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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: Yesterday at 01:25:56 PM »

I asked ChatGPT who is the best candidate for the West Bromwich Albion managers job. This was its reply " The ideal candidate for West Bromwich Albion's managerial role would be someone who can provide stability and lead the team back to the Premier League. Sean Dyche's experience in the Premier League and pragmatic approach make him a strong candidate. Ryan Mason's potential and fresh perspective could invigorate the team."  My point exactly as the like of Dyche is out of our reach.

Blimey, are we now asking computers and bots to choose football managers? Where is this going to end? Using bots to select our choice of meal in the restaurant, or marriage partner? Even though we all disagree on things, I'd rather disagree with actual humans.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 15, 2025, 07:53:30 PM »

Would you put Wilder in the same category as Dychre. As when I watch Sheff Utd a few times on TV this season they used their wingers loads. A lot would compare the two.

I think Dyche is a pragmatist and that means using the resources you’ve got.

It just so happens that the pragamtist Dyche always seems to have players that play his system. Even if he was in charge of Real Madrid or Man City's squads, he'd change them for the worse.

I haven't seen enough of Sheff Utd lately, but managers of a certain age never really change their philosophies.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 15, 2025, 07:42:04 PM »

I know he’s probably so far away from what the owners want but my choice would be Sean Dyche. Listening to him on Stick to Football today and I think he is exactly what this squad needs based on what we are hearing about their conduct.

If its just about discipline and rigid organisation, then Pulis would be just as good as Dyche, but these sort of managers have little time for flair or skill on the ball. I think players like Fellows or Johnston would be eased out, as its all about by-passing the midfield and wingplay is at a minimum. In many games they set out for a 0-0 or try and nick a 1-0, so its incredibly boring. Even Everton's fans, where they have had more than their fair share of negative, defensive minded managers, lost patience with Dyche after his miserable goalscoring record.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tony Mowbray sacked

« on: May 15, 2025, 06:16:46 PM »

Sounds like Palmer was very influential behind the scenes, and losing him may be a big part of why we  dropped away.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: May 15, 2025, 06:11:32 PM »

I don't know whether he'd come back and play for his home town club on promotion but Jordan Henderson's influence on Ajax's youngsters appears to have lost some of it's Vim as their push for the Eredivisie circles the pan. Old Jordan was looking distinctly Groningen around the gills at full-time last night  .

He was, as would any player who'd just seen his team forfeit a 9 point lead at the top of the league, with one match to go. There's a question whether Ajax will extend his contract given his age, but he is a team player and brings a lot of discipline to the team.   

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: May 14, 2025, 05:14:04 PM »

I want to see Sunderland lose for a slightly obscure reason. I think Jordan Henderson might be attracted to play for his hometown club if they were promoted, whereas I enjoy watching him exert his influence on the Ajax youngsters, where I think he still has a job to do.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Where to next for the identity of West Bromwich Albion?

« on: May 13, 2025, 05:37:38 PM »

I always thought when we redeveloped the ground we rebuilt the stands in the wrong order.
If we had done the east stand first we could have moved it back and took up some of the car park. Then if the two ends were moved across to meet the new east stand, there would have been plenty of room to build a proper stand on Halfords Lane

Whatever the rights and wrongs of decisions made in the past, we are where we are today. To my mind, the Halfords Lane is the side most in need of redevelopment. The East Stand is still relatively new whereas, Halfords Lane, is small, cramped and past its sell-by date. Unless the club buys what is now public highway, it has to work within the constraints of the site, which points in the direction of a cantilever.
The option of re-laying the pitch and re-building the stadium in an easterly direction, would financially be a complete non-starter. 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Where to next for the identity of West Bromwich Albion?

« on: May 13, 2025, 04:31:06 PM »

Thank you for asking. Yes. You do realise that the space under the stand that you could have utilised for income generating facilities will have traffic running through it?

But the club doesn't own Halfords Lane, so couldn't put any facilities on it, unless they reach an agreement with the Council, which probably means buying it. I've no idea what this might add to the development cost, but even then the Council, or whoever the highways authority are, might not agree to closing Halfords Lane.
However, a cantiliever stand shouldn't mean closing Halfords Lane. I'm not sure though whether there would still be implications for fire or safety regs.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 13, 2025, 12:47:30 PM »

I am beginning to feel sorry for whoever gets the job. Why? …. Because if they don’t get at least 33 points from the first 10 games( yes I know) than parts of our fan base will be wanting them gone. You only want have to look on here at the I don’t t want him, I’m not warming to another, he’s not experienced, don’t want him he’s a dinosaur blah blah to realise how difficult a job anybody’s going to have.

