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Messages - Mr Cynical

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1
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Luke Dowling
« on: June 15, 2021, 11:57:30 AM »
Glad he's gone.  Never liked him.  Did a Terrible job.  Timing of departure is a nightmare!

2
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Manager Thread
« on: June 15, 2021, 11:21:11 AM »
This is just not true and will be proven so when the decision is finally made.
We are second favourites for the Championship, with a healthy budget and strong squad, can we please get a bit of perspective.

Towards the end of last season there were 10 Championship clubs on the verge of going into 'special measures', transfer bans, etc.  So, with the exception of Bournemouth and those that were relegated with us, we have a very real advantage, are in a strong position and we really need to take advantage of that fact.

3
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Manager Thread
« on: June 15, 2021, 11:17:42 AM »
I think the big question is... where to start?

I think the first thing to do is get a wise old football head into the club.  It could just be for 3-6 months - until bodies are firmly in place.  That person could be Allardyce, Pulis, Hodgson, Wile, Batson, Redknapp, O'Neil...  a long list of people who know and understand football in the UK.

Without this person (or a full time DoF) our head coach/managerial choices are limited to people like Allardyce, Pulis, Hodgson, etc.  Managers than can be self sufficient and don't need the entire recruitment structure behind them.  Having this person in place means that we can pick a younger coach or an overseas coach - and they'll have the resources they need to successfully fill out the skeleton squad we currently have - and bring in an acutal midfield - to compete at the top of the championship.

They can then recruit the right DoF with the manager as part of the selection process.  Then the old head can leave  with the right pieces in place.

4
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Manager Thread
« on: June 13, 2021, 04:54:48 PM »

My view is the club has choice it can relax it's criteria or choose from the available list it isn't a question of what I think it should do I am merely defining the universe in which effective choice exists. Yes we could choose Rafa but that is right up there with me choosing to date a super model not in the universe of my dating choices.

Absolutely right, we can’t afford to look down an already poor list. We need to change the selection criteria. If we can’t find a competent manager then we should switch to someone who is untried (less tried) but inspirational. At least it gives us a chance.

What happened to Maresca?

5
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Manager Thread
« on: June 10, 2021, 04:01:13 PM »
Anyone know what happened to Lampard?  I guess he wasn't interested - but he looked like a leading candidate who needed to have a 'success' on his CV after 2 'didn't quite achieve anything' jobs.

6
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant
« on: October 12, 2020, 11:22:15 PM »
We’ve blinked. We’ll most probably have to blink again. This guy better be good if he arrives. Have we ever had such a drawn out transfer?

IIRC both Hoult and Moore were pursued over multiple windows.

7
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant
« on: October 09, 2020, 04:47:53 PM »
No...they absolutely need the money more.

You don't they can last the 9-10 weeks (from 17th October) until the January window opens?

8
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant
« on: October 08, 2020, 12:56:37 PM »
Why do you go by the user name of Mr Cynical  ;D ?

Years of watching the Albion.  I didn't start off cynical in 1978, but the future wasn't as bright as it appeared it would be at the time!  They made me do it!

9
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant
« on: October 08, 2020, 10:53:30 AM »
Well Arsenal’s young striker Balogun is available for sale. He’s a risk as he doesn’t have first team experience but he won’t sign a new contract but he is very highly rated.
Sheff utd and Brentford put in low bids that were rejected circa 3m.
Arsenal apparently want 8m só surely a deal to be done. Maybe King/Deeney along with Balogun.

https://www.google.pt/amp/s/www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/folarin-balogun-sheffield-united-profile-18946905.amp

Just had a quick search.  I found 16 post on the forum mentioning Balogun.  12 were by you, 1 in reply to you and 3 by 'baggies'.  Are you on commission?

(PS - sorry to stalk you, but I just kept seeing his name and was sure it was the same poster)

10
For 20 years we have been waiting for all these over-investing football clubs around us (in the league) to go bust and take advantage of the financial mayhem.  It hasn't happened.

Now we are pinning our hopes on the covid crisis impacting clubs while we are holding ourselves back to remain finacially stabe.

When you see that wulfs have had a net investment of £131m (loans and new shares in the last few years) and vile have had £333m (in the form of loans and new shares over the last 10 years) whilst Peace took out £27m, and a £4m loan (that shifted to Lai and hasn't come back to the club)... our problem is the ownership.  Peace said that he couldn't invest to take the club forward and would only sell to someone that could.  They he sold to someone who said the club had to be self-sufficient... and we have moved backward (and Peace has moved offshore).

As an aside - I can't believe how lucky vile have been.  Days from going bust under their Hong Kong owner Dr Tony, then saved from relegation by the only recorded failing of the goal line technology system.  They really annoy me.

