| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum 10:40 - Aug 2 with 1461 views | unstableblue |
Firstly it’s interesting to see just how high Town fans and Championship pundits alike are predicting Birmingham will finish. Many above us.
Momentum, vociferous home support, good transfer business (?)… going to be a tough old match indeed.
Watching Luton last night, they clearly had a relegation hangover of belief going forward combined with a dogged Dons defence, didn’t see 3 points. That own goal to seal 3 points could be massive for Luton’s season. We want to get 2 wins in our first 4 as a very minimum. Get the project going.
Central midfield is key. Hackney looking doubtful, or will join too late to be a starter in the first game, or obviously in France today.
I like Taylor, he’s not Premiership, but he’s got enough to be impactful in the Championship. But not dominant. He can be liable to mistakes and letting his head drop. But he has got an engine and has some excellent passing range.
But not ideal, and perhaps we even need two CMs, Barbrook and Humphreys have lots of potential, but lack experience/presence.
Will the Taylor starting need negatively impact the strong start to the season we need?? |  |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:44 - Aug 2 with 1378 views | Herbivore |
Taylor is absolutely fine. We want better than fine but it's not like we've plucked someone out of the local Sunday league team because we're short of numbers. He played a decent number of minutes last season at a higher level and a decent number of minutes in our promotion season too. I doubt he's going to be first choice going forward but he's more than capable of doing a job. And look at the 10 players likely to line up with him, it's going to be a very strong XI. |  |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:47 - Aug 2 with 1297 views | StokieBlue |
"Firstly it’s interesting to see just how high Town fans and Championship pundits alike are predicting Birmingham will finish. Many above us."
Which pundits are predicting this? I've heard one top 20 listing from a respected podcast and won't divulge what they said in case people want to listen.
Think we are well past the point of over-analysis around the squad, everyone knows we need a few players and I am sure we will get them.
SB |  | | |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:50 - Aug 2 with 1238 views | unstableblue |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:44 - Aug 2 by Herbivore |
Taylor is absolutely fine. We want better than fine but it's not like we've plucked someone out of the local Sunday league team because we're short of numbers. He played a decent number of minutes last season at a higher level and a decent number of minutes in our promotion season too. I doubt he's going to be first choice going forward but he's more than capable of doing a job. And look at the 10 players likely to line up with him, it's going to be a very strong XI. |
Bang on Herbie
Taylor actually did well in a couple of Prem games
And as you say if the below plays to its strengths - Philogene has a game full of threat - it’s not a team Brum or anyone would want to face. Centre Backs give me a lot of confidence at this level.
Palmer
Young OShea Greaves Davis
Matusiwa Taylor
Clarke Szmodics Philogene
Hirst | |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:51 - Aug 2 with 1221 views | Herbivore |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:47 - Aug 2 by StokieBlue |
"Firstly it’s interesting to see just how high Town fans and Championship pundits alike are predicting Birmingham will finish. Many above us."
Which pundits are predicting this? I've heard one top 20 listing from a respected podcast and won't divulge what they said in case people want to listen.
Think we are well past the point of over-analysis around the squad, everyone knows we need a few players and I am sure we will get them.
SB |
I've not been keeping an eye out, but the predictions I've seen so far have all had us above Brum. | |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:54 - Aug 2 with 1162 views | Herbivore |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:50 - Aug 2 by unstableblue |
Bang on Herbie
Taylor actually did well in a couple of Prem games
And as you say if the below plays to its strengths - Philogene has a game full of threat - it’s not a team Brum or anyone would want to face. Centre Backs give me a lot of confidence at this level.
Palmer
Young OShea Greaves Davis
Matusiwa Taylor
Clarke Szmodics Philogene
Hirst |
It's a ridiculous team for this level really. Taylor is an odd one, agree with you that a couple of times last season he didn't look out of place at that level, but other games really passed him by. He's a decent Championship player though and if he's the weak link in our XI that says more about the strength of the other 10 players than it does about him. Get one of Hackney or Cajuste (or both) in and we're very strong. I'm also quietly confident our line up will have Hutch in there instead of Clarke, which looks proper naughty. | |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:56 - Aug 2 with 1108 views | StokieBlue |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:54 - Aug 2 by Herbivore |
It's a ridiculous team for this level really. Taylor is an odd one, agree with you that a couple of times last season he didn't look out of place at that level, but other games really passed him by. He's a decent Championship player though and if he's the weak link in our XI that says more about the strength of the other 10 players than it does about him. Get one of Hackney or Cajuste (or both) in and we're very strong. I'm also quietly confident our line up will have Hutch in there instead of Clarke, which looks proper naughty. |
As you say, it's a very strong line-up at this level.
