Only 5 hours to kick off and not a comment on this board - is this a sign of nerves, resignation or not wishing to tempt fate?
A win today would put us one point behind Derby with two games in hand. We responded positively after the Wycombe shambles and there's no reason why we can't do the same again today.
Come on lads - it's all to play for. Give them no respect and let's get this end of season bandwagon well and truly on the road!
Onwards and upwards!
We are still in there. Imagine the irony of us potentially needing Wednesday to go to Derby on the final day and beat them. Our position demonstrates why Wycombe and Coventry were not actually must win games. If we had drawn them both we would now be in pretty good shape. I'm not going to attempt to pick a side. I think Barlaser will probably play. I think Wood will probably go up against Jutkewiecz. Beyond that its anybody's guess. They will have done their stuff to assess who is good to go. It certainly is a winnable game but we have played twice since they last played and that will be a factor. Heres hoping for a win.
Birmingham have won three of their last six games and also got a good goalless draw in one of their other six at Brentford. The last three games have seen them record clean sheets. Bowyer, will have put some steel into them and will relish a battle with us. I think they will press high up the pitch and try and play a similar way to Coventry did. I don't think this game will be pretty on the eye.
It is difficult to predict what our team will be as we don't know the level of fitness of each player. I think Wing and Barlaser will figure in the middle of the park as Wing cannot play on Wednesday and Barlaser has had a rest.
This is my best guess: Viking
Ihiekwe Wood Robertson
Harding Lindsay Barlaser Wing Giles
Sadlier
Ladapo or Smith (Ladapo if fully fit )
That gives Crooks, possibly Smith, Wiles , A. Mcdonald and Olosunde a deserved rest. I will predict a 0-0 draw.
I really would prefer to be down before; if it was a Wednesday loss that sent us down.
I'd play S.mac and barlasar today along with Giles.
I think we need cover at the back and will add Harding and Olusunde too. I'd drop crooks for this one and give sadlier a start . However, if we play snow White and the 7 dwarfs , plus the 3 bears and drop goldilocks and the 3 blind mice to the bench I'd be happy so long as its 3 points
-- Edited by ian on Sunday 18th of April 2021 10:56:20 AM
I can see why he has picked the side he has. Birmingham are so direct they make us look like Barca, and they are enormous. We have to be able to cope with that. So far we have and we have come into the game and had the best chances. It's an ugly game though.
I think we have played well and look a lot more composed than Thursdays game. Harding has made too many mistakes he gives too many set pieces away for me. I can see it being a 1-0 result either way, we need a point at least. We can win this but we have to take the chances like what Smith had. Wing can't play on Wednesday so obvious that he would play today and we rest Barlasar and Lyndsay. Here is hoping come on Millers
We lost that match due to Warne and his management, for 80 min it looked a nailed on point with a chance of nicking it, then as so many times this season his terrible sub decisions change the dynamic of the game. Taking off Freddie and Robertson what the F was he thinking. Freddie had been excellent as the commentators pointed out, putting on hirst OMG. As stated above Crookes was shattered. Please justify how Hirst can be chosen over Sadlier. The subs should have been Crookes, Both MacDonalds (one because he hasn't got 90 mins in him but he did ok and the other because he took a bad knock. Sadlier for Crrokes, Lindsay for S. Mac, and Giles for A. Mac putting Robertson into the back.
We have failed to score at home in 5 out of the last 6 games, we deserve to go down and fixture pile up doesnt help but for me the manager has to take the responsibility, at the moment he has 6 games to improve on his last relegation, and I cant see us getting 4 points in those games. I am genuinely annoyed because Warne makes too many mistakes especially when it comes to subs, do not quote QPR at me, all he did was put his first choice players on as a last ditch tactic after we went a goal down. What we do see in the Championship is the difference a good manager makes to a poor or average group of players. I know he will be manager next year due to the finances, but I really hope he isnt, if he is still here he will have my support during games but I am not looking forward to another season with him in charge.
Rant over !!
Two ordinary teams and a game that should have been a 0-0 all day long. Not much else to say, as it has been said so many times.
