WBA v Birmingham

[PadihamThickNeck]

Should be a good game. 8pm kick off.

Just showed a stat that Lukas Jutkiewicz has the most headed goals in the EFL since 2010-11 with 38 headed goals. Shame he never got going here he’s turned out to be a good player who scores goals. He would fit in brilliantly with the direct long hoofball we play nowadays.

Also in goal for WBA is England’s number 2 behind Pickford,Sam Johnstone who is a very good keeper, out of contract at the end of the season I’d be very happy if he somehow ended up at Burnley. He would be an upgrade on Nick in my eyes.

Tahith Chong on loan from United to Brum, a highly rated youngster who has been Birmingham’s best player this season. Wouldn’t mind him here either but I suggest his talent will see him playing higher.

[ClaretTony]

Should be a good game. 8pm kick off.

Just showed a stat that Lukas Jutkiewicz has the most headed goals in the EFL since 2010-11 with 38 headed goals. Shame he never got going here he’s turned out to be a good player who scores goals. He would fit in brilliantly with the direct long hoofball we play nowadays.

What nonsense

[tiger76]

Should be a good game. 8pm kick off.

Just showed a stat that Lukas Jutkiewicz has the most headed goals in the EFL since 2010-11 with 38 headed goals. Shame he never got going here he’s turned out to be a good player who scores goals. He would fit in brilliantly with the direct long hoofball we play nowadays.

Also in goal for WBA is England’s number 2 behind Pickford,Sam Johnstone who is a very good keeper, out of contract at the end of the season I’d be very happy if he somehow ended up at Burnley. He would be an upgrade on Nick in my eyes.

Tahith Chong on loan from United to Brum, a highly rated youngster who has been Birmingham’s best player this season. Wouldn’t mind him here either but I suggest his talent will see him playing higher.

Juke captains Birmingham tonight also, he's always had a decent record at Champ level, but sadly the PL was beyond him.

I can only see Burnley being interested in Johnstone, if firstly we stay in the PL, and secondly Nick moves on, equally there's every chance that we'll be swapping places with West Brom come May, and I can also see plenty of suitors given a keeper of Sam Johnstone's ability and age is available on a free.

I don't know enough about Chong to offer an opinion, but we don't have a great record when it comes to developing youngsters, even more so youngsters that we've had on loan.

[bobinho]

What nonsense

Should’ve quoted the rest of his post as well CT, as that’s equally nonsense….

[PadihamThickNeck]

What nonsense

Which bit ? I presume you mean the long ball bit ?

The stats don’t lie,here’s the most long balls in the Premierleague by season….

16/17 - 1st Burnley
17/18 - 1st Burnley
18/19 - 1st Burnley
19/20 - 2nd Burnley
20/21 - 1st Burnley
21/22 - We currently sit 1st in the most long balls.

Oh I forgot we don’t play long ball

[Aclaret]

If Tarkowski played for a top 6 team, would he play a diagonal pass or a long ball ?

[Newcastleclaret93]

If Tarkowski played for a top 6 team, would he play a diagonal pass or a long ball ?

Most likely a pass a long the ground to either a Cm or in his case a RB. You know retaining the ball.

[SteveSimpson]

Are we trying to play the game where nobody makes sense?

[PadihamThickNeck]

If Tarkowski played for a top 6 team, would he play a diagonal pass or a long ball ?

The top teams pass it round the back and don’t kick it as far as they can at every given opportunity. Hence the stats prove that all the top teams play the least amount of long balls.

[PadihamThickNeck]

Most likely a pass a long the ground to either a Cm or in his case a RB. You know retaining the ball.

Exactly this.

[SteveSimpson]

Most likely a pass a long the ground to either a Cm or in his case a RB. You know retaining the ball.

Which any defender could do.

[bobinho]

If Tarkowski played for a top 6 team, would he play a diagonal pass or a long ball ?

This. Absolutely this. Man City and Liverpool play lovely/wonderful/beautiful cross field balls.pin point passes that split defences apart.

We hoof it.

Anyone watching Burnley knows that we can and do play football… sometimes TOO much, but we can ALSO play it long.

[SteveSimpson]

This. Absolutely this. Man City and Liverpool play lovely/wonderful/beautiful cross field balls.pin point passes that split defences apart.

We hoof it.

Anyone watching Burnley knows that we can and do play football… sometimes TOO much, but we can ALSO play it long.

[CFS]

This. Absolutely this. Man City and Liverpool play lovely/wonderful/beautiful cross field balls.pin point passes that split defences apart.

We hoof it.

Anyone watching Burnley knows that we can and do play football… sometimes TOO much, but we can ALSO play it long.

Looool.

[tiger76]

1-0 Baggies Karlan Grant.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Jay Rodriguez putting a shift in for Birmingham in central midfield.

[Commy]

Which bit ? I presume you mean the long ball bit ?

The stats don’t lie,here’s the most long balls in the Premierleague by season….

16/17 - 1st Burnley
17/18 - 1st Burnley
18/19 - 1st Burnley
19/20 - 2nd Burnley
20/21 - 1st Burnley
21/22 - We currently sit 1st in the most long balls.

Oh I forgot we don’t play long ball

Wrong. The season Liverpool won the league they played the most long balls. They get teams to press and play long for their fast front three.

I think we were second.

[Devils_Advocate]

Wrong. The season Liverpool won the league they played the most long balls. They get teams to press and play long for their fast front three.

I think we were second.

