v Birmingham City (h) - 16/8/25

[StHelensRover]

4 minutes ago, Atko's Engine said:

So, overall the real kick in the teeth is the manner of the defeat, not the fact of it.

Brum are most people's choice for a top 8 spot, whereas we're predicted to struggle or at best be mid table; in that context, losing to them is no disgrace.

 

This. If we had lost at Albion last week and at home to Birmingham today but we had been regularly testing their keeper, hitting the woodwork, carving out chances, all that good stuff, then you hold your hands up and accept that's football and that anything can happen.

The reason we didn't put in those type of performances, rather than what we have actually offered up so far, is why everyone is so pissed off. Our squad is cheap, cheerful, thin, inexperienced at this level and in some parts clearly unhappy at off the pitch issues. Recipe for disaster.

[Hasta]

2 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

According to the scoreboard…Wharton started 🤦‍♂️

Yeah I know. It had me confused for about 10 minutes at the start.

[Torgeir]

5 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Elliott Jackson gave 6 of our starting 11 an 8 out of 10 mark. Only Tavares failed to get above "par" and he played major roles in the concession of both goals.

Talk about low standards.

Not much to get excited about these days. We might grind out some results but it's not going to be pretty, and all over a side full of average joe's. 

Poor substitutions. 

[chaddyrovers]

4 minutes ago, StHelensRover said:

Your analysis boiled down:

1st half, we didn't have a single shot on target so you've said we were compact and solid.

2nd half, you have said that Todd Cantwell's fortunate (but extremely well taken goal) was justification to make him captain of the football club. What? He didn't play Birmingham off the park. He was very average like everyone else, but a loose ball fell to him at a set piece, right place, right time. Great goal.

After that you say we were still really solid at defending despite the horrific defending which led to their penalty and the horrific defending that led to their winner. You're still trying to argue that the penalty was soft or whatever or that he was looking for it, he was tripped from behind. It was a clear penalty, clumsy from Miller but he had to try something as De Neve had let him straight in.

I cannot believe you think that was a good performance. Two shots on target, barely any possession, created nothing and defended poorly when Birmingham actually strung something together. If you got a neutral to read the stats, they would struggle to believe we played well. I've read the stats and watched the match with my own eyes, we did not play well. Anyone who thinks we did I think is bonkers.

1st half, we stopped them playing and creating chances. If you watch them against Ipswich, they had chances after chances. We never let that happened. Until the penalty incident, Birmingham created nothing of noted. Gray, Anderson, Stansfield and Kyogo did nothing all game. Our defending for the penalty incident is very poor and no way should he get in there. 

Of course that was good performance, well drilled, organised and playing to plan. Birmingham created nothing all game until Laird got the penalty. Even then we were pushing for the winner, Birmingham wasn't until that poor corner and how we defended it. 

On Cantwell, I thought that was good performance from him. Elliott Jackson and Rovers had his the player of the match and Elliott Jackson gave him a 8. Same as I did on here. Hyam, McLoughlin and Alebiosu were also very good.  

I couldn't give a flying monkeys what a neutral, stats don't tell you how the game went and what happened during the game. 

I think anyone who didn't think that was good performance and players playing to plan is bonkers and their seat must not be facing the pitch

[rigger]

45 minutes ago, StHelensRover said:

Just watched the goals back on ITV. I remember at the time thinking how it was a really shit corner, but it takes an absolute age for the ball to end up in the back of the net at the other end. The defending against their counter attack is even worse than the corner. Comically bad. Someone needed to commit a professional foul and take the booking, then we almost certainly get a point from a below average performance and we aren't all as angry as we are now. 

Exactly this, we are not professional enough. We have not deserved to lose all three games, but we have.

[Hasta]

If we’d have won it 1-0 I’d have said foot solid performance the kind which we are going to have to put in as we won’t score a lot of goals. Defensively and shape-wise we were solid.

The problem is we got undone due to lack of quality / depth, which is something we are going to have to get used to because some of these lads are going to struggle at this level.

