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Next Match Forum - 21/01 Middlesbrough (A) / Re: Pre Match Chat
« on: Yesterday at 08:57:58 PM »
Anyone know if Latte Lah will be playing this game or not?
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: System / Tactics / Personnel
« on: Yesterday at 10:02:52 AM »I think Abela pretty much carried on the CC blueprint
I was disappointed he played mowatt over Diakite
Poor subs but that’s pretty much the norm.
The results pretty much summed that up for this season. Hard to beat, competitive and effective at times without blowing teams away. I suppose this is what you would expect for an interim team who didn't want to rock the boat.
On the plus side, at least they used Diakite and gave him a chance.
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Last Match Forum - 18/01 Stoke City (H) / Re: After Match Debate
« on: January 18, 2025, 04:55:38 PM »
Said it at half time that we were the better side and overall we definitely were. Just pretty blunt at times in front of goal.
Yes, we didn't have many shots of target but Mulumby should have got 2 and we also had a few other close chances. Overall, a frustrating game but not completely awful given the circumstances.
MJ my man of the match.
Yes, we didn't have many shots of target but Mulumby should have got 2 and we also had a few other close chances. Overall, a frustrating game but not completely awful given the circumstances.
MJ my man of the match.
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Last Match Forum - 18/01 Stoke City (H) / Re: In Game Chat
« on: January 18, 2025, 03:49:38 PM »
I think we've been the better team and have been unlucky. Yes, the defending for their goal was poor but they did the same and our deflected shot tamely went into their keepers hands while theirs went to the striker.
Nonetheless, it's still been too powderpuff at times and sadly I don't know how we plan on becoming more attacking with that bench.
Nonetheless, it's still been too powderpuff at times and sadly I don't know how we plan on becoming more attacking with that bench.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tony Mowbray appointed as Head Coach
« on: January 17, 2025, 09:28:02 PM »6
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread
« on: January 17, 2025, 08:18:05 PM »
Moggas coming home! 
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Maja joins Albion
« on: January 17, 2025, 11:05:16 AM »Praise be
I've mentioned this previously (it's lost in my posting history somewhere) but I was told he'd had a pretty big fallout with Carlos over a lack of playing time a few weeks before the end of last season, hence why he wasn't involved at the back end.
Haha, well I never knew that about his fallout so it makes sense. I would potentially look at the Swedish league again though regarding new strikers due to Heggem doing so well. I believe Cardiff are signing a young striker from there. Anyway, whatever way you look at it, it's not good to see Maja injured.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread
« on: January 17, 2025, 11:02:10 AM »Mowbray produced our best attacking team since the days of the late seventies
It was sheer chaos but pure entertainment. I remember when we beat Man City 2-1 and they got a late equaliser before Meite did a mazy run up the pitch leading to the equaliser as well as countless other games.
It will be interesting to see if his style is still as wild or whether it's a bit more refined.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread
« on: January 16, 2025, 09:35:36 PM »A whole month to only end up with TM is extremely underwhelming.
I am still not sold on taking him back at all.
I get it and at the start of the month, he polled very poorly on here for our next manager which is somewhat telling.
BUT...at this point in time he is arguably our best bet. We supposedly 'enquired/talked with' dozens of managers with nothing in return. Halesowen Town could potentially enquire about Zidane or Guardiola. However, it doesn't mean much.
As of right now, Mowbray is arguably our best bet. And before someone says 'but Steve Cooper'...it looks pretty obvious that he's not interested, nor are many other similarly linked managers.
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Last Match Forum - 18/01 Stoke City (H) / Re: Pre Match Chat
« on: January 16, 2025, 09:42:17 AM »Not entirely wide left though, as I posted above he played 15 times as the CF and scored 8 goals. (according to TransferMarkt). He played 28 as LW and scored 10..so he was actually more proficient when playing through the middle.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/karlan-grant/leistungsdaten/spieler/314183/plus/0?saison=2021
similarly with Huddersfield he played a mix of LW (26 games 11 goals) and CF (18 games 8 goals).
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/karlan-grant/leistungsdaten/spieler/314183/plus/0?saison=2019
I think Grant is the best bet if we are going to go with 1 up top, the bigger issue is who plays either along side him (if we go 4-4-2) or just behind him as a 10.
