The Fish

20 minutes late, or is this simply Birmingham Thread 2.0? After some bug fixes?

Nobody is above criticism.

Why doesn't winning titles mean anything? Isn't that what a football career is about (in addition to but not inferior to earning a fuck ton of money?)

What what what? What's this? What fucking nonsense bullshit is this right now?

Who said that like? fwiw I said before the game kicked off I wanted a variation on the regular system. While 4-4-2 may not be Rafa's way, there are variations on his 4-2-3-1 that can be played with Mitrovic and Gayle, though I doubt we'll ever see them.

They have 2 (two) threads gloating about yesterday's loss.

We put 4 past them last time we met, they've won once since that mauling. Their new manager (Zola) doesn't seem to have them playing particularly well...

There's a few things going on there; Mike Bassett-itis, Mitrovic's popularity, kneejerk overreaction to a disappointing loss. The majority of people would agree that Rafa's got it right for the majority of the season. Calls for wholesale changes in tactics or personnel are surely just born out of frustration at a bad day in Blackburn?

I think Perez isn't suited for this league, but he performed well in a poor Premier League side and I think there's a player in him. Colback can do one. Anita has been one of the consistent players in this league, hasn't let the club down at all and has got on with his job. He certainly shouldn't be 1st choice if and when we're promoted, but for the amount we'd get for him there aren't many utility players of his standard. He's another Aaron Hughes imo.

It cannot be as difficult for a player to get into their National team, moving to China doesn't impact it, so surely moving from Chelsea's bench to a title chasing French side, or Portuguese side wouldn't be to his detriment?

If I was a manager of a team whose attempts had outnumbered the oppositions by 20 to 1, I would think "Why aren't we getting the break through" and would tweak something to further unsettle the opponents without altering the system that is working quite well. Bringing on a more direct, pacy winger instead of Gouffran doesn't alter the system. It's incredibly harsh to criticise Murphy or Atsu given how little time they actually had on the pitch. I don't think anyone is saying tear up the plan because it didn't work last night, I'm certainly not. I'm saying that Rafa cannot be above criticism and last night his hesitancy (I believe) cost us. For what it's worth I think we should have started with Atsu and Yedlin to really get at their less than rapid back line.

Oscar could easily move to another top European league and win actual proper trophies while still earning a crust and improve his chances of being picked for the national side (which by the way cannot hold the same mystique as it once did, given the shite that have turned out for their countries), and still get a big money move in 5 years time.

... Get that shit off my board.

I totally understand Tevez taking a final payday for frankly ludicrous sums, he's won plenty, played for massive clubs, represented his country and has been highly regarded. Oscar is 25, he could easily have won some more trophies at decent clubs for a couple of years before moving out there. Make no mistake, it's not the players wanting to move to China, none of them are aching to ply their trade for the likes of Gangzhou, it's the agents after another fat paycheck.

That system should be enough to beat most sides, certainly in this league, but failing to make timely changes is either being timid or stubborn. Blackburn set out their stall to defend almost as the away side would, so when the hour mark rolled by, I was expecting changes to be made to the side to further stretch the game. Hayden, and Colback can't stretch the game with their passing range, but Yedlin, and Atsu can do so with their pace. Instead we saw Perez brought on for Colback and while AP has technique and decent movement, he's not going to sufficiently disrupt their back 8. Rafa deserves tremendous credit for all he's got right, but he got this one wrong and isn't above criticism.

Aye that's fine, but if you're trying the same key in the same lock for 60 minutes, perhaps it's not a bad idea to, on this occasion, try a different approach? Even earlier substitutions into the same system? What was Gouffran doing to retain his place on the pitch for 85 minutes? We were well on top around the hour mark, so the risk that Atsu's introduction would unsettle us wasn't high. They reshuffled, bringing Evans on and firming up their centre, but weakening their flank. Lowe was already on a yellow, get someone like Atsu running at him and at worst Lowe would be reticent to dive in, at best Blackburn have to play a significant portion of the game down to 10 men. Rafa has us 2nd, he's got us scoring goals and conceding few, but he can still be criticised for getting things wrong. Failing to make changes earlier has cost us points a couple of times this season and he should be called out for it.

Called it.

Keep us updated, transfers, system, big scores etc.

I don't think his omission signals the end of Mitro's Newcastle career.

He call one of your lot a Bratwurst Bellend?

I'm not convinced he's better, just that he's more content to stay back than Yedlin is. I agree with you fwiw, I'd be playing Atsu, Yedlin and every quick player we've got. I can't get past the fact that one of their centrebacks is 36. We're better than Blackburn, so we should be able to play with less focus on staying solid. Then again, Benitez has slightly more success than I have, so I guess I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

I suppose Anita gives you more defensive responsibility? Yedlin loves getting forward, where Anita is more than happy to stay back?

I agree that Chelsea's policy of hoarding a busload of youngsters is wrong, but I think you should make/avoid deals on a case by case basis. Loftus-Cheek is a decent player in a position that we could do with strengthening. Re: Delph, he's not a like-for-like replacement or upgrade on Shelvey, but he's a top-half Premier League player and if we could sign him we'd be much improved.

Or is giving Murphy a shot from the bench given the old man hasn't featured much at all and is probably aching to get minutes? Surprised we're not starting with as much pace as possible given the opposition. Darlow, Anita Clark Lascelles Dummett Ritchie Colback Hayden Gouffran Diamé Gayle Sels, Yedlin, Lazaar, Mbemba, Atsu, Perez, Murphy

Is he? Well, between the two of them we should rack up a record scoreline and Graham can two-foot their manager instead.