As I said earlier, Travis is first choice midfield. If we are to ‘replace him’ as Val said, then it needs to be someone who is also first choice starter. That’s replacing him. Not ending up with another backup squad player.

[Devon Rover]

9 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

1st half, we stopped them playing and creating chances. If you watch them against Ipswich, they had chances after chances. We never let that happened. Until the penalty incident, Birmingham created nothing of noted. Gray, Anderson, Stansfield and Kyogo did nothing all game. Our defending for the penalty incident is very poor and no way should he get in there. 

Of course that was good performance, well drilled, organised and playing to plan. Birmingham created nothing all game until Laird got the penalty. Even then we were pushing for the winner, Birmingham wasn't until that poor corner and how we defended it. 

On Cantwell, I thought that was good performance from him. Elliott Jackson and Rovers had his the player of the match and Elliott Jackson gave him a 8. Same as I did on here. Hyam, McLoughlin and Alebiosu were also very good.  

I couldn't give a flying monkeys what a neutral, stats don't tell you how the game went and what happened during the game. 

I think anyone who didn't think that was good performance and players playing to plan is bonkers and their seat must not be facing the pitch

But the players you list there, except Cantwell, are defenders. I don't think anyone would suggest it wasn't a good defensive performance (apart from the very, very poor errors in the last 10 mins or so). But in terms of attacking play, chance creation, and goals, we look a very poor team and it was another unimpressive performance, in that regard. That has to be a concern for everyone, as should three goals on target in two games. It isn't just a stat for which no monkeys should be flown. It is a basic, important, and meaningful indicator of where the team's definicies lie. Unfortunately it won't resonate with our owners so I guess it doesn't matter, but any supporter unconcerned about this major flaw in the team must be facing the pitch but not really seeing.

Edited 2 hours ago by Devon Rover

[StHelensRover]

6 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

1st half, we stopped them playing and creating chances. If you watch them against Ipswich, they had chances after chances. We never let that happened. Until the penalty incident, Birmingham created nothing of noted. Gray, Anderson, Stansfield and Kyogo did nothing all game. Our defending for the penalty incident is very poor and no way should he get in there. 

Of course that was good performance, well drilled, organised and playing to plan. Birmingham created nothing all game until Laird got the penalty. Even then we were pushing for the winner, Birmingham wasn't until that poor corner and how we defended it. 

On Cantwell, I thought that was good performance from him. Elliott Jackson and Rovers had his the player of the match and Elliott Jackson gave him a 8. Same as I did on here. Hyam, McLoughlin and Alebiosu were also very good.  

I couldn't give a flying monkeys what a neutral, stats don't tell you how the game went and what happened during the game. 

I think anyone who didn't think that was good performance and players playing to plan is bonkers and their seat must not be facing the pitch

Your opinion is usually whatever you heard last from either Jackson, Ismael or an official club statement, so that fact he gave most of the team an 8 out of 10 is probably why you did as well. If those players are getting an 8 I would be terrified of what a 5 or a 4 is, presumably scoring several own goals or shitting themselves on the pitch like Lineker did. You don't seem arsed that we have managed 3 attempts on goal in 2 matches. You're talking about how we nullified Birmingham as if we were playing Liverpool. In the championship you're supposed to try and beat every opponent, especially if you're the home team. You're talking about us like we were a plucky lower league team going away from home against a big club. We should have been creating chances to score goals, we were not doing that, so how can it be a good performance? 

[roversfan99]

11 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

1st half, we stopped them playing and creating chances. If you watch them against Ipswich, they had chances after chances. We never let that happened. Until the penalty incident, Birmingham created nothing of noted. Gray, Anderson, Stansfield and Kyogo did nothing all game. Our defending for the penalty incident is very poor and no way should he get in there. 

Of course that was good performance, well drilled, organised and playing to plan. Birmingham created nothing all game until Laird got the penalty. Even then we were pushing for the winner, Birmingham wasn't until that poor corner and how we defended it. 

