[baggie82]

I think I have read in the past that Bilic employs zonal marking and if true could this be part of the problem? Could it be that it's not so much the players being good enough defensively but more to do with the fact we simply don't have the the right players to play zonal marking and might possibly explain why Johnstone (not sure what he was like at Villa) is always rooted to his line.

No, we switched from zonal to man-marking half-way through last season and have carried on the same way this season. Also, regardless of how the defenders track the opposition players that has nothing to do with Johnstone being stuck on his goal line.

[WBASweden]

                   Button
Furlong Hegazi Ajayi/Ivanovic O'Shea
                   Field
Pereira Gallagher Sawyers Diangana
               Robinson

Think this set up would help with Sawyers defensive issues and play the ball through the midfield

[baggie96]

Johnstone
O’Shea Ajayi Ivanovic Gibbs
Field Livermore Gallagher
Pereira Robinson Diangana

Stop playing a back 5!

[Brooklynbaggie]

I also think we should go back to a back four. This needs to be organised by a vocal keeper that commands his area. I don’t know enough about Button but Johnstone is going to change. If we’re going to play around with things let’s us do it in front of the defence (formation that is).
A better league with better players is not the time for us to play a new formation with a team that is in essence the same as last years. We need better players for positions as only a few look comfortable at this level and understand the need and importance of keeping possession.
I don’t think the formations we played last year were wrong, just at times the personnel chosen or introduced were questionable.
But we got promoted so what do I know.

[beechyboy90]

The system needs better players.
We need shot of some players off wages so we can recruit.

I would give austin a free transfer just to get him off the books his legs have gone. Phillips been a waste of space doesnt look anywhere near fit or interested. HRK needs releasing next summer when his contract up a long with bartley.

Need to get Harper out on loan.
Realistically I would like a gk cm and cf w2 but it ain't going to happen.

[johnny Cash]

The system needs better players.
We need shot of some players off wages so we can recruit.

I would give austin a free transfer just to get him off the books his legs have gone. Phillips been a waste of space doesnt look anywhere near fit or interested. HRK needs releasing next summer when his contract up a long with bartley.

Need to get Harper out on loan.
Realistically I would like a gk cm and cf w2 but it ain't going to happen.

If Austin is on £50k a week, he’s not going on a free. I reckon it costs you the best part of £1.5m.

[baggie82]

If Austin is on £50k a week, he’s not going on a free. I reckon it costs you the best part of £1.5m.

Yeah we aren't going to let Austin walk on a free unless somebody else is picking up what is left of his contract. I'm still hoping a few championship clubs will get desperate as we approach the end of the window, although the window between us and the championship closes later so we are going to have to be patient.

[darbolina]

I'm beginning to think we need to solidify a lot more - play a 4-5-1 bit like how we did under Roy, so a backline with Ivanovic and Hegazi involved. Maybe push Semi into DM to solidify us a bit more. This means we could push Sawyers and Gallagher forward in front of Semi with Pereira and Diangana on the wings and God knows upfront (Tea lady better than HRK or Austin so maybe only robinson is an admittedly poor option). We're running out of options a bit but I think it's clear we can break onto teams but look ropey at the back.

wonder if we'll ever sign an actual striker?

[letmereadposts]

We're about £50 million short of a premier league starting 11, based on certain players not seemingly stepping up after the first couple of games. Hopefully the team can maintain shape for 90 mins, certain players can step up sooner rather than later and any signings - including our forthcoming striker whoever that may be - all work out.

If we could take things to the last day I would be tempted to accept this now. Early days however, and a couple of consecutive wins with strong performances from new additions could completely change belief across the whole club.

[zippyandbungle]

We're about £50 million short of a premier league starting 11, based on certain players not seemingly stepping up after the first couple of games. Hopefully the team can maintain shape for 90 mins, certain players can step up sooner rather than later and any signings - including our forthcoming striker whoever that may be - all work out.

If we could take things to the last day I would be tempted to accept this now. Early days however, and a couple of consecutive wins with strong performances from new additions could completely change belief across the whole club.

To be devils advocate...is the striker the issue , I actually think CR7 😄 is and can be ok, if we sign a new striker at say 14-18m ....a) what do we do with Robinson?, B) what if they don’t hit the ground running?
Would we be better trying to get a Kante/Makelle type player in and putting the money in to that position along with a keeper ?

[letmereadposts]

To be devils advocate...is the striker the issue , I actually think CR7 😄 is and can be ok, if we sign a new striker at say 14-18m ....a) what do we do with Robinson?, B) what if they don’t hit the ground running?
Would we be better trying to get a Kante/Makelle type player in and putting the money in to that position along with a keeper ?

It’s a great point. Last season people questioned “how do we replace 50 goals strike force” and the answer was “From midfield!” Same premise in adding more solid quality in the middle.

I like Robinson for where our squad is now I’m pleased to have him and like his movement. Not as limited as some believe him to be and let’s not forget he scored the promotion goal!

[Oldbury24]

If Austin is on £50k a week, he’s not going on a free. I reckon it costs you the best part of £1.5m.

I'd take a free transfer over a loan and subsidising his wages.  Hand snapped off.

