SHA Small Heath Alliance

Nikola Zigic

Criminal waste of an excellent Championship level Centre Back

He's getting stronger on the physical side and I've rarely seen a bloke of his size with such pace.

Pace is a commodity that you can't teach, it's genetic.

We got him for a small sum. He's got to start with Klarer every week. I see no issues between them and no reason why they can't compliment each other in a second season.

We could stop being absolute possession nonces and play him on the left of Klarer, then focus on letting them defend and giving the ball to our good footballers in midfield.

That probably makes me a dinosaur, but give me a defender over someone who can pass with their left foot but can't tackle, mark or head, like Panzo.

Problem is we HAD to play out the back because our options to go long were Ducksch and Stansfield.

Now we have Priske we at least have the option to go long.

My gripe really is that Robinson isn't even that good on the ball. What's the point? I don't think we actually ever look better playing out the back with a leftie in there.

And Vincente and Priske. Not a good look for Davies with all those sitting on the bench for the last month and just like at Norwich we actually look threatening.

said it all season its been an embarrassment the amount of changes in the back 4. makes 2/3 changes every week to 5 players and expects consistency. granted some injuries haven't helped and neumann isnt perfect but think he is better than being dropped every time he misplaces a diagonal. stats speak for themselves and so does the eye test Neumann + klarer by far the best partnership.

Bagel

Nikola Zigic

Criminal waste of an excellent Championship level Centre Back

He's getting stronger on the physical side and I've rarely seen a bloke of his size with such pace.

Pace is a commodity that you can't teach, it's genetic.

We got him for a small sum. He's got to start with Klarer every week. I see no issues between them and no reason why they can't compliment each other in a second season.

We could stop being absolute possession nonces and play him on the left of Klarer, then focus on letting them defend and giving the ball to our good footballers in midfield.

That probably makes me a dinosaur, but give me a defender over someone who can pass with their left foot but can't tackle, mark or head, like Panzo.

Problem is we HAD to play out the back because our options to go long were Ducksch and Stansfield.

Now we have Priske we at least have the option to go long.

My gripe really is that Robinson isn't even that good on the ball. What's the point? I don't think we actually ever look better playing out the back with a leftie in there.

Going long doesn’t always have to be making your centre forward have a battle with the centre backs though. You can be direct utilising the space of the pitch especially when teams think we are going to play out from the back for example against Norwich we destroyed them first half doing this.

Our big problem seems to be we either only play out or only play long. We don’t go with the flow of the game and mix it up, once we are set in a way of playing that how we play whether it’s working or not. Frustrating.

Yesterday we played long to Priske and when he did win a flick on nobody was anywhere near to even challenge the second ball so what’s the point.

yeah davies not getting on with them

The Neumann dropping has been ????

Prior to the Leeds cup game Neumann had his best half a dozen games in a Blues shirt.

We had taken 15 points from 21 and the playoffs were very much back on .We looked solid at the back only conceding 5 in those 7 games .

Our best back four when everybody is fit is Laird-Neumann- Klarer - Wagner .

ForeverFrancis

The Neumann dropping has been ????

Prior to the Leeds cup game Neumann had his best half a dozen games in a Blues shirt.

We had taken 15 points from 21 and the playoffs were very much back on .We looked solid at the back only conceding 5 in those 7 games .

Our best back four when everybody is fit is Laird-Neumann- Klarer - Wagner .

Close, but I'd play Neumann at LCB, and Klarer at RCB. The rest is spot on though.

Yep, we’ve missed Wagner too. It’s been a big mistake not keeping on with Neumann. CD’s made a mistake there. I can’t quite get as outraged as some on this thread though who seem to be very heightened about it.

Also, re Ziggy’s post about wanting out and out defenders etc. we shouldn’t forget big Phil was getting pelters for being weak in the challenge, and it’s fair comment he did struggle with the physical side. I think there was evidence he was coming to terms with what was required though: