1

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 15, 2025, 04:11:53 PM »

Surely Fellows on for Wallace and Price on for Diangana if we want to get Lankshear and Armstrong more involved. We're pretty toothless at the moment.

2

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 08, 2025, 02:15:19 PM »

OMG. Armstrong off for Wallace!!

3

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 08, 2025, 02:13:47 PM »

Really strange decision not to include Fellows from the start. Should be first name on the team sheet.

4

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 08, 2025, 12:17:37 PM »

Not happy with Fellows and Johnston left out....I'd prefer at least one of them on the pitch. Seems strange to leave your best creators of goal-scoring opportunities off when you've just finally got hold of a proper striker!

5

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 07, 2025, 10:07:23 AM »

Can’t wait to see the scenes an hour before kick off with Wildsmith in goal and Swift in behind Wallace up top

Fully expecting Swift and Wallace to feature. Managers almost always stay loyal to their senior pros and big wage earners....reckon its all about maintaining harmony in the dressing room. Sincerely hope I'm wrong though!! Love to see Bany get some time, think he could be a bit special.

6

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tammer Bany Joins Albion

« on: February 06, 2025, 09:30:54 PM »

Really looking forward to see what this guy can do. Potentially an epic signing....very attack minded, young, and quick!

7

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

« on: February 04, 2025, 05:08:22 PM »

Two that we've invested heavily in (for us) are Bany and Price. Both young and hungry and capable of playing on the front foot...I hope they're given some minutes on a regular basis, both are (potentially) a big part of our future. Really hope it works out well for them, and us!!

8

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Adam Armstrong

« on: February 04, 2025, 11:21:59 AM »

I wonder if it depended on Fellows leaving?

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tony Mowbray appointed as Head Coach

« on: February 01, 2025, 03:40:16 PM »

Made some weird choices today. Suppose his thinking was it went so well last week why not stick with it. Hopefully he realises that Swift is not the answer and Diangana is not reliable enough to turn good performances regularly. Should be the end of Wallace as a striker with the loanee lad coming in. Understand subbing Fellows but Johnston going off was baffling.

Great post. My thoughts exactly.

The trouble is that Mowbray is probably under pressure to make a determined effort to get promotion via the play-offs....purely for the financial benefits to WBA by at least being in the PL for a season. Its therefore understandable he will feel the need to rely on his senior pro's to begin with, after all, they're rewarded handsomely to do what they do and he's hardly been here five minutes and won't yet know what we know only too well!. I fear we may well see more of Swift et al starting games while there's still the possibility of promotion.

However, I'd like to think that should promotion become unlikely Mowbray will turn his attentions to building for the future and relying more on the likes of Price and Diakate in readiness for next season when the old guard have all gone.

Oh, and please please never take Mikey AND Tom off at the same time again!!

10

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Will Lankshear signs on loan

« on: January 31, 2025, 09:25:46 PM »

Great news!

11

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: The Hawthorns

« on: January 31, 2025, 10:30:37 AM »

Interesting to read that the land once belonged to a colliery. My Grandad on Dads side was at the very first home game at the Hawthorns aged 5...with his father. Both Wednesbury born and bred. I grew up listening to the story of the pitch being so good because it was developed on former colliery spoil, although in the article above its described as 'marshy'. Anyone know if there's any truth in the colliery spoil story?

Its still a great playing surface, and always has been since I first started going in the late 60's.

12

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: January 25, 2025, 05:19:03 PM »

Fantastic stuff! Great to see us having a go and giving the opposition something to think about at last!! We were a joy to watch for most of the game.

13

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 25, 2025, 02:22:47 PM »

I wonder if he's said to the three big earners; Diangana, Swift, and Wallace.....go on then, show me what you're capable of. It may be their last chance to in Mowbray's mind? Just a thought.

14

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 24, 2025, 05:58:12 PM »

I'd like to see;

Palmer

Furlong
Taylor
Heggem
Styles

Diakite
Mulumby
Price

Fellows
Cole
Grant

15

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tony Mowbray appointed as Head Coach

« on: January 18, 2025, 12:53:15 PM »

I hope Tony gets some backing when he quickly realizes that we're very easy to defend against because our midfield is generally slow and laborious. Everyone's almost standing still when they give or receive the ball. Unless Fellows gets a chance to do his party piece on the by-line we create very few chances. Tony will surely be recommending some pacy young no.10 types who he can develop....I just hope they give him some financial backing to begin the revival.

Anyway, I think this could really be the start of the new era we've all been dreaming of for what seems years!

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 16, 2025, 05:58:14 PM »

Does anyone think Wicky could resurface? Problems ironed out, visas granted or new assistant found??

I suggested the same possibility a couple of days ago, we're all so much in the dark it wouldn't surprise me at all!!

17

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 14, 2025, 12:06:18 PM »

I'd have thought the club would have made some sort of clarification statement on the situation by now? Or is there something going on whereby its still possible it may be Wicky?

18

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 13, 2025, 03:54:28 PM »

Its a no to Dyche from me, I've had a belly full of dull negative football. Does anyone know if Bilic or his agent were ever contacted at all? I think he was badly treated by us, but he always had an affinity with us fans and the ownership has changed. I'd have him back in a heartbeat right now.

