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Thread | False 9
at 17:59 13 Nov 2023
Much improved over last 2 games and I have faith in what I now see.
However truth remains -
Our strikers are struggling to register.
Our wingers & midfield are struggling to create.
Found myself thinking, how could we operate with no strikers - attacking midfielders breaking into box as played by another Spanish coach up the M6.
How might this work for us? Would it? Which players would benefit?
Thoughts on a postcard...
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Thread | U 23s WBA 1-0 Rs Today
at 18:30 6 Jul 2019
If you are missing the football fix like me, you'd be tempted to sneak in on this pre-season friendly
Good performances by Battache, Bansal-Mcnulty, Dalling, Remy and Gubbins - would have liked to see a couple of them make the Austria flight.
Rs were much neater in midfield zipping it aiound well and quick. - unlucky to lose
Philips came on at HT along with several others - unsure of all the names
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Thread | Stuart Wardley
at 11:51 8 Sep 2018
Rooting for Saffron now.
I remember Stuart Wardley as being a brief and unexpected bright spot in an otherwise dark period for the Rs.
Good luck
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Thread | Just back - Steadying the Ship
at 17:58 1 Sep 2018
Ok, so the last game I saw was the WBA one - so its all an immense improvement...of course!!!!
We were clearly the better team here but Blues were truly abject. I remember when Gary Monk was a fresh up and coming manager playing ambitious and exciting football with Swansea...Gary, what has happened?
Few points of note -
Lumley looked assured except for one high cross which came in the first half which went across goal without being claimed or touched.
Angel - you can see all the experience here.
Defence generally - 2 clean sheets on the spin - they look so much happier not having to do the tippy tappy. Although tbf they did pass into midfield when they could - as well as going long at times. McLaren had the knack of getting a tight defence when he was here under Arry - might this become more than a couple of happy coincidences? Much too early to say - because we were under no quality pressure today. Just don't get me hoping...
Freeman - tries things just not his day.Same with Eze.
On another day we might have sneaked a 0-1 and that would not have flattered. |
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Thread | Formation for Cardiff game
at 11:02 30 Aug 2017
Factual Q
What formation (S) did Rs play against Cardiff.?
Having some difficulty linking names on team sheet to the way we set up.
Could anyone help |
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Thread | U23 Aston Villa 1-0 Rs Some Perspectives
at 15:28 25 Jul 2017
If you are starved of match reports here's one - not quite to Northern's standards I'm afraid.
Chris Ramsey there keeping an eye on the youth coming through - a young side who tried to play football and competed with Villa, bossing small parts of the game.
3 trialists out of a back 4 so v inexperienced all round.
Impressions
Lumley good - excellent communication. Played the role of wise head very well I thought.
Trialist no 6 - centre half. Good in air
Axel Prohouly RW - showed lots of quality on the ball., trickery but on a couple of occasions did not bother to track back which left the trialist RB in trouble.
Josh Wallen - liked the lad in centre mid. Always there for the ball.Worked hard.
Dan Rowe - Again worked hard
Kingsley Eshan - big centre forward. Used his body v well for holding ball up front. But not too much attacking threat.
Villa hit bar 1st half, Rs had ball cleared off Villa line 2nd half.
Nice for me to see Andy Impey back on the touchline at Rs.
Tha'ts about it really
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Thread | Just Home
at 18:06 18 Feb 2017
A few initial impressions...
Great day!
Spirit was there in abundance for all to see - big time, no mistaking it... - always there for the second ball, so much running, tackling and covering as if their lives depended on it - special mentions here to Manning (like everywhere), Washington and Freeman...Luongo might have some problems getting back straightaway..Ollie, Bircham and Fleming have spirit just right.....credit them too.
Matt Smith too big and dominant for Bham defence to handle - and this played to Connor Washington strengths.
Best I have seen us play for a long time.
No bad performances mostly 7s and 8s imho.
Manning and Freeman corners good - far better than I saw from Chery.
Furlong v composed at times - efficient
Bidwell - over hit a couple of crosses when in an excellent position - one beautifully retrieved by Connor. Defensively sound and competent.
Lynch and Chief - v solid.
Wsoleck - made gaol 3 with cross on a plate. Worked v hard but so did all
Manning & Freeman - legs and plenty of it. Most energetic midfield pairing I have seen for a long time. Particular mentions to Freemen dribbles and ball carrying....but both excellent. Gave Blues no time at all...in fact whole team gave Bham no time on ball.
