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Messages - Cunningham56

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1
General Football & Sports / Re: Darren Moore
« on: March 03, 2019, 01:25:41 AM »
In general, Darren Moore is doing a decent job. Especially for a first-time manager who is effectively learning on the job. We aren't that special. There are so many big clubs in the championship, a lot of sleeping giants. Our fans just have modern memories of us being a yo-yo team in the mid 2000s so think we had a god given right of an instant return.

Teams rarely go straight back up, it's such a difficult league to navigate. Better teams than us with more experienced managers have failed.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/10826050/How-often-do-relegated-Premier-League-clubs-bounce-straight-back-from-the-Championship.html

In the last 28 seasons; We looked at the records of all the teams that had just been relegated from the Premier League/First Division. How many of them bounced straight back the following season?



If we got automatic promotion it would be great job done by Darren Moore. It's likely we'll be in the play-offs which is still okay, albeit probably the minimum requirement to keep his job. So he deserves another season either way.

The owners need to go, not the manager! Lai makes Peace look like a big spender

2
General Football & Sports / Re: Darren Moore
« on: March 02, 2019, 06:01:59 PM »
I really think some fans need to look at the bigger picture.

In the last four years our managers have been; Pepe Mel, Alan Irvine, Tony Pullis, and Alan Pardew. Just looking at those names makes me shudder. Jesus christ what a s**tshow. Those last two clowns especially ruined our club and made many fans fall out of love with the Albion. Big Dave has single handedly reignited the fans passion again and made us proud to be Baggies.

He's the nicest man in football, and one of own. This alone isn't reason to back him regardless, but it's his first management role and he deserves more of a chance. I'd rather give Moore a few seasons to rebuild us fully than hire some other clown on the cheap and fail.

If we make the playoffs, he will have my support whatever happens.

Oh by the way, if we sacked Pardew a month earlier then Darren Moore would have kept us up last season. Fact!

3
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: who are our "local rivals"
« on: February 19, 2019, 04:42:09 PM »
Just wondered, am I allowed to support the Albion or do I need permission for that these days?

COYB  8) .

No permission needed mate, until the day that the region's two biggest derbies; West Brom v Wolves and Villa v Blues is allowed to kick off at 15:00 on a Saturday. Then we'll re-assess  :D

What time did we kick off against the Vile on Saturday again? #justanothergame  :P

4
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: who are our "local rivals"
« on: February 19, 2019, 03:00:22 PM »
It all depends on where you were brought up IMO.

If you are from Birmingham then more than likely you will see Villa as your rivals.

But if we take the Black Country which is split into the 4 areas of Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Walsall.

If for instance you are an Albion fan growing up in Bilston or Wednesfield areas of Wolverhampton you'll see Wolves as your main rivals. 

The same can be said for Dudley areas Sedgley, Coseley, Tipton, Kingswinford, Brierley Hill, Netherton and to a lesser extent Stourbridge.  Most will see Wolves as their main rivals.

When you start moving to across towards Sandwell and West Brom itself as well as Halesowen, Blackheath, Smethwick and Oldbury I'd say it changes to Villa. 

If you live in Walsall or Wednesbury I'd say its pretty even between Wolves and Villa but further east you go to Great Barr and Aldridge it will be mainly Villa.

There will always be exceptions to the rule, but this is essentially the crux of the matter.

You can't have a one sided rivalry though and if you did a poll of Villa season ticket holders who they consider their main rival, the vast majority would say Blues. That is a fact. They probably consider us second, but very few actually care that much. Check what they say about us

http://www.avillafan.com/29620/wba-west-bromwich-albion-rivalry/

https://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/so-aston-villas-main-rivalry-who-exactly-is-it-with-birmingham-or-west-brom/

It'll always be Wolves for me even if we stay in the Championship with Villa for the next 50 years and don't play the Dingles during that time, but like others have said I have enough hatred for both of them  :)

As for Blues, I don't actually mind them. I'm sure most Albion fans feel the same? Actually quite like them tbh. I've always seen us and them as "friends", and Wolves & Villa as scum

6
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: who are our "local rivals"
« on: February 19, 2019, 01:18:29 AM »
It's 100%, definitely....Wolves

From your own personal perspective it does depend on your age, location, and even friends/family and your environment growing up, but being as objective as possible, I think this is fairly accurate....

99% of Blues fans see Villa as their main rivals.
99% of Wolves fans see West Brom as their main rivals.

*MOST* Villa fans hate Blues the most
*MOST* Albion fans hate Wolves the most

There is no fixture in the WBA calendar like West Brom v Wolves. This is the game with the best atmosphere, the most bite, the most satisfaction, the most authentic rivalry. When was the last time we had a game against Wolves kick off on a Saturday at 15:00 like we just did against Villa? (just like a normal game)

They always tend to get moved to 12:00 on advice of the police. You will never see Villa-Blues kick off at 15:00 on a Saturday either.

