I don’t think we’re that bad or we certainly have improved our game management in the last 10mins of games this last season or so think a lot of our struggles recently has been starting games but I do agree there are times where we take too long or when we do make the sub the impact hasn’t been there

I've seen him play for like 20 minutes, so no I wouldn't agree. He could be the next Cafu for all I know at this stage.

He's far, far more effective starting games than coming on as an 'impact sub'.

There’s absolutely tons of music worth listening to these days, it just needs to be found.

The fact that there has been a drop off in quality when we’ve subbed players has led to us conceding more than our share of goals in the last 10 minutes of games. Just my opinion. We’ve also kept key players on the pitch for too long because our subs weren’t good enough. That leads to them getting tired and then getting injured.

The great Stanley Matthews was well known for wanting to be paid for playing in charity games. He wouldn’t play in Bill Eckersley’s testimonial for that reason, and he must have known Bill really well. Having said that this was in the £20 a week maximum wage era.

There’s now 3 windows for subs and now allowed 5 subs most teams now do subs based on timings in game it’s the way the game has gone most managers look at their bench around the hour mark to freshen things up or change the game. The issue with that is needing a good squad as you don’t want to be making 2/3 subs around 65mins and there’s a massive drop off in quality

They've also brought in premium pricing in the centre section of the DE i think, maybe just the upper tier. Now that's something i kind of agree with, if you can fleece a huge away support then fair enough but if you're doing it on the back of fleecing the few home fans as well then it's pathetic. Unless they come up with a ticket deal in the opposite end to cover charging big for single tickets in the DE then it'll fall flat on its face. Are they now actively trying to kill off the BBE ?

Going back to the rest of the game. We started slowly and looked tired to me The first half was poor with Italy looking like they had our number. Second half we upped our game and got on top. In extra time we looked the best team and up for it. I thought we brought the subs on 10-15 minutes later than they should have been. We rode our luck again though when our keeper somehow kept out that shot in front of goal. It really should have been over then.

Not a fan of pre planned subs for the sake of it, the number of times that has altered a game we were doing ok in was needlless. I'm going back to GB's time now where he always seemed to make a change on 65 mins for the sake it and its crept in a lot since then. Yes i get there will be times it's necessary but beyond that subs should be organic purely made to reflect on the game as it unfolds. As for Gueye i agree, imo we've always missed a big athletic centre front man to throw on whereas a lot of other clubs see it as a must have in their squads in this league. God knows how many times we've had it done against us and lost goals because of it, horses for courses. Learn how to utilise Gueye and he's a good asset.

Absolutely, the ref, for once had an unbroken view from a few metres away. She couldn't not give it.

Not only that but it was right in front of the referee. She had the best view of all.

Makhtar is fast becoming a cult hero. He plays with a smile on his face and his great passion shows through on this video. He may not be the best player to wear the shirt, but he is certainly only of the most passionate. Enjoy. https://cvws.icloud-content.com/B/AZFoncQlXjRAYpHCDmW3Hp1wRV3IAa8ZX85uNXkE1JywhfaDZg1V2clK/IMG_1020.MOV?o=AkOt-pFNvxnhnPTiIyBU7yjmffpmhWNIOdxxSAyEqhx1&v=1&x=3&a=CAogtWoXqmwZRpTo2RKUsFSU-BrA2rETEhEjRRjE5_dqt_4SeBCc9o6ygzMYnIaKho0zIgEAKgkC6AMA_zwYwzRSBHBFXchaBFXZyUpqJi2lehR4bU4_hRc4w9kZEszoQucbjNArodiwQ0j3wtkjeYeTIeNXciaeqyqyyPJtHJPk4mTPjgEg3ML76nrt-LN4Nh3xPnci63TEjZ4pyA&e=1755849065&fl=&r=BA68A937-24AB-4920-9690-F7CE085CD575-1&k=X1_cddbD5cXeab8UawfV3w&ckc=com.apple.largeattachment&ckz=88D8E182-F7C1-4040-AFE6-2BDFA8F5FC9E&p=128&s=iNihoppvEMA7YsON2yH5-pDlqWM&teh=1&+=69702bbb-be1b-4608-b183-eb5f96f4f057

We could always let them wear their home strip as well to make them feel even more at home, whilst we wear one of our alternate strips in the hope of flogging a few more of those.

