How do you like yours?
Would you rather Blues played like Swansea City and be in their position, or didn't and weren't? Funny one, isn't it?
No question, the contrast in performances on Sunday left many jaws dropping.
Those who saw Swansea on their patch in November knew they were very pleasing on the eye, dynamic, fluid and quick but struggled in front of goal and had a tendency to over-play.
We saw all that at St Andrew's and it was, to be frank, embarrassing watching Blues trying to get a grip on them.
Regular readers of Birmingham Mail match reports and various articles, and those who have watched most Blues matches at home and away, will tell you that against teams who move the ball swiftly and have mobility, especially up front and wide, they get in a muddle.
Blues have not always come a cropper because of their inner-steel, strength, character, a moment or two of quality - in defence of attack - and opponents' lack of end product.
The goal less draw showed again Blues resilience, but at home it is they who should be setting the agenda, dictating the tempo, getting the full-backs bombing forward and piling players into the box.
Today I spoke to Alex McLeish about the game and the issues that arose from it, including his tactical mindset, for a piece in the New Year's Eve Mail.
He talked openly and honestly and accepted that the buck stopped with him.
Some of what was said was deemed off the record as he discussed individuals, what they can bring to the table and what they can't. Not just in terms of their ability alone, but game intelligence and understanding.
And I got the impression that given the chance again to select the side, he would do things differently.
McLeish is still anxious to really mould 'his' Blues team. Some players he inherited he wants to change, given the wherewithal and some time; and he expects better from some of those he has brought in.
He is aware that more legs, energy and speed is needed. Blues have an old 'spine' and no real pace to attack down the sides and get crosses in from the byline as he would prefer, with Quincy proving to be something of an enigma, which could be telling.
Blues don't flood into the penalty area from midfield, I felt there was more a concern with stopping Swansea and making sure everyone was in the right holes rather than getting off the back foot by taking the game to them and let them do the worrying.
The Damien Johnson-Lee Carsley pairing, with David Murphy wide left, was not the line-up I would have selected, or expected, at home.
McLeish didn't want Franck Queudrue being got at by Jordi Lopez, hence Murphy in front of him rather than Quincy. Playing Quincy and James McFadden on either wing, against the sort of system Swansea employ, was deemed too risky. Blues would have been too open.
This sort of thing has been done before with Jamie Clapham, Martin Grainger and others. If Blues still had a Stan Lazaridis, I don't think it would be an issue.
The idea was for the central midfielders to push on higher and act as 'back up' to the widemen and front two, who were charged to do the damage. It just didn't pan out like that, no-one fired at all.
Kevin Phillips and Marcus Bent selected to lead the line wasn't something that baffled. Both were rested two days before at Ipswich Town so would be fresh, and they have formed an effective alliance recently.
Again, that just didn't function, accepting the fact that they didn't get much to feed off.
Cameron Jerome's pace and directness, his hounding down the channels, is an asset at this level as it takes the play up field and asks questions of defences. Too often Blues play in front of and across the opposition, making it easy to police.
The irony of all this hoo-hah is that Blues did better than Wolves, Reading and plenty of others in their points return from Boxing Day and Sunday.
And at Molineux, for example, Blues were positive, dominated and imposed themselves. They have in other games, so it can be done.
The FA Cup game on Saturday may not be a bad thing as it gives Blues a breather before Championship hostilities begin again, injured players to get that bit healthier and sharper, and McLeish the chance to reflect and make some headway during the transfer window.
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Colin Tattum - Mail man Colin Tattum’s view of what’s going on at Birmingham City FC.
If you selected a best 11 from the championship - Blues players would make up the majority. Just think McFadden, Larsson, Phillips, Carsley.
Yet we are a team that in total is less than the sum of its parts.
Thats a serious issue and only the men who control the system and personnel can be accountable. Thats McLeish and the coaching staff.
The lack of football reflected the crowds dissatisfaction - which will continue until we get a few players who can string a pass or two together.
Fred.
The thing is, Tatts, Eck has to realise time is now running out. The football world has gotten oh so fickle, and he's not going to get given the time Steve Bruce was - he's got to achieve this season.
It's a shame, because I'd much rather Eck was able to get rid of the players he doesn't want; bring in some players (please God, younger ones) that he does want, and build the nucleus of a side that will stay together.
Also, do you know if Fahey is in the equation for the Wolves game? Or is Shroot is on the verge of signing?
