1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Under 23's / Academy Thread

« on: July 17, 2022, 12:03:59 PM »

What I cannot get my head round with the Cleary saga now running until December is why did Cleary announce he was leaving in the summer. He posted thanking the club and staff.

It just makes you think did noone in the club not know he was under contract until December and therefore he didn't know?

Just send really odd that he would get it wrong.

I think it’s more likely that he either misunderstood his situation, or was so sure that someone would pick him up this summer that he could say goodbyes then. As I understand it the compensation to sign him either now or after December as minimal and is the same amount regardless of when you sign him, so if he hasn’t got a deal yet it suggests the reported interest simply isn’t there.

2

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Cedric Kipre

« on: July 14, 2022, 07:33:20 AM »

Bruce confirmed in an interview with Ian Abrahams last night that Kipre is close to moving. Deal agreed with a Championship club.

3

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Reach signs

« on: July 25, 2021, 10:55:37 AM »

seems an odd one, we don't need another left winger and we have cover for Townsend at LWB in the form of Gardner Hickman.

I’m not sure that you’d want Gardner-Hickman, as promising as he is, to be the only recognised cover for Townsend all season.

4

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Mbaye Diange

« on: January 27, 2021, 01:00:38 PM »

He's going to have to isolate for 2 weeks anyway isn't he?

Elite sportspeople are exempt from quarantine if they can provide a negative test result from the previous 72 hours.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: September 28, 2020, 12:28:26 AM »

So total deal costs £17m but one year costs £5m. The £5m is quite likely to have been the first installment on the permanent deal so from a purely cash flow point of view it's the same until the end of the season.

There is only one scenario where this is a bad deal it is where  Grant does well but we get relegated,  we sacrifice any resale value that we might otherwise accrue. If he flops  but we stay up we are obligated to buy him but that is no worse than the position we would have had in a permanent deal.

If he flops and we are relegated we lose the player who might be useful in the Championship but we have just proved that he can't hack it in the Premier League. If that is the case then he isn't worth £12m but that doesn't stop us going back to Huddersfield with a revised deal if we think he is worth persevering with. 

Or he really isn't very good and therefore we breath a sigh of relief as wave him off to Yorkshire

I think this is a fair summary. We are taking away a lot of the financial risk in terms of big commitments after relegation, but with the added risk of losing the benefit of any value he gains during the loan if we can’t buy him.

6

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: September 27, 2020, 11:16:32 PM »

It’s a strange way to structure a deal but you can see why it’s an option. We are clearly very concerned about making big investments and committing to payments for big deals over the next few years.

The loan to buy therefore suits us, but equally Huddersfield need the money to reinvest.

What we are basically doing is making something akin to the first payment of a permanent deal now, giving them the money they need this summer, but without the risk of any future deal unless we stay up.

7

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Darnell Furlong

« on: September 20, 2020, 03:18:20 PM »

Your talking about two separate things.

1) It was absolutely clear that it wasn’t offside. The ball wasn’t kicked off Furlong. He challenged for a cross and headed to the Everton goal scorer.

2) Complaint that Furlong was fouled, not for me. He was weak.

Of SJ should have just caught the cross to begin with.

Not talking about a foul at all as there wasn’t one in my opinion, and my ‘kicking then ball off an opponent’ line was clearly a generic example.

As I said, I don’t think anyone is daft enough to not know that as a basics premise you aren’t offside it it comes off a defender, but if the law needs a deliberate action then I think you can definitely make an argument that Furlong wasn’t making one.

Yes, he was challenging for a header just before, but at the point it touched him he’s actually been challenged for the header, was falling away and it hit the back of his head. I’d argue it’s not a deliberate action at all, but I suspect it’s one of those laws that’s very ambiguous in its wording.

8

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Darnell Furlong

« on: September 20, 2020, 12:51:38 PM »

It wasn't offside as Everton didn't play the ball to the goalscorer, Furlong did.

Mind-boggling how fans can't understand this. If Michel Keane under pressure from Robinson headed the ball to Diangana who scored that would also be onside.

It’s not quite that clear cut though. I believe it’s supposed to be a deliberate action by the defending player. This is to stop the attacking team, for example, deliberately kicking the ball into a defender to create a deflection that puts an offside team mate through.

I don’t think anyone questions that it came off Furlong, and I’d say most people know that basic premise of the rule, but there is definitely an argument as to whether the ball hitting the back of your head after being nudged challenging for a header is a deliberate action.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jonathan Leko Joins Blues for Undisclosed Fee

« on: September 12, 2020, 01:32:42 PM »

Jonathan not in the Blues squad today. Does anyone know if he's injured or not fit etc.?

Still recovering from the ACL injury he suffered at the end of December. Doubt he’ll figure until next month at the earliest.

