26

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: March 07, 2023, 09:41:06 PM »

No Molomby No legs

27

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: February 27, 2023, 07:04:25 PM »

Most frustrating thing for me is Dike needs desperately to improve his first touch. So many times he fails to control the ball and he fails with a simple lay off.

He has his strengths for sure but he's not a great "footballer". In this league, given his strengths, he doesn't need to be great but he does need to hold the ball and lay it off.

Watching his Barnsley highlights he was just explosive raw power, there wasnt much evidence of his football technique but he just bullied defenders. Unfortunately injury seems to have robbed him of that explosive power, it might return with time and maybe a pre season, but in the meantime he is adapting .  The run and finish for his first goal was top class, all timing and placement, as was his movement and anticipation on the second. So far we've seen a bullet header, diving header and some decent through ball finishing.   He's won us 9 points without hitting his straps. 

28

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 25, 2023, 03:45:20 PM »

nothing to really report right now, Boro have a lot of the ball but not doing a huge amount with it.

Ta.  A few updates might help me keep my sanity lol

29

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 25, 2023, 03:41:30 PM »

Anybody at the ground??ST holder but had to commit to work today so something/anything    unless its them scoring

30

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: February 21, 2023, 05:52:42 PM »

Lets go through our first 11 from last night shall we;

Gk - Josh Griffiths - Academy graduate just coming back from a L1 loan

Lb - Connor Townsend - Signed from a L1 club
Rb - Darnell Furlong - Couple of championship seasons at QPR before coming here
CB - Dara O'Shea - Academy graduate
CB - Erik Pieters - Lots of mid/lower premier league experience but is now 34

CM - Nathanial Chalobah - Small amount of premier league experience
CM - Jason Molumby - Couple of championship seasons (on loan) before coming here

AM - Marc Albrighton - Lots of premier league experience but now 33, loaned here for match fitness
AM - Jed Wallace - Plenty of solid championship experience
AM - John Swift - Plenty of solid championship experience

ST - Brandon Thomas Asante - Signed from a L2 club

The positives are for the first time in a while we have a number of promising young talents coming through our squad.

Ultimately though this is a squad that should be (and hence has been) consistently losing to the teams occupying the top 6 slots

I would agree that is a top half team and not much more, but of course the issue we also have is that we have a £40 million bench , players bought on a massive premium who cant get in ahead of the loans and freebies.   All clubs make mistakes but the Grant, Grady, Zohore contracts have killed us.  I only hope we arn't adding Dike to the least in a couple of years time.   

31

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 17, 2022, 07:11:08 PM »

Don't forget Corberan wasn't available at the start of the season so I'd rather have Corberan than some other clown this board could have chosen in the summer.

This!  Please do not underestimate the job Corberan is doing, what he's done so far is very special.  We may look back and decide the money used keeping Bruce here long enough for Corberan to become available was the best few quid we have recently spent.   No high press gimmick soon to blow up, no old boys network to keep you in a job, just coaching of the very highest order.  Tightly organised, tactically fluid and able to make game changing substitutions.

And let's at least acknowledge that although Bruce was obviously a terrible training ground coach he has, as he often has, left us with a much more balanced squad finally containing some decent footballing midfielders and BTA who is fast becoming a cult hero of mine.

32

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan - New Head Coach

« on: November 03, 2022, 11:50:45 AM »

He’s a serous coach. No messing about, if isn’t done right then they do it again.

Be interesting to see what business we do in Jan now. I really hope he’s got some gems in his book that we can bring in for not a huge amount.

Unlike our previous manager his value will be what he can do on the training pitch rather than what names he has in his little black book, if he has one at all.

TBH I'm not even sure Bruce has a LBB anymore, his signings were based on pretty basic stats (goals/assists/free agent) or having a personal connection (next door neighbour/son in laws football team).  Yes his personality might have got them through the door, but so would the salaries we pay.

