1

General Football & Sports / Re: World Cup

« on: Yesterday at 03:33:36 PM »

I am going for the Dutch.

2

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

« on: Yesterday at 03:31:39 PM »

A few observations from last might that highlight where this squad is and the tactical and selection dilemmas that Corberan faces.

Switching Maja for Swift at half time highlights one such issue. At the time I thought we were hunkering down to defend the lead and thought it was going to be a long 45 minutes and it was until the second goal which killed off the game. While Maja wasn't having his best game pulling off our most effective striker and replacing him with a generally out of form midfielder does show a fairly cautious mentality and or the limitations of the squad.

Accepting that Maja is having a poor game and Corberan needs to make a change his options are

Cole Not the same player as Maja won't link play as effectively and there is a huge question mark as to how much Corberan trusts him.
Dobbin: Same skill set as Fellows and Johnston
Wallace: Gives up  possession easily and goal threat on a par with Swift
Racic: In theory would shore up the midfield but form is indifferent and put him on at half time and Mowatt and Molumby are playing the full 90 which is not ideal.

So Swift it is and yes that gives better control of the ball in midfield but given his goal threat has dropped off a cliff Corberan  is accepting that we are holding on to a narrow lead rather than looking to kill the game with a 2nd goal.

Another telling change was when Styles was taken off at left back. Bartley who I assume was being rested on the bench (note 2 games a week is starting to be a big ask for Bartley) was drafted in to the middle of the defence with Heggem going out to left back. It would appear for whatever reason Corberan has little or no faith in the Italian. 

In my earlier discussion I forgot Diakité which seems appropriate as Corberan seems to have also forgotten him. As is often the case a coach has a squad of 14 to 15 players that he is comfortable using and the rest to varying degrees he would rather not rely on and the fringe won't get much game time unless we are hit by an injury crisis of neat biblical proportions.

We have a lot players but not nearly as many options as we think we have.

We have the options but the manager will not use them is another way to spin it !
Whether he is correct in this, is purely conjecture, however as CC is the man who sees the players day in / out and is the professional whose future hangs on those decisions, we have to hope / believe he is correct.

3

General Football & Sports / Re: World Cup

« on: Yesterday at 02:25:45 PM »

Absolutely 100%.

Allegedly.

Only the Saudis bid apparently. But still agree that the Arabs are corruption specialists and FIFA is a gravy train.

4

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Callum Styles Joins Albion

« on: Yesterday at 02:09:41 PM »

Stratham was the best left back of his generation ,if he’d played for a London club he would have 60odd caps,the Arsenal lad couldn’t hold a candle to Derek,baggies fans of that time will agree with me

Agreed, Kenny Sansom of Arsenal got the caps but Dekka was a superior player.

5

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: Yesterday at 02:04:19 PM »

I thought we were lucky to win ,Coventry had some fantastic chances which they should have scored,when we play like we did against Sheffield United and the first 10 mins last night we look dangerous and it’s decent to watch ,but as soon as we scored we sat back n didn’t look threatening at all until grant brilliant goal !he invites pressure on us for no reason when we’re not exactly great at the back

Stats don't support that we are not great at the back.

6

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: THE ALBION ASSEMBLY - PLEASE READ

« on: December 11, 2024, 11:09:41 AM »

Garlick has a legal background & was responsible for compiling & negotiating contracts, he worked in conjunction with Dan Ashworth, both reporting to Jeremy Peace.
From a structural point of view, it made sense to give Garlick the DoF position after Ashworth left, but to make it work, he needed some "technical" input. With that lacking, I believe he found the position difficult.

He had that Italian geriatric geezer alongside didnt he?  (Tracheoctemi or summat similar)

7

General Football & Sports / Re: David Coote

« on: December 11, 2024, 11:01:23 AM »

His book will be interesting .

Tip of a very smelly pile of excrement in my opinion, If he has anything about him, he will have had a very healthy NDA pay off too.

8

General Football & Sports / David Coote

« on: December 10, 2024, 10:37:14 AM »

I see he has been sacked and un-surprisingly it is not getting that much media exposure, surprise, surprise !!

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: THE ALBION ASSEMBLY - PLEASE READ

« on: December 10, 2024, 10:33:32 AM »

Not sure where to put this question so apologies if wrong place.
Do we want Dan Ashworth back or is he finished?

I would have him back, however I just read this, which would put us oput of contention you would think

he could well find a new opportunity with a Premier League rival. It is reported that Arsenal could emerge as an option for 53-year-old - his close relationship with the Gunners managing director Richard Garlick standing him in good stead.