Tatts,
Good blog and it looks like you have discussed with Alex some of the issues that have the fans worried. I look forward to reading your piece in the Mail. As you have observed there is a worrying lack of pace and mobility in the side which AM must address. But his selections don't help and as for coaching where is it? The players seem incapable of passing the ball to a team mate and as for pass and move forget it. The dead ball delivery is rubbish and throw ins nearly always end up with the opposition gaining possession. The majority of Taylor's kicks and long balls out of defence are won by the opposition and we seem to bypass the midfield and resort to hoof ball. Tactically there appears to be no system and why does AM insist on playing players out of position.
I agree with Daniel time is running out and unsurprisingly there are already rumblings of discontent among the supporters. AM has to tackle the problems now and Blues have to start playing better and more attractive football.
Sorry Colin, the team McLeish picked was awful. Forget all the possible tactical reasons, we had 5 defnders, 2 defensive midfielders and a team with SEVEN aged 30 and above.
This against a very good footballing team, but one that had drawn seven consecutive matches. Mid-table and without a win in 7 in other words.
McLeish obviously does not trust Quincy, in much the same way he did not trust Zarate. Perhaps this is the reason Wolves & Reading have a GD of +18 more than Blues at the half way stage. He can talk off the record with the local press, the fact remains that after 12 months the team plays worse football than the one his successor did, abeilt in a division below and with resources far greater than his competitors.
I've been waiting for this this seasons team to click (on the morning I drove down to Fulham to witness yet another, Bolton, Wigan, Sunderland and worst of all FIVE at villa way performance) I read in your paper, McLeish spouting, "Wait until I pick my own players".
Well you have, unless you've got the balls to say the owners won't allow you. So, only 5 months to see if you've got the walk to go with your talk.
KRO. BTW, Brucie's Wigan are 7th. Stick that in your 10 point plan to get ex supporters to buy your stale and half rotten product Davids.......
Lack of serious investment.
Done on the cheap.
Like a market trasder/car booter who doesn't want to take the step up to owning a shop.
Selling anyone who commands a transfer fee.
Hence the loyal customer base is dwindling.
"If you build it they will come"
Its tough at the top
Im amazed Bruce is being held up as some sort of tactical genius and purveyor of great football! He brought the negative tactics to the club with his one off the front cobblers and Johnson and Nafti. He left McLeish with bad players who had lost six out of seven when he legged it for the money at Wigan where he was given funds to spend and had better players. McLeish's tactics most of the season have been good and the football we have played isn't as dire as everyone thinks. We have played some very good football in spells in games but everyone ignores that and the fact we are joint second. Wolves and Reading have had a lot of luck and don't turn it on for 90 minutes each week, speak to their fans and they will tell you that. Their teams have been three or four years in the making under no pressure McLeish is having to throw his together and can't be blamed for players who can't pass the ball to one another or hide away. He can be blamed for not bringing enough energy into the team and the selection for Swansea was wrong as Tatts wrote. From reading this it sounds like he knows he has messed up and would like to bin most of the team yet he can't go round slating them because he still needs them to perform. How he can be running out of time I don't know as we are still well placed for promotion and he has had two transfer windows and one year in charge. He is too protective of the board and they are the root cause of all the problems. Since Jan 06 they have failed to allow the manager to invest in the team properly. Profit is put above success and they have no ambition or passion for the club no matter how many 10 point plans they dream up.
Very good article again, putting us amateur pundits and know it alls to shame.
You ask would we rather play like Swansea, and be where they are, or like us, and be where we are. Why can't we have both? Why do we have to settle for one or other shade of mediocrity? Surely we are big enough and resourceful enough, and knowledgeable and wise enough to compete in this league with a bit of panache? Must we always settle for less?
Interesting point about stuff being off the record. Have you read the Duncan Hamilton book on Clough? He makes a point about the difficulty of knowing stuff but not being able to publish it, and also writes eloquently about the difficulty of reporting constantly on one team..............how do you say something witness every week when you are witness to the same old cobblers? Does that resonate at all?
Interesting comments folks. Duncan, Fahey subject to international clearance should be involved, Shroot is signing. Pete, agree that I would rather we had both and shouldn't settle for less. The off the record stuff helps in terms of building up an understanding with what the management/manager are trying to do and therefore (hopefully) that shows in the stuff I write is perhaps more reasoned an informed. Also, some of what was discussed will become clearer in the next week or so and the be on the record. I have no problem with 'amateur pundits', I think we all felt the same about the line-up and tactics Sunday. The story today is what the manager was trying to do and what he was thinking of. He knows full well what fans are saying and doesn't bury his head in the sand; on the other hand he has to change it for the better. As for the difficulty of reporting on one team, no two games or seasons are the same, at Blues it is always interesting and I know what you mean about the same old cobblers resonating, however, I don't think we're the worst team in the Championship, but neither do we play the best, most attractive football consistently. We do play well here and there in patches. Swansea are nice to watch but toothless, so are Doncaster. Wolves have a good balance and plenty of quickness and mobility, so do Reading. We could be less cautious granted and try to get those said traits into our team. That's the manager's job, it's what he intends to do and the transfer window is about to open. Judgements - on the manager, players, board - are probably best made at the season's end in this instance as Blues are not battling against relegation like Charlton.
