brum

[fred emney]

Half time 0-0

Some nice play but forwards not quite getting their runs right or overhit crosses. If only someone would stay far post to knock half of `em back.

ne`er mind we`re going 'downhill' toward kop second half, need just to get that final bit right. Johnson looks ok, not sure of Washington`s control so far and Fleck is Fleck and has put some super balls through.

now let`s whip brum out of sight second half, please.

[fred emney]

bright start to second half, some good moves and McGoldrick later with an easy pass whacks it too far... and too far was the rest of the game, every ball seemed to be hit too far, especially from the usually reliable Norwood. Brum on the break were dangerous and we gave some daft fouls away, they could`ve nicked it and that boggley bugley toggle bog or whatever his name is , messed up big.

too many changes and washington was poor, johnson a plus and perhaps with Billy as a starter some of those first half crosses may have been gobbled up. second half, Baldock should`ve dinked a goal or passed to an unmarked Leon. After that a scrappy match where brum got closest.

Brum didn`t look much, defensive and workmanlike, but the more we tried to get going the more we gifted them easy needless possession in our own half.

5/10 must do better, at least it`s a point

[fred emney]

Looking back, seems to me Chris wanted to put down a further statement about our fixtures and the one day extra brum got to rest. Something that`s going to happen a lot and something i think Chris is taking a bit far. No need for 5 changes today, just one : Fleck for Lundstram that was it!... As Fleck started to tire replace him. Instead we got players like Baldock, Washington, Johnson all looking like it was there first pre season game and trying to find their feet.

Washington was poor throughout, first touch lacking, Johnson showed some good glimpses of his pace but faded, Baldock ran into a few blind alleys, add Clarke who is off form, non of them should`ve started.

The crossing , apart a couple looked fine to me first half, corners were ok too.... keep someone beyond the far post and they`d have been even better. Our two scratchy forwards on the night just weren`t reading things well enough, Fleck Duffy and Norwood looked fine for 30 minutes, then...

2nd half, players tire, carrying injuries?, lack of game play whatever, we didn`t look with it and our sloppy mistakes and silly free kicks gave brum the chances they really didn`t have to work for. I can`t see Norwood having a stinker last half hour like that again, he`s a good player.

No need to panic, that wasn`t a good starting line up, Chris don`t do that again ... 2 games in 4 games isn`t the end of the world and doesn`t need wholesale changes.... birmingham weren`t great, they in fact showed nothing apart from one post skimmed first half, they were there to be beaten. We just didn`t have the right starters. Billy on late rarely works , by that time you`ve usually taken Duffy, the main creative spark, off too... Billy should always start and is the best of our strikeforce.

Must beat PNE to make up for tonight.