Outstanding result. Second half was very composed and in the end were good value for the score. Passing was much improved after the break and we controlled the tempo perfectly. Other than a 10 minute period where we got riled up by their shithousery they weren't really in the game at all. Lots of very good performances. Hyam, Thomas, Szmodics and Travis probably the picks for me but no poor performers. Not sure how I'm supposed to sleep now.

Settle down Sammy.

Sammie on fire atm. Unlucky.

Good spell this.

Good game. High tempo with some nice stuff played by both sides. We've looked threatening on the break but have dodged a few bullets at our own end. Back 4 have been very good, especially Hyam.

City or City tier opponent then. A winner who dodges both Manchester clubs from here would consider themselves very lucky.

We'll likely have to go through City at some point to win it too though.

Not so average Joe.

We'd need to get promoted to be a shot at Gyokeres.

Very impressive performance. We were committed, organised, energetic with a few moments of class. Thats about all you need in this division. Travis MoM for me, but JRC not far away. Loads of solid performances in there as well. Well done to Gally too, 2 straightforward chances but never wrong to see your 9 bag a brace. Hopefully it spurs him a bit.

Another great goal. JRC shredding them today.

Geez the more you watch that goal the better it gets. Szmodics with the clever run and cool finish but my God that pass from Travis was superlative.

Fmd beautiful!!

Sweet. Looks like Saturday's going to be a late one then.

Probably, but football's a weird game that can throw up all sorts of weirdness over the short course of 2 games. Once you're there you just never know.

No worries. It would have been great being a stakeholder in those times.

Last time I saw a foul throw called was in u10s.

Another loss for good looking Birmingham too.

Hes not going to jeopardise a move anywhere if he bangs in 20 goals next year and proves he's not a flash in the pan. If he can't do that in the Championship he wouldn't have been able to do it in La Liga either, which raises a whole host of problems for his future too. I think the truth is likely that a lot of the interest has dried up due to his recent form. A player can't just wind down the clock and get a better deal when out of contract despite his form dropping considerably. Hype can disappear quickly, and when there's no agreement in place its very easy for a party just to walk away. Like I said in another thread, he may just welcome the opportunity to have his next 12 months sorted, making solid money, getting his life in order and further developing his game without pressure. Or not, maybe he opts to take his chances in the summer and we're in the same position we were already. I think its a good sign for the club that this option is even being talked about though.

I'd gop a step further and say that most of the world's problems stem from entities not being beholden to the correct stakeholders.

A simpler time.

Do they know that? He's had one bumper year out of 4/5 at this point. Lad still has plenty to work on imo.

Just on the "good football" discussion, Birmingham have got some praise on here for being well set up and looking good football wise. Yet they keep on losing and sit only 7 points above relegation, with challengers all around them picking up points. I'd take our season so far over theirs and it isn't even close.

If JDT somehow got this squad promoted I'd have faith that he'd be able to graft out enough ugly 1-0's to keep us up.

I don't really see a reason for a strong opinion one way or another. Other than it being an internet forum that is :p Certainly the Nixon/club version would represent obnoxious behaviour of the highest order on the part of the EFL and would all but exonerate the club (on the O'Brien matter at least). The club's aggressive actions in appealing and pushing other legal avenues would line up with that story. But the EFL have been largely stoic and if the club's version is the entire story than they'd be quite stupidly digging their own hole deeper than it needed to be by dragging this out. With neither side budging the most likely truth is that there was some culpability on both sides, though even that is pure speculation. Either way, with legal options being pursued it looks like it'll go public eventually. Plenty of opportunity for recriminations and told you so's at that point.