51

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: August 06, 2023, 05:35:01 PM »

Can we now expect earlier evening kick offs so our £1 a game season ticket holders can be home in time for bed?

If we kick-off earlier in the evening there'll be nobody in the ground to watch us as they'll all be in the traffic outside!

52

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: The summer / next season

« on: August 06, 2023, 05:33:49 PM »

Agree with other posters, after watching lots of highlights today, every team seems better than us. They seem more direct, faster, impactful.  Oh dear,

This is why I've been saying mid-table at best, with concerns about relegation. It's a strong division, and because of our money troubles, our squad will be weaker than last year.

Corberan did brilliantly when he came in, but we saw towards the end of the season these players were reverting to type. We have an aging squad in a division full of youth, energy, power and pace. And on the evidence of yesterday, we don't look clever enough to combat it.

53

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Caleb Taylor

« on: August 06, 2023, 05:07:38 PM »

i have seen him on his couple of appearances and last year he was Cheltenham's young player of the season and I thought he was promising and I was surprised he wasn't in the  squad but of course CC knows more about his ability than I do.

Given that he started Kipre, I'd start to doubt that.

54

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jed Wallace

« on: August 06, 2023, 05:05:59 PM »

I think we're now seeing why Wolves let him go all those years ago. He struggles when there's expectation.

He went to Portsmouth when they were at a low ebb and they were getting the club back on sound footing. He then went to Millwall where nobody expects anything of them, they have the 'no-one likes us, we don't care' mentality, and they've been able to build a strong team out of the spotlight.

Now he's here, a recent Premier League team, he's struggling to deal with it. Although many of us acknowledge a promotion isn't a real possibility, it's still what the club is aiming for and the fans want. And he's just a right-footed James McClean with a better attitude.

55

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: July 30, 2023, 04:57:35 PM »

It's incredible. After the Blues (H) game last season, I would have gladly shot Bartley never mind sold him... now I think he's genuinely the best centre back at the club. Worrying times.

Also, it's too soon for Sarmiento to be anything but sub. He's got work to do on his fitness and he's not going to have worked with the rest of the squad very long. Might do as an impact sub.

56

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: David Button

« on: July 30, 2023, 04:53:43 PM »

Why? It's never mentioned in a normal transfer. If the player is released, yes, they can expect their contract to be paid up, but if sold to another club? I've not heard of it. Maybe they're only willing to pay him less than what he earns at WBA, in which case yes of course he's going to want that compensated.

If a player leaves for another club without requesting a transfer (which I doubt Button has), they're usually due a loyalty bonus, as it's the selling club breaking the contract not the player.

Individual players deals are always subject to negotiation, but the premise is fairly standard.

57

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Taylor Gardner-Hickman

« on: July 30, 2023, 04:50:46 PM »

TGH needs to nail down position and soon, or move on for his own sake.

People keep talking about he could be a other  Sam Field, as though we are letting Xavi go, in context Field is mid 20's and is playing in a very average championship side like QPR (and i really wanted Field to come good)

The two best prospects of late are O'Shea who has moved for £7m quid and possibly Palmer who is going for £3m, both have been regulars in the first team, if they are good enough they will get the chance.

Not many leave us and go to better things.

Fwiw Field may be in a poor team, but is acknowledged as being their best player, and was being linked with moves to the Premier League in January (Fulham / Palace). He was also the only QPR team from our game at the Hawthorns who would have improved our team on the day, despite the result.

Admittedly it's not a like for like comparison; Field is a holding player so is likely to improve as he gets older, while TGH is more box-to-box and will likely struggle later on in his career.

Ironically his reading of the game / positioning is the area of the game Corberan is supposedly unimpressed with; something which always impressed me about Field.

58

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Taylor Gardner-Hickman

« on: July 29, 2023, 03:49:41 PM »

Another Sam Field. Manager doesn't seem to like him for whatever reason. Will probably move on for a pittance and look good elsewhere.

59

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: 29/07 v Bolton Wanderers (A)

« on: July 29, 2023, 03:46:12 PM »

Molumby and Sarmiento not fit enough apparently - Molumby still recovering from his injury at the end of last season, Sarmiento behind the others in terms or preparation.

