By Order of The Peaky Blinders. Away to Brum Tues Oct 22nd 19-45.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Btw Dion has always been hot and cold. I doubt you'll get many arguments about not using players properly, but bringing SKD into it isn't strengthening any point you're trying to make.

Hands up, A.T., I was the guilty one for mentioning S.K.D, in the fist instance, not Insaney. Apologies for that.

All said, How I'd love to see my lifetime role model (after Nat of course) fronting the Whites right now. For that, I make no apology at all.

Nowt to apologise for Tango. I think we all wish we had him at his best. I just objected to Insanos assertion that none of our current lot are willing to play through pain when it is not true. Don't have a problem if he's simply saying this lot are shit as he's entitled to his opinion. But this lot are amongst the best in the division some posts and others the worst ever to grace the shirt.

[Mar]

For everyone looking at us having a high scoring game, don't get your hopes up if history is anything to go off.

Last 10 meetings:

Away 1-2 W
Home 2-2 D
Away 0-1 W
Home 0-1 L
Home 0-1 L
Away 1-0 L
Away 0-0 D
Home 1-0 W
Away 0-1 W

That's a lot of close scoring games right there. I suspect Birmingham are probably looking at us as a potential banana skin rather than whipping boys so I think they'd happily take a ground out 1-0 win. Given we struggle to break teams down it may just be a case of them getting a goal and solidifying what they've got, hoping to catch us on the break. Whereas our game plan is likely solidify and try and catch them on the break, until we go behind which forces us to get more attacking.

[DJBlu]

For everyone looking at us having a high scoring game, don't get your hopes up if history is anything to go off.

Last 10 meetings:

Away 1-2 W
Home 2-2 D
Away 0-1 W
Home 0-1 L
Home 0-1 L
Away 1-0 L
Away 0-0 D
Home 1-0 W
Away 0-1 W

That's a lot of close scoring games right there. I suspect Birmingham are probably looking at us as a potential banana skin rather than whipping boys so I think they'd happily take a ground out 1-0 win. Given we struggle to break teams down it may just be a case of them getting a goal and solidifying what they've got, hoping to catch us on the break. Whereas our game plan is likely solidify and try and catch them on the break, until we go behind which forces us to get more attacking.

Not had a 0-0 in a while then.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Sorry, dunno how to make it smaller

[HMX]

The expectation sits with the home crowd for this one so, while it's definitely not a free hit, it ought to be a rallying cry of 'disrupt the game, press hard, frustrate them, and try to steal a win'. A draw would be a very good result. I'll predict with my heart and go 1-1.

[BWFC_Insane]

Btw Dion has always been hot and cold. I doubt you'll get many arguments about not using players properly, but bringing SKD into it isn't strengthening any point you're trying to make.

Hands up, A.T., I was the guilty one for mentioning S.K.D, in the fist instance, not Insaney. Apologies for that.

All said, How I'd love to see my lifetime role model (after Nat of course) fronting the Whites right now. For that, I make no apology at all.

Nowt to apologise for Tango. I think we all wish we had him at his best. I just objected to Insanos assertion that none of our current lot are willing to play through pain when it is not true. Don't have a problem if he's simply saying this lot are shit as he's entitled to his opinion. But this lot are amongst the best in the division some posts and others the worst ever to grace the shirt.

I think that they are a good squad of players with a lack of mentally strong leaders and I don’t think they will run through walls for the club. Maybe that’s Evatt and a lack of motivation, maybe that’s the group and it’s makeup that he’s assembled. I don’t know.

But their attitude is imho poor at times. It’s great when we are flying and everything is going well. But when the need is there to dig in or the big pressure games come round or we have a few injuries you can feel this team wilt. It’s a physical sensation sometimes in the ground.

A different manager maybe changes that. Maybe they turn santos into the imposing brick wall he should be in both boxes winning every header and whatever on a consistent basis.

It’s hard to tell because we’ve all seen teams go from one manager to another and look completely different.

