[ComebackStrodds]

The stats from the BBC web site are as follows:-

WBA v Swansea

Possession 35% v 65%

Shots 11 v 10

On Target 4 v 3

Goals 2 v 0

Corners 5 v 4

Fouls 11 v 12.

For those of you old enough to remember Alan Buckley's tenure as Albion Manager, we actual passed teams to the point of death (metaphor). Even opposing defenders would stop and admire how well we kept possession in front of them and how well we passed the ball from side to side, then backwards and start again, it got us nowhere. So, with regard to possession, its how effective you are with the ball when you've got that counts.

In the final analysis, I think it apt to refer to the title of the late great Ronnie Allan book "Its Goals That Count"

Absolutely, it's how effective you are when in possession.

The name Buckely sends shivers down my spine. He's released an autobiography called "pass and move" should be "sideways and backwards"
In the book he talks about how to try and motivate the team after 10 straight defeats he got in someone to do the Zulu story in the dressing room, didn't work.

[crazedwbafan18]

Chuffed with that performance. First half was as scrappy as we're used to with the odd half chance, like the header that was cleared off the line. However, Swansea were very good at keeping the ball if not creating very much. Second though, things clicked, we were at it from the off and fully deserved the points. Hopefully a sign of things to come, would be great to carry this momentum into the west ham and sunderland games.

[PsalmXXIII]

Absolutely, it's how effective you are when in possession.

The name Buckely sends shivers down my spine. He's released an autobiography called "pass and move" should be "sideways and backwards"
In the book he talks about how to try and motivate the team after 10 straight defeats he got in someone to do the Zulu story in the dressing room, didn't work.

Look at the Vile's recent possession stats. Dominating games sometimes and not having a shot on target. Possession means nothing if you can't do anything with it.

Incredible really that we had 35% possession, had more shots, more on target and more corners. Would suggest Swansea were doing nothing with the ball and when we got it we got it up the pitch. Suggests a solid, difficult defensive display.

[Dexy]

How good does it feel to have a fully deserved home win again at this level ? , can't remember the last time i felt such a buzz after a game . Thought they all played well especially Brown , one vital step against a team that normally leaves us standing like statues . Keep it up lads.

[Fritzl Palace]

Massive win for us last night. After the Burnley game I was fearing the worst because we were rank awful in that one, but other than another sluggish start where we could have easily conceded from a couple of corners, we were in complete control.

Was amazed by how bad Swansea were; I'll put it down to an off night and missing Sigurdsson who loves a goal against us usually (who doesn't) but they will need to seriously strengthen again come the summer. Fortunately for them their great start leaves them virtually safe already. I thought Gomis led the line well for them with very little support. Considering we had Dawson at right back and Brunt at left back, Montero and Dyer should be disappointed with their performances.

What in the hell has happened to Ideye Brown since the transfer window closed. Came on against Burnley and seemed much improved, got his goal and a confidence boost and last night he was a new man. Swansea just could not handle him, every time the ball went up to him it stuck and his link up play with the sulk was very impressive. Took his goal well and Fernandez won't face many tougher opponents; if this is a sign of things to come I will be very confident for the rest of the season, he was a massive handful, seemed to gain a yard of pace that was lacking beforehand and had great control which again was seriously lacking.

Berahino, by contrast, paled in comparison. Very little from him on the ball and lack of work rate off it, took his goal very well but that's a given as the lad can finish. If only he applied himself more he could be a very good player, but compared to the performance Harry Kane put in a week or so back against us, he is lacking.

Fletcher and Yacob combined well in the midfield, though I think it will take a few games for Fletcher to get his fitness levels fully up. Cannot wait to have Mulumbu back fit in there as well, formidable midfield trio there. Yacob, unsurprisingly and I have no idea why that cretin Irvine couldn't see it, is so effective in there, breaks up so many attacks before they begin.

McManaman has disappointed me so far, flashes of pace and a willingness to take players on aside, his end product has been poor and he seriously cannot tackle. Morrison and Brunt were fudging awful but that is another given. Roll on the summer when hopefully both will go, nothing against either, they have been fantastic servants of the club and I thank them for it, but neither are up to it at this level any longer.

Lescott would be my man of the match despite Brown's showing. What a player he truly is, read everything.

[stokelad84]

Possession is not an important stat. Goals, shots on target, territory and corners are all more important.

If a team has 60% of the ball, but the majority of possession in their own half, is that a danger?

Pulis will not play possession football, he gets the ball forward to put the opposition defense under pressure. He wants more accurate passing and crossing yes, but not passing back to Foster just for the sake of it.

[Fritzl Palace]

If it's accurate crossing he is after he will have to limit Brunt to not venturing past the halfway line judging by the two or three crosses he attempted last night 

[dangerman]

Solid performance.

However, me being Mr negative I think we have a long way to go before we're comfortable mid table.