Sure. But they will know that beforehand. A football manager is relatively well paid (I haven't heard of any going around the food banks), and they stand to get gardening leave if dismissed early. If they want a safe job maybe they should think about accountancy or go into media work if they want to stay in football. 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Where to next for the identity of West Bromwich Albion?

« on: May 12, 2025, 04:58:03 PM »

I'd be against leaving the Hawthorns as it's part of the club's identity. I also think the stands are quite adequate for our needs on 3 sides and form an attractive backdrop,  but the Halfords is too small and also pretty cramped for anyone taller than 5 foot.

If the Halfords were re-developed we could raise the capacity to 30-32,000 which is realistic for the crowds we might hope to attract. As I said on another thread, the existing ground has the smallest capacity in the Midlands. I appreciate that would probably mean cantilevering over Halfords Lane. That might raise issues with the highways authority, health and safety etc., but it can't do any harm to explore the issue.   

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Caleb Taylor

« on: May 12, 2025, 04:38:16 PM »

Taylor is another Bartley. A big lump that if you defend deep will kick and head everything away.

As soon as you ask them to develop an attack defend 1v1 or defend movement or pace in a higher line they are completely lost.

#
That's an important point. In the old days, a centre half had basically just to be able to win his header duels and clear his lines. A lot of modern coaches now expect centre backs to play the ball out from the back as opposed to hoofing it anywhere. Kipre, helped by Yokuslu, did that in a fairly efficient manner, because they were comfortable on the ball.  If Taylor can't or can't learn, he may only be useful as a back up.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: May 12, 2025, 04:18:28 PM »

Leicester want Dyche, Dyche wants Leicester too, apparently -Nixon

#Good luck to them. Personally, I think its pointless Dyche holding out for anyone bigger than Leicester, because none of the current Prem clubs would touch him, and rightly so.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 10, 2025, 05:58:25 PM »

Heitinga did have half a season in charge of the Ajax first team. It was a difficult period for Ajax, but he took them from 5th place when he joined to 3rd when dismissed by now disgraced Director of Football Sven Mislintat. Amongst Ajax fans, he generally has a good reputation. although he's popular anyway as an ex-player and youth coach. With his experience now at Liverpool and briefly at west Ham, I think he'd be ready for a job at our level. 

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General Football & Sports / Re: Manchester United

« on: May 10, 2025, 01:46:30 PM »

Self entitled league would have Villa, Liverpool,Arsenal,Leeds all ahead of them?
Whilst not liking him/them Fergie built a fantastic footballing team and really elevated English football.
If they do make it via 15th…we can’t blame them, it’s the boys in the suits that set the rules.

Yes, the boys in suits make the rules and are responsible for VAR etc. It just seems that certain clubs always seem to profit from them, and you can definitely include Man Utd in that list.
The most pleasure I got from watching Fergie was when his face and nose matched the colour of his team`s shirts just after they'd just been knocked out of a European cup!   

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General Football & Sports / Re: Manchester United

« on: May 09, 2025, 04:17:17 PM »

Gone through periods of not liking them and almost feeling sorry for them
Amorim is an absolute tool IMO  and at the moment the players and mainly Bruno are getting them through (some) games.
They need a serious overhaul.

'What's to feel sorry about? They are about the most self-entitled club and fans on the planet. They splash money about on transfer fees thinking it will buy them success, so have an inflationary effect on transfer fees generally. It will be a sickener if they make it into the Champions League on the back of finishing 15th in the league. 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 09, 2025, 12:36:21 PM »

Anybody who watches the MLS regularly who can say at what level it is? Championship level?

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General Football & Sports / Re: Manchester United

« on: May 08, 2025, 10:28:25 PM »

Did what Dan does with Villa games taking a sly peak at the score to see if the opposition to Man Utd had a realistic chance. So when the Bigheads came back from Bilbao's earlier goal, decided one of those evenings when the Tv stays switched off.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Kit 25/26

« on: May 08, 2025, 01:49:52 PM »

Well it's going to be blue and white stripes:  some fans will complain about the colour, the fit, the amount and width of the stripe, the collar/lack of collar,  the badge, the price etc.
And then rinse and repeat for the away/3rd shirt.
As it ever was.

