Andy Munro reports on Blues game with Huddersfield.
Another home game against a Yorkshire team playing in red brought the same result as before and although we didn’t lose 5-0 we were, at times, technically as clueless, although I suppose that unlike last time we didn’t just give up the ghost.
The game started with Blues lining up 4-5-1 and while I understand using that tactic for some away games, Huddersfield must have been rubbing their hands at this negative tactical statement. It was good to see Redmond back in the fold but Clarke’s continued loyalty to the increasingly mediocre Wade Elliott is beginning to look like the Brucie/Damien Johnson love child scenario. I also have to say that if I was playing one up front, it wouldn’t be a 5’ 8” centre forward whose first touch would make Cameron Jerome’s look like that of Messi.
Right from the off, we looked as nervous as kittens, misplaced passes put us on the back foot and worryingly Curtis Davies was twice muscled off the ball. In fact we had Butland (again) to thank for some fabulous saves, allied to some wasteful finishing from the Huddersfield forwards although they still managed to chalk up an all-important opening goal. A particular concern in defence was the young Albion loanee who was poor in his distribution and blowing hard just to keep up with play. In midfield we were woefully ineffective with Fahey not at the races (is he still injured?) and I particularly felt sorry for Burke, who struggled manfully despite being surrounded by opposition defenders as soon as he had the ball. Redmond was not at his best either but it says it all that he was still our best player shotswise, seeing one rattle the woodwork .
Near the end of the first half, Blues fans were predictably chanting “4-4-2” and “Oh Nicola Zigic” and he came on for the second half. Initially the big man started to cause problems in the opposition defence. With Redmond and Burke going up another gear, things looked set fair even when Fahey was substituted for Mullins. Why not for the ‘creative’ Ambrose, goodness only knows.
Unfortunately Ziggy clumsily put in a kamikaze tackle and inevitably saw red . Quite frankly he should be fined a minimum of two weeks wages, which would teach him a sharp lesson and save us a few bob at the same time. Despite this we had a real go and were unlucky not to draw level despite a worrying injury to Curtis Davies, who probably wouldn’t have been in the position to get injured if Ziggy had still been playing up front…thanks Ziggy! Mitch Hancox came on and was one of the few bright spots from another depressing home reverse.
I suppose it’s easy to blame the manager but if you look at the Blues on paper they are a stronger side than either Barnsley or Huddersfield. In fact the Town supporters were chanting “There’s Only One Joe Bloggs .It wasn’t exactly that but it might as well have been because apart from loanee Beckford and Benno on the bench, they were all comparative unknowns. That leads one to the conclusion that it’s a combination of poor tactics and a lack of motivation, hence all the roads of blame leading to the manager’s door. I don’t pretend to know the answer but whilst Clarke is still at the helm I would ditch some of the loanees and give youth its head. Hancox, Packwood, Redmond and Aswante are all worth a blast, not least because they would have the backing of an increasingly cynical and critical set of supporters. Either way, with the nightmare combination of Clarke and Carson a relegation battle looms.
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