Fascinating stuff Tatts - thanks. I think there are a couple of clear hints in there that someone in particular is on his bike before the end of the window.
c
Tat, from what i have seen and heard from AM he appears to understand the issues and it feels like he is trying to address them appropriately (better football, more goals, young players etc). However my concern is that there appears to be some sort of disconnect between the management and players on the pitch. Most clubs in the Champoinship would give their right arms for the majority of our players yet we are at best an efficient team. Do we want to be like Swansea - no! However is it too much to ask for some arrogance, style and swagger!
Hi some interesting comments there but it still does not hide the fact that alex has had two transfer windows to bring in his own players,to be honest we have the players to walk this league if played properly,we have been very poor in nearly every game this season and if it wasnt for a few scrappy 1-0 wins and a lot of lady luck we would be further down the league,our football under eck is worse now than when bruce was here that is just one reason why the fans are dissapearing in their droves,we should be going at teams and looking to win games not playing negative unatractive football,quincy should be starting and given the green light to go at defences but eck seems to be more worried about the other teams coming down the flank,can you imagine if we did get promoted,we would get stuffed week in week out by any average team in the premiership with the tactics big eck likes to play........
Everyone knows that the best form of defence is to attack that is unless you are a ex defender yourself,alex mcgleish does not seem to have a clue about tactics and i can see his time running out as blues boss,i for one have stopped attending games like many others this season on the simple fact that with the price of football as it is today and the rubbish that we have to witness down at st andrews,i see some comments on would we like to play like swansea,well my answer is yes on the basis that they they havent got larrson,mcfadden quincy etc in their team ,can you imagine if swansea did have those players in their team i think they would be riding high playing fast flowing attractive football,we could do the same if alex changed his ways
I don't think the problems at Blues are anything to do with tactics or motivation or age. It's surely the formation. With Agustien being such a flop we only have the players for 4-3-3. With Carsley and McFadden in the team the obvious formation to play is 4-1-3-1-1. This means that an intelligent attacking midfielder of the ilk of Tim Cahill or Michael Carrick is all that is required to make this team click. Obviously we aren't in the market for that pair, but one of Ben Watson, Brian Howard or Brian Hughes could really make all the difference. Maybe this lad Fahey could do it, but, having only seen a few clips of him playing in a mickey mouse league, I don't know.
Dont think it's Eck or tactics, it's the board's lacl of ambition. Give him money in Jan to address what he obviously knows is needed.
Colin, do you get paid by the Blues board, because you always seem to take their side on practically every issue. Are you their unofficial PR man?
Colin
Shouldn't we be trying to win at home and dominate?
The Managers comments suggest that he was more worried about Swansea, than playing our own game and to our strengths.
And of course, this smacks to me of negative thinking, leading to negative team selection (which is exactly what it was).
Unpredicatable or not, at home Quincy and Mcfadden should have taken the wide places and not an out of position full back (Murphy).
At Wolves the Murphy move was a masterstroke to nullify Kightly, but at home it is a disaster and should be viewed as one off.
We know that Lee Carsley and Damian Johnson will never be box to box players and the creativity would have to come from the wings.
As for the last two posters, loyalnose, er, no, obviously, you clearly don't read all that I write on here and in the newspaper and Alan, yes we should be trying to win home games and dominate, again, as I have written. The manager was asked to explain Swansea and I reported his views and interpretated other salient points. That's my job: to report and also analyse and comment where applicable.
Tatts,
I for one appreciate your analysis and comments on the Blues. Long may it continue.
i second that, keep it goin tatts
Again even after the 10 point plan announcement as to prove the disenchanted and lost fans point that they were RIGHT! We have another example of bad Management from the board in the postponement of the Wolves game.Only THEY can bridge the the gap between them and the fans with a finished stadium complete with scoreboard and more professionalism/sincerity in the running of the club.
They only have to look across the city to see how a proper business is run.
They do have the finance to compete but have chose not to.
We reached the prem,were at the same place as Villa/Wigan/Portsmouth/Fulham at one time and as we can only judge on results,look at the positions now? We have been failed,Kenny Cunnigham has been proved right.
Blind loyalty will not stop the rot either.
We are the second cities,second rate team.