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West Bromwich Albion FC Forums => West Bromwich Albion FC => Topic started by: VANDERLEI on February 20, 2011, 05:10:42 PM
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I thought he was shocking today. We've all talked about droppping Scharner but for me, since he has been captain he seems to have gone backwards and looks lost, and doesn't warrant a starting place. Maybe a stint on the bench will bring out a bit of fight that he looks to be lacking.
How he remained on the pitch over Dorrans is a mystery to me. He was a passenger today as he has been for the last couple of months.
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I'm pretty sure Dorrans went off with an injury, didn't seem to be moving very freely but I didn't notice if he went straight down the tunnel or not.
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Dorrans was limping heavily when he came off
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i agree brunt was very poor today. Just didnt look interested, and the amount of times he was wandering into the middle rather than sticking out wide was ridiculous, left Jara exposed far too much first half.
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Brunt needs to be put out wide on the right were he started the season so well,he ends up trying hollywood balls were he is now.Spends too much time drifting in the middle
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Brunt was very poor yet again. His quality from dead balls seems to be getting worse.
Couldn't believe the descision to award him MOTM! You couldn't have found a more disinterested player on the pitch.
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I'm pretty sure Dorrans went off with an injury, didn't seem to be moving very freely but I didn't notice if he went straight down the tunnel or not.
No he went on the bench.
Brunt. I am a big big fan but he has been pants the last few games.
That armband is the kiss of death.
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Brunt has reverted to his old bad ways, I changed my mind about him for the 1st half of the season as he seemed to be more interested in tracking back to help out defensively.
Now he looks lost, no fight, no bottle - a passenger, we really can't have that from a captain :(
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has been dreadful since getting the armband, who the hell voted for him to be MOTM today?, yes dropping him would be easy but we have no-one else to come in, plus who would be captain then?, have to remeber jonas doesn't want it and i cant comprehend scharner getting it as i don't think hhe should be in the first 11 at all
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Doesn't look half the player he did earlier in the season and to give him the captaincy is abysmal. The man isn't a leader and his head drops quicker than any of the others. I'd like to see Hodgson vacate the captaincy and give it too a natural leader. I.e. Steven Reid or Paul Scharner.
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He should not be captain, hopefully hodgson has realised that, you're captain should inspire you, especially during your biggest derby
Im sure hodgson was linked with brunt whilst at fulham ?
I would like to see Brunt on the left side of midfield still . He's clearly not a centre midfielder
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Brunt's problem is his mental game. He is way too petulant and let's his head drop when things don't go right. I am a fan but he doesn't have any traction atm, something needs to change. Give the captaincy to Olsson and tell Brunt to get back to the basics of his game. I want to see Brunt in and around the box more, whatever happened to his goal threat?
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Hasn't registered an assist since Villa away, which has coincided with our bad run.
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Were the fans playing mind games with him.Give him man of the match then boo the decision.I am very confused.I hope Roy takes the captains arm band from him.We need a Brunt without the stress of being Captain.
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Were the fans playing mind games with him.Give him man of the match then boo the decision.I am very confused.I hope Roy takes the captains arm band from him.We need a Brunt without the stress of being Captain.
They weren't playing mind games they were just being stupid.
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We all know Brunt is a top player, but ever since he was made captain, it looks like he's trying to hard, or as if he has too much on his plate... I think to get the best out of Brunt, he should be released of the captaincy and also be put on the left wing as he looks more comfortable over there
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His performances have taken a really alarming nosedive in my opinion, a completely differenent player who was setting the league alight earlier in the season.
Performances aside you can see he had his head down, was totally within himself, cutting a sorry figure on the pitch... These are hardly qualities in a captain who you look to for inspiration in a relegation dogfight.
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I think the arm bad is weighing a little too heavy on him.
Just take it back off him is the obvious solution
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Think the armband is the problem he hasnt performed to his standards since.
Best thing to do would be to assign a new captain and let Brunt get on with his game.
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I think a game or two on the bench and the armband going elswhere would do brunty the world of good
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On his day he can be unplayable but those days are becoming as rare as hens teeth...
The bloke has the ability but is not applying it..
He acts like a kid when its not going his way and sulks..
Lets his head drop way too easily and in my opinion is not and never will be a captain..
He hasnt got the grit desire or persona to influence those around him..
The one player who has is Mulumbu...
I fear Brunt is one of a few players who privately aint that fussed if we go down as they'd be off in the summer..
No proof of that but my opinion nevertheless...
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Hasn't registered an assist since Villa away, which has coincided with our bad run.
Interestingly it was just after the Villa game that he was reported as having a groin injury, but that was recovered for Bolton on boxing day. Makes me wonder if he is carrying a slight injury still.
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I fear Brunt is one of a few players who privately aint that fussed if we go down as they'd be off in the summer..
No proof of that but my opinion nevertheless...
Signed an improved contract during the close season, so if he does I assume we will cash in.
I also believe he is struggling with the captaincy and allowing it to affect his game. Personally, I would bring Carson back and pass the arm band back.
Whilst I do not like the keeper as captain, Carson is the club Captain and therefore there are no political issues with removing it from Brunt.
The current form shows that the defensive issues did not all stem from the man in goal and, whilst Myhill has not done too much wrong, I do believe Carson has better distribution and quicker vision.
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Playing in the middle(he drifted in sunday)is killing his game,hopefully when Mulumbu returns he will be back where he has done so well this season.
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I think the arm bad is weighing a little too heavy on him.
Just take it back off him is the obvious solution
is it that obvious, who do you give it to?, big Jonas has already said he doesn't want it
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Brunt has reverted to his old bad ways, I changed my mind about him for the 1st half of the season as he seemed to be more interested in tracking back to help out defensively.
Now he looks lost, no fight, no bottle - a passenger, we really can't have that from a captain :(
Agree, lazy and ineffective >:(
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Brunt needs to be put out wide on the right were he started the season so well,he ends up trying hollywood balls were he is now.Spends too much time drifting in the middle
I agree.
His best position is wide (without the Captains arm band)...it's a bidge too far for him :'(
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Somebody tell Roy Brunt aint no captain.Never was never will be.We need all our players firing on all cylinders.
Ok if nobody else wants to be captain inc Olsson then let Roy be captain from the touchline
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I posted on here last season he is a luxury we cannot affors.If Liverpool want him sell him
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I posted on here last season he is a luxury we cannot affors.If Liverpool want him sell him
Mr Peace should clear 30 Million with players sold including Brunt if we go down
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I don't think we would miss him that much, although I can see his set pieces being even more essential under Hodgson.
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Mr Peace should clear 30 Million with players sold including Brunt if we go down
Which will no doubt be 'absorbed' into the club, rather than re-invested in new players; leaving us a mediocre Championship side at best...... But that's a whole other topic!
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I posted on here last season he is a luxury we cannot affors.If Liverpool want him sell him
What :o???
He's one of our main creative outlets...did that Dingles firework hit you in the head mate?LMAO ;D
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I posted on here last season he is a luxury we cannot affors.If Liverpool want him sell him
Up until the last month or so he had one of the highest assists rates in this division,remakable for a club of our standing.The bloke has that touch of class about him,as others said he has been a victim of his own good form by being shunted all over the pitch.Never in a million years is he a centre midfielder.Selling your best players only leads to one thing....
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The captaincy thing isn't that straight forward. People say make Scharner captain but he isnt certain of his place any more. Not unless he plays at centre half or replaces Mulumbu. Reid has also been out of the side for most of the season and gets injured too often.
I think people focus on who is captain too much simply because it is an easy thing to look at. Maybe it is a bigger deal than I think and a strong leader is good but I think having strong leaders on the pitch matters more than having one bloke wearing an arm band. Out of those guaranteed to play, Brunt is the most senior here. Olsson doesn't want it and is too hot headed and the other option is Peter Odemwingie who may soon be dropped and will get the same accusations levelled at him as Brunt is getting (other than letting his head drop, something he does not do).
Tamas would be perfect but he isnt good enough to be in the first 11 so like Reid he wont get the chance. Apart from that, we dont have a player who is calm enough (rules out Mulumbu and Olsson) and can be a natural to cary a team (like Scott Parker) and so you need to accept that we wont have the perfect captian this season.
If people can name somebody other than often Reid or not certain of a place Scharner then you might have a point.
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Brunt always seems to go through fazes in a season. During his first premier league campaign here he started poor before finishing strong. Last season he started great, was poor half way through and then ended strongly. He carried this form through to this season up until half way through and is now going through another bad patch.
He isnt the complete player and if Liverpool do their research they will realise he isnt good enough for a side who want to be finishing in the top 4 but he is premier league class with his assists and near the end of the seaosn I expect him to pop up with a few key goals and assists. he will still be very close to the top of the assists charts in the division this season.
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I have never been one of his fans as most of you know from my past posts. Against Wolves he went missing. What amazed me more than anything was that he was made man of the match.
Maybe it was because Mulumbu wasn't playing and the two people who voted where his family. The other option is that the rest of the players were even worse but that was just not the case.
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No 63 Brummie I did not get hit by dingles firework I was born this daft.Just my opinion I think we could live without him,I think he does ever put in a full shift and goes missing to often.
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Baffling that he is captain.
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In regards to keeping Brunt as captain when Carson is back, maybe not giving it back will take some pressure off Carson.
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His free kicks crossed into the box are usually very good, hopefully Roy can sort our attacking of set pieces out like he did for Fulham, because there's plenty of joy to be had there. If the quality of his set pieces was against us we'd be all over the place.
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He needs to get back out wide again, he looked lost at times tonight when he was alone in the centre of midfield.
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I thought he was poor again today, but at least showed a bit more effort and fight.
The atemps at Holywood passes and shots are starting to make me groan before they even leave his boot.
I hope he can refind his form soon.
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Brunt isnt playing the game we know he can, tired maybe i dont know but i think we all agree he's not captain material and doesnt need that on his shoulders.
Who for captain then? Olsson obvious choice but doesnt want it? Mulumbu, fantastic but too hot headed i think.
For me theres only one other person and thats Dorrans, i think he is almost beckhamesque in how he can up his performance for the team and could take it in his stride now hes more settled on the pitch.
with perfomances like today he would certainly be in for a shout.
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When he switched with Thomas tonight and played on the left he looked like the player we all know he is. Also I appreciate you could criticise the free kicks he gave away tonight but at least he had some fight in him! If you're reading this Brunty, Well done mate!
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Brunt isn't the kind of player you need in a relegation battle IMO. He doesn't have the heart or grit required for it. Looks tired and has been off form for a while.
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Had an absolute shocker tonight for me.
Barely did a thing right the entire 90 minutes.
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From behind the goal he ran his nuts off and helped his full back.
We can have flair brunt and be lightweight or a more hard working, biting brunt - can't do the two jobs.
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I noticed walking off at the end he didnt acknowledge the supporters.Time to rest him
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He looked ok, but not his best.
He helped the team out when needed just wasnt his usual effect self going forward.
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Give the bloke a break - rest him
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I think some of the comments about tonights performance are a bit unfair. Ok not too much came off for him but I thought his commitment (like everyone elses was very good, he harried, worked hard and tackled. The early season flair has gone somewhat but a much better overall performance than in the last few matches. I really dont understand why we always need a scapegoat. Is this something that happens at every club?
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I don't see him being made a scapegoat anywhere. I feel for the bloke.
He is not good enough or strong enough to play centre midfield, he bottles 50/50's and looks lost unless the opposition give him the freedom of the park which in this league he won't get.
He is a winger and is one of the best around so why the persistance to take that away from him ?
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I don't see him being made a scapegoat anywhere. I feel for the bloke.
He is not good enough or strong enough to play centre midfield, he bottles 50/50's and looks lost unless the opposition give him the freedom of the park which in this league he won't get.
He is a winger and is one of the best around so why the persistance to take that away from him ?
Totally agree. I for one thought he could be very affective in the middle... I was wrong. He is is shocking at tackling, and seems lost. but he is a fantastic winger on either side and thats where he needs to play. He is on 9 yellows after last night, however am I right in thinking that the amnesty on yellow cards was today?
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I thought he worked hard last night but nothing really went for him in an attacking sense.
He'll technically start on the right of midfield but because hes left footed he'll naturally cut inside. Hodgson emplyed the same tactic with Damien Duff.
With Thomas the same on the left hand side being right footed, we lack width but thats provided by our fullbacks.
The formation gives us numbers in the middle and makes us solid in there especially with Mulumbu and Scharner.
Still think thats the best formation for us to play. 4-2-3-1.
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IMO it seems like we are taking away his strengths. Put him on the wing and let him whip some crosses in because they can cause big problems for defenders
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If were going to play Fortune, we need to have Brunt on the left for crosses.
If were going to play Odemwingie, id give Brunt a rest and play Vela one side and Thomas the other, Brunt looks tired and though he needs a week to regain some passion and form.
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Brunt is NEVER a centre midfield
S.Reid is captain material, brunty finds it hard to motivate himself at times !
I prefer Brunt on the left, whipping in quality balls
On the right though, him cutting in and shooting is great
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Give the bloke a break - rest him
Agree totakky, this is the time to rest him, get him raring to go for the final push
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He'll get a rest soon ,last night was his 9th booking 1 more and he gets 2 games off :)
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is it that obvious, who do you give it to?, big Jonas has already said he doesn't want it
Reid??
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Is he good enough for a top half EPL team?
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Not one that relies on quick counter-attacking movement from its wide players he isnt, no. He slows the game too much. IMHO.
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I'm a Brunt fan, but he was utterly inept today.
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I think he is a great player which doesn't suit current system. Neither does Long.
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SLOW, SLOW and SLOW.........................very poor today and the team looked back to it's lathargic self with him and the cumbersome Scharner in midfield. All the drive and pace had gone out of the team.
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Brunt is an excellent midfielder but our current system just doesn't suit him. Midfield now looks disjointed, if they are supposed to be inter-changing then to have Scharner out wide and Brunt in the middle whilst trying to defend is pointless.
Our fast attacking side is brought to a standstill at times. I wouldn't write him off though as he does possess quality but I don't think we miss him as much as people try to make out at times.
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Also a lot of questions to be asked of Shane Long..may struggle to fit into our 4-5-1 formation.
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he is pants...... i wouldnt pick him!
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the reason thomas and pete works on either isde is they dont swap flanks, after 15mins today brunt and thomas swapped, then brunt went wandering in the middle which makes the 3 in the middle cover for him. he was all over the place and it affects the shape of the team. being the captain and good set piece taker will keep him in the team which i believe will hinder the way we played few games ago when it all the players seemed natural in there positions.
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Poor today but lets not forget this is only his second game after a very long lay off. I agree that he doesn't suit the fast, counter attacking 451 system that we have been playing in recent weeks. It requires pace out wide, something which Brunt simply doesn't have. Perhaps a move inside as part of a midfield 3 could work...
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Poor today but lets not forget this is only his second game after a very long lay off. I agree that he doesn't suit the fast, counter attacking 451 system that we have been playing in recent weeks. It requires pace out wide, something which Brunt simply doesn't have. Perhaps a move inside as part of a midfield 3 could work...
Is not and never will be a centre midfielder especially in the Prem, he does not have the stamina, discipline or work ethic for it. Yes he puts decent balls through at times (usually coming in from wide) but would I have him in the centre over any other player we have ? not at any time.
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I'm a Brunt fan, but he was utterly inept today.
Aye. I like Brunty but he was horrible today, and his body language can be so annoying at times.
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Poor today but lets not forget this is only his second game after a very long lay off. I agree that he doesn't suit the fast, counter attacking 451 system that we have been playing in recent weeks. It requires pace out wide, something which Brunt simply doesn't have. Perhaps a move inside as part of a midfield 3 could work...
not being nasty but since he has come back we have looked poor!
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I think he needs a couple of home games to settle into the team. He was poor today, but so was a lot of the team. Even Morrison who has been at the centre of alot our good performances in recent games couldn't get to grips with the game.
People are right to highlight his lack of pace for this game and his unsuitiblity to 4-3-3, but he deserves some patience as he does have undoubted quality.
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Poor today but lets not forget this is only his second game after a very long lay off. I agree that he doesn't suit the fast, counter attacking 451 system that we have been playing in recent weeks. It requires pace out wide, something which Brunt simply doesn't have. Perhaps a move inside as part of a midfield 3 could work...
Brunt was fine in our 451 last season. It's more a matter of form for him imo. He hasn't really played in a 451 this season apart from the Chelsea game (the United game was just a caputulation apart from the first few minutes when we actually tried to attack).
Today was weird, nominally we had a 451 but we kept hoofing it up the channels for some strangre reason, maybe because we had Long upfront, instead of playing football through the midfield.
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Is not and never will be a centre midfielder especially in the Prem, he does not have the stamina, discipline or work ethic for it. Yes he puts decent balls through at times (usually coming in from wide) but would I have him in the centre over any other player we have ? not at any time.
In a 2 man center midfield I would totally agree. However with 3 in there he would have more protection and would have more opportunity to get on the ball and use his passing ability. I don't think his work rate is an issue at all anymore. I think he's more than proved that over the last couple of years.
I think it's a bit much to say you wouldn't have him in there at any time. I could certainly see him having a impact in there if we required a bit more creativity. Not saying he should be a starter in there by any means, just that it might be an option.
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i dont like his attitude he always seems so slump his shoulders and be quite moody, last week against man u he gave the ball away before they scored and kinda huffed and puffed for a moment before chasing back, he mustve been centimetres away from blocking the ball but because he had a tiny little moment where his work ethic let him down we conceded. its fine lines and i think brunt defensively is very very poor
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I wouldn't have him in any centre midfield to be fair, two or three. I have yet to see anything from him as a centre midfielder apart from last season at home to Newcastle when they had nothing to offer, all other games when ever he has been in the middle he has offered nothing. He is not and never will be a Premier League centre midfielder.
You will never convince me and the performances I have seen only confirm it for me, you see it different fine, I am happy to accept that but will never agree on it.
Its not knee jerk from today as i've always consistently said the same starting away at Coventry pre-season a couple of years ago when it was first tried.
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Poor body language and therefore never should be captain.
Lots of talent but will never be consistent. Even when playing badly he is likely to produce a killer pass. Invaluable squad player but never one to be able to rely on.
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with mulumbu and andrews in the middle morrison as been superb. with brunty coming inside it takes some of the spaces away that morrison likes to run into. i like brunt as i do long but the way the teams been playing with fortune up top and pete out wide i,d have to leave long and brunt on the bench. a very nice position to be in though.
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On the last two games, he has not provided anything in midfield, I think the Mulumbu, Morrison, Andrews combination is the best we have in centre mid.
Brunt is a decent player, but not a definite starter anymore.
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Amazes me that we should be knocking a player that has given us so much and is an integral part of where we come from, A top notch Prem player end of for me
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Amazes me that we should be knocking a player that has given us so much and is an integral part of where we come from, A top notch Prem player end of for me
Some rate him, some don't, some are in-between, simple as that, its what forums like this are for.
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He's one of the most inconsistent players I've ever seen at the Albion. One week he's putting in some great balls and is really into the game, the next he just dissapears and is nowhere!
This season has been poorer than last for Brunt, but he's still an asset. He did provide our assist this week and will always have an attacking threat to his game. He needs to improve on defending still. I know he's progressed in recent years but the time has came to step up again in that aspect. His pace however, will probably never improve.
I still think he's a good player to have around!
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I wouldn't have him in any centre midfield to be fair, two or three. I have yet to see anything from him as a centre midfielder apart from last season at home to Newcastle when they had nothing to offer, all other games when ever he has been in the middle he has offered nothing. He is not and never will be a Premier League centre midfielder.
You will never convince me and the performances I have seen only confirm it for me, you see it different fine, I am happy to accept that but will never agree on it.
Its not knee jerk from today as i've always consistently said the same starting away at Coventry pre-season a couple of years ago when it was first tried.
to be fair phil did say this and I agree with him, not a centre midfielder in premier league, different style of play in championship
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Opposing fans always seem to rate Brunt as one our best players.
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Opposing fans always seem to rate Brunt as one our best players.
Probably because on MOTD it shows his key chances. Brunts overall play is lacking. If it wasn't for his severely talented left foot, he'd be playing in League 1. His game will always be about creating chances/goals, which is probably why others rate him so highly.
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I wouldn't have him in any centre midfield to be fair, two or three. I have yet to see anything from him as a centre midfielder apart from last season at home to Newcastle when they had nothing to offer, all other games when ever he has been in the middle he has offered nothing. He is not and never will be a Premier League centre midfielder.
You will never convince me and the performances I have seen only confirm it for me, you see it different fine, I am happy to accept that but will never agree on it.
Its not knee jerk from today as i've always consistently said the same starting away at Coventry pre-season a couple of years ago when it was first tried.
I'm not trying to convince you or anybody else tbh. First and foremost he's a wide player but I think he's potentially got the tools to play in the middle. Even when he does play wide he spends a decent amount of time drifting into the middle so that he can influence the game.
I remember the majority of people on here (me included) saying that James Morrison was never a CM and was much better wide. Good players can adapt and Chris Brunt is a good player.
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Probably because on MOTD it shows his key chances. Brunts overall play is lacking. If it wasn't for his severely talented left foot, he'd be playing in League 1. His game will always be about creating chances/goals, which is probably why others rate him so highly.
If it wasn't for David Beckham's supremely talented right foot he probably would have been a mediocre PL player. You could pretty much level the 'what if' scenario at any player. The fact is, Chris Brunt has one of the best left foots in the business and has the vision to execute passes and crosses that other players in our team don't. He was in the top 3/4 players for assist last season. You don't get those sort of statistics through luck, you get them through being a very good player.
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According to the 'Player Efficiency' category from 'Stats' at the following link;
http://www.imscouting.com/teams/england/west-bromwich-albion/stats/
Brunt is our 4th most productive player this season in terms of goals and assists. Will have gone up today too.
He frustrates me, but i can see the benefit of having him in the team.
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Our most underrated player and one of the most underrated in the Premier League.
He's more than good enough for a top half PL team... It's just what position he is played in.
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IMO hes one of our best players. great left foot and can split a defence with one pass (Newcastle away for example) Great asset to have in our team
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I think he is a great player which doesn't suit current system. Neither does Long.
having read all these comments this sums up the most adequately.
Brunt is a slow build up man and is suited to 4-4-2 and having someone airly domiant to aim at.
long is not a lone striker and was utter dross today. hes a finisher who needs to play in a big man little man combo or not at all.
both wasted in 4-5-1
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A very skillful footballer who builds moves up and adds a calming presence in our team.
I'd love to see the points his assists have won us, it would render this topic locked.
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My issue with him is when we have him in the team, we lose a lot of width as he keeps cutting in. How many crosses does he actually put into the box (excluding set pieces)???
For me, he would come straight out when Odemwingie is back. Maybe its the system that doesnt suit, but whatever it is, I dont think we are as good a team with him in it than we are without him!
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one way or another, i think he's Hodgson's type of player. like others have said, he's suited to a 4-4-2 which Hodgson enjoys. My prediction is Brunt wont star often this season but (IF hodgson stays) next year we'll start buying players to match a 4-4-2. But (and i may be spectacularly wrong) With Odem on the right may turn into 4-3-3.
But i'm just a fan. i have no tactical nouse. so I may be wrong ;D
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Some rate him, some don't, some are in-between, simple as that, its what forums like this are for.
I would like to think im intelligent enough to realise that its all about opinions Oldbury. Still doesnt change my view though. I dont think there would be any PL teams outside the top 4/5 who wouldnt have Brunty in their squad. So I struggle to see how people can write his ability off in the way they sometimes seem to. I think there is plenty of hard evidence to support that view over the last 2 or 3 seasons.
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one way or another, i think he's Hodgson's type of player. like others have said, he's suited to a 4-4-2 which Hodgson enjoys. My prediction is Brunt wont star often this season but (IF hodgson stays) next year we'll start buying players to match a 4-4-2. But (and i may be spectacularly wrong) With Odem on the right may turn into 4-3-3.
But i'm just a fan. i have no tactical nouse. so I may be wrong ;D
Au contraire Hunnington, I think you have plenty of tactical nous ;D
I think Brunt has a very 'Chris Waddle laid back type, body language' on the pitch & does come over a bit lazy at times to me, I know a NI fan who only goes to NI matches & apparently a lot of their fans think the same about him.
He has undoubted ability & is definitely a good option for certain games when we perhaps need something different but for the life of me I cannot see any captain material.
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I would like to think im intelligent enough to realise that its all about opinions Oldbury. Still doesnt change my view though. I dont think there would be any PL teams outside the top 4/5 who wouldnt have Brunty in their squad. So I struggle to see how people can write his ability off in the way they sometimes seem to. I think there is plenty of hard evidence to support that view over the last 2 or 3 seasons.
I'm not stupid (some might beg to differ !!) and I wouldn't dispute others clubs would snap him up given half a chance. I also wouldn't write off his ability and as far as I am aware I have never done so. I know he has qualities but for me he is best used as a wide player, his best games for us have come as a wide player, he came as a wide player and played an important role out there. He has one of the best left foots around and one of the best ways of scoring a goal is getting a cross into the box (its how we concede many of them). I remember Bednars debut at Plymouth where one of his goals came from a cracking Brunt cross.
In the middle at times he looks lost and the game passes him by. Yes he will put the odd pass through but in the main he is not suited to that position and I would pick the other midfielders at the club over him every time. He might have the odd good game in there but overall I doubt he will become a succesful centre midfielder in the Prem.
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I'm not stupid (some might beg to differ !!) and I wouldn't dispute others clubs would snap him up given half a chance. I also wouldn't write off his ability and as far as I am aware I have never done so. I know he has qualities but for me he is best used as a wide player, his best games for us have come as a wide player, he came as a wide player and played an important role out there. He has one of the best left foots around and one of the best ways of scoring a goal is getting a cross into the box (its how we concede many of them). I remember Bednars debut at Plymouth where one of his goals came from a cracking Brunt cross.
In the middle at times he looks lost and the game passes him by. Yes he will put the odd pass through but in the main he is not suited to that position and I would pick the other midfielders at the club over him every time. He might have the odd good game in there but overall I doubt he will become a succesful centre midfielder in the Prem.
I agree with you Oldbury, so you can't be that stupid (or we both are ;D)
Brunt's best position is Left wing, then right wing, then in the middle if necessary. I thought Brunt would be able to adapt and become successful in the middle but it hasn't worked out. He needs to be out wide and drifting in now and then.
The problem for us is that Thomas is right footed but plays on the left, he is poor on the right wing, so we need to play Brunt on the right to accommodate Thomas. We could drop one of them but Brunt is captain and a key player for us and Thomas is one of our few players with pace and trickery.
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In this formation, I'm not sure where Brunt fits in. If he's played on the right, he always cuts in and that seems to cut down the space Mozza has. I don't think he's good enough to play central midfield for us consistently, plus Andrews and Mulumbu have made those two roles their own.
The only place I see for him is on the left, with Odemwingie on the right, but then JT is a massive player for us, particularly away from home.
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Phil was 50% responsible for deploying andy brewer as a deep lying playmaker - you can't buy nouse like that!
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Phil was 50% responsible for deploying andy brewer as a deep lying playmaker - you can't buy nouse like that!
:D and that was a quality move 8)
Letting Campo take a pen however wasn't one of the best :o
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If it wasn't for David Beckham's supremely talented right foot he probably would have been a mediocre PL player. You could pretty much level the 'what if' scenario at any player. The fact is, Chris Brunt has one of the best left foots in the business and has the vision to execute passes and crosses that other players in our team don't. He was in the top 3/4 players for assist last season. You don't get those sort of statistics through luck, you get them through being a very good player.
I'm not saying Brunt's rubbish and I like him as a player. In my final sentence I said he was valuable to have for making chances. The thing is, he is very one footed. I was merely pointing it out. In fact, I was answering why so many other fans who didn't support West Brom rated him. Basically because Brunt's style is so attacking, that whenever our highlights are shown he will be featured. He can hardly be compared to someone like Morrison or Andrews who does a bit of everything.
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Its not knee jerk from today as i've always consistently said the same starting away at Coventry pre-season a couple of years ago when it was first tried.
We know! :D
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I feel Brunt may well be worked on by the coaching staff in the summer to try and help him develop his game in the middle.
I will say however he may have a place out wide as I believe when Gera is back we will deploy him behind a striker so the 4-3-3 will not need two pacey wide men as we have now.
I would think we will have two pacey players wide at home and then change to a more 4-4-1-1 away with Brunt being wider in that midfield.
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Well RDM was the first to try it and that was 18 months ago so if its not worked in 18 months then I fail to see how it can work in the future. I'd rather see us continue to develop young players who are natural central players and bring in naturally central players than ruin a perfectly good wide player who can offer so much when played in the correct way.
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I dont think he can play wide in a 4-3-3 as he hasnt got the pace so we look uneven.
In a 4-4-1-1 he wont need that pace if that makes sense.
We might be seeing him becoming a squad player as we develop, however no way would I get rid.
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Brunt "has been woked on" for 2 years to win a CM place. It's too late for this. With every year he is losing pace. Surely next season Zoltan will be ahead of him in the pecking order as he's a far better player and natural athlete.
Brunt is not an athlete. This is what did for Greening in the end also. JG is now in the lower reaches of championship. It's amazing to think RH purchased him for Fulham, what a blooper that was.
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I would imagine Gera will not be used as a midfielder next season at all.
We may see him in the Fortune role in a 4-3-3 or the withdrawn forward role in a 4-4-1-1, he played both for Fulham I believe.
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Either way I look at our midfield and subsequently rate almost every single one as more effective. The exceptions being Thorne, Cox, Scharner (possibly).
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Isn't greening like 34 years old now? Hence the move down into the ccc?
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Either way I look at our midfield and subsequently rate almost every single one as more effective. The exceptions being Thorne, Cox, Scharner (possibly).
It all depends what formation Roy decides to play in the 4-3-3 we are currently playing I think other players are more effective in a 4-4-1-1 which we are likely to use when Gera is back, Brunts range of passing will be instrumental to its success.
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Greening is 33, DOB 2/1/79.
I think Greening when at Brunt's age was definitely quicker. I remember in 2004/05 when deployed on the flank with Gera, Greening could beat a man, he never had to cross from a standing position (as with Brunt). Although never that quick he wasn't exactly slow until he reached about 30.
I can remember Brunt from his 1st Albion season (2007/08 i think) and he's definitely slowed down since. He was at least mobile then, now he has the pace of a 33 year old probably.
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I do certainly think Brunty has a lot to offer us and I certainly wouldn't look to get rid. He has the makings of my opinion of a very good Premier League player, however, it's been clear to see in the last two games that he has slowed down the pace of our game. Maybe, we should alter the system and not require him to play in a position which we can't?
I think he's under rated by our fans I really do, however, getting a system to fit all the players will become a problem.
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You say accomodate Brunt but we've hit on a system starting with Wolves away where we've just been magical, culminating in beating Chelski 1-0.
Why are we fiddling about with a tried-and-trusted method?
I sincerley hope RH goes back to our best team next week - otherwise we'll go backwards at an alarming rate.
Why bend over backwards for Brunt? - he would be towards the bottom of a hypothetical league of our 2011/12 best players.
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Brunt doesn't have the engine or the bite to play in the centre of the park. No coincidence that we have looked far more fluid when he was out injured. Andrews and PO back in for him and Scharner next match for me.
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I'm glad that he is back, I think he may take him another week or to, to get back to full fitness. I didnt think he was that good Yesterday.
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Either way I look at our midfield and subsequently rate almost every single one as more effective. The exceptions being Thorne, Cox, Scharner (possibly).
How is JT more effective than Brunt? JT can't cross, shoot and can just about pass if somebody is 5 yards away from him. JT gets the ball and runs with it, that's it. That's his one trick. And he is basically only good on the left wing.
Brunt has vision and imagination and can pass the ball 60 yards or 2 yards, he can score, cross and assist regularly. Left side of midfield, right side of midfield it doesn't matter Brunt is good on both sides, and contrary to what others here say I think Brunt can do a job in the middle if he has the right support from the players around him. Personally I don't have a big problem with Brunty drifting in to get the ball since most of the time (when he is match fit) he actually does something with it when he has it. Brunt is like Tchoyi in that he is always looking to create something and make things happen.
Mozza has improved lately but I still don't see him as better than Brunt. Scharner is a donkey but he has his use, Thorne is just a kid and Cox is not a midfield player. Andrews is hot atm but we don't really know him yet. Mulumbu is great but he keeps giving the ball away in very dangerous areas so he isn't perfect either.
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You say accomodate Brunt but we've hit on a system starting with Wolves away where we've just been magical, culminating in beating Chelski 1-0.
Why are we fiddling about with a tried-and-trusted method?
I sincerley hope RH goes back to our best team next week - otherwise we'll go backwards at an alarming rate.
Why bend over backwards for Brunt? - he would be towards the bottom of a hypothetical league of our 2011/12 best players.
Brunt more than played his part in the victory over Chelsea when he replaced Jerome Thomas. Hit a whirling shot which was unlucky not to open the score line and it was also off his set piece delivery which saw us take the lead. Chris Brunt is an important player to the squad in my opinion, the man oozes quality on the ball when some of our other players are weak in this area.
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You say accomodate Brunt but we've hit on a system starting with Wolves away where we've just been magical, culminating in beating Chelski 1-0.
Why are we fiddling about with a tried-and-trusted method?
I sincerley hope RH goes back to our best team next week - otherwise we'll go backwards at an alarming rate.
Why bend over backwards for Brunt? - he would be towards the bottom of a hypothetical league of our 2011/12 best players.
Why bend over backwards for Long - like we did for large parts of this autumn? MAF hitting form was a stroke of luck for Roy as suddenly a lot of pieces fell in place. However last spring we were playing as well or better than now with Brunt in a 451 formation with PO on top. Why are we fiddling with that setup instead of improving on it? To blame Brunt for our problems this season is nonsense.
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Why bend over backwards for Long - like we did for large parts of this autumn? MAF hitting form was a stroke of luck for Roy as suddenly a lot of pieces fell in place. However last spring we were playing as well or better than now with Brunt in a 451 formation with PO on top. Why are we fiddling with that setup instead of improving on it? To blame Brunt for our problems this season is nonsense.
to blame Long is nonesense
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Brunt more than played his part in the victory over Chelsea when he replaced Jerome Thomas. Hit a whirling shot which was unlucky not to open the score line and it was also off his set piece delivery which saw us take the lead. Chris Brunt is an important player to the squad in my opinion, the man oozes quality on the ball when some of our other players are weak in this area.
I want every single Albion player to ooze quality on the ball. We are in the PL and to have 'footballers' who aren't naturally comfortable with a ball should be out of the question.
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to blame Long is nonesense
Who has blamed Long?
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IMO Thomas is a more effective player than Brunt. He is a natural winger something Brunt is not.
I can see Brunt has talent but his positional sense is woeful.
Brunt was effective in 2010/11 as you rightly point out (mostly towards the end of that season).
However 12 months is a long time in football. How many good games has Brunt had this season?
JT has been immense since the start of February and no-one can deny it.
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Long and Odemwingie are not suited to playing with each other IMO.
As PO is in the better form, he should be deployed RW and MAF lone targetman.
We were like a rag bag outfit yesterday. The least fans deserve is to see the best / in form players selected and then it's up to the footballing gods.
It wasn't RH's best day yesterday.
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I want every single Albion player to ooze quality on the ball. We are in the PL and to have 'footballers' who aren't naturally comfortable with a ball should be out of the question.
I didn't quite mean it like that. Paul Scharner and Youssouf Mulumbu are decent ball players, certainly not up to the standards of Chris Brunt. Both Scharner or Mulumbu and probably Keith Andrews are not capable of playing a similar type ball to the one Brunty played Odemwingie at Newcastle. Mulumbu and Scharner are there to the different jobs, allowing someone like Chris Brunt to be able to have possession and dictate play.
That's not taking anything away from Mulumbu who has improved a lot with possession of the ball.
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JT may look more effective than Brunt, but statistically he isn't close. I agree it has been good to see JT hit a bit of form lately but his limitations are still painful to see. If JT could shoot he might have had a hattrick against Wigan but he simply can't. It is so frustrating to see him get into good position after good position only to be completely powderpuff when it comes to the execution part be it passing, crossing or shooting.
JT does have his uses, he is a good outlet, he does have good close control of the ball and his speed scare defenders and makes them fall back or double mark him which creates space for us, he also bring the ball up the field allowing us to actually attack in numbers. All of that is important.
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IMO Thomas is a more effective player than Brunt. He is a natural winger something Brunt is not.
I can see Brunt has talent but his positional sense is woeful.
Brunt was effective in 2010/11 as you rightly point out (mostly towards the end of that season).
However 12 months is a long time in football. How many good games has Brunt had this season?
JT has been immense since the start of February and no-one can deny it.
What about the months before February then? That's an awful long time to have not found any type of form whatsoever.
In fairness, the whole squad has struggled this season up until February. It was only in January when we were trying to find one player which had matched or improved on the standards they set themselves last season. In the end we found James Morrison and Jonas Olsson. The likes of Chris Brunt, Youssouf Mulumbu, Nicky Shorey, Jerome Thomas, Paul Scharner were all a part of a very long list of players which had either stalled or gone backwards. Fortunately, since we played Stoke our fortunes have changes.
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Brunt has the pace of a 33 year old who exactly?
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JT has added tackling-back to his game, Brunt is not even willing to do it never mind put it into action.
Chris Brunt has been a good player for us and I have appreciated him. I just do not see where he fits in as we move towards 2012/13.
WBA have grown massively under Roy and it's inevitable some players are left behind.
