1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Uros Racic joins on loan

« on: January 18, 2025, 07:20:48 PM »

Rumours of Isaac Price incoming. If true, interested to see what that means for Racic.

Since CC left, he's only played 65-ish mins in the 5 games under the interim setup (1 start, 1 sub and 3 unused sub).

He's got 2.5yrs left at Sassuolo - and him rotting on our bench won't do Racic or Sassuolo any favours. Hopefully everyone can shake hands on a quickie divorce and it gives us room to loan in a striker. A few more unused sub appearances in the next couple of weeks will no doubt speed things along...

2

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL PREMIER LEAGUE THREAD

« on: January 18, 2025, 07:05:28 PM »

Leicester fans turning on van Nistelrooy and the board. Getting what they deserve after sacking Cooper when he had them 16th after 12 games...

In the process of reverting to the mean after a decade of overachieving.

3

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Do you REALLY want us to be promoted this season?

« on: January 11, 2025, 06:10:28 PM »

On the off chance we did go up, we'd need major squad surgery to even compete - to the tune of 8 or 9 new starters. And even then, in all likelihood, we'd come straight back down.

However, even if we were relegated... you can't sniff at the cash it'd generate, the parachute payments we'd receive and player sales.

Nowadays, whatever we feel about it, we're a second tier club without parachute payments with several sides having a competitive advantage over us. Sad as it may be, we need to get back on the Premier League money wheel.

However you slice it, promotion is better for the club than not.

4

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 10, 2025, 03:13:32 PM »

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/01/10/west-brom-talks-to-appoint-raphael-wicky-manager/

Looks like it will be Wicky

5

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Uros Racic joins on loan

« on: December 30, 2024, 05:42:21 PM »

Turning circle of an oil tanker, soft as ****t, looks like a world beater with 5 yards of space but it doesn’t translate to much. Never going to dominate a midfield until the day he retires.

See Ollie Burke for a similar career - enough to impress in a highlight reel and for clubs across Europe to think “he could be top class, if only he/we can…”.

Had such high hopes when he came but his record speaks volumes. 7 clubs, 5 countries, 4 loans, 1 flatter-to-deceive merchant. I’m sure he’ll get to see plenty more of Europe before his career is over.

6

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 29, 2024, 02:51:35 PM »

In the post match interview just Wilder said our squad is full of proper footballers yet according to some of the fanbase today we are no-hopers without CC.


Got to love football for the wildly opposing opinions. No other sport like it.

I noticed that on Derby’s forum after the game the other day. All sorts of interesting takes.

- Fellows and Johnston best winger pairing in the league
- how good we were on the ball in the second half
- buzzing they were a match one of the best in the league
- Diangana and Grant off our bench would be their best 2 players

Etc, etc - I’m sure Sheff Utd forum will suggest similar.

Anyway, good point. All about staying in touch with the top 6 until the new man is in.

7

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan (Deal agreed in principle to leave for Valencia)

« on: December 26, 2024, 11:47:03 PM »

V disappointed to lose CC. Steered the club through its lowest ebb and kept us competitive with a team that was more than the sum of its parts; in large part down to him.

Wasn’t perfect but beyond grateful to him for uniting a broken club after relegation, Ismael, Bruce, Lai and all the fan protests that came with that time. Was more than willing to tolerate dull football at times.

Most of the squad had failed under several previous managers and  it always felt like we were in transition/between states, yet we consistently outperformed our level.

Leaves the club in far better shape than he found it. My hunch is we’ll come to realise just how well CC was doing with what he had but very happy to be proven wrong on that score.

8

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Callum Styles Joins Albion

« on: December 11, 2024, 10:10:05 PM »

Bit of a transition season for Styles, getting used to a new regular position after 2/3 years as a utility man but think he's doing well.

Leif Davis and Harrison Burrows are the best two left backs I've seen in the EFL over the last few seasons. Styles doesn't have the same engine as the above but is maybe better on the ball.

Can see him doing well for us over the coming few years.

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: What do we really want out of this season?

« on: November 30, 2024, 10:30:19 PM »

It’s a tough watch at the moment - it’s been worse, periods of Pulis, Ismael and Bruce were downright unwatchable.

Our cautiousness in managing games is extreme. We aren’t able to turn the screw, go through the gears, have irresistible periods in games - and it’s quite unusual for a team around the top 6. We’ve all seen multiple sides at this level where 20 good minutes wins a game 4-1.

Saw it under Mowbray, Di Matteo, Bilic, even Moore. We just don’t look capable of it at the moment.

Sadly for us, the last couple of months have been reminiscent of the first cluster of names in this post then the second… there is lots of collective goodwill towards CC among the fans but you can sense the tide beginning to turn. Wins will solve it but it feels a long way away at the moment.

10

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: November 26, 2024, 09:06:21 PM »

Almost certain it’s in Dobbin’s contract that he has to play a part in every game if fit. Has he had a single glimmer since joining?

11

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: November 12, 2024, 07:18:13 AM »

Last chance to get some money for him in January. If someone came in with £1.5/2m he can go for me. True of a couple of others as well.

12

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jayson Molumby

« on: October 23, 2024, 04:34:05 PM »

Would like this man back in the team. Form in the first 6 was excellent with him alongside Mowatt.

If CC is going to persist with Racic (and I think he will) then fine, but want him in as a 10. Molomby is a good foil for Mowatt and adds drive and bite in there. Like him.

13

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: October 01, 2024, 08:58:40 PM »

Even game, they’ve maybe had the better of the chances.

Crowd flat as usual for midweek games.

