Birmingham Metropolis can depend themselves unlucky to not be within the fifth spherical of the FA Cup after they misplaced to Premier League facet Leeds United on Sunday.
The Blues had optimistic momentum all through the sport at St. Andrew’s however have been unable to transform sufficient of their probabilities to win the sport in regular time.
They, after all, additionally wanted Patrick Roberts to equalise from distance, by way of a deflection, within the 89th minute to ship the sport to additional time.
Misses from Tommy Doyle and Roberts within the subsequent penalty shoot-out, after a goalless additional time, imply that Birmingham solely have the Championship to fret about for the remainder of the season.
Why Birmingham ought to be pleased to be out of the FA Cup
The Blues are out of the FA Cup and won’t play one other match in any cup competitors earlier than the top of the 2025/26 marketing campaign, which ought to be seen as a optimistic.
While a cup run could be pleasant, particularly if you happen to attain the quarter-finals or additional, the truth is that Birmingham are extremely unlikely to win the competitors, as no second division facet has received the FA Cup since West Ham did it in 1980.
Birmingham’s primary objective for this season was at all times getting promoted to the Premier League. They’re solely two factors off the play-off positions, with 14 video games left to play, and that signifies that they nonetheless have an opportunity to seal back-to-back promotions.
With this in thoughts, the Blues ought to be pleased that they don’t have the added distraction and fixture congestion that comes with a late run within the FA Cup, as a result of it might have impacted their league type if that they had extra video games to take care of on the enterprise finish of the marketing campaign.
While Davies shouldn’t be too disenchanted with the result of the match, for the explanations listed above, the supervisor shall be annoyed with a number of the particular person performances that have been on show towards Leeds.
There was one participant, particularly, whose efficiency now makes him appear to be the weakest hyperlink within the squad heading into the hunt for a play-off place within the league.
The weakest hyperlink in Birmingham’s squad
Vibrant Osayi-Samuel was introduced in from Fenerbahce final summer time on a everlasting deal to bolster the supervisor’s choices down the fitting flank, as he can play out huge or as a right-back.
He has primarily performed at right-back for the Blues, beginning 11 of his 17 appearances for the membership within the Championship, however his type has left rather a lot to be desired.
His efficiency towards Leeds at right-back was, sadly, a disappointing one which makes him appear to be the weakest hyperlink within the squad, as he struggled out and in of possession.
Relying on the sport and the fashion of play, you sometimes need your full-backs to excel at defending or attacking, each in a super world, however Osayi-Samuel didn’t impress on both facet of the ball.
The Nigeria worldwide didn’t win a single deal with or aerial battle in 83 minutes on the pitch for the Blues, while he additionally didn’t create a single probability for his teammates and solely accomplished 69% of his tried passes.
|
Vs Leeds |
Osayi-Samuel |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
83 |
|
Touches |
54 |
|
Floor duels received |
4/9 |
|
Aerial duels received |
0/2 |
|
Tackles received |
0/2 |
|
Key passes |
0 |
|
Large probabilities created |
0 |
|
Move accuracy |
69% |
|
Dribbles accomplished |
1/3 |
The skilled full-back didn’t present any creativity to make up for his lack of defensive energy, having misplaced 64% of his duels, and he didn’t provide sufficient defensive high quality to make up for his lack of creativity, taking fewer touches (54) than his goalkeeper Ryan Allsop (72).
The truth that Davies’ goalkeeper had extra touches than the right-back illustrates his lack of affect in possession, as he didn’t take the sport to Leeds on the ball, demanding touches to make issues occur offensively.
This meant that the Blues full-back was a legal responsibility on the pitch for the facet as a result of he was not doing sufficient in or out of possession towards Leeds, which has additionally been a difficulty in his league performances.
Within the Championship, Osayi-Samuel has misplaced 51% of his floor duels and 53% of his aerial duels in 17 appearances, exhibiting that he has been weak in his bodily battles on the deck and within the air.
On prime of that, the previous QPR star has created one ‘large probability’, averaged 0.3 key passes per sport, and is but to ship a single objective or help from right-back.
These statistics present that the Birmingham flop is a weak hyperlink when he performs as a result of he doesn’t provide a lot of a menace offensively, while he can typically be a light-weight off the ball, permitting opposition gamers to win too many duels.
Birmingham bought a winger 12 months in the past who’s now a much bigger expertise than Roberts
Birmingham bought a younger starlet who’s now an excellent greater expertise than latest signing Patrick Roberts.
