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[Albion] Friendly at Birmingham tomorrow



Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
49,972
Faversham




burnee54

East Upper Hermit
Sep 1, 2011
1,150
up the downs
This piqued my curiosity, it's from a match report on the Birmingham Live site

"Without injured pair David Davis and Isaac Vassell, as well as the frozen out goalkeeping pair of David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak, it was arguably as strong a side as Monk could have named."

Why would they be frozen out?
It's not like they were on loan from us.
Does anybody have any ideas?
 


AZ Gull

@SeagullsAcademy Threads: @bhafcacademy
Oct 14, 2003
11,727
Chandler, AZ
This piqued my curiosity, it's from a match report on the Birmingham Live site

"Without injured pair David Davis and Isaac Vassell, as well as the frozen out goalkeeping pair of David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak, it was arguably as strong a side as Monk could have named."

Why would they be frozen out?
It's not like they were on loan from us.
Does anybody have any ideas?

It's nothing to do with the fact they were playing us. From what others have said, the manager supposedly doesn't rate either of them.
 


Kosh

'The' Yaztromo
I can’t help but feel the coming season is going one of two ways. For me, this needs to be a transitional season, easing former championship and ageing PL (1st season) legends out of the starting XI. Bruno, Bong, Murray and even Duffy and (surely not!) Stephens (oh yes) are only likely to see us tread water or fall further into a very real relegation battle. The rub remains; Chris. He’s a tried and tested disciple, and thus we’re unlikely to see many fresh faces early enough. He’ll want to reward last season’s players for their efforts and they will probably all start at Watford.

Hughton will never throw caution anywhere, God forbid the wind. Thus he’ll continue with his tried and tested formula, restricting attacking intent, flair and non system approved moves wherever he finds them.

Sure it worked last season, but I have a series of nagging doubt’s re this campaign.

Man! that reads back awfully neagatively, and perhaps I should therefore emphasise my love for CH... it’s just making those hard transitional decisions, those emotive moments... is he that kind of manager, or just too gosh darn nice?
 


Nixonator

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2016
6,733
Shoreham Beach
I can’t help but feel the coming season is going one of two ways. For me, this needs to be a transitional season, easing former championship and ageing PL (1st season) legends out of the starting XI. Bruno, Bong, Murray and even Duffy and (surely not!) Stephens (oh yes) are only likely to see us tread water or fall further into a very real relegation battle. The rub remains; Chris. He’s a tried and tested disciple, and thus we’re unlikely to see many fresh faces early enough. He’ll want to reward last season’s players for their efforts and they will probably all start at Watford.

Hughton will never throw caution anywhere, God forbid the wind. Thus he’ll continue with his tried and tested formula, restricting attacking intent, flair and non system approved moves wherever he finds them.

Sure it worked last season, but I have a series of nagging doubt’s re this campaign.

So you start off by suggesting Duffy and Stephens should be ousted and finish by suggesting Hughton has his tactics all wrong.

We must be close to kicking off the new campaign, you're on form.
 




tigertim68

Well-known member
Sep 3, 2012
2,321
This piqued my curiosity, it's from a match report on the Birmingham Live site

"Without injured pair David Davis and Isaac Vassell, as well as the frozen out goalkeeping pair of David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak, it was arguably as strong a side as Monk could have named."

Why would they be frozen out?
It's not like they were on loan from us.
Does anybody have any ideas?

Yep both are not very good keepers
 


Kosh

'The' Yaztromo
So you start off by suggesting Duffy and Stephens should be ousted and finish by suggesting Hughton has his tactics all wrong.

We must be close to kicking off the new campaign, you're on form.

I may have my issues with certain players at this level yes, and with our on occasion serious negativity. I’m all about progression, and certain players will need to go to make that next step. Baldock getting three years last year, was an indication of loyalty and reward... a comfy decision, an easy one and a fair reward for a good championship player perhaps... one year tops in my eyes.

Today, our standout cameo... praised, yet reigned in with talk of the incumbent ‘system’... all out attacking players anywhere behind Murray, will always be constricted in a Hughton team... where defensive shape, even in possession, is nine tenths of the law.

