Birmingham v Burnley match thread

[Commy]

Poor from VK - needs to recognise that we can play 5 subs - lots of players looked jaded and needed replacing. How to take a throw in should be top of the list for the next training session as well

Don't Liverpool have a throw in coach? Maybe we should think about that .

[NewClaret]

Maatsen also a big miss , id say 70% of our decent attacks come from his direct play , without him we look totally devoid of creativity

Really, really hope he wasn’t “rested” tonight and the knock is the management justification.

Vits - who has been outstanding imo - was poor tonight. The way I see the game, you only need small downgrades to really upset the rhythm and I felt that happened tonight.

[Commy]

Really, really hope he wasn’t “rested” tonight and the knock is the management justification.

Vits - who has been outstanding imo - was poor tonight. The way I see the game, you only need small downgrades to really upset the rhythm and I felt that happened tonight.

But they will get used to playing with different players and different formations. It just takes time with new players.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Really, really hope he wasn’t “rested” tonight and the knock is the management justification.

Vits - who has been outstanding imo - was poor tonight. The way I see the game, you only need small downgrades to really upset the rhythm and I felt that happened tonight.

I don’t think our players are comfortable with three at the back and whatever their supposed to be doing in midfield as no one in there even got near the ball tonight. Hopefully whatever that formation was is scrapped from now on.

Keep it simple like against Swansea.

[KRBFC]

Rubbish, they pressed as well as any team has all season, their midfield 3 were very impressive, full of energy and decent enough with the ball. Hannibal was probably the best player on the pitch despite his theatrics.

they're a poor side, will be fortunate to stay in this division. We made it easy for them. We were stuck in gear 2 again, zero tempo to our play, sloppy with the ball. Another draw and another nothing performance like Cardiff, PNE. Frustrating because we're capable of so much more, if we play at 50% we beat this lot easily tonight. Just so flat and nothingness

[RVclaret]

they're a poor side, will be fortunate to stay in this division. We made it easy for them. We were stuck in gear 2 again, zero tempo to our play, sloppy with the ball. Another draw and another nothing performance like Cardiff, PNE. Frustrating because we're capable of so much more, if we play at 50% we beat this lot easily tonight. Just so flat and nothingness

They have the 2nd best defence in the league and won 4 out of their last 7. One of the leagues form teams. Yes we were sloppy, the shocking bobbly pitch didn’t help but neither did some of our woeful switching of play all night, did we find a man on a single one of them. Obviously playing as we did against Swansea raises expectations of going and doing it again but Birmingham played a lot better than Swans did.

[tiger76]

Amazing that some folks are still moaning when we're unbeaten in 12, yes disappointing to lose another lead so late, but a decent point after winning our last 2 and keeps our run going.

By all accounts we weren't at our best yet still came away with a useful point against a side in form.

If you can't win then at least ensure you take something from the game and generally that's what we've done all season.

[SydneyClaret]

Jeez. We got a draw away to a team that’s only lost 1 game in their last 8. Seems some on here won’t be satisfied unless we won 4-0 every game.

[Commy]

they're a poor side, will be fortunate to stay in this division. We made it easy for them. We were stuck in gear 2 again, zero tempo to our play, sloppy with the ball. Another draw and another nothing performance like Cardiff, PNE. Frustrating because we're capable of so much more, if we play at 50% we beat this lot easily tonight. Just so flat and nothingness

I think they pressed us more than anyone else has. Every time we had the ball they had 3 men round us. This seemed to scare us and we didn't look confident until the second half. They definitely attacked Vitinho from the start and he ended up being scared to accept the ball. I just hope they do the same at Rovers on Saturday. I feel teams are raising their game because it's Burnley.

[KRBFC]

They have the 2nd best defence in the league and won 4 out of their last 7. One of the leagues form teams. Yes we were sloppy, the shocking bobbly pitch didn’t help but neither did some of our woeful switching of play all night, did we find a man on a single one of them. Obviously playing as we did against Swansea raises expectations of going and doing it again but Birmingham played a lot better than Swans did.

I mean how many games are we going to draw whilst stuck with the handbrake on whilst praising our opponents for our own limp performance? Cut the bs, if we play quite well tonight we win that game easily, we were poor and took a point (which I guess is a positive).

