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General Football & Sports / Re: Valérien Ismaël - Head Coach

« on: January 10, 2022, 03:20:58 PM »

So from our first 10 games we were unbeaten and accrued 22 points from 10 games. An average of 2.2 points per game will most certainly get you an automatic spot. From my memory of the posts on here it was happy days all round.

I recall very clearly that there were people here on Val's back then, despite us being unbeaten at the time. I recall contrasting that to the enduring support for Allardyce despite his utterly dismal record with us.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Valérien Ismaël - Head Coach

« on: January 10, 2022, 12:56:35 PM »

We know we do well defensively, (and in a lot of people's opinion, that comes at the expense of decent attacking play), the interesting thing is that our "shots" is so high yet we create very few clear chances. Having 20 shots means absolutely nothing if all of them are from 35 yards and slam against a defender's legs.

People keep posting this kind of thing, which is why I posted 2 stats which refute it. I've accepted that we're lacking in the final third, but our overall record over the season so far doesn't mean the manager has to be lynched from the nearest yardarm.

The squad needs an overhaul as it's weaker than when we last got promoted. However, we're also lacking significantly in transfer funds compared to then, which is not the manager's fault.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Valérien Ismaël - Head Coach

« on: January 10, 2022, 11:34:22 AM »

How many extra points does that get us at the end of the season?   Or is there a "fewest average saves made per game" trophy  ?

I should probably revert to the basic "he's rubbish"/"he's great" type posts, rather than wasting my time on anything more objective/analytical, as the latter just tend to get ignored or mocked so aren't worth the effort.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Valérien Ismaël - Head Coach

« on: January 10, 2022, 09:16:09 AM »

except we're sliding down the table,whatever the stats say.

We're 4 points off an automatic promotion place at the moment. We were nowhere near that not so long ago.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Valérien Ismaël - Head Coach

« on: January 09, 2022, 09:59:10 PM »

I've missed two home games with illness this season, (I watched those on TV), can't think of any that outplayed us.

Indeed. My view is that the criticism Val is receiving is completely OTT. I can only think of one game this season in which we've been outplayed (Fulham and even then we gifted them goals and also ended up with 10 men). We've conceded the equal fewest number of goals this season (with Fulham who've played 2 games fewer) and have only lost 5 of our 25 league games to date. Here are some more stats from whoscored.com:

• Second highest average goal attempts per game (16)
• Highest average goal attempts per game inside six yard box (2)
• Second highest average goal attempts per game inside penalty area (9)
• Highest positional percentage in the final third (35%)
• Fewest average goal attempts per game against (7.8 )
• Fewest average saves made per game (1.4)
• Fifth highest overall rating for passing
• We are the only unbeaten side at home (12 games - conceding only 6 goals). All other clubs in the division have lost at least twice at home
• Only Blackburn have won more of their home games than us

It's not all marvellous of course - we have the worst average number of inaccurate short passes per game in the division (74) and our overall successful pass percentage is the third worst (67.6%).

Ultimately though, our problems lie in the final third and if it wasn't for that we'd be in an automatic promotion position. However, it's not as terrible as many are making out and it isn't worse than (or even anything like) Pulisball. I'm satisfied that the overall performance stats mean that Val deserves time to shape the squad into what he wants, and that people need to try to find it within themselves to give him a break in the meantime.

Obviously we need more wins, but the vitriol of the criticism just isn't justified IMO. I just hope the arrival of Dike wakes up some of our other misfiring forwards, as it would be unfair (and possibly counter-productive) for the entire weight of expectation to be on his shoulders.

One final stat - Fulham haven't won any of their last 5 league games....

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Callum Morton

« on: January 09, 2022, 05:11:32 PM »

from snippets on tv he seems quick,puts himself about and makes and scores goals. I would like to see him given a chance and then we would know if he ready for first team football with us.

For my part I'm happy for the coaching staff to make these judgements rather, as you seem to be suggesting, putting players into the first team solely so that fans can see whether they're good enough or not.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: January 08, 2022, 10:43:26 PM »

In this week's E and S Albion podcast, Jonny Drury said it was "odd' that there are Albion fans who were unhappy with Ismael's loss of control post match last week. Today at 1-0 up, we picked up yet another red card - our 3rd in 2 games and it may have cost us the game.

We seriously need to sort out the I'll discipline, it's costing us games week after week.