Early days for Racic so benefit of the doubt and all… but I’d rather Molumby in there.

Hopefully MJ and Fellows before too long.

14

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: October 01, 2024, 08:48:12 PM »

Still can’t work out what kind of player Racic is. Technical, ball playing, roaming type? Still early days but sloppy in possession at times

15

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: RIP Mark Townsend

« on: September 29, 2024, 12:25:59 AM »

That was the worst game of my life. I don’t really have the words to describe quite how I feel.
 
The response of the stewards and the medics was quite frankly disgraceful.
 
Those stewards had no methods of communication, could not call for any help and stood and watched as our fans held sheeting around one of our own as some supporters performed CPR.
 
It was at least a period of 10 minutes until any support was received. Fans booing, begging the game to be stopped and finally resorting to chanting “stop the game”
 
We had fans try to enter the pitch to bring attention to the matter who were then carted out by at least six stewards at a time.
 
Eventually, we received some support. But this was not after the paramedics dawdled their way infront of the leppings lane.
 
That game should have been paused. How can a game of football continue whilst someone receives CPR whilst lying on the steps across several rows?
 
The support arrived, but it was far far too late - that will be one of the reasons why Mark has lost his battle tonight.
 
My heart breaks for his children who had to stand and watch that. It breaks even more when the reaction of those you rely on to keep you safe was so ******** poor.

The lord is your shepherd.
 
RIP

Ah mate, hope you're alright. Sounds like it was an appalling response from stewards and paramedics with no communication - heart goes out to his poor kids and everyone who witnessed it. Really upsetting.

If ever fans at the Hawthorns fall ill - home or away - I hope our club would have the appropriate first response systems in place to give the person the best chance. Sorely lacking at Hillsborough today from the sounds of it. Tragic.

Have no doubt the club will offer support to the family and honour his memory at one of the next too home games. RIP.

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: John Swift

« on: September 28, 2024, 10:17:01 PM »

I don't mind Swift to be honest. Tidy, keeps us ticking over and he's alright under pressure.

Bit of an easy target as he's languid and flatters to deceive at times, but he's been a solid 7/10 most games this season.

17

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: September 28, 2024, 02:35:44 PM »

Tough one to take.

Garbage first half, second half v dominant - bar the odd break from them. Did well to come back into the game, no coincidence Mowatt's introduction sparked us into life.

Hopefully Diaktite and Racic is a combo don't see from the start until they've learned the system and what's expected in that role. It'll come, I've no doubt - but playing both together was premature.

As disjointed as we've looked for a long time in that first half. We're a highly structured team but no evidence of that first half.

Dust ourselves down. Two tough but winnable home games in the next week. Onto Boro and Millwall.

18

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: September 28, 2024, 01:58:13 PM »

Second on the way. Crowd will get antsy. Get Fellows running at that new left back....

19

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: September 28, 2024, 01:39:07 PM »

If we get one, we'll get two. Firmly believe it. COYB.

20

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: September 28, 2024, 01:09:21 PM »

Racic and Diakite have to learn to show for it and receive it under pressure in that midfield. It's throwing our whole game off.  Early days, back them to learn... but this has been very poor.

The bench is stacked, hope Carlos uses it. Diakite for Mowatt, Racic deeper, Swift more advanced.

Johnston for Grant (nothing against Grant's performance, none of the front 3 have had a sniff).

21

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: September 28, 2024, 12:55:01 PM »

Racic and Diakite in the same midfield is going to take time - no rhythm yet and is going to take months for them to learn to play together as well as Mowatt and Molumby have been, not weeks. Premature having them in together - but appreciate needs must with knocks, etc.

If we're still in the game and Mowatt is fit enough for 20 mins at the end, still back us to get something.

22

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: September 16, 2024, 01:14:54 PM »

You'd imagine any manager currently settled at a club would look at Stoke as far too much of a gamble. They always back the manager (within PSR limits) because they are loaded, but nothing anyone seems to do ever works there. I have no sympathy for their fans as I do not particularly like them, but they must be tearing their hair out at the years of wallowing at the bottom of this league despite their budget.

16th, 15th, 14th, 14th, 16th, 17th since they got relegated from the Prem.... good lord that's grim.

23

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Darnell Furlong

« on: September 16, 2024, 11:14:16 AM »

After being something of a liability earlier in his Albion career, he's now knocking out a 7 or 8 out of 10 most weeks - and has been for a year or so. Credit to him and Carlos for the turnaround.

Would put Bartley and Mowatt (and maybe even Grant if he keeps it up...?) in the same category. Having good players put consistent performances is the the main thing that differentiates an average player from a good one, and a mid-table side from a promotion chasing one.

The boys above have elevated their game from streaky to consistent, when they were previously the kind of players who put in an 8 out of 10 once a month like Callum Robinson or Gardner-Hickman.

24

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: September 15, 2024, 08:44:44 PM »

Boy, are we looking very, very good and it’s all down to him.

And of the side who have started every game this season, 9 out of 11 players were already at the club (admittedly Palmer and Fellows hadn't had much of a look in). Only Heggem and Maja have joined on his watch - the remaining lads were pretty much all written off under Ismael and Bruce. Immensely impressive turnaround.

Interesting to see when we'll start to rotate. Only one midweek game between now and next international break.

It's from the Oxford game (19/10) that the Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday grind begins.

25

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: September 15, 2024, 02:11:06 PM »

Grady is part of a strong bench

Ah, so he is!

Fancy Grant to score today, especially with Johnston waiting in the wings. Squad looking deep.