26

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jayson Molumby

« on: August 04, 2022, 09:28:52 AM »

No, I didn't engage in any comment about Livermore's qualities because this is the Molumby thread.

You are told your constant berating of Livermore is tiresome because you do it when no one else is mentioning Livermore. It's like you are obsessed with him.

Johnstone was criticised in his own thread or in the match day thread not in unrelated topics, so at least it was relevant.

Molumby did start on Saturday, so that makes your last point redundant.

Loads of others don't rate Livermore, they are just not vocal about it.

Johnstone was overly criticised, and now he's in the Premier League.  So what does that say about some of our fans?  I strongly believe my criticism of JL is justified and I won't be shy about it.

Molumby did indeed start, it should have been alongside Mowatt or TGH.

27

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jayson Molumby

« on: August 04, 2022, 08:59:42 AM »

Nowhere in Liam's post does he say that Livermore is a better DM than Molumby, he makes the point that throughout his career so far Molumby is hardly ever used as a DM.

Your obsessive need to bring Livermore into every argument about players, you even mentioned him in the Furlong thread, is becoming very tiresome.

So in other words, the answer to Livermore's redeeming qualities is "very little".

But when I get forceful about Livermore's poor ability, I am told it's tiresome, boring, nauseating etc etc.

Well Johnstone did have some redeeming qualites, enough for Palace to sign him.  The constant barrage of abuse was "very tiresome" for me.

As this is the Molumby thread, he should be starting (certainly until Yokulsu is ready).

28

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Darnell Furlong

« on: August 04, 2022, 08:09:08 AM »

As with Livermore and Phillips, there is no need for Furlong to start, we do have plenty of options if Bruce starts thinking outside the box.

29

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jayson Molumby

« on: August 04, 2022, 08:07:00 AM »

I’m yet to see where his stand out qualities are to be honest.

I cannot help but think he’s been placed on a higher pedestal by certain posters purely on the basis because he’s not Jake Livermore.

Yes, he’s young, energetic, but I haven’t seen much else to his game aside from being a Duracell bunny.

And in reference to a previous posters continued claims that’s he’s predominantly a defensive midfielder then the stats just do not back up.

Excluding youth football then of his his starts in the championship then there are only 9 occasions where’s he had to start in a defensive midfield role and a few dotted around elsewhere. The other 58 starts have been in a more advanced position akin to Mulumbu as pointed out by SmethDan.

Enlighten me on Livermore's redeeming qualities and why this player is a better option than Molumby as a defensive midfielder?

Molumby had a hand in setting up last Saturday's equaliser.  He also scored and assisted last season.  Livermore is just so slow and doesn't have the technical skill to make up for it.

Not only that we also have Mowatt on the sidelines whilst Yokuslu gets up to speed.

Livermore is in rapid decline as a footballer IMO. 

30

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Jayson Molumby

« on: August 03, 2022, 01:40:14 PM »

He's actually made more appearances at central midfield, presumably in the Mulumbu roving mould, than he has in the defensive midfield slot traditionally occupied by a Yacob sitting type. That said he's flitted between the two and hasn't claimed a clearly defined role.

There's plenty of potential in Molumby and he needs game time to develop. IF Bruce doesn't fancy him in a regular midfield berth and IF he doesn't rate TGH at right back I'd be tempted to give Molumby a run there.

This is something I'd normally post in System/Tactics/Personnel but I'm using it to revive attention in Molumby as a genuine squad option. Furlong's run his race for me having had more than enough opportunities and Molumby may just be happy to start.

Although younger at the time playing full back didn't do Bryan Robson any long term harm as a central midfielder. Anything other than the incumbent alternative to be perfectly honest. I'd even give Ajayi a go there if we got a central partner for O'Shea.

Afternoon Dan,

I just think any player with mobility, allied to skill, vision, tackling, passing and all other attributes has got to have far more potential.

Otherwise we may as well sign Makalele at aged 40 and plonk him in defensive midfield.