[Burnley87]

If anyone actually thinks Birmingham will go down this season you need your heads testing. With the Lads they have up front (All have decent records at this level) and quality Premier League loan players they will be a game for most teams this season

[boatshed bill]

Amazing that some folks are still moaning when we're unbeaten in 12, yes disappointing to lose another lead so late, but a decent point after winning our last 2 and keeps our run going.

By all accounts we weren't at our best yet still came away with a useful point against a side in form.

If you can't win then at least ensure you take something from the game and generally that's what we've done all season.

Yes, we were not at our best.
I give credit to Birmingham, they bettered us for large periods of the game.
Bettered but not battered...on to the weekend in a positive mood

[RVclaret]

I mean how many games are we going to draw whilst stuck with the handbrake on whilst praising our opponents for our own limp performance? Cut the bs, if we play quite well tonight we win that game easily, we were poor and took a point (which I guess is a positive).

We all know we need to turn draws into wins at some point.

I think a few things need to occur for that:

- more time, VK alluded to having a second pre season (World Cup) will do wonders for them
- a different option upfront, Dervisoglu doesn’t seem fancied for whatever reason
- Twine and Churlinov back, the only two players capable of playing between the lines

If we can still be positioned where we are heading into the second half of the season I’ll be very optimistic.

Patience.

[Spijed]

Amazing that some folks are still moaning when we're unbeaten in 12, yes disappointing to lose another lead so late, but a decent point after winning our last 2 and keeps our run going.

By all accounts we weren't at our best yet still came away with a useful point against a side in form.

If you can't win then at least ensure you take something from the game and generally that's what we've done all season.

We do seem to be making the same defensive mistakes without learning from previous ones which a big concern. Even against Swansea & Coventry we gifted both teams easy opportunities to score at least one easy goal, which fortunately neither team took.

[Jeffbfc]

For me a good point, a few teams will loose at Brum, and with another away game coming up.
UTC

[boatshed bill]

We do seem to be making the same defensive mistakes without learning from previous ones which a big concern. Even against Swansea & Coventry we gifted both teams easy opportunities to score at least one easy goal, which fortunately neither team took.

Why don't you give some credit to the teams putting us under that sort of pressure?

[Zlatan]

How many teams have scored more than us?

How many teams have conceded fewer than us?

We’re not doing as bad as many seem to be making out.

Room for improvement, yes, but we’re not terrible FFS

[NewClaret]

They have the 2nd best defence in the league and won 4 out of their last 7. One of the leagues form teams. Yes we were sloppy, the shocking bobbly pitch didn’t help but neither did some of our woeful switching of play all night, did we find a man on a single one of them. Obviously playing as we did against Swansea raises expectations of going and doing it again but Birmingham played a lot better than Swans did.

The defensive stat has cheered me up.

On Brum, they probably impressed me most of the teams I’ve seen this season so do feel we should give them credit.

Do worry we’re tampering with a winning formula though & hope to see the Swansea back four at Sunderland.

[dansch]

Feel like I've seen that match 100 times, same mistakes, same lack of tempo, same team, same problems.

Are we just going to concede every time a team crosses from our left hand side whilst Vitinho is at left back? Can we just not win 1-0? Why is Rodriguez playing in midfield? Come off the pitch having played at tempo for like 5-10 minutes max, the rest at snails pace.

Crikey you've quickly changed your tune from the 'Dyche wanted' thread. I thought you'd waited tour whole life to see us play this exciting brand of football?

[Flying Without Ings]

Norwich, Sheff Utd and Watford lost at Birmingham and plenty of teams have or will struggle there this season.

We were poor but they were an organised team. Tella had a rare off game and I thought we missed Maatsen, more so because I think Vitinho is best at LB. We also missed Beyer’s driving runs.

Sheffield Utd and Norwich both lost, who I expect to be our main challengers this season. QPR gone top but look set to lose their manager and Blackburn are crap.

It’s not the end of the world.

[Swizzlestick]

Norwich, Sheff Utd and Watford lost at Birmingham and plenty of teams have or will struggle there this season.

We were poor but they were an organised team. Tella had a rare off game and I thought we missed Maatsen, more so because I think Vitinho is best at LB. We also missed Beyer’s driving runs.