Garlick is currently leading the search for Arsenal’s new sporting director following the exit of Edu earlier this month. The Brazilian left the club after five years.

10

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

« on: December 09, 2024, 06:54:20 PM »

As CC clearly is not going to utilise Fabrotta, a LB is imperative to enable him to play others to their strengths, Conor Townsend has only got one game at Ipswich should we consider getting him back on loan?

11

Last Match Forum - 11/12 Coventry City (H) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: December 09, 2024, 09:00:23 AM »

Can we have the correct name for this thread please, ie 

West Bromwich Albion v Frank Lampards Coventry City

12

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: FA Cup 24/25 Round 3 - AFC Bournemouth Away

« on: December 09, 2024, 08:58:43 AM »

The romance of the cup isn't limited to giant killing, for a salford fan / player / staff seeing their team run out at the Etihad is a once in a lifetime, I was there moment. 

13

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Karlan Grant

« on: December 09, 2024, 08:55:48 AM »

Was Slaven right after all? 

14

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

« on: December 09, 2024, 08:54:44 AM »

Think today was our best 11 of those available. Long term we need to find Heggem a cb partner- long term Taylor?
We need a left back. Styles isn't one. He doesn't fancy frambotta.

Most critically we need a proper athletic and technical number 10 like Matheus periera. And we need to ship out swift and diangana.

Don't see us finding another Periera sadly !

15

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: December 08, 2024, 06:51:30 PM »

He surely did, didn't he? Good selection, good formation, good tactics today for me.

Perhaps I should have said "keep the brake off"

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: December 08, 2024, 06:46:04 PM »

I am still in the CC camp, I have concerns about him making "mistakes" in selection,  subs and timings on an ongoing basi, such that it was no longer mistakes but a pattern of behaviour. Hopefully today we saw some of these patterns have ended.
The club needs to break the cycle of short term chopping and changing and for me CC is integral to this. But please take the brakes off Carlos

17

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: December 08, 2024, 04:23:42 PM »

Lescott went from best defender to finished in half a season, Barts has taken longer but is teetering on the precipice (imo)

18

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: FA Cup 24/25 Round 3 - AFC Bournemouth Away

« on: December 03, 2024, 02:00:38 PM »

Its a bit of a naff draw all round. Hardly any ties that look exciting on paper, other than the Utd vs Arsenal draw that will have BBC or ITV happy.

The idea of travelling 3-4 hours down south to see a side of Albion kids and reserves beaten by a Bournemouth second string isnt very appetising.

I think there are some excellent ties, for example,
Leeds - Harrogate,
Millwall - Dagenham,
ManC - Salford
Tamworth - Spurs 

19

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: November 28, 2024, 10:32:11 PM »

I do blame the manager for not "going for" 3 points which out weighs "making sure" of 2 points via shutting up shop.
I reiterate that I think overall CC is doing ok, but is more conservative than he needs to be in my view

20

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: November 28, 2024, 07:03:00 PM »

Lampard appointed Cov boss, 2.5 year deal - Athletic

I hereby predict he does not last the season

21

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: November 28, 2024, 06:59:56 PM »

Looking forward to this one and we're heading up on the train. From the limited amount I've seen of them despite their league position they look a well organised unit who've lacked bite up front. The return of Milutin Osmajic could take care of that. Quite literally in his case.

Their keeper got sent off the other day so it looks like David Cornell will get the nod as Woodman serves his ban. Seems to have made a decent career for himself as a second choice keeper with less than 200 appearances aged 33.

Bit of triv. Cornell was on the bench for Northampton Town when they knocked us out of the League Cup on penalties in 2016. Another bit of triv. Alex Palmer was on the bench for us that night too. Did say it was a 'bit' of triv  .

Let's hope is from the button school of reserve keepers

22

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: November 28, 2024, 06:53:24 PM »

He has my support, which is all an Albion manager truly needs 

When he loses that, his goose is well and truly cooked.

All these pidgens and geese are giving me the bird

23

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: November 27, 2024, 09:06:05 PM »

Agree it would be premature to act now, and on a positive it seems VanNistelroy is off to Leicester.

24

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: November 26, 2024, 09:48:03 PM »

I 've lost count of how many corners which we have given then.

All of them

25

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: November 26, 2024, 06:55:03 PM »

From Leicester city news,
After links to Potter and Van Nistelrooy, Leicester City are now reportedly eyeing up West Brom manager Carlos Corberan, per Guillem Balague on X.

My limited knowledge of Balague is that he is very well connected with all things Spanish football, it's not so clear to me how he would have a inside line on Leicester though