1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Atmosphere at Home Games

« on: April 16, 2024, 11:19:28 PM »

Watched the Southampton v Preston game on TV earlier. Despite winning three nil at home in a commanding performance the atmosphere didn't seem particularly electric (to me at least).

There are games at stadiums including our own when there's a tremendous atmosphere. There are any number of games in any number of stadiums where it's not beyond (and in some cases) including goal celebrations.

2

Forthcoming Match Forum - 27/04 Sheffield Wednesday (A) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: April 16, 2024, 11:07:37 PM »

I had forgotten that one Keith, but unfortunately missed it. Just as well i'm not going !

Thank you and most considerate. I just wish more Jonahs had followed your suit over the years. Nothing personal given you 'was there in 68' of course. COYB  .

3

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 15, 2024, 05:04:14 PM »

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought BTA got 9 league goals last season, my bad

Is 9 the new ten  ?

4

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 15, 2024, 04:57:49 PM »

Thanks Dan. BTA has averaged double figures in his 2 seasons with us I think.

Weimann not as prolific as I recall clearly

Seven in the league last season and two in the FA Cup. His only other double figure season came at Salford in League Two 2021-2022 with 11 in 39 plus two in the EFL Trophy.

5

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: April 15, 2024, 01:13:52 PM »

McKenna confirmed as Champo manager of the season. no surprise , 1 horse race really.

Their record isn't that great against the top 6 sides (10 pts from 30 available , 2w 4d and 4l) but when it comes to beating the fodder of the league they have been ruthless.

Whilst trying to avoid fate a Manager of the Year award and those numbers have all the hallmarks of heartache in the Playoffs if they don't make the autos.

6

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 15, 2024, 01:11:25 PM »

Really? I thought he had some fairly regular 15-20 goal seasons in the champo. That's surprising. In that case i'm changing to Weimann definitely isn't scoring double figures if he starts most games

Weimann's stand out goal returns season was 21/22. 22 goals and 10 assists from RW and AM. Other than that nothing spectacular. BTA only has two seasons where he's reached double figures in the league too and this is one of them.

7

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Atmosphere at Home Games

« on: April 15, 2024, 12:11:39 PM »

the game didn't help, an 8 o'clock kick off as well.

i'd been in the pub since 5:15 and tbh i was ready for bed at half time.

They clearly don't make bald Bond type villains like they used to Jeremy    .

8

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 15, 2024, 11:30:20 AM »

AW

Andi Weimann.

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Play off Points Target

« on: April 15, 2024, 07:43:18 AM »

I'm clinically insane. I've just had a flutter on us being promoted.

I'm going to be hurt twice aren't I?

I was going to bet on us staying down (a sort of comfort blanket) but they couldn't give me the odds....

Old adage. Never bet on or against the Albion as you never know what you're going to get. Sempre te fallant and all that. COYB  .

10

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Blind Dave

« on: April 15, 2024, 07:36:00 AM »

Very well done Dave (.....'why do they call you blind Dave?'....) Heeley.

11

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL SCOTTISH LEAGUES THREAD

« on: April 15, 2024, 07:29:44 AM »

And Rangers lose 3-2 to a Ross County side with with two former Baggies academy players. George Harmon (LB) got on the score sheet while there was also a start for former Liverpool poachee Yan Dhanda in midfield.

12

General Football & Sports / Re: Seals watch - Anything Villa

« on: April 15, 2024, 07:21:09 AM »

Got to hand it to them  they’ve been really good today especially 2nd half ! 

No I haven't. Didn't realise they were playing, wouldn't watch them play in my back garden unless it was against us or if they were already losing heavily and today is another day ending in Y. COYB and SOTV  .

13

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Atmosphere at Home Games

« on: April 14, 2024, 12:07:22 PM »

The club have been in communication with the relevant bodies regarding public transport on a number of occasions. This has been well documented in the Albion Assembly minutes. Same goes with the roads. Re public transport I can't see ongoing industrial action helping matters moving nowhere.

