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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. 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / How has it got this bad?

« on: March 01, 2022, 03:56:43 PM »

I am struggling to quite understand how it has come to this.  We started quite well.  I can recall really enjoying watching us play at the start of the season.  We had a new young manager, we were playing good entertaining football.  We were beating good teams, and we appeared very cohesive with a couple of good youngsters below ready to make an impact.  Teams then seemed to figure out Val's tactics and we declined.  I do not understand why we did not respond, or did not vary our tactics.  Over time it feels to me like we have had a disease of poor form in the team.  Firstly impacting the midfield and then spreading out to our attack our defence and yesterday to our keeper.  I cannot now pick out one player that is playing well.  Just like when we took on Pardew there has been no manager bounce.  If anything we are worse- much worse than under Val.  I had hoped that Swansea would prove a turning point, but most of us now realise we really cannot see where the next win will come from.  How have we gone from runaway promotion prospects to a candidate for relegation next year?  Welcome thoughts.  I just cannot get my head around it.

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Selected Non Football Topics / Arthur Labinjo Hughes

« on: December 09, 2021, 08:17:47 PM »

Most of us will have followed this story with some horror.  I was appalled at the way this child was treated by his father and step mum.  In some of the pictures he looks happy in his Birmingham City shirt, and it did occur to me that someone cared enough to buy it form him.  Perhaps a grandparent?  Perhaps there was a time when someone got him a burger (or a tikka?) and took him to his first match.  Then I read that part of his punishment was to have his shirt cut up into pieces in front of him.  There was quite a lot of cruelty experienced by this small boy and this was not the worst.  But it did touch me, and I will be holding my own kids just a bit closer this weekend. I sincerely hope this couple never see the light of day again…one way or another.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Bristol fan ill in Smethwick

« on: October 23, 2021, 10:34:03 PM »

I know that football banter can always be a bit tasty, but I don’t think it reflected well on our club today that some fans in the Smethwick were singing let him die, let him die, when a Bristol fan collapsed and was receiving treatment.  Folks it could have been your dad to grandad down there.  Most clapped the poor blow out the ground.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Bristol v WBA- the last time we truly played well?

« on: February 23, 2021, 09:26:03 AM »

A year ago today I had a marvellous weekend away watching the baggies play Bristol.  My son a student in those parts met me at the match.  The Albion were brilliant, even after we had a man sent off.  The fans sang their hearts out and the team came to celebrate with us afterwards. The pubs before the match seemed full of Albion fans, and we had loads of renditions of Astle is the King which takes me back to my childhood.  The weekend itself was then great, Bath and Bristol are lovely places to spend time.  Looking back on that great weekend it feels like the last time we were truly coherent.  Lockdown came shortly afterwards and when we restarted we were awful as a team, and we never seem to have recovered.  Personally I have hated lockdown, and like many I suspect I long for a weekend of crowded, old school exciting football and meeting up with old friends.  Welcome your thoughts.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / What are you missing from match days?

« on: October 08, 2020, 10:40:29 AM »

I have to say I am surprised how much I have missed going to the Hawthorns on match days.  I miss a couple of pre match pints and a chicken tikka in The Vine, the walk to the ground.  On occasion (I am trying to lose weight) a bag of scratchings from the man on the Brummie Road.  The crowds on the way to the ground.  The lovely people around me in the East Stand.  Singing The Lords My Shepherd when we score.  Watching baggie bird having his picture taken with the kids.  The away supporters incredulity at boiler man.  The walk back to the car when we have won and the long journey back to Norfolk listening to WM as far as we can.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / It is now clear we are not aiming to stay in the premiership

« on: October 06, 2020, 10:41:41 AM »

At the end of the premiership window it is now apparent to me that we have no aim to maintain our premiership status.  We have two players of genuine premiership status (Diangana and Pareira), and all of the rest try hard, but will struggle at this level.  Compared to other clubs locally (Villa and Wolves) our transfers mean our squad is significantly poorer, and the teams promoted with us (Leeds and Fulham), have made some great purchases.  Tactically this looks deliberate, i.e. we do not wish to invest and we are accepting being relegation as more or less inevitable.  I hope I am wrong, but I cannot see three teams worse than us, and I cannot see where the points will come from.  This year has the potential to be very painful indeed when we play Villa and Wolves.  If we do go down I would be surprised if Diangana and Pareira stay with us.  Perhaps I am feeling gloomy in this weather, but could does anyone feel more optimistic than me?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Incident at the M5 roundabout

