1

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

« on: February 28, 2024, 06:03:47 PM »

I'm really glad that he has said that it is a long term project and not to be expect miracles straight away

Thats what we need as a club, someone who can build it over a period of time

Keep Corberan in the job for as long as possible until another club take him, but he genuinely seems happy to be here

2

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: February 12, 2024, 05:05:30 PM »

Out for the rest of 2024 then
Albion can confirm Daryl Dike will be out until the end of 2024 after suffering an Achilles tendon injury at Ipswich Town on Saturday.

A rupture of the USA international’s left Achilles will require surgery, followed by a period of rehabilitation.

The club will provide Daryl with all the care and support he needs to return to full fitness later this year

3

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: TV Games

« on: February 08, 2024, 01:14:05 PM »

Albion’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Huddersfield Town at The John Smith’s Stadium has been selected for live broadcast by Sky Sports.

As a result, the game will now take place at midday on Sunday, March 10, replacing the original date of Saturday, March 9 (ko 3pm).

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: February 05, 2024, 12:35:51 PM »

Game wasn't great but 3 points is all that matters, took his goal well

My man of the match would have been Yokuslu. That guy is simply class

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: TV Games

« on: February 02, 2024, 02:03:49 PM »

Albion’s first two matches in the month of March have been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports.

The Baggies’ clash with Coventry City at The Hawthorns will now take place on Friday, March 1 (ko 8pm), replacing the original date of Saturday, March 2 (ko 3pm).

Carlos Corberán’s men then face QPR at Loftus Road on Wednesday, March 6.

That fixture will now kick-off at the slightly later time of 8pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

6

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 27, 2024, 06:14:36 PM »

Looking forward to this one, 3pm on a Saturday! What a stupid time for a home game, that'll never catch on 

Half my family are Bluenoses and they have said that both John Ruddy and Oliver Burke are absolutely dreadful, no doubt they will all play like Prime Brazil when they play us though as the blues always seem to raise their game against us

Will be weird seeing Tony Mowbray in the away dugout

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 27, 2024, 05:44:15 PM »

For what it's worth I fully expect Wolves to beat us 3-1 tomorrow.

They are a totally different team to who we used to beat, they are the Premiership team who have players that probably cost what we are expecting to sell the entire club for

Neto and Cunha worry me massively, really expect them to rip Townsend and Furlong apart

Hopefully we can nick a goal and keep it respectful

Just hope the trouble is kept to a minimum and everyone can have banter without having to turn it nasty

Will be interesting to find out just how far we are from being able to compete with a midtable premiership team and show where we need to be if we achieve our target of promotion at the end of the season

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: January 22, 2024, 08:35:24 PM »

I think it'll be Leicester and Southampton top 2 and us vs Leeds playoff final 

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: January 22, 2024, 08:33:49 PM »

I hope Leicester win, as I still think Ipswich are catchable for the automatic places.

unfortunately it just won't be us who catches them

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General Football & Sports / Re: Non League Football Thread

« on: January 15, 2024, 09:30:02 AM »

The only problem with non league football since covid (and it's fully understandable) is that the ticket prices are getting closer and closer to £20 a ticket to see Conference-Conference South/North games

Solihull Moors for example charge £18 a ticket, for £10 more you could go and watch Championship football

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 14, 2024, 07:13:25 PM »

Norwich have been blowing hot and cold in their last five league games - won two, lost two and drawn one. Not a happy hunting ground for us in the past and would welcome a win but settle for a point.

Don't see no reason why we won't win this game to be honest.
I know the sending off changed the game against us but I thought before he got sent off that we were the better team, after the sending off we absolutely bossed the game

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: TV Games

« on: January 04, 2024, 05:47:23 PM »

Three of Albion’s fixtures in February have been selected for live television coverage by Sky Sports - with a fourth game also moved.

The match at Ipswich on Saturday, February 10 will remain on the same date, but has been brought forward to a 12.30pm kick-off.

The Baggies’ Hawthorns clash against Southampton has been switched to Friday, February 16 (ko 8pm), one day earlier than initially scheduled.

Owing to the movement of the Saints match, Albion’s home game with Cardiff will now take place on Tuesday, February 13 (ko 8pm) rather than Wednesday, February 14.