Inevitable really, because its about the identity of the club. Players, managers come and go, but certain things stay  the same, which is what binds the fans to their club. The club name, the geographical location and the colours. Any administrators that mess around with them, do so at their peril. 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 07, 2025, 05:51:36 PM »

If Leeds do Farke him off, I would definitely be on the phone to him about taking over here.

4 promotions is great record at this level, and a lot better than our last manager.

I don't know if any truth in this, but if so, we should definitely be on the phone to Farke.  Excellent record at this level, but I fear he would be looking for bigger jobs. That said, we have provided tough opposition to his various teams, so he will be well aware of the potential here. 

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: May 01, 2025, 01:17:57 PM »

Not difficult in fairness, their youth teams have always had a great reputation since the 90s.

The Head of the Arsenal Academy Per Mertesacker, their former defender, always comes across as knowledgable as a regular pundit on German TV.  He sounds like someone who could make a name for himself as a manager.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 01, 2025, 12:50:00 PM »

Champo manager of the year for me is John Eustace but I don't think a lot of Albion fans would be happy with him

I read somewhere that he favoured a job in the Midlands and he comes from Solihull, it wouldn't surprise me if he was very interested in a chance to manage at the Albion.  That said, he couldn't do it after having signed a new contract only a few weeks ago, as it would be a blot on his copybook. Also, Derby is a club with potential
and a decent sized fanbase.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 30, 2025, 05:00:10 PM »

Just hope its someone with a modern approach to coaching, able to work hard on the training ground, good tactical brain and able to get through to and motivate the players. Someone a bit like Carlos actually.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 22, 2025, 01:20:13 PM »

I used to live there but moved back to the UK a few years ago. Still follow the Bundesliga though. For me the current St Pauli manager Alexander Blessin is the most realistic manager that might be a future star over here. He's going to keep them in the Bundesliga pretty comfortably and has a strong track record. Unlikely to be able to achieve much more there though on their budget.
Further down you have Christian Titz who has done an amazing job at FC Magdeburg. He took them from Bundesliga 3 to 2 and they might just be heading to Bundesliga 1 this season. Would be a huge achievement. One to watch is Raphael Duarte. He's Assistant Manager at SV Elversberg and is only 28 and so we're not going to be going there but he might just be the next big thing, in a Will Still style.

Titz has done well at Magdeburg, but he came unstuck at Hamburger SV. as so many do. Another very difficult club to manage. I think lots of clubs are looking at Elversberg. Club the size of Forest Green pushing for promotion to the Bundesliga. However, what ever they achieve in Germany, coming here, there is the extra barrier of getting through to the players in English.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 22, 2025, 12:37:50 PM »

Agreed. We have to take our time and get someone in that can take us forward. We can certainly compete with Norwich for attractiveness. They've been a basket case for a long time under Delia.

Hi Bayern Baggie,  I wonder if from your name, you can think of any suitable candidates from the Bundesliga 1 or 2.
Tim Walter didn`t last long at Hull, and neither did Breitenreiter at Huddersfield. On the other hand the ex-Pauli guy is doing ok at Brighton, and Oliver Glasner was always going to do well. Edin Terzic, the ex Dortmund manager, would be a great choice, but no way is he dropping down to the Champ, even though he coached in England with Billic before.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 22, 2025, 12:23:23 PM »

Under the radar - Paul Simonis.  Took over at Go Ahead Eagles in the summer, with no money.  They were one of the favourites for relegation this season, but have been challenging for Europe, and have won the Dutch Cup on Sunday.  He's only 40, got GOE playing some lovely football, and I doubt would cost much at all.

#Goeie morgen Dutch Baggie, I have been trying to use the bits of Dutch football I see to think of any managers from Holland who might be suitable.
I don`t know a lot about Simonis, but he certainly has had Go Ahead playing some very decent football. I was also wondering about 2 ex Feyenoorders. Brian Friske did very well in his time there, as Feyenoord is a very difficult club to manage. Gio van Bronckhorst I note is also free and he also got Glasgow Rangers to a Europa league final. I suppose though it is unlikely either would come to the Championship.