[webral]

If Blackburn get no more than a single point against both Burnley and Luton along with a Millwall defeat at Blackpool, we'd only need to win our two home games to guarantee 6th. Exciting run in but not overly confident with injuries.

[richjonawba]

If Blackburn get no more than a single point against both Burnley and Luton along with a Millwall defeat at Blackpool, we'd only need to win our two home games to guarantee 6th. Exciting run in but not overly confident with injuries.

Sunderland can get to 71points, so unless we win all three couldn’t guarantee play offs

[overseas baggie]

If Blackburn get no more than a single point against both Burnley and Luton along with a Millwall defeat at Blackpool, we'd only need to win our two home games to guarantee 6th. Exciting run in but not overly confident with injuries.

We’ve only got one home game left!

[robnewbold]

Its the hope that kills you.
 Been watching this happen on and off for 65 years. Not turning up for vital games is an Albion trait going back decades.

[colinmax]

The problem today was Sunderland made early substitutions bringing fresh legs on as our as our team naturally tired.
 If we had made earlier subs Sunderland would not have such an advantage in fitness and it is  beyond my understanding to comprehend our first sub was Albrighton.
 It has been suggested that this was to accomodate Wallace's switch to the left but Wallace has not made a worthwhile contribution since Albrighton joined us.

[Albion79]

I think there is a massive of lack belief and confidence from fans to players and vice versa.

When we were bottom i think most people would of took being in the position we are in now, now we are here speaking for myself, even with it being in our hands i have little confidence we will make the playoffs let alone win them.

Thats based on experiences of seeing this squad, we had a great run under Corberan to start, that was never going to last all season but it got us round the promotion picture.

No coincidence soon as we got around the top 6 and talking about possible promotion our results and performances became inconsistent, of course injuries played a part but all teams have them.

I really do think its failure to deal with pressure and i am not thats something you can just change, i am a positive person but i dont think we will do it and even today, a crucial game against a playoff rival, once Sunderland scored the 2nd a lot people left and by the final whistle the ground was half empty, and i do wonder if people didnt have the belief or confidence we would turn it round, i stayed til the end but being honest i didnt think we would get back in it.

[Mo]

The problem today was Sunderland made early substitutions bringing fresh legs on as our as our team naturally tired.
 If we had made earlier subs Sunderland would not have such an advantage in fitness and it is  beyond my understanding to comprehend our first sub was Albrighton.
 It has been suggested that this was to accomodate Wallace's switch to the left but Wallace has not made a worthwhile contribution since Albrighton joined us.

As I left the stadium today I thought back to the days of Mike Phelan , Andy Townsend etc I’m so disappointed with what Albrighton has bought to the party, he can’t even run within minutes of coming on he was knackered , I realise his age is against him but to not even be fresh as a substitute takes some explaining .

[robnewbold]

I think there is a massive of lack belief and confidence from fans to players and vice versa.

When we were bottom i think most people would of took being in the position we are in now, now we are here speaking for myself, even with it being in our hands i have little confidence we will make the playoffs let alone win them.

Thats based on experiences of seeing this squad, we had a great run under Corberan to start, that was never going to last all season but it got us round the promotion picture.

No coincidence soon as we got around the top 6 and talking about possible promotion our results and performances became inconsistent, of course injuries played a part but all teams have them.

I really do think its failure to deal with pressure and i am not thats something you can just change, i am a positive person but i dont think we will do it and even today, a crucial game against a playoff rival, once Sunderland scored the 2nd a lot people left and by the final whistle the ground was half empty, and i do wonder if people didnt have the belief or confidence we would turn it round, i stayed til the end but being honest i didnt think we would get back in it.

Agreed, there is something lurking in our Club psyche which is almost self destructive. The Bilic promotion only happened because Brentford imploded worse then us. There is a lack of self belief that seems to rear its head at the most inappropriate moments. As i said in another post mental strength is just as vital as skill and we seem to lack that.

[ex coseley kid]

I had to miss most of today's match today because I had a day time gig. Glad I did now.