19

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: January 11, 2025, 12:58:02 PM »

I'm just hoping the new bloke (if it is Wicky) puts a stop to subbing our best players to defend a 1 - 0 lead with 35 minutes left!!

And yes.....agree that a new No.10 is a huge priority. It'll be interesting to see how any discussions behind the scenes regarding budgets and future plans will be revealed in the near future. Overall very optimistic though, at last!

20

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: December 29, 2024, 03:19:58 PM »

Really really chuffed to see us going for the three points with a gutsy performance. I think thats exactly what we were missing under CC....he would have set us up to defend with 10 men for the entire second half, and we would probably have been beaten as a consequence.

21

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next Head Coach Thread

« on: December 27, 2024, 03:09:28 PM »

Brum mail have done an article on what we are looking for in new boss.

Chapman himself tweets that we are primarily looking at free agents although would consider paying reasonable compo for the right man.


https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-west-brom-looking-bilkul-30667108


"The process to identify and recruit Carlos Corberan's successor is well and truly underway at West Bromwich Albion. The Spaniard left the club on Christmas Eve to take over as manager of La Liga strugglers Valencia, which for him and his family means returning home. He leaves Albion on the brink of the Championship play-off places, having inherited them in the relegation zone a little over two years ago.

An interim team of Chris Brunt, Boaz Myhill and Damia Abella have been placed in charge in the meantime. The trio oversaw the narrow Boxing Day defeat at Derby County on Thursday evening and, until further notice, will prepare the squad for this glut of festive fixtures - Albion head to pacesetters Sheffield United on Sunday before entertaining Preston North End on New Year's Day and making for Swansea City the following Saturday.

The noises coming out of The Hawthorns suggest that Albion's intentions to find a suitable successor to Corberan won't be rushed simply to ensure a new manager is in place at the earliest opportunity; the hierarchy are eager to make the right call and, in order to do so, are willing to lean on Brunt, Myhill and Abella for the foreseeable future to oversee first-team responsibilities. If it takes until the FA Cup trip to Bournemouth next month, then so be it.

Bilkul chief executive Andrew Nestor, who assumed sporting director responsibilities in August, is leading the recruitment process. Nestor, who has accumulated plenty of experience of football on the continent, namely from his spell at Bologna where he helped to revive the club which has propelled itself into the Champions League since, is working with Ian Pearce as Albion look for the ideal candidate.


A shortlist has been drawn up by the club. As expected, it's a particularly eye-catching vacancy which has attracted the attention and the applications of many managers. Bilkul have introduced a more prudent approach to the way Albion work - indeed returning more to what the club proudly used to be able to champion during the days of Dan Ashworth et al - and, acknowledging that managers come and go, they've prepared for this eventuality.

Since Corberan requested permission to make the move to Valencia, Albion have creaked into gear behind the scenes, despite the Christmas period; they've refined their list of potential targets and will now hone in on selected candidates, all under the umbrella of an approach which means that Albion will have a consistency which spans more than one head coach moving forwards.

The ideal Albion candidate will be able to implement an expressive brand of football, who can demonstrate tactical prowess and is analytically shrewd, as well as possessing the man management skills required to motivate and ensure they can get the best out of the squad available to them.!

Encouraging to know we're not going to be rushed. First of all, and i know I'm in a minority, but I was never a big fan of CC and his overly cautious approach mixed with odd team selections/substitutions aimed at not losing. Secondly, I'm apprehensive about the January window and the prospect of losing our best assets (Fellows, Grant, and Maja) for way below their value just to raise a few quid. Therefore, I would really like to think that talks with potential new managers include  our intentions/plans for the window. But ultimately, I would like any potential manager to stand his ground during the whole process and argue that we should be building at team around people like Fellows.....and hopefully, any prospective managers should already know we're seriously lacking in attack-minded midfield players. For me, under CC we were so easy to defend against, and watching backwards and sideways passing all afternoon was beyond painful at times. I'm actually optimistic for a better future at long last.

22

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: December 17, 2024, 08:09:19 AM »

I'm more worried about losing Fellows in the window than losing CC. Most of our goal scoring opportunities derive from him and such players are rare, but there would be plenty of ambitous young managers eager to replace CC.

23

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: December 06, 2024, 05:12:11 PM »

A couple of things...we have 3 or 4 tough games coming up with a potentially bad defeat at the hands of Sheff Utd on Sunday, and then we could be struggling against Coventry, Watford & Bristol. The numbers of fans becoming more fed up with CC's cautious approach would then increase....(and I am one).

Secondly, money talks, it always does ultimately. Could be interesting!

24

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: November 30, 2024, 06:34:05 PM »

They weren't allowed 5 substitutions though, different times. If they were, I'm sure they would have used them.

Sorry but no....you just never take your best players off without good reason IMO.

25

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: November 30, 2024, 06:01:52 PM »

I bet he wasn't. The modern game includes squad rotation as an integral part of the planning. It's not just about getting tired and not risking injuries, it's also about keeping fringe players involved and feeling part of things and valued.

Sorry, but I cant agree with that. I doubt Ferguson, Clough, or Shankly would ever have taken that approach.