11
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant
« on: October 06, 2020, 10:40:48 AM »
As summary of the previous 23 pages:

It seems that Karlan Grant is Bilic's preferred choice.  We have been pursuing him all summer and, in fact, inquired about him during the January window too.  We agreed a deal, but when Huddersfield saw the price that Watkins went for they wanted more, and raised the price.  We are not willing to pay that. 

It sounds like we've tried various approaches with them to get a deal that is better for us (including loan to buy, with clauses).  They recognise he's going to leave.  He wants to join us.  We are not willing to pay the price. 

Our gambit seems to be to wait until the market is restricted to EFL to PL clubs only.  Then, when we only have very limited options left, we appear to think that Hudds will fold and give us what we want? It doesn't make sense.  They seem to think that Hudds will need the money due to covid, but they are on the 2nd year of parachute payments, they've already sold one player and Kongolo looks like he's about to be transferred too.  They won't be that desperate for money, and will be able to wait out until January, if not the whole season.  (when the EFL window closes there will only be 9-10 weeks left until January). 

If we get Grant on loan without compulsory purchase clause then it will just be money down the drain when he is returned upon relegation.  We will not have any strikers attached to the club. (I'm sure that Austin and HRK's contracts end this season, and think Zohore's might too.)  We will be in an even worse position back in the Championship.

Possible striker targets as of today.  Karlan Grant.  Josh King.  Troy Deeney (injured). Andre Gray (injured).  Maybe Armstrong from Blackburn?  Can't think of any others.  Grant is the one that is the right age, experience, credentials... price?

HRK has broken his arm which highlights and underlines our dire need for a forward, but we are not blinking...

If the club are not taking this season seriously then neither am I. 

12
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant
« on: October 03, 2020, 11:57:52 AM »
Another option, if we haven't signed anyone by the end of Monday, could be Josh King at Bournemouth.

Can we nab Brooks while we're there?

13
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Cedric Kipre
« on: September 02, 2020, 12:04:55 PM »
I'm fine with Kipre joining.  But centre halfs are normally about partnerships.  Kipre and  Ajayi have not played in the PL and lack experience.  Bartley and Hegazi have played in the PL and haven't been that successful.

I think we need a younger, faster, more mobile defender - i.e. Ajayi - playing alongside a calm, guiding, more experienced player... it could be Hegazi on a good day.  Bartley is too inconsistent.  Hegazi is good at clearing crosses and long balls (which is needed less in the PL) but often over commits, gets out of position and also gets too phsical. 

For me, we still need that experienced CB, and I'd be happy for Bartley to go (and Hegazi too).

14
General Football & Sports / Re: Sam Johnstone
« on: August 06, 2019, 10:37:21 AM »
Give the lad a chance, stop getting on his back at every opportunity and see how he grows.

He has palyed nearly 50 games for us now.  That's more than a chance and enough time to form an opinion.  He doesn't make me feel confident.  Obviously a good shot stopper, but when crosses or long shots come into the box I really worry.  Having said that last season he played behind a rather dodgy defence, so will be interesting to see what he looks like with something a bit more secure ahead of him.

I think he did one really effective long range throw out on Saturday, and I can remember a few last season.  I we can create the space by quickly turning defence into attack I'd like to see more of these.

15
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Chris Brunt
« on: August 05, 2019, 12:24:00 PM »
I don't remember too many set pieces on Saturday?  Phillips took a few corners, but thats all I can remember.  I'm interested to see who will take the set pieces, and the quality that they provide.  Maybe Brunt's role this season is to come on from the bench and provide set piece ammunition when needed.? He certainly doesn't have the legs to play the whole game in centre midfield.  Too many late tackles and gets caught on the ball too often.

16
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Midfield control
« on: August 05, 2019, 12:18:41 PM »
The weak link was Livermore.  He was better than he was for most of last season, but his instinct is to look backwards and his forward passing was almost non-existant.  I would much rather see Field doing that anchor role, but for whatever reason he's just not being selected (by multiple managers, so he isn't doing something right).  He's more mobile, a better tackler and has a superior range of passing compared to Livermore.

17
Here we go again ,  negative Albion fans.

The fans must be the most moaning and negative in the country.  Fans were asking for signings and now we have got some very good signings.  What more can the club do .

I cannot believe the negativity around this club.

Well keep all your negative thoughts to yourself . 

I'm finished with these boards and all the negativity around them.  I like to be around positive people.

The recruits are a level down on those they are replacing in terms of experience and achievements, but they have potential and age on their side.  The most positive I can get is that with 3 more arrivals - probably loans from top clubs - we will be pretty competitive in this league.  (Obviously, not including Sawyers in this.)

- We've identified the left winger, but we haven't made the progress we need with Sporting (it doesn't look like anyone else has though).
- We also need a 20+ goal scorer (we need to score around 80+ goals).  This has to be our highest priority.
- We need a player who is a right back, and can cover centre back too.  Holgate or similar.