Any chance of changing the title of this thread to 'From bottom to bottle'?

[overseas baggie]

As I left the stadium today I thought back to the days of Mike Phelan , Andy Townsend etc I’m so disappointed with what Albrighton has bought to the party, he can’t even run within minutes of coming on he was knackered , I realise his age is against him but to not even be fresh as a substitute takes some explaining .

Although he produced a superb ball for Faal who really should have done better with it. Had Faal scored that, the ball from MA would have been lauded.

[Atomic]

Although he produced a superb ball for Faal who really should have done better with it. Had Faal scored that, the ball from MA would have been lauded.

That was an awful effort from Faal. Looked like Bambi on ice hitting that.

[gazberg]

That was an awful effort from Faal. Looked like Bambi on ice hitting that.

It was really bad. Will be some time before we see him again

[zippyandbungle]

Agreed, there is something lurking in our Club psyche which is almost self destructive. The Bilic promotion only happened because Brentford imploded worse then us. There is a lack of self belief that seems to rear its head at the most inappropriate moments. As i said in another post mental strength is just as vital as skill and we seem to lack that.

Yep….read this forum,a few hours ago people are chanting that we are going up …2 goals later and it’s all over even with 3 matches left …maybe it’s the psyche of the fans ?
Grant was getting loads of pellets today and I have no idea why ,however the coach that makes a triple sub with 3 mi utes left seems to escape any criticism..
So yes there are problems but I’m not sure it’s in the players mentality.

[zippyandbungle]

Although he produced a superb ball for Faal who really should have done better with it. Had Faal scored that, the ball from MA would have been lauded.

Exactly…I’m not too sure what we should expect when players are brought on for 3 minutes though .

[Albion79]

It goes back to confidence and belief again.

I think the triple sub at the end was just in hope rather than because he really believed any of those players could actually make a difference.

To be fair other than Faal they have had enough chances to shine and not done it, i agree about Grant i thought he looked decent and if we was determined to get Albrighton on would rather we took Wallace off.

[colinmax]

 It might be better for Wallace and the team he was dropped and perhaps  brought  on when the opposition are tiring because I can see no justification for him starting as he has done little for weeks except just charge around to little effect.

[beechyboy90]

Yep….read this forum,a few hours ago people are chanting that we are going up …2 goals later and it’s all over even with 3 matches left …maybe it’s the psyche of the fans ?
Grant was getting loads of pellets today and I have no idea why ,however the coach that makes a triple sub with 3 mi utes left seems to escape any criticism..
So yes there are problems but I’m not sure it’s in the players mentality.

Grant gets pellets because he is the biggest waste of resources at the club. Triple sub was very late. But rogic is mostly a passenger in games and his positive contributions since signing  can be counted on one hand. Albrighton has been very disappointing. Not really sure bringing these on earlier would have helped us. TGH possibly on earlier for our battle wounded cm.

The manager is working with a largely awful squad. He is taking just shy of 2 points a game since he took over. 49 points from 27 games. Sunderland were clinical. We didn't take our chances. They were marginally better on the day. It's very Albion making it harder than it needs to be. We were out if then we get back to back away wins. Watch us win at Bramell lane...

[baggie82]

Grant gets pellets because he is the biggest waste of resources at the club. Triple sub was very late. But rogic is mostly a passenger in games and his positive contributions since signing  can be counted on one hand. Albrighton has been very disappointing. Not really sure bringing these on earlier would have helped us. TGH possibly on earlier for our battle wounded cm.

The manager is working with a largely awful squad. He is taking just shy of 2 points a game since he took over. 49 points from 27 games. Sunderland were clinical. We didn't take our chances. They were marginally better on the day. It's very Albion making it harder than it needs to be. We were out if then we get back to back away wins. Watch us win at Bramell lane...

I wouldn't say our squad is awful (including those injured) but it is not as good as our rivals; and with our large injury list we are really scrapping at the barrel.

