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Forthcoming Match Forum - 18/04 Coventry City (A) / Re: Ticket Info & Requests

« on: Today at 10:09:00 AM »

£37 is a bit steep. Still bought one though!

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Isaac Price

« on: March 22, 2025, 10:23:15 AM »

Scored a great goal for NI last night, hes exactly the sort of young talented player we need with Tom, Griffiths, Bany, looking good for our future, keep going with these gems, forgot Heggem!

Indeed Price has put in some great performances.The Bilkul model seems to be to buy young promising talent for not too much  bring them on and then sell for a large profit.
I'd expect Fellows to be gone by the start of next season...most likely to Everton ...and that's whether we achieve promotion or not.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Ex Players Thread

« on: March 21, 2025, 05:42:20 PM »

Said Berahino now plying his trade in Slovenian 2nd Tier with Tabor Sezana.
What could have been eh Saido?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA season ticket prices announced for 2025/26 season

« on: March 20, 2025, 01:44:06 PM »

Renewed today. Looking forward to the continuation of the Bilkul project.

Another big Summer of rebuilding a squad to compete for promotion..or just maybe fight against relegation from the Premier League.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: System / Tactics / Personnel

« on: March 20, 2025, 11:33:15 AM »

Threads are much more interesting when they're not based purely on opinions. While opinions are welcome they're not always as informative as observations based on what supporters see on the pitch in relation to Systems/Tactics/Personnel. Well, in my opinion at any rate. Others are always welcome to disagree of course. It is a forum after all   .

In my opinion, opinions about systems/tactics/personel should be formed/informed by observations, stats and also variables such as quality of opposition etc.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 19, 2025, 09:06:07 AM »

This is getting silly Hull !
Surely the point of this forum is to express opinions - I’ve expressed my opinions but for some reason you will not accept mine and seem to want to turn my opinion into an argument. Please drop it.

Surely any difference of opinion is an argument?
I do accept your opinion, I just don't agree with it (regarding Armstrong). I will continue to debate with you and anyone else I disagree with. That's what forums are for.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 19, 2025, 07:45:42 AM »

Can’t believe it if anyone seriously thought I was suggesting that either Maja or Dike should have started while injured or in the fitness recovery process like Dike !

In future games when fully fit maybe, but right now why not just try starting  Lankshear who to date has only had minimal minutes albeit remember, the Premier League experience he has had with Spurs. He certainly cannot be any worse than the ineffective Adam Armstrong!

If you weren't suggesting them, why mention them??

Anyway with regard to Lankshear:

He has made 3 Premier league appearances totalling 10 minutes. He got more minutes in the Europa League (and scored). So, not much Premier League "experience".

In fact his total minutes for Spurs are the same as the minutes he's got for us;147.

He could be a lot worse than Armstrong.
Armstrong has a lot more premier league experience having played 4236 minutes and has 12 goal contributions to his name 6 goals and 6 assists.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 18, 2025, 07:48:32 PM »

Of course I’m not advocating an injured player be selected or a player starting after being introduced gently following a long term injury - I would have thought that was common sense Hull but, Lankshear is available and giving him a start over the ineffective Armstrong seems to me, and probably to many, a sensible option.

You did say to try Maja, Dike or Lankshear though. You could have just said Lankshear if that's what you meant.
On that note  he's hardly set the world alight in his cameos though has he?. I can't recall him having any chances at all.
As I've said in previous posts I wouldn't be against trying Lankshear/ Dike up top with Armstrong as a second striker/10.
We need to change up how we are creating chances rather than just resorting to the wide players crossing it into the box.
Swift, Grant, Johnston  Fellows, Mowatt and Price all have it in their skillset to play a ball along the ground into space or be able to find the space left when Fellows and Johnston are being heavily marked.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 18, 2025, 02:11:08 PM »

With  8 games left do we have the leeway to change the system and maybe lose a few games while the players  adjust?