I hear Pep's an admirer though so maybe he could cast his eye towards their hoards of reserve players for a gem or two? Mind you, for those who thought Liam Delap might be the answer his stats are 14 1 0 4 0

The four is yellow cards!!

33

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: November 02, 2022, 07:33:27 PM »

I personally enjoyed the performance, bar 15 minutes of second half when it went really flat , but then I'm of the Football Italia generation and love seeing strong defence mixed with possession football.   There was a period first half where we must have had twenty plus touches, and although not really threatening it was controlled retention,  I was nodding my head in approval but some fans around me got rather twitchy.    Even my teenage lad was confused by that reaction.   Some fans will need to become more patient under CC, retain it, recycle it and go again. No more hopefully crosses into the box.....thank fugg.

34

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: October 22, 2022, 11:14:33 PM »

I absolutely detest him. The man is one the worst strikers I have ever seen. Where are all the fans who said "yeah but he scores goals" gone? I cannot believe the money we have shelled out on this useless waste of space. The only option we had was to bring on Phillips instead today, what a shameful position to be in. Years and years of bad recruitment and look what we're left with. It's like playing with 10 men when he's in the side. If Corberan comes in, ironically it will be the manager who sold him.

I remember doing the old ex fans review when we signed him for 15 million to play as lone CF in the PL. 

One thing all the Hudds fans said was.......he can't play CF

35

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: League One

« on: October 22, 2022, 11:10:26 PM »

I don't believe Dike and Ajayi returning will make much difference.  Dike can't last one game before getting injured.
Albion have to stop giving easy goals to teams. As boring as it sounds we need a back five and two defensive midfielders until we stop the rot and start getting some points. I know it's Pulisball but sneaking one nils may be all we can hope for with what we have.

Errrmmmm we've been doing that and losing.

36

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 09, 2022, 06:32:41 PM »

Sideways and backwards football.  No ability to pass forward under pressure, no pace, no one breaking lines.

For me, there is nothing worse than this....

SJ rolls it out to CB, CB passes to WG, WG passes to CB, CB hoofs a pooh pass up to Carroll who is marked by two defenders.

It's a cowards form of football.  Not brave enough to just be direct, not brave enough to play through the lines.

It's going to be a tough few years, unless Dike can stay fit and becomes the "difference". 

Just want to get this season done.   Need a break long enough to forget how pooh this is.

37

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: April 09, 2022, 04:05:34 PM »

I'd try Jake, TGH (or Molumby) and Robinson.  You won't get much defending from Callum but the other two should be able to cover for that.  That will give us Callum\Grady\AC and (if the wing backs get forward) another 2.

We almost have a squad that  nullifies itself.  It's hard to see a combination that would  actually work.   Painful.

38

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: April 09, 2022, 04:00:45 PM »

We just can’t play against teams that don’t go out to attack us. We just don’t have the quality to break teams down that are solid. For me it’s a lack of pace from the wingbacks - whoever we play in those positions.

Very much this.  A team in this league could accommodate one of JL, Mowatt or Molomby.  As a three they are just almost embarrassingly mediocre.   From an attacking sense it's a nothing squad.  No flair, no creativity and no real pace (Grady seems to have lost that zip).  Our only threat seems to be Carroll being a nuisance. 

Mowatt looked a half decent player at the start of the season but really is very average Championship....At best.

39

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 22, 2022, 09:20:46 PM »

Realistically, if we don’t win today we are 8 points from the play offs (when teams play their games in hand and invariably at least a couple win) with 13 games to go. Add that to no form and no confidence and I think that’s the season done.

If you had said we would finish outside the top 10 at the start of the season I’d have said you were mad. It now looks highly likely

Yep.  That's it.   Roland finally proven right.   

Feels the same as when SA came in.   You can juggle managers but it's players and recruitment that win games.

I'm not sure that any of our midfield three would start a game for another top half side.   