In 2008, West Brom v Wolves was voted the most fiercest rivalry in English football by supporters across the country.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2297404/Wolves-v-West-Brom-Bitter-rivals-do-battle.html

Quote
There will be 500 extra police on duty in Wolverhampton tonight, and all pubs will be bolted and padlocked four hours before kick-off. Wolves versus West Bromwich Albion is officially the biggest derby in the country, which may raise eyebrows on Merseyside, or in Manchester and north London.

The Black Country derby, though, takes mutual dislike to another level. Five hundred Wolves fans rioted in January last year when the two teams met in the FA Cup, and only a police blockade prevented a full-scale confrontation when West Bromwich supporters invaded the pitch in celebration of their victory in the play-off semi-final a year ago.

It is a match with an atmosphere like no other, a rivalry that goes deeper than just the football. For that reason it is perhaps no surprise that it came out top in the Football Rivalries Report 2008, published recently by the New Football Pools from information gathered from more than 6,000 members of the Football Fans Census

TOP 3 INTENSE WEST MIDLANDS DERBIES
1. West Brom vs Wolves
2. Villa vs Blues
3. West Brom vs Villa

The atmosphere at The Hawthorns and police presence and intensity will always be the highest for a Wolves game. Likewise at Villa Park for a second city Derby.

7
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: 11th, 10th, 8th - what next?
« on: May 21, 2013, 06:09:10 PM »
11th, 10th, 8th is utterly amazing. Short of a cup final it's as good as we could ever hope for really. The people who still find areas to have big moans about amaze me. This is what we were longing for in the dark days of losing to Port Vale and Grimsby.

Indeed

8th best team in England / Number 1 side in the region

How many Baggies could have imagined that as a realistic proposition back in those dark days you mention?

All without breaking the bank too and no sugar daddy etc. We've done it the right way, and I think most of the football world respects that.

8
West Bromwich Albion FC / 11th, 10th, 8th - what next?
« on: May 21, 2013, 04:43:57 PM »
Following an unprecedented three consecutive seasons in the Premier League (modern era) and the 11th, 10th, and 8th position finishes respectively, what next?

What would constitute a good or successful season in the 2013/2014 campaign?

Personally I'm under no illusions as to how difficult it will be next year, and while I'm quietly confident about our prospects I also don't think we can take our Premier League status for granted. Just look at the Dingles. Doesn't seem 5 minutes since we thrased them 5-1 at Molineux and now they are in League One.

I'm not overly concerned about our league position next season but I would really like it if we could finnish above the Villa again (would be 3rd consecutive season as the top dogs in the Midlands) and to finally break the 50 point mark would be nice too.





9
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate
« on: May 21, 2013, 01:59:21 PM »
Think it was disrespectful to Albion that Ferguson never done an after match press conference.

To be fair, he did say this about us!

Manchester United drew 5-5 with West Brom in Ferguson's 1,500th and final game in charge of United.

The 71-year-old, who won 38 trophies in a 26-year reign at Old Trafford, will be succeeded by Everton's David Moyes, who takes over on 1 July.

"It has been overwhelming," said Ferguson. "The club has been fantastic and congratulations to West Brom with the way they handled yesterday [Sunday].

"I think [West Brom manager] Steve Clarke should get an award because anyone who scores five against United deserves it."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22604396

10
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Halfway point - take a bow!
« on: December 28, 2012, 05:54:14 PM »
Number of points for WBA at the Halfway point (19 Games) in the Premier League Era:

Quote
2002/2003
16 pts

2004/2005
10 pts

2005/2006
19 Pts

2008/2009
15 Pts

2010/2011
22 Pts

2011/2012
22 Pts

2012/2013
33 Pts

At the Halfway stage this season we have already bettered our FULL seasons points total from;
2002/2003 (26), 2005/2006 (30) and 2008/2009 (32)

And in the 2004/2005 'Great Escape' season we managed to survive with 34 points - just 1 point more than we have this season after 19 games.

11
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: take a point?
« on: September 04, 2012, 01:27:10 PM »
I refuse to get carried away by our good start, Fulham away is a hard game, and i cant in my lifetime remember wba winning there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GARQ-arE8Q

12
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: 10 years ago
« on: September 02, 2012, 03:02:02 PM »
In the next ten years we will win an FA Cup and a League cup and be competing in Europe.
 
Neck well and truly stuck out there.

 :o

I'd be content with us just becoming the #1 team in the West Midlands to be honest. It's all very well being the current #1 and doing it for one year, but I just want to see consistency and try and replicate the Villa dominance.