Brunt isn't a left back. Granted he is better at left back than left midfield now but his crossing and corner kicks are awful. He needs to be stopped from taking them.

Dawson isn't a right back, did ok last night but would much prefer wisdom there I think.

Foster needs to improve his kicking. This is the one thing that lets him down.

Positives were Fletcher who brings a calm influence to midfield. Lescott looks back to his best now he is in his correct position. McAluley is so under rated. Such a fantasic CB and keeps things simple. It's such a shame he's the wrong side of 30.

Berahino looked like he was enjoying his football.

THere also seems to be a bit of team spirit back, especially when we scored the first, it was nice to see the team celebrate.

[PsalmXXIII]

If we can't have a midfield that helps the forwards and least they're helping the backs. Need to watch the highlights again and see who was involved with the goals.

It is very evident though that conceding the first goal effectively kills any chance of us winning a game. We HAVE to make teams attack us for the duration to find space up top. And inviting pressure means we need to stay solid at the back. Our best seasons were on the back of counter attacking football, and that's where our goals have come from this season.

Either way, first two goals from open play under Pulis, keep it up.

[sie_davo]

Good game plan from us last night. Swansea looked v poor compared to their usual standards and the loss of Bony could hit them but I think our shape first half was excellent, and the spine of the team superb.  Lescott oozed class at times, Fletcher and Yacob broke up play brilliantly and kept Shelvey and Kim very quiet.

Dawson isn't a right back and so naturally struggled but he also imposed himself on their left side from Foster's kicks and I think that helped with his confidence.

Brown just makes me smile!  Sometimes it seems more luck than judgement with what he does, but his passion is there for all to see and he could have easily jumped out of the way for Morrison to get a shot off - instead he took command and bagged a good goal.  And special mention for  Berahino - some have said he didn't look committed last night but he filled into a five man midfield to help us shore up the side and keep that elusive clean sheet.

Still a long way to go and would like to see proper full-backs utilised (maybe this weekend?) but I think that was a big step to safety last night.

[Bob]

Possession is not an important stat. Goals, shots on target, territory and corners are all more important.

If a team has 60% of the ball, but the majority of possession in their own half, is that a danger?

Pulis will not play possession football, he gets the ball forward to put the opposition defense under pressure. He wants more accurate passing and crossing yes, but not passing back to Foster just for the sake of it.

Exactly right. To many of our lot are hung up on possession. We let Swansea have the ball around the half way line and didn't really press them until they tried to come forward. If we'd pressed to high up the pitch they would have passed around us and probably cause more problems.

Excellent performance. Good to see us at it from the off rather than going 2 down before we start to play. Brown, Fletcher, Brunt, Mozza, Mcmanaman all very good although no one had a bad game. More of the same please

[fatboy_coach]

  And special mention for  Berahino - some have said he didn't look committed last night but he filled into a five man midfield to help us shore up the side and keep that elusive clean sheet.

I'm with you there, he kept coming deep to collect the ball and try to start an attack. In fact on the commmentry online you could hear Pulis telling him to get back up the park! Look at his reaction to Ideyes goal, he was celebrating as it crossed the line. He did a job for the team and scored a sweet goal, gotta be happy with that.

[baggieboyfred]

Cannot believe what i was seeing , is this the real Brown Ideye if it is man give me more, give me more , i will be the first fan ( one of thousands I suspect) to hold my hands up and say perhaps the recruitment team got it right afterall, another dozen performances like that and maybe, just maybe we have  a number 9 to follow in the Albion tradition
Agreat performance all round still worrying that a centre back and a wide midfielder are preferred to regular full backs and it did show occasionly, but you cannot argue against the win, glad to see TP seems to have taken on board JL comments because we looked a lot more solid in the middle with him there.

also looks like my fears about DF could well be misplaced , thought he played well , tired a bit towards the end , hardly surprising bur again a few more performances like that and we should have no worries , bring on the hammers

[seteefeet]

Absolutely, it's how effective you are when in possession.

The name Buckely sends shivers down my spine. He's released an autobiography called "pass and move" should be "sideways and backwards"
In the book he talks about how to try and motivate the team after 10 straight defeats he got in someone to do the Zulu story in the dressing room, didn't work.

You must have nerves of steel to read that! That section of history is locked away in my brain, if I read it I think all the memories would come back and I would become a jibbering wreck!
Surely it should have been called "pass and lose" anyway.

[WBAinDEVON]

Their Taylor had a mare

[LiamTheBaggie]

Quite a comfortable victory in the end wasn't it?

Really happy with the second half performance. I thought we looked a lot better when we got the ball down on the floor and moved it around a bit more rather than the hoofing to Berahino and Brown Ideye who both had superb games.

Delighted for both the strikers to get on the score sheet, Ideye in particular looked absolutely terrific. Almost like a new signing. I hope this kicks him on for the rest of the season because we're a side in needs of goals.