ram59

Before others go off on tonight's matchthread tangent, I just wanted to say what an enjoyable afternoon at Pride Park. A cracking atmosphere, good football and a deserved win. 
I  had assumed Warne would revert to a back three, simply because it allows Sibley and Wilson to get forward more. I thought both were excellent,  but it was the inclusion of Thommo that made all the difference.  It gave us a midfield three with tenacity and bite. As a result, all the other parts of the team played better than midweek. Collins, especially,  looked so much better in the role today, and although Mendez-Laing's traditional wing play is sacrificed in this formation, he managed to get out wide at times, delivered good set pieces and could have had a couple of goals on the break.
Although I loved the set-piece goals, I do wish we could finish some of our chances created in open play, as it would do our confidence the world of good. 
Still, the defence was excellent,  snuffing out the few chances that Orient created, and providing the goals, too. 
It was difficult to choose a MOTM today as there are so many contenders. 
And as Warne said afterwards, no further injuries. 
Results went our way so automatic promotion is back in our hands. Play like this for the last two games and we are there! 
 

Plus it in theory allows Wilson and Sibley the freedom to get forward more and involved in attacks. Hopefully once I get back from riding a horse on the beach ( 🤦🏻‍♂️ ) I’ll be able to check the score and be pleasantly surprised to find us many goals ahead 

If Sheff Utd are getting points deducted on their return to the EFL, how come the likes of QPR, Bournemouth, etc didn't get points deductions for when they overspent to get into the Premier?

If carlsberg did season ends.
southampton beat Leicester and Leeds to sneak into the top two at their expense. Coventry or someone win the play offs. Leicester and Leeds both get smashed with massive points deductions. 
meanwhile, Forest scrape into 17th by a point, but loose there appeal and have 2pts taken off for a spurious appeal. And get smashed with more points deductions next season for good measure. Forest, Leeds and Leicester as good as down already, might as well call off the relegation (only problem is that boro can’t go with them).
oo, boro have a terrible last few games of the season and go down from the championship with Rotherham and Birmingham. 
we of course win all of our last three games, while Portsmouth loose all theirs, and we go up as champions. Ready for a back to back push riding the waves of positivity. 

The thing is, I don't think that our fullbacks are good enough defensively in a back four, when having to go forwards as well, the extra help from the 'spare' cb gives me a bit more confidence.

Maybe Southampton could sneak in, they've Fester and the dirties away, but if they win their remaining 6 games, they should finish in the top 2.

If Sheff Utd are getting points deducted on their return to the EFL, how come the likes of QPR, Bournemouth, etc didn't get points deductions for when they overspent to get into the Premier?

It seems that way, doesn't it. Ward, Nyambe, Fozzy, Bird, Collins, Barks and Gayle were all on fire when we lost them to injury.😡

It may have failed to catch your attention that the installation, problems and first prosecutions and lying in courts happened under the Blair/Brown governments. It's well documented that they knew about it, but didn't want to upset the 'applecart'.
Unfortunately, rarely do we have box to tick, whereby we get a politician who looks after us first and foremost.

Let's face it none of the 3 main political parties have come out of this well, they've let us and particularly the post office masters down badly. Fujitsu should be held to account also and be made to make amends.
The labour government were aware of problems before it was introduced but carried on anyway, to 'save' money and face, also they needed to suck up to Fujitsu. They were in power when the prosecutions started, having been told that the system was flawed with a current key member of the labour party being a minister responsible for the Post Office at the time of these prosecutions.
The lib dems were responsible during the 2010-15 period when the remaining prosecutions took place even though the problems were more widely known by then.
Finally, the Tories, although not directly responsible for the prosecutions, have known that the prosecutions were wrong after convictions have been overturned some years ago. They are only now doing something about speeding up the process because of a TV drama. 
All of the politicians involved have shunned their responsibility, for the easy life, apart from the now Lord Arbuthnot. Who knows if this scandal would have ever come to light, if he hadn't used his position to get the right people involved.
 
I just hope that justice is soon served with the innocent being compensated and the guilty ones locked up and losing any financial gain made from their exploits. Any MPs failing to properly act in these matters should shamed into standing down, just as other MPs have done for various indiscretions.
 

