Football Manager Blog | Football Manager Guru | Birmingham Heads Into the End of The Year

Hello everybody good to see you again, we have some exciting matches this month, including a trip to Old Trafford.

The first match of the month was at home against Wigan a team who were sitting down in 18^th waiting to record their first win of the season. I ment to start Craig Gardner but because of some bug I started Buonanotte insteadK. Moreno created some space for himself and it was just over, I would’ve been pretty annoyed if that had ventured in.

James McFadden is left footed and he made a darting run across the box and drilled a shot, well saved by Kirkland. Second half, two subs later, one goal created. Craig Gardner (who I intentionally tried to start but failedK) put a through ball for Benitez; he worked his way past the defenders and crossed for Kadlec (sub #2) to head home emphatically. Wigan almost scored through Rodallega who pounced past Dann (he fell over in the process, shove?).

But just then on the 70^th minute mark we scored again thanks to a goal from Benitez, Kadlec returned the favour earlier set in the match and played a delightful ball for him (he looked suspiciously offside) and he drilled it past Kirkland.

Figueroa got sent off for complainingK. Later in the match Tainio picked up a ball 30 yards from goal and had a go, just wide. We held onto a good victory and 3 points.

Our next game after the international break was against Blackburn Rovaz on the road at Ewood Park. An early long throw from Pedersen resulted in a header just over from their in form striker Kalinic. A free kick from Gardner in the box resulted in McFadden getting totally pushed by Emerton, surely a penalty, referee says no.

A smart ball from Michel found McFadden and his shot was well saved by Paul Robinson. During the first half I had to make 2 subs for Dann and Michel’s injuries. A free kick from Blackburn saw Emerton slide a ball through to Reid who finished in the corner, I thought he was offside and so did the linesman.

We should have had a penalty again when Nelsen jumped on top of Benitez. And after all of these incidents BLACKBURN WERE GIVEN A PENALTY, it was a blatant foul by Benitez but Emerton wasn’t going anywhere. And Kalinic scored the penalty. I decided to make a gamble and bring on Wood for Benitez.

With 10 minutes to go Vince Grella was sent off, I was hoping we could make the extra man count. Wood had a chance blocked by Nelsen. Wood had 2 headers over the bar. The game was over and we had failed. It was the sides poorest performance since Stoke.

We should have had two penalties but my side lacked creativity, I’m sure O’Connor would have put those headers away but since Wood is only 17 I’ll have to give him the benefit of the doubt. That dropped us down to 8^th.

Our next game was on the road again, this time to the theatre of dreams DENS PARK. I mean Old Trafford of course.

I expected a demolition because they basically had a full strength side out there, but some times ability is not as good as awesomeness.

I’m happy that we scored considering we had only one shot on target, our goal was an equaliser after Berbatov gave them the lead with a pretty simple goal (one of 8 shots on target).

Our goal was even better of course J. Rio Ferdinand who is of course the current England Captain had the ball stolen off him by a Scot (proud O’Connor) who ran past him and passed terrifically to Benitez who kept his cool and fired past Van Der Sar and that gave us a well deserved point from the Red Devils.

Our next game was a Carling Cup game against Fulham at the Cottage. We took the lead when Hangeland closed down Buonanotte at half way and he sent through Kadlec who ran all the way and slotted past Schwarzer.

Fulham were looking dangerous and that soon proved correct as Greening picked out Nevland who fired into the top corner. In the second half McFadden played a great low ball into the box and Prieto had his shot saved but Benitez did not miss from the rebound.

Benitez extended our lead when he dribbled through the defence and past Schwarzer and tapped it in. Fulham then scored a late consolation but we were through to the next round.

Next up we had a home game against Portsmouth, which I had already played and lost 3-2 when I was one point winning 2-0, so at the end of the season if I did win this game I would have minused 3 points. We started really well and went ahead thanks to an absolute screamer from Craig Gardner from 25 yards right in the top corner.

Tommy Smith then scored an easy equaliser because Scott Dann decided to be in a good position to win the ball but not to the latter, in fact I see that he ran over the ball instead of kicking it, I’ll kick him.

Our next chance was from a free kick, Gardner laid it off to Kadlec who hit a long range curling shot well saved by James. I saw all this space opening up for Portsmouth and then they scored.

I am starting to realise what a great player Benitez is, he dribbled past the defenders and finished emphatically in the corner. We took the lead just before half time, a cleared corner headed back in by Carr, then headed on by Gardner found its way to the unmarked McFadden to sweep home, James had made a terrible error to choose to come out for that.

In the second half Hassan Yebda had a good chance for Pompey but put his header high over the bar. Some more great dribbling from Kadlec and a good pass found Benitez who hit the post. Kadlec had a chance to end the game but his shot was saved. Gardner made a good run down the right and crossed for Benitez who headed straight at the keeper.

And I swear at the next goal UTAKA was 5 yards offside, a terrible error and his effort squeezed under Hart. And the next incident I shouted what the hell, Lee Bowyer had got sent off for apparently elbowing Boateng, that was his second undeserved red card of the season.

