free kicks

New left back looks decent
And they now sell guiness in the ground.

The club for some reason decided to paint tha back walls of the stand white.
Looks very much non-league standard which I fear we could be very soon on todays performance.

[Purple Toucan Saddler]

We were $h1te again today.
Buttler = toss
Hall = toss x 2
Gypo Sonner = looks a disgrace
Fox = Why is he taking corners & free kicks

New left back looks decent
And they now sell guiness in the ground.

The club for some reason decided to paint tha back walls of the stand white.
Looks very much non-league standard which I fear we could be very soon on todays performance.

I hope this is not a whoosh moment, but I think you have sampled a bit too much guiness today if that is your honest opinion. FFS we were against a full strength premiership team

[coxy_saddler]

We was alright second half..Played some nice stuff should of got a goal or two. The new left back is quality, Solid and takes players on gets forward ! Fox needs to watch him do that..Mooney, Sonner, Hall had good games i thought. Asbo did good when he came on too..Looked dangerous every time he attacked. Roll on the 11th august!

[Greg]

Well just got back myself

We played some decent football against a strong opposition.

I do feel Butler does not do enough out of him and Mooney, Mooney every time for me.

Also Fox on the wing personally didnt rate him out there one bit, he didnt provide cover once for Boertin

But i am impressed by the teams play and dont think we have any concerns for the upcoming season

Bright spots i feel Carlos looks very useful

[Goose277]

We were $h1te again today.
Buttler = toss
Hall = toss x 2
Gypo Sonner = looks a disgrace
Fox = Why is he taking corners & free kicks

New left back looks decent
And they now sell guiness in the ground.

The club for some reason decided to paint tha back walls of the stand white.
Looks very much non-league standard which I fear we could be very soon on todays performance.

Agree about Butler. Hall could (and probably will) do better. Sonners looks are unimportant, it's how he plays that matters. Jury's still out on Foxy.

Don't read too much into today, only a friendly against a premiership team.

[deanonev69]

Where was Sonko?

According to Talksport Blues dominated the first half but the second was 'more open' mentioning that Mooney, Hall, Caniero, Dobson and Ishy all had chances, the latter producing a fine save out of the keeper.

I await feedback with interest.

Was nice to be covered on Talksport-all wen wrong though when Terry Christian came on and started ripping the town and the illuminations with Mick Quinn

[Four Oaks Saddler]

Well just got back myself

We played some decent football against a strong opposition.

I do feel Butler does not do enough out of him and Mooney, Mooney every time for me.

Also Fox on the wing personally didnt rate him out there one bit, he didnt provide cover once for Boertin

But i am impressed by the teams play and dont think we have any concerns for the upcoming season

Bright spots i feel Carlos looks very useful

Listening to the game on WM, it was implied more than once that the strike force at the start of the season will be Mooney + AN Other (be that Butler, Caniero or whover else comes into contention).

[Greg]

Well im with WM on this one then

Mooney works hard chases and hustles and is also very good with feet and head

Butler is not interested in hustling or chasing UNLESS it is in front of goal which is all well and good but in games like today you have to work hard to find a chance as a chance is not going to crop up out of no where,

[Wyrley_saddler]

Caneiro looked superb today. If he plays like he did today for the rest of the season he will be banging in the goals left right and centre!

[chase saddler]

Here we go the Butler knockers have started already!!! Boring ZZZzzzzz

[Greg]

im not really knocking him just i dont see the 100% every week

im saying for me he doesnt work hard enough when things arenot going his way, you compare his work rate with Mooney today and im afraid Butler falls very short

If you went to the game that is of course

[Bernie]

Reasonable performance.

No doubt about man of the match - Boertien. If he keeps fit he will make a big difference this season.

Mooney was in the game far more than Butler. Where is all the "Butler ran his heart out" nonsense from? Some people must wear blinkers when watching him play because he had no impact at all. When he had the ball he did nothing with it. Mooney is awkward for defenders, but very slow. Carneiro looked like a Ryman's league player - but he was not on for very long, and it is still too early to be certain that he is rubbish.

Hall is OK - no pace any more but generally used the ball well and worked hard.

Sonner - OK. I would certainly prefer him to Dobson in the defensive midfield role.

Fox - as left midfield he did nothing, but he did it quite well. Towards the end he was put into the middle. He was dreadful there, seldom breaking into a trot, and having no influence on the game at all. I hope we never see him there in a real match. What is wrong with giving Bradley a run?

Ishmel did far more in twenty minutes on the left than Fox did in seventy. Still got a lot to learn, wheras Fox will never make a midfielder if he plays there every week for the rest of his life.

Roper was impressive at the back, not sure about whose fault the goals were. Gerrard was OK. We missed Dann of course.

Wrack huffed and puffed as full back. He looked a useful squad player, but did not do enough to demand a place in the team.

Not enough time for Nicholls or Deeney to make an impression.

[loop]

Nice to get back to watching Saturday football, i enjoyed the game and was impressed with a few of our signings today particularly Mooney i thought he looked very usefull today as did Carlos, thought Hall and Soner did ok too, Butler was quiet today but i don't think he had a bad game at all.

