Borodane 6,815 26.5k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 1 hour ago, Neverbefore said: How would you set up if ELL isn't fit to start 4 games in less than 2 weeks though? Tough one. I'd probably go Forss up top and Azaz behind unless Jones is fit then I'd take McNair out and go 4-2-3-1 with Azaz in no10 and Jones on the right. I'd rather play people in the best positions than shoehorning Silvera in as a striker or McGree as a false 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smogsterking the Inspirati 2,746 8k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 I see no reason to change things bar players being unavailable. Perhaps putting Finch on the bench. A win would at least keep the season ticking over for a little bit longer with that distant hope of the playoffs. Perhaps now we have more or less secured our safety the pressure is off for this game and we can start playing a without the fear we seemed to have early on in the last 2 games. A win keeps the season going a defeat and perhaps a draw would more or less make the rest of the season dead rubber games for us albeit we could prove to influence the promotion race with us still to play 4 of the top 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnglianRed 6,500 15.8k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 (edited) ˈkwes.tʃən Has Carrick actually turned a corner, managerially? Probably still a bit early to be sure. I'd rather judge him on how things go to the end of the season. But the last 2 games have definitely re-ignited my optimism. How much has luck (good or bad) effected this season? Undoubtedly the injuries have contributed to our struggles this season, but Carrick's selections and tactics (particularly at the start of the season) have also played their part. How many will we win by? I don't want to say, as my predictions always seem to jinx us. But lets just say I'm confident. Starting 11? Yes, I believe we will start with 11 players. 😜 On a more serious note, I'm hoping Carrick sticks with the same formation from the QPR game and only makes changes where injuries / fitness require it. Edited March 11 by AnglianRed 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaCider24 13,968 18.6k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2024/march/11/michael-carrick-pre-match--birmingham-city/ There's the press conference, only just listening now so not sure if there's anything notable in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smogzilla 8,543 6.6k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Just saw that he might have to make some changes for fitness reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonD 889 966 Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Has Carrick actually turned a corner, managerially? We don't score many from corners. Seriously though, post sending off at Norwich i would have said 'no', but we played well and got confidence from that. I was at the QPR game and we were excellent defensively I thought, and really went for it 2nd half. I definitely saw more confidence, although maybe that was because we weren't playing home with expectation on our shoulders. I think QPR showed that Carrick can adapt - I loved seeing ELL hoof it out of defence, so maybe I will concede that although he hasn't turned a corner, he's a bit like a sub-par taxi rank when you call them to ask where your cab is and they say 'it's just coming round the corner now' How much has luck (good or bad) effected this season? A lot I think - we had so many new players come in at the start and we were playing alright but not finishing our chances and making sloppy mistakes at the back. We've gelled a bit more since and are starting to see players step up. Injuries have been a killer and really impacted our consistency. Despite Carrick's tactical stubbornness I think we've done alright considering How many will we win by? Another 2-0 win Starting 11? Same as QPR but if ELL can't make it, I'd wang Silvera up front and bring Jones back in 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erimus74 3,595 3.7k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Boxing day 1906 Birminghams first ever match at StAndrew & against the mighty Boro, which ended 0-0, the match ball is on display in a cabinet at the ground 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce 1,955 1.7k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 I think that Carrick is trying very hard to keep the team unchanged in order to build up "relationships" and "connections" so as long as Howson and Latte Lath can last 60 minutes, I think they play. I think we might see Finch replacing Gilbert on the bench but other than that I don't expect any unforced changes. Birmingham are in the odd position of having a halfway decent team that has been knocked sideways by the Rooney saga. Lots of skillful and dangerous players. This feels like an almost anything can happen with pretty much equal likelihood kind of game. We're hoping that the last two games has helped us master a more compact and defensive shape with enough pace on the counter to be a threat. Engel and Ayling may not be rapid but Ayling is probably the best crosser at the club and Engel has a good range of passing and an eye for a goal. For all that it would be great to see Jones back, he wouldn't have been able to provide either of the assists that Ayling did in the last two games. It feels like we could end up with some sort of chaotic 3-3, so I'll go with that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaCider24 13,968 18.6k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 There's the BBC Tees segment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinoJo3 3,896 11.2k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 10 minutes ago, Bruce said: I think that Carrick is trying very hard to keep the team unchanged in order to build up "relationships" and "connections" so as long as Howson and Latte Lath can last 60 minutes, I think they play. I think we might see Finch replacing Gilbert on the bench but other than that I don't expect any unforced changes. Birmingham are in the odd position of having a halfway decent team that has been knocked sideways by the Rooney saga. Lots of skillful and dangerous players. This feels like an almost anything can happen with pretty much equal likelihood kind of game. We're hoping that the last two games has helped us master a more compact and defensive shape with enough pace on the counter to be a threat. Engel and Ayling may not be rapid but Ayling is probably the best crosser at the club and Engel has a good range of passing and an eye for a goal. For all that it would be great to see Jones back, he wouldn't have been able to provide either of the assists that Ayling did in the last two games. It feels like we could end up with some sort of chaotic 3-3, so I'll go with that. I kinda agree with The chaotic thing like, can definately see a high scoring game. Im hoping the interview he did isn’t a sign of incoming *** around, fitness permitting just go with the same *** team or at least make as like for like changes as possible, such as silvera for Lath, Azaz for Mcgree etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapattheback 26 100 Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 I agree about Ayling. Initially used as a full back, he is now match fit after 8 games and as a wing back he is keeping Jones on the bench with a splendid assist in each of the last 2 matches. Jones has the speed, but Ayling has the experience and guile to make space for himself and is a better crosser. I hope that Jones is learning from Ayling and hope that we see an improvement in him when he is subbed on when the opposition and Ayling are tiring. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downsouth 6,739 36.2k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Whilst we all pass on our wishes to the Boro I think we can all agree that we send out our best wishes to Tony Mowbray. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erimus74 3,595 3.7k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 37 minutes ago, chapattheback said: I agree about Ayling. Initially used as a full back, he is now match fit after 8 games and as a wing back he is keeping Jones on the bench with a splendid assist in each of the last 2 matches. Jones has the speed, but Ayling has the experience and guile to make space for himself and is a better crosser. I hope that Jones is learning from Ayling and hope that we see an improvement in him when he is subbed on when the opposition and Ayling are tiring. For me Ayling started off really well, had a bit of a dip in form but his last 2 games, Norwich & QPR he was steady, back to his pre loss form 2 things stand out v Norwich, he was lucky to stay on the pitch when his poor control he lost the ball & caught the Norwich player with his studs, the ref gave him a talking to & secondly, that cross for Engles goal, quality 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboro 921 1.1k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 @Smogzilla seen much of sonny finch since his return from injury? Just wondered if he could be nearing a place on the bench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smogzilla 8,543 6.6k Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 8 minutes ago, Donnyboro said: @Smogzilla seen much of sonny finch since his return from injury? Just wondered if he could be nearing a place on the bench Yes I watched him play united last Friday night. Looks like he's come back really sharp. Already bagged a few in other games and got two on the night. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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