Yes the through ball at Newcastle was wonderful. I'm scratching my head as to what else he's produced other than assists from corners? He hasn't yet scored direct from a free kick (to my knowledge).
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I didn't quite mean it like that. Paul Scharner and Youssouf Mulumbu are decent ball players, certainly not up to the standards of Chris Brunt. Both Scharner or Mulumbu and probably Keith Andrews are not capable of playing a similar type ball to the one Brunty played Odemwingie at Newcastle. Mulumbu and Scharner are there to the different jobs, allowing someone like Chris Brunt to be able to have possession and dictate play.
That's not taking anything away from Mulumbu who has improved a lot with possession of the ball.
Yes, my comment was more of a general rant as I want us to be a team where everybody are comfortable on the ball and our attacks doesn't stop time and time again because the ball reaches certain player(s) who cannot keep up.
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JT set up a win against by Bolton (opening the scoring), 1 of only 2 home wins before Sunlun.
I agree he wasn't up to much in the 1st half of this season.
What he provides is balance. Brunt unfortunately upsets all of this. And essentially that is why I'm against his selection. I am not knocking his talent, just saying he's over rated a tad.
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JT has added tackling-back to his game, Brunt is not even willing to do it never mind put it into action.
Chris Brunt has been a good player for us and I have appreciated him. I just do not see where he fits in as we move towards 2012/13.
WBA have grown massively under Roy and it's inevitable some players are left behind.
Yes the through ball at Newcastle was wonderful. I'm scratching my head as to what else he's produced other than assists from corners? He hasn't yet scored direct from a free kick (to my knowledge).
We haven't grown massively, much of the football this season has been pretty dire. However, the additions of Ridgewell (Shorey is past it) and Andrews and MAF hitting form just at the right moment balanced our team. But we are still two injuries to our best players (Olsson, PO) away from being right in the relegation scrap taken over a season.
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JT set up a win against by Bolton (opening the scoring), 1 of only 2 home wins before Sunlun.
I agree he wasn't up to much in the 1st half of this season.
What he provides is balance. Brunt unfortunately upsets all of this. And essentially that is why I'm against his selection. I am not knocking his talent, just saying he's over rated a tad.
We struggled to accomodate PO as well when we were trying to build around Long as our leader up front. I agree Andrews balances well with Morrison and Mulumbu, not the least beacuse Andrews is stronger at tracking back than Mozza leaving Mozza to do his real work which is in the opponents half.
But I believe there are other midfield combinations possible where we can fit in Brunt. That is the challenge for Roy, to get the most out of his best players, and I don't doubt that Brunt has more in him than most of our other players, with maybe PO the clear exception.
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Albion at their best as we have been for most of Feb 2012 are a force to be reckoned with.
The football against Wolves, Sunderland and Chelsea was superlative.
It's light years away from 08/09 under TM.
I think RDM was taking us down, so RH has done a super job.
It has been a big progression IMO. If we are to carry on moving forward then some players will have to fall by the wayside.
Yesterday was abysmal.
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IMO the premiership is not suited to players of Brunt's ilk.
Look at Borja Valero - he's rated as 1 of the best (listen to Guillem Balague) in La Liga, the best league in the world. Now Borja couldn't cope with the EPL as games constantly passed him by.
This is why I can see CB has ability - it's getting it out of him in the best way possible for WBA that' s the difficult bit. IMO it could be a forlorn task.
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So let me get this stright, JT's one goal against Bolton is being used as a reason why Brunt shouldn't be in the team whilst not mentioning Brunts goal against the wolves, two assists against the villa, assist at newcastle and assist at Wigan (and that's off the top of my head).
What a bizzare argument.
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It's amazing how football fans see the game differently. I think Chris Brunt is more than good enough for Premier League football and would get into many clubs in the Premier League. I don't quite get this about his tracking back, his work rate is very impressive and he generally covers a lot of turf. At half time against Man United and Wigan he'd covered more turf than anybody so where does this 'lazy' tag generate from?
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Don't let stats get in the way, liam....Thomas scored against Bolton so Brunt should be dropped.
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Yes, yesterday was shocking but then we played with half the team barely fit and rusty on top of messy tactics and odd team selection.
When we had Reid and Ridgewell and Andrews with Mulumbu and Morrison suddenly we looked a solid, well balanced, side for once, simply because our most glaring weaknesses (the fullbacks) weren't so vulnerable as previously and our midfield unit matched. With MAF in rare form up top and speedy wingers we do indeed look the part.
Also McAuley is an immense improvement over Tamas. Tamas made at least one major clanger a game, McAuley hasn't made on I can think of all season.
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Yes, my comment was more of a general rant as I want us to be a team where everybody are comfortable on the ball and our attacks doesn't stop time and time again because the ball reaches certain player(s) who cannot keep up.
Me too. I'd love us to have a similar style to Swansea, or players which are able to copy their style of football. We have a good mixture of footballers. Technically gifted players such as James Morrison, Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans, and your warriors which are able to do the dirty side; Mulumbu, Scharner & Andrews.
Fitting these into a system which suits everyone is often the problem. Although Scharner isn't great with the ball, he certainly isn't useless and does have his uses.
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IMO the premiership is not suited to players of Brunt's ilk.
Look at Borja Valero - he's rated as 1 of the best (listen to Guillem Balague) in La Liga, the best league in the world. Now Borja couldn't cope with the EPL as games constantly passed him by.
This is why I can see CB has ability - it's getting it out of him in the best way possible for WBA that' s the difficult bit. IMO it could be a forlorn task.
We need to raise our game to the level of the Borja's and Brunt's - not lower it to accomodate lesser players.
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I think Brunt is top quality. Yes he has flaws to his game, like all of our players do, but his pros definitely outweight the cons.
With Brunts touch, passing abilty and his eye for a through pass as well as his set pieces threat he has to be in the team.
If Roy stays on I'd like to see him work on the defensive part of his game, if he isnt already, because players with his creativity, as the stats also suggest, tend to cost a fair bit more than hes worth.
He wont play as a winger any more. He just doesnt possess the pace we need in the setup we have. In the near future I see him playing the role Schweinsteiger does for Bayern and Germany and also Carrick for United. Neither blessed with pace but can orchestrate play. I'm not saying Brunt is in that class before people accuse me of being deluded but thats what I believe we are trying to do with him.
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So let me get this stright, JT's one goal against Bolton is being used as a reason why Brunt shouldn't be in the team whilst not mentioning Brunts goal against the wolves, two assists against the villa, assist at newcastle and assist at Wigan (and that's off the top of my head).
What a bizzare argument.
JT has achieved more than scoring just 1 goal - you know that. You think JT should make way then? I'm not trying to belittle CB, I have praised his talent, but he puts our balance out-of-sync.
Our best performances have come with him being out the team!
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Don't let stats get in the way, liam....Thomas scored against Bolton so Brunt should be dropped.
I don't intend to.
This despite Chris Brunt finishing top of the assist chart last season and I'd also bet against him being near the very top, despite missing a good 6-7 weeks with injury.
His goal against Wolves cancels out the Thomas goal against Bolton if thats the game we're playing.
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Schweinstiger is like a greyhound compared to Brunt
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I'm not having a go at Thomas btw, he is an important squad player, although a completely different one to brunty.
Thomas attacks teams and targets certain areas where's brunt is more of a lock picker who can pick a pass or deliver a match winning assist.
I'm just seeing someone go to quite bizzare lengths to make a point about brunt, like compare him to a totally different player.
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I'm sorry but we were a rabble at Man U and Wigan with Brunt in the side. It's chalk and cheese from what happened before.
Do you see it getting any better next week if this side is picked? Because I don't. In fact play like we did yesterday and it's a shoe-in 3 pts for Newcastle.
The midfield is just a complete mess, nobody knowing where they are playing. It's a team game not about accomodating someone in the off chance he assists from a corner.
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What I would say is, If Roy is thinking about using the 433 formation going into next season (which I don't think he will) then we'll certainly have to invest in a pacy winger of two if this is the problems its going to cause when either JT or Odemwingie are missing. We've still got Zoltan Gera to come back so I can see us ditching this current formation in the near future.
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I am comparing JT to CB becasue they are competing for the same place!
Brunt is supposed to be a winger by trade so the comparison is there.
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I'm sorry but we were a rabble at Man U and Wigan with Brunt in the side. It's chalk and cheese from what happened before.
Do you see it getting any better next week if this side is picked? Because I don't. In fact play like we did yesterday and it's a shoe-in 3 pts for Newcastle.
The midfield is just a complete mess, nobody knowing where they are playing. It's a team game not about accomodating someone in the off chance he assists from a corner.
Our real problem is rb with Reid out, that's why we lost shape against ManU when Tamas was being picked apart. Wigan was a complete mess overall, backline, midfield and forward - it's not about Brunt.
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JT is a winger, Brunt is a midfielder.
Its like saying Ashley Young and David Beckham are the same player.
Your argument is patchy at best and irrational at worst.
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Our real problem is rb with Reid out, that's why we lost shape against ManU when Tamas was being picked apart. Wigan was a complete mess overall, backline, midfield and forward - it's not about Brunt.
It is about Brunt because he's the 1 player responsible for loss of shape, cutting in all the time, it's just so obvious!
We've struggled all season with a crab midfield up until Feb 2012 and all of a sudden we hit our straps. Now the crabs are back and it's all gone to pot (it would have to be lobster to qualify for a joke :P)
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I'm not stupid (some might beg to differ !!) and I wouldn't dispute others clubs would snap him up given half a chance. I also wouldn't write off his ability and as far as I am aware I have never done so. I know he has qualities but for me he is best used as a wide player, his best games for us have come as a wide player, he came as a wide player and played an important role out there. He has one of the best left foots around and one of the best ways of scoring a goal is getting a cross into the box (its how we concede many of them). I remember Bednars debut at Plymouth where one of his goals came from a cracking Brunt cross.
In the middle at times he looks lost and the game passes him by. Yes he will put the odd pass through but in the main he is not suited to that position and I would pick the other midfielders at the club over him every time. He might have the odd good game in there but overall I doubt he will become a succesful centre midfielder in the Prem.
I wasn't implying you had ever written him off I did say "some" referring to various comments I have seen. That said I agree with your synopsis in general. One of the really negative aspects of his drifting into the middle is the lack of balance across the pitch that this creates. Like you I think he is an out and out wide player. I think he can be effective on either side but on the left he can swing in a beautiful delivery at times almost impossible to defend.
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It is about Brunt because he's the 1 player responsible for loss of shape, cutting in all the time, it's just so obvious!
We've struggled all season with a crab midfield up until Feb 2012 and all of a sudden we hit our straps. Now the crabs are back and it's all gone to pot (it would have to be lobster to qualify for a joke :P)
The crab midfield is down to Roy's ideas this season, until he saw the light and finally went with a fluid 451. We tried that for 10 minutes against United until Tamas got picked apart then Roy pulled our lines back and that was that, game over.
It's not about Brunt.
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JT is a winger, Brunt is a midfielder.
Its like saying Ashley Young and David Beckham are the same player.
Your argument is patchy at best and irrational at worst.
You imply I don't know much about football. Well I watch an awful lot and always look to see the big picture. Just becuase you see me as controversial, you go defensive.
While we're on the subject of Man U, their strength is in their wide players Nani / Valencia / Young. All of which are quality wingers. They counter attack with such pace. We would be wise to use the best as a benchmark.
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JT is a winger, Brunt is a midfielder.
Its like saying Ashley Young and David Beckham are the same player.
Your argument is patchy at best and irrational at worst.
Quite agree Rowley. Another thing for me is there is a clear difference between a winger and a wide midfield player. You dont have to necessarily have searing pace to play in wide areas. Using your analogy JT has pace to get to the byline CB does not but then JT isnt the best crosser of a ball CB is. So completely different players who can occupy the same space.
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If you pay more attention to all that football you'd know the difference between a winger and a midfielder.
Mowbray, Di Matteo, Hodgson plus Brunts international managers have all had him as an integral part of their teams - so making out he's just a roy favourite is also somewhat flippant.
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Earlier in the season, we didn't do well becasue of a lack of pace in CM. Scharner and Brunt being the culprits.
It's just amazing that people see fit to go back to that style for the remainder of 2011/12 and torpedo any hope of a top half finish!
Maybe it's me, it seems like I'm watching a different match to the rest!
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Well, there is a reason those wingers play for United. They are fast, have excellent ball control and they can all shoot, pass and cross...
United's counter attack plan is pretty simple - play the ball up to Rooney who has dropped down, Rooney plays the ball out to the wingers (normally right wing) often with one touch - the winger then drives the ball upfield with speed while three or four United players, including Rooney and the winger on the opposite side, attack the box. Then the winger either cuts in or plays a ball to the attacking players and hey presto United score again.
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Well, there is a reason those wingers play for United. They are fast, have excellent ball control and they can all shoot, pass and cross...
United's counter attack plan is pretty simple - play the ball up to Rooney who has dropped down, Rooney plays the ball out to the wingers (normally right wing) often with one touch - the winger then drives the ball upfield with speed while three or four United players, including Rooney and the winger on the opposite side, attack the box. Then the winger either cuts in or plays a ball to the attacking players and hey presto United score again.
And this is precisely what we were doing at an albeit lesser level pre Man U match.
So now we undo it all - unbelievable.
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So people not looking to define and hang a scapegoat after a ten men 2-0 defeat at a domestically on fire man united and a point away with a load of fitness problems against a team fighting for their lives are happy to "torpedo" a top half finish?
Hillarious.
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Earlier in the season, we didn't do well becasue of a lack of pace in CM. Scharner and Brunt being the culprits.
It's just amazing that people see fit to go back to that style for the remainder of 2011/12 and torpedo any hope of a top half finish!
Maybe it's me, it seems like I'm watching a different match to the rest!
Earlier in the season we were playing a glaical 442 that didn't suit our players at all. It wasn't only the midfield that had problems but also the attack, we were very ponderous and out of sync overall. I think most of us want to keep the dynamic 451.
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Earlier in the season, we didn't do well becasue of a lack of pace in CM. Scharner and Brunt being the culprits.
It's just amazing that people see fit to go back to that style for the remainder of 2011/12 and torpedo any hope of a top half finish!
Maybe it's me, it seems like I'm watching a different match to the rest!
dont think pace has anything to do with it. more recently its the balance thats been better having a right sided forward player and a centre forward who has held the ball up incredibly well. dont get your point about not doing well either. we havnt lost more than two games on the spin all season? a solid season id say?
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If you pay more attention to all that football you'd know the difference between a winger and a midfielder.
Mowbray, Di Matteo, Hodgson plus Brunts international managers have all had him as an integral part of their teams - so making out he's just a roy favourite is also somewhat flippant.
You're speaking in past tense. Yes CB was more than good enough for West Brom. However times have changed, we as fans need to embrace a better quality team. Now MOVING FORWARD is he good enough anymore? (which is the original thread title).
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No word on the list of brunt assists as yet btw.
What was it off the top of my head? Villa, Wigan and newcastle (7 points there, all directly assisted by brunt), using these examples and the opta stats to crush the lazy myth yes, he most certainly is good enough.
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You're speaking in past tense. Yes CB was more than good enough for West Brom. However times have changed, we as fans need to embrace a better quality team. Now MOVING FORWARD is he good enough anymore? (which is the original thread title).
way more than just good enough
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No word on the list of brunt assists as yet btw.
What was it off the top of my head? Villa, Wigan and newcastle (7 points there, all directly assisted by brunt), using these examples and the opta stats to crush the lazy myth yes, he most certainly is good enough.
I take it you enjoyed the last 2 performances?
Yes he does assist, I've never stated he doesn't assist have I? Have yet to see him head, tackle, run hard, shout instructions as captain. All vital components of a footballers game.
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As a football fan I know not every game will be to my liking.
The running myth is blown apart by the stats, he does close down and the players respect him as captain - you are struggling badly now.
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So people not looking to define and hang a scapegoat after a ten men 2-0 defeat at a domestically on fire man united and a point away with a load of fitness problems against a team fighting for their lives are happy to "torpedo" a top half finish?
Hillarious.
You've got very low expectations mate if you're satisfied with last 2 matches. Fans like you hold the club back - accepting mediocrity.
Do you see a win v Newcastle with the same team deployed? I don't see finishing below Villa in the top half hilarious do you?
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"Fans like me"
Game, set, match and goodnight. You have officially run out of coherant argument so I'm off to bed.
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I take it you enjoyed the last 2 performances?
Yes he does assist, I've never stated he doesn't assist have I? Have yet to see him head, tackle, run hard, shout instructions as captain. All vital components of a footballers game.
To be frank, Chris Brunt is very good in the air. He played a massive part in Scott Carson's distribution last year. He has a very good standing jump, I suggest you take a look when Ben Foster takes a goal kick. Although, Foster goal kicks are normally quickly taken towards Shane Long.
I also think thats a myth about Brunt not being able to tackle. Certainly makes his fair share, some successful, some not.
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Struggling with what exactly? I don't care about any OPTA stats they don't mean anything.
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Brunt is quite a good header of the ball, we don't use that enough. As for running he is often statistically the player that runs the most, because he tries to defend, attack and get on the ball!
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Struggling with what exactly? I don't care about any OPTA stats they don't mean anything.
How do coaching staff analyse performances and areas of improvement?
In todays day and age Opta Stats and the like are key to providing development of a player.
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"Fans like me"
Game, set, match and goodnight. You have officially run out of coherant argument so I'm off to bed.
Game, Set and Match - I haven't played Tennis for ages :P
Why are you competing against me?
Why try and bully me into submission?
Who adjudicated that you won on points?
My opinion is just as valid as yours.
For the record I've enjoyed the deabte - it's been fun.
Chill out buddy, life is short.
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good defensively great shot doesnt seem to score enough goals!
one of the best headers of the ball in the team with an salmon esc standing leap
last 2 games he just has lacked match fittness and sharpness we are forgetting he has been out injured for a fair amount of time.
unsure of his effectiveness in the 4-3-3/4-5-1 system we are using at the moment. hes of more use in a conventional 4-4-2. as he doesnt have the pace of jt to play as the offensive winger. similar to fact that i think shane long struggles in that system as he is neither a winger nor a target man.
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What a delivery for our goal on Saturday.
He's the most underrated player at our club people don't fancy him for some reason it's an intriguing situation.
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we have scored a hell of a lot of goals from his set peices this season and last season!
sunderland away morrisons header brunt freekick
aston villa away both goals game from brunt corners (although second from the after events)
newcastle away mcauley goal was a brunt set piece well worked (odemwingie goal was brunt assist)
last season he got a fair few away.
under rated indeed.
horses for courses though. as it stands i think JT and odemwingie or Tchoyi suit the way we are playing at the moment
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Brunt is an excellent midfielder but our current system just doesn't suit him. Midfield now looks disjointed, if they are supposed to be inter-changing then to have Scharner out wide and Brunt in the middle whilst trying to defend is pointless.
Our fast attacking side is brought to a standstill at times. I wouldn't write him off though as he does possess quality but I don't think we miss him as much as people try to make out at times.
Well said Oldboy..
It's my feeling that Brunty should have been kept on the bench, too many changes were made from a winning side and the rhythm was lost. >:( >:(
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In 22 appearances this season he's provided 6 direct assists, that means he has laid on 17% of our total goals scored talley despite being out for 8 weeks.
I don't think that even includes goals from corners that touched another player before being put in.
Good enough? Yes.
Important to us? Yes.
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never rated him as i have said on here before, and never will since he as come back our shape as gone all he does his mess up moan wave his hands and blames everyone else, never chases back and his not good enough. if we want to push on we must replace cb.
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never rated him as i have said on here before, and never will since he as come back our shape as gone all he does his mess up moan wave his hands and blames everyone else, never chases back and his not good enough. if we want to push on we must replace cb.
He got the assist for our goal though and it was a great ball.
Morrison has been taking corners well in his absence but against Chelsea he was poor with set pieces. As soon as Brunt comes on we looked dangerous from corners and as a result scored from one...
Like I always say EASILY the most underrated player in our team and one of the most underrated in the Premier League.
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never rated him as i have said on here before, and never will since he as come back our shape as gone all he does his mess up moan wave his hands and blames everyone else, never chases back and his not good enough. if we want to push on we must replace cb.
I rather suspect the people who make the decisions about the playing staff strongly disagree with your view in every respect. "all he does is mess up and moan wave his hands and blame everyone else" Is this a metaphor for "Im passionate about my job and I care about how we perform". "never chases back and is not good enough" how the poor lad has ever made it as a professional in the PL I'll never know.
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I rather suspect the people who make the decisions about the playing staff strongly disagree with your view in every respect. "all he does is mess up and moan wave his hands and blame everyone else" Is this a metaphor for "Im passionate about my job and I care about how we perform". "never chases back and is not good enough" how the poor lad has ever made it as a professional in the PL I'll never know.
neither will i!!!
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I rather suspect the people who make the decisions about the playing staff strongly disagree with your view in every respect. "all he does is mess up and moan wave his hands and blame everyone else" Is this a metaphor for "Im passionate about my job and I care about how we perform". "never chases back and is not good enough" how the poor lad has ever made it as a professional in the PL I'll never know.
my view yes you have yours i have mine everyone as a view, pitty we dont all agree with each other isnt it,then we could close the message boards down and not bother to have a view.
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never rated him as i have said on here before, and never will since he as come back our shape as gone all he does his mess up moan wave his hands and blames everyone else, never chases back and his not good enough. if we want to push on we must replace cb.
Never chases back? He's ran more metres than Mulumbu of late. The stats I saw going into half time against United and Wigan had him first for covering the most distance so I would say he does his fair share of chasing back. Our shape went on Saturday because of the injury to Peter Odemwingie. We then chucked Chris Brunt into the formation hoping it would work when it quite clearly wouldn't.
Chris Brunt is a very good footballer and one who catches the attention of most football fans across the country, certainly the ones I talk to. Just a shame some of our supporters don't see how good and important he is for us.
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Good player or not ( i personally think he is a very good player) to me it is glaringly obvious that he ruins our shape when he plays thus breaking down our attacks, we looked more threatening going forward before he came back as Pete was out on the wing and Thomas in his favoured LM position offer alot more width.
Brunt drifts inside far too much, leaving the full back to do all the attacking/defending down his side and putting pressure on Thomas to have a good game as our only real attacking outlet in midfield. I like Brunt and on his day he can be superb, but i feel the way Hodgson likes us to play (as a unit with everyone sticking to their roles) does not lend itself well to Brunt being on the pitch.
Our best spell of the season, he wasnt in the team.
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Hes a little like Greening was towards the end totally slows us down.Since he has been back in the team we have gone back to bad old ways.I ain't saying hes a bad player just a lazy player who occasionally assits. Not consistent enough for me and most definitely not a captain. Olsson should be our captain.Brunt don't motivate and moans to much
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Maybe the reason we've apparently gone back to our old ways is because against United and Wigan we've missed influential players? United we missed Thomas and against Wigan we missed Odemwingie.
Perhaps this is the reason rather than blaming Chris Brunt. Or perhaps maybe Roy should of changed the system knowing we were without Odemwingie and that Chris Brunt is a complete different kettle of fish with him lacking the pace Odemwingie has to make the 433 effective.
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Hes a little like Greening was towards the end totally slows us down.Since he has been back in the team we have gone back to bad old ways.I ain't saying hes a bad player just a lazy player who occasionally assits. Not consistent enough for me and most definitely not a captain. Olsson should be our captain.Brunt don't motivate and moans to much
I can't take the comments such as 'lazy' in honesty. He covered more distance than anybody against Wigan and United, so how can that justify a lazy tag? Infact, where does that tag even generate from? As for the occasionally assists, that's also coswollop. He's an influential player to the team, his assists and his general footballing vision are all cons for him to be in the starting eleven. As well as that he's also capable of chipping in with goals as he proved under the Mowbray season and with his opener against the Wolves this year.
The consistency of the team has also been poor this season. Not just Chris Brunt. Up until February the consistency of the side has been awful with several players been called for the drop or to be sold prior to our game with Wolves
Also on the captaincy. Maybe he's well respected by his fellow peers which makes it an obvious decision? We don't see what happens on the training field to say 'he shouldn't be captain'. Chris Brunt is the captain and that decision is supported by Roy and Brunt's team mates.
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Never chases back? He's ran more metres than Mulumbu of late. The stats I saw going into half time against United and Wigan had him first for covering the most distance so I would say he does his fair share of chasing back. Our shape went on Saturday because of the injury to Peter Odemwingie. We then chucked Chris Brunt into the formation hoping it would work when it quite clearly wouldn't.
Chris Brunt is a very good footballer and one who catches the attention of most football fans across the country, certainly the ones I talk to. Just a shame some of our supporters don't see how good and important he is for us.
Can I ask you a question Liam?
Were you actually at the United and Wigan games?
Or did you watch them via TV and/or online?
This isn't intended to be a knock at you BTW but I am interested in how and why you put so much stead into 'the stats'. I'm sure we are all aware of the old saying of "lies, damned lies and statistics" but as some one who was there at both games let me confirm that despite what the statistics might say Brunt was very, very poor in both and that is an observed perception on my, and many others part not a statistic. To merely quote that he runs around a lot and gives the occasional assists fails to recognise the observable negatives that many of see currently pervade his game. Perhaps the statistics should also say "he runs about quite a lot but quite slowly" and "that much of the time the direction of his runs are back towards our goal or inside across an approaching team mates path" or "puts in a crap pass miles away from his team mates feet" and then that puts a different slant on the statistics. I don't actually think Brunt is crap or should be sold but I do think he has, for a number of reasons, contributed quite negatively in our last two games and that the statistics don't begin to tell the true story.
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Can I ask you a question Liam?
Were you actually at the United and Wigan games?
Or did you watch them via TV and/or online?
This isn't intended to be a knock at you BTW but I am interested in how and why you put so much stead into 'the stats'. I'm sure we are all aware of the old saying of "lies, damned lies and statistics" but as some one who was there at both games let me confirm that despite what the statistics might say Brunt was very, very poor in both and that is an observed perception on my, and many others part not a statistic. To merely quote that he runs around a lot and gives the occasional assists fails to recognise the observable negatives that many of see currently pervade his game. Perhaps the statistics should also say "he runs about quite a lot but quite slowly" and "that much of the time the direction of his runs are back towards our goal or inside across an approaching team mates path" or "puts in a crap pass miles away from his team mates feet" and then that puts a different slant on the statistics. I don't actually think Brunt is crap or should be sold but I do think he has, for a number of reasons, contributed quite negatively in our last two games and that the statistics don't begin to tell the true story.
That made me laugh actually! :D
I watched them at the pub so you're probably in the better advantage to comment. I'm not trying to say that Chris Brunt had two absolute worldies because I'll admit myself, he's hasn't been at the top of his game producing the form we know he's capable of. However, he's only just recovered from a lengthy lay off so I guess he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
I used the stat merely as proof that he isn't lazy as some point out, I've always thought he'd been a hard worker, although defensively not as good as he possibly can be, certainly a flaw in his game which he can work at. The stats weren't neccasrily used to cover his poor performances, more to show that the statistics show he's not as lazy as is made out.
I'll also happily admit that the system doesn't suit Chris Brunt and getting him to fullfil the boots of someone like Peter Odemwingie was always going to be difficult and therefore I personally feel a change of formation would of suited the side better. However, I fully understand Roy's thoughts in leaving things the same going on current form the past few weeks.
If both Thomas and Odemwingie are available, I would quite rightly have Chris Brunt on the bench so it doesn't disturb the rhythm we have created of late and if Brunt is needed, perhaps a change of system is needed also. I just feel that Chris Brunt is a very influential player for us and one of high importance. In answer to your question, No, I wasn't at the game, I was at the pub enjoying a rather tasty chicken tikka!
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After 8 weeks out he is still directly responsible for 17% of our goals scored plus how many has he delivered the ball in and we've ended up scoring.
If that's not influential I don't know what is.
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Great left foot, but you can't accommodate a player purely on his crossing ability. We need to go back to the Wolves / Sunderland /Chelsea XI v Newcastle
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Great left foot, but you can't accommodate a player purely on his crossing ability. We need to go back to the Wolves / Sunderland /Chelsea XI v Newcastle
Brunt is also our best playmaker, that's why he is drifting inside looking for the ball. Last season it worked well.
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just come in from the boozer been with a load of albion fans all st holders all go away all have an oppinion there oppinion and believe it or not i never said a word is that with brunt in the team our shape goes morrison becomes in efective and our best perfmances have come without him. i told them i had said all this on here (they have sense they dont come on here)and people had tried to shout me down. we cant all be wrong!
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albion59, believe it or not. you can all be wrong. I'm not saying you are, just you can. a three game run does not a team make. we played 4-5-1 last season and did fine with Brunt in the team. Now it's slightly different with the same players. Last season we excelled at the start and then fell apart then came back again this season is pretty much the same but more consistant.
You can blame any number of things in a match. It CANNOT be a single player. What about the other 4 changes. Shorey couldn't defend and pushed foward when it wasn't needed, did all 5 of them not suit 4-5-1? how about missing the Vice-captain and the only player in the defence barring Shorey to not come in this season? who was meant to lead? Was it just an off game? Underexpectation of the opposition? the manager experimenting?
Shame for you Hodgson sees it fit to make yet more changes in the following games. ::)
P.S. (to the tune of ridin' dirty)
We see you trolling, we hatin'. cause you've been going round and acting nerdy
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albion59, believe it or not. you can all be wrong. I'm not saying you are, just you can. a three game run does not a team make. we played 4-5-1 last season and did fine with Brunt in the team. Now it's slightly different with the same players. Last season we excelled at the start and then fell apart then came back again this season is pretty much the same but more consistant.
You can blame any number of things in a match. It CANNOT be a single player. What about the other 4 changes. Shorey couldn't defend and pushed foward when it wasn't needed, did all 5 of them not suit 4-5-1? how about missing the Vice-captain and the only player in the defence barring Shorey to not come in this season? who was meant to lead? Was it just an off game? Underexpectation of the opposition? the manager experimenting?
Shame for you Hodgson sees it fit to make yet more changes in the following games. ::)
P.S. (to the tune of ridin' dirty)
We see you trolling, we hatin'. cause you've been going round and acting nerdy
i am not trolling i am giving my view which when the last time i looked isnt a crime. just because you and others on here dont agree with me there is no need to get nasty and personal. (ps i love people who hide behind a computer screen)
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i am not trolling i am giving my view which when the last time i looked isnt a crime. just because you and others on here dont agree with me there is no need to get nasty and personal. (ps i love people who hide behind a computer screen)
I am with you all the way on this one Albion59
I agree morrison is less effective when Brunt is in the same team
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I am with you all the way on this one Albion59
I agree morrison is less effective when Brunt is in the same team
thank you!
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albion59, believe it or not. you can all be wrong. I'm not saying you are, just you can. a three game run does not a team make. we played 4-5-1 last season and did fine with Brunt in the team. Now it's slightly different with the same players. Last season we excelled at the start and then fell apart then came back again this season is pretty much the same but more consistant.
You can blame any number of things in a match. It CANNOT be a single player. What about the other 4 changes. Shorey couldn't defend and pushed foward when it wasn't needed, did all 5 of them not suit 4-5-1? how about missing the Vice-captain and the only player in the defence barring Shorey to not come in this season? who was meant to lead? Was it just an off game? Underexpectation of the opposition? the manager experimenting?
Shame for you Hodgson sees it fit to make yet more changes in the following games. ::)
P.S. (to the tune of ridin' dirty)
We see you trolling, we hatin'. cause you've been going round and acting nerdy
Can we cut the petty comments out then please, new member or not comments aimed at getting a reaction from another member are not wanted or welcome on this forum, other inferior forums maybe but not this one.
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If people persist on the petty comments then the topic will be locked, either post a constructive comment or don't post at all, simple really.
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I do like Brunt. I think he's improved his game over the years he has been here and he has been a vital player for us and I believe he will be for a few more years. I only have a couple of issues with him. His insistence on cutting inside at every opportunity often leaving gaps in midfield to be exploited and the fact that I don't think he is captain material.
We lose balance when he drifts too often and we end up with full-backs exposed and if he could curb that a little I think we would see a better player in all honesty. I find myself extremely frustrated with him at times because of his drifting from position but he is one of those players that has that little extra quality that can unlock a defence and his set play delivery is very good.
I just don't think he is a leader, he will always look to scream at others when things go wrong even if its partly his fault in the first place. The role of captain is hard for fans to judge as they will do a lot of work off the pitch in the changing room that we don't see but when it comes to leadership on the pitch I don't think he is the right man for the job but there aren't that many candidates for the job in reality.
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Why do you sound surprised that a bunch of people on the internet is being completely unfair to someone famous. We all like find ourselves a scapegoat to slam on when thing aren't perfect. Brunt just happened to be there with his history of being lazy
You mean people on the internet who follow West Brom are discussing a player and not everyone agrees ?
Why is it when someone says something about a player that doesn't follow the party line on a forum which is the best place to do it they get accused of creating a scapegoat ?
Its called having an opinion on something.
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I understand that concern Oldbury. Fair enough if you or other people don't see him as a CM or think he unbalances the system we've been utilising recently. I just find it startling how quickly some of our players are written off after a few bad games.
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Why do you sound surprised that a bunch of people on the internet is being completely unfair to someone famous. We all like find ourselves a scapegoat to slam on when thing aren't perfect. Brunt just happened to be there with his history of being lazy
its not being unfair some people like brunt some dont, i never rated kevin donavon a lot of people did, i loved ian hamilton a lot of people didnt football will always be this way. 30,000 people can watch a game and everyone will see it differently there is nothing wrong with that. if we all agreed there be no arguments and heated discussions in the pub after the game or on here would there.
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We all see a different game, hes not my favourite that's for sure.My favourite is Maf, now look at the stick hes got from some.
I do agree Morrison looks more effective when Brunt is not in the team.If Thomas is fit i would like to see the Team that started against Sunderland this coming Sunday, we certainly didnt miss him when he was out injured.Teams better when Olsson is captain too
I would not be crying if we sold Brunt if and when but that's just little old me and my humble
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I do like Brunt. I think he's improved his game over the years he has been here and he has been a vital player for us and I believe he will be for a few more years. I only have a couple of issues with him. His insistence on cutting inside at every opportunity often leaving gaps in midfield to be exploited and the fact that I don't think he is captain material.
We lose balance when he drifts too often and we end up with full-backs exposed and if he could curb that a little I think we would see a better player in all honesty. I find myself extremely frustrated with him at times because of his drifting from position but he is one of those players that has that little extra quality that can unlock a defence and his set play delivery is very good.
I just don't think he is a leader, he will always look to scream at others when things go wrong even if its partly his fault in the first place. The role of captain is hard for fans to judge as they will do a lot of work off the pitch in the changing room that we don't see but when it comes to leadership on the pitch I don't think he is the right man for the job but there aren't that many candidates for the job in reality.
BH i agree with you that when he drifts inside too much we lose balance across the pitch but I cant agree with some of your other points. I think CB really has little choice but to cut in since he is a left footed player who is employed invariably on the right wing as jerome thomas who is the exact opposite. So I dont see that as an issue with him rather the coach who deploys him there. If he played consistently on the left then i would imagine he would go for the byline more often than not.
I also dont see a problem with him as captain. He is a senior player and one that is very vocal. Just what you want from a captain. I dare say no one would complain if Jonas was made captain and he is always screaming at other players. But i couldnt agree more with your view on that extra bit of quality he brings Chris Brunt is a classy footballer. I would love to see him given a good run in the team on the left hand side
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BH i agree with you that when he drifts inside too much we lose balance across the pitch but I cant agree with some of your other points. I think CB really has little choice but to cut in since he is a left footed player who is employed invariably on the right wing as jerome thomas who is the exact opposite. So I dont see that as an issue with him rather the coach who deploys him there. If he played consistently on the left then i would imagine he would go for the byline more often than not.
I also dont see a problem with him as captain. He is a senior player and one that is very vocal. Just what you want from a captain. I dare say no one would complain if Jonas was made captain and he is always screaming at other players. But i couldnt agree more with your view on that extra bit of quality he brings Chris Brunt is a classy footballer. I would love to see him given a good run in the team on the left hand side
Possibly his two best performances this season were at Blackburn and Newcastle where he was on the left drifting in.
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Possibly his two best performances this season were at Blackburn and Newcastle where he was on the left drifting in.
Arguably the best left sided crosser in the PL is Evertons Leighton Baines. Brunt has every bit as a left peg as him. Seems a shame we dont get more of that from him
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He needs to get his decision making right when it comes to drifting inside. He can't do it all the time as it leaves us wide open, if he picked his moments more carefully it could be a good tactic as its worked before. I just don't like the fact that he seems to drift inside at every opportunity, makes him far too predictable and allows the opposition to exploit the space he leaves easily.
The laziness tag stems from his lack of real pace and his running style. He does get caught ball watching a bit but who doesn't?
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His lazy tag come from his Sheff Wed days
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He needs to get his decision making right when it comes to drifting inside. He can't do it all the time as it leaves us wide open, if he picked his moments more carefully it could be a good tactic as its worked before. I just don't like the fact that he seems to drift inside at every opportunity, makes him far too predictable and allows the opposition to exploit the space he leaves easily.
I think this is my major gripe with brunt at the moment, you cant deny he is a good footballer but i find him frustrating alot of the time.
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He needs to get his decision making right when it comes to drifting inside. He can't do it all the time as it leaves us wide open, if he picked his moments more carefully it could be a good tactic as its worked before. I just don't like the fact that he seems to drift inside at every opportunity, makes him far too predictable and allows the opposition to exploit the space he leaves easily.
The laziness tag stems from his lack of real pace and his running style. He does get caught ball watching a bit but who doesn't?