If we have Fellows RW and Johnston LW then it'll be one of Cole, Swift, Wallace or Diangana....unless we move either Fellows or Johnston. Not a good problem to have.
We could potentially put Styles as a LW and Grant as CF and move the back 4 around a little (such as Heggem at LB) provided Bartley is fit. It's doable but I doubt Brunt will shuffle the pack.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Maja joins Albion
« on: January 15, 2025, 10:16:26 PM »I know this will probably seem like a stupid question which I'm already regretting asking, but you do realise Andy Weimann is an attacking midfielder and not a direct replacement for either Maja or Asante (who isn't a centre forward) any more than League One Devante Cole is don't you? Or maybe not.
Yeah, I understand that. My point is, we effectively traded him for Cole this summer (presumably to save on wages) and it looks like Cole is surplus to requirements which may lead to a potential January emergency purchase/loan. Whereas I think it would have been better to keep Weimann as a replacement (even though it's not a direct replacement he would have been more useful off the bench as an option compared to Cole). As I also said, I'm sure there were similar veteran Championship strikers who could also have been used better than Cole who were available too.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread
« on: January 15, 2025, 08:57:11 PM »Can someone confirm that there is a real chance with mowbray because people are talking like hes the favourite. why is this? apart from
previous manager and out of a job?
Sky have his odds at 1/1 so it's not just fan talk. Of course, I imagine Wicky's odds were similar at one point.
As has been said though, first time round he had Phillips, Miller, Gera, Koumas, Kamara, Davies, Teixera, Bednar, Brunt, Mozza etc. Looking back it was an embarrassment of riches that we no longer have.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Maja joins Albion
« on: January 15, 2025, 06:39:18 PM »
I've liked Patel so far but I think he dropped the ball in the summer.
Maja was proven last season to be a little injury prone, so the reality of him doing Asante's roll as lone striker wasn't as realistic as Asante doing it. Yes, Maja is better in almost everyday, but he's clearly not as durable for a full season.
This begs the question why we bought in Cole who was clearly not good enough. We should have kept Weimann as the sub or even got in a similar Championship striker as opposed to Cole. It turns out Dike is also too injury prone, Wallace has fell off the pace and moving Grant there takes him away from his main position. It's not ideal.
Maja was proven last season to be a little injury prone, so the reality of him doing Asante's roll as lone striker wasn't as realistic as Asante doing it. Yes, Maja is better in almost everyday, but he's clearly not as durable for a full season.
This begs the question why we bought in Cole who was clearly not good enough. We should have kept Weimann as the sub or even got in a similar Championship striker as opposed to Cole. It turns out Dike is also too injury prone, Wallace has fell off the pace and moving Grant there takes him away from his main position. It's not ideal.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread
« on: January 15, 2025, 03:54:55 PM »'ITKs' ,claiming Mowbray has had the all-clear unless I've read it wrong.
🚨 EXCL: West Bromwich Albion are expected to undergo talks with Tony Mowbray over the vacant head coach role with TM looking to return to work.
Both parties looking to make it happen asap with him being given the all clear to return to work. More to follow. 💣@EyaWeGew @WestBromXtra #wba
With all respect, I think this recruitment saga shows just how little these supposed 'itks' actually know.
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General Football & Sports / Re: Transfer Window Watch (Non Albion)
« on: January 15, 2025, 01:46:11 PM »
Do we get a sell on fee?
According to reports at the time, it doesn't look like it. Unless these details weren't released to the press.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread
« on: January 15, 2025, 01:44:36 PM »The articles i have read stating that Schumacer ' isn't the worst out there' hardly fills me with confidence.
All nostalgia aside, I firmly believe Mowbray is the best option right now (provided he's available). It's pretty obvious at this point that a number of linked managers don't want the job and the likes of Cooper probably aren't interested.
Interestingly, Mowbray recently said he wanted a job towards the top of the table as well as looking for work if/when he gets the all clear. Schumacer is far more of an unknown at this point and did poorly at Stoke.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread
« on: January 14, 2025, 04:40:39 PM »
I'd love us to get Mowbray. Honestly, from a nostalgia perspective as much as anything. There was rarely a dull moment with him but we shall see.
