1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 21, 2025, 07:32:10 PM »

I’m not looking too much further than Luke Williams

2

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tony Mowbray

« on: April 19, 2025, 04:57:32 PM »

He didn’t say anything about Corberan. He said the team had been coached to sit in a low block, give the ball away and counterattack and as a result hasn’t been scoring enough goals. That’s his opinion, he’s entitled to it. Nothing disrespectful about his answer to the press as all. I’d rather he was honest in his views when reporters ask him about our shape and style than lie.

He has made references to the tactics employed by the previous manager several times , he feels his way of controlling games is how it should be regardless of the playing staff at your disposal and has turned his nose up at the foundations left for him all he had to do was tweak it here and there he’s even got Abella on the coaching staff who could offer him some insight into how things were done under Corberan , to completely undo the good work that had been done takes some doing .

3

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Trev the Shed

« on: April 09, 2025, 08:54:37 PM »

Hi All, I am Trev the Sheds grandson, Jack.  He is now 82 years old and still going strong! He actually still sells sheds funnily enough despite our attempts to convince him to retire.  Me and my dad were looking at some stuff online about his time at the Albion as he is going to be speaking this month at the Warwick Baggies event in Leamington Spa.

As a younger baggie who travels home and away, it is really cool to hear some of his stories from his time at the club, which some fans don’t realise actually went on behind the scenes.

He loves the Albion and watches every match on the tele and he came this season to the 3rd game ever this season with us since being at the club.

Nice to read he is doing well and still selling his sheds , for those of us around in those days just prior to him taking over as chairman there were some really dark days the club was just a mess .If social media was around in those days the meltdowns we have these days would look like a tea party. Fair play to him for standing up and taking on the challenge.

4

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tony Mowbray

« on: April 08, 2025, 10:38:59 PM »

Carlos got average players playing better because he micromanaged them.

Mowbray "I am not going to tell you where to pass...".

Well Tony, they obviously need it.

Giving players freedom who don't have the brains, or quality, doesn't work.

Nail on head

5

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tony Mowbray appointed as Head Coach

« on: February 12, 2025, 11:33:48 PM »

I think it would have been best for both parties had it been a contract until the end of this season.

Surely there must be a break clause in the contract for both parties .

6

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 17, 2025, 06:55:58 AM »

Was he wrong?  He simply said we were in advanced negotiations, but it broke down for some rather feeble reasons. Goalkeeping Coach couldn't get a visa?? 

No, it is Wicky who has been left with egg on his face due to his slap-dash application/approach and not ensuring he had all his ducks in a row.

As another poster said regarding Wicky that YouTube video where he is mic’d up made me feel unsure about him I couldn’t see the points he was trying to make to the players and I don’t think they could either . Glad we swerved that one .

7

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 16, 2025, 08:32:24 PM »

A whole month to only end up with Mowbray is extremely underwhelming.

I am still not sold on taking him back at all.

I think he’s a safe pair of hands at a time when the club is still in choppy waters. The owners will be able to tap into his knowledge and experience of this league and crucially he does have a track record of giving younger players an opportunity .

8

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 13, 2025, 09:09:59 PM »

Okay I am comfortable with missing out on Wicky this entirety down to him. What the hell else can the club do?

Moving on candidates that weren't remotely realistic a week ago aren't anymore realistic today as such I don't need to enter the Dyche debate.

I hope we aren't back to square one but that is better than making an appointment on the fly

I found it odd that given he was allegedly our first choice it was reported on the weekend we were in discussions with Mowbray as recently as last week , surely by then we would have been well down the path with Wicky at that stage so it does beg the question has someone become available who is a better fit . I think we’ve dodged a bullet .

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 11, 2025, 11:08:32 AM »

He has Brunt and team to smooth the transition plus you normally get a new coach bounce as players seek to impress the new boss.

Yes , he seems an intelligent bloke so I don’t think we will see too many changes to the coaching staff at this stage , all he has to do is oversee it .

10

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 11, 2025, 09:19:26 AM »

No I don't think he is to be honest. My take from both of Balis's posts is that he's expressing a genuine concern while hoping for the best.

I agree and I think most would have some slight concerns , as one of my friends said to me in the week it is the type of appointment you make in the summer in time for pre season, factor in the guy has got to move here get a property , settle in , and bring family, the first month is effectively a write off he is effectively living out of a suitcase . He might  be able to get some ideas across in the short time frame he has between games but the level of expectation and scrutiny might be something he’s not used to . I just hope he is afforded the time and patience required .

11

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 10, 2025, 01:22:04 PM »

Does anyone know if Pearce has a major say in the selection process and if so what are your views?

He’s head of football operations so will be involved  , I don’t know what he actually does .

12

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 08, 2025, 09:20:50 PM »

Just to add to my point, in the last 10 seasons, there's been 8 other championship managers leave due to being poached during the season, hence directly comparable to our situation. The average time of replacement is 10 days. The more successful replacements (Mowbray to Sunderland, Edwards to Luton, Frank to Brentford) were all within 7 days. The longest time of replacement was 17 days.

