Birmingham (H) match thread sponsored by Vegemite

[Royalcop]

Reading: Federici, Gunter, Cooper, Hector, Obita, McCleary, Karacan (c), Ake, Chalobah, Blackman , Mackie
Subs: Andersen, Kelly, Norwood, Akpan, Stacey, Appiah, Novakovich

Good to see the youngsters on the bench and Jem starting.

[Binfield Royal]

is that the official team or the one you'd pick?

[Royalcop]

That's the line-up, from Charles Watts' Twitter.

[higher]

[Ian Royal]

4-3-3?
Or Ake at LB and Blackman upfront?

I'll take that. More of Jem. Blackman gets his chance to be in Clarke's plans, more experience for Cooper. A chance for minutes for Stacey and Novakovich. What's happened to Cardwell?

Still want to see Kuhl get at least 1, preferably 2, games now we're safe.

[Royalcop]

Demarai Gray on the bench for Brum though they do have someone called Diego Fabbrini playing, who with a name like that must be amazing.

[Ian Royal]

Demarai Gray on the bench for Brum though they do have someone called Diego Fabbrini playing, who with a name like that must be amazing.

Is that the Watford Fabbrini? Flatters to deceive iirc.

[Royal Ginger]

Is there a hint of Clarke giving Cooper his chance to bury some demons vs Birmingham tonight?

[higher]

Fed love in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rErvPnd-2E

[Ian Royal]

Fed love in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rErvPnd-2E

Idiots.

I thought flags for feds was just someone taking the piss... but morons have actually done it.

[bobby m's syrup]

Fed love in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rErvPnd-2E

Idiots.

I thought flags for feds was just someone taking the piss... but morons have actually done it.

Personally, I like the idea. Why not show the guy a bit of support? The media have crucified him this week

[Ian Royal]

There's showing a bit of support, and then there's acting like his mum died and highlighting the mistake he made, rather than giving him support.

Gooding and Adie, both also saying it's a terrible over-reaction and idea.

[Royalcop]

The media have crucified him this week

Have they? Most of the coverage I've seen highlighted the good saves he made prior to the massive oxf*rd-up. Personally I think the flags thing is a bit embarrassing but par for the course with our fanbase.

[Ian Royal]

So 4-3-3

......................Federici

..Gunter, Cooper, Hector, Obita

........Chalobah, Karacan, Ake

McCleary......Mackie......Blackman

6th best defensive record at home.
6th worst attacking record at home.

[bobby m's syrup]

The media have crucified him this week

Have they? Most of the coverage I've seen highlighted the good saves he made prior to the massive oxf*rd-up. Personally I think the flags thing is a bit embarrassing but par for the course with our fanbase.

Well only the BBC, Daily Star, Daily Wail, Independent and Grauniad amongst others,

[Ian Royal]

The media have crucified him this week

Have they? Most of the coverage I've seen highlighted the good saves he made prior to the massive oxf*rd-up. Personally I think the flags thing is a bit embarrassing but par for the course with our fanbase.

Well only the BBC, Daily Star, Daily Wail, Independent and Grauniad amongst others,

In their match report, the BBC mention his mistake about two, maybe three times. Given it was the crucial moment in the match, they could hardly pretend it didn't happen. In no way does the article 'crucify' him.

There's then an article where 'blunder' and 'calamity' are used, but it highlights what a good game he had otherwise and the headline is about Clarke backing him.

There's then another article about him apologising and the support he's had from the fans and teammates.

Their transmission was also very sympathetic and supportive.

CROFLucified.

[Royalcop]

Suppose it's how you define crucified, the papers can hardly not report he made a god-awful, match-defining error. To me crucified is the kind of treatment Beckham got post 98 WC - i.e. super-imposing vegetables on your head, giving you a nickname, something like that.

[TBM]

This line up tells us that Pearce is off in the summer.

He's banking on Cooper and Hector forming a strong partnership so can spend the £25k per week elsewhere.

[Royalwaster]

This line up tells us that Pearce is off in the summer.

He's banking on Cooper and Hector forming a strong partnership so can spend the £25k per week elsewhere.

Makes sense - if Pearce is looking for that kind of money, he might as well leave. No-one in our leaky defence deserves that much money ....

[blueroyals]

So has anybody got anything to say about the game?