Matchday Thread PNE V Birmingham City | 21.10.25 | KO:7:45PM | Championship

Matchday Thread PNE V Birmingham City | 21.10.25 | KO:7:45PM | Championship

I thought we were out of the League cup? That’s a bizarre line up for a home league game against opposition who have not had a great start. Resting Small, Devine, Dobbin and osmajic all at the same time makes no sense whatsoever.
 
RibbletonWhite2.0 said:
This is the same midfield that played against Charlton.

I wouldn’t exactly say it’s ‘parking the bus.’
Armstrong and whiteman aren’t defensive players.
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It is parking the bus when you’ve also got Offiah at RB and are playing Smith up top. That’s very much set out for sit deep and launch it long, rather than get on the ball and try and create things

Whiteman and Armstrong are defensive compared to Devine and Dobbin for example

I’m not saying it’s necessarily the wrong play either, the manager knows far more than I do. But it worries me that it could be turgid
 
Heavy pitch a couple pulling up with cramp on Saturday so expected changes but a bit too defensive for my liking so subs could be the deciding factor if it’s level after an hour . It just feels like we’ve given the initiative to Birmingham from the off , hope I’m wrong .
 
Small absolutely needs a rest and with Valentin and Potts injured, Offiah is the only real option. He’s sound defensively and looked sharp of Saturday for me.

Armstrong is more than capable playing higher up with Whiteman and McCann offering their dependability in midfield.

Horrendous weather, so little football on the deck going to be played, so might as well make us of Vuk’s crossing and Smith’s aerial presence.

2-0 whites.
 
Rankine said:
I'm all for resting players in a 3 game week, but ffs all the creativity has been taken out of the side. We are at home and gunna park the fucking bus
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Totally agree….

I appreciate that we have another game in 3 days time but we need to show a bit more ambition with our team selection…

Mads, Dobbin and Devine on the bench is a bit baffling…

If and when he brings them on then the game might be gone
 
OB1 said:
It is parking the bus when you’ve also got Offiah at RB and are playing Smith up top. That’s very much set out for sit deep and launch it long, rather than get on the ball and try and create things

Whiteman and Armstrong are defensive compared to Devine and Dobbin for example
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Against Charlton we played 1 up front. Tonight we are playing two up front. So I would say it
I doubt Hecky has set the team up to ‘park the bus.’
I also think small has been really poor defensively in two of the last three games.
I think this line up will prove a few people wrong.
 
No way Hecky plays Offiah at RWB if he doesn't trust him to do a job. Actually really Looking forward to seeing him start a game and how he gets on. Good to see a right footed player on the right side
Think we'll see Armstrong with a licence to be much further forward. COYWS.
 
Small has been below par and not best on rhs. Devine and Dobbing can't play 3 x 90 mins in a week. Hopefully we won't need them tonight. Armstrong can get forward. Ali gets forward but usually misses the target. Whiteman gets forward and taps it to the keeper. Offiah is more of a threat going forward than some are thinking.
 
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