1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA NEW OWNERS - Bilkul football

« on: Today at 11:56:45 AM »

Yeah any huge overhauls in this very important run in would’ve been a risky approach. It’s going to be a very interesting summer but the club feels so much better than it did this time last year and a million miles away from 2022.

2

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Kyle Bartley

« on: Today at 11:47:09 AM »

Bartley is an awkward one. If we can keep kipre I’d happily release Bartley and try to sign someone who is more comfortable on the ball
If kipre goes we could be left with Ajayi and Bartley and neither are comfortable on the ball
CC clearly doesn’t rate Ajayi
I think looking at the bigger picture Bartley has to go even though if financial restrictions were not there I would offer him a year on vastly reduced wages

Ajayi gives me kittens so I guess the question is if Kipre goes do we stick or twist? Because we could end up staring the season with Ajayi and Taylor which is quite unknown and that could mean Bartley gets a year. I wouldn’t be against either happening.

3

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: Today at 11:45:04 AM »

I’ve read all the posts above, this is my hot take on Diangana this season and last night:

Best season since his loan season, more goal involvements but less moments of magic than that season.
Had a connection with the fans in the stadium. That can’t be undervalued.
Worked very hard off the ball and put in some excellent gritty displays at times.
Arguably our most important attacker since Swift was out.
Blows hot and cold at times but that’s Championship football.
That season he was great everything was perfect for him, Pereira and the like with him, the team standard has dropped.
Last night he played poorly. I don’t chastise Corberan for keeping him on because he turn things in a moment. Didn’t happen last night and he was right to be subbed after that.

Next season I wouldn’t be averse to the attacking 3 behind a striker rotating between Grady, Swift, Fellows, Wallace and BTA.

4

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA NEW OWNERS - Bilkul football

« on: Today at 11:32:45 AM »

Would have hoped Patel would have sorted some background staff out, most importantly a sporting director by now. The directors of the club also need fleshing out. Only Patel and Miles as far as I’m aware.

Hopefully this is high on the agenda. Along with improving our recruitment department…

I think the retained list may set the tone but also - we may see that a couple are offered deals and await results. If all are realised with Mowatt and Kipre offered deals then that for me is a positive sign. I wouldn’t be against Bartley and Phillips getting a year, Bartley more so but I’d rather we said goodbye to them both.

If we see Kipre and Mowatt leave and new deals for M’Vila, Reach and some other oldies then that sets a more negative tone.

I would like to say though at the start of the season we weren’t even sure if the club would be going forward and there were protests so the fact we’ve gone to the 2nd Leg of the play-offs even into the second half with new owners in the stands puts things into perspective.

5

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Maja joins Albion

« on: Today at 11:31:46 AM »

In all honesty I have never rated Maja, and him not getting his fitness levels up to the desired levels doesn't surprise me.

I hope we can get rid of him and get better.

Personally I thought he was a decent player when we signed him, still think he is and hopefully with a full pre season with BTA and maybe a new striker we’ll have a bit of a new look attack if you consider Faal and Cleary possibly being involved.

6

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: Yesterday at 10:57:24 PM »

Fair enough Lewis, i disagree. I don't see us winning 1-3 in any alternate universe with those tactics.

I’m not saying that. I’m saying if we go different tactics maybe we still lose 3-1 but just get there differently.

Diangana had a bad half but we’ve seen it repeatedly through the whole season in the whole team, a bad half followed by a good one. I’d have given him 10 mins to turn it around. It didn’t work out this time.

I just don’t see where we find a coach that is better than Corberan.

Don’t forget the muck we’ve been through with managers.

7

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: Yesterday at 10:53:34 PM »

He had a bad game but he’s been good for a while, more goal involvements than his loan season and before tonight was looking good in the number 10. Still, going into next season I’d prefer him on the wing. Assuming we don’t sign Johnston he’s out left wing option.

8

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: State of the Squad - (Championship 2024/25)

« on: Yesterday at 10:51:48 PM »

Some youngsters to add to - Caleb Taylor, Zac Ashworth coming back from Bolton as well as Mo Faal and then the players that stuck around - Malcolm, Cleary, Herd, Whitwell and a few others I’m probably forgetting.

I believe there’s a strong core for a team and the chance to build.

9

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

« on: Yesterday at 10:33:09 PM »

Are you actually trying to say that clubs in the Premier League will be interested in him?

Probably more a post about finances.

Can everybody avoid personal swipes please.

