BBC ""Birmingham City have parted company with manager Harry Redknapp after suffering six straight defeats in all competitions. The 70-year-old took charge of the club with three games remaining last term, winning the final two games to avoid relegation on the final day. The former Tottenham and Portsmouth boss then signed a one-year deal to stay on as Blues boss in May. Former Blues midfielder Lee Carsley has been placed in caretaker charge. Birmingham signed 14 players during the summer transfer window, but six defeats from their first eight league games of 2017-18 saw Redknapp become the first managerial casualty of the Championship season. Saturday's 3-1 home loss to Preston was the ex-West Ham and QPR boss' final match in charge of the Blues. Redknapp initially worked without asking for payment from Blues for the final three games of 2016-17, having replaced Gianfranco Zola. Birmingham are 23rd in the table after their first eight league games, above only winless, newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers. Carsley, 43, who was previously head coach at Brentford on an interim basis in 2015, steps up from the role of development squad manager at Birmingham. Redknapp 'enjoying the job' Speaking after the loss to Preston but before his departure was announced, Redknapp told BBC WM 95.6: "Fans deserve better and that was my motivation to carry on this season. "I do not come to work because I need the money, I enjoy the job and leaving home at 5.15 every morning. I would love to be the manager to bring some success to Birmingham." Redknapp had replaced Zola 16 hours after the Italian's resignation in April, following the Blues' dismal run of two wins in 24 matches under the former Chelsea forward. When Gary Rowett was sacked in December, Blues had been seventh in the table, outside the play-off places only on goal difference, but they narrowly survived relegation on the final day thanks to a 1-0 win at Bristol City."" Poor old sod!
Palace lost their first game under Hodgson today and now face Man U, Chelsea, and City. Quite probably they will be 0-8. Time to sack Hodgson?
There he goes telling us about his long drive everyday...... I used to know Lee Carsley, his son played in the same football team as mine. He's a really nice bloke, has another son who is disabled and does a lot for charity. Good luck to him, and compared to Villa the Blues are quite tolerable, though they have some of the stupidest fans in Christendom (and beyond),
Mad results yesterday in The Championship. Burton at home beat Fulham, also at home, and Millwall beat Leeds. Shows the importance of maintaining the home form.
Great start from England's women in their World Cup Qualifier against Russia. 2-0 up after half an hour and really playing well, actually passing the ball instead of the hoof ball I've always seen from them in the past. Now Russia down to 10 after a second yellow and England miss a penalty!!
Split screen watching tonight, Man Utd ripping Saturdays opponents Burton to shreds on my phone (hopefully they'll be either knackered or too demorilised to put up any resistamce to the might of Ollies Army), whilst watching Juve v Fiorentina on the pub TV. Interesting, as it's the second Italian game I've watched this week, and I'm really impressed by the way they've implemented the video ref technology. At the weekend, I saw goals disallowed for very marginal offside, goal-line tech in use, and tonight the ref gave a penalty, which was then changed to a free kick as it was out of the area (whilst the defender still receuved a second yellow) Each decision seemed to take an age but probably only took about 30 seconds, with the right decision reached each time - what will we be left to moan about once this makes it to our shores?
All the stops!! I want the goal, side line, penalty area, and offside technology. But I'm pretty sceptical about tackling, diving etc. Too many angles needed to maybe get those right, and then too much stopping of the game.
Celtic just gone ahead against Rangers with a goal that was as ineptly defended as you'll ever see, four defenders all missed a mishit shot before Rogic whacked it in, even our defence isn't that bad (usually)...