Agreed. Many other teams in the league seem to deploy their players on their natural footed side. Why dont we? Suspect Roy likes the compactness defensively that doing it the other way round might bring. ie keeping the shape narrower with the players much closer together. Cant really say its not working can we?
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His lazy tag come from his Sheff Wed days
And they were when? 5/6 years ago? Given RH's insistence on being well organised and everybody doing their defensive work, do people really think he would continue to pick Brunt if he was lazy? RH wouldn't stand for it, simple as that.
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No doubt Brunt has got a great left foot but it seems very often he's looking for the wonder strike. Let's face it since Everton last year how many has he scored ? He very often overhits his crosses also.
He also put the penalty against Villa horrendously wide by trying to blast it with the outside of his foot.
I just think if he cooled it a bit and concentrated on timing and placement a bit more we would see better results.
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the reason thomas and pete works on either isde is they dont swap flanks, after 15mins today brunt and thomas swapped, then brunt went wandering in the middle which makes the 3 in the middle cover for him. he was all over the place and it affects the shape of the team. being the captain and good set piece taker will keep him in the team which i believe will hinder the way we played few games ago when it all the players seemed natural in there positions.
This is why we should try playing Chris in the HOLE....
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Arguably the best left sided crosser in the PL is Evertons Leighton Baines. Brunt has every bit as a left peg as him. Seems a shame we dont get more of that from him
Why would we need more crosses from Brunt, or Thomas for that matter?
Given our playing system and current personel who would be there in the centre to 'nod em in'?
Last player we had remotely capable of that was Bednar I think
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Why would we need more crosses from Brunt, or Thomas for that matter?
Given our playing system and current personel who would be there in the centre to 'nod em in'?
Last player we had remotely capable of that was Bednar I think
Shane Long...........has the instinct to get on the end of crosses no problem
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Brunt is a decent player with a wand of a left foot .But at the moment in my opinnion he simply is not one of our best starting eleven.
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I dont think there would be any PL teams outside the top 4/5 who wouldnt have Brunty in their squad. So I struggle to see how people can write his ability off in the way they sometimes seem to.
I want Brunt in the squad but as a sub not a first choice starter. I think Thomas offers more; has more pace and tracks back also he doesn't keep coming inside and mis-shaping the midfield.
I think Andrews offers very similar free kick taking skills and along with Morrison can play defence splitting passes.
Brunt has been an important player but I think his time as a regular is at an end.
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I want Brunt in the squad but as a sub not a first choice starter. I think Thomas offers more; has more pace and tracks back also he doesn't keep coming inside and mis-shaping the midfield.
I think Andrews offers very similar free kick taking skills and along with Morrison can play defence splitting passes.
Brunt has been an important player but I think his time as a regular is at an end.
Fully understand your view Hull about coming inside and upsetting the balance. In defence of Brunty though PL footballers just dont go out and do "whatever they fancy" during a game. Roy must fully support this tactic or have instructed him to do this. If he played a more rigid role on the flank would people criticise Brunty as much?
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His lazy tag come from his Sheff Wed days
I actually believe the lazyness tag is a misunderstanding from the fact his head drops too easy. When things don't go his way he looks like he is sulking which people dont want to see.
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If he played a more rigid role on the flank would people criticise Brunty as much?
Depends on whether you see him as a winger or not. Sadly his lack of pace means he's not a winger in the same way that Thomas is. I just think the side looks more balanced with out him.
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I don't think he is lazy but he does sulk and moan at others and for me this gives off a bad impression, i want our players to take responsibility and get on with things.
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love how he has goal vision on at all times & shoots from half way line. Scored a few in championship, scores between 1 - 3 in premier league games. Rather him just pass. I like him, but rather him come off the bench like he did against Chelsea.
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Depends on whether you see him as a winger or not. Sadly his lack of pace means he's not a winger in the same way that Thomas is. I just think the side looks more balanced with out him.
Some players are natural wide players without being fully fledged wingers, Beckham is a prime example of someone who doesn't take players on but puts fantastic balls in and lacks pace.
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Fuming at his latest non-performance today.............
Yet again he was slow, lathagic and lazy but added a new dimension to his game in not being able to control a football (on at least two occasions he ruined a decent move by just non getting hold of a ball on the corner of the box).
Yes, he was not on his own how poor he was today or in previous weeks, BUT he always seems to get in the team when fit and hardly ever gets subbed (bar last few minutes) despite offering nothing.
What's happened to the guy that looked a goal threat at this level and was capable of defence splitting quick passes ? Without that he has very little in his locker and he ain't been doing it all season.
We seem so slow getting forward when he's on the pitch.
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Shouldn't be anywhere near our best starting eleven!
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Hes had a pretty lengthy lay off so he will still be finding his feet again.
However the stats suggested he put a good shift in which is a step in the right direction at half time he had covered more ground than any other player on the pitch.
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Hes had a pretty lengthy lay off so he will still be finding his feet again.
However the stats suggested he put a good shift in which is a step in the right direction at half time he had covered more ground than any other player on the pitch.
Might have covered ground but little positive to show for it !!!
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i bet mick mCcarthy will be in for him then, that was his favourite saying after they lost every week.
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Even so he might have scored but for Long's heel getting in the way :)
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Even so he might have scored but for Long's heel getting in the way :)
'Might' is a big word !
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I got lambasted on here 2 / 3 weeks ago for having the audacity to slate Brunt's performances.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's stepped into the lions den!
In truth the lad has been shocking all season. I've got nothing against him, just calling it as I see it. He has done a lot for us in past seasons and for that he deserves respect. However, now he totally unbalances the team and disrupts any midfield rhythm. One of our weaker players I'm afraid.
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You didn't get lambasted, people just put forward an alternative argument.
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Hes one of our best players, his set pieces and passing are phenomenal. Looking a bit off the pace at the moment but hes one of the first names on the teamsheet for me. Along with Olsson, Odemwingie and obviously Foster
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Hes one of our best players, his set pieces and passing are phenomenal. Looking a bit off the pace at the moment but hes one of the first names on the teamsheet for me. Along with Olsson, Odemwingie and obviously Foster
2-3 seasons ago yes but not now, hes slow, he moans at others, he always has head down. Why the hell his he captain
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You didn't get lambasted, people just put forward an alternative argument.
Well the tide is turning against this "alternative argument".
I can feel a little satisfied that my football knowledge is not so bad after all.
I'm sure Chis Brunt is a smashing fella and I don't enjoy criticizing his performances but I'll never hide from my opinion.
I'm just as much of a WBA fan as you and our views should be treated equally.
I'm sure you're capable of putting forward good views yourself about all things Albion.
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Watch Newcastle away for pass of the season for Odemwingies goal, the guy is sheer class
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I agree, the through ball at Newcastle was immense.
We're now 31 games into the season not at the start. Consistency is the key. Chris Brunt has quality no doubt but he doesn't perform MOST of the time.
I remember Graham Harbey's 30 yard rocket in the top corner v someone around 1992, but was GH any good? Probably not....
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Watch Newcastle away for pass of the season for Odemwingies goal, the guy is sheer class
Unfortunately you can't rely on one pass before Christmas to justify a place in a team.
I'm not a big Brunt fan, never have been so i'm not jumping on the bandwagon to slate him but at the moment he is not justifying a place regardless of whether he's coming back from injury or not. The moments are few and far between this season, he is not having an impact on a game other than the odd pass here and there, some which may lead to assists but not often enough for what is classed as our creative player.
Do I lay the blame solely at Brunt ? no I don't. Our side is not set up to get the best out of him, that left foot is one of the best around when used in the right areas.
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Hes only played a handful of games since then tbf. But he is definitely one of my favorite players. His left foot is brilliant. We missed his set pieces when he wasnt in the team despite some of the good results we were getting, I think it was Norwich at home in the league we had corner after corner in the first half and all of them were dreadful. There is absolutely nobody else in the squad that can take a set piece anywhere near the quality of Brunts
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I think people are being too short minded. do take into account his work over the season. not only the last three games. yeah he's out of the groove now. but so are many of the team. just before people start praising him when he hits his stride again, i'll remember this page.
Not saying he should be in the now(he admitted he shouldn't have been in the Newcastle game) , but he is a good player. look at Morrison last season to this season. last season couple of goals but otherwise nothing. now he was immense till his injury. Brunt is just in a lull.
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Brunt takes plenty of corners which are dreadful, his set-pieces are not consistent enough.
I beg to differ about set piece quality. Dorrans has proved he can take excellent corners (Spurs away apart) and free-kicks. Some of Morrisons corners are excellent (and some poor), same with Shorey. Andrews can take a good free-kick.
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i think he drifts inside way too much and other midfielders have to cover for him, and if a move breaks down because of him, instead of chasing back he'll spend a few secs waving his arms and moaning. no his best season and wouldnt be ahead of thomas for me on current form. i'd also say dorrans can take set-pieces similar to him. brunt's a great crosser when his actually out on the left.
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Morrison does hit the right areas but his corners seem to lack the pace and whip that Brunt puts on them, genuinely think that Brunty will be a main part of our team for years to come. Hes been a great servant already
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Well if he is to be a main part for years to come lets hope we return to a way that gets the best out of him because at the moment its not doing it, before or after his injury. His best games came at Newcastle and Blackburn where he actually played on the left and stayed on the left where a 'WINGER' should be.
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was hes shot going in?
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I think it was, but we'll never know now will we
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Think so, unless it would have hit the Everton defender as well.
To me Brunty needs to be on the ball, the more he is involved the better. Also this season he has suffered because we have changed the way we attack. It's difficult for him to play his killer passes if nobody makes the runs and he receives the ball in the wrong areas of the pitch. All of this is down to changes in our approach.
Look, there is nothing surprising about this. I said after the Stoke home game that our dynamic players, like PO, Brunt and Mulumbu would suffer under Roy.
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a different kind of wide player as he as little pace. he does have qualities but put in with andrews,scharner and tchoyi who all have little pace our midfield was awful. dont think roy done any favours by putting brunt and tchoyi wide as they dont stop many crosses coming in.
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a different kind of wide player as he as little pace. he does have qualities but put in with andrews,scharner and tchoyi who all have little pace our midfield was awful. dont think roy done any favours by putting brunt and tchoyi wide as they dont stop many crosses coming in.
When I saw the lineup I though Roy at least had a new plan to involve our wingers more. He didn't!!!!!
That team setup was criminal ???
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I think it takes some players a fair while to get back up to speed after being out for a decent spell, hopefully that's the case with Brunt.
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sadly Morrison is a prime example. If Brunt is so keen on central postions, why don't we play him there. Morrison used to be out wide i believe (am i right?)
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sadly Morrison is a prime example. If Brunt is so keen on central postions, why don't we play him there. Morrison used to be out wide i believe (am i right?)
Because he is not suited to a central role as proved on the numerous occasions he has been there. His best games are out wide drifting in (and then going back out).
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Because he is not suited to a central role as proved on the numerous occasions he has been there. His best games are out wide drifting in (and then going back out).
He's got the perfect attributes to play behind the striker in my opinion. Eye for a pass, good shot, doesn't need that extra yard of pace.
The point is though that this position does not exist in our formations so he should be played out wide, I'm not a fan of him playing deeply to be honest.
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2-3 seasons ago yes but not now, hes slow, he moans at others, he always has head down. Why the hell his he captain
Totally agree with you, as a captain you should be leading, geeing up the players etc, all he does is flounce around like some 12 year girl! Its so unfair!
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He must do something right to get the job from two managers in a row and gain enough repect from his team mates to carry it out.
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Just as bad as odemwingie defensively couple of pansies, however the two most talented at our football club going forward.
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Unless I've missed it I'm surprised no one has mentioned the little disagreement he had with the Albion fan who threw the ball at him in the second half.
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Unless I've missed it I'm surprised no one has mentioned the little disagreement he had with the Albion fan who threw the ball at him in the second half.
and look what that led to :o :D
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and look what that led to :o :D
No comment ;D
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Sadly I believe Father Time has enlisted him to the Andy Johnson and Johnno Greening club, much loved and respected, but the club has moved on.
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We said the same about Morrison last year and look at him now. He is a good player but tends to have one good game followed by 5 bad ones. Lets not forget he has just come back from a bad injury. He got 11 assists last year which is pretty inpressive. I remember a while back the soccer saturday panel said if just had a bit more pace he would be playing for a top 4 team.I wouldnt sell him but i would take the captains armband off him because since he has got that he has performed below par. We know he play a lot better.
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Aside from PO, best player on the books... Most of you seem to know f all about this game... Lets get a team of triers, get relegated and play at a level more suited to our fans mentality.
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Completly agree jacko, trying is fine and i would love to see an albion team giving there all every week however we would get relegated because of the two ( our two odemwingie /brunt) quality players that each team has that can change a game in this league, If Gera doesnt make a full recovery we need to bring in a replacement soon as possible as dorrans isnt getting the chance. I think we would have finished above swansea and norwich with a injury free gera.
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Probably the least motivational captain i have seen at the Albion.He has been poor this season apart from 2 games, they say it takes a while for him to get going into a season, he cant afford to get injured then can he.Not his biggest fan and never will be
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i dont worry about the captain aspect. the captain role is internal, we couldn't possibly comment. i can't remember who it is but a player came out a few weeks/months ago and said he was a great captain.
he hasn't had a good season. it happens. last season he had a great assist stat.
we shouldnt sell though, i just dont think he suits hodgsons style.
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Aside from PO, best player on the books... Most of you seem to know f all about this game... Lets get a team of triers, get relegated and play at a level more suited to our fans mentality.
whats wrong with the mentality of our fans? just because we dont agree with you? imo you saying theese two are our best players means you no f all about the game.no coinciedence that this poor run as come since brunt returned.
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i have always not been a big fan of brunt, i find him frustrating. but, he can have a terrible came or a game he's gone missing in but he will then make 1 maybe 2 killer set ups and we win, so do we keep him in the team because of that?! i'm simply not sure!
I criticize him but he does prove me wrong, there's no doubt he's had a bad season but didn't rooney have an awful world cup followed by awful season and look at him now. Hopefully Brunt can turn it around because he has that extra quality about him where can set up a goal-chance from nowhere, and before this season chipped in with a fair few important goals from midfield too
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Having planks yelling abuse at him from the stands certainly isn't going to help, seems like there is another search and destroy manouver going on a la Carson in the stands at the moment.
He's three games into a return from a broken ankle FFS, i don't think he sould even be anywhere near playing at the moment because he obviously isn't fit properly yet.
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Did he say recently he should not have played against Newcastle.I find that comment alarming.Why the **** did he play then if he felt he wasn't fit, like Albion59 says our dip coincides with his return
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Having planks yelling abuse at him from the stands certainly isn't going to help, seems like there is another search and destroy manouver going on a la Carson in the stands at the moment.
He's three games into a return from a broken ankle FFS, i don't think he sould even be anywhere near playing at the moment because he obviously isn't fit properly yet.
I hate that people do that, we're meant to "support" our players. Sure, if they play bad criticize on here but shouting from the stands wont help anybody
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HAvent seen him recently, but he is the most talented player we have on our books,
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Did he say recently he should not have played against Newcastle.I find that comment alarming.Why the **** did he play then if he felt he wasn't fit, like Albion59 says our dip coincides with his return
Maybe he thought he was fine before and realised after he wasn't?
I'd say our dip coincides with the loss of Reid, Morrisson and Thomas along with Fortune having some fitness problems.
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Having planks yelling abuse at him from the stands certainly isn't going to help, seems like there is another search and destroy manouver going on a la Carson in the stands at the moment.
He's three games into a return from a broken ankle FFS, i don't think he sould even be anywhere near playing at the moment because he obviously isn't fit properly yet.
rowley my opinions on brunt may differ from yours but i agree 100% that you dont abuse any albion player player during the game. we all have opinions but that kind of thing doesnt help anyone.
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Just play him his best position which is wide left job done!!
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i dont worry about the captain aspect. the captain role is internal, we couldn't possibly comment. i can't remember who it is but a player came out a few weeks/months ago and said he was a great captain.
he hasn't had a good season. it happens. last season he had a great assist stat.
we shouldnt sell though, i just dont think he suits hodgsons style.
I belive that was Olsson. He's never seen himself as a leader (funny that is what the vice captain thinks)
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Putting players into the starting XI and then saying afterwards that they weren't properly fit seems to have become quite commonplace this season. If players need to get match fitness again then bring them on as a sub later in the game. If they're carrying niggles, don't play them at all unless we're absolutely desperate (and a Prem club shouldn't be that desperate unless hald the swuad is injured).
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I got lambasted on here 2 / 3 weeks ago for having the audacity to slate Brunt's performances.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's stepped into the lions den!
In truth the lad has been shocking all season. I've got nothing against him, just calling it as I see it. He has done a lot for us in past seasons and for that he deserves respect. However, now he totally unbalances the team and disrupts any midfield rhythm. One of our weaker players I'm afraid.
Spot on
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He was getting far more abuse than Brunt was on Saturday.
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He was getting far more abuse than Brunt was on Saturday.
I wasn't told about that to be fair, just the Brunt altercation.
Part timer these days.
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I didn't hear any abuse for Pete on Saturday. Brunt got a few boos around me (no I didn't boo him) after his words with the fan.
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should just boo and throw things at them both on there injury troubled seasons wouldnt have any disagreements then on who was being booed more each match, good job the qpr game is two weeks away as lose alot of interest reading this board and hearing our home support this season.
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Im a admirer of Brunt but im the first to admit he hasnt had a great season.These are my thoughts why...
1.Being captain,tries but is not suited to it and instead of concentrating on his own game ends up waving his arms at others.He doesnt need the pressure of captaining a Premier club.Just let him play and concentrate on creating things.
2.Constant switching of positions,left...right...in the middle...why does Roy move him about so much?.I know Roy isnt the first to try him in the middle but for me he does his best work out wide.
3.Roys tactics.On the whole this season we have set up keeping players behind the ball thus limiting our attacks,now im not saying go gung ho Mowbray style but like a number of our players you cannot expect Brunt to produce his best when most of the time he isnt allowed past the final third.
4.Present time.Now you have to cut him some slack since the injury,never is he fit in a million years at the minute and really he should be on the bench and training harder before being thrust back into the frame.
Still a class player but needs to get fit and be allowed to attack a bit more.
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Agreed on the captain bit. He is our most creative player when is on form by a million miles. That pass for Odemwingies goal against Newcastle away was one of the best through balls I've witnessed. It got huge praise on Match of the day after the game as well. His set pieces, however inconsistent they may be, are still better than the rest.
The point is maybe it is best for him and the team if we take the captaincy of him. He only got it in the first place because we dropped Carson and he has held on to it ever since. Let him find his form again through hard work and concentrating on his game, rather than having to worry about leading by example and feeling he has to 'look' like he is a captain.
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Did he say recently he should not have played against Newcastle.I find that comment alarming.Why the **** did he play then if he felt he wasn't fit, like Albion59 says our dip coincides with his return
Because naturally the way to get back to match fitness is to play football matches. At 3-0 we were dead and buried and the 45 minutes sufficient enough for Brunty. I think its unfair to pinpoint our dip on the return of Chris Brunt, he's certainly not the person to blame. Injuries have halted us and we have to try and find the rhythm again, although that will be a lot easier if Hodgson was to ditch this 442 for good.
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I'm still baffled as to why the first team squad returning from injury don't have a couple of games in the reserves to sharpen up and prove fitness.
Only reason I can come up with is that they use the reserves for developing up and coming talent which is fine but until Saturday Tchoyi hadn't started a game since November - he's hardly likely to be fully match fit or sharp.
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I'm still baffled as to why the first team squad returning from injury don't have a couple of games in the reserves to sharpen up and prove fitness.
Only reason I can come up with is that they use the reserves for developing up and coming talent which is fine but until Saturday Tchoyi hadn't started a game since November - he's hardly likely to be fully match fit or sharp.
Spot on with your analysis as to why players coming back from injury or haven't played a competitive game for a while don't get any reserve game time to recover some premier league natch fitness.
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I'm still baffled as to why the first team squad returning from injury don't have a couple of games in the reserves to sharpen up and prove fitness.
Only reason I can come up with is that they use the reserves for developing up and coming talent which is fine but until Saturday Tchoyi hadn't started a game since November - he's hardly likely to be fully match fit or sharp.
I'd wager the players themselves chose not to play in the 'stiffs'. A few Albion 'first teamers' such as Dawson, Dorrans, Shorey and Jara have played reserve games this season, so I'm supposing it's a matter of personal choice. I think the reserves still have a negative perception in the game and the consensus is it's just for the kids and deadwood, and you know how big the ego of your average footballer is.
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I'd wager the players themselves chose not to play in the 'stiffs'. A few Albion 'first teamers' such as Dawson, Dorrans, Shorey and Jara have played reserve games this season, so I'm supposing it's a matter of personal choice. I think the reserves still have a negative perception in the game and the consensus is it's just for the kids and deadwood, and you know how big the ego of your average footballer is.
they shouldnt have a bloody choice, if they are told to play in the stiffs thats the end of it. they play or get find simple.
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they shouldnt have a bloody choice, if they are told to play in the stiffs thats the end of it. they play or get find simple.
Im sure they dont have a choice,Dorrans and Shorey were selected to play against Man Utd res the other week.Its down to the manager whether the getthrown back in or build up fitness.
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Im a admirer of Brunt but im the first to admit he hasnt had a great season.These are my thoughts why...
1.Being captain,tries but is not suited to it and instead of concentrating on his own game ends up waving his arms at others.He doesnt need the pressure of captaining a Premier club.Just let him play and concentrate on creating things.
2.Constant switching of positions,left...right...in the middle...why does Roy move him about so much?.I know Roy isnt the first to try him in the middle but for me he does his best work out wide.
3.Roys tactics.On the whole this season we have set up keeping players behind the ball thus limiting our attacks,now im not saying go gung ho Mowbray style but like a number of our players you cannot expect Brunt to produce his best when most of the time he isnt allowed past the final third.
4.Present time.Now you have to cut him some slack since the injury,never is he fit in a million years at the minute and really he should be on the bench and training harder before being thrust back into the frame.
Still a class player but needs to get fit and be allowed to attack a bit more.
Brilliant post. This puts what I would fail to put into words myself.
Brunt has quality, there is no doubt about it. People seem to be picking on our best players at the moment. First it was Morrison for a while last season, now it's Brunt and the Odemwingie complaints have been going on all season. Surely it must be difficult for them to acquaint themselves to a more structured and organised set-up such as Roy's.
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It's just expectation. you expect your best players to perform and when they don't, the fans get angry and disappointed
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It's just expectation. you expect your best players to perform and when they don't, the fans get angry and disappointed
agreed so why some fans get angry is beyond me when were having a decent season and despite little ups and downs that all players have chris brunt has been fine as he always is. some fans need to reign in their expectations a little be more realistic about where we are and then they wont get so angry and disappointed.
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Expectation levels are created by perceived achievement & its a human trait that the more you get the more you want, take our little run of 3 wins, dingles, sunderland & chelsea, all of a sudden some fans are thinking, hold on we can make Champions league here but space those results out as dingles win, man u lose, sunderland win, wigan draw, chelsea win, newcastle lose, everton lose & expectations would probably not be so high.
In a similar way, Chris Brunt has played extremely well for us in the past & because his last few games have been below par (for whatever reason), some fans will become critical of him.
On the captain issue, he would be well down the order for me, as I think a captain should be a 'stand up & be counted' type player that will role his sleeves up when things aren't going well & someone that can inspire his team mates to do the same, I really don't see that with Brunty, I think somebody mentioned in an earlier post that his performances may improve if he didn't have the added responsibility of the armband.
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appalling body language - not what you need from the captain.
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Moment of the say.. ..some numbnuts loudly booing our captain literally five seconds before he created our all important second goal.
To say he was humiliated by all around is an understatement.
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Not Brunts biggest fan (I may have mentioned it before :D ), thought he was better today, no coincidence he stuck out wide more.
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His set pieces and general deliveries are one of the main points to his game, they are simply fantastic. Really do not understand the stick he gets. One of our best players
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Hate hate hate fans behind me constantly mouthing off PO and Brunt when, ironically, they present us with many goal scoring opportunities.
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Hate hate hate fans behind me constantly mouthing off PO and Brunt when, ironically, they present us with many goal scoring opportunities.
you'll always get that sadly. console yourself with the thought that they havnt a clue what their talking about! brunty not back to his top best yet but hes gettin there and some of his crosses today were beauties!
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Decided to watch him closely not overly impressed really but we all see him in a different light dont we.I was quite shocked seeing him looking at grass often and waiving his arms regularly
Not his biggest fan but he obviously has talent, talking of talent did any one see that dog last night
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Hate hate hate fans behind me constantly mouthing off PO and Brunt when, ironically, they present us with many goal scoring opportunities.
You can understand it though. As long as they arent shouting it out it is just normal to voice an opinion to the person next to you.
Yesterday, like much of the season, Brunt and Odemwingie were poor and wasteful.
Of course, the great paradox is that Brunt will often pop up once in a match, like yesterday, to create a goal with his one good touch of the ball. The same goes for Odemwingie.
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He was unlucky with the one ball on the outside of his boot in the first half which just missed Odemwingie and ran out for a goalkeeper, that would of been a fantastic ball had he taken a bit of pace off it. I was eager for him to impress, just like Dorrans but unfortunately he never really got going. There was some decent balls into the box but I tend to remember the one where he played it into the keepers hand and his cross which went into the BRE more so than his decent deliveries which is a shame and unfortunate for him.
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Brunty also hit a couple of wonderful passes from deep positions when we were breaking. Once to Mulumbu (I think it was) and once to PO who mishit his pass to Mulumbu who was completely clear on goal.
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He was unlucky with the one ball on the outside of his boot in the first half which just missed Odemwingie and ran out for a goalkeeper, that would of been a fantastic ball had he taken a bit of pace off it. I was eager for him to impress, just like Dorrans but unfortunately he never really got going. There was some decent balls into the box but I tend to remember the one where he played it into the keepers hand and his cross which went into the BRE more so than his decent deliveries which is a shame and unfortunate for him.
CB was fine yesterday. Just needs a couple more games. Been out for a good while since injury so it will take a little time to find his best form. A half fit CB is still better than some we have on our bench.
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As Basil Fawlty would say, a touch of class.
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Phil was 50% responsible for deploying andy brewer as a deep lying playmaker - you can't buy nouse like that!
and from that i now play that exact same role for both my saturday and sunday team, ;D
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Of course, the great paradox is that Brunt will often pop up once in a match, like yesterday, to create a goal with his one good touch of the ball. The same goes for Odemwingie.
If they popped up all the way through a match to create goals, they wouldn't be playing for us. Them's the rules.
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No one wishing for Brunts composure and passing tonight? :-*
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No one wishing for Brunts composure and passing tonight? :-*
erm !! I think tonight was missing a lot more than Chris Brunt but we lost so lets use the 'we were missing Brunt arguments'.
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erm !! I think tonight was missing a lot more than Chris Brunt but we lost so lets use the 'we were missing Brunt arguments'.
So you thought any of our midfielders aside from Mulumbu looked comfortable on the ball, or even wanted the ball?
And you don't think Chris Brunt does want the ball and is comfortable in possession?
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So you thought any of our midfielders aside from Mulumbu looked comfortable on the ball, or even wanted the ball?
And you don't think Chris Brunt does want the ball and is comfortable in possession?
strangely i thought Mulumbu was weak today. but i'm not going to create a new thread just to rail at a team that cost less than one opposition player that they should be matching them in all areas away from home where the opposition havent lost all season. I think some one may have slightly overbloated expectations ::)
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No they didn't look comfortable, did they want it ? ask them only they can answer that. Also ask Roy why he played the most negative central midfield trio possible who could not create anything between them, ask him why he chose a striker to play 90minutes out wide.
We lost and Brunt didn't play so he must be the answer to all our problems.
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strangely i thought Mulumbu was weak today. but i'm not going to create a new thread just to rail at a team that cost less than one opposition player that they should be matching them in all areas away from home where the opposition havent lost all season. I think some one may have slightly overbloated expectations ::)
I take it that petty dig is aimed at me then ?
I don't have any overbloated expectations. I have an overbloated belly but thats life.
So their players cost more than ours and earn better money, why turn up then ?
Man Utd dropped points in one game at home last season, who was that against ? please remind me. We went to the mirates and beat them last season, amazing what can happen when you go prepared to have a go.
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no, at jacko. read the "average grafters" thread and tell me it isnt just a soap box with a reply button. It was the way he basically states here and the other thread thread that "wah, wah we lost. we must be terrible. we must win every game"
Thats how it sounds to me.
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no, at jacko. read the "average grafters" thread and tell me it isnt just a soap box with a reply button. It was the way he basically states here and the other thread thread that "wah, wah we lost. we must be terrible. we must win every game"
Thats how it sounds to me.
:D Fair enough, sorry about that then but I was right about my overbloated belly :o
Was a bad night all round to be fair.
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no, at jacko. read the "average grafters" thread and tell me it isnt just a soap box with a reply button. It was the way he basically states here and the other thread thread that "wah, wah we lost. we must be terrible. we must win every game"
Thats how it sounds to me.
You have totally misread me, I far from believe we should win every game. But I believe we should give ourselves a chance. No Premier League team should ever "park the bus" against another, there should not be players in a Premier League team who cannot pass the ball 5 yards to teammates 8 or 9 times out of 10, there should not be passengers that other need to carry or that fans need to make excuses for.
If you were happy with tonight's display then fair enough. I'm going to assume you weren't anywhere near Eastlands.
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Brunt would not have made the slightest bit of difference last night, he would have gone missing
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You have totally misread me, I far from believe we should win every game. But I believe we should give ourselves a chance. No Premier League team should ever "park the bus" against another, there should not be players in a Premier League team who cannot pass the ball 5 yards to teammates 8 or 9 times out of 10, there should not be passengers that other need to carry or that fans need to make excuses for.
If you were happy with tonight's display then fair enough. I'm going to assume you weren't anywhere near Eastlands.
no, sadly i have a job in between semesters at uni. i didnt get home to Birmingham till 8 let alone get to Manchester. I'm just saying that i wasn't expecting anything out of this. this was a defensive option hard-pressed by a very high quality team that needed this break. I think I say it most times we lose and people say we are useless (generic words not yours). we didn't play bad from what I saw, just completely outplayed. the team couldn't pass because they were allowed little time on the ball to think of what to do. that is why i brought up cost. City pay for players who can work in those conditions, ours couldn't. remember that was our defensive option. what if we had used the offensive?
oh, and Brunt wouldn't have changed anything btw
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Excellent today, hard working with two great tackles in the second half when covering Jones.
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Excellent today, hard working with two great tackles in the second half when covering Jones.
And a great break up in the box covering for Ridgewell! late on... Plus his passes were destroying QPR on the right hand side most of the game, setting up Jones etc. We so badly need his ability to hit long and short passes all over the pitch and his ability to hold on to the ball.
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Brunt was the difference between two average sides today. When this boy's on song, he can turn it on.
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I've given him stick lately but was much better today and a bit more disciplined in sticking to his position.
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Superb game he had.
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Great game today. Dangerous balls into the box, clever passes, cutting through balls, great link-up play with Jones... he was very unlucky not to get an assist. Not only that he gave a textbook performance of how a side-midfielder should be defensively, he worked hard all game covering Jones superbly putting in great blocks and tackles. When he's in the mood Brunt is a very good player, he just needs to be in the mood more often.
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Thought this thread would of been a bit more active.
It was a good performance from Brunty. Probably up there with the best he's produced this season. He made himself available, like Dorrans. Produced some very good passes and did his fair share of defensive tracking back in the second half with two very good blocks to deny Traore. A good performance and one he needs to build on.
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We must take into account that Chris brunt has only just returned back from a serious injury and it takes time, players are human after all! It was a very good performance on that basis and Brunt will get better as he gets his fitness back.
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Named on the shortlist for GB Olympic Football Team 8)
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Clearly very rusty today having not played any real PL football this year. His passing was very unlike Brunty but to be expected really. Glad to see SC leave him on to get some much needed match practice. He will be back to his best soon enough. But what disappointed me a little was the amount of stick he seemed to be getting from some of our fans. Seemed a bit disproportionate considering this was his first outing?
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Clearly very rusty today having not played any real PL football this year. His passing was very unlike Brunty but to be expected really. Glad to see SC leave him on to get some much needed match practice. He will be back to his best soon enough. But what disappointed me a little was the amount of stick he seemed to be getting from some of our fans. Seemed a bit disproportionate considering this was his first outing?
I think first outing or not, there is a basic expectation to be able to pass the ball 5-10 yards to a reasonable degree of competency. I'm one of Brunts bigger fans, but rusty or not, he was very poor today.
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Now I am a big fan of Brunt but if he lacks one thing as a professional footballer it is positional discipline.
Too many times today he drifted back into the middle of the park leaving players wondering where he had gone.
It isn't just today though he has been guilty of it. This issue has been there since we've had him really.
He is capable of changing a game with one kick of the ball but I feel that from his point of view if he doesn't improve on that he won't develop onto the next level.
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(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/23/u9e7eqa4.jpg)
Enough said re Brunty!
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So people can't discuss his recent performances then on a forum set up for that purpose ?
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How many times does he start a season off so poorly? It seems as if he needs ten games to get started.
I rate him highly but 10 games out of 38 is a quarter of the season.
For me he needs too show more consistancy at the level we are right now or he will get left behind as a squad player.
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I guess everyone passed the ball with perfection except Brunt. Might as well sell him. The new Carson perhaps? I don't mind when players are critisized but sometimes it seems to go over the top. Managers past and present rate him as does his teammates but hey what do they know. He was not the Brunt we know he can be today, yes ok but the way he is treated by some it's just seems too much sometimes! Or maybe I should look at it as respect for the player that people see Brunt as one of our best players so when he has a bad game he gets it more than others, I don't know just frustrating to read so much negativity, he's rusty with his first league start and had no pre-season lets give him a few games??
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I guess everyone passed the ball with perfection except Brunt. Might as well sell him. The new Carson perhaps? I don't mind when players are critisized but sometimes it seems to go over the top. Managers past and present rate him as does his teammates but hey what do they know. He was not the Brunt we know he can be today, yes ok but the way he is treated by some it's just seems too much sometimes! Or maybe I should look at it as respect for the player that people see Brunt as one of our best players so when he has a bad game he gets it more than others, I don't know just frustrating to read so much negativity, he's rusty with his first league start and had no pre-season lets give him a few games??
He had a poor game. No-one wants to sell him; no-one is giving him the Carson treatment.
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He had a poor game. No-one wants to sell him; no-one is giving him the Carson treatment.
Except for the mad woman at the back of the brummie :D
Clearly he has talent ,had a bad first half,needs to stay wide and probably should not be captain,don't write him off just yet.
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So Brunty blows hot and cold, what else is new? (read this thread, awful one week brilliant the next). He needs to adapt to the new team this season and he needs to stop a few bad habits holding him down.
I hope the challenge spurs him on and I look forward to seeing him when he hits form again.
I am happy we are playing well and picking up points even if one or two of our strongest players isn't on top of their games. Hopefully those struggling a bit now will hit form when current in form players tire a bit, and in that way we can stay strong throughout the season.
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i think chris brunt as a superb left foot, excellent set piece deliveries and an eye for a pass, he as also improved his defensive side. he had a poor game today end of. still part of an excellent squad.
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The whole point of a forum like this is to discuss players, managers, performances etc and this thread is about Chris Brunt and its where people will discuss him.
That won't change, some might not like and think as soon as a bad word is said then its a case of 'Tom, he's crap, he's gorra gow'. You will get some ott reactions just as you get ott reactions the other way with some thinking that certain players are untouchable and above any sort of criticism. Theres a thing called 'middle ground' which is lacking on here way to often.
As long as its within our site rules then players whoever they are can be criticised, praised, whatever whether some like it or not. Outside our rules then your post will be taken off no matter what point you're trying to make or who you are.
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He is one of the best players in the squad. If he performed consistently at the peak of his form he wouldn't be with us. I have so many great memories of his sublime left foot, the article in a northern Irish paper proclaiming him better than Messi (based on fact!) and him being involved in everything good that has happened at this club for a good few years now.
Give him chance to find his feet without getting on his back. Even though not at his best yesterday, he still won a header that allowed Long to pick out Dorrans in the build up to the goal.
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Whenever he plays he drifts inside causing no width, clots up the midfield meaning (yesterday) gera had to go wider so no runs off lukaku and no goals until someone can run off the striker (long). As well as this, it is no surprise that we looked shaky down the left when defending because of it constantly being 2-on-1 (same when Pete plays right.)
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Whenever he plays he drifts inside causing no width, clots up the midfield meaning (yesterday) gera had to go wider so no runs off lukaku and no goals until someone can run off the striker (long). As well as this, it is no surprise that we looked shaky down the left when defending because of it constantly being 2-on-1 (same when Pete plays right.)
It's utterly pointless playing Brunt on the wing, as a 'traditional' winger, unless we have plenty of people in the box for him to aim crosses at. And we don't play that way at the moment. We may go 442 with Long and Lukaku in the box, in that case sure, play Brunty on the wing and make him a cross machine.
The reason Brunty comes in looking for the ball is that he is wasted on the wing since he will never beat anyone for pace and his greatest strength, his passing ability, is negated because he has so few options to pass to on the wing (unless the team goes with the option up top attacking the box in numbers).