The player I think who I’d say might have poor form or a poor game but always is there is Thomason. He’s always trying always prepared to stick his head up.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Maybe our best hope is that they've looked at this three-fixture week, seen that they were away at the fifth-placed team, home to some lower-table also-rans then away at the third-placed title rivals, and deprioritised us. Might not be what some egos want to contemplate, but right now we're a lesser beast than Lincoln and Mansfield.

As for the opponents - only twice this season they've failed to score, and one was against Fulham. (Meanwhile we've kept 3 clean sheets in 15 attempts.) Right now they're out of our league metaphorically, and likely literally too if somehting doesn't change. But there's no better place to demonstrate that change.

I predict a 3-1 loss, and as soon as I type it it feels generous. Our 1 may be a consolation from a sub forward as they make changes late on.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I think that they are a good squad of players with a lack of mentally strong leaders and I don’t think they will run through walls for the club. Maybe that’s Evatt and a lack of motivation, maybe that’s the group and it’s makeup that he’s assembled. I don’t know.

But their attitude is imho poor at times. It’s great when we are flying and everything is going well. But when the need is there to dig in or the big pressure games come round or we have a few injuries you can feel this team wilt. It’s a physical sensation sometimes in the ground.

A different manager maybe changes that. Maybe they turn santos into the imposing brick wall he should be in both boxes winning every header and whatever on a consistent basis.

It’s hard to tell because we’ve all seen teams go from one manager to another and look completely different.

The player I think who I’d say might have poor form or a poor game but always is there is Thomason. He’s always trying always prepared to stick his head up.

I don't disagree with everything you are saying, but playing with injuries is playing through the metaphorical wall. There is a mindset problem, but in part I think it is a symptom of the modern world. many of these players have grown up in a world very different to the one we did. When kids are taught the taking part and oh well you tried is the most important thing then they're less likely to have that mental fire of win, find a way to win. Evatt clearly hasn't gotten that into them where other managers have at other clubs. For me it is on Evatt to get that right and ensure he has the right blend of character and mentality - its as important as technical ability for me.

I don't think the squad is right, but there are enough quality players to have us performing much better than we have been. For me it is an Evatt problem rather than a player problem. There is a manager out there that can get this team playing, and with some better quality at wingback and midfield most of this division shouldn't be able to lay a glove on us.

[officer_dibble]

I would pick:
Baxter/Southwood
Toal (JDC)
Santos
Johnston
Williams
Schon
Matete
Sheehan
Dempsey
Charles
McAtee (or Collins).

Would like to see Charles playing as 9 with a 10 and it’s either McAtee or Collins. Think former gives us more away from home.

[DJBlu]

Evatt confirms Thomo is out until end of Nov. Freak overstretch in training causing issues with the hamstring.

Toal is hopefully back following neurology scans.

Baxter, didn't give any more information but hopeful.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Would like to see Charles playing as 9 with a 10 and it’s either McAtee or Collins. Think former gives us more away from home.

That makes sense but in a game where we might need an out-ball I'd be tempted to consider Adeboyejo. He's been erratic since coming back but at his best he's a much more physical option than Dion/Collins. McAtee will chuck himself around but he's not as strong.

[irie Cee Bee]

Even with Pep was our manager, anything we get from this game is a bonus. I will not use this performance, whatever it is, to slag Evatt, as much as I dont think he us up to the task. Brums are top of the table, have much better players and are going for it.

Football however is a great equalizer. It isn't played on paper. I as a player would be ready to test myself against the best, so the players should be highly motivated. I expect them to give it their best shot.

[Spartan2]

Into his fifth season, millions spent and we're a lesser challenge than Lincoln and Mansfield, is exactly why Evatt can feck right off.

[BWFC_Insane]

Would like to see Charles playing as 9 with a 10 and it’s either McAtee or Collins. Think former gives us more away from home.

That makes sense but in a game where we might need an out-ball I'd be tempted to consider Adeboyejo. He's been erratic since coming back but at his best he's a much more physical option than Dion/Collins. McAtee will chuck himself around but he's not as strong.

