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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: Yesterday at 10:04:42 PM »

3-3 Good game but we need to beat Preston now.

Or a draw 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Matty Phillips

« on: Yesterday at 09:08:01 PM »

Typically with us Phillps does really well at the start of the season and then gets injured. After his return from injury his form is VASTLY worse than pre-injury and he looks a shell of his former self. It may be to do with his age/body but usually it seems to always happen so it's not surprising to see it again.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: System / Tactics / Personnel

« on: Yesterday at 07:49:44 PM »

Sometimes football can be quite simple. I don't know why we don't start Mowatt or Fellows...

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: Yesterday at 07:47:48 PM »

I said it a few weeks back...Corberan has historically struggled with us at the end of the season especially against cynical defensive sides or those fighting for survival. My take on it was that we would at least get a point each against Watford or Sunderland and the same against Preston which would see us safe. It turns out that this was upended when BTA got sent off. However, we can still go up vs. Preston who have nothing to play for.

In other words I don't think much has changed. However, it is very nervy if Hull win today.

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

« on: April 22, 2024, 10:33:50 PM »

Boy, will they be up for this.  I watched their comeback against Norwich, I expect them them to really go for us physically.

Historically under Corberan, that is the kind of team we don't do too well against. Hopefully our quality will prevail.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Darren Moore

« on: April 22, 2024, 02:31:38 PM »

Graham Jones ruined him and then snaked him he is now at Newcastle United although Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall are to big time to let him control them. Although I did see him on MOTD trying to take credit for something that resulted in a Newcastle win, despite Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall clearly discussing that thing on the touchline.

He was awful and nearly relegated Luton to league 1 when they were almost ready for the Premier League. At the same time, Moore's last few jobs have been without him which makes you wonder.

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General Football & Sports / Re: FA Cup

« on: April 22, 2024, 02:29:45 PM »

Although much of the attitude of the big clubs, and the national media's cowtowing to them stinks, the last thing I'd want would be a breakaway Superleague.  The gap between them and the rest would become more or less unbridgable.  They might even try to turn it into a US type franchise without promotion or relegation. As an Albion fan you always hope we may be able to re-establish ourselves, so that we can take on the Liverpools and Man Utds and give them a good game. Otherwise what's the point? Football is a competitive sport. Is the pinnacle of our ambition to be champions of some second tier divsion?

I mean I wish they all went away permanently and competed in Europe, leaving the English tier altogether.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Play off Points Target

« on: April 22, 2024, 11:17:58 AM »

For me you’ve hit the nail on the head - grit. Vardy (love him or hate him) has more of that than our entire team. Ballard showed more last weekend - it seemed to really matter to Sunderland to get a result at our place - more than it seemed to ours. We don’t currently have that winner mentality in our side.

I disagree. We've hit a bad patch but overall we've had plenty of grit this season which is show by our biggest loss being a mere 0-2. Plenty of teams around us have lost by bigger margins this season. I believe we will do enough to get in the play-offs and I'm not panicking. Ballard currently plays for Sunderland who are considerably worse than us so I don't get that point either. Just because you're a thug on the pitch or wind up away fans it doesn't mean you have grit.

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General Football & Sports / Re: FA Cup

« on: April 22, 2024, 10:42:10 AM »

I don't particularly like Cov but felt they got screwed by VAR yesterday and here is why. If you google the VAR image/decision then you can see the blue line which supposedly shows Wright's toe offside. However, this line literally thickens around the foot of Wan Bissaka which chops off a large chunk of the tip of his boot (making it curve like Aladin's shoe as opposed to a regular football boot). Why was this done? It does make you wonder.

At the same time you had Lee Dixon (?) quickly shouting 'it's offside' as if it was an obvious decision. The same day also saw Gary Neville (and loyal servant to Sky Sports) claiming that Forest's CEO should resign after complaining about VAR. As if his formal boss and idol never did anything like that. The Premier League absolutely stinks and the quicker the big clubs leave for the Super League the better.