Started well and kept it up - looked solid generally even when BCFC had more possession end of first half.
Smithies - new contract celebrated. Best keeper I can recall since ...let me think Seaman (kenny?). No since Seaman. . based on thinking as if I was the centre half - who would I want behind me? One exceptional punch. Oozes confidence.
Sylla - took goal well and credited Pav
Nbakoto - nice free kick, on target...bit of a trash by keeper tbh
Thats it
Sets me up for another year living in the second city - thanks Rs |
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Thread | Birmingham R - Just back
at 23:20 27 Sep 2016
My swift reflections
Rs come back from a goal down twice in 4 days to earn a draw and shade the game...if the game had gone on longer it was all Rs.
Smithies - 6 feel confident in him as a keeper the way I never did with so many Rs keepers down the years. Kicking can frustrate. Red kit...really?
Nedum - 6 Strong , but not always sure what to do when he has the ball.Stood off bit too much for my liking esp mid/end first half
Hall - 6/7 Couple of v strong headers. Better
Caulker - 7 appears the stronger one of the centre back duo at the moment.
Bidwell - 6 as everyone says what you see is what you get. Good & professional without necessarily catching the eye. Injury loooked v bad from what i saw...not moving/stretcher
Henry - 6 often playing so deep just in front of CBs....too deep
Borysiuk - 7 first time seeing him. GOOD. Got a tackle on him and plenty of energy and mobile. Playing his way into one of first names on sheet. Excellent scouting, Les imho
Luongo - 7 strong run involved in setting up goal. neat, energetic, combative
Wsolek - 7/8 a threat whenever involved on either flank. Very impressed with 2 feet, work rate and chances created.
Chery - 6 quiet I thought.
Washington 6/7 - cannot fault for one moment his commitment and work rate. Must be unbelievably frustrated that the balls he has to use are meant for someone twice his height..been said before. There IS a goalscorer here.
BFG - 7 took goal v well after good work by Luongo and Wsolek I think. Physical presence added so much when he came on...a focal point. Reason for this is our propensity to lump in unimaginative high balls...which suits his game well - just not Washington's. Tonight the ball was in the air loads from both sides. Not too pretty.
Lynch - 6/7 Liked look of him. Physical committed.
JFH - substitution worked - i would have taken off Henry not the more attack minded Borysiuk.
So - to conclude.
Another point from a losing position, plenty of commitment, players clearly playing for the management.First half pretty hopeless both sides...far too many long balls launched upfield.
But credit where due - the team did wrest control from the home side and only one side was going to win the longer it went on...
Thats about it
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Thread | Spotting Rangers fans in unlikely places
at 11:27 3 Jun 2016
Summer's here - Always does my heart good to spot and link up with fellow Rs fans when you are least expecting it...spotting a shirt in a crowd
Martin Rowlands nephew on a ferry in Sorrento, Italy
Rs fan in a queue for Sistene Chapel - Vatican
My son made contact with an African R shirt wearer on the border of Kenya and Tanzania.
Pub dedicated to Rs on W coast Ireland - County Clare? (correct me)
and yesterday at Birmingham uni Muirhead Tower
Any more? |
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Thread | Just back -
at 23:49 26 Jan 2016
Whisper it quietly - we might just have the beginnings of an honest, presentable football team.
No goals but encouraging.
Brief highlights -
Smithies - how good it is to have a no-nonsense keeper who makes routine saves look routine and makes good saves look unspectacular,...and who can kick 8
Perch - ok performance 6
Nedum - beaten in air too often for my liking....but clean sheet speaks for itself 7
Hall - professional, rarely a foot wrong, honest, clean sheet 8
Konch - not good, v sloppy distribution. Always shows but season catching up on old legs 5
Luongo - really hoped he would make central mid his, and he did not disappoint. Energy and tackles. Half a yard quicker than Henry would have been and some good tackles 8
Faurlin - tidy, composed, kept it tight and ticking over. Hit bar with free kick. 7
Phillips - frustrating. There is a v good player in there, definitely...but not too clinical 6
Fer - as Philips. Bit more effort please Leroy
Junior - best of the 3 attacking mids. Got some decent shots away 7
Big F German - like him...not always make right decision but he shows and always carries a goal threat 7
Washington - excellent energy. Just our sort of player with plenty to prove, pace to burn and goal threat 7
MOM - Smithies or Luongo
For first time for a long time for me we look like a football club...with players playing for each other, no silly sendings off/bookings/petulance - just honest commitment and endeavour.