Still think there is a chance Hutch will play 10 as McKenna seems to like him there and a season there might really help him learn the position. Also not sure he's going to want one of either Philogene or Clarke on the bench.
Philogene - Hutch - Clarke.
We will find out soon enough, I could be totally wrong. Clarke just seems too good a player to be on the bench but I guess a similar case could be made for Sammy.
SB [Post edited 2 Aug 10:57]
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:03 - Aug 2 with 975 views | Leutard |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:50 - Aug 2 by unstableblue |
Bang on Herbie
Taylor actually did well in a couple of Prem games
And as you say if the below plays to its strengths - Philogene has a game full of threat - it’s not a team Brum or anyone would want to face. Centre Backs give me a lot of confidence at this level.
Palmer
Young OShea Greaves Davis
Matusiwa Taylor
Clarke Szmodics Philogene
Hirst |
I think people are really forgetting quite how good Davis is as well. He still produced an incredible amount of chances last year, even if he was left exposed a lot |  | | |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:09 - Aug 2 with 870 views | Smoresy |
Like peeps above, surprised to read your first para; we're predicted 1st or 2nd in nearly all the content creators' write-ups I've come across. NTT20 released their 1-24 podcast last night: hopefully they make it 6 out of 7 seasons for correctly predicting the winner! pod.fo/e/307ea3 (Spotify link for those interested, will probs be released as a YouTube vid sometime this weekend)
Doubtless they have momentum and would imagine a vociferous crowd (always been quiet or standard in my three previous visits, didn't have the points for 23/24). Should be a tough opener for both.
Is Iwata expected to partner with Tommy Doyle? I wouldn't be confident claiming that bests Azor and Jack. Not long to find out. Agree it's our chief vulnerability, while Brum's overall striker package may also exceed ours. Give me Hirst over Stanfield any day mind. | | | |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:10 - Aug 2 with 843 views | unstableblue |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:56 - Aug 2 by StokieBlue |
As you say, it's a very strong line-up at this level.
Still think there is a chance Hutch will play 10 as McKenna seems to like him there and a season there might really help him learn the position. Also not sure he's going to want one of either Philogene or Clarke on the bench.
Philogene - Hutch - Clarke.
We will find out soon enough, I could be totally wrong. Clarke just seems too good a player to be on the bench but I guess a similar case could be made for Sammy.
SB [Post edited 2 Aug 10:57]
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Szmodics has the be the 10, even if Hutchinson stays.
I would personally start Clarke Szmodics Huthinson
Clarke deserves to start on the left -
Philogene having a great pre-season and maybe will own that slot as per McKenna comments, but start him as impact.
Do think our left maybe the area for opponents to attach us… but Leif has been up against some ridiculous talent of late | |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:13 - Aug 2 with 800 views | unstableblue |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:09 - Aug 2 by Smoresy |
Like peeps above, surprised to read your first para; we're predicted 1st or 2nd in nearly all the content creators' write-ups I've come across. NTT20 released their 1-24 podcast last night: hopefully they make it 6 out of 7 seasons for correctly predicting the winner! pod.fo/e/307ea3 (Spotify link for those interested, will probs be released as a YouTube vid sometime this weekend)
Doubtless they have momentum and would imagine a vociferous crowd (always been quiet or standard in my three previous visits, didn't have the points for 23/24). Should be a tough opener for both.
Is Iwata expected to partner with Tommy Doyle? I wouldn't be confident claiming that bests Azor and Jack. Not long to find out. Agree it's our chief vulnerability, while Brum's overall striker package may also exceed ours. Give me Hirst over Stanfield any day mind. |
Apologies, bad English
A few town fans have Brum above us - well two town fans - not pundits
I’ve seen loads of predicted tables from ‘experts’ and all have Town above Brum, BUT, my original point is that MANY pundits AND town fans have Brum in the top six.