And finally, the trip to Hull stays on Saturday, February 24, though will now get underway at 12.30pm.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 27, 2023, 10:50:22 AM »

First half after the 2nd yellow/red for Norwich. I'm 100% convinced that Bartley was shown a yellow card (hence him being subbed later on). The ref ran over to the six yard box before the free kick was taken after sorting out the Norwich players. But no mention of said yellow being shown in any of the stats. Did anyone else see it?

No Bartley was not carded yesterday, I had over 2.5 cards on my bet builder and there was only 2 cards which were both to the Norwich player who got sent off

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: December 17, 2023, 05:22:38 PM »

Take a point there and beat Norwich and that'll do for me

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

« on: December 12, 2023, 05:50:03 PM »

Anyone got the full article.. it cant see it

West Bromwich Albion are edging closer towards a sale with unpopular owner Guochuan Lai set to choose a preferred bidder.

Three consortiums – including one from the United States and one from Nigeria – are in advanced talks over a takeover of the stricken Championship club.

Lai, the Chinese entrepreneur and club’s controlling shareholder, is under heavy pressure to sell up and expected to grant exclusivity to the best option within the next 10 days.

West Brom are available for around £30 million, plus the various debts and loans owed which take the overall price closer towards £60 million.

Though all parties have signed non-disclosure agreements, it is understood that the American group is currently in pole position.

West Brom are under pressure to slash costs in the January transfer window, with head coach Carlos Corberan’s squad in danger of being picked apart.

A sale would offer some protection against a fire sale, so the club are facing a race against time to complete a takeover before the end of next month.

The preferred party would have to pass the English Football League’s owners and directors’ test, which has been toughened up in recent years.

Any sale would finally bring Lai’s stormy tenure to an end, after more than seven years.

Lai acquired the West Midlands club from Jeremy Peace for over £200 million in July 2016.

He has come under heavy scrutiny after declining to pay back a £5 million loan which was paid to one of his companies in June 2021.

There is also an outstanding loan from the club to Peace’s company WBA Holdings Ltd which now stands at £5 million after interest. A further £2 million was taken out in September 2021, with Lai borrowing money from an independent lender that is not owed to the club.

Lai has also been unable to provide investment outside of television money and parachute payments, while borrowing over £20 million from American investment company MSD Holdings Limited.

West Brom are currently fifth in the Championship, with a trip to Rotherham United on Tuesday night.

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

« on: December 12, 2023, 05:08:43 PM »

The article firmly believes its going to be the Americans aswell 

17

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Match Officials

« on: December 09, 2023, 03:33:26 PM »

At least they were consistent, unfortunately they were consistently bad

How ANYONE could think Bellingham was offside is beyond me
Maja getting assaulted should have been a clear red

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: November 04, 2023, 04:03:12 PM »

when Wallace did get the ball and play it in after their goal no one was there to meet it.

and that's the problem every game, Wallace is such a good crosser of the ball yet we only seem to ever have BTA in the box being marked by 6ft defenders.
We need a midfielder to gamble and get themselves into the box

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: November 04, 2023, 03:55:22 PM »

Townsend is bad but Furlong is so much worse, just allowing the bloke to stick the cross in the box.
Pipa has to be playing ahead of him.

BTA just isn't our main striker, it's a shame that Dike can never get fit otherwise he would be leading the line and BTA would come on when the opposition defence is more tired out

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Attending Hull game

« on: November 04, 2023, 10:29:34 AM »

Enjoy the game today mate, hope you have a wonderful day

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: TV Games

« on: October 19, 2023, 07:47:40 PM »

The visit of the Tractor Boys on Saturday, November 25 has been moved from a 3pm to a 5.30pm kick-off.

Another Hawthorns clash, at home to Leicester the following Saturday (December 2), has been brought forward to be broadcast with a kick-off time of 12.30pm.

And on December 9 travelling Baggies face an early start with kick-off at Tony Mowbray's Sunderland now 12.30pm.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Attending Hull game

« on: October 05, 2023, 09:58:41 PM »

Smethwick End- where the home fans and away fans both sit so will be boisterous

Brummie Road- behind the other goal, full of Albion fans. I'd sit here if you want some atmosphere but not very boisterous

East Stand- if you stay away from the corners then it's not very boisterous, great views though, side view

Halfords Lane- unless you are old then stay away 

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: October 03, 2023, 10:13:59 PM »

anyone know any decent hotels for Wembley? 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Albion Books

« on: September 22, 2023, 07:45:39 PM »

Anyone able to recommend any good Albion books please? Especially ones I can get on kindle

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: I’m bored to death

« on: April 03, 2023, 01:54:12 PM »

It can be frustrating to watch but there are two teams on the pitch.

