1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Fixtures 2022/23

« on: June 23, 2022, 12:17:10 PM »

first 3 set the tone for the season

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General Football & Sports / Re: New CEO

« on: February 09, 2022, 06:52:33 AM »

People making comments on his advisor or consultant role make it sound like he was the only one in the building. No one knows what his involvement actually was - here’s another view rather than a ‘he was part of the problem’ approach, maybe, just maybe he was the nagging voice of doubt, maybe he wasn’t overly sold on Val, players etc, maybe the fact his doubts have become reality have lead to the owner giving him the ceo role. Maybe Lai thought if he’d listened to him rather than Ken we wouldn’t be where we are now…..

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: 31/07 Birmingham City (A - Pre-Season Friendly)

« on: July 31, 2021, 03:51:47 PM »

The only real thing that’s changed is we press with more urgency. The quality on the ball is as poor as it’s been for the past 2 years.

The press is fantastic to see but means nothing when you don’t know what to do with it once you’ve turned the ball over.

Blues are a bang average mid table (ish) side and they more than matched us early doors and we have no idea currently how to create against them.

Hopefully a better 2nd half.

4

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 07, 2021, 01:27:05 PM »

In case you didn’t know we have the worst defence in the league.

We are guaranteed to concede every game. Makes no sense to start trying to score in last 20 minutes and waste the other 70 at this stage of the season where every game is must win.

As soon as the first goes in the mood changes. We played the team on paper rather than the bang out of form team in front of us.

Your absolutely right, if we’d have took this to Spurs we’d be well in front. You must be watching a different game to me. The only reason we haven’t conceded in the 1st half is bodies on the line and in the way. Push on and the gaps appear, even out of form this spurs side is 10x better than us, factor in our form is worse than anyone’s in the league and it would have been 3 or 4 at half time. You make it sound like we’re coming into this game high on confidence.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 07, 2021, 01:17:01 PM »

Only a matter of time when you camp in your own half.

Over to you now Sam to get us 2 goals

And that’s what’s happens when you ‘take it’ to teams like spurs. We’re unbelievably poor in transition and poor form or not Kane and Son will take us apart.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Slaven Bilic Sacked

« on: December 16, 2020, 04:37:26 PM »

Didn't want Slav to go, the reality is he needed to go.

A fantastic point at Man City but One Swallow doesn't make a summer...

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: It is now clear we are not aiming to stay in the premiership

« on: October 08, 2020, 04:33:34 PM »

I think they looked at the chances of staying up with little investment and decided that any purchases would need to have a high probability of being worth more in the summer of 2021 so they could be sold at a profit. This thinking is why we have not bought Grant yet, there is not enough upside in the deal.  the club was gearing for relegation before we had kicked a ball. A number of posters keep pushing that this is what the owner said he would do, but for the fan how does that help if we are not even competitive.
This is like trying to enter F1 with a Skoda Fabia and saying we wont go bust, what's the point?

Great analogy - even worse when you realise you've that entered F1 with a Skoda Fabia on Borrow tyres and brakes.....

8

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Guochuan Lai

« on: October 06, 2020, 05:42:45 PM »

Anyone who thought the bottom was going to fall out of the transfer market was clearly wrong. Be that Jenkins or lads on here. We've got the strategy of this window entirely wrong based on a false premise and have now got a fortnight to save our season in a very limited pool...

our transfer/recruitment strategy has been wrong for the past 2/3 years - not just this window.

Anyone could see what was coming last summer - all key players on loans. we were always going to have to spend the budget just to stand still.

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Louie Barry

« on: January 10, 2020, 11:48:46 AM »

It's highly likely that Harrison had a clause in his contract to prevent any knowledge he had accumulated at WBA (particularly about players) being used to his new employers' advantage.
I would imagine it's that clause which is being examined by our law team.
So the law suite would be against Harrison, not necessarily Villa.

As far as Barca are concerned, in any normal transaction, ownership of goods is not transferred until full payment has been made. If that's the case here, then (if we have not been paid) we still own Barry & he's not Barcas to sell.

On the other hand if Barry was a free agent & the payment from Barca was to compensate our development costs for him, then the ownership issue does not arise.