There was a late free kick for Pompey after Gardner WON the ball and it nearly went in. The game ended 3-3. David James played superb and I think we deserved to win. Well that’s all for this post, we’ve got 3 games next month, the most challenging will be Everton at Goodison Park.

In December I am considering loaning out Chris Wood as I am being told that he is not yet good enough for the team.

Our first game of the month is up against fellow promoted side Burnley. I was hopeful of at least getting a draw. To my surprise we were favourites.

Turns out Burnley are bottom and they could really use the points. Burnley’s first chance of the game came from Eagles free kick, it was deflected, for a corner. I went away until the 36^th minute where Paterson brought a fine save out of Hart. Some good control from benitez brought a save from Penny.

I still can’t believe how good Benitez is, he dribbled past several defenders AGAIN and placed the ball into the corner. Yay. Otamendi was off injured when Steven bloody Fletcher scored.

Otamendi’s injury looked sort of serious so I took him off and replaced him with the other mistake maker of the week. I thought Gardner had scored but Penny was equal to it. Johnson made another mistake and gifted the ball to Thompson and I was sure he was going to score, but he took to much time and Hart saved it.

I thought the game was heading for a draw when just before 5 minutes of stoppage time Chris Eagles cut in from 40 YARDS and shot but it was a wonderful save from Joe Hart. Looking at the stats both sides had 2 clear cut chances so I’m quite pleased with a draw.

During the international break Kadlec got injured and scored. Chris Wood scored four times in two games for his country.

Our next game was against Sunderland, who normally struggle away from the Stadium filled with Light apparently. Bolo Zenden started on the left against my Stephen Carr who are both over the age of 30. I told my players that they could win.

O’Connor coming in for Kadlec played a smart ball for Benitez and the Ecuadorian dude finished. They almost replied instantly to my annoyance, Hart saved. Bizarrely Stephen Carr was chosen to take a free kick, he went very close .

All of my squad are getting injured at the moment, O’Connor added to that list which meant young Wood would come on full of confidence after his 4 international goals. I decided to change Wood’s role to Poacher. The most unlikely person to score Michel, scored!

An excellent ball from Prieto and a good run in the box by Michel who hit it first time past Gordon for his first goal for Birmingham. Early in the second half Henderson had a decent chance, his free kick went wide. Gardner was given a lot of space and hit a great 30 yarder brilliantly saved by Gordon.

Sunderland hit back on the counter attack and scored through Bent, Hart dived at his legs and should’ve got the ball (I thought he did). Michel was losing vs. Cana in the midfield battle so I brought on Ferguson.

Sunderland were playing very well on the counter attack and I had to be very wary. Kilgallon headed just over from the corner. We won a free kick and from it Prieto unluckily headed onto the bar. We had a good chance on the counter attack but Wood’s diving header was unfortunately straight at Gordon.

Late on Gardner got injured, which is a blow because he’s been our best player. But we held on for the 3 points to my delight. That result had moved us up to 7^th.

O’Connor is out for a month. Gardner is out for 2 whole months.

Our next game was Europe chasing Everton who were currently in 14^th. I only had 2 available fit strikers so I was hoping I didn’t suffer a similar dilemma that Fulham did, their 3 first choice strikers are out of action, but that didn’t stop them beating Everton last week.

Whilst looking at the line-ups I noticed Distin the left footed defender was playing at right-back but I suspected because Heitinga was in the middle he could go to right back.

Everton had the first chance of the game from 20 yards, Yakubu shooting with his left foot, didn’t get it on target. Prieto burst into the box was brought down and I assumed it was a penalty but Benitez hit it on the volley just wide, I thought he might score from there but it was an opportunity missed.

Then Everton scored, I’m sure Yakubu was offside (I know I say this a lot but I mean it) but nevertheless he finished well past Hart. Everton were playing really well and I didn’t see us having any impact on the game.

Afro man had a good long range shot, clawed away by our standout keeper. Just when I thought we had no chance (in the first half) Everton were reduced to 10 men, Heitinga bringing down Wood on the edge of the area for his second bookable offence.

I thought Buonanotte was about to shoot but laid it off to McFadden who hit his drive just wide. At half time I put McFadden up front with Benitez and brought on Fahey and Tainio. For about a quarter of an hour there were no highlights to my annoyance because if I was in Everton’s situation there would have been many chances for the opposing team.

Yakubu nearly got his second but it went just wide. It went on for another 10 minutes and I swore very loudly when Fahey brought down Bilyaletdinov in the box for a penalty, he had already been booked as well which brought forward the inevitable, I was surprised he was not sent off.

It is so annoying as they scored the penalty but so far there had only been two spells off play, both for EVERTON L. Why the hell did Fahey do it in the first place, it was just like Blackburn by Benitez, he wasn’t going anywhere L. Minutes later Everton could’ve score 3, which is so annoying.

We lost which is sort of embarrassing, they had 7 shots on target compared to our 1. They were the much better team but played a whole half with 10 men, we didn’t trouble them which is very disappointing. Fahey and Buonanotte are new injury problems for me.

This month we got 4 points out of 9 which will be valuable for our survival in the top flight, join me next time when my biggest game so far, against Liverpool in the carling cup comes around.