In fairness to the new owners, anyone with that much money and ambition would think along those lines. Most new stadiums seem to attract thousands of new fans. We didn't always sell out the BBG with a modest 18,000 capacity but suddenly we were having 30k week in week out at PP. With their money, their aim must be to take any club, including Birmingham, into a position where they are challenging for Europe on a regular basis.
A combination of a new super stadium and a sucessful team should bring in the crowds at a club with such a potential large fan base. The country needs a large stadium in the centre for various occasions, it's either north or south atm. 
One of the biggest cons, was not building the new national stadium at the site at the NEC, just outside Birmingham. It had everything in place, private finance to build the ground, car parks already there, mainline railway station and international airport next door. Also it's location at the centre of the nation's motorway network, made access easier for the entire nation and not just Londoners. The biggest pitch that the Londoners' had was that they were going to keep the iconic twin towers, which would be incorporated into the new stadium. This proved to be a total lie.
Bizarrely, relegation may help them. FFP rules in lg1 allow for owners to pump money into a club, whereas the Championship FFP rules don't, unless you circumvent them by getting promotion to the Premier.

Never mind the autos, they'll be looking over their shoulders to stay in the play offs.

It looks like we've managed to sneak another agent in, to try and send Birmingham down. Gary 'Snake' Rowett seems set to take over for the rest of the season.

Joking aside, you've made a great point there. These little teams generally see us as their big games of the season, giving them that little extra effort.
Wednesdays match will arrive 3 days after their biggest game in their history, a chance to win some silverware. They should be emotionally and possibly physically drained come Wednesday.
We'll need to tear into them from the first minute.

I think they the ref was properly punishing one of the most cynical fouls ever.
A bit like when they know that a corner has been awarded incorrectly and blow the whistle for a 'foul' by the attacking team, as soon as the corner is taken.

I've got mixed emotions about the final, if Brown plays.
Naturally, I want him to play well, score at Wembley, but Moors are my local team and I play for their walking football teams. Providing we can rearrange a cup game on that day, we'll be taking a coach down.

Is walking football big over your way?
We're always looking out for good referees, preferably ones who understand the game. The refs in walking football are fairly static, taking up a position on one side of the pitch, around the half way line.
I'm that if you offered your services, they would be greatly received.

Blackburn Rovers? 😂😂😂

Is it possible for the mods to add B4's avatar to the title line on this topic, please?
I really miss seeing it on the forum.

Joking aside, you've made a great point there. These little teams generally see us as their big games of the season, giving them that little extra effort.
Wednesdays match will arrive 3 days after their biggest game in their history, a chance to win some silverware. They should be emotionally and possibly physically drained come Wednesday.
We'll need to tear into them from the first minute.

Joking aside, you've made a great point there. These little teams generally see us as their big games of the season, giving them that little extra effort.
Wednesdays match will arrive 3 days after their biggest game in their history, a chance to win some silverware. They should be emotionally and possibly physically drained come Wednesday.
We'll need to tear into them from the first minute.

Joking aside, you've made a great point there. These little teams generally see us as their big games of the season, giving them that little extra effort.
Wednesdays match will arrive 3 days after their biggest game in their history, a chance to win some silverware. They should be emotionally and possibly physically drained come Wednesday.
We'll need to tear into them from the first minute.

Joking aside, you've made a great point there. These little teams generally see us as their big games of the season, giving them that little extra effort.
Wednesdays match will arrive 3 days after their biggest game in their history, a chance to win some silverware. They should be emotionally and possibly physically drained come Wednesday.
We'll need to tear into them from the first minute.

If you look a bit closely at the photo, you'll see the lino is on that side of the pitch, very close to their player. Unfortunately, he seems to be looking across the back line, looking for offside and not looking at the player with the ball.

Joking aside, you've made a great point there. These little teams generally see us as their big games of the season, giving them that little extra effort.
Wednesdays match will arrive 3 days after their biggest game in their history, a chance to win some silverware. They should be emotionally and possibly physically drained come Wednesday.
We'll need to tear into them from the first minute.