In the last 10 years they have finished;
8th
16th
6th
10th
16th
11th
6th
6th
6th
9th
16th 


I doubt we will be breaking into the top 6 anytime soon unless a Man City type owner comes knocking on our door but I see no reason why we can't become a permanent fixture in the top 10 and like you say maybe challenge for a cup. We are definitely on the way up, and the Villa are on the way down (hopefully literally)

Exciting times to be a Baggie I have never seen us be this good in my lifetime

13
West Bromwich Albion FC / 10 years ago
« on: September 01, 2012, 08:37:50 PM »
We started our Premiership journey with a trip to Old Trafford with little to no expectations.

It was our first time back in the top-flight for 16 years and this was our line-up on that day;

Quote
R Hoult
P Gilchrist
D Moore
L Sigurdsson
N Clement
A Johnson
S Gregan (B Taylor, 83)
D McInnes
I Balis
J Roberts (L Marshall, 69)
D Dichio (S Dobie, 60)
Subs not used: R Wallwork, B Jensen

You don't need me to give you a history lesson but since 2002 it's pretty much been like this...

Promotion, Relegation, Promotion, Survival, Relegation, Play-Off Final Defeat, Promotion, Relegation, Promotion, Survival, Survival

As amazing as the 2004-2005 survival was (The Great Escape) with all the drama, being the first team to stay up being bottom at Christmas, final day win over Portsmouth not knowing whether it would be enough listening to other matches on the radio...really we only stayed up due to an incredible amount of luck and ultimately we were relegated the next season anyway.

Staying up in the 2010-2011 season felt like we finally belonged in the league and deserved it. We followed this up by a 10th place finish last year.

Now after our great 7 points from the first three games this campaign and our strong squad we are really really starting to look like an established Premier League side, and slowly but surely we are getting rid of that "Yo-Yo team" tag. We may not be part of the furniture yet but we're getting there!

I can't believe that was our Premier League line up for the first game of the season in 2002 especially considering our squad now and the strength in depth we have.

It makes you wonder where will we be in another 10 years time?

thoughts?

14
General Football & Sports / Re: Disappointing of Foster
« on: May 15, 2012, 04:00:52 PM »
I believe you should always make yourself available to play for your country.
 
If Hart gets crocked in training or first game then we'll be stuck with Green or Carson for the whole tournament.
 
I'd be willing to bet who the English back line would prefer to see keeping goal out of those 2 or Foster.

No good can come of Foster going to the Euro's (from an Albion perspective)

Say if Hart did get injured and Foster comes in.

Either he plays well and attracts the attention of some top/bigger clubs making it harder for us to sign him, or he has a nightmare and then his confidence will be at an all time low which doesn't bode well.

If we have to have Green/Carson in goal for the Euro's then so be it. I'd rather have Green/Carson in goal for England than Fulop in goal for the Albion next season. I know we have Myhill on loan to Blues but he is not someone I have confidence in to be our No.1 either

Put your feet up in the summer Foster and make sure you sign on the dotted line for the Baggies!

15
General Football & Sports / Re: Disappointing of Foster
« on: May 15, 2012, 03:18:00 PM »
I hope Foster doesn't go to the Euro's.

How about if Hart got injured and Foster stepped in, played amazing, made incredible saves, MOTM performances etc and attracted the attention of some top clubs?

I'd rather he stays at home this summer. Puts his feet up, doesn't get injured, and most importantly stays out of the limelight. Giving us a greater chance of signing him.

Watching Fulop on Saturday just shows you how much we need to sign Foster - I'd argue we would have beaten Arsenal on Saturday with Foster in goal.

West Brom 1st, England 2nd for me.

16
In terms of 'All Time' Tables with points we are;

31st in the English Premier League (1992 - present)
http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/all-time-table/pl-years

12th in the English Top Division (All Time)
http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/all-time-table/full

Understandably our stats in the Premier League era are not as good our top flight record for all-time, which is why I prefer to concentrate on the All Time one, not just PL.  :)

But with Blackburn relegated to the second tier we have a chance to climb up to 11th in the All-Time English Top Flight League Table, we are 58 points behind.

EDIT- And we should also overtake Ipswich and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League table next season as we are just 8 and 23 points behind respectively.

17
West Bromwich Albion FC / Roy Hodgson thanks Albion [Video]
« on: May 05, 2012, 12:58:30 PM »
Roy Hodgson speaks after taking the England job and says why he simply couldn't refuse the opportunity.

The new national team coach also has a parting message for everyone at West Bromwich Albion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-F7G5KVrMs

18
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: West Brom Twitter Links?
« on: March 11, 2012, 12:15:54 PM »
Quite a strong contingent of Albion related Twitter profiles these days, is nice to see.

