It’s not a defeat, so let’s take some positives out of it.
Birmingham continued their pre-season campaign yesterday afternoon as they played a behind closed doors friendly away to Reading.
Whilst it may seem a bit pointless to play a pre-season friendly against someone who you’re going to be playing during the upcoming season, thus basically giving away your game plan right in front of them, this wasn’t the case for the Blues. They were in fact playing the Reading U23 side as the senior team got ready to face Peterborough instead.
Regardless of who they were playing though, the team selection was the first thing that caught the eyes of the Birmingham supporters. The Blues lined up with two different teams to start each half, with one exception. Goalkeeper Lee Camp was scheduled to start both halves with David Stockdale resigned to the bench, and a lot of fans weren’t too happy with this.
Cannot believe Calamity Camp is looking like the No 1… He cost us 10pts last season!! Put Stocko in, he deserves the opportunity.
— Bluenose (@beaublue07) July 24, 2019
Its gotta be a printing error , stockdale has gotta be involved. We really cant strengthen the def and still put camp in goal .
— mick (@mickcwhill) July 24, 2019
What are these formations? And camp over stockdale????
— Cal Whetton (@Cal_Whetton1875) July 24, 2019
I think that’s a little bit harsh on the lad, he kept twelve clean sheets last season, better than 1 in 4 so he wasn’t completely useless as some fans might suggest.
Whilst not too many details came out about the match, as it shouldn’t do with behind closed doors friendlies, all we do know is that the game finished 1-1, with Kerim Mrabti getting the goal for the visitors and the hosts scoring a late equaliser. Whilst they didn’t have much to go off, that didn’t stop these Birmingham fans jumping to conclusions.
Just show we are short in forward areas
— Danny H (@dannyby09) July 24, 2019
Still unbeaten in pre season that’s got be encouraging ????KRO
— Alan Elwell (@elwell_alan) July 24, 2019
Still not lost a game in 90 minutes during this pre-season. Announce promotion.
— Jack (@JackBCFC_) July 24, 2019
Things don't happen over night, new playing style for the team to get used to, unbeaten in pre season over 90mins. Encouraging stuff.. just crying out for a striker, can't relay on jukey even tho his class, he needs someone to play off his shoulder.. get it done blues!
— Lewis Stokes (@Lewis_stokes_) July 24, 2019
Know its only a friendly but conceding away in final minutes is depressingly familiar
— Ken Moore (@ken_moore12) July 24, 2019