On Cantwell, I thought that was good performance from him. Elliott Jackson and Rovers had his the player of the match and Elliott Jackson gave him a 8. Same as I did on here. Hyam, McLoughlin and Alebiosu were also very good.  

I couldn't give a flying monkeys what a neutral, stats don't tell you how the game went and what happened during the game. 

I think anyone who didn't think that was good performance and players playing to plan is bonkers and their seat must not be facing the pitch

Our attackers didnt do anything.

Your standards are so low. You speak as if we were away to a Premier League team.

[roversfan99]

Just now, StHelensRover said:

Your opinion is usually whatever you heard last from either Jackson, Ismael or an official club statement, so that fact he gave most of the team an 8 out of 10 is probably why you did as well. If those players are getting an 8 I would be terrified of what a 5 or a 4 is, presumably scoring several own goals or shitting themselves on the pitch like Lineker did. You don't seem arsed that we have managed 3 attempts on goal in 2 matches. You're talking about how we nullified Birmingham as if we were playing Liverpool. In the championship you're supposed to try and beat every opponent, especially if you're the home team. You're talking about us like we were a plucky lower league team going away from home against a big club. We should have been creating chances to score goals, we were not doing that, so how can it be a good performance? 

What would a 1 or 2 out of 10 require the players to do?

[RTM08]

3 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

What would a 1 or 2 out of 10 require the players to do?

Dom Hyam v Bristol City, Shane Duffy v Cardiff maybe? Though you could argue they'd be 0/10

[Devon Rover]

4 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

What would a 1 or 2 out of 10 require the players to do?

On field Balaji BJ.

[StHelensRover]

4 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

What would a 1 or 2 out of 10 require the players to do?

Based on Jackson's ratings today I assume he would have given Shane Duffy versus Cardiff at least a 6 😄

I do actually like Elliot Jackson, I think he's genuine and doing his best, but I don't agree with some of his overly positive ratings and reports over the years, but I appreciate he is in the local paper and so he has to tread carefully for a number of reasons.

[bluebruce]

4 hours ago, Staffordshire Rover said:

Take him out properly and the game stops, do a soft clip and the ref waves play on

The severity of a foul is not supposed to affect the advantage rule, unless there's a head injury.

[AvRover]

25 minutes ago, StHelensRover said:

Our squad is cheap, cheerful, thin, inexperienced at this level and in some parts clearly unhappy at off the pitch issues. Recipe for disaster.

I've said before, our relative success in recent seasons is based on the players being grafting lads pulling together. If there's disquiet in the dressing room that's a major red flag. ⛳

[chaddyrovers]

34 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

In what way did Kargbo show what he is about? 

Try to used his pace to cause problems, looking run in behind. A couple of times first half had he played in, he was through on goal. Sometimes it doesn't come off but there is something there in him. I take you disagree here

 

[roversfan99]

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Try to used his pace to cause problems, looking run in behind. A couple of times first half had he played in, he was through on goal. Sometimes it doesn't come off but there is something there in him. I take you disagree here

 

He didnt do anything of note in an attacking sense. If that is him showing what he can do then he cant do much.

All I have seen from him in a Rovers shirt is an athlete with not very much ability or intelligence.

[StHelensRover]

2 minutes ago, AvRover said:

I've said before, our relative success in recent seasons is based on the players being grafting lads pulling together. If there's disquiet in the dressing room that's a major red flag. ⛳

To be clear, I can't say for certain that there is disquiet/disharmony in the dressing room or ah brockhall etc. I have no proof of that. But the mass exodus of senior players, several of those being determined to link up with our former manager, and the general approach we have with renewing (or not renewing) contracts, way we have treated the women's team, our approach in the transfer market and the general way the club seems to be run means I wouldn't be surprised if players were unhappy.

[Ghost7]

On the goals today, Miller hadn't challenged yet and it looked to me to be Tavares who gave the penalty away with a flailing leg, his trip/ minimal contact sent the Brum player and then Miller tumbling. Miller certainly seemed to be asking Tavares why in the immediate aftermath.