« on: December 08, 2019, 09:15:25 PM »

On the way back to the car today a fight broke out around the M5 roundabout.  As far as I can see there was an argument between a motorist and someone walking back from the match which turned nasty.  There have been a few incidents with cars pulling out from the car parks along the approach roads in recent times, and around the M5 turnings where cars drive at speed expecting pedestrians to get out of their way.  It does feel unsafe when you are walking, especially like today when it is starting to get dark.  I think we need a better steward or police presence along the road, which we seemed to have until recently? either that or better pelican crossing points.  Welcome views

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Diversity Day

« on: September 26, 2017, 11:02:25 AM »

Proud to see the club setting this up, which in my view is long overdue.  Looking forward to the drumming in particular which might be good to have in the ground more generally?  Great to have the three degrees out as well before the match which might even bring a tear to my eye.

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General Football & Sports / 20 20 cricket

« on: June 02, 2017, 06:57:46 PM »

Hi folks my Dad is a big cricket fan and I am not to be honest (bit slow for me).  Given he is 82 this year I wanted to take him to a match down at Worcester where he now lives.  Any tips on getting the best out of the day and one thing that puzzles me is the ban on taking alcohol into the ground.  Any ideas as to why this is?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Some help please

« on: February 14, 2016, 03:24:37 PM »

We are taking a minibus of Norwich/Albion fans up to the match in March.  Challenge is to organise a real ale based pub crawl after the match where we can park the bus somewhere and walk to a number of good real ale pubs- in an evening for us this means four to five.  I have done this before when we have driven around, but this time the mini bus is full and we cannot take on a spare driver.  Welcome thoughts as to where we would base ourselves.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Best away fans at the Hawthorns

« on: December 30, 2015, 09:46:02 AM »

I was thinking at the last match which sets of away fans are the most amusing to have in town.  I nominate Newcastle. Carried the banner for Jeff's campaign last year, even when it's absolutely freezing there are at least a dozen of them with their shirts off (usually the ones with the biggest man boobs), and they do keep on singing...even if I cannot understand a word of what they are actually singing. Other thoughts?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / This weekend has worried me

« on: March 09, 2015, 04:45:43 PM »

Trouble at the Villa and a father on the way back from the Wolves? V Watford match vicously assaulted leaves me concerned as to where football is going at the moment. I would never have taken my kids to Wolves away, now I will add Villa to the mix. Slowly but surely this takes the joy out the game. We simply cannot go backwards to the bad old days can we. Feeling quite sad right now .

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Ball boys where are they?

« on: March 01, 2015, 05:04:51 PM »

Notice we have had very few ball boys at the last few games and yesterday I could not see any from the East Stand. Anyone know if this is a conscious decision? Does look a bit poor when players from both teams are having to go get the balll themselves.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / How long before we say sorry to Irvine?

« on: October 21, 2014, 06:24:22 PM »

For me the time is not yet there, but I can feel it coming perhaps when I am going to have to admit that Irvine has done a pretty good job.  he has been helped by good signings and platers form (notably Dorrans, Brunt and Dawson), but he appears to have produced a motivated team capable of playing great football,  Defending well and moving the ball around with class. 

When do we say sorry?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Baggies based in Norfolk/Suffolk

« on: August 15, 2014, 10:06:37 AM »

Just a quick note at the start of the season.  I travel up for most of the home games along with my son (missed two last year).  If anyone does need a lift I live just outside of Wymondham and pass the Cambridge services along the way.  PM me if I can be of help.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Local papers

« on: May 06, 2014, 12:57:19 PM »

I know we have touched on national media before, but I really want to make a point about the biased reporting in the Express and Star.  For months now we have seen a relentless diatribe of Wonderful Wolves and woeful Albion.  If Wolves loose it is always narrow or an heroic struggle.  We surrender or are poor.  On the site today it has a compilation of clips of Berehino falling over.  This could be done for any footballer, why for ours?

