1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: Yesterday at 09:09:26 PM »

It’s called a figure of speech ,before you get your knickers in a twist ,im talking about championship standard players not”billions”of Sunday league and people who don’t play football etc!

I'll raise you Oli Burke or Ken Zohore then. Figure of speech or not it's still a silly and completely unjust comment. BTA is not a Gayle or a Rodriguez but his stats stack up OK alongside Austin and Robson-Kanu in recent years to give you examples.

Would we like better? Of course we would, we'd all like a Mitrovic but there are a lot out there far worse than BTA.

2

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: Yesterday at 01:12:18 PM »

He can’t be any worse ,but like you say all different opinions

Ridiculous comment of course he can be worse way worse. There are billions of people (literally) in the world worse footballers than Thomas - Asante.

I think some people need to learn some genuine perspective. BTA has scored over ten goals this season in the Championship. You try doing it.

3

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Play off Points Target

« on: April 16, 2024, 12:19:11 PM »

So we are going to go from 1 loss in 10, to 3 in 4. Wow.

Ìt can and does happen. I don't think it will though. I think if we need to beat Preston we will do.

You'll have to excuse Devon he's not the "glass half full" type. I think if I met him in real life he'd depress the hell out of me.    No offence intended!

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 12, 2024, 02:23:32 PM »

I am not sure what people are expecting from a £300k player that we signed from the third division.

He's had to be the brunt of our forward line for the last 2 seasons due to injuries to others.

That's our third choice striker leading the line.

He hasn't moaned, played his face, but instead given us absolutely everything he has.

Can he improve? Yes.  Does he do a good job for us? Yes.

Has he given us value for money? Of course.

Just about bang on. How anyone has a bad word for BTA I really don't know.

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Last Match Forum - 10/04 Rotherham United (H) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 10, 2024, 11:40:25 PM »

The penalty decision  must be the worst decision I've ever seen. It was on the edge of the D. 

Boring game but professional job done!

6

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Atmosphere at Home Games

« on: April 09, 2024, 09:35:32 AM »

Files alongside 'Townsend is the best one on one left fullback in the division'  .

Now, now don't get shirty just because you'd have to give up your seat. You could come and sit near to me in the Halfords. At your age its about time you got your flask out and started sitting with a blanket over your knees anyway. 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Atmosphere at Home Games

« on: April 09, 2024, 07:51:47 AM »

I disagree, as a ES neutral, it's the Smethwick that gets the singing going and that friendly banter you refer to, which I assume is the ", going down the Brummie rd for some peace and quiet" is what usually awakens the Brummie rd.

A lot of teams don't like the away fans behind the goal, as they seem it as giving them to much support and so they put them in their side stands.

If we did redevelop the ground I would rather us give them part of the Halfords, possibly half the lower tier, if we build the fabled upper tier.

You can't put them in the Halfords because logistically it's a nightmare given the location of the train station and the parking of coaches.

The alternative to the Smethwick for away fans is the East Stand Smethwick side.

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Last Match Forum - 10/04 Rotherham United (H) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: April 08, 2024, 11:57:36 PM »

It's a big few days coming up. If Coventry beat Southampton and we fail to beat Rotherham the mood changes completely. However, if we beat Rotherham and then beat Sunderland on Saturday we can breathe easily.

Someone wake me up on Sunday morning. I'll be able to tell by the smile or the misery on the face how the week has gone. 

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Atmosphere at Home Games

« on: April 08, 2024, 11:44:26 PM »

The Smethwick End has never helped the atmosphere. If that stand was an away stand and our lot from there were relocated to the Brummie you'd have one hell of a loud and vibrant home end.

The noise is too fragmented now, two ends of the ground singing different songs at the same time and singing parts of the same songs out of time with each other. That and the fact that the two stands create a bit of a them and us situation (albeit in a friendly way).

It means we're not working together and that's never good in any way of life.

