St Andrew’s is a Happy Place to Be Again - Notes for Birmingham Friday, 18th Sep 2015 05:10 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Friday evening’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums. “It’s a great feeling going to St Andrew’s again”, “We're doing just fine”, “Gary Rowett's Blue Army is sneaking in under the radar better than I could ever imagine. I honestly think we can put in a decent performance against any team in this division. Keep it up lads.” “Reality checks are not bad things.” City’s 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday was their first of the season and came off the back of a run of three straight wins in all competitions. “I didn't mind losing to be honest, best to get it out the way to a team with a far superior squad.” “It has been an amazing start to the season”, “We have been doing really well with a decent team but often doing well against teams with better individuals”, “I like how we're going 'under the radar' as Rowett said. Nobody outside the club expects much from us this season.” Given their current run of good form, many City fans are keenly anticipating next Tuesday’s Capital One Cup game against their local rivals. “My Aston Villa mates are giving me hell and predicting a hammering. Well, just wait till we beat them at Vile Park.” Gary Rowett“We are watching our team play some very good football”, “It has been a pleasure to go home games again courtesy of Mr Rowett after the rubbish of the last couple seasons. It's a hell of a lot better these days”, “Rowett has transformed this club”, “Rowett is the right man.”  Fans appreciate the strong team ethic the ex-Burton manager has forged having had a pre-season and transfer window to rebuild the squad. “We are massively punching above our weight, largely due to the brilliance of our manager at galvanising a team and getting the best out of individuals.” “Gary said before he moved in he'd put a smile back on all the fans’ faces”, “As it stands he has transformed a squad with simple consistent tactics and making the best use of what we have got. It's brilliant”, “We have been fantastic so far and you and your staff have been doing a brilliant job.” “We all want our manager around when hopefully the money does start coming in.” There is a fear of losing him to a team with more financial clout. “If Rowett just had a bit of money to spend we could get promoted but I doubt this as he has so few decent back-up players to cover for injuries.” “We have a great team spirit and confidence”, “Other clubs have done well without having the best squads but with work ethic”, “Blues fans are more patient and understanding these days. Gary has changed us. It was all about hope before now belief is starting to creep in. All hail belief. “ Formation“It may not be pretty, but it's certainly effective”, “Rowett when he was at Burton basically said that sometimes it's better to cede possession in order to get players in position correctly, thereby being better placed to deal with the opposition”, “He has us set up as a very hard side to play against.” “In previous eras the crowd would be screaming to win the ball back. I sense more patience now when you can see the team consciously keep its shape and let the other team pass it around, rather than chasing shadows or winning the ball where nothing can be done with it.” KuszczakCaddisMorrisonSpectorGroundsKieftenbeldGleesonCotterillToralGrayDonaldson
Birmingham have consistently played a 4-2-3-1 system, as they did in their Saturday’s home win over Bristol City (above). There is an emphasis on shape and position at the expense of possession. Players are deployed in their strongest positions and their strengths mirror the team’s playing style. “It is certainly not ugly though. The football is not at all in the Pulis style. On the counter we have the flair of David Cotterill and Andre Gray, good footballers like Stephen Gleeson and Jon Toral and the workhorse scorer-provider Clayton Donaldson. Watching Blues currently is often joyful now.” The strong team ethic is continually mentioned by Blues. “Everyone is working for each other. I am feeling love in that dressing room”, “It is lovely to watch. They look confident, comfortable on the ball, and unafraid to try something that might not come off. I hope it continues.” LegzdinsEardleyRobinson (c)SpectorHancoxKieftenbeldDavisArthurShinnieMaghomaThomas
The starting XI for the recent Capital One Cup game against Gillingham (above) gives an indication of the fringe squad players. Striker Wes Thomas has subsequently been loaned to Swindon until the New Year. Fans are anxious about the lack of depth both up front and in their central defence. The lack of a Plan B“I've said since day one that Rowett needs a Plan B.” One concern after Tuesday’s defeat to Forest was that teams may have started to work them out. “Forest sussed us out, playing very deep. It has been a matter of time before a team sat back and undermined our default game plan.” “It looked to me as though the players had absolutely no idea how to play 4-4-2”, “We know they are drilled intensely to get 4-2-3-1 right but when it came to 4-4-2 it was hopeless [against Forest]. Getting centre-backs to launch long, high, straight balls from inside their own half is just moronic.” “Where the tactic