The only down side today was this annoying sod sitting infront of me who spent the whole game shouting across to the Blues fans he made a right prat of himself. :lol:

UTS

[Stephen]

What was with the abandoned (mind went blank when i writ this word sp?) match at half time.

Someone started smoking. Someone next to be did - tosser. With his small kid next to him aswell.

[digga_2k7]

my mate who was in the birmingham city end said that ther was a bin on fire thats what cause all the fuss.

[chase saddler]

im not really knocking him just i dont see the 100% every week

im saying for me he doesnt work hard enough when things arenot going his way, you compare his work rate with Mooney today and im afraid Butler falls very short

If you went to the game that is of course

I take your point Mooneys work rate was higher, but it seems to me that in some peoples eyes, not necesarily yours, that Butler is never allowed to have an indifferent game without getting adverse comments. The same thing hardly ever seems to apply to other players. As for 100% every week, you name me any player, especially at this level who gives you that, not many I am afraid.
The season ain't started yet, we were playing a premiership side, lets not start knocking players already.
ROLL ON THE 11th

[Stephen]

I didn't catch the attendence?

[Bernie]

Butler is never allowed to have an indifferent game without getting adverse comments.

:?:
Butler lived on his reputation as a prolific goal scorer after on seven goals in his first ten matches. Then he had about twenty consecutive indifferent games last season from late September onwards before there were any adverse comments at all.

[philthesaddler]

Think the attendance was around 7000 Stephen.

Plus points:

Boertien, what a signing he is, if he stays injury free, he's a championship quality left back, easily.

Sonner, kind of a plus point, tries to be neat and tidy, but sometimes plays un-neccessary passes back to where he's just received the ball from.

Mooney, impressive work rate, put Butler to shame really, he was involved in everything dangerous.

Negative Points:

We're far, far too slow in all areas of the pitch. Gerrard got embarassed by Jeromes pace, and in midfield and up front we were very slow indeed, not just in terms of players pace, but the speed at which we move forward and attack, its like slow motion at times. We really need to zip the ball about a lot more.

Paul Hall, he'll struggle this year, hasn't got the pace people on here said he had.

Danny Fox left wing? and taking free kicks? No thanks.

---------

I think we looked a much better team with Nicholls and Demon on the flanks, we actually scared Birmingham at times, but I fear Hall and Fox will be the main wing pairing.

Dobson looked clumsy as usual, and lots of needless sliced balls going to no one.

Carneiro, not sure about him yet, showed flashes of what he might be able to do, but his effort on target was powder puff and he didnt look to have much pace.

Deeney looked decent, a few nice touches.

We definately need some pace in the team [Spencer Weir Daley anyone?], we have Nicholls and Ish but I doubt they will be used much to be honest - I mean DD waited an age before bringing on nicholls.

[PerStener]

after 2 weeks of very though training you cant count on any of the player to have much pace in their legs... there are probably many tired legs in the squad at the moment... Jon Whitney him self said after the Halesowen match that they have been training very hard and the legs are not fresh but it's just as it should be during a pre-season.

I'm quite sure that we will see the player get up to speed August 11th.

[m&m]

Fred Mumford = *osser.

Very impressed with most areas today against top class opposition.

For me the 2nd half team (with Ishy and Carneiro ) must start along with Dann.In the first half the only thing missing was pace which may be ok against league 1 teams but not Blues.

Top ten finish at least!

[chase saddler]

Butler is never allowed to have an indifferent game without getting adverse comments.

:?:
Butler lived on his reputation as a prolific goal scorer after on seven goals in his first ten matches. Then he had about twenty consecutive indifferent games last season from late September onwards before there were any adverse comments at all.

What I actually said was that Butler is never allowed indifferent game without being knocked. Other players rarely suffer the same reaction Yes his scoring dried up somewhat after an early spurt but name me another Walsall striker who played in as many games, scored as many goals and had as many assists as Butler did last season. Hector was the closest and his season long performances were very patchy.

[YGA Saddler]

Well that was a good run out and certainly the way "friendlies" should be played.

I thought Blues dominated the first half but apart from a few counter attacks by our Premiership friends, we actually dominated the second half.

Plus points of todays game- Boertien WHAT A PLAYER. I told you how good he was and he certainly delivered. Lets not get carried away because we have been let down in the past, but if his first game at the Banks's was anything to go by then we have something special.
I thought Mooney played well, he chased lost causes, made the Birmingham defence look stationery at times and played a few good passes wide.
Wrack- I dont like the bloke but he did well at right back and if Weston doesnt get fit for the new season, Wracky can step up to the plate.
Carneiro- Certainly an imporvement on Ciderquest, Sam and Benjamin and dare I say it Butler?

Minuses from today- I really cant see why people praised Foxy's performance. I thought he was poor going forward (apart from one mad run) and his crossing from free-kicks and corners were poor.
Butler- He had the excuse of being unfit at the end of last season, I wonder what it is this time round?

I have got no reason to worry about the new season but if we want to break into the top ten we need another striker.