51

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: January 02, 2024, 07:03:07 AM »

Fine margins and a squad that looked depleted come the end of the game. Pipa (who I would like to see more in a full back or wing back role over Townsend due to his superior technical ability) ended in the number 10 role. Reach left wing. Chalobah ajayi and pieters as subs. With the likes of BTA Furlong mowatt looking dead on their feet in that second half.

Unfortunately we need some of our attacking players back from injury- Phillips and Maja we won't see for months. Dike on the cusp, swift feeling his muscle in warm up so obviously not right, Wallace also not available. Capping off with Sarmiento being recalled and Diangana going to AFCON.

Without some reinforcements in this window our season will probably end like last season which is Don Carlos working miracles through to the end and us coming up just a little short because of our thread bare squad. Can't fault the effort today just needed BTA to finish his chance and it's a different game we may have got all 3 points or even a point.

I love the fa cup and always hate when we make so many changes but based on our injury crisis I see nothing else but wholesale changes for Sunday. Perhaps shifting Kelly or reach (or both) and Sarmiento going back gives us some option to go into the loan market.

52

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: December 30, 2023, 07:54:37 AM »

Fortunately 10 men of Norwich probably didn't over exhaust us however sure the Leeds game took it out of them. Wonder if we will see some rotation? Yokusulu played 180 minutes wonder if we will see chalobah? Wallace tight groin does that mean Sarmiento or swift?

I would take a point pre game.

53

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 30, 2023, 07:50:38 AM »

1 nil to the Albion. Becoming a trend under Don Carlos.

Even though we weren't as dominant as v Leeds we still deserved a win. Didn't really give Leeds much. Potentially a pen by kipre but would have been soft barely touched him. Okay missed a sitter so it could have been comfier.

Wallace and those little cut backs are delightful he's in form at the moment- hopefully injury is minor. Yokusulu very good again. Special mention to our full backs who at times get pelters. Furlong was very good tonight. Can we get something in south Wales and really capitalize on this? We have caught 6 points up on Leeds and 4 on ipswich in less than a week... can't afford to be sucked into the group battling for 5th and 6th.

Very happy Baggie.

54

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: December 30, 2023, 07:40:32 AM »

Best coach in this division.

With forward line, worthy of the name, we'd be pushing Leicester at the top.

Bingo. We are relying on being a tight defensive unit rather than out gunning people. Would like to see this team with Dike back. Wallace supply at the moment is top draw.

55

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: December 30, 2023, 07:38:51 AM »

Hopefully he has done well enough that Cardiff want to make the move permenant.

56

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: December 30, 2023, 07:37:55 AM »

Should be targeting a start v Aldershot in cup.

57

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: December 30, 2023, 07:36:09 AM »

5 goals and 4 assists must be Dianganas best return since he played under billic. 3 years in the wilderness almost. Keep it up lad

58

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 26, 2023, 07:14:02 PM »

Could have been 3 or 4. Only negative is we didn't pad the goal difference and make it a more comfortable afternoon- Albion that.

Clean sheet, 3 points, no injuries, swift looked back to his best. Job done. Hopefully we can follow it up v Leeds friday

59

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: December 19, 2023, 05:45:42 PM »

We always make too many changes for these games. I want to see Josh Griffiths. Hopefully Dike if he hasn't already figures and Pipa and Fellows from the start. Otherwise we should took play our full strength side and go for the cup. Our 2 best promotion campaigns megson and Mowbray we had great cup runs.

60

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL PREMIER LEAGUE THREAD

« on: December 19, 2023, 05:42:03 PM »

IF anyone pays CC release clause then i'd hope we could persuade Cooper here. He should have been selected over Ismael at the time for me anyway.

Albion haven't got anybody working on such contingency plans sadly but I think you are right

61

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: December 18, 2023, 06:01:54 AM »

People still forget he's gone from league 2 to the championship and he isn't an out and out centre forward. I think he is improving weekly and fine for where we are.

62

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Cedric Kipre

« on: December 18, 2023, 06:00:40 AM »

Who would have thought we would all been clambering for him to sign an extension. I imagine his wage isn't anywhere near as high of some of those others that are out of contract. Having gone motherwell to wigan.

63

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tom Fellows

« on: December 18, 2023, 05:58:53 AM »

He's as raw as Sarmiento just not quite up to that level. More like a Wallace style of winger which is run at pace and whip it in vs Diangana or Sarmiento that do more tricks and shoulder drops. I think he will start in the cup

64

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 17, 2023, 08:17:51 PM »

We didn't lose 4 points in a week. Not vintage but enough. Wallace did well. BTA fed off scraps. I want to see Pipa more he looked handy

65

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Maja joins Albion

« on: December 13, 2023, 12:04:56 AM »

CC has stated post match tonight that the 'tackle' on Maja has destroyed all his ankle ligaments and he requires surgery. Out for 4 months minimum.