40

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 22, 2022, 07:09:34 PM »

442 with Reach in front of Townsend.  Grady on right with Dara behind him to offer more solidity.   Cant see how those players can line up 532?

41

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 19, 2022, 02:56:32 PM »

Reach and Townsend are in to double up on the left and get crosses in, and Furlong was superb first half last game and would not deserve to be dropped.  Mowatt and Molomby are the obvious midfield pairing, TGH first change.   The big difference here is playing two up top and Bruce has decided Grant is the best option.    I have no disappointment in seeing Grady and Robbo on the bench as they have offered ZERO in recent games.  I would like to see Tulloch given some minutes though,

42

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 19, 2022, 11:49:19 AM »

I get bored senseless of too much obsession with formations. We should now be thinking of building for the future by playing younger players in their naturalpositions....such as Diangana on the left, Tulloch attacking, and Castro in midfield.....and see where we go. We have to try something to build on positively.

You can't play kids just for the sake of it until promotion has gone.

43

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Rest of the season - points to make the Play-Offs

« on: February 16, 2022, 05:53:31 PM »

Blimey there is some despondancy on this thread.   It's the end of the road if we don't get promotion.

Balancing positives and negatives below, i think its a little bit to early to totally write off our future.  However, i can see why there are a lot of worried posters. 

Glass half full;

if we do fail to reach the play-offs, then going into next season we will still be in a better financial position than all outside of the newly relegated clubs.   

If Bruce is here we have an experienced and well known manager who will still be a draw for new players. 

We will finally have a number 9 of our own and may be able to get another year out of AC.   

With Dara coming back in we have a decent back 4/5.   

For CM? well there is a player there in Mowatt, we just need to find him again and we all want to see TGH step up (although he doesn't appear to have impressed SB enough to take that role).

Might this be the year we have another two or three academy players really step up and play a part.

Glass half empty; 

We will still have over £40 million of non scoring forwards on the books, i've seen some posters suggest Grant is a saleable asset but i'm not sure who or why anyone would even match what we still owe on him.   Of the others? Robbo has had plenty of chances, Grady looks lost as a footballer, and big Ken! Must go down as the worst combined transfer business in our history and has thrown away a large chunk of our financial advantage. 

We are very poor in CM and have zero creativity in the side, and unless SB has bought a little black book with him, can have no faith at all in our current rectruitment team.

Even if SB does come in with targets im not sure how we can bring in replacements until a few bodies are out the door,  and with no saleable assets i'm not sure where the gaps in the squad will appear or money come from.

The strength of the three teams likely to be relegated allready means that we are hoping for play offs at best.

ps.  Peace moved the club on substantially during his time, and was a very savvy businessman.  However he lucked out on Ashworth who helped establish us on a meagre budget and then sold us down the river to make the most of that luck.  Enjoy your life as a WAG over in Jersey Roland.

44

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: February 15, 2022, 07:41:04 AM »

I'm not sure what he his.
Wide forward?
No pace doesn't create anything never beats a man only ever passes the ball back to Townsend
The one thing I am sure of is he might be our most expensive flop
At least Grady had a few decent games but that does seem a long long time ago

A one trick pony, cut in off the left and shoot with right, who is easily defended against.  However, CAN hit the ball early and with real power.  Why Slav thought he could convert him to a lone CF still baffles to rhis day.   Not completely given up on him as he has scored some good goals this year but we MASSIVELY overpaid.  Needs a change of position.

45

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: February 14, 2022, 11:10:05 PM »

Pound for pound (and allowing for transfer inflation) I’m struggling to think of worse signings than Diangana, Grant and Zohore.

All have arrived in the last two-and-a-half years as every position in the side has been downgraded (I prefer Foster to Johnstone, which is perhaps the only debatable one. And SJ will soon be gone). We’ve got poor players in other positions as well, but they didn’t cost as much.

Are those three players the worst signings we’ve ever made for the money?

I’m having to think back to David Mills and John Deehan for comparable flops who cost a few £££s. Both awful signings by the much-vaunted Ron Atkinson.

