26

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sebastien Pocognoli joins Brighton on loan

« on: September 22, 2016, 09:43:15 AM »

I'll ask again......

If he's so good then why hasn't there been a single sniff of interest from a single PL team over the last 18 months?

27

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sebastien Pocognoli joins Brighton on loan

« on: September 21, 2016, 05:11:49 PM »

Was this not the game where Manchester United were down to ten men after 26 minutes and Poco came on as a 55th minute sub?

It's hardly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer coming on after 75 minutes and scoring 4 times in an 8-1 away win at Forest, is it?

28

General Football & Sports / Re: Saido Berahino

« on: September 21, 2016, 05:08:39 PM »

You don't have to get fat to get heavier and render yourself immobile.

Agbonlahor did the same.

29

General Football & Sports / Re: Saido Berahino

« on: September 21, 2016, 04:50:31 PM »

He's got some serious booty.

30

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sebastien Pocognoli joins Brighton on loan

« on: September 21, 2016, 04:30:06 PM »

My abiding memory of Poco is that disastrous second half at QPR when he was pulled all over the place.

Like Gamboa, he's not in our plans and the silence from every other top flight team towards his availability speaks volumes.

I'm please we are nearly clear of the players we bought under the disastrous period between Hodgson/Ashworth leaving and Irvine being sacked.

31

General Football & Sports / Re: Saido Berahino

« on: September 21, 2016, 04:18:21 PM »

Was it cash or loaded with clauses? I had heard that Berahino refused to go to Stoke, but don't know how true that is.

Personally i don't believe that a player at his stage of development (lets not forget, he's 23 rather than 18) can willfully throw away 18 months of his career like he has and simply switch it back on after gaining a move to a new club.

My belief is that he will struggle badly, he's a mess physically too - at his age his body should be fairly constant but the fluctuations in his weight is very alarming.

32

General Football & Sports / Re: Saido Berahino

« on: September 21, 2016, 03:31:44 PM »

The club will lose £20m over this which is gross negligence. I know who I hold responsible, it's a rich bloke in Jersey.

Who offered £20m?

33

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brendan Galloway Joins Albion on Loan

« on: September 19, 2016, 01:57:44 PM »

He was fine against Everton & AFCB imo, Saturday he was very vulnerable and it was thanks to the hard work of McClean that we didn't have more critical issues down that side.

Bringing on Nyom for him was absolutely the right decision and i'd be tempted to leave him there for the Stoke game. 

34

General Football & Sports / Re: Tony Pulis

« on: September 19, 2016, 01:51:10 PM »

It seems Pulis & Williams went out to dinner last week, hopefully they have had a good chat and sorted out there issues - i don't feel the need to know about it providing both parties are now working together closely.

He got everything spot on at the weekend, from his initial team selection to the substitutions - the most critical of which being Nyom for Galloway which pretty much ended West Ham's threat and enabled us to get through to the end with no major issues.

The four new permanent signings on show all looked very encouraging, Morrisson looked fit & sharp, Rondon worked excellently with Chadli and Evans bossed the centre of defence like the class act he is.

There is a result for us up at Stoke next week so hopefully we can build in what is actually our best start to a season for four years.

35

General Football & Sports / Joey Barton

« on: September 19, 2016, 01:39:45 PM »

Playing a blinder by creating such a scene in a team meeting post Celtic that he's been suspended for three weeks.

Lovely deflection of the fact he made a total backside of himself with his pre game comments towards Scott Brown, when in reality Brown didn't even need to leave first gear to make him look like the over the hill irrelevance he really is.

Now we know why he left Burnley - because he knows he's not up to it. Thick people are lethal when they think they're clever.

36

General Football & Sports / Re: The most over-rated footballer in the world .....

« on: September 19, 2016, 01:36:45 PM »

Walcott is one of those players who people still talk about like a young prospect, even though he's nearly 30.

37

General Football & Sports / Re: The most over-rated footballer in the world .....

« on: September 19, 2016, 01:15:38 PM »

I thought Mark Noble absolutely dominated the center circle on Saturday before being hooked - beautiful five yard return passes that went ******* nowhere.

38

General Football & Sports / Re: Saido Berahino

« on: September 19, 2016, 11:49:14 AM »

Really? Yet he's in contact with all of them & England U21 colleagues on social media

Well, that's that then.

39

General Football & Sports / Re: Saido Berahino

« on: September 19, 2016, 10:50:56 AM »

Let's not pretend Saido's appalling behavior suddenly started when he wanted a move, he's been a vile individual from a young age.

Remember his loan spell at Brentford? 4 goals in two games but sent packing as the manager said that he's just not worth the hassle. Upon speaking to Brentford and finding out about how he'd behaved Hodgson recommended that he was sacked, only for Ashworth to beg that he got another chance.

He's universally disliked by his team mates, the senior ones have even talked with the coaching staff to ensure he isn't allowed near the young players, due to concern about his influence.

