26

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: This “rebuild”

« on: February 23, 2022, 08:50:01 AM »

Surely our dear Chairman Lai will have a few club contacts in the Chinese Super League who might be able to afford some of these players extortionate wages 

27

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: February 23, 2022, 08:38:30 AM »

worse if you ask me, hes already on thin ice if he keeps picking certain players. i expected a bit of a brucie bounce. this is worse than Val ball

Can forget about any new manager bounce now! Quite incredible how we've managed to go from Bruce coming in to 'save our season' to now probably trying to 'save his own skin', all in the space 4 games. Disastrous start. And feels ominously similar to Alan Pardew.

28

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: February 23, 2022, 04:20:58 AM »

Although without his 10 goals before Xmas we’d be in the relegation zone

The very least I'd expect for a player reported to be valued at 17mil, in the Championship!

29

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: February 22, 2022, 10:22:01 PM »

Guy is an absolute fraud. Added to the long list of over hyped, over priced, under deliver flops. Bench player at best for where we need to be.

30

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: February 22, 2022, 10:15:07 PM »

All too predictable. Same/ similar team sheet = same outcome. Boro were dire for the first 55mins but you knew as soon as they equalised the players would fold.

Like a few other posters mention, I’m just numb whenever we concede…seems the players feel the same way too.

Reach and Molumbay have no future at WBA so why continue to play them? No chance of going up now anyway.

31

General Football & Sports / Re: Jake Livermore

« on: February 10, 2022, 04:05:44 PM »

Bumped into a WBA football coach in a gym tonight.

Disagreed with me over Livermore.

Apparently heart and soul of club, best trainer, leader etc.

That's why we're heading towards League 1 with that type of outlook.

I think this is a big problem at the Albion. We always hear how they’re all ‘such a nice bunch of lads’ which is fine but bottom line is many of the players are far off the pace and in Jakes case a shocking record when it comes to discipline.

Never judged Livermore’s commitment. Seems a lovely guy and has been through a lot but as other posters have pointed out, we’ve got worse as a team during his captaincy this past 3-4 seasons.

It’s time to reset so it’s Liver-no-more for me. We must get new captain. Should be a priority for Bruce in the summer.

32

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Hawthorns Attendance

« on: February 05, 2022, 07:59:59 AM »

I think the issues with the attendances are much larger than just Val + COVID. Get the impression our home fan base has been in terminal decline for the past decade for a combination of reasons:

- The previous and new ownership have done nothing to attract people from the local community to come to the Hawthorns. I think it's widely known not a lot of our fans don't actually come from West Bromwich and the town is way more diverse than what it once was. Going to the football on a Sat is no longer a divine tradition. As far as I know, we do very little to reach out to those communities and incentivise them to come. 

- We missed the boat to really capitalise on growing the fanbase in our long stint in the PL. We were by far the most successful club in the Midlands. Villa and Wolves were in crisis and we just sat on our hands. In the space of 3 years Wolves have probably doubled or tripled their fan base overseas with signings such as Jiménez and Neves and this translates into football tourists and potential long term fans.

- No offence to older posters on here but our fan base is quite old. Long gone are the glory days of the 60s and late 70s when we would attract not just local fans but many across the UK. Sadly, many of the fans we had when we were playing in gates of 40,000+ are starting to pass on and young people (unless indoctrinated by their parents) are not as easy to attract with the amount of other things you can do on a Saturday.

- Prior to 2003, a lot of our fan base became dormant. Getting in to the PL was a huge boost, but after 20 years of yo-yo'ing, the novelty of WBA in the PL/ competing at the top of the Championship has worn off. We haven't pushed on and the lack of an identity demotivates fans to keep going.

Sorry for the doom and gloom but can only see our supporter base declining even further unless the club are more proactive and ambitious.

33

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next 5 games

« on: February 05, 2022, 07:25:59 AM »

All about the next game for me. Looking at 5 is mad. Bruce needs to see what tunes he can get out of the side against SU. Start well and I think we could go on a flyer.

He’ll need to coach the Val out of them first mind.

