1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: Yesterday at 08:29:06 PM »

You obviously do not know about Scholes record at his beloved Oldham.

Yeah, he was woeful and overall his personality seems incredibly negative and not particularly bright either. In fact, his whole persona these days is spent bashing the current Man Utd manager, which he has turned into a bit of a career over the past few years.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 09, 2025, 08:21:17 PM »

going off this website https://globalfootballrankings.com/ it ranks the MLS at 9th and the championship at 11th

That website is utter tripe and if you don't believe me, I suggest you watch some MLS matches.

Honestly, I'd say the quality is around league 2 level with a handful of Championship/Premier League quality players sprinkled in.

Seriously, it's a very poor league with little going for it quality wise apart from the odd player going out there for one last sunset (Messi, Suarez and even players like Shaqiri and Chicharito years before them).

Not that this tells us a whole lot about the manager, but generally speaking its level is nowhere near the Championship.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Where Are They Now - 23/24

« on: May 08, 2025, 01:50:37 PM »

I'd completely forgot about Pipa before seeing his name come up. Not surprising that he's a been a squad player elsewhere, seems to have had a funny career never really settling anywhere.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 07, 2025, 04:22:02 PM »

Mulisic finished 12th in terms of games played after he managed Plymouth. With that squad, it's a very good achievement.

https://www.soccerstats.com/statsbymonth.asp?league=england2

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: May 05, 2025, 10:16:57 PM »

I personally like the Plymouth manager Miron Muslic

Agree. Had Rooney not ballsed it up, he'd have finished comfortably and gave it a real go. Young, hungry and did well. I'd take their Ukrainian center back too who debuted against us.

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Last Match Forum - 03/05 Luton Town (H) / Re: In Game Chat

« on: May 03, 2025, 01:41:49 PM »

Great to see big Daryl score, delighted for him after what he's been through. When fully fit he's excellent.

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Last Match Forum - 03/05 Luton Town (H) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: May 02, 2025, 03:16:57 PM »

"no one will be picked on sentiment"

also

"no youngsters will be involved"

If he plays Swift for a single minute then I'll never look at him the same again.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Seals watch - Anything Villa

« on: April 30, 2025, 10:29:26 PM »

Big clubs don't spend 3 seasons in the second tier and then only scrape going through in the play offs, nor get relegated 5 years after getting very lucky in the  European Cup once.

They make very big losses and are reliant, again (like Lerner did), on others throwing good money after bad at them.

They don't generate their own money like fake Albion or Brentford.

I hate them as much as the next guy but Villa are a big club and for years were a bit of a sleeping giant.

Winning the European cup, various domestic trophies, fanbase, stadium size etc all points to them being far bigger than most. Obviously, they can't be compared to the likes of Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City etc but outside of the big boys they're right up there.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 30, 2025, 10:15:35 PM »

O'Neil was being touted as an outsider for the England job 12 months ago... that is howly highly rated he was. His season then got derailed injuries, and then a terrible summer window by his Chinese bosses. How quickly one's stock can go up or down.

I dont dont know any Dingles personally but looking from outside, it seems he eventually lost the dressing room. He is a young manager, and obviously didnt impose his own discipline on the more vocal troublemakers. The new bloke came in, and immediately binned Lemina and Dawson. Problem solved.

O'Neil is young, and will learn from his mistakes.

Not necessarily. Arguably Mowbray peaked nearly 20 years ago. It doesn't always work like that sadly. Aidy Bothroyd was similar.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: April 30, 2025, 03:22:08 PM »

Didn't he do well with Arsenal Under whatevers before going to Norwich?

One to watch

Not difficult in fairness, their youth teams have always had a great reputation since the 90s.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 30, 2025, 09:31:16 AM »

I love Big Dave and was so pleased with what he achieved there.

I'd even consider him coaching us again - just not right now. The challenge in front of the club this coming season is colossal.

This is my stance. It was too much too soon. Let him grow and continue to prove himself elsewhere first. 2 promotions in 3 seasons is good going though. Not only this but without Jones, he could be a lot better and confident next time round.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 29, 2025, 01:49:43 PM »

Will Still is probably too high profile for us. He's doing well in Ligue 1 and is meant to be in talks with Southampton. The media like him and if he did well at Lens for another season he could get a Premier League move.