14

Next Match Forum - 20/04 Leicester City (A) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: April 14, 2024, 12:02:21 PM »

No BTA, Maja not at full strength, Townsend being Townsend, Bartley looking a bit more like his old self, Kipre going off the boil and a lack of pace or invention from central midfield and players seemingly off the pace generally.

All the hallmarks for a very long early afternoon. Leicester City 0 v 1 WBA. Peak Albion that. Here's hoping anyway, but we all know what they say about hope. Bit the financial bullet and will be in attendance for this one. COYB  .

15

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: April 14, 2024, 11:50:40 AM »

Meanwhile in an interesting turn of events Swansea are set to launch legal proceedings against Russell Martin..........

'Swansea City are suing former boss Russell Martin for breach of contract following his move to Southampton in June 2023.

Martin, 38, left Swansea after two years in charge to take over at St Mary's.

Swansea have declined to comment but have confirmed the legal action against their ex-head coach.

Martin's move to Southampton was held up because of a dispute over compensation due to Swansea.

With that dispute still unresolved, Swansea have opted to sue - though they are not taking action against Southampton.

Martin, who left MK Dons to take charge at Swansea in 2021, signed a three-year deal when he arrived in Wales, but left after two seasons in charge.

• All the latest from Swansea City

He was understood to have agreed to take the Southampton job last May, but his move to Saints was not confirmed until 21 June because of the compensation issues.

At the centre of the disagreement was whether Southampton, who were relegated last season, were still a Premier League club when they came in for Martin.

That is key because Martin's Swansea contract featured differing compensation clauses depending on whether a club looking to appoint him were in the top flight or not.

The legal action is also related to some of the Swansea staff members who followed Martin to Southampton.

Martin and Southampton have been asked to comment.

Martin led Swansea to a 15th-place Championship finish in 2021-22, then 10th in what proved to be his final season in charge.

He had been making progress with the Welsh club and said on numerous occasions that he would be interested in extending his contract.

However, relations between Martin and Swansea's American owners soured after the January transfer window in 2023, when the club were in contention for the play-offs but failed to sign a player despite numerous deals being lined up.

Martin has made a positive impact at Southampton, with the club in contention for a return to the Premier League this spring following relegation last season.

Swansea sacked Martin's successor, Michael Duff, last December after struggling to readjust following his departure.

They then appointed Martin's former Swansea assistant, Luke Williams, as head coach in January.

Williams' side all but confirmed their second-tier status by beating Rotherham United 1-0 on Saturday'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68807285

16

General Football & Sports / Re: Seals watch - Anything Villa

« on: April 12, 2024, 04:27:38 PM »

They’d have lost last night were it not for Martinez. Sadly, I can see them winning the thing.

The issue of fifth place getting champions league is interesting now following those results in the week. I thought it was nailed on fifth place would get it, but Liverpool losing was a massive shock, we’d need the two German sides to go through in the champions league and for Liverpool and West Ham to go out of the Europa League then it becomes interesting. Man City likely winning the champions league and the Villa winning the conference thing means fifth will likely get CL regardless, sadly.

I'll get the mat out and pray for a mighty footballing implosion.

17

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: End of season theme, Poll included

« on: April 12, 2024, 04:23:57 PM »

Might wear a BTA wig and take some darts to throw at myself in the pub pre match. I'd be perfectly fine apparently but I'd worry for those around me on their behalf. Watch out for them arrows, they'll have your eye out  .

18

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 12, 2024, 12:27:02 PM »

Listen he hasn’t “carried”us at all ,let’s not use dramatic phrases ,if you remember when he was injured we were unbeaten and still scored a lot of goals,300k ,80million or free ,in my eyes he’s a very poor player,and I would put good money on it any of our youngsters (ie faal ,Malcolm) if they played as many times as assante this season they wouldent have been far off his goal tally and assists

Fine. Feel free to read Lewisant's post for clarity with any confusion my 'dramatic phrases' may have caused. Have a nice one Luke.

19

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Mikey Johnston joins on loan (Official!)