Unless they both make big strides forward this week, I'd expect this to be the team next weekend.

60

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: The summer / next season

« on: July 23, 2023, 06:01:36 PM »

I'm not one to say that pre-season results are the be-all and end-all, so the results don't have me in a meltdown just yet. But what I do realise is it they can be habit forming.

Winning, losing, scoring and conceding goals can all become habitual, and the way we're conceding concerns me. Obviously we're making lots of changes during games, but with a thin squad we may be reliant on youngsters to plug gaps, and we don't want them to fall into a cycle they can't get out of.

I think we'll be looking at a best case mid-table, worst case relegation battle this season.

61

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Marcos Abad - new GK coach

« on: July 19, 2023, 04:15:09 PM »

Leeds goalkeepers haven't impressed me the entire time he's been there. Hopefully that's more a reflection on their talents than his teaching.

62

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: July 16, 2023, 05:04:47 PM »

A £16 million one-trick pony, he could score 25 goals for Cardiff next season and I'd still be glad to see the back of him.

63

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Kit for next season

« on: July 12, 2023, 12:04:58 PM »

I'm not impressed myself.

I don't like the plain white panelled back, and the sponsors logo on the front looks cheap and tacky (although part of that is the brand).

Not going to say that on Twitter mind, I don't fancy the agro.

64

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: July 09, 2023, 04:22:58 PM »

the story going around when we actually bought him is that he didn't want to join us and was persuaded by a mix of agent and contract and being told he wouldn't play for West Ham.

other than a handful of games that has pretty much shown in his performances since joining permanently

I think all of that can be seen in his performances; he didn't come here to play for West Bromwich Albion, he came here thinking he'd do what Harvey Barnes did, prove himself and go back a 1st teamer.

When that didn't happen and West Ham rejected him, he could never (and probably will never) get over it. He's 25 now, and his best season was 4 years ago - we were stupid to ever part with as much money to sign him as we did.

65

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

« on: July 02, 2023, 04:57:39 PM »

Plus 10% of any future sell on fee.

Ah, the Ugo special 

66

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: July 02, 2023, 04:53:45 PM »

It's been obvious since he joined that cc hasn't got a little black back full of cheap foreign signings like mulumbu and Koren, etc, etc.

I thought a progressive young coach like him, if not having his little black book, would employ someone who does have one and who does the hard yards of the player research for him.

From what I understand CC has the final say on a signing and he needs to have more of a backbone and say no to the likes of NC, and look beyond him having an England cap.

From what I understand, the vast majority of our previously unknown imports came from Dan Ashworth doing the hard yards and some really intensive scouting work. In fact, most managers / head coaches do not actively take on a role in recruitment such as that, unless they've seen a player they would go out of their way for. Add to that the work permit rules have only just relaxed, I don't think there was going to be a cheap foreign influx at any point.

We are simply too small minded as a club, have been for years, and only Ashworth ever broke the mold. Tbh we only appointed Corberan because he had a track record at Huddersfield, we wouldn't have appointed him if he'd been at Albacete or Tenerife beforehand.

67

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New Kit for next season

« on: June 25, 2023, 05:26:24 PM »

I can't claim much (if any) insider knowledge, but I did see somebody who does say this years would be a divisive one, like the pinstripes or Ajax imitation one were.

68

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jayson Molumby

« on: June 18, 2023, 06:47:03 PM »

Limited player who works hard. Might get to the Premier League and be another Craig Gardner, but that's probably his top potential.

I'd say if we can get a decent fee, let him go; however after signing Chalobah in January, I'd be worried about the type of player we'd bring in to replace him.

69

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Griffiths

« on: June 18, 2023, 06:43:14 PM »

I think he's more than a bit behind Palmer though. I can't see the point in playing an inferior keeper for that reason. He's currently got 2 years left. At end of upcoming season he has 1 year left.

If it's a good offer he's got to go.

I'd agree with that, plus if you make him number 1 before he's ready there's a chance of damaging the lads confidence and him never fulfilling his promise.

As regards fee, I think we all need to be a bit realistic. Yes, Newcastle have a lot of money, but they still need to work within the constraints of FFP. They're probably looking at Griffiths as a low cost, long term option and they will know we need the money. Plus, can you actually say his displays last season for us were those of a £20-30 million goalkeeper? No, he's behind Palmer for a reason. If he could fetch that fee he'd be number 1 outright.