Our problem yesterday was not Brunt coming in as much as the team being static, lacking movement, with only Lukaku moving up front and Morrison finding a bit of space. When the team overall is very mobile and dynamic, with fluid movement, Brunty's passing comes alive as he can pick out players with extreme accuracy and he can do it instinctively and instantly. When we are static and stolid like yesterday nothing works because the movement isn't there. Brunt tried too hard yesterday to make the game dynamic (increase the movement) and it didn't work at all because he ended up a square peg in a round hole with the system we were using.
Offensively Gera was a bit of the same problem for us, we needed a player with speed/movement playing in that position.
When we do have a highly mobile team, Brunt becomes extremely difficult to defend against because the defenders have so many threats to protect against that Brunty can pick out the little gap they will inevitable leave open.
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I personally think his lack of performance yesterday was due to the way Reading played more so than how he himself played. When people try to defend like that and do nothing else, it suddenly becomes very hard to play in a way that will suit him. Because of this, it probably would have suited him more if we attempted to cross towards goal more often, but with only Lukaku there it would never really have come off, so he's left in a rather less effective role. However, when Long came on did anyone notice that we suddenly had more crosses into him from both Brunt and Dorrans? It's also interesting that the goal came from a knock down by Long, also.
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And Brunt was so close to getting another assist when Olsson headed against the post! :)
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His corners and set pieces are 9 times out of 10 spot on, as they were yesterday. Gave the ball away way too much though imo.
I felt once the ball got into midfield if Lukaku couldn't be spotted they didn't really know what to do, would panic and turn back, a few times giving the ball away. The most obvious example yesterday was when Lukaku went down in the centre circle, Brunt paced down the wing only to whip a decent ball into the empty box :-\
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Whenever he plays he drifts inside causing no width, clots up the midfield meaning (yesterday) gera had to go wider so no runs off lukaku and no goals until someone can run off the striker (long). As well as this, it is no surprise that we looked shaky down the left when defending because of it constantly being 2-on-1 (same when Pete plays right.)
what game were you watching? when was Gera ever wide? He was drifting inside as well! And as for him making no runs off Lukaku he didn't run at all he looks gone! Gera should have been wide as he was playing as our right winger but wasn't!
As for Brunt he has always drifted in and floated around which costs us but as well as that yesterday his passing and crossing was appauling.
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I am not going to get into the debate whether i think Brunty is good enough or not, some weeks he is class, others not........same as 99% of most footballers.
The one thing that i cannot understand, and that is, why is he captain?
My opinion of a captain, is that he should be a leader, encourage, push your team mates, represent the club etc etc. Every game i see him, his body language comes across very poor, he looks like he is doing a sketch for Harry Enfield...Perry!
However i understand that he may be an excellent off field ambassador, and if this is the case, i apologise for sounding harsh.
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It's utterly pointless playing Brunt on the wing, as a 'traditional' winger, unless we have plenty of people in the box for him to aim crosses at. And we don't play that way at the moment. We may go 442 with Long and Lukaku in the box, in that case sure, play Brunty on the wing and make him a cross machine.
The reason Brunty comes in looking for the ball is that he is wasted on the wing since he will never beat anyone for pace and his greatest strength, his passing ability, is negated because he has so few options to pass to on the wing (unless the team goes with the option up top attacking the box in numbers).
He might be "wasted on the wing" as you say however that was where he was asked to play, yet he spent most of the 1st half coming inside and leaving Ridgewell exposed when defending and with no out ball when trying to attack. I imagine SC had words at half time as he appeared to stay out wide in the 2nd half.
His passing was lacking a little too, he always seems to want to play a killer ball which doesn't often come off rather than doing the simple 10 yard pass and allowing us to keep possession.
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He might be "wasted on the wing" as you say however that was where he was asked to play, yet he spent most of the 1st half coming inside and leaving Ridgewell exposed when defending and with no out ball when trying to attack. I imagine SC had words at half time as he appeared to stay out wide in the 2nd half.
His passing was lacking a little too, he always seems to want to play a killer ball which doesn't often come off rather than doing the simple 10 yard pass and allowing us to keep possession.
That's my main gripe with Brunt - he seems to look for the wonder strike whether its a shot or cross. If he took 5% off the fizz and added 5% to the accuracy he'd be so much more effective.
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hes a winger, they are notorious for being inconsistant, class one week, awful the next.
it applies to the other wingers at our club: Gera, Thomas
past examples koumas, kamara, kilbane.
the bloke is a vital member of our squad there is no one with a passing abilty anywhere near to his.
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hes a winger, they are notorious for being inconsistant, class one week, awful the next.
it applies to the other wingers at our club: Gera, Thomas
past examples koumas, kamara, kilbane.
the bloke is a vital member of our squad there is no one with a passing abilty anywhere near to his.
I agree with him blowing hot and cold, saturday he couldnt pass wind !
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Not one of Bruntys best games but it was his first start of the season unlike the rest who had played a few already. But the great thing about CB is he never stops trying to create something even when its not quite coming off. Our most creative passer alongside Dozza.
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He shouldnt be in the team. The only reason i can see for him being selected is that he is (wrongly) Captain.
The formation Clarke has us set up in, effectively 4-3-3, does not suit Chris Brunt in the slightest.
All Brunt has to his game for me is a final ball, he is by far the best crosser we have in the squad, and when he whips it in from the left 9 times out of 10 its going to be a very good ball. The problem with Brunt though is that he appears to think that hes too good to be stuck out on the left and he wanders inside and stays there to get himself into the game more, all this does though is congest the middle suffocating our better central players like Morrison and Mulumbu.
Brunt is very ineffective playing from the middle, hes not combative enough, not fast enough and cant tackle, and if he sees himself as a CM he shouldnt even be on our bench let alone in our starting 11, what he is though is a very good winger, similar to Beckham in that he wont beat a man but can always create something. And if he is willing to stay in his best position he would be more deserving of a place in the side.
Ridgewell played both LM and LB on saturday because Brunt was never available down that wing.
For me Brunt is never going to accept staying out on the left, and for that reason he should be nothing more than a bench man for us in my opinion, as we have enough players (Thomas, Rosenberg, Odemwingie, Fortune, Gera, El-G) who will actually stay in position on the wing, do a good job, and help out the full back.
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He shouldnt be in the team. The only reason i can see for him being selected is that he is (wrongly) Captain.
The formation Clarke has us set up in, effectively 4-3-3, does not suit Chris Brunt in the slightest.
All Brunt has to his game for me is a final ball, he is by far the best crosser we have in the squad, and when he whips it in from the left 9 times out of 10 its going to be a very good ball. The problem with Brunt though is that he appears to think that hes too good to be stuck out on the left and he wanders inside and stays there to get himself into the game more, all this does though is congest the middle suffocating our better central players like Morrison and Mulumbu.
Brunt is very ineffective playing from the middle, hes not combative enough, not fast enough and cant tackle, and if he sees himself as a CM he shouldnt even be on our bench let alone in our starting 11, what he is though is a very good winger, similar to Beckham in that he wont beat a man but can always create something. And if he is willing to stay in his best position he would be more deserving of a place in the side.
Ridgewell played both LM and LB on saturday because Brunt was never available down that wing.
For me Brunt is never going to accept staying out on the left, and for that reason he should be nothing more than a bench man for us in my opinion, as we have enough players (Thomas, Rosenberg, Odemwingie, Fortune, Gera, El-G) who will actually stay in position on the wing, do a good job, and help out the full back.
Disagree completely. Personally I think we are always a better team when Brunt plays. I have no problem with him playing more centrally if it gets him on the ball because he is one of the few players we have who creates offensively on a consistent basis. I actually think sometimes he is a bit wasted out on the wing but because we are top heavy on midfielders and tend to play with a single man up front and two defensive players he really has to occupy a wider position. He doesnt drift in because he just fancies it. Professional football doesnt work like that. He will have discussed that with the coaching staff and they must endorse that tactic. To say he gets out of position and fails to support the full back just isnt the case imo. His workrate is generally excellent and when possession turns over he is always one of the first to drop back into a covering role. A quality PL player now, one that a fair few clubs would be interested in should he come onto the market.
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Disagree completely. Personally I think we are always a better team when Brunt plays. I have no problem with him playing more centrally if it gets him on the ball because he is one of the few players we have who creates offensively on a consistent basis.
if he was supposed to be playing centrally then I would agree with your point but he is being asked to play out wide so why doesn't he? he comes inside an unbalances the team.
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if he was supposed to be playing centrally then I would agree with your point but he is being asked to play out wide so why doesn't he? he comes inside an unbalances the team.
How do you know he is being asked to stay out wide? I would suggest the coaching staff ask him to play in a flexible way ie when in possession do what ever is necessary to get on the ball and in the game and when we lose the ball drop back in to a wider covering position. On the contrary you could say he doesnt unbalance the team he influences it when he drops inside a bit more. I except what you say that sometimes we lack width on the right hand side if he is in the middle but any professional coach would probably say its all about getting your best players on the pitch. And Brunty is easily one of our best players.
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How do you know he is being asked to stay out wide? I would suggest the coaching staff ask him to play in a flexible way ie when in possession do what ever is necessary to get on the ball and in the game and when we lose the ball drop back in to a wider covering position. On the contrary you could say he doesnt unbalance the team he influences it when he drops inside a bit more. I except what you say that sometimes we lack width on the right hand side if he is in the middle but any professional coach would probably say its all about getting your best players on the pitch. And Brunty is easily one of our best players.
because that's where he lined up at the start of the match! If he was supposed to have a free role or a more central role then surely SC would have put someone else out wide to counter Brunt;s tendency to come inside meaning that Ridgewell would have had some cover. Also in the 2nd half he pretty much stayed out wide...which I'm assuming was after having a talking to from SC, but whatever the reason he stayed out wide and was much more effective..leading me to believe that where he was supposed to be playing.
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because that's where he lined up at the start of the match! If he was supposed to have a free role or a more central role then surely SC would have put someone else out wide to counter Brunt;s tendency to come inside meaning that Ridgewell would have had some cover. Also in the 2nd half he pretty much stayed out wide...which I'm assuming was after having a talking to from SC, but whatever the reason he stayed out wide and was much more effective..leading me to believe that where he was supposed to be playing.
So your saying that a players starting position when the ball is kicked off is a rigid position that the player has to stick to for the duration of the game? We lined up with three advanced midfielders and no wingers. Brunt is a midfielder not a winger so he covered the ground in the wide midfield area both offensively and defensively. SC may well have asked him to try and exploit the wider area in the second half as the game got a bit more stretched when in possession but to assume that he bo......kd him at half time for not sticking rigidly to a wide area is a bit niave imo. Since we were dominating the game I would have thought he would just ask his players to carry on as they were be patient with the final ball
and a goal will come. Thats what actually happened. Just my opinion but I think Brunty is completely wasted out on the touchline...he isnt even close to being a winger
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So your saying that a players starting position when the ball is kicked off is a rigid position that the player has to stick to for the duration of the game? We lined up with three advanced midfielders and no wingers. Brunt is a midfielder not a winger so he covered the ground in the wide midfield area both offensively and defensively. SC may well have asked him to try and exploit the wider area in the second half as the game got a bit more stretched when in possession but to assume that he bo......kd him at half time for not sticking rigidly to a wide area is a bit niave imo. Since we were dominating the game I would have thought he would just ask his players to carry on as they were be patient with the final ball
and a goal will come. Thats what actually happened. Just my opinion but I think Brunty is completely wasted out on the touchline...he isnt even close to being a winger
I never said he had to stick to his position rigidly. however i feel that a manager picks a player to play in a position that he feels will suit his game plan and the players abilities....and asks him to play that position. now do you really think that SC would have wanted ridgewell to be left on his own for most of the first half with no cover and no out ball....because that's exactly what he had because of Brunt. if SC didn't expect him to play as a winger I would expect that he asked him to play a left sided midfield role....which he didn't do for the first half as he was often bunched up with Mulumbu and Morrison in the centre.
The one thing we can definitley agree on is that Brunt is not a winger.
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I never said he had to stick to his position rigidly. however i feel that a manager picks a player to play in a position that he feels will suit his game plan and the players abilities....and asks him to play that position. now do you really think that SC would have wanted ridgewell to be left on his own for most of the first half with no cover and no out ball....because that's exactly what he had because of Brunt. if SC didn't expect him to play as a winger I would expect that he asked him to play a left sided midfield role....which he didn't do for the first half as he was often bunched up with Mulumbu and Morrison in the centre.
The one thing we can definitley agree on is that Brunt is not a winger.
Agree to disagree a bit on this one Hull.......... :D I didnt think Brunty left Ridgwell that exposed hence why McCleary didnt get a sniff at all. I think once Brunty finds his sharpness he will be a fixture in the side.
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Agree to disagree a bit on this one Hull.......... :D I didnt think Brunty left Ridgwell that exposed hence why McCleary didnt get a sniff at all. I think once Brunty finds his sharpness he will be a fixture in the side.
fair play Ruby, we could go round in circles! have to say that you are one of the posters on here that I enjoy reading.
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I think when you have a player like CB in your side, it is hard to keep him to one position. He can play across the middle, coming in to support the forwards and run the sides to whip in crosses.
If you look at the midfield we have, we have Yacob/Mulumbu protecting the back 4, and then you have Brunt/Morrison to supply the forwards with a choice of Gera/Dorrans/El-G/Fortune/Odemwingie/Thomas to play the wingers/SS role.
You have to give Mozza and Brunty the freedom to move and chop them selves into positions, to strike from distance or thread the ball to the forwards. I think if you look at how Ridgewell ran the whole left, it seemed planned,a tactical decision by SC, and something that worked to our advantage, as we could push the midfield into a more central motion, to feed Lukaku.
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fair play Ruby, we could go round in circles! have to say that you are one of the posters on here that I enjoy reading.
Cheers Hull thanks for the complement. Its good to share views on our beloved WBA even when we dont always agree! Opinions...its what makes talking football enjoyable. Personally I really enjoy this site so Im glad I came across it. There's a good mix of people in this community and always plenty of interesting discussions to keep you entertained. COYB........ ;D
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Quick question. Based on his admittedly limited appearances so far this season does he deserve to be in the starting 11? Reading reports of his performances would suggest not.
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Not any more, no. It's pretty much all been said (for and against) in the last sixteen pages, but last night was another strong piece of evidence in support of the 'against' camp.
Rubyruby (with whom I generally find I agree, but not on this) somewhere above said that when Brunt plays the team plays better. I think that's usually not the case these days, and last night was a good example.
He has a cultured left foot and a footballing brain, but he's been 'off' more than 'on' for the last 18 months, and consistently (and very strongly last night) looks like he is slouching and sulking his way through the game if its going badly, aimless ambling through if its going well. The very opposite of leadership. Jonas played badly last night too, but at least he looked ashamed and as though he wanted to make it up till the last minute. Brunt just looked as though he wanted to take his ball back and go home to his mom.
There's quality in him that's worth having on the bench for the last twenty minutes, but when Gera (our top creative forward) is resting, I'd start Dorrans ahead of Brunt at least half the time.
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Not any more, no. It's pretty much all been said (for and against) in the last sixteen pages, but last night was another strong piece of evidence in support of the 'against' camp.
Rubyruby (with whom I generally find I agree, but not on this) somewhere above said that when Brunt plays the team plays better. I think that's usually not the case these days, and last night was a good example.
He has a cultured left foot and a footballing brain, but he's been 'off' more than 'on' for the last 18 months, and consistently (and very strongly last night) looks like he is slouching and sulking his way through the game if its going badly, aimless ambling through if its going well. The very opposite of leadership. Jonas played badly last night too, but at least he looked ashamed and as though he wanted to make it up till the last minute. Brunt just looked as though he wanted to take his ball back and go home to his mom.
There's quality in him that's worth having on the bench for the last twenty minutes, but when Gera (our top creative forward) is resting, I'd start Dorrans ahead of Brunt at least half the time.
Sums up my thoughts exactly, there are 6 players whose name would be before brunt on team sheet fro the midfield positions for me.....
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To be honest i have never been his biggest fan but he and the rest of them were absolute tosh last night
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He, and the other 10 players, had an off night whilst Swansea played well. We have to remember that Gera is getting older and just back from a bad injury so cannot play every game, Dorrans has done nothing to convince anyone he's worth a start whereas Brunt has come on and contributed regularly this season supplying a few goals in the process.
Brunt has had an injury hit season so far but still made a good contribution to our opening 14 games, he's also been seen as important cog in our wheel by the last four managers and has been captain under the last three - so he must be doing something right.
Let's not over react after our first bad performance of the season eh? It makes us look fickle.
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Didn't come on here last night, thought to myself someone is going to be made a scapegoat, logged on this morning and it seems that Brunt has been the chosen one. How very predictable.
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Look a bit closer & you'll see Billy Jones is also on the naughty board :(
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Didn't come on here last night, thought to myself someone is going to be made a scapegoat, logged on this morning and it seems that Brunt has been the chosen one. How very predictable.
It's one of the main reasons i rarely bother these days, we seem incapable of giving the opposition credit and accepting the fact that not everthing will allways go to plan.
I'd love to count up Brunt's assists and work rate stats over the last few seasons, just to kill the myth about him being lazy and not adding anything to our team.
Mulumbu and Morrisson were poor too, where are their threads?
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I am not looking for a scapegoat for last night's performance frankly we had 11 players and a coach who could all have done better.
Since Brunt has come to the club I have definitely been in the camp that the team is better with him than without him, but he has not been great this season albeit it has been a season that has been disrupted by injury. My view is that he should come good in the wide left position but on current form Dorrans and Gera are starting to look better options and really Brunt needs to take the next opportunity he gets otherwise he will start to struggle to find a place in the team.
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Brunt is always everyone scapegoat,
Mulumbu never he could have the worse game on the pitch and people would be like he worked hard, The amount of times he gives the ball away on a good day let alone a bad day,
One bad result and all this,
We are sitting 3rd in the table if the season finished at the end of last night we would still be in the Champions league,
If we were 10-14th in the league everyone would of been happy, as soccer am would say its all about our bouncebackability on Saturday
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Laudrup has said that it's the best Swansea have played in years! So I think we need to give them a bit of credit at least.
It's just one of those grounds that will probably dish up these kind of results year on year.
Just need a turnaround against stoke
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Not a Brunt fan by any means and yes last night he was poor but was he the worst and does he deserve to be singled out ?
Answer is a big fat no !!!
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I do rate Brunt and certainly think he adds something to our squad and would be valuable in certain games whether starting or coming off the bench to see out games.
However I think in previous seasons he has been a key player for us, i no longer think he falls into that catergory as our new style of play i dont think suits him. We allow teams a lot of the ball and then hit them with pace on the counter attack, i think probably due to the type of player Brunt is his natural instinct is to slow the game down, he has a fantastic pass on him but for quick one/two touch stuff which is the way we counter i dont think it suits him.
I would think Saturday when we play Stoke may be more suited to Brunt because we will have more possession than them, the onus will be on us, probably the same when we play Villa, Reading, West Ham, Norwich too plus one or two others, sides where we will have more of the ball.
Brunt was rubbish last night but so was everyone else!
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The thread didn't reopen with blaming him for last night. Just asked, informed by last night and the rest of the season to date, whether he should start.
And most of us who've answered haven't blamed him for last night either. Just concluded that, no, his form over quite a long period, including last night, doesn't justify a start.
They almost all played badly last night. Brunt is not a scapegoat for last night's defeat. He's just the subject of this thread because, er, he's the subject of this thread.
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I do rate Brunt and certainly think he adds something to our squad and would be valuable in certain games whether starting or coming off the bench to see out games.
However I think in previous seasons he has been a key player for us, i no longer think he falls into that catergory as our new style of play i dont think suits him. We allow teams a lot of the ball and then hit them with pace on the counter attack, i think probably due to the type of player Brunt is his natural instinct is to slow the game down, he has a fantastic pass on him but for quick one/two touch stuff which is the way we counter i dont think it suits him.
I would think Saturday when we play Stoke may be more suited to Brunt because we will have more possession than them, the onus will be on us, probably the same when we play Villa, Reading, West Ham, Norwich too plus one or two others, sides where we will have more of the ball.
Brunt was rubbish last night but so was everyone else!
And we're solidly last in the Prem in crosses, which doesn't exactly play to one of Brunty's strengths.
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Brunt was very poor, and seems to have an attitude problem, shrugging and moaning instead of getting stuck in. Odimwingie just doesn't pass, and lost the ball every time. Fortune and Long should lead the line Saturday, as they are tough enough for the Stoke thugs.
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the team and management all below par on the night.Captain not in a million years
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Just concluded that, no, his form over quite a long period, including last night, doesn't justify a start.
Don't think anyone would disagree that Gera, Mozza and Odemwingie is our best combination in attacking midfield.
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Captain not in a million years
So Di Matteo, Hodgson and Clarke are all wrong then?
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One thing I noticed is when Brunty did one of his Row Z specials Clarke didn't look best pleased exactly. Hope Steve puts a stop to them we must have seen literally a hundred of those over the years, much better to keep possession within the team.
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Chris Brunt has always been the kind of player that takes a while to get going in a season and that is after completing a full pre-season program. He hasn't had that luxury this time and has suffered with injuries, he has always been one of those players that stand out when things aren't going too well but I think that is down to his genuine demeanor where he always seems to point the finger at others on the pitch rather than take any responsibility himself.
He will always be a frustrating player, on his day he is absolutely top quality and is always capable of doing something quality that can make a difference in a match and that must be the reason so many managers have had him down as one of the first names on the team sheet come the weekend. When he isn't playing well he usually stands out from the rest unfortunately.
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He takes a mean set piece, something that is vital in the current day and age.
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He takes a mean set piece, something that is vital in the current day and age.
He does that, by far our best. I just wish he'd rediscover his open play form.
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He does that, by far our best. I just wish he'd rediscover his open play form.
Maybe its the added pressure of him being captain
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Maybe its the added pressure of him being captain
It shouldn't make a difference if you ask me but I agree, it all seems to have coincided with one another
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He is a left footed beckham, they got well known for having the best crossing ability around along with awesome passing, so they then see themselves as centre midfielders and too good to be out wide even though that's what made them known in the first place hence why brunt is always drifting inside and beckham now plays in the centre......problem is they cant tackle, have no pace, rubbish with the weaker foot, cant head the ball and not box to box players.......brunt should be hogging the touchline whipping balls in with gera on the right heading them in..........he should go back to basics which made him known in the first place.
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He is a left footed beckham, they got well known for having the best crossing ability around along with awesome passing, so they then see themselves as centre midfielders and too good to be out wide even though that's what made them known in the first place hence why brunt is always drifting inside and beckham now plays in the centre......problem is they cant tackle, have no pace, rubbish with the weaker foot, cant head the ball and not box to box players.......brunt should be hogging the touchline whipping balls in with gera on the right heading them in..........he should go back to basics which made him known in the first place.
Can't argue with any of that, no doubt others will disagree but I see it spot on.
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He is a left footed beckham, they got well known for having the best crossing ability around along with awesome passing, so they then see themselves as centre midfielders and too good to be out wide even though that's what made them known in the first place hence why brunt is always drifting inside and beckham now plays in the centre......problem is they cant tackle, have no pace, rubbish with the weaker foot, cant head the ball and not box to box players.......brunt should be hogging the touchline whipping balls in with gera on the right heading them in..........he should go back to basics which made him known in the first place.
Spot on!
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Thinking about our senior players, I can easily recall from recent memory outstanding performances from both of our centre backs, from Odemwingie, from Morrison, from Foster, from Long, from Gera, from Mulumbu, from Jacob, and from Fortune. I'm not specifically blaming him for last night because that would be unfair, but when was the last time we saw an outstanding performance from Chris Brunt? I mean a match winning performance, even a man of the match performance, ok even a very good performance where you would say he was one of our best 3 players on the day. Seriously, it was so long ago that I can't remember it. And he is the captain of the team, meant to be an inspiration to others, meant to lead by example, meant to be consistently good. I know every player has an off day (several did last night), but Brunt's performances over the last couple of years seem to range only from quite good to abysmal. Not good enough any more imo.
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Didn't come on here last night, thought to myself someone is going to be made a scapegoat, logged on this morning and it seems that Brunt has been the chosen one. How very predictable.
Nah, you're right. Brunt was fantastic last night.
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Yawn, Brunt appears to be becoming the next Carson, Moore on here... Technically brilliant footballer, finding his feet after a series of niggling injuries and no preseason. Perhaps getting behind the club captain and joint longest serving player might be an idea?
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Yawn, Brunt appears to be becoming the next Carson, Moore on here... Technically brilliant footballer, finding his feet after a series of niggling injuries and no preseason. Perhaps getting behind the club captain and joint longest serving player might be an idea?
Jacko, my thoughts EXACTLY!!! Agree with every word!!
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Yawn, Brunt appears to be becoming the next Carson, Moore on here... Technically brilliant footballer, finding his feet after a series of niggling injuries and no preseason. Perhaps getting behind the club captain and joint longest serving player might be an idea?
Is there any need for the total over-reaction contained in that post ?
Is there any abuse towards Brunt ? Is Brunt receiving the same abuse that either Carson or Moore received on this and other forums in this thread ?
Answer to both is no. There is nothing in this thread that is not purely discussing a player of this football club and there is certainly nothing any different to what you yourself have said in the same context previously about for example Graham Dorrans or Shane Long.
Heaven forbid a football forum dedicated to a football club has members with the audacity to give views on a player or players that may contain any form of criticism.
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Yawn, Brunt appears to be becoming the next Carson, Moore on here... Technically brilliant footballer, finding his feet after a series of niggling injuries and no preseason. Perhaps getting behind the club captain and joint longest serving player might be an idea?
Just like you get behind Dorrans eh Jacko?
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I do believe Brunt needs more time after missing so much football over the last 12 months, i also don't think the stop start comebacks have done him much good mentally either .As we know with Brunt it doesn't take a lot for the "world to be on his shoulders" so a bit of patience and hopefully we might see the player we know he can be.
That said i have two worries over Brunt, one being although he was never the quickest I'm starting to feel he has lost a touch of pace which leads me to my second worry of him not fitting in Clarke's fairly quick and mobile team.
Let's hope he stays fit and finds his form sooner rather than later.
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Nah, you're right. Brunt was fantastic last night.
No he wasn't but nor were a majority of the starting XI.
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No one in a red shirt had a good game last night, specifically to Brunt he has not looked right for some time, not only does he look slower than the actual game but he lets his head drop quickly.
Last night at one stage ridgewell,Jonas and Morrison were having words about him tracking back and he didn't look too pleased, whilst I understand he's not defensive it would be fair to say that the most prolific prem striker we have ever had gets plenty for not tracking back?
I don't dislike him, I don't want him to be a scapegoat, I do think we have got better than he has, I think if he played wide left stayed wide and stopped going central/ trying Hollywood passes/shots he may still have something to offer?
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Is there any need for the total over-reaction contained in that post ?
Is there any abuse towards Brunt ? Is Brunt receiving the same abuse that either Carson or Moore received on this and other forums in this thread ?
Answer to both is no. There is nothing in this thread that is not purely discussing a player of this football club and there is certainly nothing any different to what you yourself have said in the same context previously about for example Graham Dorrans or Shane Long.
Heaven forbid a football forum dedicated to a football club has members with the audacity to give views on a player or players that may contain any form of criticism.
Well said that man. I would like to see some grown up debate. A number of posters have made what I think are perfectly justifiable criticisms and I've yet to see anyone coming up with any evidence to the contrary. It's one thing liking a player (I quite liked Carson), but quite another to come up with arguments that they are playing well when they clearly aren't (in my humble opinion :D )
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Chris Brunt has strengths and he has his weaknesses. Just like every other member of the squad. Over his time with us he has proved to be a success, not only with his goals, but with the amount of assists he has brought to the side as well. Granted he had a poor performance last night but as did many of the team, there certainly isn't no "scapegoat" in this squad and given the time Brunt will correct those which doubt him, quite simply because he has the quality and ability to do so. I thought his performance was very good at Sunderland, like James Morrison, like Claudio Yacob, like Peter Odemwingie, like Jonas Olsson, like Gareth McAuley who were all below par last night. These things happen sometimes and its up to the players dust themselves down and respond in the next game and given what I've seen from Steve Clarke so far, I think they will.
Another thing on Brunt. Providing he remains injury free, I do see him having an important role in this side which could be said for a number of our players now such is the quality within the group.
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Wow, Liam. That was diplomatic! ;D
Brunt has the talent, we all know that. But to me it is time he stepped up his game a notch or two. It's time he stepped up his game like Morrison has been able to do. Brunt, imo, carries two bad problems that is keeping him back, his constant moaning at himself and others ie his mental attitude, and his continued poor open play form.
The form is a concern because Brunt, in my view, far too often 'strolls' through the games rather than take them by the scruff of the neck which he has the ability to do. The only thing keeping him back is himself. And that leads back to his main problem, his attitude and focus, the mental aspect.
I'd like to see him sharpen up a bit, drop the negative thinking habits, clear his mind, and lose a little weight. He looks ponderous out there nowadays. This is not only related to his injury and lack of proper off season, he has for a few seasons now and his form has suffered as a result.
I think if he did that he would find his form improving.
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Maybe he shouldn't wear the armband anymore he may feel bit more pressure with it. Never thought he was Captain material myself anyway
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Does the armband really make a difference? It's something which is regularly mentioned when he has a poor game. At the end of the day, on the pitch are enough leaders. Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson are amongst the most vocal of members on the pitch and will take the pressure off Brunty - I would also like to think the lads in the squad don't need to be egged on by a captain. The only extra addition to the role is the media work he will do with the club visiting schools etc as part of our foundation project but that shouldn't effect his performances. It's also a point which is rarely mentioned when he performs well. A poster some months ago claimed English Football had a fixation with the captaincy and it isn't really important and that poster was probably correct.
Three different managers have now seen Chris Brunt as their club captain and unless we see his demeanor every day then it is very hard for us to suggest otherwise.
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His one main problem is he is far too slow. When we break quick he does slow us right down.Dont get me wrong hes very gifted and has a wand of a left foot at times. I feel hes at his best when wide left in a four as at wigan. he should just concentrate on getting half a yard and whipping balls in. Problem is we dont play that formation very often anymore and his game suffers as a conciquence. The way we play with one up front doesnt suit him as his crosses have to be pinpoint to long. Where as if there were two up there. he can just put it in an area for either striker to attack.
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I agree, not only is he slow he is also not very agile. That's why I said I'd like to see him lose a little weight, a small improvement here could go a very long way. If he gains a step and a bit more mobility he could both buy himself more time offensively and be able to support better defensively. I like him though and hope he can get back on track. Unlike some I don't necessarily think he must play on the wing as a cross bot to be effective for us.
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I agree, not only is he slow he is also not very agile.
..........and not very good at tackling, not very good at tracking back, doesnt score many goals, and his general body language and gestures aren't what you would hope for in a captain, but accepted he does have a wand of a left foot and gets a good amount of assists. I just dont think his overall performance level justifies his place in the team at the present time
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Ahhh statistics..........you've gotta love em.
Does this mean that Brunt is 'as good' as Yaya Toure? ;)
I guess your defence of Brunt balances out your criticism of Dorrans.....Ying & Yang
Not really only one of them has any premier league pedigree...
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Not really only one of them has any premier league pedigree...
Pedigree, pedigree, it's clear that Brunt is your pedigree chum and Dorrans is your Asda smart price dog food. But Brunt isn't the dogs balls that you seem to think, and neither is Dorrans the dog's dinner that you are so fond of claiming
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His one main problem is he is far too slow. When we break quick he does slow us right down.Dont get me wrong hes very gifted and has a wand of a left foot at times. I feel hes at his best when wide left in a four as at wigan. he should just concentrate on getting half a yard and whipping balls in. Problem is we dont play that formation very often anymore and his game suffers as a conciquence. The way we play with one up front doesnt suit him as his crosses have to be pinpoint to long. Where as if there were two up there. he can just put it in an area for either striker to attack.
Against Sunderland we broke a few times quick and I saw Brunt at the edge of the box or in the box so I don't buy that argument that he is too slow on the break. In fact one time we broke the announcer said for a few moments Brunt was there to receive the through ball which he was. I remember watching him after we got possesion dart down the pitch quite quickly.
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Brunt made one superb run against Sunderland but Odemwingie opted to shoot narrowly past the Sunderland goal instead. A slide through pass there and Brunty might have scored.
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Ahhh statistics..........you've gotta love em.
Does this mean that Brunt is 'as good' as Yaya Toure? ;)
That's nothing. Last season he was "better" than David Silva and Robin van Persie.
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Im sure Brunt will come good, in the next few games will take him a while to come back to form after that injury.
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That's nothing. Last season he was "better" than David Silva and Robin van Persie.
I feel a song coming on here............we all agree Brunty is better than >>>>>
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I feel a song coming on here............we all agree Brunty is better than >>>>>
Nah, lets stick with 'Chrissy brunt brunt brunt'. I feel great affection for him and he still has a role to play. He's just not David Silva. Or Zoltan Gera.
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Wow, Liam. That was diplomatic! ;D
Brunt has the talent, we all know that. But to me it is time he stepped up his game a notch or two. It's time he stepped up his game like Morrison has been able to do. Brunt, imo, carries two bad problems that is keeping him back, his constant moaning at himself and others ie his mental attitude, and his continued poor open play form.
The form is a concern because Brunt, in my view, far too often 'strolls' through the games rather than take them by the scruff of the neck which he has the ability to do. The only thing keeping him back is himself. And that leads back to his main problem, his attitude and focus, the mental aspect.
I'd like to see him sharpen up a bit, drop the negative thinking habits, clear his mind, and lose a little weight. He looks ponderous out there nowadays. This is not only related to his injury and lack of proper off season, he has for a few seasons now and his form has suffered as a result.
I think if he did that he would find his form improving.
i have to say i agree with you , i am not bruntys biggest fan since we have been in the prem this time round because i do not think he is a positive enough player when the chips are down especially as captain,
but i will say this , everybody at the club knows his capabilities and his weakness as they do with PO and while we continue to use the tactics of conceding the space on the flanks to the opposition and then expecting our flank men to deal with it playing Brunty and PO in those roles are always going to be dodgy, especially against quality opposition , management have to take some responsability and in my view its horses for courses he performed exactly as he always does under the circumstances of the game so at least he was consistent
this is one of the reasons why we have a squad, its about playing the right players to suit the opposition you are playing and in my view Brunty never should have started against Swansea
he still has a role to play in the squad but it has to be against the right opposition and like most players he can be useful coming of the bench
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So showing Brunt's assists in the last three seasons is me suggesting he is better than other players below him on the list? I haven't made any such implication. Was purely to show his contribution to our side.
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So showing Brunt's assists in the last three seasons is me suggesting he is better than other players below him on the list? I haven't made any such implication. Was purely to show his contribution to our side.
That's fair enough Jacko but the fact that Yaya Toure had exactly the same amount of assists kind of makes the statistic look unreliable in the grand scheme of what each player is worth to their team & in my opinion shows little reference to the players overall contribution to the team.
I'm not slagging Brunty at all, I love it when he's on the ball & has a bit of time, he can create things & pick a pass can't he?.
However I would agree with a few other posters that he doesn't always suit certain games when he slows things down & his body language does seem a bit suss at times, that said I think it would cost us a few quid if we had to replace him.
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The way to look at it, is that City had two other players in the list... We didn't have any.
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I received some abuse on here when first raising this thread.
More and more people seem to be joining this bandwagon. He is generally too slow for this division, although he was good at Sunderland.
There can be no sentiment in football and the guy's best days look behind him. I'll always support him when in a blue and white shirt.
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Some people go over the top, he's had good and bad games (most players have) however I don't think we can call him a first team starter anymore?, not fantastically paced (neither is Beckham) but good enough as a squad player.
Wouldn't play every week for me but I wouldn't shoot him either.
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We badly missed his set piece deliveries today though :-*
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We badly missed his set piece deliveries today though :-*
Whats the point of putting crosses into the area against a defence like Stoke ?
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Whats the point of putting crosses into the area against a defence like Stoke ?
Well the chances of the ball landing on the head of one of our players is larger if the ball clears the first man, no? Maybe we should have played short corners for the whole game?
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Whats the point of putting crosses into the area against a defence like Stoke ?
We'll never know with todays output from Dorrans and principally Gera...
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Against a big defence like that where we have no-one who can compete in the air other than Olsson or McAuley ? Lukaku as big as he is is no better in the aerial challenge than Miller was.
Why constantly the digs at Dorrans Jacko, its embarrassing
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Dorrans and Gera took the set pieces today until Brunt came on... ???
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As you well know i'm not just on about this thread and this topic.
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I agree with Jacko on this one, the delivery from Dorrans and Gera was shocking all afternoon. If we insist on putting high balls into the box against Stoke then its going to have to be a good one, makes sense then that we get Brunt on the pitch from the off seeing as he takes the best corner/freekick at club.
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The corners from Dorrans and Gera were very poor Yesterday.
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Club Captain!.....Sorry but for me, he just ain't a premier player PS he appeals and points well!
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I do think his lack of discipline is a massive concern.
But Gera went AWOL, Mozza gave the ball away, didnt realise Odem was on the pitch, so why is brunt the brunt of criticism?
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He has been poor for a while now. I think id rather have Gera, Morrison and Dorans and id like to see Thomas given a go soon. Brunt is an okay player but when off form and not even creating many chances he may as well be benched.
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Set pieces disappointing and he is not , never will be a centre midfielder. Not sure who's to blame for trying to make him into one but to see Brunt sitting in front of the back four away at Arsenal today and looking like a little kid lost was embarrassing.
We are in danger of ruining a player with one of the best left foots in the Premier League, he is a wide midfielder and on his day a bloody good one.
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We are wasting his talents playing him in centre mid, he is far more effective out on the left.
