1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: December 24, 2024, 12:35:58 PM »

I will be very sorry if Corberan leaves.  I think we need to remember we are out of the playoffs on goal difference.  With very limited cash, Corberan has done very well.  I had feared that we would be down towards the bottom of this year with the loss of players and much cheaper ones coming in.  I have been very pleasantly surprised.  What happens now is a test for the new owners and the extent to which they can properly run the club.

2

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: November 26, 2024, 03:04:29 PM »

Dike has been doing some training I understand, but it will take some time to get to match fitness and then where might he play in the system?  If Maja are out then I can see him coming in, but it has been hard to watch sometimes.  He has shown real elements of good play, clearly wants to be here and then....bump.  We have to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst IMV.

3

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: September 18, 2024, 09:05:10 PM »

There are no easy games in the Championship and this one may be tougher than we think. They can play well and are a cohesive team. I still think we have enough in the tank to get through this and add another three points to our tally.  Some seasons I have been left wondering who we could field to improve our team.  Right now it feels like we have an embarrassment of riches and I am am very happy.  The Plymouth fans were quite fun in the Vine last year and look forward to seeing them again.

4

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: September 16, 2024, 10:53:10 AM »

Very positive performance.  Portsmouth had lots of possession in the first half but never really threatened.  The goals were very good.  We have loads of talent in our squad.  We have not even started to explore some of this talent yet.  Our aim should be automatic this year, but it is critical we keep Carlos.  He will be in demand in the Prem as the merry go round gets going.

5

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: May 17, 2024, 08:41:13 PM »

Saints not that good. But we do not have any fluidity in our passing. Grady has been poor so far

6

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: January 29, 2024, 06:25:27 AM »

Watched the mat h while on holiday. My son and a friend had the season ticketpls. We played well. The difference was their quality in the last third and some errors from.us. a good game of football.  Even before it all kicked off I could see bottles being thrown at the corners. To hear our players had to pull their kids out the crowd beggars belief. We have away fans in.the home.areas quite often. Signal.the stewards and they will remove them. I fear we are in for a big fine, maybe even matches behind closed doors and got knows what the potential.investors think. This is not the Albion I know and love ans whoever was involved in this needs a ban.

7

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: November 27, 2023, 11:30:56 AM »

In the Vine before the match we said we would have taken a draw before kick off.  We were helped by the early goal for sure but I did not think the ever troubled us seriously.  We are starting to look very solid in midfield and in defence.  We need to get and keep our strikers fit.  It was halfway through the second half that it dawned on me that Ipswich had not actually had a shot on target.  That is the measure as to how solid we are.  Have not enjoyed a match so much for ages.  Even the Ipswich fans started singing we've got the ball towards the end, such was our dominance.

8

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Attending Hull game

« on: November 02, 2023, 04:27:18 PM »

I have tickets in the East stand lower.  The seats are great.  But... if the weather forecast is adverse you can get quite wet.  Forecast this weekend looks mixed.  I would go upper East Stand given the weather.  I think the lower is better when the weather is ok.

9

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: November 02, 2023, 04:23:25 PM »

Hull will be challenging and they are one of those teams who seem to do well against us.  As a side point I hate their you've been mulled by the tigers chant.

10

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: August 01, 2023, 10:39:10 AM »

Although things look bleak, this squad is certainly not as bad as the one that Megson took over, and look what happened then!

Agreed.  Remember Fabien De Freitas?

11

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: July 23, 2023, 09:53:23 PM »

I think his best option is to play well for us and then look for some form of transfer.  I doubt very much any premiership team will come in for him.  This is a player who was not a regular starter for us in the Championship.  Some top half championship clubs may well come in for him, but will only be interested if the price is right IMO.  Best option, play well strengthen his value and then move.

12

West Bromwich Albion FC / How we have sunk in the Midland's rankings

« on: May 19, 2023, 06:51:50 PM »

I have been reflecting on how things have changed over the last few years. Up until the 2017/18 season we had a legitimate argument that we were the best team in the Midlands.  Since then a lot has gone wrong.  In my view this would include some really poor appointments as Manager, some poor recruitment and owners who do not care about the club, invest in it, or have any clear strategy for progression.  Villa and the Wolves have now been better for some time. This year however we have added Coventry and Luton to that list...now that rankles.  These clubs are simply better run.  They do not have richer owners or more fans.  Just a thought, but right now I am fearing for the future. Only the Blues and Stoke would now be seen as worse Midlands clubs and I fear this will change next season under the current ownership. 