Valerien Ismael after the game today: "I said to the guys after the game that I was proud of the performance and of the mentality and attitude, but we have to be more disciplined and stop getting red cards. It’s been the story of our season so far. Every time we are on top and we look like making something happen, we get the red card and another game goes by where we don’t get the reward. We punish ourselves. We’ve punished ourselves for the next game too because we now have three suspended players for QPR.

We have to change this. We need to be careful after we pick up yellows and think about the consequences of committing more fouls. On one side it’s a good thing because I believe we have played well, but on the other it’s bad because we need more discipline and we have punished ourselves."

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: January 08, 2022, 05:04:53 PM »

Soooo, will we see Hugill or Cleary?

Surely Hugill coming on would mean it's less likely that he'll go back to Norwich, as he would then be cup-tied?

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 07, 2022, 06:16:17 PM »

Pointless playing too many first teamers we can't afford any more suspensions/injuries and being realistic I can't see us beating Brighton whatever team we put out.

Ingram, Caleb Taylor, Fellows, Castro, Tulloch, Cleary, Ashworth, King, Teixera to either start or be involved at some point.  I wouldn't risk TGH, far too important to us now.

Yes, let's roll over and have our tummies tickled by Brighton's reserves... 

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 07, 2022, 06:13:16 PM »

Fa cup hasnt been treated with any respect at this club since megson. Even mowbray rotated his teams and we had some kinder draws.

I can't recall the line-ups we were putting out then, but Mogga got us to the semi-final. I'm not sure you can regard that as not treating the competition with any respect.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 07, 2022, 06:11:46 PM »

You really belive fans moaning will make a difference?

It worked with regard to the Super League didn't it? Still, better not to bother about it, eh, and just let it wither and die....

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 03, 2022, 04:19:58 PM »

It's not been taken seriously for over a decade and that's not down to me or any other fan it's just we recognise the way it is.

Every time cup games come around these days, there's no shortage of fans advocating that we should pick a weakened side. Clubs won't take cup competitions seriously whilst too many fans are willing accept reserves/youngsters being brought in for the games. Fans need to be more vocal in pressing for due consideration to be given to the FA Cup.

The Arsenal game was an embarrassment where there were no positives at all.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Sam Johnstone

« on: January 03, 2022, 04:13:41 PM »

Back to the old poorly positioned, dive/fall in slow motion SJ, and let in a goal that any of the last three keepers we have played against would have saved.

I also thought he went down in instalments for the Cardiff goal yesterday when it should have been a relatively easy save and, typically, he didn't command the six yard box. His communication (or lack of it) with the defence seems to be causing mayhem at the moment as well.

In many respects, he's been looking much improved this season, so I hope the dip in his overall form is only temporary. A spell on the sidelines due to his stupidly obtained suspension might help him to refocus.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: System / Tactics / Personnel

« on: January 03, 2022, 04:08:42 PM »

The passing to the forwards has become dismal of late - the central midfielders aren't looking to be creative enough and the wing-backs, who are absolutely vital to the success/failure of Val's system, have become incapable of crossing. So may of our crosses are played high when our forward's strengths are on the ground.

Whilst our aerial threat will become greater with Dike, the current standard of our crossing means that he'd need to be 15 feet tall to be able to profit from them. If Townsend, Furlong and Gardner-Hickman can't do better, we'll need to look to bring someone in who can.

Oh, and our attacking set pieces, which we looked a constant threat from earlier in the season, have completely gone to pot as well. Some renewed work on these on the training ground is warranted.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 03, 2022, 09:42:04 AM »

I don't know why we bother entering the cup competitions because the majority of fans seem to want us to pick a weakened team and, consequently, lose in the first round we play in.

I'm old enough to remember when everyone, no matter which club they supported, wanted a good run in the FA Cup and the competition was regarded as a major highlight of the season (c.f. our record attendance of 64,815 being for an FA Cup Quarter Final game) with the draws/games generating a lot of anticipation and excitement.

Gazberg said "sadly, the Cup is pretty pointless these days" - that's only because too many fans are complicit in making it so.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: January 01, 2022, 10:09:14 PM »

I'm delighted that Daryl has joined us, he certainly has the potential to become an excellent player who, if we're being realistic, could well earn us a hefty profit when he moves on. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there's a release clause in the contract.

The club deserves great credit for getting not just a deal, but a permanent one over the line, even moreso for making it happen on the first day of the window, when we're all used to larger incoming deals either happening in the last few hours before closure or not at all.