I doubt this is the case - otherwise Harrison would never find work again. You're basically saying any knowledge of players he has from his Albion days are off limits. That could be hundreds.

More likely that there something written in that he unable to approach any of our academy players in a x month period after leaving, even so it wouldn't be applicable in this situation given hes a Barcelona player.

I'm not sure what, if any, grounds they have against Villa unless they have some glaringly obvious evidence that the whole Barca move was someone manufactured by Harrison/Villa which I think is unlikely.

Unfortunately this is one I think we have to chalk up to the pitfalls of having a good academy in a time where academy development isn't valued contractually. Hopefully making this like this public help changing the rulings to protect football clubs like us.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Slaven Bilic

« on: July 10, 2019, 05:09:59 PM »

Slav isn't the issue though is he?  who negotiates and signs the contracts?

Absolutely spot on!

too many saying its great Slav has final say on transfers - he's not the one signing the cheques. Massive clear out of players (which was needed) but still the same short sighted, restrictive people at the top. Shame as I think Slav has bought a real air of optimism.

I hope we see a change but I've been bitten by the Albion far to often to expect us to go on a mad signing spree - I suppose everyone is interpreting the situation and comments said in different ways, for me this comment (going on past Albion experiences) mean there may be one or two then we'll be looking to add the kids in the mix. I think people looking for 7-8 signing may be in for a shock - totally hope im wrong though.

And on the ‘home-grown’ players hoping to earn regular first team football this season...

“A few guys are really good here, not just offering numbers. I can’t play them all together, you need some experience, but everyone of them - if you put them in a side with older players - they’ll bring energy and a smile. They bring quality.”

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: August 24, 2018, 09:46:55 PM »

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45217173
62% possesion...Mainly down to old blokes who can't run.

I could get us 62% possession passing sideways and backwards. Football is not about possession it’s about scoring. And Boro creates way more opportunities to score from 38% possession because they had a team with legs who chase and press.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: August 24, 2018, 09:43:29 PM »

Hahaha people saying ‘pulised’. I actually enjoyed watching Boro tonight, wish our team had showed the heart and desire they did, decent on the ball too at times.

We couldn’t  pass 5 yards and when we did majority of the time it was backwards or behind the receiving player.

Good job it was Boro tonight and not Man City would have been double figures

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Centre midfield

« on: August 10, 2018, 09:59:54 AM »

Was not intended to be condesending

1. They have worked for DM for 8 games now, of which 6 have been good performances.
2. Of course wages matter, wages equate to ability / experience,
3. "keen kids" was a bad choice of phrase - agreed.
4. DM clearly isn't convinced they are good enough, or he would be playing them, would he not?  Why on earth would he not play who he thought was most capable of winning games.

1. Six good performances is debatable - I can’t remember coming away from those games thinking the midfielders were the stand out performers
2. Wages don’t matter, so you’d pick a player on 40k a week over someone on 10k just because you think the 30k difference means they have more ability???
3. Agreed!
4.he may not rate them, like many on here don’t rate Barry, Livermore or brunt in the middle, I still think (complete personal opinion) that he’s fallen into the trap of experience will solve everything so I’ll stick with the current lot. If that’s the case he must have a real believe that he’s able to coach Barry and brunt to be 5 yards quicker (do t know w about you but I’m yet to see any professional manager do that)

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Summer transfer window opinions

« on: August 10, 2018, 07:13:46 AM »

The most Albion of Albion transfer windows

We’ve gone from a near widespread view that mass change is needed due to the imbalance in the squad to people now trying to justify its not that bad as window as we’ve managed to keep players who has been proactively looking to leave the club.

People are now pinning their hopes that somehow we’re going to be loaning top quality first team regulars because we can add the option to buy.

I’ve never been one to think we should splash the cash or the the amount paid for a player is a guarantee of quality but when it’s SO glaring obvious what the shortcomings of the squad are I’m baffled and frustrated that we’ve  not been way more competitive and aggressive in this window.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Centre midfield

« on: August 09, 2018, 04:24:01 PM »

If I had working for me
a) experienced, highly paid professionals  and
b) some keen kids who I had spent time nurturing on much lower wages who showed lots of potential,

I would turn to the experienced guys first and foremost,  if they then showed that they couldn't perform then I would give the lads a trial, i certainly would not chuck them in at the deep end from the outset.