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Last Match Forum - 20/04 Leicester City (A) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: April 20, 2024, 01:18:20 PM »

How on earth is Chaudary not on a yellow? weak ref...

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

« on: April 20, 2024, 11:53:13 AM »

No doubt Vardy will score a late winner 

He's been poor lately as well and has missed a few sitters but that won't matter.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Anything England Football

« on: April 15, 2024, 10:08:29 PM »

Another hat trick by Cole Palmer tonight puts Chelsea 3 -0 up against Everton with 29 minutes of the game gone.

What a talent. Can Southgate find a way to use it?

Doubt it. If the likes of Foden/Saka/Bellingham look ordinary for England then so will he.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: April 13, 2024, 05:02:43 PM »

I certainly didn’t see any tactical genius today. Looked like we were playing for a 1-0 defeat as soon as we went down to 10 men.

I won't blame him for today. When a player gets a stupid red, it's one of those things...usually when a team goes down to 10 they lose so I don't think it's fair to criticise him today.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 13, 2024, 05:00:40 PM »

When was the last time we had a player sent off?
Indiscipline from BTA today

Reminds me a lot of Luke Moore (I think vs Leicester?) when we lost 0-3 at home. Otherwise at 0-0 we were probably the better team. Stupid red which has cost us today.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 12, 2024, 10:01:26 PM »

I just re-read the first few pages on this thread and it is fair to say that BTA has exceeded expectations, not sure what else the lad can do frankly

I agree. He's done very well considering. I'm not sure what some people have expected considering he cost about £300k from League 2. Obviously he has his flaws but when you compare him to the likes of Grant, et al it shows how well he's doing.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: April 12, 2024, 09:59:55 PM »

Leicester have really bottled it big time and look done. In a way, I'd rather face them in the play-offs compared to Saints or Norwich due to the psychological factor. Weirdly, Saints could still go up as they have 2 games in hand and I think they play Leeds and Ipswich. Had they not conceded that Boro goal a few weeks back they'd be right in it.

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

« on: April 11, 2024, 07:24:52 PM »

He also could/should have assisted Asante in the second half for his 1v1 when he tried to chip the keeper. I believe we will have a better chance of success in the play-offs (provided we get there) with him in the side.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: April 11, 2024, 11:50:07 AM »

Have to echo the last few comments. Given all the adversity he has had to reckon with, brilliant job by Carlos this season. Whatever happens in the play offs (yes, we will definitely be in them), I hope he hangs around next season to continue the rebuild.

Last two times we got into the play-offs, we ended up getting promoted automatically the season after (Mowbray and Bilic). Overall, it is a positive sign. Considering many thought we'd struggle to finish 10th this season (myself included), you have to give it to Corberan.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: System / Tactics / Personnel

« on: April 11, 2024, 11:48:27 AM »

There's a lot of talk on other threads about how boring is the tactic of passing it to and fro along the back until an opening appears.  The Ismael tactic was to lump it forward at every opportunity which resulted in us giving the ball away; Is that what's wanted?
As Johan Cruyff said, if you have the ball they can't score.   

Against the pressing team it also tires the chasing forwards out - although with so many subs available today that's not quite so effective.

If you have a set of players like Man city its possible to to advance in tight passing triangles or circuits with each and every one touch pass finding its man.

But we don't
Carlos cuts our coat according to our cloth.

Ironically, a lot of people call Man City boring due to their extreme efficiency. Last night was exactly that for me. It may not be as exciting as winning 4-3 but it's far safer. I believe our worst loss this season was 2-0 which is also telling. This style means that even if we're awful on the day, we can still give anyone a game.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: April 10, 2024, 09:07:12 PM »

I can see the need for a new stadium as St Andrews is literally falling down. Having said that, the idea is stupid seeing as it would be located in Alum Rock. I think they're trying to copy the Spurs model and do events/music there. The difference is one is in North London with good transport links, the other is in Alum Rock...