This signing is also very clearly one which backs Valerien, so hopefully people who are on his back will settle down a bit, at least for a while, and see what happens. I'm sure he's chuffed that the deal has gone through on January 1st.

I'm very excited to see what Daryl can do for us and whether his obvious presence, even though he's still very young, will help other currently misfiring players in the squad to thrive. Welcome Daryl!

I hope there might be 1 or 2 more signings to come....

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: January 01, 2022, 03:58:34 PM »

Looks like it's time for one of these:

Dike 2021 Goals Compilation Video

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General Football & Sports / Re: Callum Robinson

« on: December 29, 2021, 11:36:05 PM »

The fact he’s gone from being a bit part player to an integral member of the side is testament to how bad the club has been managed.

We've only got 6 experienced forwards, 3 of whom are currently injured (Zohore would rightly not be selected anyway) and then there's also Hugill who most here would be happy to see never selected to start. On that basis, I'm not quite sure how Robinson can be left out of the side? I don't think the fact that he's starting games can't be put down to bad management but to us having a poor set of forwards overall. Diangana is playing worse than Robinson IMO.

Some people are clamouring for Cleary to play whilst knowing absolutely nothing about him or how suited he would be to the demands of this league. It's as if they don't like most of the experienced forwards we have, so someone (anyone) must be better than them. It doesn't work like that I'm afraid.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Valérien Ismaël - Head Coach

« on: December 29, 2021, 11:24:16 PM »

Players don’t suddenly become rubbish, thry respond to better management and improve.

Those players who were here last season were so good then weren't they? 

It's remarkable that there are plenty of people who were happy to forgive Allardyce for winning just 4 of his 26 games here and wanted him to stay on (some still want him to return even now), but now want Ismael to be sacked when he's lost just 5 of his 24 league games in charge to date and we've conceded the least number of goals in the division. It's a funny old world.

Ismael has been given a 4 year contract and his performance to date certainly, in my view, means he deserves the opportunity to see who he can bring in during the transfer window that's nearly upon us and then to see how he/they fare.

Changing managers every 6 months is absolutely nonsensical and completely self-defeating if we ever want to create a platform to build from.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 17, 2021, 09:51:58 PM »

A turgid, limp performance following on from unimaginative team selection, substitutions and bench options. Hugely disappointing, especially when there's been plenty of time available to work on the training pitch of late.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA FC Womens Thread

« on: December 13, 2021, 04:09:06 PM »

Albion won their 3rd Round FA Cup tie 5-1 against Long Eaton yesterday, so we are now in this evening's draw for the 4th Round. The goals were scored by Gallop 2, Walklett 2 and Dugmore.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: December 11, 2021, 09:59:03 PM »

Do you mean, Tony, we'll take it on the chin and move on, Mowbray?

That's him, the chap who delivered our only league title since 1920, an FA cup semi-final and a play-off final at Wembley where we were the better side. Yet many of our fans think that he's clueless....

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 11, 2021, 05:08:00 PM »

We had 25 attempts on goal today (11 on target), compared to Reading's 4 (none on target). I think that makes it a 1-0 massacre!

Whilst only scoring once shows that we still have problems with finishing, great credit must be given to our makeshift defence for restricting Reading to just 4 efforts on goal.

Two wins on the trot => upward momentum resumed.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: December 11, 2021, 02:39:56 PM »

Reading fan on twitter….

Put 2-0 wba on my superb 6. Having seen the line up and yet again more injuries I've changed to 4-0 wba. We aren't scoring in a month of Sundays with that line up. Injuries are an absolute joke someone's head needs to be rolled.  EVERY SINGLE GAME! a real worry #readingfc

So they seemingly have problems too. I don’t know enough about readings usually 11, but their best player Swift is definitely out.

Hope still springs eternal then!

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: December 11, 2021, 02:08:40 PM »

Kipre, Clarke, Townsend and Ajayi are all out after testing positive for Coronavirus earlier in the week, whilst Diangana is ill.

Bryan, O’Shea, Phillips, Snodgrass and Zohore remain unavailable, so our line-up is extremely makeshift and the bench is entirely comprised of youngsters.

Johnstone; Furlong, Bartley, Robinson, Livermore (c), Hugill, Grant, Reach, Molumby, Mowatt, Gardner-Hickman. 

Subs: Button; Tulloch, Taylor, Ingram, Ashworth, Fellows, Cleary.   

It looks like Livermore will play in the back 3 with Furlong and Bartley, which suggests we'll need to play on the front foot as much as possible....