I think if we can get £3-4 million, plus add-ons, then it's a good deal. Not guaranteed he'll ever reach his potential. Look at Freddie Woodman, a former Toon keeper.

70

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Action For Albion/ Potential Takeover

« on: June 11, 2023, 06:31:50 PM »

Lai Guochuan is the principal shareholder of the Yunyi Guokai board thus the controlling person.  Saying that Chinese State Washing Machine company or whatever has a day to day influence is a bit like saying because your pension fund has invested in Apple shares, it has a say over Apple's direction.

Politically though, Yunyi would not do anything contrary to the present CPC restrictions on new foreign investment but I haven't heard that there is a restriction on selling the investment.

While you are right that those entities might not have a say in the day-to-day operation, they are what would be termed the 'Ultimate Beneficial Owners', and that comes with it's own problems. You wouldn't have a say in the running of Apple, but you wouldn't want somebody else to make the decision to sell your shares when they're worth 10% of what you paid for them, for example.

71

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Dara O'Shea

« on: June 11, 2023, 06:26:57 PM »

Honestly not surprised by this, he's one of the few players at the club who we would get a decent fee for. I think he's slightly overrated, probably because he came through our academy, so if we get a good offer I would let him go.

At the moment we have O'Shea, Bartley, Ajayi, Kirpre, and Taylor, and they're looking to keep Pieters. I think if we resign Pieters, Ajayi is the next most easy sale, and I'm not sure Corberan likes him as much as Bartley / Pieters.

72

General Football & Sports / Re: Play-offs: keep, reform, or scrap?

« on: May 21, 2023, 05:21:04 PM »

Scrapped. 3rd best team over 46 games go up automatically, as they deserve to.

We tried a German system way back in the mists of time, where bottom two from Division 1 would play top 2 from Division 2 home and away, then apply for reelection. We were involved once, battered City and beat Liverpool, got to stay up.

How can you be Sheffield Wednesday or Notts County and finish in the top play-off spot by miles, only to risk not going up because the people who finished 30 points behind you somehow deserve a shot? It's fundamentally unfair for me.

73

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: How we have sunk in the Midland's rankings

« on: May 21, 2023, 05:15:58 PM »

We had an 8-year spell in the Premier League when Villa were rubbish, Wolves were even worse, and Blues were struggling. We had one season as the only West Midlands team in the Prem, and we wasted it.

Villa are now punching their weight after a long time, Wolves have been very well run before a slide the last couple of years, but are still being run miles better than us; the season they spent £15m on Ruben Neves, we spent the same on Oliver Burke. It's not Brighton / Brentford levels of scouting, but it's very good.

We're still 3rd. We're still in a better place than Blues, and 2 divisions above Walsall. I don't really count Coventry as although they're local, they feel more like a Leicester or Derby; close, but not close enough.

Blues are only decent owners and a decent manager away from overtaking us though, could happen this season. Then we're in trouble.

74

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

« on: May 21, 2023, 05:08:47 PM »

I'm stunned nobody in the league has taken Andrews or Cleary for a spell as two good examples.

Andrews went on loan to Yeovil, then played for us in the cup, so wouldn't be surprised if he fell foul of the rule where you can't play for three clubs in one season (I know Yeovil are non-league, but believe they count as they are still full-time professionals).

As far as the late '90's / early 00's for academy players, we produced the Chambers twins, Adam Oliver, Brian Quailey, and Chris Adamson. The Chambers were probably the best of that bunch, Oliver got badly injured and had to finish early, Quailey and Adamson were both absolutely shocking. I can't remember any more, unless someone can correct me?

75

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Season tickets

« on: May 21, 2023, 05:02:40 PM »

If I thought for one second that me not buying a season ticket would help to force a change in owner, then I'd do it.

But it won't. As said above, it's not the revenue stream for the club that it once was. More money comes from TV now.

We're better off in the ground, noisily and visibly protesting the owners. If nothing else, it might prove there is a viable business there to anybody thinking of making a takeover offer / buying us out of administration down the line.

I get the anger, I'm angry too, but walking away solves nothing and helps nobody.