Solid - good base to build.
Go JFH, Les, Tony
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Thread | Just Back
at 19:03 8 Mar 2014
First time I have seen us win at St Andrews after many many years!
Really enjoyable - I like 2 nils when it looks all tied up with 15 mins to go.
Not so say in 1st half and early 2nd we didn't ride our luck - sat back, invited them on, grateful to Green for a couple of good saves esp a free kick which bounced all the way through. Green didn;t put a foot wrong.
My initial impressions
Green - 8 solid
Nedum - prefer him as CB, but does a job, wins tackles, not much overlapping, on etime seemed to take an age to close down a player on edge of box, allowing him to stroll into box.Play him a head of Hughes any day.Strong. 6/7
BAE - classy but laxidasical. Good going forward. Strolled back when possession lost. Crosses could have been more crucial but made excellent forward runs. 6/7
Hill + Dunne - must enjoy playing players like Zigic. Not goin to get beaten for skill or speed. Did the job fine. Dunne lost possession badly once but then also on another occasion came to rescue. 7
Jenus - beginning to warm to him. Made Goal 2 with simple cross from left to feet. Worls hard and has an attacking threta - keep him in. 7/8
Joey - more balanced with him there. Of all the midfielders on pitch ran the show. passes short and long - always showing for the ball. Felt more comfortable/fluid with him there.7/8
Hoillett - frustrates the hell out of me. Bit lightweight. Always seeking to go inside, never outside - makes it too easy for defender.Bags of potential but would be good if he developed a left foot to go with his right. One dimsnsional. Today too many blind alleys 5/6
Traore - like him in wide mid. Today on the right. Yes the right!! Good runs through centre and wide.Poss mom if not for ravel.Linked well. 8
Ravel - beautiful free kick. Always a threat running at defence. Put goal no. 2 away nicely - placing it low from close to pen spot after good wotk from Jenus 8/9
Doyle - ran allday with loads of service. Did his bit. 7 |
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Thread | Peterboro - Harry; What have we learned?
at 10:39 14 Jul 2013
Faurlin is both committed and can make things happen - unlike Mbia who appears disinterested (falling down alot)
Johnson is up for it too and puts himself around
Simpson wants the ball and shows good attitude - a good buy
Traore: a no of mistakes, giving ball away any one of which could result in a goal in a real match
Jenas is the best foil for Faurlin in midfield - he runs box to box and covers.
Park: what is he for? -He has work rate but he does not tackle, playing wide he does not have skill or speed to go past his man, he does not run through past the front man to present a goal threat (a la Lampard). What he does do is run round and cover space - bit like shy kids did at school games who wanted to look busy on the pitch but who did not want to get noticed.
SWP - as above. Makes nothing happen. We know this already so why persist?
if we want to support the strikers we have got to have players wide who can make things happen
Hoilett looked good and up for it.
Taarabt - Harry, Warnock found a way of handling him - why can't you Harry? Surely with the combined managerial nous of Jordan, McLaren and Bond you can handle mercurial players. What a waste if he is loaned out!
Zamora - did he jump for a ball? Not too sure.
Leaving Harriman out sends all the wrong messages.
Thats about it.
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Thread | Note to MH
at 17:00 4 Nov 2012
Dear Mark
Best team/formation (for when Mbia back)
Cesar
Bosingwa Mbia Nelson Traore
Diakete Faurlin
Hoillett Granero Tarrabt
Cisse
Hints
SWP sub at best
Mackie supersub
Zamora to come on when we need ball winner up front
Park to come on for either midfield player of wide player when we want to tighten it up.
My Main Point
Control of games is won or lost in midfield.
Managers should select a formation to get the best out of their squad (not fit team to formation)
The 3 best players at the club (excl Tarrabt) are in midfield
Got to have Diakete Granero and Faurlin in same midfield - just got to
A DFG midfield prtoects the defence, keeps possession and can create.
Oh and one more thing - Adel for captain (passion, commitment, love of club, game changer etc).
You'll just need to sort it out with Ji Sung.
best of liuck
Steve the Birmingham R
Note - I know MH won't read these posts (!) but makes me feel better stating the obvious
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Thread | OaklandR
at 14:04 26 Jun 2010
is that Oakland in San Franscisco? |
| | BirminghamR
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