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Last Match Forum - 20/04 Leicester City (A) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 22, 2024, 07:05:43 AM »

The way the game went and was likely to go against Leicester suited Wallace far more, he is dangerous in transition and that's how we were going to get most of our chances against Leicester as they commit men forward and we exploit the space.

There are games that suit Thomas-Asante more than Wallace and there are games that will suit Maja more who I hope we can get up to fitness soon, I'd start him against PNE for sure.

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Last Match Forum - 20/04 Leicester City (A) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 20, 2024, 03:05:44 PM »

Played well mostly, quite liked the hybrid back 4/5 and can see us setting up like this in the playoffs if we get over the line. Concerns with defending crosses in this setup though, too easy for them today.

Onwards and upwards from here hopefully, the performance should give them confidence.

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Last Match Forum - 20/04 Leicester City (A) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: April 18, 2024, 11:19:47 AM »

I haven't seen loads of Leicester in their recent run of form but did watch them against Plymouth where they were vulnerable in transition and especially behind the full backs.

Corberan likes to setup 442 out of possession so with that in mind, I'd like to see two of of Wallace, Diangana, Fellows or Johnston as the two with Phillips in one of the wide positions.

Personally I wouldn't mind to see us set up 433/451 with maybe Phillips in central midfield like we did against Leeds under Darren Moore, we were very good in transition that night.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: April 13, 2024, 07:34:00 AM »

I think he may have a good end to the season. Since he has returned to the side, he's made telling contributions against Watford, Stoke and Rotherham. Prior to his injury he was not creating or getting many chances but he is now, ok he isn't converting at a high rate but I'd rather him be getting in there than not.

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

« on: April 09, 2024, 06:26:01 PM »

Not really. Johnston played in the 4 games prior to that; Blues, Cardiff and Soton at home and Plymouth away. We only conceded in the Soton game.
I think it's more to do with mental/physical tiredness than it is to do with Johnston.

He only started the Cardiff and Southampton games though. Not saying it's conclusive but I'm sure it is something Corberan would be aware of.

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

« on: April 08, 2024, 08:43:30 PM »

I am wondering whether the introduction of Johnston, whilst him being a good offensive player, has actually meant we are far poorer defensively. I'd trace back our new-found fragility back to QPR away/Cov at home which coincides with Johnston breaking in to the team.

I know Phillips has been out for a long time, but the work he did off the ball in a defensive sense really contributed to us being tough to beat, I wonder if his re-introduction could be key to us being a better defensive unit again. It would feel harsh to leave Johnston out but maybe that's what's needed. Or perhaps there's a way Phillips can do that work from the right hand side and we reconstruct the side accordingly.

It could just be mental and physical wear and tear and there's no merit to Johnston being detrimental to our defensive setup but the timeline matches.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: April 08, 2024, 08:36:10 PM »

I do agree in that at times we leave the midfield light particularly away from home. Stoke and QPR are two games that spring immediately to mind where we could've done with an extra man in there and reverting to a 433. We do have the personnel to do that now we could easily add M'Vila alongside Okay and Mowatt but it doesn't appear to be an option CC favours.

Not just that we have M'Vila, I'd say the emergence of Fellows and the signing of Johnston also make a 433 more viable.

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Last Match Forum - 10/04 Rotherham United (H) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: April 07, 2024, 07:43:06 AM »

I'd give Yokuslu a rest and get some minutes into M'Vila but I'd be playing Mowatt; I expect Rotherham to come and defend and Mowatt is so important to us getting the ball forward in to good areas.

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General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: April 03, 2024, 06:06:20 PM »

It's just a bizarre shout. McKenna is the clear winner for manager of the year, but even Ipswich have spent money. Corberan has done it without spending any money, using the same players that Bruce had bottom of the table.

McKenna has done brilliantly but I always think performance v bookies odds is a decent barometer. The bookies had Ipswich as 4th favourites for the title so not quite the over-achievement you'd expect coming straight from league 1. He'd still get my vote though for sure.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Kyle Bartley

« on: March 11, 2024, 10:37:24 PM »

Or we could give Caleb Taylor a chance? We have to become self sufficient as some point and all we're doing is stifling his development.

Our resources should be used to get Kipre on a new long term deal.  Any wage drop that Bartley takes is still likely to be more than what we can afford.

Agree with this, would also add in that Bartley's injury record has to be a concern

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

« on: March 11, 2024, 06:47:21 AM »

There's an hour long interview with him being aired this week on Wednesday, 7pm, Radio BBC WM.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: February 25, 2024, 06:55:49 AM »

An even game, I think we were slightly better but in Philogene and Carvalho they have that little something extra.

I agree that we should have defended the corner better and that maybe Palmer will think he should have saved it but I'm actually frustrated with Yokuslu fir the goal. About 30 seconds before we are pressing them high, Yokuslu himself as followed his man Seri really high when the ball goes into their keeper; rather than let him have it which was the plan, Yokuslu breaks rank and closes the keeper down. They then play round us and through the middle in the area that Yokuslu has left vacant and force the corner. I'm not going to hang him out to dry but we had our off the ball setup so right, there was no need to deviate from it.

Onwards to Coventry, three points would be superb.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 19, 2024, 12:53:19 PM »

Tricky game, they sit in and counter which is something we have been susceptible to on our travels. This is such an important game for us with it being our game in hand on everyone around us apart from Hull, who have Southampton as their game in hand.

