21 September fixtures

[The Terminator]

Fair play Orient they were excellent today. Full of passing and pressing which was a level above ours, Challinor made switches at half time that brought us right back in to it but as soon as County score, Wellens makes his own changes and neutralises us. Today showed the issue with having wing-backs who are much better at being wingers than they are full-backs, exploited time & again and Orient flashed so many balls across the goal, if they had a forward who could follow in they'd have scored seven or eight.

Definite bump back down to earth for us, shows how easy our start really was.

First 30mins we played well and actually took the chances we made for once.

County did come back into it after that, could've easily scored before they did. The changes at half time of Olafe and Bate caused us alot more problems, we managed to change shape ourselves and score the third at the right time, once it went 2-1 I was expecting us to chuck it away as we can become a bit rabit in headlights as we're a young team mainly, but our bench is alot stronger tan what it was and Cooper and Ball coming on helped. A shame our front options lack depth.

Th 4th we managed to catch county on the break, it could've been 3-2 as well at a few points, I thought the game was closer than 4-1 suggested but for once we managed to take our chances.

 

[Casey]

Been out and about all day. I did know the result but nothing about the game. First thing I hear is about an open goal miss. Just seen the highlightscand dear lord. I'd have been subbed for my Sunday league side for that miss...and I'm the manager!

Turned up, put on a performance but not quite good enough to get a point. Swan looking a bit more like the player we hoped though.

Casey

 

[AdamStag]

Just came across it, made me feel much better about our gift wrapped goal today.

I think we’re playing alright with the injuries to key players still, again (sorry to be the bore) we’ve had a generous run of opening fixtures which has helped us get away with things a little.

For me despite being 8th in an embryonic table, it’s 39 points required to 50.

 

[EricSabin]

What a day. Travelling up with no expectation of getting anything, and then all of a sudden we’re 2 up at half time. Lovely clinical finish to kill the game at 3-0, and bar a wobble for the goal/pen/red card we saw it out.

Had a good chat and a beer with the Orient fans on the way back from Stockport, a proper ‘that’s why you do it’ day out. Up the fucking Wobblers.

 

[masi51]

Where do you start with yesterday. 2pm team announced new captain and a formation which i am not its biggest fan at least it was one you could understand unlike Evatt previous 4. Gone was 5/2/3 and replaced with a 5/3/2 which you could switch to a 3/5/2 in possession. Also gone was £3m worth of signings to the bench.
First min George Johnson does one of his trademark tackles and takes out the reading wingback hard but fair.
Took the lead with a Sheehan free kick from 25 yards and quickly got a second when Charles was stupidly hauled down in the box. Three up with a second stupid penalty at this point Reading had done nothing. Reading scored the goal of the game shortly after out of the blue and suddenly woke up. They then out played us for 15 mins and on the stroke of half time we got our Fourth........Game over
Second half we never got going Reading pulled a second back then Baxter produced a Banks like save to stop it from being 4/3. We huffed and puffed then broke to make it 5/2 The usual subs after 60 mins stopped the flow of the game and we kind of limped to the final whistle. Baxter, Johnson and Adeboyejo immense but it was never a game we deserved to win by 3

 

[Conker]

I think we’re playing alright with the injuries to key players still, again (sorry to be the bore) we’ve had a generous run of opening fixtures which has helped us get away with things a little.

For me despite being 8th in an embryonic table, it’s 39 points required to 50.

Yesterday, against better L1 side we’ve probably lost the game by half time.

Just to need to get past the next international break then we will start improving with players coming back, I do think we need to strengthen midfield in January.

 

[chief]

Doctor chief we’ve found a pulse!

Right before you face us!

 

[Stocky]

Leyton Orient were good yesterday, really good away performance. Probably not a 4-1 on the balance but it was the same when we went to Blackpool a few backs won 3-0 and it looks a hammering when in reality it was mostly about getting goals at the right time.

We'll have lots of teething problems at this level, you can see we're still trying to see what works best with certain new players etc. I can see a few more of them this season as we look to be trying to bed in a more expansive game for the future. We do seem really wedded to working more and more on playing out from the back which will be bring short term pain. I though Orient worked their socks off to stop us and then had quality at the top end to round it off.

 

[Pilot_Phonic]

Crawley deserved something, but a needless corner and a great cross to an unmarked Max made it 4 home wins on the bounce. Miss of the season from their lad in the first half, and a bizarre equaliser when the lino gave offside but the ref played on. Ref certainly loved an advantage, sometimes pulling play back after about 4 seconds after a foul. Defo yellow card for a handball but as it was advantageous, ref didn't want to revisit it.

 

[Moomin]

OK but Stevenage really were dreadful. I guess that is the textbook definition of a regulation win. Even Niskanen looked good...

I’m a Niskanen fan and it was pleasing to see him have a very good game. Yes, he’s got limitations but Christ, does he put a shift in.

As you say, the definition of a regulation win. We controlled the game and won at a canter.

I was surprised how poor Stevenage looked tbh after they dispatched Barnsley last week. I was concerned we’d get turned over but they were way off the pace.