It's not changing the system though, it's about adding another string to the attacking bow.
 It's  about playing the ball into space quickly or passing and moving to create space as well as getting it wide and crossing it in.
Can we afford not to adapt a style that's creating few decent chances and has become predictable and easy to defend against?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 18, 2025, 01:14:50 PM »

Exactly right KYA and that also contributes to my thinking it was somewhat ‘odd’ that we signed him in the first place if he was not suited to our playing system. Several posters on here have suggested we change our playing strategy to suit Armstrong who will be leaving us in a couple of months which, in my opinion would be crazy - much better to try either Lankshear, Maja and/or Dike or a combination of those that would suit our style of play.

So you'd rather we try another loaned player, an injured player who isn't available and a player returning from a long lay off than adapting the style of play when attacking that would give us versatility and help make us harder to defend against?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 18, 2025, 08:54:53 AM »

Given how things are panning out currently changing our entire playing system might not be such a bad idea you know. It could help us bring out the best in any number of our players between now and the end of the season; not just Adam Armstrong  .

You make a good point.

 I think just adapting it a bit by trying to play through the channels with quick balls through midfield, creating space for Armstrong to use his pace as well as using the pace/skills of Johnston and Fellows to put crosses in. It would make us less easy to defend against.

Having either Lankshear or Dike up front would also give us a better chance of getting on the end of crosses into the box for either an attempt at goal or a knock down for other players.

When Fellows and Johnston are being heavily marker we need to be better at utilising the extra man/men advantage we have.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 18, 2025, 08:16:23 AM »

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.
It’s  all very odd and I believe Southampton saw us coming and thought we were the ‘mugs’ who could pick-up Armstrong’s wages for half a season. 
Plus, the suggestion we change our entire playing system for a couple of months to suit a LOAN playing failure is unbelievable !

The only "odd" thing is that you think there was some kind of conspiracy involving Southampton, even though it was widely reported that Mowbray wanted him once he knew he was available.
 Mowbray's brother Darren is head of recruitment at Southampton so would have made Tony aware of Armstrong's situation.

Mowbray has managed Armstrong at a few clubs so knows how he plays. It's just a shame we aren't playing to those strengths which would be playing the ball into space for him to run on to rather than just crossing from wide and expecting him to out jump taller defenders. His pace is a big asset but we aren't using it.

Nothing about changing our entire playing system either that's just hyperbole on your part.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL PREMIER LEAGUE THREAD

« on: March 17, 2025, 09:52:54 AM »

Having watched Liverpool a few times recently I think they could bottle it despite being 12 points ahead.

It looks like Salah's contract situation is affecting him as he looks like a shadow of his former self at the moment.

Whilst they've not been great recently, neither have Arsenal. Both have very similar games remaining. I can't see Arsenal winning all their remaining games and Liverpool losing enough to let a 12 point advantage slip.
Liverpool now only have the league to focus on, whereas Arsenal are in with a chance of the Champions League.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Mikey Johnston joins on permanent deal

« on: March 16, 2025, 01:35:28 PM »

strictly speaking he has 7 goal contributions (5 assists), 3rd behind Maja on 15 and Fellows with 13.

He also passed for the chance that Swift hit the bar from.
 He is often looking to run into space waiting for a ball that never comes, no wonder he gets frustrated.
Yesterday he tried to play a 1-2 with Heggem but Heggem didn't continue his run so the ball went out for a goal kick.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Joe Wildsmith

« on: March 16, 2025, 12:18:02 PM »

What does anyone base an opinion on? A mixture of things really - following Griffiths' loan spell pretty closely, watching bits and pieces when I could, reading BR fans' opinions on a regular basis vs what I have seen of Wildsmith in the games he has played for us. I don't think Wildsmith is terrible, he's made some really good saves but also some fairly poor errors. We have had much worse in my time following the Albion but I just think Griffiths is better than him, even now, and I think he will improve further with game time. I think his distribution is better, his positioning is better, his command of his area is better, and his shot stopping is equally as good. But, at the end of the day, it's just my opinion and Tony disagrees with me 

Thanks for replying with such a good detailed response.
You've based your opinion on good solid ground.
Some don't seem to base their opinions on anything tangible ( like facts or observations)more "it's just what I think".