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I do think his lack of discipline is a massive concern.
But Gera went AWOL, Mozza gave the ball away, didnt realise Odem was on the pitch, so why is brunt the brunt of criticism?
Even the Mighty Mulumbu was godawful today. But some players are quicker to receive criticism than others. There is still a good player inside Brunt, up to Clarke to get him back on his feet again and part of things.
I disagree with others here seeing him as a winger, to me Brunt is one of our players that can do the unexpected with the ball, exactly what we lacked today, and that doesn't happen from the wing which is why Brunty always goes in field looking for the ball.
I think I'd take Brunt out of the team for a couple of weeks, and let him work hard on his fitness.
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We are in danger of ruining a player with one of the best left foots in the Premier League, he is a wide midfielder and on his day a bloody good one.
...........but when was his last "day"? Agree that he used to be a good player but for some reason he has totally lost it. No pace, poor in the tackle, moans his head off, even his passing and delivery seem to have largely deserted him.
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Even the Mighty Mulumbu was godawful today. But some players are quicker to receive criticism than others. There is still a good player inside Brunt, up to Clarke to get him back on his feet again and part of things.
I disagree with others here seeing him as a winger, to me Brunt is one of our players that can do the unexpected with the ball, exactly what we lacked today, and that doesn't happen from the wing which is why Brunty always goes in field looking for the ball.
I think I'd take Brunt out of the team for a couple of weeks, and let him work hard on his fitness.
Morrison or Brunt it would come down to as Yacob and Mulumbu in front of the back four are a given, so which do you think is a better option and deserves to play in the middle ?
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Morrison or Brunt it would come down to as Yacob and Mulumbu in front of the back four are a given, so which do you think is a better option and deserves to play in the middle ?
I'm not certain Yacob and Mulumbu are a given in all games. Especially at home when we need a bit of creativity I think we may need to split them up. Their strength is in the defensive more than the offensive.
I'd look to find a way to play Brunt centrally, either as cm or as playmaker deeper - Pirlo style. Or move him back to the right wing once he has found some form againWe used to be really good at coming back into games when we allowed Brunty a freer role under RdM and Mr Hodgson (in the spring after he took over playing 451), but now when we play a more strict game we never look like coming back if we get one down. I'd like for us to find a bit of that creativity and fluidity again when we need to and Brunty was a big part of that.
Maybe we should move PO up top again and Brunty back to the right.
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I'm not certain Yacob and Mulumbu are a given in all games. Especially at home when we need a bit of creativity I think we may need to split them up. Their strength is in the defensive more than the offensive.
I'd look to find a way to play Brunt centrally, either as cm or as playmaker deeper - Pirlo style. Or move him back to the right wing once he has found some form againWe used to be really good at coming back into games when we allowed Brunty a freer role under RdM and Mr Hodgson (in the spring after he took over playing 451), but now when we play a more strict game we never look like coming back if we get one down. I'd like for us to find a bit of that creativity and fluidity again when we need to and Brunty was a big part of that.
Maybe we should move PO up top again and Brunty back to the right.
Yacob and Mulumbu as a pair have been one of the major reasons for our excellent start to the season. We also had that start without Brunt playing a major role so why would we need to shift the team around to fit him in ?
Also by moving Odemwingie up top then where does that leave Long who again has played a major part in our start.
We've suffered in the past from square pegs in round holes, we don't need to start it again in my opinion.
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Yacob and Mulumbu as a pair have been one of the major reasons for our excellent start to the season. We also had that start without Brunt playing a major role so why would we need to shift the team around to fit him in ?
Also by moving Odemwingie up top then where does that leave Long who again has played a major part in our start.
We've suffered in the past from square pegs in round holes, we don't need to start it again in my opinion.
Long has been completely marked out of the games lately. Yacob and Mulumbu doesn't always work, like the games against Stoke and Swansea where we lacked creativity and ideas. It's about horses for courses and picking teams that work against the right opponents.
If we get PO and Brunt firing again, but lose Long, that's two players gained for one lost. Why does Long always get preferrential treatment? Maybe he can adapt for once, like others are asked to do?
I think we need a plan B and a plan C, because we became predictable, teams sussed us out and for three games running we got nowhere at all. We can't rely on Gera worldlies to score all the important goals for us.
Having said that, I think West Ham will be an easier game for us than the last three. Not easy, as in a guaranteed win by any means, but a team that plays a style we can find more space to exploit, unless they go all Stoke on us. If they do, what is our plan then? More of the same nonsense we have seen in the last three games?
Just because something worked in the past doesn't mean it will work in all eternity. To me Yacob is Player of the Season so far, pretty much. Mulumbu is normally a rock (not impressed with him after his hamstring injury though) but taken together I think we lack a bit of creativity and penetration when they both play, unless teams allow us to counter attack them.
I'd like for us to have a game plan other than counter attack the hell out of them, because we cannot always do that. We haven't really moved the ball well in midfield all season, for all our good start. It's time we got that part of our game back.
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Long has been completely marked out of the games lately. Yacob and Mulumbu doesn't always work, like the games against Stoke and Swansea where we lacked creativity and ideas. It's about horses for courses and picking teams that work against the right opponents.
If we get PO and Brunt firing again, but lose Long, that's two players gained for one lost. Why does Long always get preferrential treatment? Maybe he can adapt for once, like others are asked to do?
I think we need a plan B and a plan C, because we became predictable, teams sussed us out and for three games running we got nowhere at all. We can't rely on Gera worldlies to score all the important goals for us.
Having said that, I think West Ham will be an easier game for us than the last three. Not easy, as in a guaranteed win by any means, but a team that plays a style we can find more space to exploit, unless they go all Stoke on us. If they do, what is our plan then? More of the same nonsense we have seen in the last three games?
Just because something worked in the past doesn't mean it will work in all eternity. To me Yacob is Player of the Season so far, pretty much. Mulumbu is normally a rock (not impressed with him after his hamstring injury though) but taken together I think we lack a bit of creativity and penetration when they both play, unless teams allow us to counter attack them.
I'd like for us to have a game plan other than counter attack the hell out of them, because we cannot always do that. We haven't really moved the ball well in midfield all season, for all our good start. It's time we got that part of our game back.
Totally agree with that.
Yacob, Mulumbu and Long were part of the great start, not sure I agree with them not working in the last three. Mulumbu has been in and out, Yacob the same and Long not supported enough. Nothing to do with preferrential treatment at all I just think they deserve to be playing and I think Long has adapted well all season, until the last couple of games where the 'whole' team has not been up for it.
You say we've lacked creativity, its no coincidence that Morrison has struggled last couple of games for some reason whereas before if he ticked so did we.
We made 6 changes against Stoke and with the exception of Rosenberg maybe no-one could argue with any of them, Swansea did us down the flanks good and proper so not sure how Mulumbu and Yacob not working in those games come into it.
I would like to see Odemwingie more involved at times but Clarke seems fit to leave him wide where he has played before and also said he is happy to do so.
For Brunt his best has always come for us out wide either side of the pitch, in the middle he looks like a little boy lost.
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Brunt needs to be dropped ASAP, he's lazy, has an attitude problem, he constantly drifts infield and he slows the play down which allows the opposition to regroup. Our best team doesn't include him any more, he should be on the bench. Odemwingie and Gera should be out wide with Morrison supporting Long.
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Brunt needs to be dropped ASAP, he's lazy, has an attitude problem, he constantly drifts infield and he slows the play down which allows the opposition to regroup. Our best team doesn't include him any more, he should be on the bench. Odemwingie and Gera should be out wide with Morrison supporting Long.
When you become manager you can do what you want mate, but as I remember Brunt made the only valid chance we had in the 1st half yesterday.... also Clarke isn't looking for a "best team" he's looking for a group of players that can be utilised for a variety of tasks that could occur. He believes that Brunt has something that could be useful to the team and he's the one that matters.
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Brunt should have been dropped indefinitely after his non performance at Swansea. At the moment he is offering precious little to us, offensively or defensively. People harp on about his set-pieces, but this season they have been distinctly average. Lets get someone in the team who looks like they are actually bothered.
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Time for Brunt to be dropped, would much rather, Gera, Mozza and Pete been that mdfield three behind Long.
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It's not Brunty's fault, but when we play Gera, Mozza, Yacob, Mulumbu and Brunt we simply lack speed and easily become very flat and predictable. Only having Long and PO with a turn of pace makes it easy for opponents to focus on them. This is underlined if we play Popov and Reid with their limited offensive games.
The one thing Thomas offers over Brunt is that Jerome can lift the team up the pitch with his running with the ball.
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The only problem with thomas however was the common complaint people had with him last year.... His refusal to beat his man, so surely we remain with the same predicament that our wide players cannot get around whoever is marking them?
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Whilst many have said we need a right back ,I have always said our first priority needs to be a fast winger , preferably two footed .
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The only problem with thomas however was the common complaint people had with him last year.... His refusal to beat his man, so surely we remain with the same predicament that our wide players cannot get around whoever is marking them?
At least Thomas is ABLE to beat a man, and under Roy became a much harder worker. Brunt isnt able to beat his man. But it is primarily Brunt's attitude that dismays me. I watched him closely yesterday and there were many times when he effectively gave up when we lost the ball. Ambled around, didnt track back, threw his arms up in the air numerous times when things hadnt gone his way, shook his head as if he had a god given right to get decisions, argued with the ref and linesman, got booked, and frankly was lucky not to be sent off for the challenge that gave away the second penalty. All this and he is captain !!!!!!!!!! He needs some strong management imo and needs to sort himself out quickly if he is to have a future at this club.
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Yes, Brunty is his own worst enemy. He plays mind games on himself and it really has a negative effect on his performances... He needs to understand the old Samurai Zen principle of 'no mind'.
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Yes, Brunty is his own worst enemy. He plays mind games on himself and it really has a negative effect on his performances... He needs to understand the old Samurai Zen principle of 'no mind'.
Don't know if you saw the teams yesterday in the tunnel but Brunty was going off on a right one in the tunnel at the ref, I'm not sure what it was about but his body language said it all before a ball was even kicked.
I really don't know what the problem is at the minute whether he's not fit or the system doesn't suit but he looks well out of sorts and I'm not sure whats next for him.
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Brunt is a footballer who generally looks good when he plays regular matches. I am not too sure he is suited to the rotation we utilise of our current five attacking players. Maybe I am wrong - but Brunt is a)generally a slow starter to seasons - b) it hasn't helped he has had a stop start season due to injuries. Having said that he's still one of our top ranking assist player.
Also I agree with Dexy - his body language can be sseen as very negative at times.
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Patients is running thin with him now.
For a winger he seems to not know what a wing is. Yes he's got a great left peg (when he can be bothered) but his general performances the past 12-18 months have been poor imo.
Would not be sad to see him go in the summer.
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Patients is running thin with him now.
For a winger he seems to not know what a wing is. Yes he's got a great left peg (when he can be bothered) but his general performances the past 12-18 months have been poor imo.
Would not be sad to see him go in the summer.
I don't think he'd consider himself a winger mate, more just a wide midfielder.
P.S. Be careful what you wish for.....
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I don't think he'd consider himself a winger mate, more just a wide midfielder.
P.S. Be careful what you wish for.....
i just cannot warm to brunt, id much rather see dorrans start i think they both have killer passes in their locker, brunt doesnt do much else whereas i think dorrans has a better all round game, i'd even raher see thomas come in for brunt and put pistol on the right
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Wingers dont really exist these days. They all tend to tuck inside. Its a lost art IMO.
Look at Ashley Young who cuts inside alot for United, Silva and Nasri at City who roam. Chelsea dont play with wingers. Players who I'd describe as proper wingers like Downing and Adam Johnson are struggling for form every bit as much as Brunt.
What all those teams do have are full backs who provide the width which is what Popov and Jones did well at the weekend. Thats the modern way of football.
Brunt looked more assured in the middle 2nd half yesterday. Our current and previous managers have all played him there so they must see something. I think he can play in the middle and has proved he can over the last few years. Hes off form perhaps but bear in mind he is always slow to start the season and he had a bad injury which has probably set him back further.
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Another Captain marvel performance.Captain my buttocks
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Wingers dont really exist these days. They all tend to tuck inside. Its a lost art IMO.
Look at Ashley Young who cuts inside alot for United, Silva and Nasri at City who roam. Chelsea dont play with wingers. Players who I'd describe as proper wingers like Downing and Adam Johnson are struggling for form every bit as much as Brunt.
What all those teams do have are full backs who provide the width which is what Popov and Jones did well at the weekend. Thats the modern way of football.
Brunt looked more assured in the middle 2nd half yesterday. Our current and previous managers have all played him there so they must see something. I think he can play in the middle and has proved he can over the last few years. Hes off form perhaps but bear in mind he is always slow to start the season and he had a bad injury which has probably set him back further.
Think the slow winger is a dieing breed certainly. The Beckham style winger who is all about delivery is something that is going of the game and this is where Brunt struggles out wide.
He knows he isn't quick and can't beat people and he wants to play with the game in front of him hence why he tucks into 'the hole' from his wide position so he can open himself up and see the game infront of him. As you say he looked much happier in the deep lying midfield role where he could get on the ball and see runners ahead of him.
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He did Ok, nothing overly spectacular but he did his job, Morrison hit the bar twice from Brunt's set pieces. We only looked like scoring from a set piece but Brunt was putting in good passes around the pitch and I believe set up the Gera stinger in the 2nd half. He won't get remembered in the game like Pete for his running and taking people on, but he was quietly doing what Clarke asked of him. he gets a 6 1/2 from me.
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Think the slow winger is a dieing breed certainly. The Beckham style winger who is all about delivery is something that is going of the game and this is where Brunt struggles out wide.
He knows he isn't quick and can't beat people and he wants to play with the game in front of him hence why he tucks into 'the hole' from his wide position so he can open himself up and see the game infront of him. As you say he looked much happier in the deep lying midfield role where he could get on the ball and see runners ahead of him.
Would you suggest playing him in Mulumbu's position next week? frees up Morrison to go forward, Gera out wide where he's been so successful this season and Brunt gets to have the game ahead of him and pick and choose his passes, while having some of the defensive duties hopefully covered by Yacob.
Think it could work?
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He did Ok, nothing overly spectacular but he did his job, Morrison hit the bar twice from Brunt's set pieces. We only looked like scoring from a set piece but Brunt was putting in good passes around the pitch and I believe set up the Gera stinger in the 2nd half. He won't get remembered in the game like Pete for his running and taking people on, but he was quietly doing what Clarke asked of him. he gets a 6 1/2 from me.
I thought Brunt was very poor. Pulled out of tackles time and time again. Too much arm waving when things dont go right. We dont have the luxury of having him on the pitch just for set pieces.
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Would you suggest playing him in Mulumbu's position next week? frees up Morrison to go forward, Gera out wide where he's been so successful this season and Brunt gets to have the game ahead of him and pick and choose his passes, while having some of the defensive duties hopefully covered by Yacob.
Think it could work?
Yes it certainly could work, I was hoping he would move inside at half as it was clear the 442 was being stifled. Of course if Yacob doesn't make it then there a dilemma (but that's for a thread I just started on the next match forum) I would certainly play him in there as one of the two.
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Yes it certainly could work, I was hoping he would move inside at half as it was clear the 442 was being stifled. Of course if Yacob doesn't make it then there a dilemma (but that's for a thread I just started on the next match forum) I would certainly play him in there as one of the two.
Doh..........hope not
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Doh..........hope not
Sorry but which bit do you hope not? Brunt playing centrally or Yacob being out?
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Think the Brunt part, seeing as he's just said we don't have the luxury of having a player for set pieces.
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Sorry but which bit do you hope not? Brunt playing centrally or Yacob being out?
Brunt playing centrally.........just dont think he is the player he was. Remember Long's goal at Sunderland; the miss hit pass from Brunt. He was already turning his back and flapping his arms. Just dont think he is committed enough
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Clarke should tell the players they will be fined if they do that ridiculous arm waving thing while the balls still in play- Brunt's always doing it, Pete does it, so does Lukaku; in the time it takes to do it, they have lost a couple of yards on the opposition. It's pathetic.
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Take the Captaincy off him and see him flourish.Our better performances this season so far have been with Olsson wearing the arm band and Brunt being on the bench.OK if Olsson don't want it give it to someone else
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If Brunt is the answer in the middle of the pitch then I don't want to even consider the question.
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If Brunt is the answer in the middle of the pitch then I don't want to even consider the question.
The question is who can spray those long balls accurately from central midfield for Shane Long to run onto?
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The question is who can spray those long balls accurately from central midfield for Shane Long to run onto?
No idea but all we seem to be doing lately is hoofing it up to him, Brunt included.
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I must admit we are becoming a hoooooof ball team of late.No need to panic just yet.I heard fooof on the telly, was that towards our style or theirs
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He's one of those that does have the ability to do something special out of nothing but only does it once in a blue moon these days. I won't criticise him too much for his performances this season as its been disrupted by injury and he's always seemed to take a while to get going in a season plus he isn't the only one not performing recently.
I don't rate him in the middle of the park I just don't think he has enough about his game to be effective there and I've always had doubts about his captaincy but I can only assume he does much more than we can actually see to have kept it so long. I'm not so sure the system we have played all season suits him to be completely honest, if you play him I believe you have to play him wide left and allow him to get some balls into the box which means the strikers need to get into the box early to get the best out of him.
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I don't agree that we're a hoofball team, we're just aware in the last couple of games that the centre backs have lack pace and having Odemwingie and Long, two pacy players will hopefully play into our hands if we can get the centre halves turning the other way. It was a tactic which looked quite dangerous at times yesterday but it's worth remembering that it won't work every time given the nature of the robust centre halves and that it's a tactic you don't want to over-do. There were times yesterday when we looked slightly predictable looking to exploit the lack of pace in the back line and Brunt, Morrison, Olsson and McAuley were the guilty culprits of continuously looking for that option.
I don't agree with the logic that our performances have got worse due to Chris Brunt's introduction into the team. They have got worse because player performances all over the pitch, including Chris Brunt haven't been up to their high standards. If our players could reach their standards that they've set themselves over the last year or so, especially the last few months, then in my opinion, we shall have no problems. Trying to accommodate Chris Brunt is a problem. Is he what I call a 'ball player' and one of those that will come drifting into the centre to look for the ball which means giving him a position is slightly pointless as he shall roam to look for the ball - that's a sign of confidence for me that yesterday he actually wanted the ball, despite being out of sorts.
Does Chris Brunt fit in with our style of play at The Hawthorns? Possibly not. Earlier on in the season our build up play was very fast paced and I don't think Chris Brunt has the ability to play that style, although he could be an option if Mulumbu or Yacob missing through injury or suspension, however, away from home, he will more than suit the bill as he has the ability to retain possession, do his defensive duties and offer us more of a balance to the midfield as we shall generally look to break away using the pace of Odemwingie and Long and Brunt will provide us with the ammunition to get the ball moving forward quickly. It is slightly different at The Hawthorns as the emphasis is on ourselves and I think that's where he struggles.
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I actually thought he improved when moved into the centre however I havent been impressed with him this seaso and not that much last season either.
He is a bit slow and immobile and does sometimes have a habit of turning us into a tam who play in the air rather than looking to put balls across the face of goal.
He has always had it in his locker to make something happen while not playing well however I think that has been happening less and less lately.
Should he be dropped? There is an argument to make that says he should be yeah.
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Brunt playing centrally.........just dont think he is the player he was. Remember Long's goal at Sunderland; the miss hit pass from Brunt. He was already turning his back and flapping his arms. Just dont think he is committed enough
Think it's a frustration with himself more than commitment. You can image how frustrating it is to be a player regarded as a good distributor miss hitting passes.
All players act differently at the end of the day but thought second half yesterday when he was playing a deeper central role he start to get more passes into to others feet and could open his body up and play which perked him up a bit rather than being out wide and constantly being faced up with a full back having to play down the line sometimes just trying to hit a space rather than his team mate.
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He is not a central defensive midfielder all of these are ahead of him
Yacob
Mulumbu
Dorrans
Morrison
Reid
Jara
Thorne
Tamas
So why try and force him in?
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I think that's basically true. And put like that, it's obvious and unanswerable.
Maybe brunt seemed like a better player when he was playing in a worse team (that is, Albion three years ago).
His form over two years is not just how he happens to be playing, it's the player that he is. And the player that he is is not a starter, in any position, in the current full strength WBA team.
Comparisons to Gera, Odemwingie, Morrison are simply misplaced. An occasional classy pass and well weighted free kick once or twice a game does not make him a top player. He simply isn't. He seemed it in an inferior team often playing at a lower level. In this team, at this level, over two years he has proved that he's a squad player, not a star.
I think if we proceed on that basis, he still has a contribution to make, but that adapting the team to find a place for him would be a mistake.
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What is noticeable is that when Brunt plays he is always drifting into the middle of the pitch and hogging the ball, all this does is get in the way of the other central midfielders. We then end up with 3 or 4 players in the middle too close together and inevitably we come under pressure when they are trying to link play together. Also when Brunt is playing Morrison is very quiet, yet when he's in the stand Morrison appears to turn into Messi which is bizarre!
Personally I think that Brunt is living off his past status as one of our big players, his selection is based on his experience and past not his quality or present form. I feel sorry for Dorran's who was probably our best player against Stoke, why is Brunt being picked ahead of him in the middle of the pitch?
Morrison has to play in the supporting attack role at the weekend, probably with Lukaku ahead of him and Dorrans should play in the middle, who is next to him depends on injuries.
Clarke needs to take Brunt alongside and deliver the obvious message, either he gives 110% on the pitch or he has no chance of being selected. Moaning, arm flailing, not tracking back, passing like he's still asleep, none of that can be tolerated if we are to move to a new level.
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What is noticeable is that when Brunt plays he is always drifting into the middle of the pitch and hogging the ball, all this does is get in the way of the other central midfielders. We then end up with 3 or 4 players in the middle too close together and inevitably we come under pressure when they are trying to link play together. Also when Brunt is playing Morrison is very quiet, yet when he's in the stand Morrison appears to turn into Messi which is bizarre!
Personally I think that Brunt is living off his past status as one of our big players, his selection is based on his experience and past not his quality or present form. I feel sorry for Dorran's who was probably our best player against Stoke, why is Brunt being picked ahead of him in the middle of the pitch?
Morrison has to play in the supporting attack role at the weekend, probably with Lukaku ahead of him and Dorrans should play in the middle, who is next to him depends on injuries.
Clarke needs to take Brunt alongside and deliver the obvious message, either he gives 110% on the pitch or he has no chance of being selected. Moaning, arm flailing, not tracking back, passing like he's still asleep, none of that can be tolerated if we are to move to a new level.
Brunt still one of our best players, along with Pete and Gera the only player truly comfortable in possession while under pressure at this level.
Add to that the fact we only look like scoring from set pieces (taken by Brunt to a much higher standard than any of our other players).
That is why 4 consecutive managers have given him a key role in the side and three have used him as captain.
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Brunt playing centrally.........just dont think he is the player he was. Remember Long's goal at Sunderland; the miss hit pass from Brunt. He was already turning his back and flapping his arms. Just dont think he is committed enough
id say that particular moment was more to do with being annoyed at himself at what was a bad pass.
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Brunt still one of our best players, along with Pete and Gera the only player truly comfortable in possession while under pressure at this level. Add to that the fact we only look like scoring from set pieces (taken by Brunt to a much higher standard than any of our other players).
I agree that his set peices were very good against West Ham but his passing has been woeful all season. I've lost count of the number of very simple balls that he has made a mess off. He keeps giving the ball away by passing inaccurately or at the wrong time over 5/10 yards which are simple balls (especially considering he has a cultured left foot) and then he's too quick to look for the hollywood ball over the top when it isn't on. I don't disagree that he has a very good left foot but it's not been put to much use over the past few months. More importantly he has to work harder for the team.
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Since Brunty got the captaincy he has been woeful (and I'm being kind) and shouldn't be anywhere near the first 11, but I'm actually going to stick up for him today :o, I thought his second half performance in the deep lying role next to Mulumbu on Saturday was decent, he was calm and composed and didn't seem to give the ball away anywhere near the amount he did in the first half and actually did impress me without being spectacular, and more importantly it freed up Mozza to go and do what he does best further up the pitch, something which he hasn't had the chance to do lately due to Mulumbu or Yacob being out.
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Whats more frustrating is, early against west ham in first half he was on the left and whipped in a killer cross, you know that thing what made us buy brunt in the first place......yet that was the only cross from him other than a set-piece all game....the man cross's like noone else yet rarely does it, morrison scored against wigan like it and we's score alot more if the man just got into that postition alot more rather than drifting in spraying the ball around as we have players that can do that anyway but noone that can cross like brunt.........lukaku would get on the end of his cross's...morrison already has, gera would.....im just totally surprised by it all in truth.
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Moaning, arm flailing, not tracking back, passing like he's still asleep, none of that can be tolerated if we are to move to a new level.
We could do with a new squad then judging by those comments. Several members within the side moan but I personally don't mind it, nor the aim flailing as for me it shows they care and are bothered about their performances. The tracking back issue has been an issue for many of our wide players this season with Brunt certainly not the worst culprit for it, and the passing like he's still asleep can also count as a problem for the majority of the side considering how bad we've been at ball retention this season.
I do feel that many of our supporters use Brunt's arm waving as a stick to beat him with.
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I do feel that many of our supporters use Brunt's arm waving as a stick to beat him with.
LOL, I just got a picture of a generic fan beating Brunt to death with his own arms!
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I've just realised that Brunt has already got two assists and perhaps a third if you argued the Sunderland one (seeing as the ball wasn't dead and the keeper wasn't under control of it so the play wasn't over) and also put in the last goal we scored at the corner for Lukaku (though the assist should really go to Olsson) and put the ball back the box in for the equaliser at Spurs. so that's five goals that Brunt has had a direct hand (no matter how small) in creating. Not bad.
I think (off the top of my head) that only Morrison and Shane have more assists in the league and perhaps level with Pete but I say he has 3 assists (because i can :P). Ridgewell has one, Gera's got one at least, Pete's got 2 I think, McAuley has one (spurs), Olsson has one, Long's got like 4 or 5 now, Morrison's got about 3-4. Did I miss anyone?
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I've just realised that Brunt has already got two assists and perhaps a third if you argued the Sunderland one (seeing as the ball wasn't dead and the keeper wasn't under control of it so the play wasn't over) and also put in the last goal we scored at the corner for Lukaku (though the assist should really go to Olsson) and put the ball back the box in for the equaliser at Spurs. so that's five goals that Brunt has had a direct hand (no matter how small) in creating. Not bad.
I think (off the top of my head) that only Morrison and Shane have more assists in the league and perhaps level with Pete but I say he has 3 assists (because i can :P). Ridgewell has one, Gera's got one at least, Pete's got 2 I think, McAuley has one (spurs), Olsson has one, Long's got like 4 or 5 now, Morrison's got about 3-4. Did I miss anyone?
think it was Rosenberg at Spurs. who put the ball back in that is.
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think it was Rosenberg at Spurs. who put the ball back in that is.
Rosenberg's led to the clearance off the line from a header by Lukaku, Brunt got the ball back in, to McAuley to Morrison. If Brunt hadn't done that, the ball's gone for a throw and we may have had an early first loss.
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I think the problem Brunt has is that he is more of a squad player (and a good one at that) rather than a key first team player like he has been, but i still think he is an important asset to us.
I think thats just the squad evolving and improving over the years he has been with us, i dont think he is playing well at the moment but he isnt the only one.
Certain games will suit Brunt, i think home games possibly like this Saturday against Norwich and also Villa, Fulham, Sunderland, Newcastle, where we will have a lot of the ball, however games where we are are looking to counter teams and break quick i dont think suits Brunt.
Most people have varied and sensible opinions on Brunt and other players but the worry always is that some go to the extreme and make him a scapegoat, ie - Carson and Luke Moore and blame them for everything! A fella on sunday by me was blaming the corner for Morrison where he hit the bar saying if Brunt put it in lower then Morrison would of caught it better and we would of scored, quite an interesting observation!
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I think the problem Brunt has is that he is more of a squad player (and a good one at that) rather than a key first team player like he has been, but i still think he is an important asset to us.
I think thats just the squad evolving and improving over the years he has been with us, i dont think he is playing well at the moment but he isnt the only one.
Certain games will suit Brunt, i think home games possibly like this Saturday against Norwich and also Villa, Fulham, Sunderland, Newcastle, where we will have a lot of the ball, however games where we are are looking to counter teams and break quick i dont think suits Brunt.
Most people have varied and sensible opinions on Brunt and other players but the worry always is that some go to the extreme and make him a scapegoat, ie - Carson and Luke Moore and blame them for everything! A fella on sunday by me was blaming the corner for Morrison where he hit the bar of saying if Brunt put it in lower then Morrison would of caught it better and we would scored, quite an interesting observation!
Just as easily I could argue Morrison should have jumped higher.... Each to their own I guess.
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Question I wondered is why Brunt was preferred over Shorey for set pieces.
I am so frustrated with seeing every corner aimed at Jonas to knock back, I can't argue that Brunt is capable of producing moments of brilliance with his left peg. However I have already seen Shorey be more successful and efficient with his distribution in half a season compared to Brunts last 3 full seasons.
Brunt still one of our best players, along with Pete and Gera the only player truly comfortable in possession while under pressure at this level.
Add to that the fact we only look like scoring from set pieces (taken by Brunt to a much higher standard than any of our other players).
That is why 4 consecutive managers have given him a key role in the side and three have used him as captain.
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His main attribute is his delivery, yet he comes in field a lot???
I have to disagree with previous posts, he is not a key player anymore - look at our run at the start of the season - and he didn't figure - coincidence? i think not!
Yacob/ Mulumbu with Morrison is the linking role, with Pete, Long and Gera, this is our best side. All these players are 'comfortable' on the ball - its the premier league!!
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If Brunt dont pull his finger out his days are numbered.He is just not up to scratch.Assits every now and then aint cutting it for me.We perform better without him this season
He is only in the team because of our current injuries
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Saw something asking about whether Brunt's legs have gone, although he never really had any pace.
It just reminded me of a stat that baffles me.
Pretty much every time you read the match report in the sun, it shows that Brunt has covered the most distance out of any Albion player on the pitch. I jus cant work out how that can be true. I've always seen Brunt as a stand and deliver type of players. He typically looks for the killer pass....then stands still.
He just never seems to cover that much ground or do that much running, so how the hell does he cover more ground than anyone else most weeks?
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All the best work is that which you don't see.
Brunt is a ninja! :o
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Despite being a big dorrans fan in what is a bit if a brunt v dorrans debate, and me weekly not being impressed with brunt, I thought he was good against Norwich, and played some good balls forward
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Credit where credit is due to Chris Brunt today.
He's a class act and although he gives the impression on the field that will always lead to criticism- rightly or wrongly - from some fans, his left foot makes him a class act. There is a reason most opposing fans value him alongside Long and Olsson as one our key players, today we saw that reason.
Ole Ole Ole...Ole Ole.. Chrissy Brunt Brunt Brunt!!
COYB
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I also thought Brunt had a decent game today scored a great goal too. He hasn't been at his best over the last few weeks but today he was really good.
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I thought he was good today. Showed good discipline when Mulumbu burst forward to cover in midfield and sprayed passes around well all game.
Fantastic strike for the goal. As crisp a strike as you'll see and right in the corner.
The more he plays in central midfield the more he'll get used to it. I think he could well be a real asset playing centrally.
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I always thought he could be a real asset in the centre, but behind the striker, which never really worked. That holding position seems to suit him though. He had a very good game today, his strike for the goal was excellent.
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I thought he was okay today to be fair. I still don't think he is suited to a central midfield role and I hope we get Yacob back and look at someone to come in maybe on loan who is more natural.
Excellent goal perfectly placed but that is something we know he is capable of.
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Had a decent game yesterday but he doesn't work hard enough to play in the centre of midfield.When Yacob's fit he will either be playing out wide or warming the bench.
Remember the old saying one swallow doesn't make a summer.
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Had a decent game yesterday but he doesn't work hard enough to play in the centre of midfield.When Yacob's fit he will either be playing out wide or warming the bench.
Remember the old saying one swallow doesn't make a summer.
Also remember he's NOT a CDM like Yacob (hell Mulumbu is classed as a CDM) he's a wide midfielder playing in the centre. He's an offensive player and plays as such.
He's better in that position than Morrison as he is a bit more defensive than James (due to his slight lack of pace), but the problem remains that Mulumbu becomes significantly more defensive too. However it seems to be working so far and gives us an option for January as Yacob IS the main CDM and allows Brunt free reign to go forward.
P.S. Brunt not working hard enough is rubbish. he covers ALOT of ground in a game and has a good pass amount and pass completion rate, always has done. It just goes unnoticed.
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Also remember he's NOT a CDM like Yacob (hell Mulumbu is classed as a CDM) he's a wide midfielder playing in the centre. He's an offensive player and plays as such.
He's better in that position than Morrison as he is a bit more defensive than James (due to his slight lack of pace), but the problem remains that Mulumbu becomes significantly more defensive too. However it seems to be working so far and gives us an option for January as Yacob IS the main CDM and allows Brunt free reign to go forward.
P.S. Brunt not working hard enough is rubbish. he covers ALOT of ground in a game and has a good pass amount and pass completion rate, always has done. It just goes unnoticed.
Morrison has played there against Wigan and Sunderland recently and was outstanding in both games. Brunt did okay yesterday nothing more, in that role he needs to put a foot in more when its needed and not allow people to stroll past him. Pass completion rate is all well and good but stats like that take no account for where the pass goes, how close the players he's passing to etc etc, stats can be manipulated to look how you want them to.
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I didn't see the game against QPR but a mate of mine that went and is a massive critic of Brunt text me to say it was the best he'd seen him play for a good long while which is good to hear.
Some do call him lazy but I think that is just the way he looks with his genuine demeanor on the pitch, judging by the stats though it portrays a different story. I still have doubts over his captaincy and whether he actually fits into our current style of play but I would be delighted if he could put a run of games together where he proves me wrong.
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Not been impressed with Brunt seen he came back into the team BUT yesterday he was back to somewhere near his best topped off with a superb strike - excellent hard-working and focussed performance.
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Morrison has played there against Wigan and Sunderland recently and was outstanding in both games. Brunt did okay yesterday nothing more, in that role he needs to put a foot in more when its needed and not allow people to stroll past him. Pass completion rate is all well and good but stats like that take no account for where the pass goes, how close the players he's passing to etc etc, stats can be manipulated to look how you want them to.
I know you don't like Brunt in the middle, but it freed Morrison to play much further forward and be attacking. When we were losing with Morrison in the engine room I feel that it split the team to the Striker and then everyone else. Morrison appears to thrive on the shorter pass and move game that you get around the goal mouth but not the long precision of the balls you get with Brunt and Yacob, and with the way we play by trying to release the striker or get it quickly to a wing for a cross it didn't really work. At QPR the team was connected as well (OK we didn't exactly reach the form of the early season) as Morrison was able to move and play.
Yacob was also Morrison's partner in the two games you mentioned, allowing him (just like Mulumbu) to play significantly more offensive in the game. He did well at Newcastle as well (again with Yacob) but he's struggle when partnered with Mulumbu as neither are exactly Masters of the defensive play (however Mulumbu's very good) when compared to Yacob. Brunt is a compromise sure but he allows Morrison to be the player he has been and we have become at least more attacking in the last two games because of it. the last two games have shown by finally connecting the whole team together and turning the screw over the course of the game, rather than the ball getting stuck in the midfield because nobody is making a forward run. While you are correct That Morrison did well next to Yacob, and that Brunt is untested with him, it also breaks the team's flow when played with Mulumbu, whereas Brunt has done well twice (better today but did the job at Norwich) and surely will do better when allowed the freedom under Yacob that Morrison did so well with, especially that Morrison is just as able as Brunt in that formation.
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Its a good point that Yacob was alongside Morrison to be fair. No I don't like Brunt in the middle and I thought he was okay at best especially considering the opposition who I thought were the worst side we have faced this season. When they made changes Diakite and Mbia seemed to control the midfield. I don't think Mulumbu gets enough credit at times for his defensive side which is excellent, yes he goes forward but he also gets back very quickly which is something that again goes unnoticed.
Don't get me wrong, I am not a Brunt hater and do realise he does possess quality but for me not in the middle.
Football is all about opinions and people see different things in different games.
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I think Brunt had a clearer idea of what he was doing yesterday and meant he looked a lot more more comfortable, he often looks confused with his positioning when he's played wide this season.
Don't think its a long term solution to play him the middle as I think against better sides he could get bullied and pressed into mistakes, but did well yesterday and deserves a run in the side with Yacob out injured.
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I think the last few games have shown Brunt's best position is deep-lying midfielder. He can deliver a very good through pass, and whilst Morrison and Gera can do the same, they are more effective further forward behind the striker. I have not been as impressed with Brunt out wide in spite of his decent cross. He lacks pace to get past full backs, and ends up coming inside and clogging up the shape of the team. But playing deep, we haven't missed Yacob or Mulumbu so much. In fact, its arguable whether he shouldn't occupy one of those slots permanently.
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He has played the CM role brilliantly in the last two games. Such a shame people are obsessed with pace and hard tackling that it goes over their heads what a fantastic ball player he is.
He is played in CM and told to play his own game which over the last two games has been dictating play. I doubt Clarke has turned round to him before both games and said I expect you to play like Mulumbu/Yacob by covering insane amounts of ground and putting your foot in at every opportunity.
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But Brunt hasn't dictated play, far from it. He's let players run directly past him far too often, they've skipped past him with ease. That's not asking him to cover miles of ground, but just to actually a be a midfielder and not let the player just trot past and attack the back 4. He holds up play when we want to move the ball quickly. Aside from his goal he's not really created much in open play.