Of course there's nothing we can do about this situation at the moment the way the stadium is as it is but it's possible with stadium redevelopment / expansion, but that's another issue.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: April 08, 2024, 11:38:19 PM »

I've never been a big fan of his mainly because he's not my "type" of winger. However now he's been moved infield and he's got used to his new role he's become a much better asset for us.

He needs to lay the ball off better at times and keep it simple when he needs to rather than losing the ball to take his game to the next level but his goals and assist stats don't lie. He's hurting teams where it matters now and he's currently a better option than Swift is.

He's much better now than he ever was as a winger IMO.

11

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: April 08, 2024, 11:32:08 PM »

Not just that we have M'Vila, I'd say the emergence of Fellows and the signing of Johnston also make a 433 more viable.

Absolutely. Those two have completely transformed our attacking options.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: April 08, 2024, 10:08:19 AM »

There is always a danger that any coach will imagine that he has found a system that will conquer all.  We saw it big time with Moore (or maybe it was Jones) and then Ismael.  Other clubs work it out and play accordingly.  CC leaves the midfield light, and we have seen at times that young energetic teams (eg QPR and Sunderland, and to some extent Stoke on Sat) simply overrun us there.  I know he has the flexible plan B to go 5 at the back, but I think we should be ready to go more like 442 at times during a game.

I'm happy to be booed as an armchair expert, but it's just a general point, not a massive attack on CC.

I agree with most of that but just to point out that contrary to what everybody says we do actually play 442 off the ball and have done since Carlos's second game in charge except that spell at the start of the season where we played three at the back.

I do agree in that at times we leave the midfield light particularly away from home. Stoke and QPR are two games that spring immediately to mind where we could've done with an extra man in there and reverting to a 433. We do have the personnel to do that now we could easily add M'Vila alongside Okay and Mowatt but it doesn't appear to be an option CC favours.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: April 07, 2024, 02:45:18 PM »

I’m not buying this that if we don’t get into the play offs it’s not Corberan’s fault ,listen I like corberan but we are where we should be with this squad ,he hasn’t done any miracles getting us where we are and also he hasn’t done anything wrong to be where we are ,it’s roughly where we should be ,it’s just that we had an absolute clown of a manager Bruce before and lets face it the less we say about him the better

Exactly the way I see it mate. I've said so all along. We are round about where we should be. If we don't make the play offs from here it's got to be seen as a disappointment. Wednesdays game is a big game now, failure to win that and things could start to fall apart. Two home games this week hopefully will see us cement our place.

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Last Match Forum - 06/04 Stoke City (A) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 07, 2024, 09:14:38 AM »

So i've just seen the full highlights and i don't think it was as certain a goal as others on here think but it was definitely an awful attempt made worse by the fact he's constantly asking for the pass so it's not unexpected either. Must work the keeper there at the very least.


Also no reason at all for M'Vila to make that kind of challenge from the highlight clip i saw. Cover was in place.

M'Vila was lucky he wasn't sent off for it. He must have had a rush of blood to the head, that's the only thing I can think of. It was high, it was out of control and it was dangerous.

15

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Ticket Info & Requests

« on: March 31, 2024, 04:50:10 PM »

On Twitter not long ago today the club were asking people to buy their tickets for it. Queue people saying there's no tickets available.

I saw that which is why I'd presume it's automated. There is one ticket available in block G5. Its no good the club asking people to buy tickets when there are apparently none available to buy online at least. The ticket office is closed today so no one can buy in person or via phone.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Ticket Info & Requests

« on: March 31, 2024, 04:00:58 PM »

Is this now sold out? Was looking for a second ticket for a family member. Not clear from the official site as you are allowed to put ticket in basket, but not to buy one? Weird!

There's been literally one ticket available for the last couple of days on the stadium plan. That would suggest it's a sellout though the club haven't announced it. I doubt there's anyone working today so I'd guess any social media info would be automated.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 17, 2024, 09:49:42 AM »

We heard someone at the front of the East Stand shout ‘Just F’ing kick the ball!’ Really loudly when Palmer was lining up to take the free kick that was the last kick of the game. So was probably something to do with that.