It would be madness to use potential when you have proven capability available. Even if the proven capability had come up short against the highest competition.

DM will turn to the kids I feel sure but it needs to be when required not to prove a point.

If I had working for me highly experienced professionals, not performing for over a year I’d already have the keen kids playing

Your post is condescending 1. The amount of money they earn should have no bearing on selection 2. Keen kids? Really, they are on paid professional contracts I’m pretty sure they want to be playing especially as one of the so called ‘keen kids’ already had his shot and outshone his experienced highly paid peers (the same ones still getting selected). If they’re good enough they’re old enough end of.

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Centre midfield

« on: August 09, 2018, 03:52:55 PM »

The bit that's baffled me the most out of the youngsters is, Kyle Edwards looked threatening in pre season, scoring goals, taking on players, looking a tidy player, yet doesn't look anywhere near the first team picture (even warranting a bench position).

 Got less to do with DM understanding what’s required and more to do with DM falling into the same trap as most young inexperienced managers by thinking experience is more important that ability or form.

 I had the pleasure of being on a coaching session at the hawthorns where DM and Marian Spacey talked and took a session. He’s a knowledgeable guy and at that event I thought he’s brilliant with the young players who had been drafted in for the demonstration, and when he was appointed I thought great we’ll see some this young talent we supposedly have get a real crack. 2 games in a no sign of it, just reverting to a safe pair of hands and a group of midfielders who collectively haven’t performed for a season and have picked up where they left off.

17

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Centre midfield

« on: August 09, 2018, 02:18:50 PM »

Hopefully half of that equation will be at Watford in a few hours

Yeah fingers crossed because then we’ll get to watch Barry and Brunt boss the championship 🙄

18

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Centre midfield

« on: August 08, 2018, 06:41:31 AM »

Just to reduce the risk of anyone sitting down on Thursday evening expecting to watch an evening of drama unfold, the window (for permanent deals except for sales to foreign clubs) actually closes at 5.00pm.

Ah yes my mistake, make it 4:59pm

19

General Football & Sports / Re: Darren Moore

« on: August 07, 2018, 10:48:01 PM »

We haven't got time for a learning curve. We should be pushing in and around the top six, either Moore is good enough or he's not. He's not entitled to learn his trade and score up a season whilst our parachute money runs dry. Not saying sack him, but he hasn't got a free pass for 10-12 games either. Every game in this division we should be looking to win.

Exactly this.

You’re either happy to give Moore 10-12 games to learn or you’re not, For me if you’re happy for that to happen then I don’t think you can pass comment on performance or results until that time has passed.

The problem is the season could be gone by then. The championship is not a league you can learn in if your aim is to get promoted.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Centre midfield

« on: August 07, 2018, 10:27:53 PM »

Potentially we could still spend around £15 million with the money from Chadli, which would easily get in 2 good CM's. As poor as we've been this season, we will still probably replace Dawson and Chadli with 2 players who would actually play/want to be here, so it's not completely out of the question.

We’ve all supported the Albion long enough to know how this pans out. Chadli & Dawson both go at 11:59 on deadline day with no time to act or they both stay Chadli is unsurprisingly injury until January and Dawson sulks till January with appearances and performances suffering

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Centre midfield

« on: August 07, 2018, 10:21:03 PM »

Needs £20m spending on it, we won’t spend it. That’s all you need to know about who’ll be in our midfield this season

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: August 07, 2018, 09:55:57 PM »

We score some bloody good goals mind.

Absolute worldies, god help us when they dry up because we look bang average

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: August 07, 2018, 09:42:51 PM »

Say what you want about the performance, balance of play etc. With decent finishing we win that 4 or 5.

But we didn’t, if’s and buts don’t win you games or promotion. Poor performance on the pitch and tactically. Needs to improve drastically

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: August 07, 2018, 09:28:59 PM »

We've had the 3 best chances.

And?

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: August 07, 2018, 09:07:31 PM »

Can’t wait for the it’s only 2 games there’s 44 games left nonsense