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Next Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: Today at 07:59:45 AM »

Really hope he goes 343/523 for this one.

Similar to Leicester, have our RCB and LCB quite wide to prevent their 8s breaking through.

Front 3 press their 3 defenders man to man like the last 15. With how well they keep the ball, you can’t expect BTA and GD to press outnumbered for 90 mins.

Was thinking the same probably 5-2-3.
 The 3 man press we had near the end of the game seemed to be causing them plenty of problems and McCarthy, Stevens and Bednarek looked nervous at times receiving the ball.

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Next Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Match Officials

« on: Today at 07:48:36 AM »

Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood
Assistant Referee: Mark Scholes
Fourth Official: Keith Stroud

Mostly refs in the PL these days but did our 1-2 at home with Leicester back in December.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Maja joins Albion

« on: Yesterday at 07:47:42 AM »

https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2024/05/12/i-was-pushing-josh-west-broms-carlos-corberan-explains-josh-maja-omission-from-southampton-play-off-clash/

Anyone got access to E+S articles? I can't read this one.

I found this from Birmingham World, I'm sure it's the same basic article.

https://www.birminghamworld.uk/sport/football/west-brom/carlos-corberan-press-conference-west-brom-southampton-josh-maja-andi-weimann-4625354

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Last Match Forum - 12/05 Southampton (H - Play-Offs 1st Leg) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: May 12, 2024, 05:15:30 PM »

Thought we played well and maybe deserved a slim win.
Thought we defended well apart from a little spell 2nd half.
As usual our lack of being able to finish was very evident. Diangana should have scored and both Bartley and Furlong (?) should have done better with their chances.
We're still in it though and all the pressure is now on Soton.

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Last Match Forum - 12/05 Southampton (H - Play-Offs 1st Leg) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: May 11, 2024, 06:48:33 PM »

Have it a listen, but skipped the Norwich-Leeds chat and zoned out on the bedding stuff. Really good insight otherwise.

I've always struggled to pin down CC's style, so it's nice to hear those on the podcast confirm he changes things based on the opponent a lot (they use the two games Vs Coventry as examples). Makes things seems less clear cut and really bigs up Corberan's tactical nous.

Edit: Does anyone know where to find extended highlights of the two games Vs Saints this year on YouTube? WBA channel always have such short highlights when we lose.

Found the Feb game here:

https://youtu.be/cHMlVG0IEyo?si=u1kaeboK3y7TllCN

The official site does full match replays.. not sure how long they stay on though. You need an account though.

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Last Match Forum - 12/05 Southampton (H - Play-Offs 1st Leg) / Match Officials

« on: May 09, 2024, 10:33:38 AM »

Referee: Sam Barrott
Assistant Referee: Shaun Hudson
Assistant Referee: Blake Antrobus
Fourth Official: David Webb
Reserve Assistant Referee: Ian Cooper

Reffed us twice; 3-2 over Swansea and 2-0 at Rotherham.

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Next Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: Ticket Info & Requests

« on: May 09, 2024, 10:10:25 AM »

Ticket and coach booked. Really hope we are taking a winning score line to this.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: RIP Paul Holmes

« on: May 08, 2024, 11:05:25 AM »

A year younger than me, no age at all.
RIP Paul Holmes and condolences to the family.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: May 07, 2024, 08:53:15 PM »

Really surprised by the sacking of Rosenior.
Was only saying to a City fan today that provided they keep most of the squad and the manager they'd be in with a shout of play offs next season.
Really stupid decision on the face of it.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Ian Pearce

« on: May 07, 2024, 11:10:30 AM »

Mistaken identity mate. I really didn't, but now I look back, I see he was answering another poster. Apologies for my oversight.

Ah yes apologies from me too it was NJS that asked the question.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Ian Pearce

« on: May 07, 2024, 08:32:18 AM »

This is the Ian Pearce thread, but don't let that stop you from having a pop at Townsend !!!! Honestly, you never miss an opportunity. You are obsessed 

You did ask him who he would replace Townsend with, he answered your question. No need for the "Obsessed" comment.

I think Pearce is part of the problem. He has made some good signings over his time here but he has made more poor ones.

He doesn't seem to have the imagination that we need from a head of recruitment, especially as we have such a small/tight budget to play with.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Cedric Kipre

« on: May 07, 2024, 08:22:50 AM »

Fantastic player . It’s a shame that some couldn’t see that when you look at comments made here at the start of the season . Let’s hope we pull out all the stops to keep him here on a long term contract . Previous managers should also hang their heads in shame for the way he was treated by them , Billic and Bruce in particular.