Don't get me wrong he's been better these last couple of games, but that's not saying a lot. He's been far from brilliant though.
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But Brunt hasn't dictated play, far from it. He's let players run directly past him far too often, they've skipped past him with ease. That's not asking him to cover miles of ground, but just to actually a be a midfielder and not let the player just trot past and attack the back 4. He holds up play when we want to move the ball quickly. Aside from his goal he's not really created much in open play.
Don't get me wrong he's been better these last couple of games, but that's not saying a lot. He's been far from brilliant though.
Agreed.
Look, against QPR he had a decent game and scored a cracking goal, but if anyone thinks his performance was on a par with Mulumbu they are sadly mistaken. In our system we need midfielders who can break with pace - something which Brunt is missing from his arsenal. Also, his defensive abilities are lacking when it comes to tackling and positioning.
Yes he can whip a decent corner in, however i'd ask whether that is enough to demand a starting place in our team. I'd have to question that very much.
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On Boxing Day he scored, set-up the second and set-up Lukaku's 2nd one on one. Nobody just "runs" past him with ease, he needs to work on the defensive side of his game but it is as good as Morrison's, Gera's, Dorrans' and importantly Thorne's. His set-pieces, especially corners are the best in the club by a considerable distance.
The anti-Brunt sentiment is certainly gathering pace, he has been one of our best three or four players last two games and outside Odemwingie our most effective attacking player for the last 5 seasons (goals/assists).
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I don't see any 'anti- (insert player name) sentiment' at all on this forum at the moment unlike previous years when certain players have been singled out. I do see people discussing and posting how they see a certain player/ players performances etc just as you yourself have done in the past and as such people are perfectly allowed to do the same without the fear of being 'shouted down' and 'belittled' as in the past those shouters and belittlers will also be 'bye byers'
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I don't see any 'anti- (insert player name) sentiment' at all on this forum at the moment unlike previous years when certain players have been singled out. I do see people discussing and posting how they see a certain player/ players performances etc just as you yourself have done in the past and as such people are perfectly allowed to do the same without the fear of being 'shouted down' and 'belittled' as in the past those shouters and belittlers will also be 'bye byers'
Don't think anyone is doing any shouting down mate, I'm offering the opposite opinion of what the last couple of posters said. And I'm sorry but it might not be as overt as with Moore and Carson or indeed as nasty, but this season there has definitely been constant hints of dislike towards both Brunt and Peter Odemwingie in my opinion.
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Don't think anyone is doing any shouting down mate, I'm offering the opposite opinion of what the last couple of posters said. And I'm sorry but it might not be as overt as with Moore and Carson or indeed as nasty, but this season there has definitely been constant hints of dislike towards both Brunt and Peter Odemwingie in my opinion.
I haven't accused anyone of shouting down have I ? if I have then it didn't mean to come across like that.
I also haven't seen any hints of dislike towards players and I have the 'pleasure' of reading almost every post on here. I've seen criticism of them which at times has been justified and at times maybe not so but as I said to someone on here the other day football is all about opinions, people see things differently, even the so called 'experts' see things differently to us mere mortals on here, thats football.
I'm not a Brunt fan in the middle, doubtful I ever will be, sorry if that doesn't tally with what folk want to read but for me that's how I see it. I don't expect everyone to agree, that's life. Maybe people expect more from those two because they do possess quality and at times we don't see it as we want. Even you yourself would be guilty of that at times surely ?
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I haven't accused anyone of shouting down have I ? if I have then it didn't mean to come across like that.
I also haven't seen any hints of dislike towards players and I have the 'pleasure' of reading almost every post on here. I've seen criticism of them which at times has been justified and at times maybe not so but as I said to someone on here the other day football is all about opinions, people see things differently, even the so called 'experts' see things differently to us mere mortals on here, thats football.
I'm not a Brunt fan in the middle, doubtful I ever will be, sorry if that doesn't tally with what folk want to read but for me that's how I see it. I don't expect everyone to agree, that's life. Maybe people expect more from those two because they do possess quality and at times we don't see it as we want. Even you yourself would be guilty of that at times surely ?
Who says you can't evoke sarcasm in the written word?!! :D
I don't know it just grates a bit when two of our better players aren't given the patience and respect afforded to a few possibly inferior members of the squad.
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But Brunt hasn't dictated play, far from it. He's let players run directly past him far too often, they've skipped past him with ease. That's not asking him to cover miles of ground, but just to actually a be a midfielder and not let the player just trot past and attack the back 4. He holds up play when we want to move the ball quickly. Aside from his goal he's not really created much in open play.
Don't get me wrong he's been better these last couple of games, but that's not saying a lot. He's been far from brilliant though.
Watch our last 180 mins of football and tell me Brunt didn't dictate the play in both those games. I saw both with my own eyes and then watched them back after on tele and was quite amazed.
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Who says you can't evoke sarcasm in the written word?!! :D
I don't know it just grates a bit when two of our better players aren't given the patience and respect afforded to a few possibly inferior members of the squad.
Jacko, all discussion of player abilities is subjective. No one is right or wrong.
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Time to move him on. He's not prem quality offers nothing to the team no pace no skill just does the odd pass or the odd goal. Spends most of the game waving his arms moaning at others as the game passes him by. We play a lot better with him not in the team
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Squad player, i just hope when mulumbu go's SC doesn't see brunt as the centre mid as it's not looking good with yacob as of late. Has brunt been wth us since the mowbray days? he will always be a wide player, just doesnt see himself as one.
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He was truly terrible today. An absolute waste of space.
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I know he has his followers but hes dreadful of late .We have performed better and won more without him this season
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I know he has his followers but hes dreadful of late .We have performed better and won more without him this season
He has played well in the previous two games; against QPR he scored a screamer and got an assist.
Brunt was very poor today, but so were a few of them. Morrison has been woeful for a while and yet seems immune to criticism.
The cheers when he went off today were pathetic.
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He has played well in the previous two games; against QPR he scored a screamer and got an assist.
Brunt was very poor today, but so were a few of them. Morrison has been woeful for a while and yet seems immune to criticism.
The cheers when he went off today were pathetic.
I agree with the Mozza comment. I've been very disappointed with him for some time. Brunt is struggling, but he wasn't any worse than Mozza or Gera today.
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He didn't play well against QPR though, slightly better than the previous game but still poor. He did score a great goal but his overall play was just as poor. His role in the side is to be a holding midfielder but he never gets a foot in. When he has the ball and plays it he just stands there like his job is done, rarely looks for a return ball. Throw in constantly misplacing simple passes, or flicking lazy balls forward to no-one and you have a player who shouldn't be captain and shouldn't be first choice.
Don't get me wrong, at one stage he was clearly one of our best players but that was a while ago, we've simply outgrown him.
Aside from the odd decent set piece I fail to see what he offers us.
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I agree with the Mozza comment. I've been very disappointed with him for some time. Brunt is struggling, but he wasn't any worse than Mozza or Gera today.
First half Mulumbu was near useless as well, at least Brunt got in with his tackles and came out with the ball in the first 45 mins. There were so many lethargic performances.
The worst ones I find are those that criticise Brunt for something, when it was actually Morrison.... That's one people that I know like to spout.
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Time to move him on. He's not prem quality offers nothing to the team no pace no skill just does the odd pass or the odd goal. Spends most of the game waving his arms moaning at others as the game passes him by. We play a lot better with him not in the team
According to Lepkowski, Brunt has either scored or directly assisted 4 of our last five (six now) goals(the assists are from set peices) with 2 assists in open play already to his name.... Isn't that the important bit?
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First half Mulumbu was near useless as well, at least Brunt got in with his tackles and came out with the ball in the first 45 mins. There were so many lethargic performances.
The worst ones I find are those that criticise Brunt for something, when it was actually Morrison.... That's one people that I know like to spout.
Honestly, you couldn't be more wrong. Mulumbu was doing the job of three midfielders pretty much all game. I didn't see Brunt make a single tackle.
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Honestly, you couldn't be more wrong. Mulumbu was doing the job of three midfielders pretty much all game. I didn't see Brunt make a single tackle.
Somebody needs to watch the tape back again then..... and it ain't me.
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According to Lepkowski, Brunt has either scored or directly assisted 4 of our last five (six now) goals(the assists are from set peices) with 2 assists in open play already to his name.... Isn't that the important bit?
Lepkowski is wrong, you can't count us scoring from a set piece at some point as an assist from Brunt. Only one of those in recent games is an actual assist ( Lukaku against Swansea in a 3-1 loss ).
From even Lepkowski's generous reading of stats it just goes to show that his only value to the team at the moment are his set pieces. That should not be enough to keep a player in the side.
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I think Brunt was poor today along with about 80% of the team, what i would say for him is he doesnt hide, he always try to stay involved, not sure recently all our players can say that.
He gave the ball away a lot today but the last few managers have picked him reguarly when fit so he must be doing something right, dont think Brunt was the problem today, i think the fact we make 5-6 changes what seems every game now is getting a bit stupid and the whole team suffer, not fair to single out Brunt.
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Somebody needs to watch the tape back again then..... and it ain't me.
I think you do mate, he missed at least 3 tackles in the first 15 minutes.
Today he was no worse than Morrison or Gera but is not a centre midfielder, never will be.
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At Old Trafford even his delivery at free kicks from a couple of normally very dangerous positions was very poor - he drove it twice low at the wall.
He's a confidence player and seems low on it at presence.
I think his work rate overall has improved this season, and so has his poor body language (slightly anyway).
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Brunt must be good with the local press because Lepkowski won't have a bad word said against him.
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Brunt can't play CM and he doesn't have the pace to be any good out wide. I think his level is below where we are now at to be honest. I'd be looking to sell if i were in charge.
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Not a CM , has done well but 3 games in such a short space is was too much given his injuries this season and that's Clarke's fault IMO.
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I thought it was his worst Albion performance to date. It was incredibly poor and even more frustrating to think that he lasted some 84 minutes on the pitch. There were other players which were poor in Morrison and Gera but the consistency of poorness from Brunty is something which is worrying for someone with so much talent. I'll defend the lad because I know he has the potential to be a good player in this division, but his performance today was inexcusable. He gifted possession away regularly and allowed midfield runners to drift past him without making any attempt at a challenge. When he did make a challenge it usually resulted in a free kick or Brunt being by-passed.
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So hes a confidence footballer, why does this make him captain material then
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I thought it was his worst Albion performance to date. It was incredibly poor and even more frustrating to think that he lasted some 84 minutes on the pitch. There were other players which were poor in Morrison and Gera but the consistency of poorness from Brunty is something which is worrying for someone with so much talent. I'll defend the lad because I know he has the potential to be a good player in this division, but his performance today was inexcusable. He gifted possession away regularly and allowed midfield runners to drift past him without making any attempt at a challenge. When he did make a challenge it usually resulted in a free kick or Brunt being by-passed.
This is exactly what I see. I don't know how he stayed on the pitch so long today.
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So hes a confidence footballer, why does this make him captain material then
Did he ask to be captain ? , RDM, Roy and now Clarke have him as captain so he must have something about him. Had a stinker today no doubt but he is out of position and played a lot in a short space of time after months of injury so i reckon he can be excused that.
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Dreadful today.
Couldn't pass, control or tackle. His set pieces were average.
Should have been hauled off earlier, not least because the crowd was on his back. At least Thorne would have got the backing of the crowd as a 'youngster'.
I seriously worry if Clarke is going to persist with Brunt in the holding midfield role whilst Mulumbu and Yacob are absent. Long month ahead.
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#wba Billy Jones on Brunt "You don't expect the home fans to be booing the skipper who's been a great servant to the club and still is"
#wba Steve Clarke on Chris Brunt criticism "I didn't hear it but our crowd don't deserve to turn on any of our players"
I'm embarrassed by some of our fans
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Problem is that his captain and one of the longest serving players so his in the team sometimes i feel through that rather than ability,and he doesn't stick to his discipline when his out wide.....i feel we have moved on from players like him and morrison who are not consistent and get you 2-3 good games out of 10. More worryingly now though is yacob doesnt seem near a return and his fitness will be low,mulumbu is off for a month, so who does that leave for CM......we all know brunt will be one of them. Fans have a right too boo whether we like it or not, he was woefull as an entertainer and got booed even though it's not my nature to do such things.
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What i would like to see is Brunt as a wide player on one side,one of our forwards in the middle and a fast winger on the other flank. That way you have Brunts eye for a pass/cross with something completely different on the other side.For example---
Long or Odemwingie
Brunt New fast winger.
We would certainly be less predictable with hopeful static crosses into the box, the blokes quality but we must use him right and not forget how many injuries he has had over the last two seasons.
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According to Lepkowski, Brunt has either scored or directly assisted 4 of our last five (six now) goals(the assists are from set peices) with 2 assists in open play already to his name.... Isn't that the important bit?
Exactly. While he may not be the complete Premier midfielder everybody expects him to be, he is still capable of contributing in terms of goals. People might remember goals... they win football matches, even if you're not playing especially well.
Brunt was no worse today than Morrison or Gera, but if the boo-boys were to get their way and he were to leave, we would be poorer for it.
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Thought Brunt was poor today, chasing shadows at times and quite sloppy in possession. Still one of our most talented players though.
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Thought Brunt was poor today, chasing shadows at times and quite sloppy in possession. Still one of our most talented players though.
Four years ago maybe, not anymore!
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#wba Billy Jones on Brunt "You don't expect the home fans to be booing the skipper who's been a great servant to the club and still is"
#wba Steve Clarke on Chris Brunt criticism "I didn't hear it but our crowd don't deserve to turn on any of our players"
I'm embarrassed by some of our fans
brunt has at most a good game in every 6 has been the most frustrating player this season was miles of the pace today, fans will only take so much clarke should have played thorne instead and if he dosnt buck up his ideas and excuses the the fans will turn on him [we are a fickle bunch ] clake claims players were tired that dosnt wash the sqaud has been rotated more than a washing machine on high spin in the last few months and in my opinion thats the problem havent had a settled team
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Four years ago maybe, not anymore!
Here and now mate. As much ability as anyone in the squad and his importance as captain and a senior player is obvious to all of our last 3 managers.
All this outcry for Thorne by the way is ludicrous. If it wasn't for the ACN he'd still be on loan (his rightful place for now).
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Too me Brunt wasnt any worse than any of the others today and certainly didnt deserve to be booed, problem is i think you only have to see from this thread alone that he is now going down the path of scapegoat, we always have to have one. Not saying that anybody on this forum would of booed him, i think there has been some very good pro and good comments about Brunt, but anybody who did boo him at the game i hope you do one and dont go again, and thats the polite way of putting it.
What about we say that for the last two months - Ridgewell, Dorrans, Morrison, Gera, Long, Brunt, Fortune and Odemwingie have played nowhere near what we know they can, i am sure its not for a lack of effort just poor form, whose fault is that, theirs and the managers for constantly messing with the team, after a shocking first half performance fair enough boo the team off like they were and let them know its not good enough, but to single players out is just out of order, Brunt this season appears to be the target, once he goes we shall have another, we take the p**s out of Villa and Wolves fans being fickle, we all are to a certain extent, but we have a small section (and i mean small section) who are just as bad as anything that our rivals can offer.
Not a good sign that the players (Jones) have picked up on it, i wouldnt be too amused if one of my mates got booed either.
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Brunt was poor...but then so was 90% of the team so why was he singled out???
Very lethargic performance by everybody today
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Think Brunt was tired today and I'm not sure why he stayed on for 80 odd minutes. This was 4 out of 4 of the festive games he's played and is the only player outside Foster and the back four to play all four.
He's really not that indispensible to us.
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Here and now mate. As much ability as anyone in the squad and his importance as captain and a senior player is obvious to all of our last 3 managers.
All this outcry for Thorne by the way is ludicrous. If it wasn't for the ACN he'd still be on loan (his rightful place for now).
I wouldn't deny that on his day Brunt has ability, however his form this season is poor to say the least.
Had Dorrans put in a similar display you would have slated him, and rightly so.
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I wouldn't deny that on his day Brunt has ability, however his form this season is poor to say the least.
Had Dorrans put in a similar display you would have slated him, and rightly so.
My very first post on this thread today stated Brunt played poorly. GD appears to have been dropped right out of the matchday squad and has no relevance to Brunt's performance today anyway...
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Absolutely awful today but the booing of him and cheering him going off wasn't right.
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My very first post on this thread today stated Brunt played poorly. GD appears to have been dropped right out of the matchday squad and has no relevance to Brunt's performance today anyway...
How many times have you named Long or Dorrans in similar comments to try and justify your point in a post by comparing them to others when they would have had no relevance on that day ?
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My very first post on this thread today stated Brunt played poorly. GD appears to have been dropped right out of the matchday squad and has no relevance to Brunt's performance today anyway...
Ok let's stick to brunt.
How on earth can he be considered as a holding midfield player.
Play him wide left and he has the ability to cause the opposition problems.
As a holding midfielder he is poor in the tackle, is more intent on clipping the players ankles than winning the ball, and does not have the pace to stay with the man running off the ball.
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Firstly i am not a brunt fan, but to be honest who did have a good game today?
I thought that Lukaku and Jones were OK and and the rest below par.
My main issue with Brunt is that he is captain, and is meant to lead the team. He had a go at Ridgewell (i think ) (just before 2nd goal) when it was clearly brunt's poor control. He then walks around arms swinging etc, he just doen't give off the correct aura as a captain.
Lets forget today, and remember the great season the TEAM are having.
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A blind disabled pensioner would have put in a better shift than Brunt today. Anyone unfortunate enough to have recorded the game should watch the replay of the first goal. He ran backwards alongside the centre-backs (from 40 yards out) and ended up in front of Foster. It was ridiculous. He provided no cover whatsoever, his work rate was atrocious and his passing very poor. He's been terrible for a while and it was a scandal that he lasted 84 minutes. Morrison was also crap today but at least he's actually played his part this season.
I'd love to know the stats of average points per game in matches with and without Brunt in the starting eleven. Anybody care to look it up?
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How many times have you named Long or Dorrans in similar comments to try and justify your point in a post by comparing them to others when they would have had no relevance on that day ?
Yes comparing them to others not comparing my reaction to them? Like I said Brunt was poor today... so were six or seven others.
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Obviously Billy heard something I didn't.
As far as I was concerned, no one actually booed Brunt. They ironically cheered when his number came up on 83 mins, but I took it that the cheers was aimed at Clarke for finally subbing him. There was also a large number that applauded him as he went off. I notice that wasn't mentioned?
I don't think it's right for fans to 'turn' on a player, but I also disagree with Jones coming out saying that. Fans pay hard earned money to watch their favourite team.
The only booing I heard, was when the half time whistle went and I feel that was a kick up the backside the players, as a whole, needed.
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Brunt just isnt good enough anymore, he's been a good servant for us, but its definitely time he moved on.
If we want to push on we cant afford to continually start players who
a)aren't suited to our system and
b) aren't good enough
Brunt could be filed under both of those
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(http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q786/jon7w/tweet_zpsf30e4597.jpg)
Just saw this.
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I'd love to know the stats of average points per game in matches with and without Brunt in the starting eleven. Anybody care to look it up?
http://westbrom.com/forum/index.php?topic=9568.msg200451#msg200451
That was as of six weeks ago.
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A blind disabled pensioner would have put in a better shift than Brunt today.
::)
Whether people like it or not Brunt is one of our most influential players and when he doesn't perform the team generally fail to perform. He clearly commands more respect from his fellow professionals than he does some of his "supporters"
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The sarcastic cheering and then the booing of Brunt today was appalling I felt he had a very poor game both today and at Old Trafford but no way does a player who has been with us half a decade and is our club captain deserve such disrespect.
I do think some of our fans need a sense of realism criticising is fine but doing that at a game just helps the opposition further.
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He was shocking today but no player should be booed. Like others have said he has gave us some fantastic memories and I actually felt sorry for him today. Clarke could of prevented it by bringing him off sooner or starting Thorne. Thorne played well against United yet he decides to play Brunt out of position.
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Brunt passed poorly, was off the pace and just seemed uninspired to perform today. He played the holiday period so you can understand him being worn out. The problem isn't so much with Brunt but the whole midfield in general. Mulumbu is the only consistant mf on a regular basis. We need another holding mf and someone who can get back and make tackles instead of ball watching when the opposition attacks like half the team do.
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As i posted earlier Brunt was clearly knackered as he would be after so many games in a short space of time , i don't blame him i blame Clarke for starting him and for keeping him on so long.
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Worst for him yet, i am not a great fan but i didn't think he could sink that low. Should have been off earlier.
Thorne in for QPR.
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i thought he looked tired. completely knackered if im honest. before kick off i thought he looked hungover. and if he wasnt captain and we werent so short i reckon he would have been rested.
previous games he's played well so you cant criticise him too much. he wasnt the only one who had a bad game today!
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His just not a CM, simple as that...he whipped in a cross for morrison against wigan, yet the man is rarely on the wing when thats his position... His discipline is none existant as in positional sense and captaincy....we have moved on from him and morrison as they give u 3/4good games out of 10...squad player now brunt as we did well start of the season without him.
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As anybody thought he might have been suffering with this virus that's been going around the club
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As anybody thought he might have been suffering with this virus that's been going around the club
If that was the case to be honest you have to look at Clarke for playing him.
However I know what your saying but that doesnt stop some when it comes to witch-hunts.
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When you look at it Brunt isnt a CM and has been doing a decent job until today covering the injuries and illness.....i really don't think he can be witch hunted for that given how little he has played over the last two seasons.
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If that was the case to be honest you have to look at Clarke for playing him.
However I know what your saying but that doesnt stop some when it comes to witch-hunts.
I don't understand why it is considered a witch hunt when fans express an opinion.
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As i posted earlier Brunt was clearly knackered as he would be after so many games in a short space of time , i don't blame him i blame Clarke for starting him and for keeping him on so long.
If that performance was as a result of having to play a few games in quick succession then theres something seriously wrong somewhere.
He seems to play like someone who's in a trance and today he was worse than ever.
The only thing he's ever had in his locker is the ability to deliver a set piece but he rarely does that nowadays.
He wasnt the only one to play poorly today but to be fair to some of the others it was a one off for them.
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If that performance was as a result of having to play a few games in quick succession then theres something seriously wrong somewhere.
He seems to play like someone who's in a trance and today he was worse than ever.
The only thing he's ever had in his locker is the ability to deliver a set piece but he rarely does that nowadays.
He wasnt the only one to play poorly today but to be fair to some of the others it was a one off for them.
You have to factor in the amount of football he has missed over the last two seasons , four games in a demanding position(not his) is very tiring with little fitness behind you.Im not defending him today but to me fitness is a factor.
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I really think some fans have lost the plot, ironically cheering a player who has contributed to two promotions, played a big part in keeping us up for the last two seasons, scored a 30 yarder two games ago and has been directly involved in four of our last give goals is abhorant and pathetic in the extreme.
Chris Brunt didn't have a good game today, but neither did Gera. Chris Brunt hasn't been in the best of form of late, but neither has Gera.....why was Brunt singled out for the vile and humiliating cat calling?
He's a valuable member of a ver successful squad that is doing this club proud, his previous three managers have made him captain of the side and of the club, he has scored some great goals and has never once had an ounce of bother with the fans, allways making time for them and doing the community side of things willingly and with interest - just why does he deserve to be singled out and mocked like he was today?
Lower than a snakes belly.
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I really think some fans have lost the plot, ironically cheering a player who has contributed to two promotions, played a big part in keeping us up for the last two seasons, scored a 30 yarder two games ago and has been directly involved in four of our last give goals is abhorant and pathetic in the extreme.
Chris Brunt didn't have a good game today, but neither did Gera. Chris Brunt hasn't been in the best of form of late, but neither has Gera.....why was Brunt singled out for the vile and humiliating cat calling?
He's a valuable member of a ver successful squad that is doing this club proud, his previous three managers have made him captain of the side and of the club, he has scored some great goals and has never once had an ounce of bother with the fans, allways making time for them and doing the community side of things willingly and with interest - just why does he deserve to be singled out and mocked like he was today?
Lower than a snakes belly.
I don't condone any player being booed by his own set of fans, and I would hazard a guess most fans would agree.
However I do not think Brunt or any other player for that matter is above criticism on a football forum.
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I don't condone any player being booed by his own set of fans, and I would hazard a guess most fans would agree.
However I do not think Brunt or any other player for that matter is above criticism on a football forum.
If you could point me towards where i have said nobody should be criticised then i would be grateful.
The problem is that some numbskulls cannot define the difference between balanced critique, a witch hunt and plain abuse.
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If you could point me towards where i have said nobody should be criticised then i would be grateful.
The problem is that some numbskulls cannot define the difference between balanced critique, a witch hunt and plain abuse.
If you could point me towards where i have said you said nobody should be criticised then i too would be grateful
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I know we all have our own opinion and that's fine, but there's one thing some seem to be forgetting: RDM was sacked even though our style of football had improved under him and he got us a promotion. Just being part of something good doesn't mean you are free from criticism when you have off days. Fans and footballers need to remember that.
Everyone who was sat around me sighed and groaned at EVERY missed pass, not just Brunt. However, Brunt made mistake after mistake throughout the game.
I think on another day, if the ball bounced for us, fans may not have been as vocal about Brunt, but because so many passes went astray, it happened.
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Criticism is fine, cat calling and humiliation is not - that what the ironic cheers were.
I think Brunt has served us well enough to deserve a little more respect than that, im sure he didn't go out to play badly and im pretty certain he didn't injure Yacob in some sort of ploy to play in the position he's being asked to at the moment (three times in a week).
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Criticism is fine, cat calling and humiliation is not - that what the ironic cheers were.
I think Brunt has served us well enough to deserve a little more respect than that, im sure he didn't go out to play badly and im pretty certain he didn't injure Yacob in some sort of ploy to play in the position he's being asked to at the moment (three times in a week).
I don't disagree, however do you think that Brunt's recent performances warrant a starting place.
If Yacob is injured, on current form I would prefer to see Morrison or Gera slot in alongside Mulumbu.
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I don't disagree, however do you think that Brunt's recent performances warrant a starting place.
If Yacob is injured, on current form I would prefer to see Morrison or Gera slot in alongside Mulumbu.
I think he had a decent game against Norwich, more than decent at QPR topped off with a goal, didn't see the United match and a mare today along with Gera, Mozza, Mulumbu and Fortune - it was just a very very bad day at the office. As i said previously, he's been directly involved in four of our last five goals scored.
Gera hasn't got the legs to play that role and i don't think Morrisson has ever looked that good further back down the pitch. We are missing Yacob who is easilly first choice and the best player at the club for that role, Brunt is simply filling in.
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He wasn't at his best today, but over the last few games he has been pretty good overall.
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A blind disabled pensioner would have put in a better shift than Brunt today. Anyone unfortunate enough to have recorded the game should watch the replay of the first goal. He ran backwards alongside the centre-backs (from 40 yards out) and ended up in front of Foster. It was ridiculous. He provided no cover whatsoever, his work rate was atrocious and his passing very poor. He's been terrible for a while and it was a scandal that he lasted 84 minutes. Morrison was also crap today but at least he's actually played his part this season.
I'd love to know the stats of average points per game in matches with and without Brunt in the starting eleven. Anybody care to look it up?
Is this blind pensioner close to the end of his contract?
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A blind disabled pensioner would have put in a better shift than Brunt today. Anyone unfortunate enough to have recorded the game should watch the replay of the first goal. He ran backwards alongside the centre-backs (from 40 yards out) and ended up in front of Foster. It was ridiculous. He provided no cover whatsoever, his work rate was atrocious and his passing very poor. He's been terrible for a while and it was a scandal that he lasted 84 minutes. Morrison was also crap today but at least he's actually played his part this season.
I'd love to know the stats of average points per game in matches with and without Brunt in the starting eleven. Anybody care to look it up?
Blaming Brunt for the first goal is pretty special, there was me thinking Ridgewell got on the wrong side of his man and Gera didn't back him up one bit allowing the situation to unfold.
The rest of you post is just reactionary and at times pretty embarrassing.
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I have never been one of his biggest fans but the treatment he received today was very disappointing to hear.
As poor as he was (and he was very poor) he wasn't alone and was only a whisker away from winning us another 3 points and alot of the below par perfomances would possibly have been overlooked, if not actually forgiven.
The atmosphere just after half time and following the equaliser is what is going to lift the team in these situations - maybe if we could turn the jeering and booing into getting behind the team we could perhaps avoid sub standard displays like today - the constant sighs and groans and getting on the players backs following every misplaced pass, or mistimed tackle or poorly controlled ball, or miscued shot is definately not the answer
Crap perfomance, crap atmosphere, crap result - we probably got what we deserved today?
PS: Have a look at the Premier League table - we are sitting in SEVENTH place (7 ot of 20) at this moment in time ???
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Ok Brunt was poor today and like many on here I do not like to see him in Central Midfield but I really hate to see a player abused by his own supporters particularly on a day when many could hardly stir themselves to get behind the team.
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Blaming Brunt for the first goal is pretty special
There were a lot of players to blame for the goal him included. Ridgewell got turned inside and out and then the ball was pulled back to the Fulham goalscorer who was completely unmarked. Now if you watch the replay you will see Brunt jogging back from about 40 yards out and he ends up in-front of Foster, yet there is no Fulham player near him to mark so why he decided to try and grope Tamas rather than picking a midfield runner is beyond me. His positioning was bizarre. I'd recommend that you watch the goal back on TV and specifically watch his movement from start to finish. His defensive contribution was zero. If anything he has hinderance as he blocked Fosters view who in turn should have done better.
My disappoint with Brunt isn't due to his role in the Fulham goal today, that's just symptomatic of his terrible season. I can put up with dips in performance levels but on a consistent basis he's been garbage, and the lack of effort and work rate is a disgrace. His willingness to waive his arms around but not to close down. He's terrible passing. I could go on and on. I first noticed his unacceptable effort level against Chelsea at home. We were fighting for our lives to defend he lead in the final ten minutes. He came off the bench. In injury time he lost possession needlessly in the Chelsea box. Rather than sprint back to defend he started arm waving and moaning and didn't do his job. Which was criminal at a time when every other player was breaking sweat. Luckily we held out.
Look at these stats:
Brunt played for 45 minutes or more - W:5 L:5 D:1 AVG points per game: 1.45
Brunt played up to 45 minutes - W:5 L:2 D:3 AVE points per game: 1.80
Of course statistics are misleading but they still tell some of the story.
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Just watched it, brunt was nowhere near foster when the shot was struck.
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I would rather judge him out wide as filling in at centre mid isnt the best way to judge, squad player nowadays and him and morrison give you 3/4 good games out of 10.... We have moved on from relying on him to dictate things and as a club we have way too many centre mids, im dreading when mulumbu go's as i feel brunt will get tht CM spot.
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Booing (etc) is par for the course today due to the immense and frankly staggering money in the game.
Hard working punters shell out what little disposable income they have to support their team. Players get paid hundres of thousands, if not millions, to turn up and play 90 minutes, once, maybe twice a week.
The drastic distance between players and the fan base has left a bitter taste in many peoples mouths. If the players no longer perform, even if on a single occasion, fans will let them know about it.
Frankly, they've every right to. If you purchased a jumper and discovered it had a gaping hole in it, you'd return it and demand a replacement or your money back. Fans are simply doing the same when they don't get what they think their money merits.
I don't think Albion fans mind people having an off game, as long as they put a shift in. Today I thought Brunt was poor and devoid of any motivation/inspiration which for a captain isn't acceptable.
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He didn't deserve the abuse today but my criticism of him isn't based on this one game. That's why the others having stinkers don't matter, all players have off games and dips in form but Brunt hasn't played well for god knows how long. It doesn't help being played as a CM but what makes that worse is that's where Brunt feels he should play.
Trying to say that he's been "involved" in 4 of the last 5 goals is overstating the case. Just because he swung a corner in that a defender has headed straight up, and then Fortune has blocked the keeper so it ended up being palmed into the net doesn't mean Brunt should get credit. If he does then can we say he's cost us 7 or 8 goals by not putting good balls into the box or hitting the wall with freekicks? You can't have it both ways.
He really needs to sort his game out. For me he doesn't defend at all, rarely holds up the opposition midfielders, doesn't tackle and goes to ground easily. The last 3 or 4 games there's been numerous instances of Brunt just letting his man skip past him and attack the back 4. Count the number of times you see him stand 6 yards away from the player with the ball while pointing at team mates.
With the ball there's not much from him aside from taking a corner and his 30 yard wonder strike. I was hoping that was going to be a turning point for him. Too often he plays the ball and doesn't look for it back again like his job is done now he's played a pass. Compare this to Mulumbu and Jacob who are constantly moving into space looking for the ball - it makes our midfield static when he's in there He'll play lazy flicks into space that nobody has a chance of getting as well as miss hit the simplest of passes.
Where's all the killer through balls he used to play? Opening up the opposition? The freekicks he used to curl in? If we have to move him out wide left to get the best out of him then let's do that. I used to love his crosses to Gera coming in at the far post. He's the club captain and should be setting the example.
He's currently a shadow of his former self.
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The 'booing' and 'poor atmosphere' argument is beginning to get a little tedious. If you were at the game, then you have your own opinion, but if you weren't at the game, please don't go by what you hear, as I feel that some peoples disappointment is clouding the facts.
I uploaded a video in the 'After Match thread vs Fulham' which clearly shows the fans singing loud and cheering the lads on. I filmed it because I love to hear the fans sing and today it was very loud throughout. The fans sang about McAuley, Mulumbu, Lukaku, Odemwingie and cheered Brunt every time he went to take a corner.
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The booing and poor atmosphere came across on TV to be honest. There may have been a few people singing nearby but the first half was deathly quiet (you could hear the odd fan shout and you could hear shouts from the bench) and the boos rang out at half time. It didn't brighten up at one point when Lukaku was played through but the pass was overhit, he went into the goal and urged the crowd into voice.
I think some of the criticism of the fans is harsh mind. The complaints today weren't about where the team is in the league, but about players not putting in effort and doing the very basics right. Most fans will get annoyed by that.
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The booing and poor atmosphere came across on TV to be honest. There may have been a few people singing nearby but the first half was deathly quiet (you could hear the odd fan shout and you could hear shouts from the bench) and the boos rang out at half time. It didn't brighten up at one point when Lukaku was played through but the pass was overhit, he went into the goal and urged the crowd into voice.
I think some of the criticism of the fans is harsh mind. The complaints today weren't about where the team is in the league, but about players not putting in effort and doing the very basics right. Most fans will get annoyed by that.
Fair enough. I agree that at times it was a little quiet, but some people make it sound like it was a morgue for 90 minutes.
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The only place where Brunt is worth a place in this side is wide left, where that great left foot can be devastating. It's wide left or not at all for me. The rest of his game is really very ordinary, but he's one of the best in the Premiership if we play to his strengths. Trying to play him centre midfield is like playing Odemwingie at left back!
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Yeah, I think sometimes the crowd have to lift the players but also it happens the other way around and the team have to lift the crowd. The team was so lackluster in the first half it's no surprise the crowd were irritable. As soon as they had something to sing about they did.
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SC is finding it tough to release Chris 'cause he gave him captaincy. The poor lad is just not up to Premiership football (presently anyhow) and if he likes the club unless he is plain dumb he should be aware of this fact himself and resign his post fortwith and save club and his good self any further embarrassment
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The only place where Brunt is worth a place in this side is wide left, where that great left foot can be devastating. It's wide left or not at all for me. The rest of his game is really very ordinary, but he's one of the best in the Premiership if we play to his strengths. Trying to play him centre midfield is like playing Odemwingie at left back!
This is exactly right. Playing Brunt in defensive midfield is a waste of time as he cant tackle and attacking midfield players from the opposition waltz round him like he isnt there. Couldnt win a 50 5 0 tackle if his life depended on it !. Played out of position, he's a waste of a shirt !
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Booing (etc) is par for the course today due to the immense and frankly staggering money in the game.
Hard working punters shell out what little disposable income they have to support their team. Players get paid hundres of thousands, if not millions, to turn up and play 90 minutes, once, maybe twice a week.
The drastic distance between players and the fan base has left a bitter taste in many peoples mouths. If the players no longer perform, even if on a single occasion, fans will let them know about it.
Frankly, they've every right to. If you purchased a jumper and discovered it had a gaping hole in it, you'd return it and demand a replacement or your money back. Fans are simply doing the same when they don't get what they think their money merits.
I don't think Albion fans mind people having an off game, as long as they put a shift in. Today I thought Brunt was poor and devoid of any motivation/inspiration which for a captain isn't acceptable.
Like every human being in the world, i have off days where i don't perform very well - not by choice or deliberately, it just happens.
The money argument is totally flawed, as footballers are still human with all of the stuff that goes with it. We don't pay their wages, Sky do.
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Like every human being in the world, i have off days where i don't perform very well - not by choice or deliberately, it just happens.
The money argument is totally flawed, as footballers are still human with all of the stuff that goes with it. We don't pay their wages, Sky do.
I can partly see where you're coming from, but there are two reasons why I disagree.
While we do not directly pay their wages, if fans didn't go to matches or subscribe to Sky, they wouldn't be paid.
And the other point is I don't think most people are bothered about footballers being paid, I think it's more the amount of money they're paid that infuriates people so much, when they actually do very little work, time-wise.
I agree though that they are human and make errors, unintentionally. I don't believe any footballer would purposely go out to play badly as it's their career that would suffer. I do feel that some players take their positions for granted though.
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People are paid in accordance with the money their efforts generate, footballers generate a hell of alot of money and are rewarded accordingly.