18
The next couple of weeks are absolutely massive to our season.


... and this season the loan window (for championship clubs) closes on the 8th August too.  Last season it ran until end of August.  The advantage being that the Premier clubs could look at their squads once their transfer window closed and decide which players to loan to championship clubs.  This year the Prem clubs can still do that, but loan to League 1 & 2 or out to Europe.

19
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: System / Tactics / Personnel
« on: July 26, 2019, 11:35:27 AM »
No matter which way you look at it... without the addition of a 20+ goal striker we are not going to make an impression on the playoffs.  The team needs to be aiming at 80 goals as a minimum.

20
Thanks Baggie82  :D

My point was to try and do a deal with Sporting which says if we do go up we will have a set price of say 11million to purchase him (in hindsight if we do get promoted he will have played a part in that and the club would probably look to do a deal at that point - obviously having access to a larger budget). If we don't go up then the 'obligatory buy' doesn't kick in.

It's a way of trying to please Sporting with a higher amount if we do get promoted, but covering ourselves if we don't get promoted and don't have the budget to cover those costs.

In the deal that has been reported the loan fee already doubles if we do get promoted.  €300k loan fee doubles to €600 if promoted.  So Sporting already get a bonus if we're promoted.

Generally agree with most, the purchase can't be an obligation unless we are promoted.  Too much of a gamble.

21
General Football & Sports / Re: Salomon Rondon
« on: July 17, 2019, 10:59:16 AM »
Initial reports suggested the fee would be 'undisclosed'.

JRod's fee was 'undisclosed' too.  Despite the fact that it was in the public domain as £5m now, £5m next summer.

22
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Director of Football
« on: July 16, 2019, 04:18:05 PM »
Unsure if anyone noticed Chris Lepkowski's twitter contribution a couple of days ago. In response to Matt Wilson's article about Bilic coming out publicly to say we need to get a move on, he said:

"Absolutely no surprise to read this. Dowling is a big problem. We are in danger of having another McDonough situation. Worse, decimating the academy - including ridiculous house rules to p*** off remaining staff - destroying goodwill, interfering with recruitment. Problems await.

Big issues. Academy staff marginalised, not allowed to use same entrance or canteen as first-team staff. Kids being told they're not important, crass language in front of visitors/agents/parents/female staff. I'm really not sure Dowling is the bloke we want as Tech Director

And I know people might say: 'Well it's only the academy'. But this permeates throughout. It isn't healthy. Forest couldn't wait to get rid of the bloke. Yet we took him on. Hope we know what we're doing.

Above all else, recall issues we had under McDonough. Needed a massive overhaul behind the scenes by absent owner. JP just about wrestled the club back onto the straight and narrow. Will Lai & his associates know any of this? Everything I hear about Dowling smacks of McDonough

If you are oly reading the Bilic bit then you're getting it wrong. If we don't resolve issue soon, then it doesn't matter who the boss is, we will keep picking up pieces. Bilic is a good appointment. If we p*** him off, we will p*** off his successors off too. Get it right now."


Interesting to note. I said on here in Jan/Feb I was uncomfortable with the early sings as his way or working was not how the best directors work. Can't see him lasting how things are going. He is making a complete mess. Awful appointment.

Couple those comments with these from a knowledgabe poster on the E&S article - https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2019/07/15/award-winning-programme-editor-exits-west-brom/

Garth Pearce • a day ago • edited

The most despicable departure so far...for those who don't know, an Albion genius.
Dave Bowler has transformed our match day programme (launched in 1905 at a point when we were on the brink of going bust) in to the best in Britain. I have known about his shocking redundancy for some time and find it odd that the Express & Star has only just caught up with the fact.

Here is another piece of advance news: our new manager has already talked of quitting and taking his management team with him. Specific promises were made by the incompetent dolt of a 'Technical and Sporting Director' Luke Dowling, none of which were fulfilled. I thought Nicky Hammond was bad - which he was. But what is going on behind the scenes with this guy is beyond belief. His oafish behaviour, bad language towards parents of promising youngsters and rank stupidity in dealing with both agents and players makes me feel he needs help. He does not seem to remember what he's actually said from one day to the next. For those optimistic Baggies, oh how much I admire you. But any member of staff who cares about WBA and our fans, has knowledge of our history, shows initiative, works hard and has bags of talent, is treated as The Enemy.

There is one man who is linked to our appalling record of recruitment like Dowling. He's also the reason for many departures of top men and women. He's still sitting there as Chief Executive Officer. There is a malevolence like a cancer eating away at the heart of our beloved club and nothing is going to improve until it is urgently treated with invasive surgery. Either that, or it will kill West Bromwich Albion.


and this comment on a differnt article - https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2019/07/10/no-panicking-from-slaven-bilic-as-west-brom-look-to-rebuild-squad/


Garth Pearce Rondonsclass 6 days ago

All this would make perfect sense in a well-argued and upbeat case, Rondonclass, were it not for several key factors.