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Last Match Forum - 10/04 Rotherham United (H) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: April 10, 2024, 09:02:48 PM »

Never a pen. Good game so far, should see it out and thankfully a few key players have been rested. If it stays like this we could even bring on Maja for 10 minutes at the end and give Phillps some minutes.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Callum Marshall Joins Albion on loan

« on: April 10, 2024, 12:23:01 PM »

Good luck to the lad, wouldn't bother me if he does go on and have a good career somewhere - he wasn't our player anyway!
Loan hasn't worked out. Gnabry's didn't either, or Sturridge, or Murphy but then you have the ups like a Lukaku, Barnes, Gayle, Johnston.

Agree. I would compare this signing with the likes of Yassine El Ghannasy who also didn't play for us. He was a speculative kid who for whatever reason failed with us. Context is key here. Not every loan signing will succeed or fail. It doesn't mean our scouting department are terrible or incredible either.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: April 09, 2024, 09:58:14 PM »

And Blues drop to second bottom 

They have Eustace tomorrow at St Andrews. I think he will beat them due to knowing their weaknesses whilst also being solid at this level. It's ironic that after years of struggles with Carson Yeung, it will possibly their new, ambitious owners that relegate them.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: April 09, 2024, 09:46:38 PM »

Saints win and Cov lose. Norwich don't win. Decent results for us

Yes, can't moan with that. At 10 minutes Norwich were 1-0 up and Coventry had a penalty at 0-0 

Win tomorrow and we're back in the drivers seat.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: April 07, 2024, 10:30:46 AM »

Controversial opinion, but I think we've been riding our luck for several games now. Not every game, but I think you can go back to February and say that on the whole, we haven't been convincing. I've mentioned previously that when Johnston came into the team and was scoring bangers from 20 yards, that isn't a sustainable route of success. As it turns out, he's scored fairly consistently, but I still maintain over longer periods it's not sustainable.

People can like or dislike stats in football, especially xG, but it is noticeable that after a period of not giving up very many good chances to teams about 13 games into the season, the quality and quantity of shots against us has slowly risen fairly consistently, to the point where we are conceding an xGA (xG Against) over 1.5 - i.e an average team would score either 1 or 2 goals against us per game. This is in contrast to earlier in the season when we generally kept teams under 1 xGA per game.

At the other end of the pitch, we've also seen our ability to consistently create good opportunities falter.  Like I said, Johnston (or anyone else) scoring 20 yard bangers is great but it shouldn't be how we score a majority of our goals.

I'm out the country so can't verify this on mobile, but I would guess our off the ball intensity is suffering as fatigue sets in over a long season.

Personally I think xG is often overexaggerated by fans/media etc. However, I fully agree with your points. Even without stats involved and just looking at it from a fan perspective, we've been pretty poor for a while now. It's pretty obvious and our lack of wins have proven this. I'd also argue that without Johnston in the team we'd probably be outside of the play-offs right now which shows how dependent we are on him. In terms of luck, you could argue that we've been very lucky to draw against Milwall, Watford, and Stoke which is rather telling.

Overall, I really like Corberan and think he's done a great job. However, I also think we're experiencing some dejavu. Last season around now we really struggled albeit with a worse team. My personal theory is that Corberan struggles against certain types of teams who play very defensively and to a degree, cynical football. This is why Eustace always had his number. Earlier on in the season, the clubs near the bottom (and even those looking at play-offs/promotion) play more open football. However, in the final 10 games or so, the strategy becomes more cagey. As a result, we often look worse. Unfortunately, there's a big group of team either going for promotion or survival which means the chances are, we struggle. The benefit of this is that our next two games are against teams with nothing to play for. Combined with being at home, we should hopefully win those two games which should see us into the play-offs. If this is the case then whatever happens from there, it's a case of job done for Carlos this season. I just hope my theory is correct.