[caravanc58]

It's still difficult to comprehend even six months later.

Its the one and only question I would love to ask jp. what did you see on his cv to appoint him as head coach at the albion. he's undoubtedly had small spells of success at both preston and sheff wed but equally if not more so had poor spells and long losing streaks that he's never managed to stop. what qualified him to head coach of a premiership club.

[Albionic]

Ai gives great presentations apparently - seriously !

[Mat15(MH)]

Lay-off my assistants says under-fire Irvine

Under-fire boss Alan Irvine urged Albion fans to lay off his assistants after the crowd turned on Keith Downing and Rob Kelly during yesterday’s defeat at Stoke.

Irvine claimed he should take the criticism for his side’s poor form and revealed his players admitted to “letting staff down” after a seventh defeat in nine games.

Travelling supporters targeted Downing and Kelly with abuse and used the pair’s links with arch-rivals Wolves in chants calling for their departure.

Both men played for Wolves and Baggies fans yesterday sang “You Dingle b******s, get out of our club.”

Downing has served as assistant head coach to Roy Hodgson, Steve Clarke and Pepe Mel, while Kelly arrived at The Hawthorns as joint assistant when Irvine was appointed in the summer.

Irvine said: “I wasn’t aware of it (the chant) but we are all in this together: the players and all the staff.

“The staff are great.

“I’ve said many times about how good the players are to work with, but the staff are great.

“When you hear players say they are letting the staff down – that was something that was mentioned in the dressing room by some of the players – that proves that they are right behind them.

“It’s the kind of reaction I would expect from an honest group of players. They’re extremely disappointed at what’s happened. The players are fully aware of how well the staff work and how hard they work.

“If anybody is to take it then I’m the person that’s standing there. I stand out there and I don’t go and hide.

“I’m there to be shot at but obviously ultimately I make the final decisions and I certainly am happy to be prepared to take the criticism rather than Keith and Rob.”

Irvine, Kelly and Downing were subjected to boos and criticism as they walked past travelling fans at the end of yesterday’s game with the trio staring straight ahead and walking down the tunnel.

http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2014/12/29/lay-off-my-assistants-says-under-fire-irvine/

This is what I'm really struggling with. All we hear is how the players love playing for Irvine and the rest of the coaching staff, how great they are in training etc. Yet when it comes to game time, as soon as we go a goal down, they seem to lose all fight or desire, the heads all go down and we rarely look like getting back into a game.

You'd have thought if they were all as desperate as they say they are for Irvine to be successful that they'd be running through brick walls for him, not bottling it as soon as they go a goal down.

[boult]

 Sky sports reporting AI stays in charge for west Ham game is this a joke or 3 more points down the drain looks like the chairman has settled for a mid championship team

[Dan]

Not surprising, he's loved behind the scenes and by the players. By picking such a random head coach it also looks extremely poor on peace and Burton so they won't want to admit they're wrong. A loss at west ham will presumably force their hand but a draw will save him for now.

Unlike Mel, and Clarke, everyone responsible for Irvine is still at the club.

[WBAinDEVON]

Sky sports reporting AI stays in charge for west Ham game is this a joke or 3 more points down the drain looks like the chairman has settled for a mid championship team

Old news, I broke that at seven this morning but you are right, it's the worst thing possible because we get another irvine performance and no points

[AidantheBaggies]

Im sure most of you will be delighted when Alan Irvine is sacked.............and Dingle Keith gets the reigns until the end of the season.

[Legend]

Hope he can turn it around starting at West Ham, still think he deserves a few more games as we're still out the relegation zone.

[east-stand-nick]

Hope he can turn it around starting at West Ham, still think he deserves a few more games as we're still out the relegation zone.

The iceberg is rapidly approaching and we're fast running out of time to steer away from it. With AI we're heading straight towards it.

[timdon]

Hope he can turn it around starting at West Ham, still think he deserves a few more games as we're still out the relegation zone.

I understand that if this happens, your pride will be restored Jeremy, but it's a forlorn hope I'm afraid

[maccbaggie]

Im sure most of you will be delighted when Alan Irvine is sacked.............and Dingle Keith gets the reigns until the end of the season.

...except that isn't the choice, is it.