10

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: Yesterday at 10:30:50 PM »

Awful team selection and tactics tonight. Got it all wrong. This obsession of his with us being overly cautious costs us time after time

I just think it’s not as simple as that. It is a knife edge tactic and one mistake can and did cost us but if we came out on a front foot we may have just seen 1-3 through another route.

We have the benefit of hindsight. Of Grady doesn’t give the ball away and they make an individual error and we’re 1-0 up the tactic suddenly looks a master stroke. 

Fine lines.

I think when it comes to tonight perhaps it’s a case of man for man they are the better team.

I agree with Standaman, if they’re all on board and on the same page then He’s the man to move forward with.

11

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

« on: Yesterday at 10:14:09 PM »

Not just judging on tonight but I stand by what I said, we should not be paying any kind of money for him.

Had two friends watching and both fans of other clubs and they both messaged to say they thought he looked really good. Once again him and Fellows were the only ones likely to do anything.

12

Last Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: Yesterday at 09:24:24 PM »

He gets scared and locks the team down. Makes us atrocious every time

But if you look at the Leicester game you wonder why this is so different. Same team, same manager and a similar opposition.

13

Last Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: Yesterday at 09:23:31 PM »

I wonder what Bartley’s Corner headers won to on target ratio is

14

Last Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: Yesterday at 09:20:39 PM »

Picked the wrong team and then it has all been down hill from there. If I am honest I never really gave us much of a chance in the play-offs no matter who we got, they are a free-hit from my point of view.

What team would you have picked?

15

Last Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: Yesterday at 09:10:44 PM »

What’s up with Grady tonight?! He’s been dire!

Gotta step up now. It felt we’d do nothing until they scored anyways

16

Last Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: Yesterday at 08:43:40 PM »

Really rough watch so far. I get the tactic but it’s a bloody knife edge tactic, especially when it’s winner takes all.

17

Last Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: Yesterday at 08:34:30 PM »

These stupid little panic passes are going to kill us.

Time to play the game properly

Carlos is telling them to get up the pitch.

It just feels a bit like we won’t do anything until they score.

18

Last Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: Yesterday at 07:41:38 PM »

I can’t recall a more recent bias of coverage than is going on right now.

 It’s almost as though someone in the background occasionally says “mention West Brom for a minute so we distract people from who we’re favouring”.

Hope we shove it right up Southampton and Sky.

It’s funny how we all have differing views on a game however I’m now having differing views on build up. Seems quite balanced to me really!

19

Last Match Forum - 17/05 Southampton (A - Play-Offs 2nd Leg) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: Yesterday at 07:08:15 PM »

Where is Maja (feel like I’ve posted this many times!)


Saving him for the final, obviously

20

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: May 16, 2024, 09:53:07 PM »

Leeds have been very good tonight while Norwich just haven’t stood up at all. I’ll be so disappointed if Albion do this tomorrow.

21

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: May 14, 2024, 04:50:13 PM »

Definitely agree with this.

There have been games this season where we've been crying out for an explosive high intensity!

I’ve noticed we sometimes press for periods and then sit back. For example, stay tight minutes 0-15 then 15-25 boom we go hard and then sit back again. I’m not sure of this tactic has a name, not really a tactician here.

22

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Maja joins Albion

« on: May 14, 2024, 10:28:10 AM »

Not claiming to be ITK but brief snippets from here and there suggest Maja doesn't exactly rip trees out of the ground in trainining.

Shame as he's got talent there and shown it over the years

23

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: State of the Squad - (Championship 2024/25)

« on: May 13, 2024, 07:47:28 PM »

I think the point regarding Swift is that why would you buy him as in there is no resale value and he’s unlikely to get any better, could argue he’s began to decline.

24

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tom Fellows

« on: May 12, 2024, 05:01:17 PM »

I thought Tom Fellows played really well today put in four excellent crosses which were begging to be hit, oh for a fit striker.

Dike would’ve been on the end of at least one of his Achilles allowed it

25

Last Match Forum - 12/05 Southampton (H - Play-Offs 1st Leg) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: May 12, 2024, 04:52:49 PM »

Imagine this team but with Kevin Phillips up top. 

I was happy with that performance. I don’t know Southamptons defensive stats and I can’t be bothered to check them but against us they seem to have defended very very well.

Hard to crack but next week I’d gamble on Maja if he’s fit and Wallace starts for BTA if not.

Hope Yok is Okay…