MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (a)

[From Despair To Where?]

I'd have taken that at the start and on balance, a decent performance. Disappointing not to hang on but We were always going to tire and we'd have lost that in the first half of last season.

Get the takeover done, get a few bodies in and I think we'll do well.

[Crowbar6753]

Fair play to the team. Gave it everything and were undone by a suspect penalty.
We were the better side and unlucky in the end.

Garcia (Never heard of him) looks to have potential.

Wow, that young kid Garcia on his first touch drops his shoulder and waltzes past three Brum players!! The confidence of the 16yr old is crazy

[AthleticoSpizz]

I'd have taken that at the start and on balance, a decent performance. Disappointing not to hang on but We were always going to tire and we'd have lost that in the first half of last season.

Get the takeover done, get a few bodies in and I think we'll do well.

why are we “always going to tire” ?

That is not a criticism of todays effort….just a lot of cramped players on our side….and yes Ian, their cramp is probably the result of that “high press”

[Snowflake Royal]

Pressing high all game is energy sapping.

We`ll be doing lots of that this season. it`s one game.

not a criticism, but yes, game one, game fukcin’ one…..the team worked bloddy hard, so many players going down with cramp mid second half onwards.
Alfie May (for them) seemed to get through his 90 + minutes.

….and yes, it’s a 90 minute (+) game.

Would’ve taken the point, obvs

May wasn't pressing all game

[Snowflake Royal]

Ruthlessness cost us. Could have scored many more. And shouldn't have had a foul given for their player falling over in the box. Keeper foul was incredibly soft. But their penalty was incredibly generous.

Really did feel like the ref was under instructions for the favourites to get a result at times.

Could easily have won that 3 or 4 to nil

……and if we had VAR?

We win

[AthleticoSpizz]

We`ll be doing lots of that this season. it`s one game.

not a criticism, but yes, game one, game fukcin’ one…..the team worked bloddy hard, so many players going down with cramp mid second half onwards.
Alfie May (for them) seemed to get through his 90 + minutes.

….and yes, it’s a 90 minute (+) game.

Would’ve taken the point, obvs

May wasn't pressing all game

whahey

[WestYorksRoyal]

Squad depth massively cost us at the end; there was nobody to wretle momentum back when we faded after 70 minutes or so. That being said, we defended well from deep and didn't give away clear chances apart from the dodgy pen.

Against lesser teams, we'd have been 2 or 3 up after an hour. We'll do fine this season.

100% this. Without two starters we were always going to struggle. Kelv has 60 minutes in him but that’s it.

Whilst Garcia looked good on the ball he was an utter liability tracking back and stood off tackles, for me he had a chance to stop the attack that led to the goal. Will be massive in a couple of years though.

Abefra looks very good.

A reminder how desperate I am for the takeover. This team, this coach, there is so much potential. Pardew took us from lower 3rd tier to upper 2nd tier- the ingredients are there again.

Dai just needs to fcuk off and let someone else to support the team properly.

[wolsey]

First time I've managed to watch a whole Reading game on the TV.

So much to like about the team and the performance... And Reubens interview on Sky was just class.

[From Despair To Where?]

I'd have taken that at the start and on balance, a decent performance. Disappointing not to hang on but We were always going to tire and we'd have lost that in the first half of last season.

Get the takeover done, get a few bodies in and I think we'll do well.

why are we “always going to tire” ?

That is not a criticism of todays effort….just a lot of cramped players on our side….and yes Ian, their cramp is probably the result of that “high press”

Because we were playing a high pressing game which, unless you have 11 James Harpers (which we haven't), is very difficult to sustain effectively over 90+ minutes.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Chris Davies is a right dickhead. Apparently they dominated the game. Didn't realise games only started after 70 minutes.

[WestYorksRoyal]

A point not being discussed enough. If your surname is Willumson, why on earth call your child Willum?

[From Despair To Where?]

A point not being discussed enough. If your surname is Willumson, why on earth call your child Willum?