A few people have mentioned similar on Twitter: (https://x.com/wba_frenchie/status/1769058777980973522?s=46&t=MBT2fxXFGpVqJja3oab1ew)

It's something of nothing really. Furlong was first to react and he shouldn't have to be honest. People in the stands will shout things they're not all going to sit there in absolute silence for ninety minutes. Furlong should just ignore it unless it's something serious that crosses a line. In this case there appears to be little to no suggestion of that.

18

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 16, 2024, 09:03:57 PM »

Didn't really get out of first gear first half. We were really good second half till we got a bit sloppy last fifteen minutes or so.

Our wingers have really transformed this team. Fellows with another good goal today. Johnston may not have scored or claimed an assist today but he was magnificent today, his best performance in an Albion shirt.

Three points and that Dingles result. This is what I call a good Saturday. 

19

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Okay Yokuslu

« on: March 11, 2024, 09:24:52 AM »

That's what you call making clean contact with the ball........ And close to the corner so gave any keeper no chance.

The ball hit the net before the keeper had completed his dive. I'd love to know what the mph of that shot was.

20

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 10, 2024, 02:02:06 PM »

All we had to do was go longer from the back and eliminate their press and play from there. We did that second half and it showed just how poor Huddersfield are.

21

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: March 10, 2024, 12:52:43 PM »

I'm 50 years old and I've seen some rubbish in my time but that first 35 minutes was as bad as anything I've seen from an Albion team. Absolutely abysmal. If Huddesfield weren't so bad we'd be 4 down.

Carlos has to change things at the break surely?

22

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 09, 2024, 02:53:26 AM »

To be fair you’d be fuming. Not assured of scoring it but even if missed they’d have been playing against ten for the remainder and battered us 11v11.  Understandable that the ref missed it but it’s still a bit poor from the ref and his team.

It (Kipre handball) is exactly the type of incident VAR should
be used for instead of what it is actually used for.

I don't blame the ref at all for missing it nor his assistants. I saw three or four replays and still didn't notice it. It was only when the commentators mentioned it after someone had spotted it after several replays and different angles that I became aware of the handball. There were three or four QPR players inside the penalty area and the only one to appeal was the centre forward who was right next to Kipre, all the others put their hands to their heads thinking Palmer had pulled off a wonder save.

It was incredibly difficult to spot at full speed in the moment.  QPR fans, players and staff have every right to feel really aggrieved, they absolutely deserved the three points.

Emotions run high straight after games and I can understand Steve Cook's comments but saying the officials have to get that decision right is expecting an awful lot without help.

23

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Conor Townsend

« on: March 08, 2024, 08:40:02 AM »

I can concede that he has some good games,I’m willing to accept he may be the best option we have (because Pipa hasn’t been given a run)
But best 1v1
People got closer during Covid ..

Check out his stats over a period of time.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 07, 2024, 09:20:20 AM »

Pieters and Reach were awful. Pipa cant defend, how many times was he grabbing the wingers shirt too, got away with it once.
Game bypassed our midfield due to QPR's press, they didnt stop.

Wallace isnt a striker, need someone to hold up the ball to take away the pressure. We needed to slow the game down, but when we did QPR were on the players pressing again.

Didnt think their first pen was a pen, if there was VAR, dont think it wouldve been given. Arms raised, yes, but jumping next to his side.

Apart from our 2 cracking goals, we didnt do much.


Still 1 point though, lets get the 3 on Sunday which will be another tough game!

It was a cast iron pen. Had Reach been facing away from the ball then your point is valid but he actually turned his body. When you do that and the ball hits the arm it's going to be given.

25

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Conor Townsend

« on: March 07, 2024, 08:51:29 AM »

Reach was desperate last night and Pipa when he came on was even worse. Watching him getting run ragged by their winger was a hard watch.

Maybe people will realise how good Townsend is now. No, he's not perfect and his lack of invention in forward areas irritates me a bit sometimes but he's the best 1 v 1 left back in the Championship.