1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: John Swift

« on: Today at 01:02:47 AM »

I think it is easy to under estimate how difficult it would be to replace our better players while we are in the Championship even if we have some money to spend on fees. On the other hand I think I could find two players for Swift's wages and there is a good chance that both would make bigger contributions although there would need to be money for fees to achieve that.

2

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Do you REALLY want us to be promoted this season?

« on: Today at 12:46:42 AM »

I like the idea building a better squad in the Championship and getting promoted with it and using that as the basis for establishing us in the Premier League.

However football doesn't work like that. It will be really difficult to retain our better players in this Division. For instance we could quite easily lose Maja and Fellows in the summer even if we got good fees replacing them in the Championship will be difficult . Using the fees well we may improve the squad overall but we are unlikely to be much stronger or at least close the gap on those with parachute payments,  but equally we could end up in a worse position.

Promotion on the other hand means we have a better chance of retaining our better players and critically we can attract better players than we can in the Championship. Even if we get relegated after just one season we end up with a better squad than we would have done had we remained in the Championship.

Being the whipping boys in any division is miserable I get it but slowly drifting into mid-table Championship mediocrity isn't much fun either.

3

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 10, 2025, 05:04:45 PM »

I find it amazing how hypercritical posters are regarding our potential coaches. Wicky has a record of winning cups and titles with two of the bigger clubs in Switzerland which in coaching terms is a little bit "so what". Whereas he didn't do anything much at Chicago Fire a club which is perpetually mediocre and that is a "failure" although he got them within a point of the play-offs which might be as good as anyone has done with Chicago Barely Smouldering.

Getting something out of a squad without a talent advantage it might be argued is better and more relevant to the circumstances he will find at the Hawthorns.

4

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 09, 2025, 05:07:59 PM »

IF Jose is taking over at Everton, as per rumour, that's everyone who potentially would consider Cooper for me, having rolled their dices.

Wonder if there is a limit to the amount of GL he can be on.

No amount of wishful thinking is going magic up Cooper, sorry.

5

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 09, 2025, 12:38:58 PM »

My gut feelings on this is we will have an announcement today or tomorrow and it will be Hake, Fischer, or Wicky.  There really is nothing to say anybody else is in the frame and it is even debatable as to whether Fischer is.

I can make some sort of case for and against all 3. There seems to be a certain amount of negativity toward Hake and I can see why but he has taken on some really tough jobs in particular Twente and done well with them, context is everything here. As such he might even be my first choice for the job.

PS

Sorry if my earlier post caused any confusion I forget not everyone has spent too much of their lives among degenerate gamblers. 

6

General Football & Sports / Re: Transfer Window Watch (Non Albion)

« on: January 09, 2025, 10:24:04 AM »

As for the LeFee deal Sunderland are paying his wages in full, no other loan fee - Romano

WTAF that's north of £60k a week in the CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! To justify that they have to get promotion. What the hell happens if they get promotion without much of a contribution from him??

You have to hope the obligation to buy comes with some minimum appearances clause.

If you were getting the best player in the league this would be risky but there are some question marks about how good this guy actually is.

7

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL PREMIER LEAGUE THREAD

« on: January 09, 2025, 03:01:27 AM »

Potter has a big challenge that West Ham squad is old thin and injured. It is only 14th because the some of the teams behind them are shockingly bad. Get things wrong here and he will have a relegation on his CV.

8

General Football & Sports / Re: Transfer Window Watch (Non Albion)

« on: January 09, 2025, 02:50:57 AM »

Worlds gone mad parts 1 & 2.

LeFee on the back of two good seasons for Lorient gets a move to Stade Rennais for 20m Euros where he has a bit of a mixed season but Rennais manage to unload him to Roma last summer for 23m Euros. Roma don't fancy him much and now get their money back if Sunderland get promoted. It is now 18 months since his good spell and he is moving to his 3rd club.

I suspect when the music stops Sunderland might be holding the parcel.

And as Philogene I hope it works out for Ipswich and the player but you fear it might not,

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 09, 2025, 01:17:22 AM »

Odds courtesy of Bet Victor as at Midnight 9/1/2025

Rene Hake 4/5
Urs Fischer 5/2
Raphael Wicky 3/1

6/1 Bar

We are only aware of these names because they have appeared the betting markets and been backed down to short odds. There is nothing out anywhere that ratifies this as our short list and absolutely nothing to say where the club ranks the 3 candidates.

That said we will be making an appointment shortly and at least some people are prepared to bet it is one of the above.

 

10

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 08, 2025, 10:15:07 PM »

It is not unreasonable to take time over an appointment. It doesn't matter how quickly or slowly you appoint Frank Lampard he still is going to be Frank Lampard. '

I take all reports of conversations with any potential candidate with a huge pinch of salt because the only people that put a name out there are agents who let's face it have their own agendas and are only on nodding terms with the truth. The only time the club has confirmed or denied any link was with Luke Williams and only then because the situation was getting embarrassing.

On the subject of embarrassment the fact that Potter was lined up for the West Ham job was splashed all over the media 48 hours before the club fired Lopetegui was classless. Equally very  early in Patel's ownership there was a rumour circulating that we were lining up Torino's coach to replace Corberan.