13

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: I’m bored to death

« on: April 06, 2023, 01:56:34 PM »

There was a time this season when I genuinely thought we might get relegated.  Full marks to the Management team as a whole for turning the club around.  There is some excitement I do not want.  I think matches have varied.  At times BTA has been mega exciting to watch.  His scorpion kick lives in my memory as an example.  Other players have not really been at their best all season and we have a pretty long injury list.  Excitement comes from players with genuine skill and a bit of sparkle.  BTA at times has this, Dyke at times does but as the money runs low, so the players we can get slowly get worse.  We are a club in decline and only new ownership will rectify this.  Given LEI would have to sell at a loss, I cannot see this happening anytime soon...

14

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Griffiths

« on: February 25, 2023, 09:07:34 PM »

Griffiths was really good today.  Some great saves, he calls and organises the defence well and his distribution also looks good.  I think he is improving and will do a grand job.  Now I believe deservedly our No2 keeper at least.

15

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

« on: January 10, 2023, 10:06:42 PM »

I think this is very harsh.  I have seen the replay and I do not believe it was intentional.  This is a big loss for us for some tough games.

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: TV Games

« on: January 05, 2023, 10:53:04 AM »

Fuming 

TBF this is on Police advice rather than for Sky.  This only very occasionally happens as opposed to Sky which happens very frequently.

17

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 27, 2022, 09:06:15 AM »

On the whole I though we were good value for the win.  We were solid in midfield.  We had a great goal from a very promising and developing striker and we also have now a very good keeper in Palmer.  We still look prone to the odd error at the back which better teams will punish and at some phases of the game we do start to look a bit sluggish- maybe we need to be looking at the fitness regime?  My son is now actively planning where we are going to eat and drink for the play-off final he now thinks we will definitely make- I think we now have a good chance of making the play-offs if we keep these performances up… but I am not quite ready to make bookings just yet.

18

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

« on: December 27, 2022, 08:56:20 AM »

He has some rounding off to do, but what a find.  We have missed for some time a player who has the capability to work a bit of magic on the pitch and he is it.  The two wonder goals he has scored left me going home thinking that I had got my money’s worth just for these.  Reinvigorates your love of football.

19

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Alex Palmer

« on: December 27, 2022, 08:53:45 AM »

Superb for the last three and beyond. IMO he is at least as good as Johnstone and could be as good or better than Foster. I would not be at all surprised to see Premier league clubs sniffing round him in the very near future.

20

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: December 21, 2022, 04:47:30 PM »

Good to see a tribute to Terry Hall tonight.  He spoke for many of us in his music at the time and we and the Sky Blues are both at hard industrial working class clubs.

21

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

« on: November 13, 2022, 11:17:12 AM »

He battled for every ball yesterday and was a pleasure to watch.  I look forward to seeing him starting regularly.  Agree it is difficult to see where he finishes up, but lets just enjoy watching him play for the moment.

22

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: September 16, 2022, 11:02:41 AM »

Firstly on the match itself I predict a 2-0 loss.  Our loss of form at the back is in turn having a knock on impact on the competence of the midfield and too much is now being expected of BTA alongside Grant who is underperforming.

Norwich is these days my part of the world so enjoy.  For those arriving early there are plenty of places to eat and drink.  The old Compleat Angler, which used to be the away pub is now I believe closed to away supporters, but the riverside complex which is five minutes walk to the ground has quite a large Wetherspoons (Queen of Iceni) and further afield there are good pubs in the city centre (try the Murderers).  There is a top real ale pub called The Fat Cat (though this is 20 mins walk to the ground and the Fat Cat and Canary (which is closer).  Reasonable parking in  Norwich, but also consider the park and ride options on the outskirts.

For those stopping longer the coast is very fine indeed.  Though it is a little colder now.  PM me if you want suggestions.

23

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Unusual places for WBA memorabilia to be found

« on: June 21, 2022, 09:33:55 PM »

Back in the day the wonderful Albion in Goldsmiths Row Bethnal Green. Wonderful place, wonderful landlord.

24

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Pre Season Friendlies 2022/23

« on: June 13, 2022, 10:36:37 PM »

Yes that would be good and if it could **** down again , we could have another lovely evening in the Bradford Arms.

Lovely place, but needs a couple of real ale pumps.

25

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: BCD Cup Final

« on: May 13, 2022, 10:30:11 PM »

God I wish I was there!! well done lads.  Look forward to seeing some of you in the first team next season.  We need ur passion.