It feels over the years that football got more tactical and technical, more and more teams are happy to play like our last few opponents - everyone behind the ball, break up play, frustrate, stop the game, etc, etc. We cant complain as we were the masters of it under Pulis!

In the Mowbray promotion season, teams came and had a go, even those who were in relegation trouble, thats why it was so enjoyable, you went to every game excited as it could be anything, good or bad! I remember Coventry come the Hawthorns and scoring 4 against us, Leicester did the same (they eventually went down thats season i think) Colchester scored 3, i think Scunthorpe come and had a go and were robbed and we battered them! I was there under the Ardiles season but i cant remember the scores back then!

Back then it seemed like Pulis style teams were rare, now it seems more and more common, its understandable as teams want to stay in the game and nick points, even with Wigan and Huddersfield when we scored, they didnt change their approach, their plan was to hang in there til the last 10 mins and try and nick something, no coincidence the our best home performance of late was Middlesboro who came to have the ball and attack, we scored a couple of early goals and could of had more.

It puts more emphasis on us to break them down and we lack certain personnel to do that, mainly a dynamic attacking midfielder, in the Mowbray years we had Mozza, Koren and Texeria, under Di Matteo we had Dorrans, under Bilic we had Pereira, sadly we do not have that type of player now, somebody who can break from Midfield, go past people, score goals and create something out of nothing.

Players like Swift are nice footballers but i wouldnt call them dynamic, midfield is so important and Moloumby is good when the opposition have the ball (he was brilliant v Middlesboro) as his game is getting in their faces, breaking up the play, he will weigh in with the odd assist or goal but when the opposition are behind the ball he isnt the type to do something special, thats just not his game.

It can be frustrating when the defenders have the ball and it looks like they are just passing between themselves but when they look up and see 11 men from the opposition all set and organised with very little space they they cant do much, movement is so key and i dont think thats something our current setup is good at in tight games.

From what i have heard of Ainsworth teams they are going to be similar to our recent opposition, Wagners Huddersfield teams were always boring and defensivem i dont know if his Norwich team are the same, but there is a strong chance the games v QPR and Norwich could be a tough watch again! I doubt it will be under Mowbrays Sunderland though he isnt as gungho as he used to be!

I dont think we need a fullback and a winger, the idea of the fullback nowadays is to bomb on, they cant do that against recent opposition as there is no space to bomb into! Every now and again it works but rarely, it is quite predictable.

Personally i do think we need to be a bit more adaptable, for the home games mentioned above (and possibly some away) i would try something different, i would play 3-5-2 with wing backs whose main aim will be to be forward.

Centre back i would play Ajayi, Bartley and Pieters (Furlong, Townsend or Livermore can always play there)
Right Wing Back would be Wallace, Left Wing Back any of Alrbrighton, Reach or Townsend
With three centre backs the right and left sided ones can cover any balls into the channels as based on past games it doesnt happen often

Sitting Midfield would be Yokoslu, so plenty of protection for the defence.
I would then play TGH or Swift as a an actual centre midfielder with a view to getting forward, it hasnt worked with Swift before but we have a lot more of the ball nowadays
Then in front of them and behind the front two i would have Rogic or Swift (if TGH is centre midfield) Rogic should suit against teams where we need to break them down, he does have a bit of magic, he needs a run of games as its now or never for his Albion career.

Strikers i would have Dike and BTA, give the defenders something to think about, when everyone is behind the ball its took easy to mark one striker, with those two you have the pace and movement of BTA and the strength and hold up of Dike.

Any game where we are likely to be against negative opposition i would try that, i think from what i have read and seen briefly - Rotherham, Stoke, Blackpool, Sunderland and Swansea are all likely to be positive so the 4-3-3 setup may work against them.

I have never been chopping and changing formations but its clear we do need to adapt to whoever the opposition is, i have more faith in Corberan than any recent managers to have a chance of performing miracles with what we have got!

Possibly the best post I've ever read on here, absolutely spot on