The corner, a clear Tavares error, Ismael and Whitehead both yelled furiously at him to take it.... I presume with the idea of leaving Ribiero back instead.... the cross was a disaster. He sprinted back well but still didn't do enough.... either way a poor corner shouldn't mean goal.

It was reckless from VI to have the entire team so far up. 5 defenders were on the pitch, we shouldn't have been caught out like that.

Special mention to De Neve who allowed the Birmingham player to breeze past him on the penalty too, something Alebiosu had fought all game to stop. Really disappointing!

We have a major quality issue up top and it won't be solved by 1 incoming, or going all out attack in games..... with these players.

We had it last season, we knew what was needed with Hedges not performing and Dolan leaving.... and the reality is a well organised club would have have at least two new wingers bedded in right now. How glaringly obvious does it need to be!

As a minimum the focus should have been on a good RW and LW or a goalscorer but the issue is those positions cost REAL money.

We need to bring in quality difference makers in attack and quickly..... but there's no way Suhail and Venky's will allow it...... even if they do they'll need time to get to know each other, while the first fixtures run away from us.

The squad planning and financial backing has been a disaster during a summer that was supposed to be an "exciting rebuild". 

It's been underwhelming and underfunded.

Regardless I arrive back at the same conclusion....... Sell the club!

[47er]

29 minutes ago, rigger said:

Exactly this, we are not professional enough. We have not deserved to lose all three games, but we have.

We will be unluckily relegated if the first 3 games are any guide.

[chaddyrovers]

21 minutes ago, Hasta said:

If we’d have won it 1-0 I’d have said foot solid performance the kind which we are going to have to put in as we won’t score a lot of goals. Defensively and shape-wise we were solid.

exactly. If you watched Birmingham and what they wanted is a space and time, We stopped that space and they struggled to created anything. 

17 minutes ago, StHelensRover said:

Your opinion is usually whatever you heard last from either Jackson, Ismael or an official club statement, so that fact he gave most of the team an 8 out of 10 is probably why you did as well. If those players are getting an 8 I would be terrified of what a 5 or a 4 is, presumably scoring several own goals or shitting themselves on the pitch like Lineker did. You don't seem arsed that we have managed 3 attempts on goal in 2 matches. You're talking about how we nullified Birmingham as if we were playing Liverpool. In the championship you're supposed to try and beat every opponent, especially if you're the home team. You're talking about us like we were a plucky lower league team going away from home against a big club. We should have been creating chances to score goals, we were not doing that, so how can it be a good performance? 

No wrong, my opinion is based on what I watched and first half we were compact and stop them having space to used. If you actually watched them previously that what they were cos they will created chances after chances, They didn't. You played to win the game and if that a boring 1 nil win against a team, I couldn't give a monkey fcuk to be honest. You clearly haven't watched how they play and what they want. We allow their centre backs to have the back and come forward with trying to win it then and counter. 

I talking how you wins games of football and having to adapted to find the best way to win, yes win. Not playing beautiful flowing football and losing like you suggested 

Today we created 2 great chances and had Karbgo's header gone in would you have been complained now about a boring 2 nil win then? of course not. 

Hyam, Alebiosu and McLoughlin were very good defensively and if you can't see that then its just pointless debate. 

26 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Our attackers didnt do anything.

Your standards are so low. You speak as if we were away to a Premier League team.

Give it a rest RF99 going on your standards bollocks again. 

You played tactically to win the game. Had we won the game 1 nil would any of you moaners be moaning then? 

[chaddyrovers]

12 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

He didnt do anything of note in an attacking sense. If that is him showing what he can do then he cant do much.

All I have seen from him in a Rovers shirt is an athlete with not very much ability or intelligence.

moan and moan all the time like a broken record. 