How well prepared can a club be when talking to an agent to confirm a potential replacements interest in the job turns into a "West Brom line up coach X to replace Corberan" headline?

11

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 08, 2025, 11:54:07 AM »

An interesting debate about Dyche, Southgate, Cooper, Potter and Postecoglou. It is a bit like me having a debate about which Super Model I'll be taking out on a date tonight. None of those mentioned will be turning up at the Hawthorns as Head Coach while we are in the Championship and it would be debatable as to whether they would if we were in the Premier League.

The realistic options are the likes of Wicky, Schumacher, and Eustace. I suspect Fischer is a bit of a stretch given his recent past but more realistic than those mentioned at the start of this post. In terms of the realistic options I am hard pressed to say with any conviction that one candidate stands out from the rest.

In terms of how pragmatic or otherwise we expect our new Head Coach to be I am not sure there is a whole lot of difference between the 3 above. In a Dyche v Postecoglou battle maybe you would hire Postecoglou to get out of the Championship and replace him with Dyche to survive in the Premier League but now we are back to Super Models and I need to make some phone calls....




 

12

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 08, 2025, 09:24:30 AM »

The club has briefed the media that they want an appointment to be made in time for the Stoke game. In practical terms that means this week so whoever is in charge has a week to work with the players ahead of that fixture.

As the ITK posters have so helpfully pointed out that means final interviews Monday and Tuesday decision today announcement Thursday or Friday.

I would be surprised if Wicky isn't one of those interviewed and I suspect  Steven Schumacher is under consideration. Unlike Cooper and Potter he is still building a reputation and probably feels the need to return to work sooner rather than latter. A return to Plymouth is very much an open door for him. At this point he has chosen not to walk through it which might mean he has a chance of a better role with us.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 07, 2025, 12:46:18 PM »

Have we been linked with Urs Fischer then or just at bookies?

Nothing in it as far as I can make out other than B'ham Mail feeling obliged to write something on our manager search.

14

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 07, 2025, 12:09:53 PM »

Birmingham Mail reduced to reporting betting markets (RIP local Journalism) and have spun a few hundred words on Urs Fischer being quoted at 20/1 (still my beating heart) to put this into context Luke Williams who has been actually ruled out is available at 12/1.

In other words we wait for the white smoke over the Hawthorns.

15

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 07, 2025, 12:53:13 AM »

Was Wicky odds on yesterday? 11/10 now so wondering if it’s drifting or if I imagined it? Eustace down to 5/2.

Yes slightly most had him at evens Skybet came in at 5/6 and he is out  at 11/10 and still evens elsewhere.

John Eustace has shortened by half a point.

This is just a settling in terms of the betting market with a new front runner emerging and remember this time last week Luke Williams was favorite and all the money that was bet on him is now in the bookies satchel. 

At this point I am kind of indifferent between the two front runners. They are different and are likely to be good or bad for different reasons but I don't really hate either like I did with some of our previous appointments.

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 06, 2025, 03:44:35 PM »

I see nothing much has happened in our Head Coach search as we now debating the possibility that Dyche  is fired from Everton and becomes a viable candidate.

As with Cooper and Potter it is likely that Dyche will have a gardening leave clause in his contract, so rather than having the contract paid he is paid his wages for the unexpired duration of the contract. If he wants to take a job before the gardening leave is over he has to forgo the remainder of the pay-off.

Managers fired by Premier League clubs on gardening leave are never going to take the first Championship job that comes along for less than a third of the money they are being paid on gardening leave. 

17

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 05, 2025, 05:08:00 PM »

Oh my Wicky installed as evens favourite on entering the market and everybody out at 9/4 or longer. In betting terms that is significant somebody has lumped on Wicky.

I think this might be a live one and as such worth digging into a little bit more.

Has managed in the Champions League so probably okay for a work permit.

A success at Young Boys and Basel who are 2 of the biggest clubs in Switzerland and as such it is to be expected. The only time he managed outside of Switzerland was at Chicago Fire in the MLS, which wasn't exactly a triumph.

However his relative failure in Chicago needs to be set in the context of the Fire who might be better named Chicago barely alight nobody succeeds there.

Played 4-4-2 at Young Boys but experimented with a few different set ups at Basel.

This could be the left field appointment that many have suspected would emerge.

18

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 05, 2025, 01:22:46 AM »

Is this one of the ITK posters that embarrassed themselves over Luke "Interview Tomorrow" Williams?

Eustace has done a good job at his last two clubs is probably a little bit more pragmatic and as such better equipped to work with whatever squad he may inherit.

Schumacher might be a little less flexible tactically and it might need a summer window to get a squad together that works. He does have a preference for 3 at the back and that would present a few selection issues. He also "failed" at Stoke. Everybody fails at Stoke so that shouldn't be held against him.

Whatever I'm not going to get exercised over the latest piece of mud an ITK has thrown at the wall. 