I really don't get your constant attack on Crookes, Hillsborough. Yes, he looks tired and could do with a rest, but he is better than most at the club. I can tell you this for definite though. When the stats men talked about what had gone on in games before the lockdown, Crookes running figures were up there with the best in the league. His pace and stamina when tested in training was position one at our club. I have no idea if that is still the case but i have a feeling it is. The running and work he puts in is probably why he is picked most of the time. It is all about opinions and that is mine on why Crookes is trusted to play. Not favouritism.
Crooks 100% won't be at the club next season as he's a superstar in his own mind. more will depart too. We need a new manager with new staff, new ideas, time to recruit & develop a style in the summer. The " old pals ex players" experiment has failed it needs changing.
The " good human being" mantra hasn't been a resounding success either, the way the club has treated summer marquee signing Sadlier has been disgraceful.
Crookes is a good player and he won't be here next season he will be sold in the summer and we won't get as much as we should for him, we will have to slash the wage bill next season a £8m short-fall is an enormous gap to fill. He was shattered today and being left on was a poor decision, look at the last 3 mins, we get a chance for a long throw, for some insane reason we throw it short to Lindsay cross is blocked and Crookes didnt have the energy to get there to collect the loose ball.
Not much to say. They are all giving all they have got. We didnt have that bit of extra quality that extra money buys you, and we didnt get the breaks. We had near misses without creating much. They scored with a header that was going wide until it deflected off Ihiekwe. Familiar fine margins over 90 minutes, but over the course of 46 games it looks like we probably aren't going to be good enough to finish out of the bottom three. It isnt over yet and in fact it is still in out own hands, but it is starting to look very difficult.
When crookes is on form.he is a good player but this season he has been hit and.miss.yet warne plays him. To day his fitness was a liability and was crying for fresh legs eg sadlier or barlaser
But no yet again we lose to a solitory goal. And im with brad
Tony needs someone with new ideas and tactics
Got to agree the substitution mistakes once again cost us the game. We look far more solid with Robertson in defence (shame he won't be with us next season) but inexpicably Warne takes him off and leaves Icky (who's passing,heading and positional play for this level are atrocious) on the field and it arguably costs us a goal. Bringing on Hirst was pure desperation and Barlaser(probably the most talented player at the club) must have fallen out with the manager not to get involved. Think the chairman will have taken advice on the golf course from Warnock on who to replace Warne but he has to take most of the responsibility for our imminent relegation. If we are allegedly paying league 1 wages in the Championship presumably it will be league 2 wages in league 1. Who will be attracted by that scenario ? Would love the Blackpool manager but that's not going to happen.
-- Edited by splinter on Sunday 18th of April 2021 08:53:33 PM
It is about opinions...I really wouldn't have changed anything as I agree with previous post that we looked nailed on for a point. I do think the change impacted the momentum and cost the point. I also agree we have seen that before. On the other hand we have seen changes that went in our favour
We haven't been good enough at any point this season and I still maintain this is because we have a squad that probably doesn't have a mid table championshio player . We are paying good wages , compared to 95% of the salary 'the man in the street gets', but woefully short of others at this level in the world of sport., and specifically championship football.
I'd be disappointed if TS sacks PW . I'd much prefer some honesty from the top. I'd rather see a modest investment in non playing staff and youth ...
-- Edited by ian on Sunday 18th of April 2021 08:41:18 PM
Got to agree Ian. Never been happy with Barker(how many relegations will he have on his CV ?) as assistant. Some top class experienced coach like Steve Thompson would have been a better option. I pray if Warne is moved along Barker isn't given the job. Looks like if Derby beat Preston on Tuesday(and i expect they will ) then we have just about had it. Such an avoidable shame.
Yes tony has kept us a afloat. But we are a business to him and thats what owners do put their money in or go bust.
He built a sports stadium for a reason if no one is playing in it then thats lost income.
If warne goes then its a complete chumocracy clear out.
Tony needs to sit down and work out with a football brain who will challenge him on his proposals.
Poor subs today barlaser and sadlier must been banging on door too much and then told him what for. That doesnt sit with warne humanist approach.
And what was that all about i heard at half time warne asked players. Coukd.you see ronnie, ferguson .
Doing that?
Message from a Burton Albion fan - good luck in the last few games. Hoping for you to stay in the Championship for next season. If that means Derby get relegated then all the better. Come on you Millers!