@ChrisLepkowski
@mulumbuofficial
@WBAFCcofficial
@OdemwingieP
@Scharns33
@StevenReid12
@SCoxy31Real
@JeromeThomas14
@ChrisBrunt11
@J_OlssonViasat
@DeanKiely40
@GeorgeThorne29
@ScottAllan_


Any more I've missed?

19
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Hodgson's PL record with Albion....
« on: February 26, 2012, 04:28:53 PM »
Just bumping this because yesterday was Roys 38th PL game in charge of us, and his record is now;

P:38  W:13   D:11  L:14

^ If that was an actual full season it would get us 50 points. I hope we're not going to be a million miles away from that points total at the end of this campaign.

A VERY respectable record. Lets hope it continues.

20
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Celebrity Fans
« on: November 08, 2011, 12:01:57 PM »
Celebrity?

That is why in the title I put the word as "Celebrity"

21
West Bromwich Albion FC / Celebrity Fans
« on: November 07, 2011, 11:53:24 PM »
Liam Payne, from the Boyband "One Direction"

Apparently they are quite popular. Don't listen to pop music so I wouldn't know. But thought this would interest a few people possibly?

Says he is an Albion fan from 8 mins on this youtube vid - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC-1uS3ffkc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Direction

22
West Bromwich Albion FC / Hodgson's PL record with Albion....
« on: October 23, 2011, 01:19:43 PM »
2010/2011

West Brom 1 - Wolves 1
Stoke City 1 - West Brom 1
Birmingham 1 - West Brom 3
West Brom 2 - Arsenal 2
West Brom 2 - Liverpool 1
Sunderland 2 - West Brom 3
West Brom 1 - Chelsea 3
Tottenham 2 - West Brom 2
West Brom 2 - Aston Villa 1
Wolves 3 - West Brom 1
West Brom 1 - Everton 0
Newcastle 3 - West Brom 3

2011/2012

West Brom 1 - Man Utd 2
Chelsea 2 - West Brom 1
West Brom 0 - Stoke City 1
Norwich 0 - West Brom 1
Swansea 3 - West Brom 0
West Brom 0 - Fulham 0
Sunderland 2 - West Brom 2
West Brom 2 - Wolves 0
Aston Villa 1 - West Brom 2
Arsenal 3 - West Brom 0
West Brom 2 - Bolton 1
West Brom 1 - Tottenham 3
QPR 1 - West Brom 1
West Brom 1 - Wigan 1
Blackburn 1 - West Brom 2
Newcastle 2 - West Brom 3
West Brom 0 - Man City 0
West Brom 0 - Everton 1
Tottenham 1 - West Brom 0
West Brom 1 - Norwich 2
Stoke 1 - West Brom 2
Fulham 1 - West Brom 1
West Brom 1 - Swansea 2
Wolves 1 - West Brom 5
West Brom 4 - Sunderland 0

OVERALL:
P:38  W:13   D:11  L:14



23
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: "You only sell out for take that"
« on: October 18, 2011, 04:43:50 PM »
Just checked the attendance stats for Villa's home games in the PL this season, wtf?

Some games they have struggled to hit the 30k mark. And I thought their stadium capacity was like 42,000?

Anyone know if Seal Park has lost any seats, or just fans? Whats going on?

Blackburn - 32,319
Wolves - 30,776
Newcastle - 34,248
Wigan - 30,744

24
Watching the Eng-Wales game last night I only just realised that the Welsh squad isn't actually very Welsh.

BORN IN ENGLAND
Danny Collins
Ashley Williams
Jack Collison
Andrew Crofts
Andy King
Simon Church
Steve Morrison
Hal Robson-Kanu
Sam Vokes

And Boaz Myhill was born in America, and Robert Earnshaw was born in Zambia

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales_national_football_team

&

Scotland - James Morrison, Phil Bardsley

Republic of Ireland - Simon Cox, Liam Lawrence, Kevin Foley and a few others

Got me thinking. Have we (England) ever missed out on any GREAT players who opted to play for someone else?

25
General Football & Sports / Re: Craig Dawson
« on: September 04, 2011, 04:20:19 PM »
I don't know what our problem is with introducing young players into the starting line up is. He is 21 years old after all!

Wayne Rooney was 16 when he scored that wonder goal against Everton
Michael Owen was 18 when he scored THAT goal against Argentina

Jack Wilshere is 19 years old and is already a starting player for Arsenal (and England maybe?)

I know they are not exactly comparable situations with Craig Dawson and WBA but I guess my point is "if you're good enough, you're old enough"

I say chuck him straight into the starting line up against Norwich and see what he is made of

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