« on: April 12, 2024, 10:41:52 AM »

Funny that some have said how bad he is yet his contribution has been recognised by the league. Well done Mikey! He’s been an absolutely fantastic acquisition and has really helped us consolidate our Play-off position.

When Sarmiento left I was worried but this has played out exceptionally well for both us and him.

Strange isn't it? Can't pass, can't cross, runs into blind alleys and only has one trick but gets Player of the Month for March. You'd think the judges of these things would do some research really. Or they did and it turns out there's more to his game than he's given credit for elsewhere.

20

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 12, 2024, 10:36:17 AM »

Yeah because they have all been injured

Which is pretty much the point he's making. We've been carried rather than hindered by a former League Two wide forward being tasked to lead the line with little or no back up or respite. For reference this is the highest goals per game season of his career to date and at a higher level.

He's awkward and raw as opposed to poor. His decision making and finishing can be infuriating at times but no one can fault his effort and application. Without him and in the absence of others I doubt we'd be in the the playoff spots.

I'd rather see a Brandon Thomas Asante type apply himself as opposed to a recognised centre forward in the form of a Kenneth Zohore or a Jordan Hugill sauntering around with a thumb up their bum looking a mile off the pace every day of the week and especially on a match day.

21

Last Match Forum - 13/04 Sunderland (H) / Re: Match Officials

« on: April 12, 2024, 10:16:00 AM »

Indeed, he must have been trying extra hard to stand out from the rest of his inept peers!

Can just picture them at referee conferences having a good giggle with each other over which one's won the Gimp of the Month Award.

22

Last Match Forum - 13/04 Sunderland (H) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: April 12, 2024, 10:12:56 AM »

Here's hoping Ballard and O'Nien don't nobble anyone.

23

Last Match Forum - 13/04 Sunderland (H) / Re: Match Officials

« on: April 12, 2024, 08:26:21 AM »

It was the same game that he sent Diangana/Ferguson off and gave the last minute penalty for the foul on Ajayi that should have been a free kick to us.

Fair point well made.

Just goes to emphasise how inept he was.

24

Last Match Forum - 10/04 Rotherham United (H) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 12, 2024, 07:54:39 AM »

Although I am mainly against VAR, the ref made a good case for it.

I suppose that would depend on whether Mike Dean was on VAR duty and if he thought it best to avoid a mate some blushes.

25

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA FC Financial report 22/23 published

« on: April 12, 2024, 07:50:17 AM »

On the face of it the results don't look too bad however the actions that were taken to keep the lights on were increasingly desperate.

 The O'Shea transfer is an absolute bin fire although I would stress one that was wholly down to our desperate circumstances.

Generally reported at £8m at the time although not confirmed by either club. It appears in the accounts as £6.54m and given no other significant sales last summer before the June 30th that is the fee. Although elsewhere in the accounts it is noted that player sales trigger repayments of the MSD loan and we repaid £0.6m to them during the period which would obviously reduce the profit shown in the P&L.

Nor did we take a reduced fee for more cash up front because we took out an additional loan secured against the future instalments of £4m at an interest rate of 8% over 2 years. That is roughly another £0.32m of interest payments.

If there was no other indication of how desperate our situation was prior to the takeover then that was it.

In terms of FFP result the fact the Wisdom Smart loan is shown in the 2023 accounts (even though it was paid in 2024) coupled with the " allowable" expenses gives us a break even result. The report was at great pains to point out that the future funding arrangements and the loan repayment were discussed with the EFL so one assumes they are comfortable with this position.

Finally Patel has put in an additional £2.5m in funding which when added to the loan repayment takes the cash injection since February to in excess of £7m. On the one hand the good news is we have an owner prepared to fund the club. However the fact that £7m has been spent just on shoring up our current trading position shows just how difficult our financial position remains.

Meaning tighter purse strings for a while yet. Shilen Patel needs to be more creative moving forward than the unimaginative shower of brown splodge he's replaced. I'll be very interested to see if any new partners come aboard for the ride.