The Birmingham Game

[AucklandRover]

Very hard to know what to believe after reading several match-reports and a number of fan comments.
For example, I've seen the following:
1) Steele kept us in the game V. Steele had another shocker.
2) Why on earth was Akpan substituted when he was our best player? V. Nothing in the middle of the park again.
3) Feeney was anonymous V. Feeney was a threat all afternoon.

There also seem to be a lot of contradictions around our "domination" of the second half.

Anyway, bottom line, this was a game we really needed to win - not just for the points, but for the confidence.
Incidentally, Lenihan at full-back? Why on earth wasn't Nyambe there with Mulgrew pushed forward? Ah, yes...because Lowe is "undroppable"!

[Despair]

[QUOTE=AucklandRover;38406333]Very hard to know what to believe after reading several match-reports and a number of fan comments.
For example, I've seen the following:
1) Steele kept us in the game V. Steele had another shocker.
2) Why on earth was Akpan substituted when he was our best player? V. Nothing in the middle of the park again.
3) Feeney was anonymous V. Feeney was a threat all afternoon.

There also seem to be a lot of contradictions around our "domination" of the second half.

Anyway, bottom line, this was a game we really needed to win - not just for the points, but for the confidence.
Incidentally, Lenihan at full-back? Why on earth wasn't Nyambe there with Mulgrew pushed forward? Ah, yes...because Lowe is "undroppable"! [/

Well what can I say (I was there attending), far from a classic.
If I have learnt anything about football supporters, and that is there are always varying views on games and individual players.
This then escalates significantly when in the turmoil like we find ourselves in.
Overall on balance IMO �� We just about / marginally deserved a draw. Second half dominance ? No, not for me. A better than first half, hence my opinion of just about deserved.........
1) Steele boobed for their 'goal'. But then pulled off two decent saves, so he's a villain, OR a hero ?
2) No real answer to that, but OC's calling the shots.
3) As with JS he did some things ok, and others not so ok. So again not a 90 min masterclass, nor a 90 min disaster.
Yes supporters can be truly abusively fickle in times like these, but nothing new really.
IMO Niyambe did well - youthful energy / exuberance. Always good to see.
Yet again small margins, that's the most frustrating for me, ie. rarely battered / as good as the oppo in many ways (that endeavour helps manage) , but that little more composure, confidence, is glaringly absent.
I sense that with Feb almost upon us the above is going to get more and more of a problem.

One other thought: I have said in the past that Birminghams supporters have for me been amongst the most vociferous positive supporters to have graced Ewood. But today even with a full bottom half throng, they were noticeably subdued, in comparison to previous visits. And this with the great Zola as their leader. Could it be that we actually ( our team) had some bearing upon that?
They actually saw us as a match for them ?

[AucklandRover]

Thanks, Despair. To be honest, on the occasions we HAVE been battered, we've often come out with points! We can't seem to win the games where we are about on a par with the opposition!
Again, I would still love to see someone with a bit of vision running things from central midfield. It's all very well getting loads of crosses in, but the defences are forewarned with those. You catch defenders out more with through-balls which make them turn.

[Despair]

Presently Mulgrew is that man. Trouble is he's the only one.
Threaded through balls eh, just like theirs on two minutes!

[robinrover]

Coyle made the decision to make Lowe captain now he can't go back
so as long as he is in the side mulgrew will be in defence and along with it will be supply from the wings only.

[AucklandRover]

Coyle made the decision to make Lowe captain now he can't go back
so as long as he is in the side mulgrew will be in defence and along with it will be supply from the wings only.

Is it some kind of bias on the fans' part, Robin? We have always talked about Lowe's "limitations", but managers (several of them!) clearly don't - and haven't - seen him in the same way.
We have plenty of possibilities in central defence, but Mulgrew has to be fitted in there, as you say, because of the "necessity" of playing Lowe in midfield.