We're coming up to 16 days, so its within the realm but its certainly not normal to go much beyond that, and the successful replacements were by and large the quicker ones. The due diligence stuff makes no sense. The most likely reason it's taking time is due to lack of options rather than us being uniquely diligent.

Due diligence can also provide paralysis by analysis , there certainly seems to be a
Lot of ‘ analysis ‘ going into this appointment .

13

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: December 27, 2024, 01:07:46 PM »

If this is true the compensation money from Corberan would be used to offset the his wages.

Are people really going to turn their noses up at a manager who won a European trophy 18 months ago ?

It was abundantly clear yesterday these players need some authority, guidance , and reassurance as quickly as possible, why people would turn their noses up at the like of Moyes even if it a short term deal is totally baffling to me .

14

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: November 02, 2024, 07:42:00 AM »

I wonder if the loss of form and  the coinciding departure of Michael Hefele from the coaching staff is significant !

I don't know how much influence Hefele had but he left to take up a head coach role so someone thought he is good enough to make a difference.

Could it be that CCs success was in fact dependant upon Hefele s contribution?

We were having this discussion on the way to the game last week as I pointed out Coventry don’t seem to be the same side since their assistant manager left in the summer . What I do know about Hefele is he had a big personality and character . We seem to be lacking that at the moment it’s very intense in the dug out sometime having someone who picks things up a bit can make a big difference .

15

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: October 26, 2024, 10:50:38 PM »

It’s up to Carlos now. Either he uses his coaching skills to find a way to stop playing boring, predictable football or the owners will fire him. I would say he has 5 games. If we’re still not winning games by then they may pull the trigger. I hope he gets us winning again, I like him , but at this rate I fear we may have a new manager to oversee the January signings.

Why on earth would they fire him ? They would look like an absolute bunch of idiots !

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: October 21, 2024, 06:53:24 AM »

Certainly looks that way doesn't it - seem to remember media suggesting Carlos really wanted Styles though.

At the end of last season at least we had Weimann to come off the bench , we now don’t appear to have a forward who is trusted to even go on the bench . To end up with Wallace or Dobbin as your only other options in that situation.is really poor in my opinion .

17

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: May 17, 2024, 11:14:45 PM »

I did , he’s done it many times and again on Sunday
But hey he goes and claps the crowd after matches so he’s ok.

Some are taken in by it , some old stagers like me less so , he wlll be at it again next season wait and see.

18

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Ian Pearce

« on: April 27, 2024, 10:40:36 PM »

I think there will be changes and we will see a director of football in place and a shift towards more analytical decision making . Patel follows a lot of specialists in this field on X .

19

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: April 27, 2024, 05:58:51 PM »

Much that I rate him as a manager he is definitely not beyond criticism. His selections and tactics at times are very negative. Worse still he doesn’t seem to be able to motivate our players when they need to stand up and be counted. For me he has to get a win next Saturday although I don’t expect to overcome better sides in the playoffs. I think everything is up for question in the summer including whether he can take us forwards as a team. Personally I like him and hope he’ll be successful but I want better football.

The concern I have held and fuel is being added to the fire on this  is that he will panic and make changes trying to continually fix things . I’ve nothing against M’Vila but he’s this seasons version of Tyrone Mears and  has ended up replacing Mowatt who has been one of our consistent performers .

20

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante Joins Coventry City

« on: April 18, 2024, 06:10:07 PM »

Whilst not in the same league as Superbob he cost us the same transfer fee of £300k 32 years ago. 100% Asante is a bargain.inflation ay 😂

We also paid £ 250k  for Paul Williams who is one of the worst forwards we ever had . For those who remember that bloke Asante looks like Mbappe compared to him .

21

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 06, 2024, 06:25:10 PM »

When we pipped Bolton to promotion many moons ago I recall them losing a home game  to a team in Rotherhams position, football teaches you to never take anything for granted.

I can remember Wimbledon came to our place when we were near the top and we were awful Jobi McAnuff scored the winner in the last minute . Pressure does many things at the business end of the season .

22

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: March 29, 2024, 02:02:36 PM »

How's Wallace playing? He was pants against his old club last season

He has been awful .

23

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA NEW OWNERS - Bilkull football

« on: February 28, 2024, 06:11:21 PM »

Just watched the interview with Patel on the OS.

Can anyone explain in more detail his answer to the question about the MSD loans. It sounds like he is still planning for the club to pay them back to MSD, not the new owners. Which I thought would be the plan?

I took it that the MSD loans remain in place but on renegotiated terms .

24

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Ian Pearce

« on: February 16, 2024, 01:35:21 PM »

Patel follows some people on X who are all data driven wouldn’t be surprised to see one of them or people associated to them employed by us in some capacity . Whilst the first team is doing well there are a lot of other areas that seem slack and need a rethink or a kick up the backside .

25

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Action For Albion/ Potential Takeover

« on: January 08, 2024, 09:31:36 PM »

I was put on the spot. I also believe it’s close but I’d never commit to timelines

Seems to be a lot of contrasting timescales some saying this week . I was told February on Saturday .