10

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: September 07, 2020, 10:54:43 AM »

If all these rumours about staged payments are correct, I would say, the club is taking a risk on debt.

Just depends on how much of a risk, & for how long. I would say that taking a £30 million debt into the Championship next season would be pretty catastrophic.

So I would expect to get both Grant & Krovinavic, but IMO, if it's funded by debt, it's a strategy, that would need us to stay in the Prem.

Staggered payments aren’t a new thing, it’s how most deals are structured. If we go down and the revenue drops we’ll bank on selling Grady, Pereira, etc and their structured payments will cover what we pay out.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: August 30, 2019, 11:56:07 AM »

Could really do with a win tomorrow. Would turn a reasonable start into a good one and keep us on track with the 2 points a game standard we need to maintain for top 2. Haven’t seen any team news as yet but hopefully the majority are available. Think I’d be inclined to leave Gibbs out and not risk him regardless unless he’s absolutely 100% right. As a result I’d bring Furlong in to offer more of an attacking option down the opposite side. I’d also leave Phillips out before he goes away with Scotland, in part because Pereira is worth a go.

Johnstone

Furlong
Ajayi
Bartley
Townsend

Livermore
Sawyers

Pereira
Krovinovic
Diangana

Zohore

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Albion Matchday Forum / Team

« on: August 11, 2019, 11:13:41 AM »

Hopefully we get a glimpse of at least 2 or 3 of the deadline day signings. It’s a good opportunity to give them some game time to get up to speed. You’d expect the majority of those who played yesterday to miss out but we’ll need either Ajayi or Bartley to play with O’Shea. I’d give Zohore another game too to try and get him going a bit.

Bond

Furlong
Ajayi
O’Shea
Townsend

Pereira
Harper
Brunt
Diangana

Austin
Zohore

Subs
Johnstone
Bartley
Ferguson
Sawyers
Willock
Burke
Robson-Kanu

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General Football & Sports / Re: Matheus Pereira (on loan from Sporting Lisbon)

« on: July 31, 2019, 08:52:48 PM »

Maybe the process is harder or longer if you are a dual national or non native. Strange that he’s never needed one for a pre season tour or anything though. What if he got in the team for a European game. Seems Shortsighted but hopefully it’s a quick fix.

Is it reported a deal is agreed?

Imagine he’s always been able to travel with his Brazilian passport. The issue here will be the lack of an EU passport impacted on his eligibility for a work permit. If we were buying him for a big fee we’d probably get around it, but doubtful with a loan.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Team

« on: February 03, 2019, 04:40:21 PM »

Think we’ll see wholesale changes and something very similar to the first game.

Bond

Mears
Bartley
Adarabioyo
Townsend

Harper/Edwards
Livermore
Brunt

Robson-Kanu
Hoolahan
Leko

15

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Team

« on: January 04, 2019, 12:01:54 AM »

Imagine we will leave as many first team players out as we possibly can ahead of Norwich next week, so I can see a could of different options.

433

Myhill

Holgate
Adarabioyo
Fitzwater
Townsend

Harper
Brunt
Hoolahan/Field

Sako
HRK
Edwards/Leko/Burke

Or

3412

Myhill

Holgate
Adarabioyo
Fitzwater

Mears
Harper
Brunt
Townsend

Hoolahan/Field/Leko/Edwards

Sako
HRK

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Director of Football

« on: September 28, 2018, 09:18:28 AM »

It is difficult to gauge exactly what our capacity is on this front. The club directory lists the following as being the recruitment department

 RECRUITMENT MANAGER: Jonathan Gibson

SENIOR SCOUTS: Jeff Baskerville, Michael Trusson

REGIONAL SCOUT: Alan Cork

RECRUITMENT ANALYST: Matthew Belcher

Now this looks pretty thin but the club can and will engage scouts on an assignment basis to give them extra coverage so that is not the complete picture but what is significant is there is nobody responsible for European Scouting which was Tony Spearing's role up until he left in January 2015.

When Hammond was appointed I believe part of his brief was to expand the scope of our recruitment but what was the point? Although Pulis watching a couple of AFCON games on TV resulted in Hegazi and Gabir being recruited (who needs scouts when you have a couple of cans of Carling and a remote control?).

Long term this needs a major upgrade in the short term Dowling will have to make do with what we have and January could be quite a challenge. The earliest we will see any difference in our recruitment is the summer, January will be very similar to what has just happened, smart processes will take time to bed in but in the meantime he could always fall back on the collective wisdom of westbrom.com 

I do remember hearing or reading Garlick talking about this  few years ago actually. He was saying that years ago under the likes of Dan we had a huge number of scouts and watched a massive number of players. This gave us a huge amount of coverage but really limited the level of detail as there just wasn’t time.