I remember watching Vieira at the Hawthorns, he could do everything, an absolute rolls-royce of a midfielder.

31

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: August 03, 2022, 07:37:24 AM »

with Okay not available yet and Bruce not being a fan of TGH then he effectively doesn't have a CDM without playing Jake. In my mind Okay replaces Jake when available to pair with Mowatt/Molumby.

Molumby is a defensive midfielder (and a better one than Livermore), he's not especially creative so is not an attacking midfielder.

Livermore is too slow for this level and doesn't have the skill to make up for this lack of mobility (like Moutinho can at WW for example).

Playing Livermore and Phillips is an sad indictment of Bruce's competence as a football manager.

32

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: August 02, 2022, 10:12:13 AM »

OK, so someone explain the benefit to WBA of Livermore, Phillips or Reach having regular playing time this season?

33

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: August 02, 2022, 08:54:55 AM »

The area we have changed more dramatically than any other is midfield.

Incoming - Swift, Wallace, Yokuslu, plus Molumby signed permanently.

I can guarantee that players will have sought clarity with the Manager on playing time for the forthcoming season. 

Although players are tied down on contracts, Bruce could've been very clear to certain players that they will experience minimal playing time.  I'm referring to Phillips, Livermore, Reach and seemingly Mowatt.

This could've helped facilitate a move as players would not feel wanted.

Instead, we had a different team sheet in the opening match.

Carrying too many players (surplus to requirements) is a burden a football club could do without.

34

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: August 01, 2022, 05:52:16 PM »

I think Bruce will fail because he has serious faults as a manager, in particular:

He doesn't seem to have the ability as a coach to improve players

He is far too defensive and risk averse in his tactical approach.

He favours experience over youth as a general rule, even if the experience isn't producing the goods.

He seems to be poor at motivating players

Having said that, and before anyone else says it, I don't want us to under achieve, but that is just what I think will happen. There will be excuses made by him and on here (players injured, didn't get the luck, etc), but these things happen to every team and you have to overcome them. He's just not very good.

I agree.  I banged the drum about Livermore because quite simply he should not be playing.  Surely Mowatt has no chance if he's behind Livermore and Molumby? 

An assertive Manager would cull the squad accordingly.

The concern is that Livermore and Phillips have banged his door about playing time and Bruce has caved into that pressure?

35

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: August 01, 2022, 01:08:45 PM »

Missing the point a wee bit! It was the starting XI that turned the game round , got the equaliser and had our best spell of the game without much if any change of system

My point is we put ourselves in jeopardy in the first place with that line up!

It was defensive and Wilder knew it.  Thankfully we had the quality to get an equaliser

36

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: August 01, 2022, 10:10:18 AM »

Bruce didn't pick the best 11 players even from those available at Middlesbrough.  That's why he's getting criticism.

Surely Mowatt with Molumby would've provided a better balance?

How is Phillips better than Diangana or Robinson?

Leaving out Dike was quite a big call.

We put ourselves on the back foot, we were slow all over the pitch, which allowed 'Boro to dictate.

37

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: July 31, 2022, 03:08:35 PM »

But the players that have kept failing are the ones that disappointed yesterday and performed poorly. Certainly hope that we will see Yokuslu, Dianagana and Dike all in when ready and ideally TGH or a new RB.

All I’m asking of Bruce is to not make similar errors to previous managers and a number of these players that have failed repeatedly need to be dropped.

Credit to him for going with O’Shea and Ajayi and that paid off.

Exactly. 

This smacks of a complacent culture where "who shouts the loudest" or "who are the most popular players" will get selected.  This is a concern if the likes of Phillips, Livermore and Furlong hold power.

The fans need to be on alert and be demanding.  I've heard people saying yesterday was OK.  We should never be satisfied this season for 1 point in any game.  Every match is winnable. 