Game time isn't allot but the training, strain on the body and commitment required to maintain fitness is very hard work in what is a very short career.
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It may be a short career but if they haven't earned enough to live off then they need to get a job like the rest of us.
This isn't a dig at you Rowley, but I have to say that my pay is not matched to my efforts. I'm sure a lot of us are in the same boat when it comes to that.
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It may be a short career but if they haven't earned enough to live off then they need to get a job like the rest of us.
This isn't a dig at you Rowley, but I have to say that my pay is not matched to my efforts. I'm sure a lot of us are in the same boat when it comes to that.
Its all about talent, loads of people could do most jobs but only very few can be top level footballers.
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im starting to wonder if i am the parallel to jacko2000 and his views on Dorrans, as i think if Dorrans was given as many chances and lives as Brunt he'd be better and could develop some actual form. I dont know if i've just gone so anti-brunt that he could score a hat trick and set up 3 in a game and i'd still think he's bad, or if he is as bad as i find him.
The thing is if you watch a season review that shows mostly just goals he looks like a world beater, but the truth is he could frustrate and give the ball away so much and then set up a goal. Is he a luxury? He doesn't score like he used to, can we afford to keep starting him, and as captain?
I'm not convinced by him at all, i'm not saying dorrans is the answer either, i'm just saying if he was allowed to start so many games after poor performances, where might he be now? I just wonder if he's not right for this system, i feel we need a fast pacy tricky winger, a la Chelseas midfielders.
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Brunt should not be in the squad, and certainly not Captain. His attitude stinks, as does his all round play.
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I think Rowley said it well above, we all have off days, Brunt maybe is having more than normal, thats upto the manager to decide whether its a temporary problem or if he is past his best, the fact he has picked him pretty much every game since he returned to fitness suggest that management think he can offer something. The last four managers have obviously felt the same thing, as much as i like Dorrans the last three managers havent seen enough to pick him reguarly, not slating Dorrans there as think he was unlucky to get subbed against Norwich and played well against Man United but Brunt seems to of been singled out for having the nerve to be picked by the manager!
I have said in previous posts, i my opinon i think Brunt is now more of a squad player who will play in certain type of games, rather than a first team player he once was but he seems to be blamed for every bad Albion performance, he was rubbish yesterday along with about 8 others in the first half.
I never agree with booing individuals unless they clearly arent trying or do something to disgrace the club whilst on the pitch, however when Brunt is playing he never lacks effort, he always gives his everything (which for me is a minimum requirement) okay he has little tantrums but everybody is different. Since he has been at a club he has been captain under 3 managers, seems very well respected and thought of by the staff he works with everyday, he attends a lot of community events and i get the impression he is genuinely proud to be an Albion representative, he has never disgraced the club and yet a small minority and it is a small minority chose to ridicule and boo him! Unfortunately the minority often over shadow the majority but if somebody is giving their all whether its a window cleaner or a millionaire footballer (and i agree footballers do tend to get bad press for being dettached from reality, when actors, musicians, etc seem to get very little of the bad press yet do just as bad or worse) then you cant ask anymore of the person whether its good enough or not is irrelevant, thats upto management to decide, thats what they are employed for.
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I think Rowley said it well above, we all have off days, Brunt maybe is having more than normal, thats upto the manager to decide whether its a temporary problem or if he is past his best, the fact he has picked him pretty much every game since he returned to fitness suggest that management think he can offer something. The last four managers have obviously felt the same thing, as much as i like Dorrans the last three managers havent seen enough to pick him reguarly, not slating Dorrans there as think he was unlucky to get subbed against Norwich and played well against Man United but Brunt seems to of been singled out for having the nerve to be picked by the manager!
I have said in previous posts, i my opinon i think Brunt is now more of a squad player who will play in certain type of games, rather than a first team player he once was but he seems to be blamed for every bad Albion performance, he was rubbish yesterday along with about 8 others in the first half.
I never agree with booing individuals unless they clearly arent trying or do something to disgrace the club whilst on the pitch, however when Brunt is playing he never lacks effort, he always gives his everything (which for me is a minimum requirement) okay he has little tantrums but everybody is different. Since he has been at a club he has been captain under 3 managers, seems very well respected and thought of by the staff he works with everyday, he attends a lot of community events and i get the impression he is genuinely proud to be an Albion representative, he has never disgraced the club and yet a small minority and it is a small minority chose to ridicule and boo him! Unfortunately the minority often over shadow the majority but if somebody is giving their all whether its a window cleaner or a millionaire footballer (and i agree footballers do tend to get bad press for being dettached from reality, when actors, musicians, etc seem to get very little of the bad press yet do just as bad or worse) then you cant ask anymore of the person whether its good enough or not is irrelevant, thats upto management to decide, thats what they are employed for.
Totally agree with the above.
Unless its for disrespecting the club anybody booing should be ashamed of themselves
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Just remember
When you boo brunt , you boo the managers decision to pick him, you boo the teammates who play with him, you boo your own supporters who support him, I can see he is clearly off form, I can see he's not enjoying playing at the moment but I won't boo because it REALLY won't help.
I'd bench him and use him towards the end of games (on the wing) when we have got a pretty safe position, like him or not no one in our squad delivers a dead ball /cross like him.
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Can we cut the comments calling other posts 'embarrassing, pathetic etc etc', those type of posts are not much better than the ones you are replying to and will only get deleted so why waste your time replying.
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Can we cut the comments calling other posts 'embarrassing, pathetic etc etc', those type of posts are not much better than the ones you are replying to and will only get deleted so why waste your time replying.
With respect, if a post is embarrassing and pathetic mate i will - when someone puts something so completely ridiculous as a couple of comments on here they are opening themselves up to be pulled up.
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With respect, if a post is embarrassing and pathetic mate i will - when someone puts something so completely ridiculous as a couple of comments on here they are opening themselves up to be pulled up.
Sorry Matt but then you'll be wasting your energy doing it as it will get removed.
Theres post on here that are absolutely shocking at times but like it or not they have that right and that's something that will never change.
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Sorry Matt but then you'll be wasting your energy doing it as it will get removed.
Theres post on here that are absolutely shocking at times but like it or not they have that right and that's something that will never change.
And its killing the site mate, the quality of some posts these days is absoloutely shocking and its a real shame. I can take opposing opinions and will debate all day long, but only if there is a coherant and worthwhile argument available to converse with.
The post im refering too in particular (Brunt should resign blah blah) was embarrassing and will only put people off bothering.
Im not having a go at you Phil, far from it as i know the job you have to do on here - i think we all know the problems with crazy "opinions" on this site and what its done to the overall quality.
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Gera was just as bad as Brunt yesterday, yet one was booed off the other applauded off. Proves that when the chips are down our moronic fans have to have a scapegoat - Odemwingie was the chosen one last season, seems like its Brunt this time round
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Gera was just as bad as Brunt yesterday, yet one was booed off the other applauded off. Proves that when the chips are down our moronic fans have to have a scapegoat - Odemwingie was the chosen one last season, seems like its Brunt this time round
It was Jones until Brunt came back from injury, Fortune was booed when he was announced as a sub last season.
Lets hope Brunt can make the boo boys look as stupid as Marco and Billy have.
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And its killing the site mate, the quality of some posts these days is absoloutely shocking and its a real shame. I can take opposing opinions and will debate all day long, but only if there is a coherant and worthwhile argument available to converse with.
The post im refering too in particular (Brunt should resign blah blah) was embarrassing and will only put people off bothering.
Im not having a go at you Phil, far from it as i know the job you have to do on here - i think we all know the problems with crazy "opinions" on this site and what its done to the overall quality.
Its nowhere near as bad as it was as the majority of problems have gone, there are one or two who we know of and are being watched and will be gone.
The post you and others replied to is either someone foreign who hasn't got a good grasp of English or was inebriated at the time of posting, I honestly can't fathom out which, if ignored then it will disappear quickly but the problem we have is that if we get replies that bring it to attention like that then it spreads and others topics get full of the same replies when its totally undeserved.
Problem we have is its open to all to post within the rules, if we start dictating what can and can't be posted we might as well close it down.
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Its nowhere near as bad as it was as the majority of problems have gone, there are one or two who we know of and are being watched and will be gone.
The post you and others replied to is either someone foreign who hasn't got a good grasp of English or was inebriated at the time of posting, I honestly can't fathom out which, if ignored then it will disappear quickly but the problem we have is that if we get replies that bring it to attention like that then it spreads and others topics get full of the same replies when its totally undeserved.
Problem we have is its open to all to post within the rules, if we start dictating what can and can't be posted we might as well close it down.
If the site gets took off, I shall boo :D
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The same brigade were all over Morrison's back and after some outstanding dynamic performances they couldn't carry it on else they would have looked ridiculous.
So onto Brunt they go....
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At CM where his very much ineffective, i wonder if he'd get the jeers/boo's out wide in his natural position as it could be fans just dont want too see him CM, but then that would be SC's fault... I just wanna see him whipping balls in the box to our 6'2 striker please....brunt is not a jack of all trades......his a master of one.
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In my opinion its quite a simple one, as a club we have kicked on in the last 2 years and as a club have quite simply outgrown the likes of Dorrans and Brunt.
This is no fault of theres but if your aiming for top 6 finishes ther just not good enough. The likes of Maulumbu, Yacub and even Gera to an extent have shown us the quality that is needed to achieve this.
I have no personal problem with Brunt but his performance against Fulham was as poor as anyone iv ever seen in an Albion shirt for a long time. I dont think its fair to boo him but can understand why certain areas of the crowd did so, I think for top Chamionship or lower prem you can carry players like Brunt but if were moving on to bigger things it could be the end of him.
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It was Jones until Brunt came back from injury, Fortune was booed when he was announced as a sub last season.
Lets hope Brunt can make the boo boys look as stupid as Marco and Billy have.
This I agree with completely. Brunt has talent. What annoyed me was his lack of inspiration and leadership on the pitch. I don't mean he should have been shouting, ranting and raving, you lead by example and his all round game was very poor yesterday.
I would drop him for Saturday, let him rest up and hopefully come back stronger for the next game. Here's hoping the fans give him a cheer when his name is next read out. Bit of positivity might do him the world of good.
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In my opinion its quite a simple one, as a club we have kicked on in the last 2 years and as a club have quite simply outgrown the likes of Dorrans and Brunt.
This is no fault of theres but if your aiming for top 6 finishes ther just not good enough. The likes of Maulumbu, Yacub and even Gera to an extent have shown us the quality that is needed to achieve this.
I have no personal problem with Brunt but his performance against Fulham was as poor as anyone iv ever seen in an Albion shirt for a long time. I dont think its fair to boo him but can understand why certain areas of the crowd did so, I think for top Chamionship or lower prem you can carry players like Brunt but if were moving on to bigger things it could be the end of him.
'Carry players like Brunt'
I reckon you should go watch the last few games he has played CM and tell me we are 'carrying him' Granted he was poor against Fulham but the last few games before if you watch closely he has dictated play in midfield seeing plenty of the ball and making the right decisions. We all know he's a man who thrives with the ball at his feet and not a tough tackling ball winner.
It's a shame people think that because he is replacing Yacob he is out there to do Yacob's job. Totally wrong, he is out there to play his own game and nobody else's.
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He really hasn't been dictacting any play and he has been poor most of the season when he has played. What he offers currently are decent corners and that's about it. Against Man Utd he barely had an impact and was then subbed for Morrison. That's when we started applying pressure. Let's take the QPR game because that's about as well as he played (he took his goal well but was barely scraping average then). So how did he do?
1 corner on target out of 6.
1 cross on target out of 9.
1 goal from 1 shot.
He took nobody on.
He made ZERO tackles, didn't even attempt any.
He won 1 header out of 1 attempt.
Made 35 passes out of 44 (80% success rate).
Gave away 2 fouls.
Wasn't fouled at all.
Majority of his passes were around the halfway lane, most going backwards into our half.
Mulumbu made 6 successful tackles out of 8. Made 46 out of 60 passes, balanced across mainly the right side of the pitch but in both attacking and defensive halves.
Mulumbu is pulling the strings in midfield, not Brunt. Brunt is actually offering no cover at all to the defence and he's not exactly creating chances in open play either.
As a Brunt comparison, against Fulham he had a 71% pass completion rate. Out of 21 balls into the box (corners + crosses) he found a man 5 times. He didn't make a single tackle again, but he did attempt 2.
The stats just don't hold up to him dictating play. You can't dictate anything when 1 out of 5 passes is giving the ball away.
Now granted, he's never been a tough tackling midfielder but when his contribution is practically nil when it comes to defending it has to be pretty damn good on the attacking side to ensure he's not going to be open to criticism. Aside from his corners and the goal against QPR, what has he offered as an attacking threat? Again, the stats show pretty much nothing. He's basically a poor man's Beckham at the moment, without the talent and the effort.
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He really hasn't been dictacting any play and he has been poor most of the season when he has played. What he offers currently are decent corners and that's about it. Against Man Utd he barely had an impact and was then subbed for Morrison. That's when we started applying pressure. Let's take the QPR game because that's about as well as he played (he took his goal well but was barely scraping average then). So how did he do?
1 corner on target out of 6.
1 cross on target out of 9.
1 goal from 1 shot.
He took nobody on.
He made ZERO tackles, didn't even attempt any.
He won 1 header out of 1 attempt.
Made 35 passes out of 44 (80% success rate).
Gave away 2 fouls.
Wasn't fouled at all.
Majority of his passes were around the halfway lane, most going backwards into our half.
Mulumbu made 6 successful tackles out of 8. Made 46 out of 60 passes, balanced across mainly the right side of the pitch but in both attacking and defensive halves.
Mulumbu is pulling the strings in midfield, not Brunt. Brunt is actually offering no cover at all to the defence and he's not exactly creating chances in open play either.
As a Brunt comparison, against Fulham he had a 71% pass completion rate. Out of 21 balls into the box (corners + crosses) he found a man 5 times. He didn't make a single tackle again, but he did attempt 2.
The stats just don't hold up to him dictating play. You can't dictate anything when 1 out of 5 passes is giving the ball away.
Now granted, he's never been a tough tackling midfielder but when his contribution is practically nil when it comes to defending it has to be pretty damn good on the attacking side to ensure he's not going to be open to criticism. Aside from his corners and the goal against QPR, what has he offered as an attacking threat? Again, the stats show pretty much nothing. He's basically a poor man's Beckham at the moment, without the talent and the effort.
A quite baffling post, the emboldened bit suggests a 20% pass completion rate, you have just given his... 80% at Loftus Road and 71% on New Years Day (by the way, hardly awful is it? But he played badly which is accepted)
If stats meant anything in football, Chelsea would have battered QPR tonight.
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Read it again Jacko - it suggests an 80% completion rate.
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Indeed, my apologies. Still baffling though as 80% is a decent return for any central midfielder, you're only in the nineties if you're not 'trying' anything... which is why I didn't get onto it?
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There's no getting away from the fact that Brunt has the best deadball delivery in the team, but there is not much more going for him. He doesn't fit into the team unless Clarke plays him in a side that uses the width of the pitch.
Like many people have previously said, as harsh as it sounds, players like Brunt and Dorrans should only get the last 15 minutes or games, or fill in as squad players - as they are at the moment.
There is no longevity to Brunt's role in our current side with our current formation. The fact that he is club captain is affording him a role in our side that may better be tried with Thorne, Jara etc
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It's been an ongoing theme ever since Clarke took over that our midfield tries to move the ball up field as fast as possible. That is why we keep giving the ball away and have such low possession. We try the strangest passes as soon as we have the ball rather than simply put a foot on the ball and start rolling it about to keep possession. Brunt made several such passes in the game against Fulham. Instead of taking the ball under control he just punted it forward, as did Gera and Morrison. I think it's under instructions, as we know these players can pass the ball when they want to.
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A quite baffling post, the emboldened bit suggests a 20% pass completion rate, you have just given his... 80% at Loftus Road and 71% on New Years Day (by the way, hardly awful is it? But he played badly which is accepted)
If stats meant anything in football, Chelsea would have battered QPR tonight.
If stats meant anything, we'd have beaten Fulham, Had double the shots on target.
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Just remember
When you boo brunt , you boo the managers decision to pick him, you boo the teammates who play with him, you boo your own supporters who support him, I can see he is clearly off form, I can see he's not enjoying playing at the moment but I won't boo because it REALLY won't help.
I'd bench him and use him towards the end of games (on the wing) when we have got a pretty safe position, like him or not no one in our squad delivers a dead ball /cross like him.
really? did you see the man utd game where he had 4 or 5 decent chances to really put some quality in from set pieces and totally wasted them !? Where are these top class crosses / dead balls he is supposed to deliver then? We are a much better side without Brunt in it & the sooner he is dropped the better
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The only thing I have against Brunty is that when he recieves the ball the flow of the game slows down a bit, I would like to see him move it on a bit quicker(providing there is anyone in position to receive a pass) and then get forward to have one of his shots at goal, or play the through balls he is capable of, we've all seen him cut defences in half with a nicely timed through ball, but we have to get players up there to play to, and we aint doing enough of that lately. We have all found resons for blaming individuals for the misgivings of the team (me included), yet if we look hard enough and long enough there is usually an underlying reason for them having a bad game. Don't boo it's not productive.
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When he is hounded out of the club by the 'boo brigade' and sarcastic cheering etc people will realise we miss him. Big shame.
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Owing to work commitments I had to watch the game at the pub, but the missus (designated driver :P) came with me. At various points throughout the game, Brunt was in the face of the ref, appealing every decision and mouthing off even to the point where the missus said to me "he looks like a nasty piece of work" and this got me thinking. I was as sceptical as the next fan when Brunt was handed the armband but actually I think it's starting to sink in that he might well be the right man for the job. He was instrumental in orchestrating the second half comeback, not least with his goal, but with his overall body language and harassing the ref at every decision. If you think about it, all the captains at the so-called big clubs do exactly the same so why should we be any different? I think his captaincy sometimes contravenes his languid playing style which is probably what put most of us off in the first place, but contemplating the last couple of seasons, I have to say I think he's grown into the role and long may it continue.
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Roy Hodgson said he was his 'eyes and ears on the pitch' whilst playing, make of it what you will.
If you look on his twitter after the boos you can see he's very passionate about this club which counts for something!
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Not sure.
Only one team was ready for kick off when leaving the dressing room.
We never looked up for it and we're happy to play 2nd fiddle to a 19th placed team.
No good being fired up when 2-0 down, you need to be at it from the start.
Brunt is too laid back for a captain, Roy Keane he isn't!
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Clarke seems to trust him. They seem to have good communication from what I've seen, with Clarke often talking with Brunt to give instructions.
Brunt's goal is exactly how I want to see Brunt appear in the box, he needs to get into those positions more.
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I would agree with ty, it is his playing style which puts a lot of people off. I think I've said before, there must be something about his personality that lends itself to the captaincy for 3 different head coaches to make / stick with that decision.
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Thought Brunt played well in the 2nd half. Very good use of the ball, as did Dozza.
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I would agree with ty, it is his playing style which puts a lot of people off. I think I've said before, there must be something about his personality that lends itself to the captaincy for 3 different head coaches to make / stick with that decision.
Something that might be important to remember (ESPN reminded me) is that Brunt is already to an A rank coaching license, which is only one i think away from the full blown pro license. He's near enough the Assistant player manager. Maybe thats where we are going wrong.... We've got three assistant head coaches!! ;)
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Was nowhere to bee seen with the 2 goals, ESPN did a montage i was told about our midfield not screening the back 4 when it's not mulumbu/yacob... Yacob was way off pace which baffled me how he started him. But we don't play for 2 weeks so when mulumbu/yacob are back available it shall be interesting where he then considers brunt as i'd always go with mulumbu/yacob as the pairing.
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Was nowhere to bee seen with the 2 goals, ESPN did a montage i was told about our midfield not screening the back 4 when it's not mulumbu/yacob... Yacob was way off pace which baffled me how he started him. But we don't play for 2 weeks so when mulumbu/yacob are back available it shall be interesting where he then considers brunt as i'd always go with mulumbu/yacob as the pairing.
Brunt would probably be moved out wide again to share with Thomas, perhaps with license to move into a central position to cover opportunities like today's.
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Brunt will play wide when the Mulumbu/Yacob axis is restored. No doubt. One of the first names on the teamsheet.
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Thought he showed great composure and kicking technique by curving his shot in for first goal. One of his best. He has one of the best shots at the club, but still has a high proportion that end up in Row Z.
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One thing I noticed in the Villa game was when he had a word with Olsson who lost his head a bit to pick up a needless booking, clearly told him he needed to think more about what he was doing. First time I've thought he was doing what he should be as a captain.
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The entire midfield struggled for much of the first 45 yesterday, with too many big balls From the back by passing midfield and just hoofed up toward no one in particular. As the game wore on though I thought Brunt started to impose himself more and despite being two down we ended the first half looking as though we were improving and he, with Dorrans too, was a big part of that.
His goal was a belter though. The composure he showed was beyond anything most of our team could produce, a top class precision strike. Wonderful skill and it gave us the lifeline we needed.
Someone said his style is languid. Perhaps too much so, since as fans we generally like layers who huff and puff. But Brunt is class, and he never hides, and he's one of ours. Keep it up Chris.
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Seocnd half I thought Brunt was better Yesterday, scored a great goal too.
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He scored a very good goal but that first half bullet strike from 20 yards straight at the Villa keeper only needed to be a yard either side and the keeper would have had no chance.
I'm not a big Brunt fan. He's got a great left foot but has very poor body language for a supposed leader on the pitch. He can change a game with a brilliant pass or cross, but he can also drift anonymously out of games. He will always be a "Marmite" player for most of us!
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Credit to him for his goal yesterday, it was a good finish and he also had a decent effort in the first half. That said there are too many occasions when he watches the opposition midfielder run past him. He was better yesterday as at least his passing was decent again but he still needs to close down the opposition if he is to remain in centre midfield. We were abject in the first half and much better in the second, after Yacob's injury Dorrans was moved from out wide (where he is ineffectual) to the centre and that for me was the biggest single factor in turning the game around.
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What a goal yesterday. Couldn't hear any boos for him? I'm guessing those people who booed him a couple of games ago were the ones who moved onto Rosenberg. Very sad.
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What a goal yesterday. Couldn't hear any boos for him? I'm guessing those people who booed him a couple of games ago were the ones who moved onto Rosenberg. Very sad.
couple of sparse ones when there were misses, lobs that got intercepted or over hit etc but nothing major that I heard.
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Brunt is starting to look fitter. Just like PO Brunt is a player we need to have as involved in games as possible. I liked the way he ghosted in for his goal. I want to see him do that a lot more but it will only happen if we have functioning attack play on the flanks.
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just read the Sunday Star! Chris got in the team of the day PLAYING FOR VILLA! cant these journos get it right! nearly as bad as Gary Lineker caiming on MOTD that we were playing at Villa Park >:(
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I'm a fan of Brunty's, but don't like him playing in the central position. Too lightweight and slow to pass.
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Fairly sound, modest response to the boong reported in the papers.
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I think Brunt is starting to get better in this new role that he has had ot play in over the last few weeks.
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Under normal circumstances we have Yacob and Mulumbu in the central midfield positions.
Nobody, but nobody, in our current squad is ever going to be able to fill those boots the way that those pair do.
Other different pairings have been tried and met with disatisfaction from the crowd.
Give the lads that fill in in those positions a bit of credit, most are being asked to play unfamiliar roles, and do it to the best of their ability.
Brunty's best position is further and wider up the pitch, I think he knows that.
He's also been part an instrumental part of our success in recent years and given that 3 previous managers made him an automatic starter says volumes.
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not slating brunt playing cm because he's doing his best being played out of position just can't see why reid or jara hasn't been tried there . reid has played there for his previous club and jara has played centre back so at least he has more defensive qualities than brunt
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not slating brunt playing cm because he's doing his best being played out of position just can't see why reid or jara hasn't been tried there . reid has played there for his previous club and jara has played centre back so at least he has more defensive qualities than brunt
Reid just hasn't been fit and we preferred to send Jara out on loan for the rest of the season so the manager obviously didn't rate him.
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Reid just hasn't been fit and we preferred to send Jara out on loan for the rest of the season so the manager obviously didn't rate him.
I just can't see Reid being fit enough, mobile enough or good enough on the ball for CM in the prem now. Thorne has given two decent displays there and he's the future - seems an ideal time to give him 8 - 10 games between now and the end of the season. See how he goes...could bring him on a lot ready for next season (and think he would do a good job now).
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IMO Christ Brunt has been awful this season and is playing on past reputation, when George Thorne should start over him. You can say he scored 2 goals this month all you want. I really can't understand why he keeps playing. I haven't seen one good game apart from maybe second half against Villa and i do go to all the games. Same for Dorrans, he came alive as soon as he went into the centre against Villa but he is way too inconsistent. The difference in the Villa game was Dorrans second half an Jerome Thomas who we have dearly missed!!!
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We bought him as a wide player, Whips in a mean cross( villa,west ham,wigan) and being heavily one footed with no pace, Lack of bite in a tackle,average heading then it's not a good recipe for a premier league CM player. It's the Greening situation again, Bought them as wide players, They convert to CM and are captain, But over a full season we'll struggle with guys like that in the middle, They're comftable on the ball but when it comes to the other aspects of being CM they are severly lacking, Brunt has to adapt to CM, Yacob was a born CM.
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We bought him as a wide player, Whips in a mean cross( villa,west ham,wigan) and being heavily one footed with no pace, Lack of bite in a tackle,average heading then it's not a good recipe for a premier league CM player. It's the Greening situation again, Bought them as wide players, They convert to CM and are captain, But over a full season we'll struggle with guys like that in the middle, They're comftable on the ball but when it comes to the other aspects of being CM they are severly lacking, Brunt has to adapt to CM, Yacob was a born CM.
Greening was much better at CM than at LM in my opinion, it was his natural position. He was brilliant under Tony Mowbray in the championship.
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Time for him to go back out-wide for me, back out on the right and he will protect Jones IMO better than anyone else we have
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We bought him as a wide player, Whips in a mean cross( villa,west ham,wigan) and being heavily one footed with no pace, Lack of bite in a tackle,average heading then it's not a good recipe for a premier league CM player. It's the Greening situation again, Bought them as wide players, They convert to CM and are captain, But over a full season we'll struggle with guys like that in the middle, They're comftable on the ball but when it comes to the other aspects of being CM they are severly lacking, Brunt has to adapt to CM, Yacob was a born CM.
I don't agree with one footed. Did you see the shot he had against United with his right foot? The United keeper was lucky it was straight at him.
But I agree with the CM comment. Management and the coaches like to talk about flexibility of the players, but you can almost always tell a player is out of position. The little tricks of the trade and natural flow is often missing, they often simply don't have the experience from years of that 'backup' position. They can do a job in a pinch, but it definitely isn't the same thing. It weakens the team, especially if you have a lot of players filling in.
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Firstly, I think it's pretty sad that our captain and one of our longest serving players has had to come out and defend himself because some morons booed him.
I don't think it's fair to say he's been converted to a central midfielder, I'm pretty certain that Clarke would much prefer him to play out wide but it's been needs must that Brunt plays in central midfield because we have had Yacob/Mulumbu/both out over this period.
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I don't agree with one footed. Did you see the shot he had against United with his right foot? The United keeper was lucky it was straight at him.
But I agree with the CM comment. Management and the coaches like to talk about flexibility of the players, but you can almost always tell a player is out of position. The little tricks of the trade and natural flow is often missing, they often simply don't have the experience from years of that 'backup' position. They can do a job in a pinch, but it definitely isn't the same thing. It weakens the team, especially if you have a lot of players filling in.
In regards to heavely one footed i mean as in going for a tackle he'll always lead in with the left which balance wise isnt natural, He has a mean shot i agree and to be fair forgot about his shot against yanited!!!
I'm a fan of brunt, I hope my post didn't come across personal, As i was judging him as a CM and how he doesn't seem natural they're as like you say, It's the little tricks of the trade which Mulumbu, Yacob and even Dorrans possess, I just love seeing him whip cross's in and always have since his been at the club, He just isn't a jack of all trades, His a master of one which is why i would rather see him cross the ball than in the middle filling in. The lad from sunderland is alot like brunt, Mclean is it? I think his outwide for sunderland.
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greetings and a happy new new year to all my fellow west brom.comrs. after an extended sabbatical moving house i am glad to be back online and in amongst the baggies again. i look forward to catching up on all the latest debate. slightly disappointed at the recent treatment brunty received from a section of supporters recently. yes his form has been patchy this season yes supporters have every right to express opinions yes no one is above criticsm. as a fantastic servant and ambassador of the club not to mention that he is our club captain did he deserve that because he had a bad game......absolutely not in my book. maybe there is a time and place to boo but for me this should be reserved for the collective and not individuals. it was great to see him bounce back with aplomb at the weekend.
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Brunt has been a great player for many years. He has a good left foot and we did buy him as a left sided player. The problem is, every time I have seen him play on the left side this season and last, he always seems to drift in, which means we lack width.
He isn't a natural CM but he can be one. He can dictate play and create the tempo of the game. But it looks like he doesn't like to commit to a challenge and always drops his head when he misses the ball or a player gets passed him.
I also think he will struggle to get back into the team when Yacob and Mulumbu are back.
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Time for him to go back out-wide for me, back out on the right and he will protect Jones IMO better than anyone else we have
he won't though will he, he'll keep coming inside and leaving the defender exposed and the midfield narrow; as he does when he plays out left.
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greetings and a happy new new year to all my fellow west brom.comrs. after an extended sabbatical moving house i am glad to be back online and in amongst the baggies again. i look forward to catching up on all the latest debate. slightly disappointed at the recent treatment brunty received from a section of supporters recently. yes his form has been patchy this season yes supporters have every right to express opinions yes no one is above criticsm. as a fantastic servant and ambassador of the club not to mention that he is our club captain did he deserve that because he had a bad game......absolutely not in my book. maybe there is a time and place to boo but for me this should be reserved for the collective and not individuals. it was great to see him bounce back with aplomb at the weekend.
happy new year to you to! nice to have you back!
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Chris Brunt worked his socks off against the villa, fair play to him, lets hope he can continue!
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Yes, nice to see you back. :)
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Cheers lads. Ive always championed Brunty in the middle of the park despite being in the minority. but not in the deep lying role. first half against villa a number of times he found himself running 20 yds to close down the opposition. mulumbu would have already been there right in their faces. the difference between a defensive and offensive specialist i guess?
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Cheers lads. Ive always championed Brunty in the middle of the park despite being in the minority. but not in the deep lying role. first half against villa a number of times he found himself running 20 yds to close down the opposition. mulumbu would have already been there right in their faces. the difference between a defensive and offensive specialist i guess?
I was going to say welcome back but changed my mind now :D
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Brunt states on the official site we've got to cut out the cheap goals.
Well sorry mate you're a fairly big reason for it playing in central midfield!
When Agbonlahor scored it was a knife through butter, we stood and watched. He just waltzed through midfield unopposed.
I can see what Brunt offers offensively, he has a cracking shot on him and excellent set piece delivery.
I expect to see Albion in some very high scoring matches until Mulumbu & Yacob protect our defence again.
I don't think it's the brightest comment I've ever heard!
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I was going to say welcome back but changed my mind now :D
He seems to be carving out a niche there for himself Oldbury...you may be forced to canvass Clarky soon......anyhow ive missed our little tussles so its good to see your as grumpy as ever... ;D
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I've got a reputation to maintain :D
Still not convinced by him there, he's had a couple of okay games but no more than that, sooner we get proper recognsed central midfielders in those roles the better
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I've got a reputation to maintain :D
Still not convinced by him there, he's had a couple of okay games but no more than that, sooner we get proper recognsed central midfielders in those roles the better
George Thorne showed some quality of late. Be nice if he continues to improve. He has good presence as well Oldbury.
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Waste of space, never been the same since been given the armband
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Chris Brunt worked his socks off against the villa, fair play to him, lets hope he can continue!
I think the Villa game showed though that you need some mobility and dynamism somewhere in that central area. I can't see the mix of Yacob and Brunt being right.
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I think we need to be realistic here. Brunt has been distinctly average this season bar a couple of decent performances. He is an okay back-up, but we do have, and should be looking at, players of far greater quality.
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IMO Christ Brunt has been awful this season and is playing on past reputation, when George Thorne should start over him. You can say he scored 2 goals this month all you want. I really can't understand why he keeps playing. I haven't seen one good game apart from maybe second half against Villa and i do go to all the games. Same for Dorrans, he came alive as soon as he went into the centre against Villa but he is way too inconsistent. The difference in the Villa game was Dorrans second half an Jerome Thomas who we have dearly missed!!!
I think your forgetting that Brunt was injured for a lenghty period of time so is still getting into the
swing of things, you can see how difficult coming back from injury is by looking at Claudio Yacobs
performance against Villa as he was really poor.
I actually thought Brunt done alright against Newcastle and Man Utd been played in the middle.
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I think your forgetting that Brunt was injured for a lenghty period of time so is still getting into the
swing of things, you can see how difficult coming back from injury is by looking at Claudio Yacobs
performance against Villa as he was really poor.
I actually thought Brunt done alright against Newcastle and Man Utd been played in the middle.
Apparently Brunt doesn't get going until the second half of the season.Nonsense admit it hes past it
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Scores important goals, clearly respected by team-mates and opposite fans too, also made captain by the last three managers.
I'm clearly in the minority on this forum when saying Brunt is bloody important player to this squad/club. If we begin to allow the likes of Brunt and Dorrans to leave then we are in trouble.
Brilliant servant.
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He has been a brilliant servant, but this season his form has been awful. Maybe it's to do with being played in an unfamiliar position but for the last several weeks he hasn't offered much at all aside from set pieces. If that's all we want then Beckham is without a club!
I've said this about Jones and Brunt isn't far away from the same thing. We want to be a mid-table Prem side, we need players of at least that quality. This season he hasn't cut it. I'd like to see him playing wide left for a change, he's wasted in the middle and it doesn't suit him. As for other player...
Foster - fine, easily mid-table quality.
Olsson, GMac - no issues there.
Jones - not good enough, certainly not as a first choice\regular player.
Ridgewell - just about scrapes through.
Popov - looks to be good, not had enough full games yet.
Mulumbu, Yacob, no issues there.
Morrison, fine - could do with working on his consistency though.
Brunt, not quite good enough at the moment, has the ability though.
Dorrans, not good enough, squad player at best.
Long, Odemwingie, easily good enough
Fortune, not good enough.
That's my opinion where we need to look to improve. What's important is if we let players go that we definitely improve on them. There's no point letting someone like Odemwingie leave and replacing him with someone like Bednar.
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Apparently Brunt doesn't get going until the second half of the season.Nonsense admit it hes past it
So far past it if we made him available for transfer there would be at least half a dozen prem sides fighting for his signature?
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He's more than good enough for a mid table premiership team. He just needs to be played in his best position! Scandalous that I can't remember the last time he actually started a game on the left hand side. Give him a run of games in that position and his quality will shine through.
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He's more than good enough for a mid table premiership team. He just needs to be played in his best position! Scandalous that I can't remember the last time he actually started a game on the left hand side. Give him a run of games in that position and his quality will shine through.
Time to change your avatar :D
Brunt needs playing in his rightful position
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I'd echo the calls for Brunt to be played on the left. Look, I'm not his biggest fan, however I realise the fantastic ability he has to whip in pinpoint crosses - an attribute we are not taking full advantage of playing him in the middle. It's when I look at the performances that Yacob and Mulumbu put in on a regular basis that I feel Brunt's level of performance level is well below. The aforementioned duo really stamp their mark on games, while the game often passes Brunt by. He's doing a job covering injuries at the moment but once Mulumbu is back I'd implore Clarke to move him to the left.
Just my opinion of course.
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I actually prefer Brunt on the right. To me is not only a crossing machine, a lot of our best football flows through Brunt and he is often behind our goals in one way or other. But I agree he is not solid enough in his tackling, closing down and positioning to play CM.
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Am I the only one who is now feeling thankful for Chris after all this b*ll*cks with Odemwhingie?
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Brunt is a class act and a class player. Have never ever understood the negativity towards him.
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Am I the only one who is now feeling thankful for Chris after all this b*ll*cks with Odemwhingie?
He's the model modern professional. Perhaps we're seeing the reasons he's club captain.
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He's the model modern professional. Perhaps we're seeing the reasons he's club captain.
He should get a round of applause.Whats his shirt number :)
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Am I the only one who is now feeling thankful for Chris after all this b*ll*cks with Odemwhingie?
hmm take Pete out of it and the attitude of the rest isn't so bad...Brunt doesn't deserve booing but fail to see why he is anymore of a model professional than most of our squad.
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What about Baggie Bird?? Where does he come in the pecking order of loyalty? :D
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Superb ball in for McAuley's goal. His set piece deliveries are invaluable to us.
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Superb ball in for McAuley's goal. His set piece deliveries are invaluable to us.
If it had been Gerrard, Beckham, Bale people would have been raving about it. He remains a wonderful footballer.
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We are second in the country to Man Utd for goals scored from deadball situations and a lot of that is due in no uncertain terms to Brunts delivery.......BUT........he has to start contributing more to games for me. His contribution to open play is almost non-existant
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Best dead ball delivery in the team.
But offers nothing else. We had our great run at the start of the season without him.
Replaceable
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On top of his corners, I thought his defensive work was top notch and his passing decent, came under pressure and lost the ball in dangerous areas a few times but thought he was really good tonight.
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Moved out to the left and best performances of the season have followed.
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On top of his corners, I thought his defensive work was top notch and his passing decent, came under pressure and lost the ball in dangerous areas a few times but thought he was really good tonight.