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General Football & Sports / Re: La Liga
« on: January 12, 2025, 04:28:38 PM »Ouch 2 stoppage time goals now got to hurt
Ironically he rarely conceded late goals with us. I know there was Oxford this season but I can't remember too many other occasions.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jed Wallace
« on: January 12, 2025, 02:29:59 PM »Like a few of our players, form drops off and they seem to give up. Hopefully a move is on the cards and will suit all of us.
I don't think you could ever say Wallace doesn't give 100%. You can tell he's a tryer. The issue is his legs are gone. I remember Nicky Shorey was similar. He was great for a season but once his legs went it was game over for him.
I think with Wallace, he has ran his socks off for most of his career which is why he's facing such a quick decline, much like Rooney did at the same age.
Nonetheless, I think the line in the summer was that he'd be open for a move and was willing to take a pay cut if it meant more minutes. Hopefully that means we'll let him go for next to nothing if he has genuine suitors.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Do you REALLY want us to be promoted this season?
« on: January 11, 2025, 06:30:37 PM »I can't believe I have just read that last line.
Stay down here with the risk of possibly going down with a Bruce/Rooney type manager or promotion?
Let's stay down and be happy when the opposition level it in injury time.
First a Christian Grossesque appointment likely, and now this.
Football is about winning matches and promotion comes with that, if you can't take the defeats in a higher division then you have totally forgotten what football is about and how we did under God Megaton.
Get over yourself then...
I wasn't pleased that Swansea equalised and want us to always win. At the same time I can see the bigger picture. Look what happened to Luton after getting battered in the Premier League. No thanks. I'd rather us build a better team over time in this division and go up when we're good and ready.
That is more ambitious thinking than a flash promotion with nothing to show for it like we did under Bilic, where our stay in the top flight was embarrassing.
I'm sorry I upset you...maybe you're just easy to upset though.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Caleb Taylor
« on: January 11, 2025, 05:08:31 PM »Pick him for Saturday please.
Yep, him and Heggem at CB could be a nice partnership longterm. They're also two giants as well which would help on set pieces.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Do you REALLY want us to be promoted this season?
« on: January 11, 2025, 05:07:23 PM »I thought todays game might be a good place to bump this back to the top for further thoughts and discussion!
Even with a full strength team and bench we would be equally as badly spanked week in and week out for 95% of our time in the prem and have to say it's not something to look froward to
The other 5% would hopefully be against the other promoted teams
Agree, we're nowhere near ready. If we scraped up this season and got battered at least we would get a healthy cash injection. However, I truly believe that give it 3-5 more transfer windows (including this one) we will be on our way. As it stands though, we're nowhere near ready.
This is why I wasn't too upset when we conceded to Swansea.
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Last Match Forum - 11/01 AFC Bournemouth (FA Cup 3 - A) / Re: After Match Debate
« on: January 11, 2025, 05:05:23 PM »
I think the big takeaway from this is that realistically, we're nowhere near good enough for the top level and now it's pretty clear.
One thing I would add is that it's also eye opening as to how cut throat PL teams are in front of goal. Two goals either side of half time absolutely destroyed us. You don't really see that level of clinical striking at our level.
One thing I would add is that it's also eye opening as to how cut throat PL teams are in front of goal. Two goals either side of half time absolutely destroyed us. You don't really see that level of clinical striking at our level.
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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Mason Holgate joins on loan
« on: January 11, 2025, 04:28:02 PM »
This isn't nothing we don't already know. He's not a Premier League quality CB and hasn't been for most of his career. As cover (here) which he currently is, he is ok.
I imagine he's on big wages at Everton and he's 29 next year so I doubt our owners would look at him next season anyway as he doesn't fit our model.
I imagine he's on big wages at Everton and he's 29 next year so I doubt our owners would look at him next season anyway as he doesn't fit our model.
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Last Match Forum - 11/01 AFC Bournemouth (FA Cup 3 - A) / Re: Pre Match Chat
« on: January 11, 2025, 02:28:25 PM »
I'd have liked to have seen Frabotta starting. Every cameo he's made so far, he's been ok for us. Today would have been the ideal game to test him (alongside Taylor). Hopefully he gets at least 30 minutes this time.