I think patience will be vital and I'd back us to nick one from a set piece. If we go behind, I would worry that in an attempt to get level, we will get caught again.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Carlos Corberan

« on: February 16, 2024, 02:12:28 PM »

This isn't about CC in particular but one thing that comes up often is out away record. We are much better at home, but it's interesting when you look at who we've played at home Vs away

We have played every team from 23rd up to 12th at home, only losing once (Huddersfield). Conversely, we have played 23rd through to 19th away from home.

On the flip side, we've played 9 of the top 12 teams away from home (we can't play ourselves so that's only 2 games to go), only beating Preston and Coventry.

Al this is to say - is our good home form because we are good at home, or because we've basically played the whole of the bottom half of the league? And is our patchy away from more down to us playing most of the top half? The three losses Vs Blues, Swansea and Blackburn really sting, though

I think this is certainly worth pointing out, let's hope that our away form picks up as the fixtures are slightly easier (based on opponents league position).

Point taken about home form however I think we can be pretty confident that we are legitimately very good at home as our record at home last season under Corberan was also very good.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 11, 2024, 09:02:47 AM »

Can see some rotation for this one, especially with Southampton on the Friday night which will be a game where we will "suffer a lot" to use a Corberan quote.

Cardiff have a 6ft 6ins striker so expect Yokulsu to be part of the back 4 ahead of other options such as Pieters or tucking Furlong inside - this may afford him a little more rest ahead of Friday when hopefully Bartley or, more likely, Ajayi return.

I think we will see:

Palmer

Furlong
Yokuslu
Kipre
Townsend

Mowatt
Chalobah

Wallace
Swift
Johnstone

Thomas-Asante

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 27, 2024, 01:27:54 PM »

Both new signings are cup tied

We really are limited up top!

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 27, 2024, 11:09:01 AM »

I’ve just realised we will have 0 attacking options from the bench.
Worrying.

Think we might start Pipa from the left; gives us the option to play a back 3 and allows us to leave Fellows and Weimann on the bench so that there are a couple of offensive options.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Action For Albion/ Potential Takeover

« on: January 21, 2024, 10:02:26 PM »

Total garbage from what I have been told.

Hope so, just passing on what I'd found out!

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Action For Albion/ Potential Takeover

« on: January 21, 2024, 09:40:30 PM »

I don't claim to be in the know so take this information from one Albion fan just passing on what he has heard to others...

Alex Hearn on Friday told my cousin's colleague that he was celebrating because he bought West Brom.

From everything we have heard about the group he is involved in, I hope it's not true.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 12, 2024, 06:46:58 AM »

With the lack of available attacking options, do we think we might go 343? Could also imagine our regular 4231 with Pipa at LW. Will be interesting to see the lineup.

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tom Fellows

« on: January 09, 2024, 10:48:00 AM »

Something I have been meaning to post that I noticed on Sunday, when Love went through and spurned that one on one opportunity, Fellows was right next to him and Love could/should have taking the keeper out of the equation and passed it to Fellows. Obviously he didn't do that and blew the chance but instead of Fellows throwing his arms up in despair, he didn't and just got back into position. I thought that was quite a mature response from a young man in hunt for, at that time, his first senior goal. he seems like a good character, is a good player and has good potential. Hope we tie him down and get to watch his development.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: FA Cup Round 4

« on: January 07, 2024, 08:15:18 PM »

I always want the lowest ranked team left in the competition at home. Let's progress as far as we can. Those wanting an away game at a PL side surprise me a little, it's not a million years ago that we were regularly playing these teams home and away.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: January 07, 2024, 08:04:31 PM »

Echo what most others are saying: nice blend of experience and youth, Fellows, Mowatt and Heard were very good with good performances from our other experienced players such as Chalobah. Liked what I saw from Taylor, think he has a chance to be a big player for us although I can see why he is just behind the others in the pecking order. Delighted for Dike too who looked rusty, as expected, but his physicality was a notch or two above anything Aldershot had in their side.

Just a note on the setup today; we played our 343 shape today but in a way on the ball that I haven't seen us utilise before, with a midfield diamond. Mowatt was at the base pulling the strings, Heard at the tip with Chalobah right and Pipa left. This gave Fellows free reign from Right wing back to get beyond the front line and generally worked really well offensively I thought. It certainly gave Aldershot something to think about, often they had defenders pulled in to midfield which allowed Dike, Fellows and Malcom space in behind. The last thing you want to do in a game like this is labour for the first goal and give them a chance off a set-piece or something, so to cook something up to hurt them early was good to see.

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Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: January 03, 2024, 10:27:18 AM »

I would put quite a strong team out, I feel like Yokuslu and Kipre are too important to our team for us to be without but obviously I am not privy to fitness concerns. I'd like us to start strong, I think it is important. I have Palmer in ahead of Griffiths as I think it sends a message that we are taking the game seriously but have no real issue with Griffiths starting.

Palmer

Kipre
Taylor
Pieters

Pipa
Yokuslu
Chalobah
Reach

Fellows
Malcolm
Thomas-Assante/Swift - depending on fitness

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West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: January 01, 2024, 08:57:47 PM »

I didn't read the comments as Corberan calling him out; Corberan is generally very honest in press conferences and I think he was just explaining exactly what happened. I think it is entirely reasonable and understandable that Dike would want to feel right before committing to play, especially after such a long term injury that followed another in quick succession.