Exactly this. I know it's a cliche but  we need to take one game at a time, especially when theres just been such a big reset at the club. Wouldn't start worrying about what points we need to be taking from which games. Firstly we need to stop the rot. I'll even take a 1-0 loss, providing we see a bit more heart and ambition.

34

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: February 04, 2022, 05:26:47 PM »

For however unlikable Val was to the squad, Bruce pretty much comes across as the opposite. Seems a great people person.

If the players can’t get along with a guy like Bruce then it will really reaffirm who needs shifting on this Summer - come PL or Champ.

Could be a master stroke of an appointment. No excuses for the players now really. Let’s see what happens between now and the end of the season.

35

General Football & Sports / Re: Valérien Ismaël leaves WBA

« on: February 02, 2022, 05:34:17 PM »

Sad it's not worked out for Val. Hard to believe how quickly things turned south after achieving our longest unbeaten start to a season. It looked promising first couple of games but quickly became obvious his stubbornness to adapt, the make-up of our current squad, the attitude of the players and lack of player turnover would make his job impossible.

If Val can learn from his experience at WBA, he will do well, but it's shocking on our clubs part to offer this guy a 4 year deal and not know he'd behave this way. I don't think the fans would of minded him so much if he had of least tried something different; try new players, try new systems...but he did nothing.

Back to the drawing board then!

36

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Character of the squad

« on: January 30, 2022, 05:53:33 PM »

Some great posts here, and glad this is getting the attention it deserves. Yes, it’s hard to see Val being able to stay on given his complete detachment from reality and stubbornness but the character of some of our senior players is sickening.

It’s makes you realise how good we really had it when we had the likes of McAuley, Brunt, Olsson, Evans and Fletcher to name a few. Proper leaders, dependable, and top professionals.

This lot seem so mentally weak. And the senior players are not stepping up when the chips are down. It’s time the likes of Phillips, Livermore and Bartley move on. It’s not working.

But then the bigger issue in all this stems from the ownership. We’ve got two people in charge who probably know less about our club than most on here, no football director, and seen a complete mismanagement of player turnover.

I really don’t know the best way forward but whatever it is, it’s going to take time. Even Allardyce, one of the top English managers the past 20yrs couldn’t get a tune out of them not the motivation to stick around.

37

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Times story - sale of Pereira

« on: June 28, 2021, 07:46:53 AM »

Deary me, very alarming news. How the heck they ever thought they could get away with this in the era of 'gotcha' journalism is beyond me.

People questioned Peaces' dark arts at times but this is on another level. And why on earth Lai would even consider this with the stance the CCP has been taking in regards to corruption is suicide 

38

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Luke Dowling

« on: June 15, 2021, 07:50:36 AM »

Can't say Im too heartbroken, his performance has been patchy at best. That said, if it's true Dowling left because Lai wouldn't accept any of Dowling's recommendations for Head Coach, fair play to him for leaving as a matter of principle. I think a fair few of know how it feels to have the kinda boss who one minute is nowhere to been seen then next minute is micro-managing only the things that interest them.

Regardless who comes in, Lai won't change. We will have the same problem of no football knowledge at the top, no budget and no long term vision. Lai is panicking. He's been rinsed out of 200m for an asset on the decline and is now taking matters into his own hands.

39

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Manager Thread

« on: June 07, 2021, 04:17:34 AM »

The thought of Appleton being appointed depresses me greatly. Top 3 Appleton memories being:

1.) As Albion caretaker, managed to throw away a 3 goal lead against West Ham at home
2.) Seeing Lincoln fade after leading the pack most of last season
3.) Watching them try to defend an own goal lead and not have a single shot on target in the play-off final

Not for me thank you very much. Wilder and Lampard for me.

40

General Football & Sports / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: May 20, 2021, 02:59:46 AM »

Wouldn't be Albion without the drama. Pretty gutted he's gone. It seems the moment we get a half decent manager who is showing some signs of progression, we either lose them to someone else or in this case they walk. Hodgson, Mowbray and Allardyce have to be up there with some of the best we've had in the last 10-15yrs. None of them have stayed longer than 2 seasons.