Look at the squad we have?  Go on the Middlesbrough site, they are very envious of Wallace and Swift on a free, and they probably know nothing of Yokuslu.

38

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: July 31, 2022, 10:29:21 AM »

Any criticism aimed at Bruce yesterday was warranted in my opinion. A starting 11 consisting of Furlong, Livermore and Phillips was deflating for all involved. There was simply no need to start Phillips and the logic was thrown out the window 6 minutes in when their right back stood completely unmarked to slot home with Phillips nowhere to be seen.

Also, lets not kid ourselves, we could have so easily been 3-0 down at HT and it would have been a very different football match. We simply have to start playing football matches over 90 minutes else we will not do anything this season. Bruce said we were passive first half which I am sick of hearing. How about we give this brilliant team talk before the game and go out from the start to try and win. It isn't good enough.

Boro will have a good season but we are still a big fish in this league and we need to start acting like it. We should be focusing on our own attacking options and how we can hurt teams. Teams that get out of this league do so by scoring a lot of goals and winning football matches. Bruce will be under pressure as the patience is simply not there as it usually is with a new manager. He will need to win football matches quickly and show ambition from the start to do so.

I really hope it all works out but I do have serious doubts that Bruce is the man to do it. I had the same reservations when we appointed him and even more so at the end of last season. These doubts are not knee-jerk, they are realistic concerns based on what we have seen in his time. Lets hope he does it.   

Fantastic Post, I couldn't agree more, 100% hit the nail on the head.

39

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: July 30, 2022, 10:25:04 PM »

Absolute rubbish from Bruce today.  Phillips and Livermore?

Middlesbrough aren't very good.

40

General Football & Sports / Re: Jake Livermore

« on: July 30, 2022, 10:23:11 PM »

A midfield of Molumby and Livermore is completely unacceptable if we have aspirations of the top 2.

Why is Bruce showing fear when going to Middlesbrough?

Without the quality of the new signings we lose.

How can anyone vouch for playing Livermore when Yokuslu is fit?

They bullied us 1st half, we were slow and lethargic.

41

General Football & Sports / Re: Jake Livermore

« on: July 30, 2022, 07:58:45 PM »

Its getting boring now.

He started, he did okay, no better, now worse than most of the others

You think that 1st half rubbish was good enough, jeez

42

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: New strip

« on: July 30, 2022, 06:54:35 PM »

Having no stripes on back of shirt  looks rubbish, looks like Norwich from the back.

43

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: July 30, 2022, 06:30:56 PM »

Bruce will say the grass was too long.  Or the away dressing room was the wrong temperature.

44

General Football & Sports / Re: Jake Livermore

« on: July 30, 2022, 06:29:32 PM »

Why on earth would you single out Livermore after that first half performance. The entire team were abysmal.

Because the entire midfield structure is utter rubbish that's why.  If we have to have Livermore don't play Molumby.

45

General Football & Sports / Re: Jake Livermore

« on: July 30, 2022, 06:28:25 PM »

Yes great tackle to stop a second goal............................keep up

You are easily pleased

46

General Football & Sports / Re: Jake Livermore

« on: July 30, 2022, 06:20:15 PM »

Anybody want to come forward in Livermore's defence?

47

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: July 30, 2022, 06:18:39 PM »

If he picks the same team next week, sack him, enough is enough

48

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: July 30, 2022, 05:46:38 PM »

Plan A to nick a 0-0 has gone.  Do you have a Plan B Bruce?

49

General Football & Sports / Re: Steve Bruce - Manager

« on: July 30, 2022, 04:53:30 PM »

Mr Negative has gone to the Riverside to nullify them instead of going for the jugular.

"We'll be there or thereabouts".

50

General Football & Sports / Re: Jake Livermore

« on: July 30, 2022, 11:02:37 AM »

Started ******* early ay ya? on match day an,all un Jake's poorly un ay even travelled if the trewth be nowd.

So what, I look at the big picture of the season. 

If we average 2pts per match, everyone is happy.