 

40

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: September 19, 2016, 10:40:30 AM »

Kanuuuuuuuu

Not

Boooooooooo

41

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Official: Jonny Evans joins Leicester

« on: September 06, 2016, 03:08:49 PM »

My mate is a United fan, and he's laughing his backside off.

Not only have we taken Darren Fletcher off them, now we're going to pay actual money for Evans.

They are two of the worst players United have had over the last few years, and they've had some duff ones. It's easy to look good when you have world class players around you, and Evans couldn't even manage that.

I remember the 5-5 draw a few years back - any time Lukaku ran at him, he rubbish himself.

Just clicked on this thread for the first time.

Funny old game, isn't it

42

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Guochuan Lai

« on: September 06, 2016, 02:57:46 PM »

I'm assuming Hulls prospective owners are not chinese?

Having done business in China, things can be, lets say "opaque" and getting a straight answer to a straight question is often "trying"

You can say that again.

In China they don't recognise any other law but Chinese - that often makes the most simple contracts an absolute nightmare to get done.

It's the most mysterious place in the world, it's even possible that Mr. Lai is a frontman for someone else. I'd say thats a certainty where Villa are concerned.

43

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Our Wage Bill.

« on: September 06, 2016, 02:55:47 PM »

Makes sense.

The club would have to pay VAT then every month assuming 'Gareth Mccauley limited' etc is VAT registered but then this would be claimed back regardless every 3 months so shouldn't matter.

So ye im not sure how 70 million is reached, probably mainly down to stupid appearance,clean sheet and staying up bonuses

The club will always pay out more VAT than it collects, so again that won't apply.

44

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Our Wage Bill.

« on: September 06, 2016, 02:12:34 PM »

I'd be hugely surprised if footballers use PAYE.

45

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Our Wage Bill.

« on: September 06, 2016, 02:05:14 PM »

You'd be shocked at some of the wages we pay, with a couple already close to £70k per week.

That's before you even consider bonus payments.

46

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: James Morrison

« on: September 06, 2016, 02:03:48 PM »

Where has all this rubbish about him not playing come from anyhow?

14/15 - 33 / 38
15/16 - 18 / 21 until injury

He then claimed to be fit but also told the club he was definitely leaving so Leko played instead, he was then injured all pre season.

47

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: James Morrison

« on: September 06, 2016, 10:14:35 AM »

Exactly, he was playing up until he was injured and managed to miss all of pre season.

If i were him i'd be shining my agents shoes.

48

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: James Morrison

« on: September 06, 2016, 10:04:23 AM »

At £65k a week it's a really poor deal for the Albion.

His season ending injury, leading up to his status of a free agent, was far too convenient and if you add that to his generally appalling injury record over his time here i reckon he's overpaid by around £1m a year.

There is a culture at this club where we don't let go, this means we end up stuck with players who are no longer worth a penny and stops us doing what Southampton do so successfully - selling and reinvesting.

Olsson, Mulumbu, Odemwingie, Dorrans & Berahino could have bought in a combined £40m in fees over the years, yet we've clung on like obsessed ex girlfriends and ended up giving them away.

49

General Football & Sports / Re: Tony Pulis

« on: September 05, 2016, 12:46:38 PM »

If Pulis wasn't there then where was Kemp?

Very disrespectful to our guests and the two lads on trial.

50

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Albion v Delhi Dynamos (Friendly)

« on: September 05, 2016, 10:47:08 AM »

Went to the game on Saturday, more for the opportunity to take my 4 year old daughter to her first game which she really enjoyed - gives me hope as my son really isn't arsed at the moment.

The two trialists on show gave the match another dimension, which was interesting....

Sissoko is well worth a contract imo. He is as fit as a flea and despite a bit of understandable rust he was extremely athletic alongside Yacob, broke play up and most importantly looked to bring it forward and pass it along the midfield to get us onto the front foot.

Chamakh only managed 25 minutes, at which point he was taken out by the sort of tackle you would associate with a still inebriated Sunday league player and had to come off with a huge cut on his shin (the Delhi player was ordered to be subbed straight away). Didn't see much of him but he does have a nice touch and always wants the ball. His future will depend on what he's show in training and will maybe need another private friendly so he can be assessed. Now his hair is receding the do he sports is more ridiculous than ever.

Two more positives, even though the opposition wasn't the best and the game played with clear orders to be as non contact as possible for obvious reasons, were Nyom, who is very quick and loves to overlap his midfielder and get the cross in and Chadli who was head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch in regards to touch, skill and the general way he moves around the pitch. Phillips was also very good and looked to be forming a little partnership with Chadli.. We also have an academy stacked with some very useful looking kids, including Smith who scored the goal. There are loads of them with squad numbers up to 70 on show amongst the 12 who were used!   

A worthwhile exercise overall, unless your name is Chamakh, with a nice opportunity for the new lads and alot of goodwill built up with our guests from India and alot of the local Asian community.