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

« on: April 28, 2025, 10:02:49 AM »

Vardy keen to play for his boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday next season - Graeme Bailey

Can see his lovely wife overruling that decision and him ending up in Saudi or somewhere for one last payday to fund their legal battles.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 28, 2025, 09:45:35 AM »

As in Jimmy Dunne the centre back?

Yes, he's their second top scorer after Frey which says it all. Their strikers are dire (for what it's worth, I'm not really fond of Cifuentes either).

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 28, 2025, 09:18:05 AM »

Well, that's true. The whole QPR team have only managed 52 goals all season. We, on the other hand, have a team that has scored 52 goals all season. So he'd be in a much better position coming to us in that respect 

Yep, that's my point. We should be outscoring them with Maja/Armstrong/Fellows vs. Frey/Dunne/Chair

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 27, 2025, 10:20:37 PM »

Hopefully we can do a bit better than Cifuentes. I'd rather go for the Plymouth or Hull manager if possible.

One thing in his favour is how bad the QPR attack is (to an extent) their top scorer this season was Frey with 8 goals who is a poor striker in my opinion. After that, their top scorer is Dunne who is a center back. I understand Chair is a very good player though in terms of chance creation.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Callum Styles

« on: April 27, 2025, 10:23:00 AM »

I think overall he's done pretty well and has been a good signing. I base this on the following:

- Better than Townsend was during his last season and much younger (also on less money and a profit made on selling Townsend/buying Styles.

- Played in an 'unnatural position' yet holding it down well.

- Mostly good performances up until the last month or so (lets face it, most of our team has struggled too during this period)

Having said this, next season will be his real test. He's now acclimatised to the surroundings, there will most likely be real competition for the LB spot and there will be a new manager.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL LEAGUE 1 and LEAGUE 2 THREAD

« on: April 27, 2025, 10:13:32 AM »

Darren Moore promoted with Port Vale. Good for him, seems to be doing well as a manager of late. Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke too. No idea what went on for Walsall though, that is a once in a generation cock up by themselves.

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General Football & Sports / Re: Seals watch - Anything Villa

« on: April 26, 2025, 07:27:51 PM »

Crystal Palace were excellent. Just need Villa to finish 8th now.

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Last Match Forum - 26/04 Cardiff City (A) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 26, 2025, 05:39:25 PM »

It’s strange how some get a different opinion on the game than others….
I thought that apart from scoring, we didn’t play that badly - certainly better than against Coventry whereby some on here think it was the worst display since the advent of colour television!  I just don’t get it or it’s a trip to Specsavers for the Baggieman !

I'd say it was an exciting game and we could have scored, as could they. With that said, a very even game (perhaps we were second best) against bottom/relegated Cardiff says a lot.

21

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Griffiths

« on: April 26, 2025, 05:26:50 PM »

My man of the match today, kept us in it and a well earned clean sheet with some of his saves.

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

« on: April 24, 2025, 03:55:31 PM »

I just can't see any way we finish top 2. It would need an unprecedently level of success on the recruitment front.  Practically every signing would need to be to an immediate improvement to our first team and the managerial appointment spot on.

Top two with our budget, track record and existing squad just isn't realistic for me.

There's no way we go up automatically next season. However, we could go up via the play-offs with a good manager. Just look at Sunderland and Bristol. Both were miles off last year and have done well. This is the nature of the league, it's not the best on quality outside of the newly relegated teams.

I personally have faith in Bilkul and their methods. Slowly but surely they're weeding out our higher earners and replacing them with better, cheaper alternatives. Obviously, the Bartley/Mowatt extensions aren't good. However, overall I think they've done well and we we reap the rewards in 2 seasons time.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: April 24, 2025, 10:33:04 AM »

I can 100% believe that Dike would be on £30k p/w with us based on his reputation when we signed him. I like the guy but it will be a financial help when he's released.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Albion Head Coach

« on: April 23, 2025, 01:19:07 PM »

Only problem with non league managers is that it's pretty easy to do well at that level (especially if financially backed) as it's not like the other leagues. I remember getting excited about the Cowley's who subsequently failed in anything above league 1.

Rumours saying Farke could be sacked by Norwich - would be a possibility, just not sure whether it's too early etc.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Kyle Bartley

« on: April 21, 2025, 08:24:30 PM »

If he's truly that bad then we may as well loan him out next season and pay his wages - as long as he's not around.