[KN22]

Nothing I’ve said should shock him. We will publicly be favourites for the drop. At least he’s up for the fight.

You are showing usual positivity. I don’t see us as favourites to finish bottom. Let’s wait and see.

[boinging_along]

On Pereira, I just think that if he can have anywhere near the same impact this season then he will snapped up. He's that good in my view.

Totally agree.  He'll get more media coverage and he's our stand out player - he could easily do it for a top 6 side.  Good chance one of them will make a big money move next summer, or if we go down, probably won't take much of a big money move for us to sell him.

Whatever he does next I hope he succeeds - he's the most talented player I've seen down the Hawthorns since Kanu (the real one, not the current one).

[liverbaggie]

That conjecture you say depend on if he actually would want to leave!

[Baggies]

You are showing usual positivity. I don’t see us as favourites to finish bottom. Let’s wait and see.

In fairness to Johnny, near enough every neutral, be it fan or professional, are tipping us to be bottom 2.

There is nothing wrong with being realistic. Chances are in this difficult situation we will go straight down. We will be in a better place next season though than we could have been without the promotion.

[ex coseley kid]

In fairness to Johnny, near enough every neutral, be it fan or professional, are tipping us to be bottom 2.

Not wanting to lose the topic, but anyone know the bookies odds on us staying up? Got to be worth a punt...

[Albionic]

Not wanting to lose the topic, but anyone know the bookies odds on us staying up? Got to be worth a punt...

evens to be relegated,  4/5 to stay up

If West Brom do hit 40 points, they'll have an 80% chance of avoiding relegation. Bookmakers have priced Albion up at 4/5 to stay up, so 3/1 to get 40 points seems like a good price here with Paddy Power.

[zippyandbungle]

Come on. A lot of the comments were questioning whether he should stay. Questioning him = considering sacking him. You questioned him. So are you happy with him now compared to July?

Questioning anyone does not equal consideration of sacking....

My view hasn’t changed
I think he got lucky with some decision making, I feel he should never have gone in to the last game still not knowing who to play Up front and his loyalty to some of the players is unjustified.
But I do recognise he was in charge when we got promoted and the players seem to like/respect him and that matters .

[Albionic]

" still not knowing who to play Up front and his loyalty to some of the players is unjustified."

this seems a bit contradictory statement

[jimmyj]

Looks to have been given the number 11 shirt from the club's insta stories.
Big boots to fill. Perfect player to fill them.

[Baggie79]

This just goes to show what a big coup the signing is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TKGf8zqZjg

On another note I like his coat just needs to be a better colour.

[KN22]

Looks to have been given the number 11 shirt from the club's insta stories.
Big boots to fill. Perfect player to fill them.

Sorry but he’s already better than the last man to wear our number eleven shirt in my view. May sound harsh but it’s true. And this guy will get better and better.

[bradleysrocket]

Sorry but he’s already better than the last man to wear our number eleven shirt in my view. May sound harsh but it’s true. And this guy will get better and better.

He may have gone on longer than some would have liked but let’s not underplay and overplay the respective players and what they’ve done. Once Diangana has played more than half a season at a higher level that the championship we could possibly start to compare, at the moment in terms of what they’ve actually contributed as opposed to what could be contributed in the future there simply isn’t a comparison to be made.

[TheJacko2000]

Sorry but he’s already better than the last man to wear our number eleven shirt in my view. May sound harsh but it’s true. And this guy will get better and better.

Deary me...

[Albionic]

Deary me...

that was quick, but justifiably 

[Hull Baggie]

Sorry but he’s already better than the last man to wear our number eleven shirt in my view. May sound harsh but it’s true. And this guy will get better and better.

Completely different kind of player. Brunt was more of a wide midfielder for most of his career, Diangana is a more traditional winger.
Brunt was a dead ball specialist too, Diangana, from my recollection, didn't take too many free kicks or corners.

Chris Brunt is rightly considered a club legend because of his contribution to the team over 13 years including spells as team and club Captain.



 

[boinging_along]

Ever wondered why Diangana has Diang on the back of his shirt?  From a West Ham fan.

"When it became apparent that he was going to break through to the first team, he mentioned (on twitter or somewhere) that he had to decide what name to have on the back of his shirt. I think he was trying to decide between having either Grady or Diangana, from memory.

Somebody jokingly said that if he could have any name he wanted, he should auction off the name for charity.

Long story, short: He ended up agreeing to "sell" the last three letters on the back of his shirt to raise money for a local charity (#ForNannyAndBobby) which is why - to this day - he still has Diang on his shirt rather than Diangana.

It is a small but perfect example of his affinity with the club, their fans and the local charity, the latter of whom would have missed out on £1,000 (or close to that figure) of donations.  "

[BigFrank20]

Any one else getting concerned about his performances so far?
Definitely disappointing from my view

[frazzle]

Yeah he’s not been as good as we hoped but he’s young and we know wheat he can do. He’ll get there I’m sure and the club need to continue to believe in him. I actually thought he was coming into the game when he went off.

[baggie82]

Yeah he’s not been as good as we hoped but he’s young and we know wheat he can do. He’ll get there I’m sure and the club need to continue to believe in him. I actually thought he was coming into the game when he went off.

Can't read too much from a handful of games. At times the opposition have targeted him as we have lacked other danger men allowing them to mark him out of games. Long season and not so long ago he scored that cracker at Everton. He was also the closest to scoring against Pope who denied him with a great save. We know we've got a quality player on our hands.

[johnny Cash]

He’s not become a bad player overnight and he’s a typical winger in the sense that he will blow hot an cold. I believe In the summer I was one of those with a few others who questioned brining him back but that wasn’t because of ability, more our budget and the tactical fit.

You don’t drop him or pereira for the few though (as has been suggested). These are our potential match winners.   

[Westie]

There’s a world of difference between playing in the Premier League and the Championship, I think that is especially so for a traditional winger. Premier League full backs are generally pretty good, a level or so up from the Championship. So, a winger like Diangana who could tear defences open in the Championship find that it is far more difficult a job in the Premier League. Oh for having Willie (in his prime) back!

[paulosull]

I'd bring in Robinson for him against Sheffield United, showed what he could do at Everton. Ability wise I would not be worried about the step up just not preforming at the minute for what ever reason.

[beechyboy90]

Well if and when we go down I think he will be staying ... his form none existent as it stands ..

[lewisant]

He seemed okay when bought in today i thought! Harsh to drop Robinson but Diangana was looking pretty quick with his feet and up for it today.

[Oldbury24]

He seemed okay when bought in today i thought! Harsh to drop Robinson but Diangana was looking pretty quick with his feet and up for it today.

Grady is a player like Pereira who whilst undoubtedly talented have zilch PL experience.   The step up is huge and a lot of big buys from the championship take time to find their feet but do get there....the form of Bowen at West Ham being a good example.  The fact is we know the talent he has, so if he can adapt/raise his game to the PL he could be effective.  Because of the fee we don't think he should have time.  But the fee is only high as a percentage of our total outlay, many clubs would spend this on squad player and that's the difference.   Apologies if this is treading old ground, but i do think we need to persevere with him and maybe adjust our expectations.