Surely as the Black Country's premiership team we chould count on support?  The coverage in Norfolk of Norwich in the local press is wall to wall and solid.

the Evening Mail makes no secret of its support for Birmingham teams (clue is in the title).  However it has by far the better football coverage and real insights into what is happening in the club which the Express and Star can only dream of.

Welcome other views.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Planning an after match pub crawl- any thoughts?

« on: October 13, 2013, 09:21:31 PM »

I have been tasked with arranging a pub crawl for my Norwich fan mates who are coming up for the game in early December.  I was thinking the Vine before the match.  Then afterwards, The Vine in Brierley Hill, Ma Pardoes, the crooked house and then Sukis other restaurant which I beleive is Darlaston? for a curry.  Any thoughts on any other good ale pubs or decent curry houses here or here abouts?

Thanks

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Should I be worried?

« on: May 12, 2013, 06:50:17 PM »

Just back from the Norwich match.  It was horrendous, and in my neck of the woods, Monday is going to be hard work.  Just after the match is too soon to be objective, but after Wigan I felt we seemed to have turned into quite a poor team, defensively lax and weak in challenging for the ball,  and I am glad we got the points early doors.  We will badly need to strengthen our forwards next year with Lukaku going and I am starting to feel just a little bit worried.  Can someone please cheer me up?  Feels at the moment that I have been punched really hard in the stomach.

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Albion Matchday Forum / 12 May 2013 Norwich City 4 Albion 0

« on: April 13, 2013, 06:38:55 PM »

Anyone any ideas when the Norwich tickets will go on-sale?
See from the website that there has been a delay.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Jeremy Peace- Deserves huge credit

« on: November 25, 2012, 09:02:27 AM »

As I float on the ceiling with the delicious feeling of being third in the Premiership, I feel we should credit JP with the fact he has managed this club really well.  Fair enough he is and will do financially really well out of it, but under him (and Thompson before to be fair), we have prospered beyond expectations.  Many Wolves fans I talk to look to us with envy and would kill to be as well managed.  He has taken some stick over the years, particularly when he was not willing to spend vast amounts on players, and when we have had dips in form.  Which brings me to my point.  Should he get more recognition from the fans- never heard a positive Peace chant and I really think he has earned one.  He will certainly be on my Christmas list.  Mr Peace- THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE!!

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Our media coverage

« on: March 05, 2012, 08:52:33 PM »

I know that we are used to not getting much by way of balanced media coverage, but I feel a need to comment on my daily paper the Times.  Within its Monday football round up it has a whole double page devoted to AVB's sacking and a column devoted to the match.  Within this paragraph it mentions in one sentence that Macaulay scored for Albion.  How poor is this? We played an outstanding match showing real grit and determination and we deserved a whole lot more than a sentence.  Similarly, I note on MOTD it looked like we flooked a win, whereas the match I watched saw us dominant in the second half, and giving as good as we got in the first.  Still as I say should be used to it by now!

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Away fans in home sections

« on: November 27, 2011, 10:19:30 AM »

At the Spurs match yesterday, there were three or four Spurs fans jumping up and down in the East Stand.  Fair play to the stewards who promptly ejected them.  We will all have been in away areas from time to time but had the good manners to keep our mouths shut.  There was a couple three rows in front of me jumping up and down and when they were ejected the woman in particular (would have said early fifties), had a little smirk on her face all the way up the stand.  It shows a real arrogance to go to a ground and do that.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / ticket prices- should we drop them more often

« on: November 19, 2011, 09:02:13 PM »

The atmosphere today was great on both sides.  This was much helped by the full house, which in these difficult times we can only get if the prices are reasonable.  I am a season ticket holder and I do take the point that there has to be some reason to buy an ST.  But personally I would tolerate lower prices to fill the seats (particularly for under 16s, pensioners and armed services personnel.  What do you think?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Albion gets a mention on Holby City

« on: November 08, 2011, 09:05:17 PM »

Just watching the telly.  Jack Naylor advises one of her staff that moving to ortho is like moving from Barcelona to West Bromwich Albion just because you like the shirt.  Cheeky devils! 
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