[gazberg]

Was advised that this might be the best place for now to discuss contracts so yeah. Austin, HRK, Phillips, Townsend, Grosiki, Peltier, Gibbs expiring in 9 months.

200k pw saved+ if/when we go down. Most have nothing to contribute, most have no transfer value. Would be happy to let them go at Xmas for frees or nominals.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Was advised that this might be the best place for now to discuss contracts so yeah. Austin, HRK, Phillips, Townsend, Grosiki, Peltier, Gibbs expiring in 9 months.

200k pw saved+ if/when we go down. Most have nothing to contribute, most have no transfer value. Would be happy to let them go at Xmas for frees or nominals.

I would wager that three or four of them will get extensions. Especially if we’re relegated.

HRK, Phillips, Townsend and one of either Peltier or Gibbs

[gazberg]

I would wager that three or four of them will get extensions. Especially if we’re relegated.

HRK, Phillips, Townsend and one of either Peltier or Gibbs

The board want shooting if they give any of them extensions IMO.

[LiamTheBaggie]

The board want shooting if they give any of them extensions IMO.

Makes the job easier for Dowling.

More disappointingly, given the lack of monies available I’m not sure I trust us to sign much better !!

[mulliganstired]

No, we switched from zonal to man-marking half-way through last season and have carried on the same way this season. Also, regardless of how the defenders track the opposition players that has nothing to do with Johnstone being stuck on his goal line.

So we switched around the time results starting going pear shaped... interesting.  I remember at the time Bilic saying things about tightening up at the back; we didn't seem to do that very much, but maybe we lost the attacking freedom zonal marking gave us.

[gazberg]

Makes the job easier for Dowling.

More disappointingly, given the lack of monies available I’m not sure I trust us to sign much better !!

Well they can't have any excuses as they still havre the lists from last year drawn up. 

[johnny Cash]

So we switched around the time results starting going pear shaped... interesting.  I remember at the time Bilic saying things about tightening up at the back; we didn't seem to do that very much, but maybe we lost the attacking freedom zonal marking gave us.

I’m not sure how zonal marking could contribute to attacking freedom?

[johnny Cash]

I would wager that three or four of them will get extensions. Especially if we’re relegated.

HRK, Phillips, Townsend and one of either Peltier or Gibbs

I wouldn’t be surprised either but we absolutely shouldn’t give any of those new contracts, except possibly Townsend who may just be ok back up in the championship and is probably on modest wages.

Whilst on the subject of wages, it’s been mentioned a few times players have had 100% increases for promotion to the premiership. I have no idea if it’s true (it seems high to me) but if it is I hope we seriously consider how we structure contracts moving forwards so as not to hamstring us.

[MarkW]

Was advised that this might be the best place for now to discuss contracts so yeah. Austin, HRK, Phillips, Townsend, Grosiki, Peltier, Gibbs expiring in 9 months.

200k pw saved+ if/when we go down. Most have nothing to contribute, most have no transfer value. Would be happy to let them go at Xmas for frees or nominals.

It makes you think that perhaps the 2 year plan to get promoted had some thinking behind it. All those could have been replaced for "free" as it were - letting them go at the end of the season.

[ttree30]

We can debate systems and tactics all day long but the main fact remains we have a squad nowhere near this level. I don’t see why anyone would be surprised by our start. We’ve been poor since Xmas. This team will finish bottom by a long way.

Sadly I agree. I think this is the weakest Albion PL team since Megson’s first promotion side, and arguably they were a lot more resilient.

There are huge weaknesses everywhere you look - front to back, and the areas in between. We can’t keep clean sheets, we don’t have the ability to break at pace and we don’t have any sort of reliable goalscorer. That’s a recipe for disaster.

Even the appalling Johnny Giles/Nobby Stiles/Ron Saunders assembly of 1986 was probably no worse (4 wins all season - 2 of them against Blues) and Don Howe’s 1973 failures had several good players (the Browns, Wile, Robertson, Cantello, Hartford, Johnston) who were poorly led and motivated.

I’ve been watching the Albion for nearly 50 years, and I don’t like the way this side looks at all. How I’d love to be proved wrong.

[gazberg]

It makes you think that perhaps the 2 year plan to get promoted had some thinking behind it. All those could have been replaced for "free" as it were - letting them go at the end of the season.

Quite possibly Mark. It really does look more and more like the board were not prepared for this promotion.

[beechyboy90]

Was advised that this might be the best place for now to discuss contracts so yeah. Austin, HRK, Phillips, Townsend, Grosiki, Peltier, Gibbs expiring in 9 months.

200k pw saved+ if/when we go down. Most have nothing to contribute, most have no transfer value. Would be happy to let them go at Xmas for frees or nominals.

Austin Phillips grosicki peltier Townsend Gibbs yes. Hrk fine as third choice.
Think Bartley contract expires too he's another one I would let go on free

[gazberg]

Austin Phillips grosicki peltier Townsend Gibbs yes. Hrk fine as third choice.
Think Bartley contract expires too he's another one I would let go on free

Yes thats right, hes on about 15- 20k pw in the EFL too. It's a no from me.