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tom Fellows

« on: March 16, 2025, 12:04:46 PM »

we've already rejected £11 million in January from Ipswich, the floor has been effectively set higher than that for this transfer and I doubt 4 months will alter it much.

I don't think you can take much notice of a January bid from a club in a relegation dogfight desperate to sign an attacking
option.
I hope you are right but I reckon he will go for between £7m-10m..nearer the lower end.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Joe Wildsmith

« on: March 16, 2025, 11:53:16 AM »

I don't join the normal clamour re Wildsmith, but, the double save that nearly resulted in a goal was totally unnecessary, the ball was going wide, good stop after that, but I'm not convinced and with I agree being weak for their goal (Palmer would not have conceded that as he would have pushed the defenders out).
I'm now firmly in the give Griffiths a chance camp.

The shot from Geldhart was probably going in, if it was wide it would have been only just wide so needed saving.
He then made a game saving save late on.
As for the goal if Bartley hadn't let the goalscorer run past him it wouldn't have gone in  nothing Wildsmith or any keeper could have done about it.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 16, 2025, 11:05:42 AM »

Yes, that one. Was the ball outside the quadrant? It was a long way from where I was.

The ball doesn't have to be in the quadrant as long as the back of the ball edge is on the quadrant line (sorry I don't think I've explained that very well).

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Mikey Johnston joins on permanent deal

« on: March 16, 2025, 11:01:36 AM »

Johnston and Fellows are wide forwards rather than wingers in the traditional sense.
His game hasn't changed from last season, it's just that it isn't working as well as it did last season.
Last season he was the priority outlet, this season it's more Fellows. Also he doesn't have the element of surprise anymore as he is heavily marked.
His shooting has been off but at least he is still getting into positions to shoot and having a go rather than needlessly passing it around the box.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Joe Wildsmith

« on: March 15, 2025, 10:37:57 PM »

He played okay today but there is always a mistake around the corner. It's a specialist position. Griffiths is the best keeper we have in my opinion, therefore should be playing.

Genuine question what are you basing that opinion on?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 15, 2025, 10:34:13 PM »

It's a bit hard to score when you're only provided with one chance a game to score.
 If we start playing the valls into the channels gor him to run on to or play him behind Lankshear or Dike then I'm sure he'd be more effective.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 15, 2025, 06:24:23 PM »

Slightly amusing to hear the Hull fans fter the match chanting about staying up without realising they are two points closer to the relegation places than they were at the start!

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 15, 2025, 05:50:11 PM »

By far the better side but we need to be putting away the chances when we are on top  like in the first half.
Great goal from Price  who was outstanding all game then we cocked it up with some terrible non defending and but for Wildsmith naking 3 great saves we could have lost it.
Still in the play off places but we must be more clinical.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: March 15, 2025, 02:49:45 PM »

I would think Bartley centre, Heggem left and Holgate right of a back three. 

Five across the middle - Price right, Johnson left and Molumby, Mowatt either side of Swift.

Two up front - Grant and Armstrong.

That looks the most likely to me but maybe Mowbray will do a Val and go 3-4-3!

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong (on loan from Southampton)

« on: March 13, 2025, 12:33:52 PM »

I've said on Twitter, I don't think he works in this team. I don't think we have the set-up that works for him, or the players that create the type of chances he thrives on.

I had misgivings on deadline day, and I've seen nothing since to alleviate them.

Mowbray must think he'll work otherwise why get him in?
In Fellows, Johnston,  Grant,  Diangana, Price, Bany and Swift...also Wallace too when fit, we definitely have the players to create chances for him...they just need to do