Don't know what to make of his reasoning, 'I'm fireman Sam and always will be'. If there was one club he could of shaked that off it was with us. He's a local guy with a point to prove and the club were (supposedly) willing to entrust him with the budget and autonomy to build back better and establish us as a PL club once more.

I do fear for the future. I think it's pretty likely Wilder will come in, who of course has a decent track record but just feels like the Albion job is a poisoned chalice these days.

41

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Chances of survival

« on: January 17, 2021, 06:16:19 AM »

Let’s not get too fixated on Brighton. We are not even half way through the season yet so there is still plenty of games to drag a few more teams into the mixer.

Issue has been we seem to implode every time we get a good result. Hopefully that will change at West Ham.

If we can make 2-3 quality signing and get at least 2 wins from Sheffield Utd , Fulham and Brighton I think we will have as good a chance as anyone down there.

42

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: January 17, 2021, 02:48:27 AM »

Some things never change eh! Boing boing! Take that!

I was starting to question the desire of this team after the last few results, think there has been a massive hangover since Bilic left but as Romaine mentions, the defeat at Blackpool has provided the shot to arm we needed.

I’ve probably been one of Bartley’s biggest critics on here but was immense. Special shout outs to Robinson and Livermore who (granted lacked quality) ran themselves into the ground.

It’s days like these that make up for all the suffering. Would be monumental if we pulled off an escape but that will come down to who else we bring in.

43

General Football & Sports / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: December 16, 2020, 06:13:18 PM »

Underwhelmed but might just be the medicine we need to see the back of Lai.

Smacks of short term thinking but his record speaks for itself. Trust Albion to be the only club he gets relegated with!

Welcome Big Sam. You’ve got some job to win us over but good luck.

44

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Manager / Head Coach

« on: December 16, 2020, 04:44:13 PM »

Expectation > Eddie Howe

Reality > Sam Allardyce

It will either go two ways; the Pardew way or Hodgson way.

If it’s the former, we are screwed for another 2-3yrs.

45

General Football & Sports / Re: Slaven Bilic Sacked

« on: December 16, 2020, 04:24:48 PM »

Gutted to see Slav go. He’s a cult manager who rekindled a lot of love for our club so of course it’s hard to part ways with such a likeable guy.

BUT in the cold light of day the results (since Jan) have just not been good enough and football, however you may/ may not not like it, is a ruthless game.

Finding some of the reactions here a bit over the top. We got a draw against Man City. Not win the FA cup.

Fact is, the owner needs to sell the club and can only do that if we are in the PL. He doesn’t care what the fans want, he simply wants his money back then get the hell out.

Like most things in football, it’s a gamble. It didn’t work out when Pulis was let go, so let’s just hope it does this time or we are back to square one.

46

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 12, 2020, 04:56:23 PM »

How sickening. Whether it’s a 3-0 second half capitulation against Chelsea, the multiple VAR controversies, a last minute loss against Spurs or former players coming back to haunt us, this season is turning out to be one of the most miserable in our history.

Just thankful the fans are not there wasting their hard earned money on all of it. Season 2021/22 can’t come soon enough!

47

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: December 12, 2020, 04:14:54 PM »

What’s the evidence that they want to play for him?

The way they started the second half perhaps?

48

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: December 12, 2020, 03:45:56 PM »

Yes he was a terrible appointment and on a par with Bilic this season.

Completely different situation. Pardew had half decent PL team who didn’t want to play for him.

Bilic has a Championship team who want to play for him but just not good enough.

49

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: December 12, 2020, 03:36:31 PM »

This could be 4-0 plus. No leaders on the pitch. No pressing. No nothing.

Thank god the supporters are not allowed in stadiums. The atmosphere would be toxic.

50

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 06, 2020, 02:02:52 PM »

Was shaking up to be a good game after the Gallagher equaliser. Not much worth talking about after THAT decision. Another case of the ref being guilt tripped into questioning their original decision.

I like many others are becoming disillusioned with the game after what we’ve all seen this year. It was always going to be hard with the budget > squad we had at our disposal but when the system is against you too, we haven’t got a hope in hells chance.