But hey, that’s just how I feel... so no need for you to worry and get all u p s e t about it.
 


chaileyjem

#BarberIn
NSC Patron
Jun 27, 2012
13,881
I can’t help but feel the coming season is going one of two ways. For me, this needs to be a transitional season, easing former championship and ageing PL (1st season) legends out of the starting XI. Bruno, Bong, Murray and even Duffy and (surely not!) Stephens (oh yes) are only likely to see us tread water or fall further into a very real relegation battle. The rub remains; Chris. He’s a tried and tested disciple, and thus we’re unlikely to see many fresh faces early enough. He’ll want to reward last season’s players for their efforts and they will probably all start at Watford.

?

He started at Man City last season with 5 new faces, half way through the year dropped his captain and his player of the season, and has literally spent millions on rivals or replacements this summer to those stalwarts - Bong, Stephens, Murray etc and no reason to suggest they won’t start if they’re good enough.

As for being too nice then he has had no qualms this close season getting rid of Sidwell, Rosenior, Baldock and Goldson .

As for tactics and shape - it’s 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 that’s the unorthodox formation in the Prem League these days and it’s served the club well. 40 points and 15th in the first season was a miracle. Ask Pardew, Moyes, Clement, Pulis, and the rest who failed at clubs last season with more ££ and players with more experience.

Yep. It’s not a goalfest but not sure what you’re expecting or what you’d get with anyone else with our budget/squad.

When people say Hughton is too defensive, they really mean he’ll save you points, when they say he won’t throw caution to the wind, it means he’s coached the team to keep their shape and work hard and when they say he’s too nice, what they really mean is they don’t know him or they can’t really see what a class act he really is. He’s a clinical and brutal as a manager in his position has to be.

We will struggle thus season at some point and criticism of Hughton will surface ever louder. But Be really really careful what you wish for...
 




Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
63,937
Withdean area
As fans never take pre season friendlies too seriously.

I’ve seen clubs destroy all before them pre season, who go on to have crap seasons and vice versa.

It’s a pointless modern thing to look at these as real results and pointers, fuelled by media hype.
 




Pavilionaire

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
30,570
I feel that it is only a matter of time before we start with Andone, Ali J and Bissouma, and that is a very different proposition to what we've seen in the last year or so.

I'm glad we didn't lose, and if these games encourage Chris to be a little bolder then so much the better.
 






Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
63,937
Withdean area
Today, our standout cameo... praised, yet reigned in with talk of the incumbent ‘system’... all out attacking players anywhere behind Murray, will always be constricted in a Hughton team... where defensive shape, even in possession, is nine tenths of the law.

Did you say the same about CH in the Championship? Where we played brilliant counter attacking football in numbers, scoring goals for fun, had countless victories and dished out some famous thrashings.

Last season with an incomplete PL squad, CH was a pragmatist and it worked.
 


jamie the seagull

Well-known member
Jul 27, 2011
2,803
This piqued my curiosity, it's from a match report on the Birmingham Live site

"Without injured pair David Davis and Isaac Vassell, as well as the frozen out goalkeeping pair of David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak, it was arguably as strong a side as Monk could have named."

Why would they be frozen out?
It's not like they were on loan from us.
Does anybody have any ideas?

Both Keepers but especially Stockdale on huge huge wages.
Birmingham have no funds so need these wages off their books to fund loans or purchases.
Neither keeper going anywhere as no club will continue to pay what they are already on.
So Club has frozen them out of first team.
 






ac gull

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
1,931
midlands
Blues have a transfer embargo I believe - as EFL said to have doubts that they will be able to comply with FPP this season
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
49,972
Faversham




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
49,972
Faversham
Both Keepers but especially Stockdale on huge huge wages.
Birmingham have no funds so need these wages off their books to fund loans or purchases.
Neither keeper going anywhere as no club will continue to pay what they are already on.
So Club has frozen them out of first team.

Insane
 


NooBHA

Well-known member
Jan 13, 2015
8,584
I was impressed with Bissouma before his brilliant free kick. think he will be a good buy for us.

I actually knew he was only getting 20 mins today but from his Youtube he impressed me. I had heard how good he was so was desperate to see him. I know it was against Championship opposition in a friendly but in that 20 mins you could see this guy is absolute CLASS.

Doesn't fit our system of playing with 2 wingers but man does he fit the plan B if the two wingers isn't working. The lads a superstar and can go past defenders from a standing position.

Dunno what the fee was but if it was 30M its a bargain. Brilliant player.
 


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