Matchday: Birmingham v Bradford 19 Feb 2025

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This thread is for the general discussion of the Birmingham v Bradford 19 Feb 2025. Please add to the discussion here.

EFL Trophy Semi Final
Birmingham v Bradford
09:00 Wednesday 19th February 2025
St Andrews @ Knighthead Park

We'd like your opinions on this game, the team and views on who's been selected. What formation would you pick and what's your score prediction? Remember you can join our online prediction league at any time against our fellow OSC across Oceania

In game discussion and review of the result all here in this discussion topic please, including POTM
Don't forget to ask about joining in with the Oceania OSC score prediction league
RSVP in the event overview if you intend joining the live online watch party via WhatsApp.
Comment if you want to attend physically and meet up with other members in your region.

 

[Stephen_Merriman]

From previous chats. Let's start the biggest debate now. Who starts in goal?

 

[kiwipete]

Bailey.
Ryan took a knock to his ankle against Charlton, so ideal to give him extra time to recover

 

[Grant]

Bradford have around 6 players not eligible. But the BEM already says CD will not make the same mistake as Liverpool and will manage player workloads.

Chris Davies won't repeat Liverpool mistake in Blues' predicted XI vs Bradford

Birmingham City are one game from a first Wembley appearance since 2011 as they take on Bradford City in the semi-final of the Vertu Trophy

www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

[NZMatty]

Going to be interesting to see what happens for the selection. We need a strong defence to help BPF if in goal. Think we need to stay up a bit higher when playing from the back as they’re likely to be pressing more.

 

[Grant]

They’re the inform team so it will be tough for sure.

 

[Stephen_Merriman]

Yea I read somewhere that out of all the professional leagues in the UK, they are the most inform team.

 

[kiwipete]

Even with rotation I am sure we will have too much quality for Bradford.
I would like to see Sampsted instead of Bielik at right back, simply because of more pace, and Wright on the wing from the start.

 

[kiwipete]

Jay Stansfield
You little Ripper
Well done by Dowell for the assist

 

[Grant]

Stanno being stretchered off in tears due to pain after getting his 20th for the season.

 

[kiwipete]

Dykes stems the Bantams flow

 

[Grant]

Woo hoo
Stanno left for hospital according to those on X

 

[kiwipete]

We are WEMBLEY bound

 

[kiwipete]

Woo hoo
Stanno left for hospital according to those on X

Hope it is not too serious

 

[McBlue]

Very pleased with the result and another trip to Wembley, however it has come at a cost which may turn out to be significant.

Regardless of the tackle or handball going unpunished we were still able to win the game, the officials were once again incompetent, how the incident with Stansfield was not not picked up by either the linesman or referee is beyond belief. For me it was a penalty and straight red card, the defender was no closer to the ball than I was, his only intention was to stop a goal scoring opportunity which he did with consequences yet to be revieled. If that tackle had been in midfield I'm sure he would have given a foul....as for the handball....what is a handball these days?

However we shall KRO to Wembley.

 

[kiwipete]

After the Charlton game I was appoplexed to the extent I couldn't sleep and was grumpy around my family, so made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let that happen again.
I generally admire people who take up Judging/Refereeing/umpiring as they are usually thankless tasks, but some people should not even attempt to perform those roles, unfortunately the majority of them are refereeing in League 1.
Que Sera Sera