19

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jayson Molumby

« on: January 04, 2025, 04:50:41 PM »

Happy with a 3 year deal enough to have all of the player's peak years and none of his post peak. On current  form he is one of first names on the team sheet

20

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 04, 2025, 04:14:21 PM »

If we were in mid-table with a month left in the season I'd run with the interim coach team.  But we have half a season a good position in the league so absolutely have to make an appointment.

If we were interested in John Heitinga and Liverpool won't release him that is the first real set back we have had in the search. Everyone else that has been ruled out was either not a realistic option or no great loss.

21

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

« on: January 04, 2025, 03:03:03 AM »

We should not sell neither Fellows nor Maja. We have a shot of promotion and that would fix our financial problems as much as selling our best players and we would still have the option of selling both or either in the summer. I doubt Fellows value would diminish it may even rise although I suspect the price we could get for Maja would be somewhat reduced.

It is not only the impact of their sale on the squad there is the question of finding replacements and that will be a hell of a lot easier in the summer than in January.

22

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 04, 2025, 01:36:28 AM »

I don't think this role or any other Championship Head Coach job is a role for a newbie. It is vital that Coaches cut their teeth at a lower level or at the very least do an extensive apprenticeship. The lack of a solid grounding is often what derails the big names that get fast tracked to big jobs.

My one reservation about Johnny Heitinga is that he has never been a Head Coach yet his coaching experience as an assistant is probably greater than the current interim teams is in total.

The same could also be said Pepijn Lijnders but after two setbacks as Head Coach at NEC and RB Salzburg you do wonder as to whether he will make at as Head Coach or like Graeme Jones be a solid enough assistant but a bit of a disaster as a Head Coach.

Not all coaches have what it takes to be the Head Coach the smart ones realise this and are happy to have a career away from the limelight.

The interim team can hold the fort for a few weeks but without significant reinforcement won't get through to the end of the season and Brunt in particular has little appetite for it to be a permanent move.

In practical terms the search for a new Head Coach was always likely to run until Swansea particularly if the net was spread to outside the UK because of the added complication of work permits etc.... However the clock really starts ticking from Monday.

23

General Football & Sports / Re: Transfer Window Watch (Non Albion)

« on: January 03, 2025, 04:55:41 AM »

Esmir Bajraktarevic from New England Revolution to PSV is interesting for a number of reasons.

1. It continues the trend of young Americans making their way into the European game yet this is still a largely untapped talent pool bearing in mind that Soccer is the number 1 participation sport in High Schools across the States.

2. MLS clubs are getting better at developing young talent, although the headlines are still about big names going to the League in the twilight of their careers. Yet because of the salary cap they aren't getting them on lucrative long term deals and they are being picked off by the smarter European clubs.

Bajraktarevic is 19 year old winger who has torn up MLS is only had a year left on his contract and PSV have secured him for 3m euros up front plus another 3m euros of add-ons. It is very evident that PSV see him as a replacement for Johan Bakayoko who is just 21 and very likely to be sold this summer (last year of contract).

This is how a player trading model that focusses on youth development works. Players are bought in with the expectation they will make the first team and the path is cleared for them. By the time they are 21 they are fully fledged professionals and nobody is wondering if another season at Cloggersfield United in the outer wastelands 2nd tier will be beneficial for his development.

 

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 03, 2025, 03:11:48 AM »

Okay time to take stock of the list after a week we seem to have a much better idea of who won't be the next Head Coach rather than who will be.

Bilic, Slaven Nothing to say the club nor Slaven are interested in renewing the relationship.

Carsley, Lee Ruled out
 
Cooper, Steve Still counting the money he got from Leicester while laughing at their plight not interested

Heitinga, Johnny Aside from early reports that we were interested and Liverpool weren't keen to let him go mid season no further hints of interest

Lijnders, Pep Apart from being available and somewhat of a big name largely because of his long-term association with Jurgen Klopp nothing to suggest we are actively pursuing him.

Martin, Russell Ruled out

Mowbray, Tony No real hint of interest from either party

O'Neil, Gary Nothing to suggest an interest here and given he is available nobody has to be particularly coy. 

Potter, Graham See Potter but it is an even bigger pile of cash.

Robins, Mark Gone to Stoke

Schumacher, Steven Might be returning to Plymouth and is odds on with the bookies.

Tudor, Igor Apart from being based in Italy and having some pretty loose connections to Nestor nothing in particular to suggest an interest.

Williams, Luke Might have talked himself out of consideration but whatever interest we have seems to have ended.

Moyes, David Hasn't ruled himself but the great man has recently said he wants to get back into management but does not want a relegation battle. Well I guess that rules little old Albion out. Never mind I'm over it already

Hmm.... Can't help but think it isn't any of the above.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 02, 2025, 07:43:51 PM »

If all of this was just the agent trying to persuade Swansea to offer his man a better contract and on the face of it that seems to be the case I think it is quite likely to back fire. 

It is interesting to note that the Albion have briefed journalists that he isn't under consideration which is a rare event given that they have hardly issued a blow by blow commentary as to the progress with the search. It was getting embarrassing and I'm sure they wanted the issue out of the way before we went to Swansea.

The list gets shorter or the successful name is so below the radar he isn't on anybody's list. If don't have to Google the successful candidates name I'll be disappointed.