fell down was because both of our central midfielders opted to sit in front of the defence instead of getting in and around the striker’s feet for the knock-downs. “It's why our wingers and Donaldson are so important. Without them we would just be under constant pressure.” Birmingham 0 - 1 Nottingham Forest“Just got back, there was nothing in the tank from any of them. We were very poor right from the off and you could sense it straight away that it wasn't going to happen tonight. Normally we have a spell in the second half where we pile on the pressure but even that didn't happen.” “Forest’s plan worked and fair play to them.” City struggled to build any rhythm against a Forest team who many fans felt beat them at their own game. The three points were secured from a Dexter Blackstock goal early in the second half. “Forest proved difficult to break down.” “It was one of those horrible games where nobody could pass five yards, and Forest out battled us all over the park. Let's regroup and devise a Plan B”, “We were poor by our standards tonight and were 'Rowetted' by Forest tonight, us having more possession shows that.” “Forest were stronger and faster in most areas of the pitch. We could have done without a game tonight and they did us tactically”, “They closed us down all across the back line, forcing errors and hurried hoofball”, “It was a bad day at the office, but this was the norm under Lee Clark.” Birmingham 4 - 2 Bristol City“All hail The Don”, “That was one of the most entertaining games I can recall in recent years at St Andrew's. Some wonderful wing play and both sides reading each other like a book at times, as was Donaldo with the goals”, “We had 42% possession. When did we last have that much of the ball?” “I'm happy with that one and I'm really pleased for Donaldson.” A first half Clayton Donaldson hat-trick and a Jonathan Grounds header after the break secured the points in what was a comfortable and entertaining home win for the Blues last Saturday. “We look very, very decent overall.” Some fans felt that they were a little too open at the back. “I thought Bristol were lucky to get a couple of soft goals to be honest. I can see them struggling this season”, “They properly cut us open for one of the goals though.” Milton Keynes 0 - 2 Birmingham“Milton Keynes had 69% possession and no shots on goal. Most of their possession was their donkey centre-halves hoofing the ball between each other extremely slowly whilst we stood off and took a rest”, “They are welcome to it. They were just pointless.” “A perfect away performance so far, we're a decent side, you know.” City went into the international break on the back of a comfortable win which typified their early season play. Goals after the break from Stephen Gleeson and Jacques Maghoma won what was a scrappy encounter at times. “Milton Keynes just seemed to be congratulating themselves on the number of passes they could complete. Their centre-halves were literally standing 30 yards apart and just floating the ball back and forwards between themselves with not a Blues player in sight.” “Our second goal was a classic case in point. They knocked it about a bit and then as soon as they tried to pass it forward Grounds nicked it and played a good ball to Donaldson who put in a nice little slot through their defence for Maghoma and it was 2-0 with three passes.” Defence“Our lack of pace at the back is less of a problem under Rowett than it was under Clark. He sits the team deep, so there is less space in behind. You rarely see our defenders have to turn back towards their own goal and chase someone.” “Tomasz Kuszczak’s kicking remains a liability.” The former Brighton and Wolves keeper “had another game against Forest where he has very little to do. He was not at fault for the goal but his kicking is atrocious. We can’t build pressure when he can’t get it to the forwards”.  “Kuszczak didn’t have a single save of note to make.” The 33-year-old is seen as being well protected by his back four. “He was bold and decisive at Milton Keynes and performances like that will only do wonders for the confidence of the defensive unit”, “He is very assured and deals well with crosses.” “Paul Caddis was vulnerable at right-back against Forest.” The 27-year-old ex-Swindon man “had a game to forget”, “He was rubbish tonight. It was his worst game for a long time. He offered nothing going forward, at fault for the goal with his swing and miss before slipping.” “Caddis was turned stupidly for the cross which led to their goal”, “He’s a great full-back but never a midfielder”, “Outstanding in attack against Bristol. He drove us forward all game and is tighter to wingers than at any time in his Blues career”, “Has been excellent defensively tricky wingers.” “Michael Morrison struggles under pressure at times against Forest.” The 27-year-old ex-Charlton man “is excellent in the air and rock solid but he looked ragged in the last 10 minutes”, “The better of the two centre-backs and had a lot to do with attackers buzzing around him against Bristol.” “For somebody who has spent large parts of his career playing in midfield, Jonathan Spector shows no vision composure or ability on the ball whatsoever”, “The physicality of WIlbraham and the movement of Kodjia troubled him against Bristol. He struggled more than