Our Sporting and Technical Director Luke Dowling rejected any attempt to pay the wages of our top goalscorer Dwight Gayle on the basis we needed to avoid staff redundancies. Yet redundancies are being prepared among staff at all levels, including those at the cherished Academy. You will be hearing of many in the coming weeks, some of which you know and are alarming and baffling.

We are owed £4.1 million in a secret loan taken by Jeremy Peace in 2014 and not paid back when he sold to Palm. That debt is owed by Palm. Mr Lai came up with the ludicrous excuse that he's not allowed to take money out of China. That is simply untrue. Nothing proves his total disinterest and scorn for WBA more than this statement.

We are replacing first-class Albion men with dross. Jimmy Shan (58% win rate - enough to guarantee automatic promotion) has been replaced by Julian Dicks. Mark Harrison defected to Villa because he could no longer work with our hopeless Chief Executive Mark Jenkins. Mike Scott, our brilliant under 18 coach was not approached to take over, so he's now left to take over the academy at Derby County. We have employed Paul Terry in charge of our loanees. Look up the suicide of young goalkeeper Dale Roberts at Rushden and Diamonds in 2010 and see who was named in the case. It's a matter of public record...Mr Terry should not be within 100 miles of The Hawthorns. But he's a friend of our clueless Luke Dowling.

We do, indeed, have an income of nearly £70 million (parachute and sales so far) for this upcoming season and a much slashed wage bill. Added to that, our advance season ticket sales, commercial income and sponsorship. Plus the £4.1 million on-going "loan." So where is the money going? The apologists currently owning and running our club are arguably the worst and most dangerous in our long and distinguished history. The group which own 88% of the club are Invisible Men. Those who are in charge at board level are, at best, disingenuous and have absolutely no long-term interest in West Bromwich Albion. We shareholders who own 12% of the club have been denied Annual General Meetings to ask questions, an alarming Chinese-like attempt to cover up facts. The AGM's at West Bromwich Albion go back to 1891.

I know what the Albion crowd are like...we all cling on to hope, including me. But we need to start fearing for our future before the inevitable crash happens. As for Mr Bilic, he won't put up with it.

23
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Mr program Dave Bowler
« on: July 16, 2019, 03:20:02 PM »
Not being rude BUT ......


I couldn't give a fig about Bowler or the programme or anything else that detracts from the fact that WE NEED QUALITY PLAYERS BROUGHT IN - NOW!

I'm about as patient a fan as it gets (maybe) but even I'm getting inebriated off now.

I think you are being rude.

It appears that a significant number of people are 'leaving' the club right now.  Whether that is for nefarious reasons, or just natural churn, I don't know for sure, but I know which I suspect.  People like Dave Bowler are the very beating heart of the football club.  If they leave the gap is very hard to fill.  The character of the club is diminished.  Dave was the guardian of the clubs history and leading the Albion Archive project.  I remember that Jenkins was against the project at it's inception too.  Didn't see the point in archiving and maintaining the club's history.  There was no money in it.  Just romantic memories of past glories that he can be measured against.

I suspect the plan is that the Programme will now wither away to a webpage over the next few years.

This is another black mark against Jenkins name.

Of course, failing to fund the right players, at the right time is a fundamental and annual disappointment at West Brom.  The only results that matter to Jenkins are in his spreadsheets.

24
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Ahmed Hegazi
« on: July 10, 2019, 09:48:22 AM »
Rondon (for sure) and Phillips (if we get a decent offer) will go.  HRK in the last year of his contract too, but no one is stupid enough to make and offer or take on his wages.  Oh... Nyom too.

Livermore, Gibbs, Hegazi also possible - but it'll take the right offer.  I imagine the club will want to have some proven, established players (Livermore?) and continuity.  Also they'll want some assets to sell next summer if we're not promoted/PL proven players if we are promoted.

25
General Football & Sports / Re: Slaven Bilic
« on: July 10, 2019, 09:39:10 AM »
This is something that needed doing at the start of last season.


I think you're right.  I grew to really hate some of  the players that got us relegated.  At the end of that season I'd have been happy to see them all go.  After a year of more attacking style I was warmer towards them.  But my favourite players last season were Barnes and Gayle, not any of the relegation crew.

Right now Phillips is our best attacking player.  I really resented him when we were getting relegated.  His lack of effort, heart and complete cowardice at any sign of a challenge was mind blowing.  He's in the last year of his contract now, so he'll be gone if we get a decent offer (or for free next year).

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