For us, I preferred playing the box midfield again. Francis looks a good player who will keep improving. Kamari Doyle is some talent too, a lovely finish for his goal.

Magennis worked his bollocks off against Stevenage’s oafish defence and showed some excellent hold up play.

Overall a decent start for us and feel there’s more to come.

 

[Gassy]

Weird game yesterday. We were atrocious for 70 minutes and suddenly after putting on our better players, who're all attackers, we suddenly play P'boro off the park and really should have drawn, if not won it.

Over the balance of play, we deserved nothing, no doubt. Not sure if I'm concerned or not. After the first 70, I thought Taylor's a gonner and we're in a relegation scrap here, suddenly I'm not sure.

Wycombe, Charlton & Burton coming up which will give us a better idea of where we are.

 

[IzzyFook]

Turned up, put on a performance but not quite good enough to get a point. Swan looking a bit more like the player we hoped though.

We were saying in our group he looked a tidy player fair do's...

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Beat Rotherham 0-2

Odd from Evans, did everything to assist us, blew smoke up our arses all week, Real Birmingham are in town, threw up the white flag, emptied the midfield played a flat back 5 with no width. The easiest away win we have had so far at somewhere where we expected to be tested the most. Thanks for the help big man, not that we needed it..

Iwata again looks way too good for the level. Davies slotted in well for a suspended Bielik. That Stansfield is such a waste of money by the way

Had a good day, always nice to visit the NY Stadium, One of the better away days.

 

[Conker]

Beat Rotherham 0-2

Odd from Evans, did everything to assist us, blew smoke up our arses all week, Real Birmingham are in town, threw up the white flag, emptied the midfield played a flat back 5 with no width. The easiest away win we have had so far at somewhere where we expected to be tested the most. Thanks for the help big man, not that we needed it..

Iwata again looks way too good for the level. Davies slotted in well for a suspended Bielik. That Stansfield is such a waste of money by the way

Had a good day, always nice to visit the NY Stadium, One of the better away days.

Has anyone other than a faceless twitter page suggested Stansfield is a waste of money? Genuine question too, not come across that.

Evans bigs up every team, it’s a weird trait of his and I did see the Galácticos remark which is classic fatty.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Has anyone other than a faceless twitter page suggested Stansfield is a waste of money? Genuine question too, not come across that.

Well yeah basically twiiter the pantheon of football knowledge, the cess pit of footballing opinion.

He wasn't worth the money now in all seriousness but will pay for himself in time.

Re Evans, it was kinda clever, get dicked and its i told you so, win the game he looks a genius.

 

[Conker]

Well yeah basically twiiter the pantheon of football knowledge, the cess pit of footballing opinion.

He wasn't worth the money now in all seriousness.

It’s going to take a few years to ultimately judge it, I think the bigger question is will you get value for money which may be a long shot considering the price.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

10 to 15 million now, value of 20 plus when we get promoted so if we flogged him we will make a profit prettyy much within a year, so its a win win, Amortised over 7 years also doesn't hurt us financially either, just a damn nice kid and a gunman in front of goal. A great back story to him and and his family. Hope he goes to the very top and hopefully with blues.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Very much enjoying the Evans excusefest every week.
Strange how this week they are a small club who can't pay big wages yet they have a keeper that most on here would love in their side (us included) who sits on the bench every week...

 

[Gassy]

10 to 15 million now, value of 20 plus when we get promoted so if we flogged him we will make a profit prettyy much within a year, so its a win win, Amortised over 7 years also doesn't hurt us financially either, just a damn nice kid and a gunman in front of goal. A great back story to him and and his family. Hope he goes to the very top and hopefully with blues.

Nonsense. He’s only “worth” £15m because you lot were going to spend that much. You couldn’t flog him for £10m right now, and just because he gets 30 goals in L1, he’s not going to be worth £20m. No one will pay that.

If, and I doubt it, there is interest to recoup that money then he’ll need to be top scorer in the Championship within a year, or in the Prem.

Not quite sure you’ve understood the economics of football outside of the Prem/top end Championship.

 

[Millerbri]

Beat Rotherham 0-2

Odd from Evans, did everything to assist us, blew smoke up our arses all week, Real Birmingham are in town, threw up the white flag, emptied the midfield played a flat back 5 with no width. The easiest away win we have had so far at somewhere where we expected to be tested the most. Thanks for the help big man, not that we needed it..

Iwata again looks way too good for the level. Davies slotted in well for a suspended Bielik. That Stansfield is such a waste of money by the way

Had a good day, always nice to visit the NY Stadium, One of the better away days.

Clearly man for man Birmingham are far superior to any team in this league and probably quite a lot of the Championship.

We set off really well for about 8 minutes and I was more than hopeful we would compete.

However, once we conceded the first we totally went to pieces.

The scoreline only remained respectable because the Blues players were content to just knock it back and forth and we should be grateful for that.