There should be retrospective options available for tackles as hideous as this one. Simply saying a yellow has been given is not enough. All players need protecting from that kind of cowardly challenge

He's been on the end of 2 criminal tackles poor guy. He had just bagged and took that pressure off himself. Hopefully Dike back soon

66

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 12, 2023, 11:49:12 PM »

A first half as bad as Sunderland. No creativity at all. Much better second half, we were still short on quality but much more attacking intent. Diangana showing that if you take a chance and actually shoot you might get some luck.
Great freekick from Wallace.
Defensively we looked solid but the midfield was stale and the first thoughtseemed to be to go sideways or backwards rather than trying to progress through the centre of the park.

Having said all that  3 points was very important and we got them!!

Only saw bits here and there through work commitments but it looked disjointed in attack. But classic job done. Follow it up v Stoke and no complaints from me

67

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Matty Phillips

« on: December 04, 2023, 10:52:29 PM »

Think this is extremely harsh.

We can a critical oh Phillips in recent years but every player says he’s the hardest trainer and he’s given it his all for the team this season.

I would say there is an issue with increased fixtures and potential cold weather on his muscles.

He's been the same his whole time here. I agree he's been one of the better performers this season. Any contract extension has to be on considerably lower terms. Lower base and being available to play

68

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 04, 2023, 07:19:41 PM »

Eh? With a back four, we destroyed a top-class Ipswich team and controlled an away game against a potential play-off rival.

The only negative is that it guarantees an inept Townsend to start at LB.

Unless he wants to try and see what Pipa has... I mean he looks no worse at defending but technically superior

69

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 02, 2023, 06:54:16 PM »

Didn't think we were all that today. Looked a little jaded from 2 previous tough games. Bench could and should have been used earlier.

Thrown a point away at end but I have no problem with us trying to win it when momentum was with us at the end. Was still avoidable. Swift looked miles off it. With Wallace injured and looks like Phillips hamstring surely we have to give young Fellows a start.

Positive for me today is Maja broke his duck he looks a better finisher than BTA surely at some point we have to give him a go from the start?

Saints and Cardiff away and ipswich and Leicester at home I would have taken 6 points beforehand so happy with return. Take 6 or 7 points from next 3 and we have stayed in touching distance of top 6 through a horrible glut of fixtures

70

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Darnell Furlong

« on: November 29, 2023, 12:59:29 AM »

Since the arrival of Pipa (although he hasn't figured much) Furlong has really upped his game. Probably helps having a better coach than Bruce also...

Townsend has also looked far better. That cliche about competition for places actually rings true

71

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: November 29, 2023, 12:57:36 AM »

:(fab cc
Gets on my nerves the amount of media and opposing fans who say how 'they didnt turn up or were flat'
When we beat them not too many say how much better we actually were

Our off the ball shape nullifies alot of sides especially at home where we really constrict the opposition. Slowly our form is picking up away also. Silk purse and sows ear come to mind. Good Job Don Carlos

72

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: November 29, 2023, 12:55:57 AM »

The way we are restricting sides chances to score especially at home and the way we have been able to share the goals around I am quietly confident for this one (albeit against one of our bogey teams).

I would have swift in for Wallace. And Phillips for saramiento from the Start. Would be tempted with Maja over BTA also, but would understand Don Carlos opting for the latter.

Come on you Baggies

73

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: November 29, 2023, 12:54:04 AM »

Not vintage but a superb away performance we defended well as a unit and the last 2 games the opposition haven't really laid a glove on us. Townsend and Furlong have both been better of late it helps having competition so people have to play for their place.

Good rotation of the team. Minutes in saramiento and swift. Shame about Wallace. Phillips only had to play 25 minutes which bodes well for him to start Saturday. Up top is still where we look weaker- Maja had some nice touches and got some minutes wonder if he will start Saturday?

The run of ipswich Cardiff lecister and Sunderland I would have taken 7 points. Leicester should suit us as they will attack us. Hopefully another positive result

74

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Worst bit of Albion merchandise ever?

« on: November 26, 2023, 07:52:44 AM »

I had Albion Manager on PC back when we were under Megson, perhaps. It was like a stripped down Championship Manager, and it was fairly dire if memory serves.

I couldn't disagree more I loved that game!!

75

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: November 24, 2023, 05:12:54 PM »

I'm buzzing for it and think we will turn on the style and win. Come on you Baggie Boys