Boro for example have a team / squad ridiculously superior to our own and Luton's starting 11 look better than what we have. Both also seem to have spent more money in January than us, not that was difficult to achieve. Luton for example got Marvelous Nakamba in on loan who has been excellent for them from Villa who spent £11m on him. We got in Nathaniel Chalobah - you don't need to be a genius to work out which deal commanded more in fees and wages. Boro have got Cameron Archer from Villa on loan and he isn't even first choice, with Akpom firing in goals for them.

Whilst I hope we can make the play-offs we would be going in as underdogs. Relying on the manager to pull more rabbits out of the hat.

[ex coseley kid]

If I could wish for one thing for next season it would be another Dan Ashworth.

[Atomic]

If I could wish for one thing for next season it would be another Dan Ashworth.

Nah. A new owner who actually has ambition, serious money and is determined to drag this club up by its bootlaces.

Forty years we've had of no real ambition, no growth and very little real hope.

If only I had the money of someone like Elon Musk. I'd proper sort this club out.

Anyone want to start a collection? 

[KN22]

I wouldn't say our squad is awful (including those injured) but it is not as good as our rivals; and with our large injury list we are really scrapping at the barrel.

Boro for example have a team / squad ridiculously superior to our own and Luton's starting 11 look better than what we have. Both also seem to have spent more money in January than us, not that was difficult to achieve. Luton for example got Marvelous Nakamba in on loan who has been excellent for them from Villa who spent £11m on him. We got in Nathaniel Chalobah - you don't need to be a genius to work out which deal commanded more in fees and wages. Boro have got Cameron Archer from Villa on loan and he isn't even first choice, with Akpom firing in goals for them.

Whilst I hope we can make the play-offs we would be going in as underdogs. Relying on the manager to pull more rabbits out of the hat.

Totally agree with you 82. Injuries, age of players, together with many of them being just not very good means that the last manager has done very well to have us where we are currently.

[Jordie1471]

Can take this with a pinch of salt by transfermarkt currently has squad market values as follows;
1) Burnley - 131m
2) Watford - 129m
3) Sheff U - 105m
4) Norwich - 104m
5) Borough - 81m
6) Blackburn 70m
7) WBA - 64m
8 ) Sunderland - 59m

I remember reading in the after match chat that we 'should' be beating teams like Sunderland on paper and to not beat teams like Sunderland means we have 'bottled it'

To me this sort of attitude stinks of delusional entitlement. We have a solid but unspectacular squad at this level and the quicker fans accept this reality, the better atmosphere in the ground will be. 

[NJS]

Absolutely exmember, I think I would trust the judgement of transfermarkt over some who were claiming that we had one of the best squads in a poor division.  Did they ever study the competition?  With the current injuries to our best players I would say that at the moment the squad is considerably less than £64M. 

[graka]

Can take this with a pinch of salt by transfermarkt currently has squad market values as follows;
1) Burnley - 131m
2) Watford - 129m
3) Sheff U - 105m
4) Norwich - 104m
5) Borough - 81m
6) Blackburn 70m
7) WBA - 64m
8 ) Sunderland - 59m

I remember reading in the after match chat that we 'should' be beating teams like Sunderland on paper and to not beat teams like Sunderland means we have 'bottled it'

To me this sort of attitude stinks of delusional entitlement. We have a solid but unspectacular squad at this level and the quicker fans accept this reality, the better atmosphere in the ground will be.

I think we would struggle to raise that. Most of our players are on good contracts at championship level so I would argue no one in this league would be looking to pay a fee for nearly all of them which leaves only players with any future value at premier league level or maybe some of the less glamorous leagues abroad
I could see Papmer,Griffiths,Dara,Kipre and maybe BTA attracting any kind of fee

[MarkW]

Transfermarkt definitely under-estimates our squad, but it's probably doing the same for the others:

Figures in euros
Palmer - 500k
Thomas-Asante - 800k
Griffiths - 1.2m

In fact, if you go onto the part of the site that shows where their value comes from, it's by one of their forum members, and some haven't been updated since 2018.