And as we saw tonight the confidence levels are hovering around zero, which makes things even worse.

Christ, I'd almost forgotten about him.  £40 million strike force!!!   On the market now?  £3-5m for Grant?.  I don't think you're getting a penny for the other two. 

At least Bruce is talking about getting somebody nearer to AC.  Stating the bleeding obvious but not all managers do that. 

46

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: February 14, 2022, 10:32:15 PM »

It would appear that we have let the advantage gained from the PL parachute almost evaporate into nothing with the signings of Grant and Grady.  Over £30m spent on two incredibly ineffective forward players.  When you also factor in getting only £15m for Perreira.....tragic.

I'm not sure what to say.   Low in quality and lacking in confidence.   As poor a midfield three as I can remember.   No threat from the wide players.  Back four decent but each player has an error in him.

If Bruce cant find a way of playing within the next few games  that starts to at least create chances again the season has gone. If that's the case wle can only hope Dike may make the difference next year as that team looks nailed on for 8th place again.

47

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 14, 2022, 04:58:54 PM »

I am nervous, but we do have a squad of capable players who should be performing better in this league.  Blackburn are well organised and managed, but do not have the squad we do.  Given the resources at our disposal we should be winning these matches.  If we don't I think we can read a lot into it.

Given the recourses ar our disposal? We are picking a midfield three from Mowatt, Molomby, TGH and Reach.  Of course I hope TGH is the real deal and might make all the difference,  but just typing that midfield makes me sad. 

48

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: February 13, 2022, 10:27:38 AM »

I agree with most of what you said.

However, Bruce just lazily picked the same midfield that had been failing for 3 months!

No fresh ideas, no thorough review of what's not being working, just blind faith in experienced players that haven't been doing it.  It doesn't augur well for change.

Only Bruce can decide if he wants a shot at promotion next season, because there is no way we'll make the top 6 this campaign.

You previously said it was inexplicable, and now you are calling it lazy.   He's been here a couple of weeks, he's allready changed fornation and style in that time so picked his senior pros over a teenager with a handful of games.  I'm sure he'd do it again if he could.   Jake's ban gives us the opportunity to see how good TGH or Molomby actually are.

49

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: February 12, 2022, 09:36:37 AM »

I don't think a new manager picking senior pros in his first game can be considered inexplicable.  He was all ready changing formation and playing style. 

And I know football is all about short termism but extending that view to a week in the club and one game....now that's inexplicable to me.  That's setting both yourself and the manager for a fall.

50

General Football & Sports / Re: Jake Livermore

« on: February 12, 2022, 09:26:55 AM »

I'm not quite sure you've worded this post as well as you could've but I understand the point you are making and I think there is plenty of truth in it.

There is so much frustration and anger at the constant mismanagement of the club from the owner downwards. The club is going backwards because of this mismanagement and supporters are angry at it, they feel and are largely helpless, there's nothing they can do but watch on with no imminent sign that things are really going to get any better

I agree with baggiejohn that the atmosphere at the games has to change, it helps no-one when the crowd is toxic or even apathetic but you can understand why the crowd are as they are.

You have local rivals Villa and Wolves taken over by mega rich owners, splashing the cash and showing ambition and as usual Albion are blundering along and we're getting left behind.

Where's the hope? Where is the light at the end of the tunnel?

[/b]

A bit off topic for the Jake thread but....

I genuinely think that for most fans, hope is simply to be in the mix for the playoffs whilst scoring a few goals along the way.    Even that had dissapeared under Val those last few weeks. 

Longer term, if you look at the money swishing around the PL, all we can genuinely hope to be is in that middle league between bottom six PL, Champonship top six.   The old "yo-yo" tag does fit.   Then you either hope for new owners to come in OR to unearth another Dashworth/Roy combination.

Bringing this back to Jake.  I would question if he is good enough to be Captain for a side in that middle league?