Squad looking very thin. GK:Toth seems to be doing ok...Has looked better coming for crosses pre season. I'd be tempted to off load Pears if anyone is daft enough to take him. Bring in an old experienced head for the bench. RB: If Britain stays (or is replaced), rb is covered. CB: Problem area. Carter injury prone and out for a while, Wharton is bound to get injured at some stage after the the time out he's had. Only 2 experienced centre backs. Definitely need one more. Needs money spending in the position and you'd want somebody with a higher ceiling than Mcloughlin. No sign of the Hyam extension yet either. LB: Well covered. CM: We know Sonny and Trav are both reliable (if they stay). We know Forshaw can do a job but he's injury prone, is only good for 20 min cameos and has missed most of pre season with an injury - stupid signing. Tavares injured so will clearly be well off the pace early doors - if he's even any good. Montgomery is young and unproven (a bit like a younger Garrett). Doesn't look like he'll set the world alight but will likely flit between looking half decent and the game passing him by. Garrett- out for a while and not going to cut it. Buckley- ship has sailed. A reasonably experienced option but needs to move on and drop a league for his own career. We definitely need one more, first-team ready CM and a second if either Trav/Tron goes. RW: Hedges (nuff said). Montgomery? No thanks to either. Definitely need a first team right winger. LW: Kargbo promising but raw. Deneve is at least fit and has a good engine. Are there no promising wide players in the academy as third option? The 'Ten': Big season for Cantwell this year. Seems fully fit. He'll either have his best season in years or be a busted flush. I quietly hope it will be the former. Ohashi could maybe cover there but doesn't seem technical enough. Tyjon looks a promising understudy - but needs to sign a contract! CF: Gueye can be a handful. Holds the ball up well and causes problems but can't finish. Best off the bench from what we saw last season. Ohashi struggles to hold the ball but will press all day and a good finisher. Leonard just too injury prone - needs a loan if and when fit. Can't think of anyone else - we seem very short in this position should Ohashi/Gueye pick up a serious knock. Need one more - preferably better than the 2 we have but that costs decent money. May have missed somebody but I make that: 1 cb 1 midfielder 1 RW 1 CF That's a minimum without anyone leaving. There's also an argument for a Dolan type replacement that can (at a push) play across the front line. Really, each if those players needs to be able to go straight into the first team which requires ££ not pence signings. Crack on Rudy. Still waiting for the exciting summer to start. Apologies for the long post but I'm sat out in the sun with nowt else to do 😂.

It's really sad that the greats of a certain era are all retiring or dying/ have died off. As a classic/ heavy rock fan I tend to take the opposite view to K Hod and would opine that music stopped round about 1990 with one or two notable exceptions.

Since when have Birmingham City been more than a Cat C? It's obvious what the tactic is here. Fleece the expected large away following, but sod trying to attract any home support. They are not fit for purpose.

Probably only 3 squad places available without outgoings, maybe Leonard will get a loan.

Ugh. I know it's slightly more of a squad game than it was in the past but can we not get too Americanised and refer to starters or finishers please? I've not seen anyone seriously suggesting we should sell Gueye, we're at least one striker short as it is imo.

Substitutes are a huge part of the game now and often planned in advance. Managers frequently refer to "starters" and "finishers". Saying we should sell Gueye because he's not a regular starter is ridiculous. He can change a game when we need a plan B, and he's also incredible at defending set pieces if we're hanging on to a lead.

Would people agree Alebioso is a carbon copy of Zeefuik? Who we had for half a season? Raw, strong, fast.. but little to no footballing ability or brain?

I hope all goes well for you.

That's one point of view, the other is that you're not a genuine fan if you blindly accept everything that happens at the Club good or bad. As Matty and Ira have alluded to in more detail. Each to their own though.

Regulars on this site know that. All on here love the club, but can spot the imposters inside the club, who are lining their own pockets and destroying everything the club stands for. Its not a matter of being negative, it’s a case of ensuring that they do not get away with it and bring the club to its knees. Some would happily see us go the same way as Bury, so long as they made their fast buck. The people calling them out, are bigger heroes than any player, as it’s passionate fans, who are quite rightly making a stand.

I have a brilliant video of him at the end, really enjoying the adulation of the fans. I will upload it shortly.