in any match this season.” The 29-year-old former Hammer “was poor against Forest. He couldn’t win a tackle, was bullied, couldn’t jump and his passing was as bad as others, and I like Spector”, “He kept leaving high balls short for the striker”, “Struggled with the movement of the Milton Keynes forwards.” Paul Robinson struggled against Gillingham in his last outing. The 36-year-old former Bolton centre-back “was like a boxer that didn’t know when to quit. It’s a shame”, “Robbo performed like Bambi on ice”, “Robinson is having a ‘mare, giving freekick after freekick away.” “Jonathan Grounds was awful before the goal and was a shambles after on Tuesday. He couldn't pass in a straight line. The 27-year-old ex-Oldham left-back “was back to his usual level, a couple of good early passes and then tried the same ball every single time. He looked ragged by the end”. “Grounds was outstanding against Bristol. He scored a goal, offered more in attack than in any match I can remember, and was defensively rock solid”, “His technical limitations can be embarrassing, but played his best game for Blues. Even without that goal he made things happen.” Central Midfield“Our midfield plays far too deep in our own half against Forest, giving the opposition acres of space all through the middle of the field. Every ball dropped to one of their players who had time and space to move forward.” Some Blues worry that the midfield balance may be too cautious at times. “David Davis can’t the pass the ball, even when under no pressure, but is an aggressive hard-working athlete.” The 24-year-old ex-Wolves man, “is a more of a tackler. He is quick, aggressive but can't pass in a straight line”, He impacts the game with strengths we know has - pace, power, strength.”  “I like Davis but he needs to chill a bit on the ball”, “The trouble is that Davis is typical of the type of player that has appealed to many Blues fans over the last 35 years or so. Honesty and graft, virtues which personally I would consider a minimum requirement are rated higher than technical ability.” “Maikel Kieftenbeld defensively is good.” The 25-year-old “is the one player who gets the crowd going, but can be sloppy on the ball”, “He charges around like a nutter, giving the ball away a bit now and then. He is a full-blooded player who gets us pumped”, “He is excellent in the boiler house.” “He likes a tackle does our Mike, putting in solid and energetic displays in midfield.” The Dutch summer signing from Groningen “is solid defensively but dawdles on the ball too often and can be forced to play it backwards”, “Defensively brilliant, loads of great tackles, blocks and organisation.” Stephen Gleeson“Stephen Gleeson quietly goes about his business. When others are hurtling around, bombing forward, he calmly keeps the ball and gets us ticking”, “When he plays well so do the Blues”, “He remains composed, getting the ball quickly and accurately to start our counter attacks.”  The 27-year-old ex-Milton Keynes man “is not Pirlo but he's decent. It's no surprise that our more possession-based, attractive football towards the end of the season involved Gleeson on the pitch and Davis on the bench”, “He is in great form and suits the way we are setting out to play.” “Gleeson's main fault comes off the ball.” Many fans feel that he struggles here. “Gleeson can pass the ball, when under no pressure, but can't do much else”, “He's too often on the wrong side not anticipating a break or change of play direction. If he is goal side he gets ghosted past too easily.” Jon Toral“I have felt Toral has been quiet so far this season, but against Bristol he was wonderful. Floating around, finding spaces, deft touches, incisive passes and a beautifully executed dive [to win a contentious penalty].” The 20-year-old Arsenal loan signing “is yet to grasp a game for us”.  “Toral was back to his hit-and-miss self against Forest after a good game on Saturday”, “He was anonymous again at Milton Keynes.” The Spaniard “is too quiet and doesn’t drive us on in games”, “He is clever and bright in the first half and needs to pull the trigger and shoot.” Wide Midfield“Koby Arthur has never done anything to convince me he's a professional footballer. Might sound a bit strong, but he does little positive and just consistently gives the ball away.” The 19-year-old youth product has only featured in Capital One Cup games this season.  “Arthur gave away possession through chronic fluffs on four separate occasions either side of some better play, which could have resulted in a Gillingham break. It happens sometimes particularly to young guns”, ”The biggest problem for me with Koby is does anyone know his best position.” “Koby better watch out, or he will lose his place in the squad to the left and right-footed exciting young winger Viv Solomon-Otabor.” The 19-year-old youth product “has energy and desire that Nathan Redmond early stages in his career with excellent high-tempo passing, direct running and creativity”. “Jacques Maghoma doesn't do anything horrifically wrong apart from not knowing where to be and who's around him but doesn't really do anything either.” The 27-year-old summer signing from the Owls “is a very good in tight situations, a great option to bring off the bench and stretch teams”. “Maghoma is strong as on ox. He’s not the quickest but has a trick or two. He also offers something a little different to Gray in that he is more direct and will try and beat someone with pace”, “He often came deep to try and take the ball off the midfielders. He would have been better off staying wide.” David Cotterill“Cotterill against Bristol put in his most impressive performance this season.” The 27-year-old ex-Doncaster man “has a great delivery, carries the ball well and his corners were superb all game”, “One brilliant cross that Donaldson should have scored and a couple of excellent cross field balls.”  “Cotterill hasn’t shown many flashes of brilliance this season.” He can be hit-and-miss. “Cotterill was his usual self on Tuesday, some good and bad things and he went missing at times”, “His lack of pure pace was exposed”, “Too far away from Donaldson and Toral and had little support from Caddis.” Demarai Gray“Don't drop our most exciting player as it lifts the opposition and suppresses our support.” The 19-year-old youth product “is so important to us on the counter”, “We need movement to enable him to get one-on-one with full backs”, “We would be pretty pedestrian without him.” “I love Gray, and I think he will be a top level player within the next couple of years but his final decision and execution should be better for a player of such talent who, let’s not forget, has played over 50 games”, “He is a superb outlet that takes us up the pitch but he has to work on his delivery.” “We know Gray can beat a man, but he doesn't need to kill the momentum of attacks by stopping to a walking pace to do his man”, “He is clearly our best player on the ball but he's a work in progress”, “He needs to learn how to use his sprint speed as opposed to skill to beat his man.” “Gray should have been sent off at Milton Keynes. He lost his head completely and before that he was poor - so often the wrong decision and poor final execution”, “Very lucky to stay on the pitch - when a player retaliates with a two-handed shove to an opponent, you expect him to be sent off.” Strikers“Giving Nicolai Brock-Madsen a chance off the bench is the best option for us because if things aren't going well for Donaldson up top then we've got nothing to lose from bringing him on”, “My hope is that we see more of him as a footballer than as a beanpole to kick it at when we are losing.” “Let's try and get the ball into Brock's feet as well shall we?” The 22-year-old Danish summer signing from Randers is City’s main back-up striker to Donaldson. “I think he looks decent”, “He looks like he can jump. He just needs a run of games”, “He gives us something different when he comes on.” Clayton Donaldson“Donaldson the best lone frontman I have ever seen at this level”, “The Don's work-rate and team play is priceless in our current team”, Donaldson holds the ball up well, is mobile and has a great work rate”, “Donaldson can finish, but he also holds the ball up and plays very good passes.”  “Donaldson has been very instrumental in creating goalscoring opportunities for others.” The 31-year-old former Brentford man is regularly praised for his wider contribution to the team’s play. “He has been integral to how we play over the last year and is continuing that this season.” He struggled on Tuesday night after his hat-trick success against the Robins. “Clayton got absolutely beasted by Matt Mills. He never won a header and his touch was off”, “He was bullied but willing. He was absolutely miles away from everyone again, too isolated compared to Saturday.” Birmingham Fans’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Will we have a decent number of travelling Bluenoses for what could be a tricky game and more importantly the last fixture before the big one? It would be great to beat Ipswich before going into Villa game”, “I don’t know what happened at Reading. It was all part of Mick’s plan no doubt.” “Hopefully this Forest defeat will give us a bit of jolt ahead of Ipswich”, “Imagine if we lose Friday at Ipswich after the Forest defeat?”, “We won't - that game will suit us. We will sit deeper and counter-attack into their space.” They hope that their counter-attacking game pay dividends against us. With the game on a Friday night and being televised, they don’t expect a huge following to make the long trip to East Anglia. Once again the game is being viewed by opposition fans as a chance to see how they fare against one of the strongest teams in the division. “This is a tough away game against a top six side from last season”, “This game will be our first real away test. I'll be happy with a 1-1 draw but will be ecstatic with an away win”, “If we get a good result tonight then this game will be a massive barometer of where we are.” While City fans are as keen as ever on picking up a win at Portman Road, the volume of discussion suggests that Tuesday night’s game at Villa Park carries far more importance to most of them. “I can't wait and have been counting the days. It will be even sweeter beating Villa at their place.” WebsitesThere are a number of active City websites. Small Heath Alliance is lively and carries links to many local media stories as discussion threads. The Birmingham City FC Forum is quieter but also has some knowledgeable and informed contributors.
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