Sheffield Utd and Norwich both lost, who I expect to be our main challengers this season. QPR gone top but look set to lose their manager and Blackburn are crap.

It’s not the end of the world.

Norwich won at Birmingham.

[Bowclaret]

One defeat all season and we should have won that. 1 goal conceded in 3 games. We blew Swansea away last week playing football from the gods against a real form side. 3 rd in the league with a brilliant young side. A fantastic Manager and the best fans in the league.

Patience my fellow Clarets - Patience !

[Flying Without Ings]

Sorry I meant to say held Sheffield and Watford. Beat WBA away who I still think are a decent outfit based on their showing against us. Also meant to say Vitinho is best at RB… should really proof read before posting!

[FCBurnley]

How many points will we get from next two games ? Min has to be 4

[BigGaz]

There were no bogeymen, no huge failings, no themes to take away. We just met an in-form side with a good defence and a draw was probably the fair result.

What more can you say other than it was an average performance, take the point and move on?

The only real learning here is for the fans. Don’t get carried away, realise that we are not the finished article and that we have no Devine right to expect to turn up at places across the country and expect people to roll over for us.

NEXT.

[NewClaret]

Re the fans BigGaz, thought the away lads were brilliant AGAIN!

[Hibsclaret]

No way that Brum team gets relegated. I think they are the best team we have played so far which is great news. Even more reason to be confident of finishing top.

[boatshed bill]

No way that Brum team gets relegated. I think they are the best team we have played so far which is great news. Even more reason to be confident of finishing top.

Not sure they are the best team we've played, but they certainly gave us a better game in that they worked on our weaknesses.

[BigGaz]

Re the fans BigGaz, thought the away lads were brilliant AGAIN!

Very true mate, you can set your watch on our away lot turning up. Safe travels back to you all, god bless.

[KRBFC]

Crikey you've quickly changed your tune from the 'Dyche wanted' thread. I thought you'd waited tour whole life to see us play this exciting brand of football?

I love this team, I love VK, I love the style. My disappointment tonight will be the same as VKs, we were really flat, we are capable of so much more, we've shown that against better sides than Brum. It's another 2 points thrown away from a winning position, late in the day.

It will take alot more than a few flat performances to alter my overall view on VK and this team though, do not get that twisted.

[KRBFC]

We all know we need to turn draws into wins at some point.

I think a few things need to occur for that:

- more time, VK alluded to having a second pre season (World Cup) will do wonders for them
- a different option upfront, Dervisoglu doesn’t seem fancied for whatever reason
- Twine and Churlinov back, the only two players capable of playing between the lines

If we can still be positioned where we are heading into the second half of the season I’ll be very optimistic.

Patience.

Agree with everything you said, don't confuse my disappointment with a flat performance tonight with a lack of patience in the project/team.

[Clive 1960]

I think it was a good point against a Dyche type of team in our faces , but we were not brave enough until the second half . We are still unbeaten in 12 games so keep backing the lads and roll on Sunderland. UTC

[superdimitri]

They had 3 target men on the pitch but we kept Vitinho and Roberts in defence.
Taylor should have cut out the cross and our game management when ahead was awful.
We bought into their set piece game plan and gave away petty fouls. Ref didn't help us either.

We need to keep the ball better when ahead and frustrate teams. We should be buying the free kicks not the other way round.

Fair play to Birmingham though, they deserved the point.

[Woodleyclaret]

Why Dara Costelloe was not in the squad is beyond me.Hes a young guy and capable of a least 30mins after his splendid hat trick v Coventry U21
His pace power and energy would have won this game rather than us giving away another 2 points to a very average side VK talks about utilising all out squad. Last night he needed to do so ,not accept another weak surrender of points.

[JohnDearyMe]

We all know we need to turn draws into wins at some point.

I think a few things need to occur for that:

- more time, VK alluded to having a second pre season (World Cup) will do wonders for them
- a different option upfront, Dervisoglu doesn’t seem fancied for whatever reason
- Twine and Churlinov back, the only two players capable of playing between the lines

If we can still be positioned where we are heading into the second half of the season I’ll be very optimistic.

Patience.

Good points. Think we also need to get a lot more savvy with regards to seeing out games when we're only one goal ahead for the days when we aren't firing offensively.