Bizarrely - I wonder at Birmingham what might happen if we played McAtee, Dion and Collins and just let them stay high up the pitch and went direct when we won the ball?

I mean say to those three. We will be solid in behind it’s down to you three to produce something to win the game.

I think that might be a handful for any team.

[DJBlu]

Might not be what some egos want to contemplate, but right now we're a lesser beast than Lincoln and Mansfield.

If Birmingham beleive this and we turn up we'll beat them.

Are you basing this opinion on league position, form or both?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Might not be what some egos want to contemplate, but right now we're a lesser beast than Lincoln and Mansfield.

If Birmingham beleive this and we turn up we'll beat them.

Are you basing this opinion on league position, form or both?

The sheer hard mathematics of league position, with our lack of points won, due to our surfeit of goals against. The concrete architecture of underachievement.

Bizarrely - I wonder at Birmingham what might happen if we played McAtee, Dion and Collins and just let them stay high up the pitch and went direct when we won the ball?

Then we'd be playing 8 men against 10 well-paid well-coached pass-happy types and we'd get absolutely rogered.

I mean I get the idea, and I like that it's decidedly unParkinsonian, but it's not like playing Dion, Collins and McAtee worked well against Burton.

[BWFC_Insane]

Might not be what some egos want to contemplate, but right now we're a lesser beast than Lincoln and Mansfield.

If Birmingham beleive this and we turn up we'll beat them.

Are you basing this opinion on league position, form or both?

The sheer hard mathematics of league position, with our lack of points won, due to our surfeit of goals against. The concrete architecture of underachievement.

Bizarrely - I wonder at Birmingham what might happen if we played McAtee, Dion and Collins and just let them stay high up the pitch and went direct when we won the ball?

Then we'd be playing 8 men against 10 well-paid well-coached pass-happy types and we'd get absolutely rogered.

I mean I get the idea, and I like that it's decidedly unParkinsonian, but it's not like playing Dion, Collins and McAtee worked well against Burton.

Away from home though. And I think I’m basic terms we’ve got that quality. Get the ball to them before teams are set and when they have the chance to exploit space and gaps. I dunno feels like it’s an option to catch teams out. Birmingham no doubt are good but we know it’s hard to play teams who are organised and have threat on the counter.

[Frank Drebin]

We don’t keep clean sheets, Brum 2 v 0.

[dave the minion]

It'll be reet. We'll shit 'em

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Might not be what some egos want to contemplate, but right now we're a lesser beast than Lincoln and Mansfield.

If Birmingham beleive this and we turn up we'll beat them.

Are you basing this opinion on league position, form or both?

The sheer hard mathematics of league position, with our lack of points won, due to our surfeit of goals against. The concrete architecture of underachievement.

Bizarrely - I wonder at Birmingham what might happen if we played McAtee, Dion and Collins and just let them stay high up the pitch and went direct when we won the ball?

Then we'd be playing 8 men against 10 well-paid well-coached pass-happy types and we'd get absolutely rogered.

I mean I get the idea, and I like that it's decidedly unParkinsonian, but it's not like playing Dion, Collins and McAtee worked well against Burton.

Away from home though. And I think I’m basic terms we’ve got that quality. Get the ball to them before teams are set and when they have the chance to exploit space and gaps. I dunno feels like it’s an option to catch teams out. Birmingham no doubt are good but we know it’s hard to play teams who are organised and have threat on the counter.

Yeah fair but organisation is much much harder if you sacrifice two defensive bodies to loaf about up front. Just makes for many more spaces for the passers to exploit.

I'm not sure I've seen any of our low-block visitors leave three on the halfway line.

It can be done - Mark Hughes did it at ours when he was at City, leaving three up for our corners (presumably figuring we'd have to pull some Big Lads out of their box to deal with it). But that's not really a straight comparison. And I shudder to think of us playing just two central midfielders on Wednesday. We would get absolutely ambled through.