You didn't want us to sign him when we did and have been against ever since. don't reply cos its another pointless debate again with you like many and many of them recently 

[roversfan99]

6 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

exactly. If you watched Birmingham and what they wanted is a space and time, We stopped that space and they struggled to created anything. 

No wrong, my opinion is based on what I watched and first half we were compact and stop them having space to used. If you actually watched them previously that what they were cos they will created chances after chances, They didn't. You played to win the game and if that a boring 1 nil win against a team, I couldn't give a monkey fcuk to be honest. You clearly haven't watched how they play and what they want. We allow their centre backs to have the back and come forward with trying to win it then and counter. 

I talking how you wins games of football and having to adapted to find the best way to win, yes win. Not playing beautiful flowing football and losing like you suggested 

Today we created 2 great chances and had Karbgo's header gone in would you have been complained now about a boring 2 nil win then? of course not. 

Hyam, Alebiosu and McLoughlin were very good defensively and if you can't see that then its just pointless debate. 

Give it a rest RF99 going on your standards bollocks again. 

You played tactically to win the game. Had we won the game 1 nil would any of you moaners be moaning then? 

 

3 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

moan and moan all the time like a broken record. 

You didn't want us to sign him when we did and have been against ever since. don't reply cos its another pointless debate again with you like many and many of them recently 

 But we didnt win 1 nil. What sort of argument is it to suggest that my reaction would have been different had the game been a totally different result.

I am not sure why suggesting that Kargbo is just an athlete is so controversial. 

The fact that you keep resorting to telling me to stop moaning suggests that you dont have anything constructive to say.

Im not sure we had any "great" chances. The goal we did score was barely a half chance, just a fantastic strike from nowhere.

[Bbrovers2288]

30 minutes ago, Ghost7 said:

On the goals today, Miller hadn't challenged yet and it looked to me to be Tavares who gave the penalty away with a flailing leg, his trip/ minimal contact sent the Brum player and then Miller tumbling. Miller certainly seemed to be asking Tavares why in the immediate aftermath.

The corner, a clear Tavares error, Ismael and Whitehead both yelled furiously at him to take it.... I presume with the idea of leaving Ribiero back instead.... the cross was a disaster. He sprinted back well but still didn't do enough.... either way a poor corner shouldn't mean goal.

It was reckless from VI to have the entire team so far up. 5 defenders were on the pitch, we shouldn't have been caught out like that.

Special mention to De Neve who allowed the Birmingham player to breeze past him on the penalty too, something Alebiosu had fought all game to stop. Really disappointing!

We have a major quality issue up top and it won't be solved by 1 incoming, or going all out attack in games..... with these players.

We had it last season, we knew what was needed with Hedges not performing and Dolan leaving.... and the reality is a well organised club would have have at least two new wingers bedded in right now. How glaringly obvious does it need to be!

As a minimum the focus should have been on a good RW and LW or a goalscorer but the issue is those positions cost REAL money.

We need to bring in quality difference makers in attack and quickly..... but there's no way Suhail and Venky's will allow it...... even if they do they'll need time to get to know each other, while the first fixtures run away from us.

The squad planning and financial backing has been a disaster during a summer that was supposed to be an "exciting rebuild". 

It's been underwhelming and underfunded.

Regardless I arrive back at the same conclusion....... Sell the club!

Yup, good post, agree with your assessments 

[chaddyrovers]

12 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

 

 But we didnt win 1 nil. What sort of argument is it to suggest that my reaction would have been different had the game been a totally different result.

I am not sure why suggesting that Kargbo is just an athlete is so controversial. 

The fact that you keep resorting to telling me to stop moaning suggests that you dont have anything constructive to say.

Im not sure we had any "great" chances. The goal we did score was barely a half chance, just a fantastic strike from nowhere.

Karbgo and Gueye weren't great chances? FFS, does your seat face the pitch? 

Until that Penalty incident we were winning the game and if we had defended properly and not allowing Laird into the box I think we will the game, Would you have been moaning about a 1 nil win? 

Ismael had his tactical plan and until the penalty incident it was working perfectly