The Premier League stats have Liverpool 5th with us 2nd behind Sheff Utd.

Personally I dont think its a great stat as there's a world of difference between choosing to play a long pass when you spot an opportunity for it to release an attacker compared with playing a long pass cos you've nothing else on and so you just go long towards a marked players head

[Ric_C]

Anyone who says "this absolutely this" makes me shudder and die a little inside

[dandeclaret]

Most likely a pass a long the ground to either a Cm or in his case a RB. You know retaining the ball.

What a life it would be,
If you could come to mine for tea
I’d serve some positivity
With my lasagggggggggne

[PadihamThickNeck]

Wrong. The season Liverpool won the league they played the most long balls. They get teams to press and play long for their fast front three.

I think we were second.

Yeah course Liverpool was top Jeff

[PadihamThickNeck]

Here’s last seasons stats. We played nearly 600, yes SIX HUNDRED, more long balls than the next team.

Just face the facts and admit we are a long ball team, your all making yourselfs look very silly by trying to defend that we aren’t when it’s clear as day for everyone to see.

[PadihamThickNeck]

Just for good measure here’s this seasons stats so far…

WERE GUNNA WIN THE LEAGUE

[Andreshotboots]

Are goal kicks classed as long balls? I’m sure they must be..

If we ****** about with the ball at the back and took short ones all the time like virtually every other team, our stats would be significantly reduced.

I’m also intrigued by stats, how is a long ball measured accurately, fairly and constantly during a round of 10 Premier League games, Does it have to go a certain distance, be in the air for a certain amount of time? Stats can be interpreted how you want them to be and it fits the narrative perfectly to put us forward as a team of thugs who just launch the ball at the earliest opportunity.

[Spijed]

Just for good measure here’s this seasons stats so far…

WERE GUNNA WIN THE LEAGUE

If those stats are to be believed then two teams (Brighton & Brentford) who play great football according to some on here almost play as many long balls as we do.

[PadihamThickNeck]

If those stats are to be believed then two teams (Brighton & Brentford) who play great football according to some on here almost play as many long balls as we do.

They are to be believed it’s the official Premierleague website….

[taio]

If those stats are to be believed then two teams (Brighton & Brentford) who play great football according to some on here almost play as many long balls as we do.

It's after seven games.

[KRBFC]

This. Absolutely this. Man City and Liverpool play lovely/wonderful/beautiful cross field balls.pin point passes that split defences apart.

We hoof it.

Anyone watching Burnley knows that we can and do play football… sometimes TOO much, but we can ALSO play it long.

When do City ever punt it long to forwards? who do they even play upfront? 5ft 2 Bernardo and 5ft 3 Foden? I can't say i've ever seen them punt it. A Westwood punt forward is different from a KDB pinpoint switch of play to the wing. A switch of play is foot to foot for a start

[taio]

When do City ever punt it long to forwards? who do they even play upfront? 5ft 2 Bernardo and 5ft 3 Foden? I can't say i've ever seen them punt it. A Westwood punt forward is different from a KDB pinpoint switch of play to the wing. A switch of play is foot to foot for a start

It's a good point. I mean why the hell would anyone compare us to Man City, or similarly Westwood to De Bruyne.

[KRBFC]

it is what it is though, we are what we are and it has worked for us. Defensive, hard working, physical, long ball side. I don't know how some people are still in denial after 9 years, you're lying to yourself, thinking somehow you're Mr Positive and everyone else pointing out reality is negative

[Spijed]

It's after seven games.

It's setting a pattern though if they are 2nd and 3rd on the list. Shows that so far they have been far more direct that many would care to admit.

[taio]

It's setting a pattern though if they are 2nd and 3rd on the list. Shows that so far they have been far more direct that many would care to admit.

You said Brentford play almost as many. c20% is quite a margin

[bobinho]

When do City ever punt it long to forwards? who do they even play upfront? 5ft 2 Bernardo and 5ft 3 Foden? I can't say i've ever seen them punt it. A Westwood punt forward is different from a KDB pinpoint switch of play to the wing. A switch of play is foot to foot for a start

And there ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is my point exactly, all wrapped up in Tesco’s finest wrapping paper, tied up with a bright red ribbon.

Who mentioned punting it long to forwards? We are talking about what constitutes the “long ball”. My point is that we hit balls from the full backs to the wide men, and it’s a hoof. Anyone else does it and it’s something entirely different based on vision and skill. Westwood tries the same ball thru or over the defence as KDB, and it’s a punt forward whereas KDB executes a pinpoint switch of play.
We can and do play football ya know…. We don’t just wallop it and hope all the time.

[KRBFC]

And there ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is my point exactly, all wrapped up in Tesco’s finest wrapping paper, tied up with a bright red ribbon.

Who mentioned punting it long to forwards? We are talking about what constitutes the “long ball”. My point is that we hit balls from the full backs to the wide men, and it’s a hoof. Anyone else does it and it’s something entirely different based on vision and skill. Westwood tries the same ball thru or over the defence as KDB, and it’s a punt forward whereas KDB executes a pinpoint switch of play.
We can and do play football ya know…. We don’t just wallop it and hope all the time.

There's a difference between switching the play and hoofing it, switching the play is pass to feet not head. I can't say I've seen too many Lowton to Mcneils foot long diagonals (or Taylor to JBG) but yes, that would be a long pass as opposed to a long punt. KDB plays in behind when that pass is on, Westwood tries it out of panic/percentage.