[maccbaggie]

Hope he can turn it around starting at West Ham, still think he deserves a few more games as we're still out the relegation zone.

Every game that goes by we are losing opportunities to acquire points and relegation becomes ever closer

[OldburyWBA]

Im sure most of you will be delighted when Alan Irvine is sacked.............and Dingle Keith gets the reigns until the end of the season.

I will be delighted but also totally drunk off that it came to this when all issues at the club should have been addressed in the Summer including Downing and Kiely being moved on to allow a whole new set up to come in and have a full pre-season.

[baggie38]

Im sure most of you will be delighted when Alan Irvine is sacked.............and Dingle Keith gets the reigns until the end of the season.

I don't know what has gave you the impression that is what's going to happen. I seriously doubt that would happen given the way the fans feel towards downing and kiely. Peace isn't stupid I think Downing will get the gateshead game but that will be it. From what Baggie79 has said it seems the club have already decided Irvine is going at the next defeat (which will more then be West Ham) surely the two stand out candidates are Pulis and Sherwood. If Downing was to get the job either until the end of the season or permanently not only would we be relegated but Peace would have a riot on his hands and he knows that I'm sure.

[boot2006]

Tim Sherwood would be a disaster for the Albion.  His character and personality won't work with the current set up.

[Sessegod]

It's inevitable Irvine will go, what concerns me more is who JP is going to select next, my trust in the man is completely shot.

[Dudleylad]

I think if you read between the lines the club do not want to sack Irvine but fans negativity will mean he is sacked.

So I cannot see Downing being considered for the job this time around given hes recieved the same amount of flack.

It really is a mess and as Oldburywba says could have been avoided if Peace had grown a pair in the summer.

[Dudleylad]

Can we post about potential new managers on this thread please.

http://westbrom.com/forum/index.php?topic=15045.msg344860;topicseen#msg344860

[ronny boy]

I think if you read between the lines the club do not want to sack Irvine but fans negativity will mean he is sacked.

So I cannot see Downing being considered for the job this time around given hes recieved the same amount of flack.

It really is a mess and as Oldburywba says could have been avoided if Peace had grown a pair in the summer.

I truly think that, after yet another inept performance from Irvine yesterday, JP has made the decision already and the reason Irvine hasn't gone yet is above in bold. JP won't put Downing or Kiely in charge, for even one game, as i think their time is up aswell.

I'm hoping for an experienced man, who's tactically aware, can get his point across, can affect a game with subs and gives every player a chance. That includes the current untouchables, bench warmers & summer signings. This squad needs galvanizing and I'm certain there's a decent team in there somewhere. We just need the right man to mold it and it ain't Irvine. 

[dangerman]

Thing is whoever comes in the players will start with a clean slate and that should be the case with the fans too.

Need to make sure that if the new man feels a certain player is right for that particular game that we don't jump down his throat at the first opportunity.

[baggiejohn]

Thing is whoever comes in the players will start with a clean slate and that should be the case with the fans too.

Need to make sure that if the new man feels a certain player is right for that particular game that we don't jump down his throat at the first opportunity.

WHY -we didn't do that with AI?

[dangerman]

WHY -we didn't do that with AI?

I think certain sections of fans have to be fair. Maybe not on here but certainly there have been a few who will criticise players at the first chance they get.

Pulis 8/11 just saying!!

Not sure how to read that especially as Irvine is still in charge 

[OldburyWBA]

As requested please leave talk about possible replacements in the other topic

http://westbrom.com/forum/index.php?topic=15045.msg344860;topicseen#msg344860

Any more will be deleted not moved

[BB74]

I feel a bit for AI. We all know he is on his way out and now it seems the club are lining up his replacement while he is still here. A bit like the Hughes/Mancini saga a few years back at Man City.

Still want him gone mind 

[ex coseley kid]

I feel a bit for AI. We all know he is on his way out and now it seems the club are lining up his replacement while he is still here. A bit like the Hughes/Mancini saga a few years back at Man City.

Still want him gone mind 

Might surprise a lot of you but I feel for AI too. He genuinely seems like a nice guy.

To me though that's the problem. I think we need someone who will throw a grenade into the changing room...

(As an aside, when did we start calling it the dressing room FFS? That tells you what's wrong with our bloody national game....)