Often Partisan

Getting Busy With The Bees – Capital One Cup 1st Rd v Barnet Preview

Today sees the first competitive match of the 2012/3 season with the visit of Barnet FC in the Capital One Cup 1st round. It’s the first competitive meeting between the two clubs in their respective histories and potentially the first step to a Wembley appearance.

Barnet FC

Barnet finished as low in the league as it’s possible to finish without being relegated to the Conference last season with Martin Allen saving them from the drop by steering them to 22nd. Mad Dog is gone now and in his place is Mark Robson. This is the first managerial job for former West Ham United and Charlton Athletic midfielder Robson after spells as coach and assistant manager at Charlton Athletic and Gillingham, and is his first match in the hot seat.

Barnet have made a few new signings over the summer, with players like Barbadian forward Jon Nurse and Saudi midfielder Ahmed Abdulla having joined the ranks at Underhill. Barnet made two signings yesterday who are both in the squad also for tonight – Barry Fuller and Curtis Weston, a midfielder and a defender from Gillingham.

Blues

Lee Clark has two definite selection issues for tonight’s fixture with Jack Butland’s senior England callup along with Stephen Carr’s thigh injury. With Butland in Switzerland for the Italy friendly Clark must choose between David Lucas and Colin Doyle for duty between the sticks whereas it’s a little more interesting at full back as both Carr and Spector are struggling with injury.

Like Robson, this is Clark’s debut game in his new managerial job and it’ll be interesting to see which way he goes. Clark has said he will send out a strong side and I’m intrigued to see who’ll get a run out in central midfield – will he go with Hayden Mullins and Darren Ambrose or will he shift Ambrose wide and play Ravel Morrison in the middle? If he doesn’t go with Ambrose wide left will he play Nathan Redmond there, or someone else? I must confess I’m not entirely sure which way he’ll go but my hope is he goes with pace in Redmond or similar.

You’d think a team that finished 66 places higher on the league ladder would comfortably at home and I think we have to expect a comfortable win; especially if we put out a good side. Whilst anything else wouldn’t necessarily be a disaster it would certainly be a blemish right at the start of the season.

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16 Responses to “Getting Busy With The Bees – Capital One Cup 1st Rd v Barnet Preview”

  • jps says:

    i am not reaqlly fussed who he plays along as he gets a win. we need to start the season with a win, calm some nerves (mine mainly) for the forthcoming season.

    either way, come on you blues!

  • This could be an awkward encounter. The League 2 side will be fresh and raring to go; they will have nothing to lose and therefore will have freedom to come and have a good go at a big ground in front of a sizeable crowd for them. Any complacency and this could turn out badly. Can’t get up to Birmingham this evening for this one unfortunately but will be listening in. Come on Blues! Let’s get the party started. :-)

    KRO SOTV

  • skareggae72 says:

    3-0 blues,Zig & Redmond(2)
    KRO

  • steve stretton says:

    my team prediction
    lucas packwood davies ibanez gordon burke mullins elliott redmond zigic rooney lets see

  • Oldbluenose says:

    New Management, Some new players, First competative game of the season, [ Cup game, at that ].

    Whilst we all regard the championship, as most important, As I said in a previous blog, we should aim to win every game, — Even winning ugly, !!.

    GO FOR IT LADS< !!.

  • AR says:

    I would hope Caldwell, King,Morrison & Murphy are in. Is Murphy fit?

  • Big Paul says:

    First of all, Aljmair, Great site. Read the site all last year, now I’m getting involved!! :-)
    My line up for tonight would be this
    Lucas
    Packwood, Davies, Caldwell, murphy
    Burke, mullins, Morrison, Redmond
    Ambrose, ziggy
    Come one blues, let’s kick off with a win!!!!
    KRO!

  • Big Paul says:

    Sorry, your almajir, autocorrected! :-)

  • Blueboy 88 says:

    Interesting Stat Almajir – It’s the first competitive meeting between Birmingham & Barnet…
    (We will have a 100% record against them by 9-30pm tonight…)

    Outside Fleetwood do you know which other current FL clubs Blues have still not played competitively ?

    • almajir says:

      I knew this question was coming – Andy Walker said it was 7, 8 if you include AFC Wimbledon.

      By my reckoning:

      Accrington Stanley, Aldershot, Burton Albion (although we have played them in friendlies and the Senior Cup), Crawley Town, Dagenham and Redbridge, Fleetwood Town, Morecambe, Yeovil.

  • DoctorD says:

    So: “Whilst anything else [other than a comfortable win] wouldn’t necessarily be a disaster it would certainly be a blemish right at the start of the season.” Oh how I’ve missed your caveat-laced match predictions over the summer. So if we don’t win comfortably it will be a blemish and possibly a disaster. For what it’s worth, II don’t think a 1-0 win would be a disaster at all.

    • almajir says:

      The cliché for this kind of game is a “hiding to nothing”. We’re up against a poor team who finished 22nd in League Two, at home, with a virtually full squad to pick from.

      If we win comfortably, some people will say “oh, Barnet were sh*t, means nothing.”

      If we win 1-0 or so some people will moan saying “Blues could only beat that team by the odd goal”

      If we lose, I expect some people to break out the valium and razorblades, whatever the circumstances – because some people are like that.

      So therefore my point is if we don’t spank them, whilst it’s not the disaster some will make it out to be it will be seen as “not good enough” by a section of the fanbase and thus a blemish on the start of the season.

      Yes it’s caveat laden but I’m trying to hedge my bets against the pessimists who will look for any excuse to do the team down whilst not making myself out to be a pie-in-the-sky optimist…

  • swissjonny says:

    Your right.Its a typical banana skin game.Lets stay professional, do the job and get ready for the league.Lets also make sure that we end up with 11 on the park-I suspect a few pumped up Barnet boys to go flying in early doors.

  • Tamuffblue says:

    good win for the BLUOOOOOOZZZZ !!!!!! more to come !!!!!!!!!!


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