Because he's Icelandic and it follows tradition Icelandic naming conventions which they are very strict about.

His dad's called Willum Þór Þórsson.

Þ is pronounced Th.

[Esteban]

Possession looks good, but it means oxf*rd all. I'm happy with point, but we played well and deserved more. Imagine what Selles could do with some investment.

[Crowbar6753]

This team has so much potential and is great to watch, some of our movement and one touch passing was a joy to behold and the high press just scares teams to death!!
My concerns now is the lack of depth and how this team can sustain 3 games a week playing this style? I really hope this takeover is concluded soon or we may just run out of players!!
Three or four shrewd loans/Freebies if the takeover is completed in time and I'm convinced we will be one of the better teams this year.

[WestYorksRoyal]

This team has so much potential and is great to watch, some of our movement and one touch passing was a joy to behold and the high press just scares teams to death!!
My concerns now is the lack of depth and how this team can sustain 3 games a week playing this style? I really hope this takeover is concluded soon or we may just run out of players!!
Three or four shrewd loans/Freebies if the takeover is completed in time and I'm convinced we will be one of the better teams this year.

A proper LB, another wide option, more solid back up for Smith up front. Basically all we need.

[From Despair To Where?]

This team has so much potential and is great to watch, some of our movement and one touch passing was a joy to behold and the high press just scares teams to death!!
My concerns now is the lack of depth and how this team can sustain 3 games a week playing this style? I really hope this takeover is concluded soon or we may just run out of players!!
Three or four shrewd loans/Freebies if the takeover is completed in time and I'm convinced we will be one of the better teams this year.

IIRC, if a player is a free agent, we can still sign and register him after the window closes.

We signed Andy Carroll outside the window.

[Brogue]

This team has so much potential and is great to watch, some of our movement and one touch passing was a joy to behold and the high press just scares teams to death!!
My concerns now is the lack of depth and how this team can sustain 3 games a week playing this style? I really hope this takeover is concluded soon or we may just run out of players!!
Three or four shrewd loans/Freebies if the takeover is completed in time and I'm convinced we will be one of the better teams this year.

A proper LB, another wide option, more solid back up for Smith up front. Basically all we need.

You say a proper left back, Dorset for me was the best player in the pitch untill he went off. He had their winger in his pocket all game.

[AthleticoSpizz]

I'd have taken that at the start and on balance, a decent performance. Disappointing not to hang on but We were always going to tire and we'd have lost that in the first half of last season.

Get the takeover done, get a few bodies in and I think we'll do well.

why are we “always going to tire” ?

That is not a criticism of todays effort….just a lot of cramped players on our side….and yes Ian, their cramp is probably the result of that “high press”

Because we were playing a high pressing game which, unless you have 11 James Harpers (which we haven't), is very difficult to sustain effectively over 90+ minutes.

yes of course, and so we are destined for a whole season of cramped-up players in pursuit of that “high press”?

Don’t get me wrong, I know what I prefer…I love it, but these lads are (by and largely) young and fit atheletes…..game one…game fukcing one.

More understandable once the pitches become like glue pits in winter

[Royal Rother]

Tbf though the foul on the keeper for Knibbs goal was pretty clear

Correct.

A very good performance against a strong team, a pleasure to watch.

[Hound]

why are we “always going to tire” ?

That is not a criticism of todays effort….just a lot of cramped players on our side….and yes Ian, their cramp is probably the result of that “high press”

Because we were playing a high pressing game which, unless you have 11 James Harpers (which we haven't), is very difficult to sustain effectively over 90+ minutes.

yes of course, and so we are destined for a whole season of cramped-up players in pursuit of that “high press”?

Don’t get me wrong, I know what I prefer…I love it, but these lads are (by and largely) young and fit atheletes…..game one…game fukcing one.

More understandable once the pitches become like glue pits in winter

It’ll be more that they’ll be fine once they get used to the intensity. Pre season just doesn’t match it. 3 to 4 games in and they won’t be cramping when they’re fully conditioned