When people on here were naming us for promotion or at least certain play offs, I had my doubts and thought about 10th would be alright for this season. (I'd take that now TBH).

The new players are playing worse for us than they did for their previous clubs and the ones that stayed still seem shell-shocked from last season.

This means we are dis-functional, players go to sleep in all areas of the field and we can't play the full game at any kind of pace.
Worst of all is the loss of Victor Johansson, you only truly realise how good players are when you lose them.

I'm sure we should give Dawson the No1 shirt and see how it goes.
Phillips just doesn't boss his area at all, the defence don't appear to have any confidence in him and there's only Evans and Rayner that appear not to see it.

With this no away win in 2 years monkey on our backs, it's imperative that we get an away win soon.
Otherwise we will be competing at the other end of the league when we come to the business end of the season.

Just to add that our history seems to indicate when we get relegated, we tend to either go straight back up or drop through 2 divisions.

Although Evans and the Chairman enjoy a truly special relationship, not even he could survive the chop if we drop again.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Nonsense. He’s only “worth” £15m because you lot were going to spend that much. You couldn’t flog him for £10m right now, and just because he gets 30 goals in L1, he’s not going to be worth £20m. No one will pay that.

If, and I doubt it, there is interest to recoup that money then he’ll need to be top scorer in the Championship within a year, or in the Prem.

Not quite sure you’ve understood the economics of football outside of the Prem/top end Championship.

we dont want any interest as yet, we are building something very special and want him to see the course with us when hopefully return to the premier league. if we do well in the championship his value would be £20 mill at least. Plus we didnt pay any where near the 15 million widely quoted. Young English and UK players can cost a premium re wharton at blackburn so we can command a high fee if someone wants him.

Theres a load of speculation and nobody really knows the details. Im happy, the fans are happy with what we have paid and so are the owners.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

It’s going to take a few years to ultimately judge it, I think the bigger question is will you get value for money which may be a long shot considering the price.

In all honestly we are that solid behind the scenes finance we can afford a luxury signing or 2 if they come off then great if not we will still be gravy

 

[Gassy]

we dont want any interest as yet, we are building something very special and want him to see the course with us when hopefully return to the premier league. if we do well in the championship his value would be £20 mill at least. Plus we didnt pay any where near the 15 million widely quoted. Young English and UK players can cost a premium re wharton at blackburn so we can command a high fee if someone wants him.

Theres a load of speculation and nobody really knows the details. Im happy, the fans are happy with what we have paid and so are the owners.

I was more disputing your valuation of being worth £15m now and doubling if you go up - not a chance. As I was saying, even if he gets 30 goals this season, a striker scoring 30 goals at L1 and 12 in the championship the season before is worth £5m+, not £20-30m.

The latter is the most important part, at this point who cares about valuation. Plod along and let’s see where/what you can do.

 

[masi51]

Nonsense. He’s only “worth” £15m because you lot were going to spend that much. You couldn’t flog him for £10m right now, and just because he gets 30 goals in L1, he’s not going to be worth £20m. No one will pay that.

If, and I doubt it, there is interest to recoup that money then he’ll need to be top scorer in the Championship within a year, or in the Prem.

Not quite sure you’ve understood the economics of football outside of the Prem/top end Championship.

I have a feeling if they wanted to sell him in the coming January Window they would get 8 figures for him.
He will play in the premier league in the next few years with or without Birmingham.
Some players it is not a gamble and he is one of them.

I have no problem with Birmingham paying that kind of money

 

[The Terminator]

Couple of games tomorrow evening, including ourselves vs Peterborough.

Don't think Posh are as strong as last season, but they still have decent enough firepower in their team to cause teams problems.

Can see us rotating a few players again, but we don't have any depth up front so once again we have to hope we don't overload Charlie Kelman and Dan Agyei.

First of 3 home games in a row and our first proper home game for nearly a month, so a chance to build on our back to back wins, hopefully get around 5 points at the very least.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Couple of games tomorrow evening, including ourselves vs Peterborough.

Don't think Posh are as strong as last season, but they still have decent enough firepower in their team to cause teams problems.

Can see us rotating a few players again, but we don't have any depth up front so once again we have to hope we don't overload Charlie Kelman and Dan Agyei.

First of 3 home games in a row and our first proper home game for nearly a month, so a chance to build on our back to back wins, hopefully get around 5 points at the very least.

Good to see the results turning for Orient, they were the best team we played this season, was only a matter of time before things turned.

 

[DaveBirm1875]

I like that kelman and Agyei

Hows the keeper doing now? was a tad shaky early doors

 

[denzel ecfc]

Good to see the results turning for Orient, they were the best team we played this season, was only a matter of time before things turned.

You've only played 6 games!

 

[DaveBirm1875]

I am so happy this forum points out the bleeding obvious, yes we have played 6 games and yes they were the best of the lot. Thanks

 

[The Terminator]

I like that kelman and Agyei

Hows the keeper doing now? was a tad shaky early doors

He is looking more dependable, but he still needs a lot of work to add to his game like his positioning.

Made a few good saves in recent games tbf.