That I did not expect. | |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:17 - Aug 2 with 738 views | StokieBlue |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:10 - Aug 2 by unstableblue |
Szmodics has the be the 10, even if Hutchinson stays.
I would personally start Clarke Szmodics Huthinson
Clarke deserves to start on the left -
Philogene having a great pre-season and maybe will own that slot as per McKenna comments, but start him as impact.
Do think our left maybe the area for opponents to attach us… but Leif has been up against some ridiculous talent of late |
He wasn't always the number 10 in the PL though, Sammy played in from the left sometimes from memory so I don't think McKenna totally agrees. Just not as sold on Sammy starting ahead of those 3 but we will see.
You state that Philogene has had a great preseason but then don't start him? How does Clarke deserve to start ahead of him?
Just trying to understand the logic here. I think one thing it highlights is that we have a lot of options at in that department and people have different views on how they should be deployed.
SB | | | |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:18 - Aug 2 with 737 views | StokieBlue |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:09 - Aug 2 by Smoresy |
Like peeps above, surprised to read your first para; we're predicted 1st or 2nd in nearly all the content creators' write-ups I've come across. NTT20 released their 1-24 podcast last night: hopefully they make it 6 out of 7 seasons for correctly predicting the winner! pod.fo/e/307ea3 (Spotify link for those interested, will probs be released as a YouTube vid sometime this weekend)
Doubtless they have momentum and would imagine a vociferous crowd (always been quiet or standard in my three previous visits, didn't have the points for 23/24). Should be a tough opener for both.
Is Iwata expected to partner with Tommy Doyle? I wouldn't be confident claiming that bests Azor and Jack. Not long to find out. Agree it's our chief vulnerability, while Brum's overall striker package may also exceed ours. Give me Hirst over Stanfield any day mind. |
I deliberately didn't say what the podcast said in case people wanted to listen to it without spoliers!
SB | | | |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:18 - Aug 2 with 718 views | muccletonjoe |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 10:50 - Aug 2 by unstableblue |
Bang on Herbie
Taylor actually did well in a couple of Prem games
And as you say if the below plays to its strengths - Philogene has a game full of threat - it’s not a team Brum or anyone would want to face. Centre Backs give me a lot of confidence at this level.
Palmer
Young OShea Greaves Davis
Matusiwa Taylor
Clarke Szmodics Philogene
Hirst |
That starting 11 is good enough for top 2 and promotion. No need to argue about that.
Once we get 3 or 4 injuries , the level will drop, but probably still enough for top 6.
But anymore injuries than that, I don't see us as contenders with the current squad |  | | |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:20 - Aug 2 with 703 views | StokieBlue |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:18 - Aug 2 by muccletonjoe |
That starting 11 is good enough for top 2 and promotion. No need to argue about that.
Once we get 3 or 4 injuries , the level will drop, but probably still enough for top 6.
But anymore injuries than that, I don't see us as contenders with the current squad |
You honestly think that other clubs have more depth?
Not sure I agree with that.
SB | | | |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:27 - Aug 2 with 602 views | NthQldITFC |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:18 - Aug 2 by muccletonjoe |
That starting 11 is good enough for top 2 and promotion. No need to argue about that.
Once we get 3 or 4 injuries , the level will drop, but probably still enough for top 6.
But anymore injuries than that, I don't see us as contenders with the current squad |
We will certainly have more than the current squad by the end of August, so it's a moot point really. |  |
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| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:27 - Aug 2 with 602 views | Smoresy |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:18 - Aug 2 by StokieBlue |
I deliberately didn't say what the podcast said in case people wanted to listen to it without spoliers!
SB |
I could be a closet Coventry fan. | | | |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 12:32 - Aug 2 with 345 views | muccletonjoe |
| So it’s Taylor and Matusiwa to start today and at Brum on 11:20 - Aug 2 by StokieBlue |
You honestly think that other clubs have more depth?
Not sure I agree with that.
SB |
Not saying other clubs have more depth, but you can never tell who will get more injuries | | | |
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