When Pulis arrived, he asked to reduce the number of scouts and the areas we looked at so that we would be able to watch a smaller pool more closely. It means we’d watch less players, but we would end up with more detailed information. I’d imagine the current set up is in line with this strategy. In reality, we probably need something in the middle.

17

General Football & Sports / Re: Darren Moore

« on: September 26, 2018, 12:16:46 AM »

They weren't intended to be effective he was resting the players who may be needed Saturday.

Surprised more people haven’t clocked this to be honest, seemed pretty obvious that they were pre meditated changes that we were always going to make regardless. Taking off Hegazi and Mears as they will be needed Saturday (the latter assuming Phillips is out) and saving Barry a late run around as he’ll no doubt start one or two of our up coming league games.

It’s a bit of an usual thing to do and it’s clear that we needed another forward on to help us stretch them a bit if we were at all serious about making a comeback, but I don’t think we were all that fussed in reality. Think we saw this game as a free hit, a run out for back up players but mostly as a huge inconvenience.

18

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Team

« on: September 23, 2018, 02:28:35 PM »

That team looks to weak I don't want us to throw the game, but if we are I would prefer we use our kids rather than mears and hoolahan.

Mine would be:
                  myhill

     Dawson Tosin Hegazi

  HRK Harper Barry Townsend

             Hoolahan

      Burke Rodriguez

Bench: Johnstone Bartley brunt  field Livermore Phillips Gayle

Just a few kids and some ammunition on the bench to give it a go if we fall behind.

I’d say that playing HRK as a right wing back is closer to throwing a game than playing the likes of Mears and Hoolahan.

I think Palace made plenty of changes for the last round against Swansea so I see no reason why they won’t do that again and I imagine we will do the same. We won’t want to risk anyone if we can help it.

Myhill

Tosin
Hegazi/Bartley
Field

Mears
Harper/Morrison
Barry
Townsend

Hoolahan

Burke
HRK

19

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Team

« on: August 17, 2018, 10:27:27 AM »

I’d agree with this although I’d probably put Field in for Hegazi instead of Adarabioyo.

20

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Team

« on: August 15, 2018, 05:59:57 PM »

                                                             Johnstone

                    Edwards                        Bartley                  Hegazi          Townsend

                                               Livermore                      Harper

                      Phillips                                  Rodriguez                          Barnes

                                                                 Gayle

 Subs: Bond, Tosin, Gibbs, Field, Brunt, Morrison, HRK

Think Kyle Edwards at right is a bit of a long shot. He’s very much an attacking player.

21

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Team

« on: August 13, 2018, 10:39:44 AM »

Who plays RB for the U23's? I would be tempted to give them a go. If not then the lad from Man City should come in. I know he looked dodgy against Forest, but still think he has some class about him, maybe put him in at CH anyway and hopefully boost his confidence.
The back 4 have been pretty gash so far so, whoever comes in must be staking a claim to a start on Saturday, same applies to the central midfield, hope DM sees it that way and not just a run out for the stiffs.
Up front, would like Gayle to start and hopefully see him get off the mark.

Kane Wilson would have been the obvious back up right back option but he’s at Walsall now. With him gone the next in line is either pushing the young centre back Nathan Ferguson out there or Dan Meredith. They are both U-18s really so can’t imagine they are anywhere near ready.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Team

« on: August 12, 2018, 11:05:59 PM »

Bond

Dawson
Adarabioyo
Bartley
Townsend

Harper
Field

Burke
Morrison
Leko

Edwards

Edwards is more of a no.10 or a wide player than a central striker.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Team

« on: August 12, 2018, 11:10:37 AM »

Hard to guess just yet as with the loan window open there is potential for an addition before Tuesday, but assuming no one comes in I still think we will see plenty of changes.

Myhill

Adarabioyo (know he isn’t a right back but I’d rather not put Nyom in)
Dawson
Bartley
Townsend

Morrison
Barry
Field

Burke
Gayle
Chadli/Edwards

Hoping Dawson gets a run out so we can get him reintegrated. I’d play him with Bartley to help build a bit of a partnership. Risk to play Gayle but would be nice to see him get off the mark. Hopefully Chadli is involved too but if not let’s give Edwards a go.

24

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA - Nacer Chadli

« on: August 08, 2018, 11:46:32 PM »

Yes but he can also be sold to a European team anytime before the end of the month.

I know, I just don’t see any of them coming up with the money even if they still have a few weeks to do it.

25

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA - Nacer Chadli

« on: August 08, 2018, 10:31:25 PM »

Can go anytime up to the end of the month.

As I said, I can see a loan late in the window. Maybe even right at the end of August.