I'm guessing you didn't see many games at the start of the season then?
 He was at fault for both goals we conceded on the opening day at Blackburn and looked ropey against Swansea and Leeds too. He's been less than impressive in some of our recent losses too.
He did make a massive improvement after that and was for me our best defender across the whole season, but lets not pretend he was outstanding all season long.
I hope we do give him a new contract and the signs are that Corberan trusts him.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Anything Birmingham City

« on: May 04, 2024, 03:58:48 PM »

That new stadium is going to look good in the 3rd division!

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Last Match Forum - 04/05 Preston North End (H) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: May 04, 2024, 03:54:32 PM »

The kind of performance I had hoped for but didn't expect. Everyone played well.
Good to see us play with patience in the first half.
BTA busy all game but should have scored.
Fellows and Johnston both caused problems and Mowatt and Yokuslu dominated in the centre of the park.
Now we need the same kind of performance next Sunday.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Alex Palmer

« on: May 02, 2024, 11:41:03 AM »

But that stat in itself isn’t necessarily a good measure of his goal keeping ability. For example, in all 17 of those games, the opposition may not have a shot on target. As I understand, the more detailed metrics suggest he’s about average for this division.

His shot saving percentage is 70.1 percent which puts him 7th.

https://fbref.com/en/comps/10/keepers/Championship-Stats

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Alex Palmer

« on: May 02, 2024, 11:36:24 AM »

Can we cut out the petty squabbling, it's getting very tiresome.
If you can't debate like adults maybe take a break from the forum.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: State of the Squad - (Championship 2024/25)

« on: May 01, 2024, 08:12:07 AM »

I've gone for Furlong, Townsend, Ajayi and Molumby.
 I think we can find improvements on all of them and Molumby appeared to be out of favour earlier this season.
As I said in an earlier post, a centre forward is a must though.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Under 23's / Academy Thread

« on: April 30, 2024, 12:50:39 PM »

Played 80 mins. Two goals and an assist for the opener which heard scored. 

One trialist started, Ed Jones from Everton apparently, and a second came on for him at half time.

Seems like a good number of this bunch need loans next season, Whitwell, Heard, Hall and Higgins will all be 19 or over early in next season and they have to start playing men’s football.

The other trialist was Mo Diomande from Wolves.
Good performance by all and great for Maja to score a brace and assist too.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: State of the Squad - (Championship 2024/25)

« on: April 30, 2024, 11:18:55 AM »

We need a goal scorer more than anything else and I'd see that as an addition rather than a replacement.
We could do with upgrades for many of our current squad.

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Last Match Forum - 04/05 Preston North End (H) / Match Officials

« on: April 29, 2024, 04:47:01 PM »

Ref: Stephen Martin
1st Ass: Mark Dwyer
2nd Ass: Rob Smith
4th Off: David Webb

Reffed our 0-0 with Plymouth, our 4-1 against Blackburn and our 1-1 at Hull.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Yann M'Vila signs short term deal

« on: April 29, 2024, 12:33:01 PM »

Nowhere near ready. Even in the Aldershot game whilst doing some good things, he also made a lot of bad mistakes which you wouldn’t be able to get away with against a Championship.

Whitwell, on the other hand, is more than good enough to be 4th choice CM

Maybe it was WhitwelI was thinking of...who ever played the more minutes in the game looked the better player to me.
To be honest none of our current PL2 side look ready for the Championship especially as they are second bottom.
I'd like to see Taylor and maybe Malcolm more involved in match day squads next season Cleary too if he's recovered from his injury...and is still with us.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Yann M'Vila signs short term deal

« on: April 29, 2024, 10:00:48 AM »

Taxi for M’Villla.
Contribution nil in the Sheffield Wednesday game and as Boinging says above, should be nowhere near the squad. Would rather see a young Academy player given a run-out.

Fenton Heard played really well in the Cup against Aldershot, maybe he deserves a chance. The PL2 side are second bottom so he may be needed more with them?

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Matty Phillips

« on: April 29, 2024, 09:53:48 AM »

Yeah, goodbye to all of them please. Make it a 7 seater and ensure Weiman and M’Vila are in it too.

Chalobah too...god that's a depressing list. 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Matty Phillips

« on: April 29, 2024, 09:43:02 AM »

Taxi for Phillips with Townsend driving.

and Reach, Kelly and Bartley in the back!

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Play off Points Target

« on: April 28, 2024, 03:44:10 PM »

Well here we are, still in our hands, as it was 3 losses ago! Probably needing a win at home to guarantee 6th unless Plymouth do us a favour against Hull.
 We all feared this would be the case, we don't half make it hard on ourselves.

We only need a point from Preston to guarantee 6th spot unless Hull win by 12 goals.
Obviously we can't go into the game thinking a point will do as that kind of thinking will most likely end in defeat.
I want to see us start quickly and create chances. If we can score early then it should calm everyone down a bit too...us fans included.
As fans we need to make it as hostile an atmosphere for Preston as we can.