I agree. I also loved how he chewed out the ref after that joke of a penalty call. Brunty was so angry, showed his passion. Brunty's 'poor' contribution had more to do with our game plan, we simply didn't commit men forward or had the attackers make telling runs even. Brunty and Dorrans had no one to play the ball to really. We were so focused on keeping our shape and not losing men football became the second objective until we brought Lukaku on. Brunty, like the rest of our outfield players, closed down really well, something we have failed to do all winter apart from the last two games.
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He can't be picked on dead ball delivery alone. Otherwise, on that basis, David Beckham could still be playing at 50 and do nothing other than take free kicks and corners!
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He can't be picked on dead ball delivery alone. Otherwise, on that basis, David Beckham could still be playing at 50 and do nothing other than take free kicks and corners!
I think I'm right in saying he's got 5 assists from open play, add to that his dead ball assists and two goals. add that we have scored most of our goals from crosses and headers and he comes over as kind of useful.
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He can't be picked on dead ball delivery alone. Otherwise, on that basis, David Beckham could still be playing at 50 and do nothing other than take free kicks and corners!
He isn't of course.
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Moved out to the left and best performances of the season have followed.
Very true, he needs to stay there.
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I think he's responded very well to the criticism that he received when he was having a poor run a few games ago. He's put in some good solid performances recently....and he always has been a better player in the second half of the season for some reason. No doubt if he was brilliant all season then he'd probably not be playing for us.
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I didnt think that he had a great game last night, but a great corner for the Mcauley goal.
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I thought he drifted inside too often which left Ridgewell a little exposed at times.
All in all a better defensive performance than creative attacking one.
If I'd been offere a 2-0 win before kick off I'd have snapped a hand off
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Could easily have come off instead of Dorrans last night , far too often he left Ridgewell exposed but on the other hand he is always a danger at set pieces . Much better out wide than in the middle i must say.
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Needs to be consistent throughout games not just set pieces
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I think we've seen the best of Brunt. He has now become a squad player rather than a first team regular.
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I think we've seen the best of Brunt. He has now become a squad player rather than a first team regular.
I think this is more a case of we have better players now in Yacob and Mulumbu, than Brunt being passed it. For me he is our best wide player still and wasted in the middle.
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The good news: great ball in for the goal.
The bad news: more attrocious defending. He gave Ridgewell no protection whatsoever. Johnson and Downing were contstantly doubling up on Ridgewell and running riot and where was Brunt? He was in position but just standing off them and watching whilst finger points at others. When not doing that he instead concentrated on bizzarely chasing down Peipa Reina (which left a huge gap on our left side). He's other magic abilility is to play in centre midfield (and thus leave a huge gap) even when he's supposed to in front of Ridgwell on the left wing! All that does is leave us lop-sided and he ends up getting in the way of Mulumbu and Yacob.
We are all delighted with the result last night but he's defensive performance was a complete liability. Thankfully we were saved by a combination of heroic defending from McCauley and Foster and plain old good luck (with the Reid OG incident). On another night we could have lost 3-0.
We cannot have a system where the opposition full back can run up the pitch and leave us 2 against 1 on our left side. It's not on and I'm not happy with his lack of defensive discipline. It's makes my especially angry when I think of the outstanding effort and concentration from his team mates.
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I thought he drifted inside too often which left Ridgewell a little exposed at times.
All in all a better defensive performance than creative attacking one.
If I'd been offere a 2-0 win before kick off I'd have snapped a hand off
He did tend to drift inside too much at times, seemed to get a doing from Morrison for it more than once and went straight back out afterwards
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Oh it must be bruntys turn again to get stick!!!, totally understand that we all have got an opinion but cant we applaud a great victory.
And to all the baggies that made the trip last night i applaud you as the commentator said "all you can hear is the clattering of empty seats" quality.
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Oh it must be bruntys turn again to get stick!!!, totally understand that we all have got an opinion but cant we applaud a great victory.
And to all the baggies that made the trip last night i applaud you as the commentator said "all you can hear is the clattering of empty seats" quality.
Where's he getting stick ?
The point of a forum is to discuss various things which is what is being done in this and other topics.
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No real stick that I can see just observations that he was drifting inside too much.
I like that he wants to get on the ball and get involved but he must stay a little more disciplined to his position to help out more when we don't have the ball. Needs to pick and choose the times he drifts inside more carefully.
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I would agree with the drifting inside too much comment.
With the pace of Downing, and Enrique, you would assume they would have looked to target Reid in term of lack of pace.
However it constantly came down their right flank, were at times Ridgewell was left 2 on 1.
Thought Brunt did drift inside quite alot last night, but lets not take anything away from the team performance.
It was also Brunts corner which led to the 1st goal.
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Another assist again last night,thats all he does,score and assist. ;)
I bet we will be stuck with him again next season. ;D
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I thought Brunt had a much better game last night than usual.
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Brunt certianly had a better game, than what he has done in previous weeks.
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I thought he drifted inside too often which left Ridgewell a little exposed at times.
All in all a better defensive performance than creative attacking one.
If I'd been offere a 2-0 win before kick off I'd have snapped a hand off
Could easily have come off instead of Dorrans last night , far too often he left Ridgewell exposed but on the other hand he is always a danger at set pieces . Much better out wide than in the middle i must say.
No real stick that I can see just observations that he was drifting inside too much.
I like that he wants to get on the ball and get involved but he must stay a little more disciplined to his position to help out more when we don't have the ball. Needs to pick and choose the times he drifts inside more carefully.
just a sample Oldbury......................now where's my WW1 tin hat gone?.... ;D
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:D He has been doing a good job...lately....we should get off his back...at least he plays for our shirt and puts it in.
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just a sample Oldbury......................now where's my WW1 tin hat gone?.... ;D
I don't see any of that as stick, its observations on a performance
No coincidence that he's primarily back out wide and his performances are much better ;)
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I don't see any of that as stick, its observations on a performance
No coincidence that he's primarily back out wide and his performances are much better ;)
Either way its good to see him coming back to something like the form we have come to expect. Heart and Soul of WBA he is.
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I agree, at his best, he is a match winner, always interesting that ex footballer and manager pundits always single him out as a talent, says a lot.
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I agree, at his best, he is a match winner, always interesting that ex footballer and manager pundits always single him out as a talent, says a lot.
Aye, he looks fitter now and flaps less than before. The more he concentrates on letting his football do the talking, rather than his flapping, the better he is. Simple really isn't it. There is so much football in Brunty, I think he is still a way from reaching his full potential.
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I really don't think we have seen Burnt at his real best yet. There have been times when he has been excellent for us, but I still feel that he can get better. A lot of pundits do talk about Brunt saying how good he is. He may not always have th ebest of games, but he will do something either create or score a goal.
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Get him on the ball high up the middle of the pitch and he becomes a totally different player. Brunty NEVER hides even when things are going badly for him or the team. Its the players like him and mozza that are the reason we have done so well recently.
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Brunt has always been a solid player for us and in my view, aged 28 has matured into the footballer he promised to be.
After several seasons in the top flight, he's proven to be a consistently good player. However, he is clearly much better on the wing than in the middle. Funnily enough Morrison, who has been great for us this season also got stick when played out of position (see the pattern here? It's not rocket science).
Is Brunt a world beater? No way, but he is loyal, skilled and clearly good enough.
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I'm probably on of his biggest critics and tend to focus on the negatives with him but I thought he was top notch against Liverpool and when you watch a season review you notice just how important and involved he is in a lot of our goals. I like the midfield three of brunt Dorrans and mozza shame Dorrans could go in summer as with yacob and mulumbu we could see some real consistency next season
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I'm probably on of his biggest critics and tend to focus on the negatives with him but I thought he was top notch against Liverpool and when you watch a season review you notice just how important and involved he is in a lot of our goals. I like the midfield three of brunt Dorrans and mozza shame Dorrans could go in summer as with yacob and mulumbu we could see some real consistency next season
Well said about watching back games and seeing Brunt's contributions. People give him stick throughout games but they don't realise how many key passes, crosses etc he actually makes in games.
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I agree that he's a great player and has done well for us over the years.
But I do wonder, is he good enough for us? I mean, to me he always seems a yard off the pace, to slow to track back and doesn't get on the touchline enough for me. I wince when he drifts inside, it really worries as we saw yesterday, he loses the ball far too often and Sessegnon caught him out time and time again.
I don't think we're a better team with him, I'd much prefer Thomas on the left.
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i only saw football first yesterday but i thought he played like a man posessed, he looked great he's really winning me over, and since when? since he moved to the left
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i only saw football first yesterday but i thought he played like a man posessed,
He really did.
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the oen thing that annoys me about Brunt is his tracking bakc is a bit show at times.
His game has improved so much after he stopped flapping about so much. If I were Clarke I'd have Brunty pay a small 'fine' every time he did that on the pitch. I only saw him do it once against Sunderland where instead of chasing down the Sunderland player that got the ball after a failed play Brunty started to flap, this flapping in turn gave the Sunderland player the time to start a dangerous counter attack. If Brunty had been switched on instead of flapping he'd have had a chance to take the sting out of the counter... Besides that minor gripe it's pleasing to see Brunty finding form again.
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Not his biggest fan but i have to say he has impressed me since the fulham incident, today being the best performance i have seen from him for quite a while.
Looked composed on the ball and was definately a factor in help making us tick, certainly warranting his place in the team at the moment.
Real pleasing to see :D
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Not his biggest fan but i have to say he has impressed me since the fulham incident, today being the best performance i have seen from him for quite a while.
Looked composed on the ball and was definately a factor in help making us tick, certainly warranting his place in the team at the moment.
Real pleasing to see :D
Agree totally mitch. He was superb on saturday. When he orchestrates offensively from the central position he is right up there with the best in the PL. And his workrate in getting back to cover the left side defensively was also commendable.
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The work-rate of brunt sometimes goes unnoticed. He covers a good amount of ground, he's not afraid to get stuck in, and covers his full-back well. As well as this he's got very good attributes in attacking situations. Always pleased to see him in our starting 11.
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He had a good game today. To play Albion's fluent passing football you need players who have the football intelligence and touch to do it, and Chris has that. Albion played some excellent football today of which Chris was very much part of. He also has a fierce left foot volley. My main criticism is that most of his shots end up in Row Z, as did his shot today.
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My main criticism is that most of his shots end up in Row Z, as did his shot today.
Didn't when it counted against the vile!!! But know what you are saying and agree
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Brunt played well but I wish he would stop blaming other players when he makes a bad pass, just hold his hand up to say sorry not shrug his shoulders and blame someone else which he did a few times yesterday.
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Brunt played well yesterday, it's so much more reassuring to see him on the left where he belongs. My only minor gripe was when he kicked the ball staight out of play and then starting shouting at Ridgewell! But seriously it's good to see his work rate and quality back to what it should be.
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Seems to be the same over the last 3 years, I spend half the season complaining about his inconsistency, lack of defensive capabilities, quarter of the season seeing improvement and usually the last quarter saying that he is a good player well worth keeping
It's easy to see why he divides opinions
Just why can't he play more consistently throughout the season - coaching, attitude, why?
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I suppose every season he seems to be injured so its only when he is fully fit that he is in better form.
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Had to do a lot of covering with ill disciplined ridgewell slowly jogging back after bombing forward like a loose canon.
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The type of game that you wouldn't expect to suit him but he did a great job yesterday, his performances of late have certainly warranted his place in the team.
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Had to do a lot of covering with ill disciplined ridgewell slowly jogging back after bombing forward like a loose canon.
I wanted Ridgewell to overlap Brunts at times Yesterday which he wasnt doing enough off.
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Brunty is right back to his best form. yes he lets the odd pass go astray but thats because he has the creativity and bol........ks to try it in the first place. IMO we always look a better team when he is in it simply because he never he never hides. Also for me Jimmy Mo always plays better when he is in the side. These two seem to have a really good chemistry. Our midfield was great yesterday.
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We sell some decent pies for a club of our size.
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We sell some decent pies for a club of our size.
The Albion, whoaaa!
The Albion, whoaaa!
We sell some decent pies
For a club our size
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Chris Brunt in 'Captain tows the party line shocker' !!!
Mind you, you'd expect that for a club OF OUR SIZE ;)
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Chris Brunt in 'Captain tows the party line shocker' !!!
Mind you, you'd expect that for a club OF OUR SIZE ;)
Captain throws toys out the pram 'I wan't us to spend more, More, MORE!!!'
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I genuinely think we have a massive decision to make on Brunt soon. He's 28 and has 2 years left on his current contract. (1+1)
If we were thinking of selling him it would either be now or next season.
On the face of it he is someone we could receive a transfer fee for. I think he brings a lot to the team spirit and doesn't moan when out the team. But I think our progress has surpassed Brunt.
We may need to sell a Brunt which allows us to re-invest. Sometimes familiarity can breed contempt. He's been her for 6 years - on one hand I genuinely like we have a 'core' who have been here for quite awhile. I'm thinking of Morrison, Dorrans, Olsson and Mulumbu.
But we may have to sell one to freshen things up.
This may come across as a criticism of Brunt -it's far from it - he has been a wonderful servant for WBA.
What do others think?
EDIT: Just checked on Official site.
CHRIS Brunt penned a new three-year contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour in August 2011.
Read more at http://www.wba.co.uk/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=269090&tcmuri=41483#XkegSkGAUJ1OCcUy.99
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Biggest surprise about that is he is only 28, i thought he was early 30's!
I like Brunt but i think he is probably a very useful squad player, rather than an important first team player like he was a few years ago. I think certain games suit him better than others and that left foot when used correct offers something nobody in the else squad does.
For that i would not look to sell him unless we have somebody better to replace him, that goes for all our squad though.
I think our signings so far arent really going to affect Brunt too much, his role in the squad remains the same but if we stay in the Premiership again and keep looking to progress i would think this time next year then Brunt along with a couple of others may look to be replaced, all part of the squad evolving!
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Championship player.Thanks for the good times chris
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Championship player.Thanks for the good times chris
He's also consistently one of the highest assist makers in the team. When you consider last year was a "bad" season for him, he still got 10 assists in all competitions (7 in the league, Morrison was top with 8 ) which isn't bad at all.
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We had captain sideways with greening here we have captain backwards.
Lovely bloke, model pro but we have out grown him!
Not a brunt fan and would lose no sleep should we sell him!
If I was to describe him in one word, it would be 'meh'!
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Did we not have the chance of him or Bale and opted for Chrissy?
Model pro and is useful! Keep him as I cant see us signing anyone this season better!
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A great servant and a very good squad player. However I agree with the poster above, we have outgrown him. Start of last season we looked great and it was no coincidence that he wasn't in the starting 11. Slows the game down far too much for my liking.
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I genuinely think we have a massive decision to make on Brunt soon. He's 28 and has 2 years left on his current contract. (1+!1.
If we were thinking of selling him it would either be now or next season.
On the face of it he is someone we could receive a transfer fee for. I think he brings a lot to the team spirit and doesn't moan when out the team. But I think our progress has surpassed Brunt.
We may need to sell a Brunt which allows us to re-invest. Sometimes familiarity can breed contempt. He's been her for 6 years - on one hand I genuinely like we have a 'core' who have been here for quite awhile. I'm thinking of Morrison, Dorrans, Olsson and Mulumbu.
But we may have to sell one to freshen things up.
This may come across as a criticism of Brunt -it's far from it - he has been a wonderful servant for WBA.
What do others think?
EDIT: Just checked on Official site.
CHRIS Brunt penned a new three-year contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour in August 2011.
Read more at http://www.wba.co.uk/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=269090&tcmuri=41483#XkegSkGAUJ1OCcUy.99
Of the core you mention Dorrans is the obvious one to sell (reason being he's not a core player). Not our captain, best passer, best set piece taker, highest chance creator. At 28 he is coming into his peak years. Would be absolutely crazy to sell.
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Of the core you mention Dorrans is the obvious one to sell (reason being he's not a core player). Not our captain, best passer, best set piece taker, highest chance creator. At 28 he is coming into his peak years. Would be absolutely crazy to sell.
If he is as highly thought by the club - any reasons as to why there has been no talk of extending his contract? You tend to find we start discussing deals when entering their final year. I say this, because to my knowledge it hasn't been reported.
Would any club, in your words, let ther 'captain, best passer, best set piece taker and highest chance creator' enter their final year? (I exclude the +1 as that is in our favour).
The club may have the view - we have seen his "best" years. From 22-28. Is he regressing? Does he need to modify his game to fit into Clarke's set up?
I personally view his best position wide right and drifting in to find pockets of space.
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If he is as highly thought by the club - any reasons as to why there has been no talk of extending his contract? You tend to find we start discussing deals when entering their final year. I say this, because to my knowledge it hasn't been reported.
Would any club, in your words, let ther 'captain, best passer, best set piece taker and highest chance creator' enter their final year? (I exclude the +1 as that is in our favour).
The club may have the view - we have seen his "best" years. From 22-28. Is he regressing? Does he need to modify his game to fit into Clarke's set up?
I personally view his best position wide right and drifting in to find pockets of space.
What makes you think we haven't opened talks because the player doesn't want to? I would expect movement on this in January. Brunt cannot talk to other clubs until January 2015 under this contract. There is no rush.
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What makes you think we haven't opened talks because the player doesn't want to? I would expect movement on this in January. Brunt cannot talk to other clubs until January 2015 under this contract. There is no rush.
Ok. So you're of the opinion we wish to offer him a new deal - but Brunt doesn't wish to? Obviously it's all guesswork on our side. I haven't seen it reported anywhere. The talk in the Summer was extending the deals of Mulumbu, McAuley and Long. I find it difficult to believe that Brunt would decline - as most likely we'd be offering slightly higher terms or a more secure longer term contract on his current terms. Who would decline that? I'm sure he'd love the security.
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Ok. So you're of the opinion we wish to offer him a new deal - but Brunt doesn't wish to? Obviously it's all guesswork on our side. I haven't seen it reported anywhere. The talk in the Summer was extending the deals of Mulumbu, McAuley and Long. I find it difficult to believe that Brunt would decline - as most likely we'd be offering slightly higher terms or a more secure longer term contract on his current terms. Who would decline that? I'm sure he'd love the security.
Yet he'll be a Bosman aged 30 in 2015 and would have the pick of 15 or 16 Premier League sides. Make no mistake how highly rated this guy is as both a player and a professional within the game.
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Yet he'll be a Bosman aged 30 in 2015 and would have the pick of 15 or 16 Premier League sides. Make no mistake how highly rated this guy is as both a player and a professional within the game.
That suggests the likes of Spurs or Liverpool. I cannot for the life of me see any of those clubs being interested especially when he's 30. In fact I don't recall any real interest in him since he's been here. Have we ever turned any bids away for him?
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That suggests the likes of Spurs or Liverpool. I cannot for the life of me see any of those clubs being interested especially when he's 30. In fact I don't recall any real interest in him since he's been here. Have we ever turned any bids away for him?
We wouldn't sell for less than ten million. Out of contract he'd be free. It's not rocket science really.
Also not sure why you think his age would be a problem. At 30 his engine will be just as good as it is now and it's not as if his pace will deteriorate...
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We wouldn't sell for less than ten million. Out of contract he'd be free. It's not rocket science really.
Also not sure why you think his age would be a problem. At 30 his engine will be just as good as it is now and it's not as if his pace will deteriorate...
Im sorry but do you believe the stuff you write or just write the most exaggerated things possible to try and get your opinion across. I mean I guarantee you if someone put a 5million bid in for Brunt I dont think any of the coaching staff, the board or the chairman would even have to think about it. It would be the easiest bid accepted in transfer history and I haven't really a problem with Brunt. That 10m is laughable.
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Yet he'll be a Bosman aged 30 in 2015 and would have the pick of 15 or 16 Premier League sides. Make no mistake how highly rated this guy is as both a player and a professional within the game.
I have no doubt he is respected as professional. He seems a likeable person who is a good representative. I genuinely like Brunt and think he has been a very good servant for WBA. As a player, I believe previous Head Coaches have tried to modify his game to play more centrally.
For me, and this is only my opinion, he lacks that something when he starts centrally. It's different starting wide and drifting inside.
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Im sorry but do you believe the stuff you write or just write the most exaggerated things possible to try and get your opinion across. I mean I guarantee you if someone put a 5million bid in for Brunt I dont think any of the coaching staff, the board or the chairman would even have to think about it. It would be the easiest bid accepted in transfer history and I haven't really a problem with Brunt. That 10m is laughable.
I think what you're saying is laughable fella. We rejected 6 million for Dorrans. However you want to try and spin it we would not sell a man with 6 years Premier League experience, encompassing 130 PL appearances and one of the best assists records outside the top six clubs for less than 8 figures.
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Out of interest, what are his figures Jacko?
PL appearances, goals scored, assists and chances created. Would be interesting to view,
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Yet he'll be a Bosman aged 30 in 2015 and would have the pick of 15 or 16 Premier League sides. Make no mistake how highly rated this guy is as both a player and a professional within the game.
I have to ask, when did he last have a storming or even really good game ?
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I'd just like to add I would say I've been slightly disappointed that Brunt has failed to develop into a central midfielder. I look at Schwinsteiger, for example (not saying Brunt is of the same ability), but he evolved from a winger into a deep-lying playmaker. Brunt has the attributes for a similar role. But I believe he lacks something. I wouldn't say tactical discipline. As he is an intelligent footballer. Maybe that mobility? His languid running style gives a perceived impression he doesn't "work hard" - but I disagree with that notion.
My overall point is some players at a level like us - can become comfortable, hence why I said maybe the club would look to sell - as he is a saleable asset and one the club can point to where we made a profit and utilised him for 'x' number of years.
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I have to ask, when did he last have a storming or even really good game ?
Aston Villa, at Home. His second half performance was excellent.
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Out of interest, what are his figures Jacko?
PL appearances, goals scored, assists and chances created. Would be interesting to view,
130 matches, approx 1 in 3.5 assists. Maybe 20 goals. Couldn't tell you how many chances created though. This is Premier League only and includes a relegation season.
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My view is it's time he moved on, with thanks for the good things he's done for us, as I think we can do better without a significant outlay.
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Out of interest, what are his figures Jacko?
PL appearances, goals scored, assists and chances created. Would be interesting to view,
Can't give you chances created but:-
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/chris-brunt/leistungsdaten/spieler_36814_gesamt.html
And I believe in the 6 full seasons he's been here he's been the top assist maker three times (2nd the other three) and his average iin the PL is 7 assists a season, highest is 11, lowest is 2 ( 2008/09, got nine goals though!)
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Can't give you chances created but:-
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/chris-brunt/leistungsdaten/spieler_36814_gesamt.html
And I believe in the 6 full seasons he's been here he's been the top assist maker three times (2nd the other three) and his average iin the PL is 7 assists a season, highest is 11, lowest is 2 ( 2008/09, got nine goals though!)
As the most regular taker of set pieces over that period he's bound to be right up there on assists.
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As the most regular taker of set pieces over that period he's bound to be right up there on assists.
It hasn't exactly bloated Dorrans assist rate has it? But anyway there's a reason we garnered a reputation for being deadly at set pieces!!
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I like Brunt and i do think we maybe take him for granted especially his corners. That said i can't remember the last time he put 2 or 3 good games together , granted he has had his fair share of injuries and bad luck but for me Brunt hasn't matched his top flight season under Mowbray in which he starred.
For such a good passer of the ball he isn't dictating play as he could and i suspect that's due to drifting in the middle too much for my liking , this IMO is a big season for Brunt and i hope to see him kick on and maybe even hit the target with a free kick or two!.
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It hasn't exactly bloated Dorrans assist rate has it? But anyway there's a reason we garnered a reputation for being deadly at set pieces!!
The frustration is for that for someone with such a famed left foot, how many times has he hit the target or had the keeper scrambling since his goal at Goodison 2 years ago ?
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Brunt has lost his way a bit ever since Hodgson. Our attack is far less dynamic since then and he has been asked to play deeper and deeper. Push him further up the pitch and/or develop a more possession based, dynamic attack and he would flourish again. Our current style with less interaction between players, simple balls down the channels, counter attack with pace, and no real target man up top ('hoof it to Long' football doesn't count)/few crosses into the box isn't exactly Brunt football.
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Just watched the highlights on The League Cup Show Brunt started the moves for all three goals last night.
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Can't remember who was involved in the first off the top of my head and have not seen it again. Second the important pass came from Dorrans who received the ball from Sinclair so not sure how far back we're going to claim an assist on that one and the third was a penalty, yes Brunt took the corner but the 'assist' was from a Newport player.
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Can't remember who was involved in the first off the top of my head and have not seen it again. Second the important pass came from Dorrans who received the ball from Sinclair so not sure how far back we're going to claim an assist on that one and the third was a penalty, yes Brunt took the corner but the 'assist' was from a Newport player.
Sinclair put him through for the first goal with a nice little touch
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Can't remember who was involved in the first off the top of my head and have not seen it again. Second the important pass came from Dorrans who received the ball from Sinclair so not sure how far back we're going to claim an assist on that one and the third was a penalty, yes Brunt took the corner but the 'assist' was from a Newport player.
Didn't mention the word assist. He started all 3 moves. That is a fact.
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So how far do we go back for a move to be started ? Daniels in goal ? Jones throw in ?
First goal assist - Sinclair. 2nd goal assist - Dorrans. 3rd goal assist - Newport defender. In your words -Fact.
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Didn't mention the word assist. He started all 3 moves. That is a fact.
This is just getting ridiculous now. How about the tea lady who provided the pre-game drinks; does she get an assist too?
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So if Brunt is warming up as a sub, the ball goes out of play & he picks it up & gives it to the thrower & we score from that move, technically isn't that an assist for Brunty? :P
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I find Brunt very frustrating; a so called wide player who doesn't want to stay out wide. I struggle to remember him having many good games over the last few seasons. I thought he did well against villa last season when he went into a defensive role...but I wouldn't want to see him play there regularly.
I think, certainly in the last 2 seasons our best runs have come when he hasn't been a regular in the side.
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I find Brunt very frustrating; a so called wide player who doesn't want to stay out wide. I struggle to remember him having many good games over the last few seasons. I thought he did well against villa last season when he went into a defensive role...but I wouldn't want to see him play there regularly.
I think, certainly in the last 2 seasons our best runs have come when he hasn't been a regular in the side.
Nobody knows if it's him who want to come inside or whether he is told to. I don't think 3 managers would let him do it over numerous seasons so I think it's something he is told tactically to do.
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The days of a conventional winger (same as a goal poacher) are coming to an end. As long ball is seen as prehistoric and rightfully so. Now the English convention of 4-4-2 (and even 4-4-1-1) with wingers getting to the byline to whip in crosses (or as Beckham and Brunt did it, by whipping balls around the full back) is dying also.
Brunt needs to find his place in the latest fashionable formations that are played. Initially I fel his best position is on the right wing as an opposing winger in a 4-2-3-1. But in a 4-3-3 he lacks the penetration to play as part of the front 3. So he is more suited to play on the left side of the midfield 3 as a playmaker, but his workrate and defensive capabilities are below the norm for a player in that position.
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So how far do we go back for a move to be started ? Daniels in goal ? Jones throw in ?
First goal assist - Sinclair. 2nd goal assist - Dorrans. 3rd goal assist - Newport defender. In your words -Fact.
You are the only person who is talking about assists? I don't see what is difficult about it. Oh and the 3rd goal would go down as an assist to Dawson by the way.
My post highlights his importance to the team. He was the only player involved in the build up to all three goals.
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You are the only person who is talking about assists? I don't see what is difficult about it. Oh and the 3rd goal would go down as an assist to Dawson by the way.
My post highlights his importance to the team. He was the only player involved in the build up to all three goals.
Not sure what the 'difficult about it comment' is supposed to achieve.
I suggest we go through every goal we score to see where the first pass comes from to see who does what and when.
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Not sure what the 'difficult about it comment' is supposed to achieve.
I suggest we go through every goal we score to see where the first pass comes from to see who does what and when.
The difficult comment is because you have gone off on a complete tangent talking about assists quoting a post I made that did not allude to and certainly did not mention Brunt making assists on Tuesday night.
As an addendum to my last post, it means that Chris Brunt (from central midfield ;)) has played a part in every goal we have scored this season.
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Not gone off on a tangent at all. As I and others have pointed out how far are we going back to claim that someone started a move ? Daniels throwing a ball out, Jones taking a throw in etc etc , can we then look at where Brunt got the ball from to 'start' the move ?
I respect your opinion about Brunt as a central midfielder but don't agree with it. See no cheap shots, no insults.
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The difficult comment is because you have gone off on a complete tangent talking about assists quoting a post I made that did not allude to and certainly did not mention Brunt making assists on Tuesday night.
As an addendum to my last post, it means that Chris Brunt (from central midfield ;)) has played a part in every goal we have scored this season.
Not gone off on a tangent at all. As I and others have pointed out how far are we going back to claim that someone started a move ? Daniels throwing a ball out, Jones taking a throw in etc etc , can we then look at where Brunt got the ball from to 'start' the move ?
I respect your opinion about Brunt as a central midfielder but don't agree with it. See no cheap shots, no insults.
Will you two just get a room ;D
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Only if I can wear my Dorrans pyjamas :D
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Only if I can wear my Dorrans pyjamas :D
No
When you wear them you are forced to dress to the left, sometimes to the right , occasionally through the middle , and whilst you try all night you still get moaned at about your performance. :D
Brunt should not EVER be central , I would suggest that the coach (previous coaches) recognise that he is or at least was our most creative force and therefore encouraged him to go find the ball = out of position and berated .
I would add that he can still do a job in the squad for us and is a useful player to have , however not a cert in the first 11.
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Didn't she score more points than Rosenberg last season?
It's a joke before people jump in to lay into me!
yes, she played up front with Robert Urn-shaw :D
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Aston Villa, at Home. His second half performance was excellent.
And that was largely down to the fact that Villa camped themselves in their penalty area for the second half. In the first half, he was by-passed so easily by an energetic Villa midfield that it was borderline embarrassing.
I like Brunt but I do agree that we have out-grown him. I remember in our Mowbray season that he was a real shining light throughout that campaign - that squad was quite poor, however, and could potentially have made him look better than he was - with a far greater midfield these days, is it plausible that this might be the case?
Brunt, like one of our forwards is often at times a hindrance, especially for a side that often relies on counter attacking - putting it simply, Brunt does not have the mobility or agility to start in those wide roles - it has often been Pete & Gera - and as he has proved, he's not good enough to fit into the centre for the same reasons - I do believe that in an urge to squeeze is undeniable good ball retention into the squad, we've made him a bit of a 'weakness' by trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
His statistics do read very well though, but how many of those come from open play? I would safely say that the majority of his statistics come through the set pieces he takes - I'm not saying this to derail Brunt either, but I just don't feel he offers enough from open play anymore and if an offer was to come along which would allow us room to freshen the squad, then I would like to think the club would look into it. He could change our minds however by offering more in open play and adding some goals (like he did under Mowbray) to his game but like one or two other players within the squad - they need to start contributing consistently otherwise they will soon become a hindrance and shall need to be replaced.
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Nobody knows if it's him who want to come inside or whether he is told to. I don't think 3 managers would let him do it over numerous seasons so I think it's something he is told tactically to do.
You may be right, however it seems strange to me that he would be asked to continually move inside and leave us unbalanced and without cover for the defender (which is what happens).
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You may be right, however it seems strange to me that he would be asked to continually move inside and leave us unbalanced and without cover for the defender (which is what happens).
It would seem that way because every manager has him down as one of the first names of the team sheet and if he was ignoring tactical instructions you would think this would hinder his chances with us.
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I dont know why he didn't start or even come on today, he has the best delivery of set pieces in the squad and offers us more balance when he plays out wide, and also does more defensively too which was also a major problem for us today as Jones had to defend against to Swansea players for the whole game.
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Back into the team where he belongs with a vital assist at a crucial time for us.
Brought balance and creativity to the midfield, much needed experienced head.
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I thought Brunt had a very good game today, really added the balance that we have missed in the first few games of the season. The free kick he had in the first half where he tried to trick Stockdale by thinking he was going to put it in the box wasn't to far from creeping in. I would have him in the starting eleven next week.
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Not his biggest fan but I thought he did okay today at times back out wide where he should be, at others he was caught out of position and left us exposed. Great corner but we need serious work on set-pieces.
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Thats the problem with Brunt he does cut in a lot which leaves us exposed at times, and although he does have a very good left foot, some of his set pieces can be very poor. I think now we have four players that can play out wide it will be interesting this season as to to how many games Brunt will play.
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We must be desperate if people are advocating Brunt for a permanent roll in the team did ok today but one corner doesn't make a summer.
we all know where we are going to end up with Brunt in the side the Chump.
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We must be desperate if people are advocating Brunt for a permanent roll in the team did ok today but one corner doesn't make a summer.
we all know where we are going to end up with Brunt in the side the Chump.
again, why is it a nailed on failure to use the best assist maker we have? case in point today he was close from distance and tricked Stockdale at the free kick, both of which were only just wide, got the assist for our first goal and put the through ball in for Anichebe who should've scored.
What the team has struggled with has been creating opportunities, well we created more today, arguably because of Brunt and Amalfitano aswell.
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again, why is it a nailed on failure to use the best assist maker we have? case in point today he was close from distance and tricked Stockdale at the free kick, both of which were only just wide, got the assist for our first goal and put the through ball in for Anichebe who should've scored.
What the team has struggled with has been creating opportunities, well we created more today, arguably because of Brunt and Amalfitano aswell.
I think so.
We have not put pressure on the opposition that is why we have failed so far.
My worry is can our strikers finish? We will see?
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Thought he came in to his own once we opened the game up in the second half. Offered a lot more than Dorrans has in recent games.
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Find it interesting that, for most, Brunt is one of those players they like to moan at (he was one of our best players today by the way) and yet they offer continual support for players like Dorrans who show absolutely no promise of being a premier league player - sometimes you get a glimpse and then he fades again.
I'm just saying, why has it always got to be Brunt who takes the stick? Phrases such as 'oh he was out of position today' are true and, yes he may have been! But what about our other players? Plenty of them get caught out of position as well and yet you seem to just push that aside and feast on your dislike of one of our most diligent, grounded and loyal players in Chris Brunt.
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I'd say Brunt is being talked about as its a topic about him and also the fact it was his first Prem start of the season today and he did well. The point I made about being out of position (not sure if others have so must be me you 're aiming it at ? ) is the fact it was more noticeable than others as it left the shocking Ridgewell even more exposed. (No i'm not joining the Ridgewell for new scapegoat bandwagon, just pointing out something I noticed). Brunt also gets criticised as he is one of the most frustrating players we have although not always down to him, today we had plenty of movement from Anichebe and Anelka plus on the other flank Amalfitano put over some cracking balls as well, something we've lacked recently.
Not sure why Dorrans gets dragged into it again (but yes I stick up for him so there you go) big topic about him if you wish to discuss him in that one.
http://westbrom.com/forum/index.php?topic=352.0
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Great game today so credit where it's due , would politely ask him to only take the left sided corners though.
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Great game today so credit where it's due , would politely ask him to only take the left sided corners though.
which reminds me, missed MOTD so cannot confirm but for the goal did Brunt take the corner with the outside of his foot?
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which reminds me, missed MOTD so cannot confirm but for the goal did Brunt take the corner with the outside of his foot?
Don't think so. Haven't seen it again but I thought he simply hit the ball differently than normal, more on the underside rather than straight through the ball to give a more floating and dipping trajectory with less side way spin. Sweet strike.
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During the lengthy stoppage just as the clock ticked to 90, Brunt had a long chat with G-Mac, so possibly something they hatched together.
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During the lengthy stoppage just as the clock ticked to 90, Brunt had a long chat with G-Mac, so possibly something they hatched together.
McAuley made a late run into the area so it seems something was planned. The thing people don't realise is that if we were to make a plan for a set piece then pretty much the only player in our squad who can put it into the exact area needed is Brunt.
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Brunt played in his natural position on the left side of midfield has his best game for a long while, strange that! :-X
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McAuley made a late run into the area so it seems something was planned. The thing people don't realise is that if we were to make a plan for a set piece then pretty much the only player in our squad who can put it into the exact area needed is Brunt.
Not really seeing as many of our set-pieces go way too long with no-one at the back, would be an idea for something to be done in training to try something different from time to time. You can put the ball into any area but if no-one attacks it then its wasted as we did with one in the first half which was in a perfect area between keeper and defender but no-one bothered to go for it.
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Brunt played in his natural position on the left side of midfield has his best game for a long while, strange that! :-X
It was his best game since the two games away together at Blackburn and Newcastle couple of years ago when again he played on the left, as you say strange that.
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Not really seeing as many of our set-pieces go way too long with no-one at the back, would be an idea for something to be done in training to try something different from time to time. You can put the ball into any area but if no-one attacks it then its wasted as we did with one in the first half which was in a perfect area between keeper and defender but no-one bothered to go for it.
We went through a period under Di Matteo and Hodgson where every time Brunt took a corner a signal was made as to what type of delivery he was aiming for.
I thought we were more dangerous than ever during this period from set pieces.
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He was good yesterday and it begs the question why he hasn't featured in any of our previous games. Given our squad was weaker in our previous games, I saw opportunities for Chris Brunt limited but if he can replicate performances like yesterday he'll certainly start more games than many of us imagine. He provided a good balance to the side, used the ball effectively and when we needed his quality the most, he stood up and delivered.
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He was good yesterday and it begs the question why he hasn't featured in any of our previous games. Given our squad was weaker in our previous games, I saw opportunities for Chris Brunt limited but if he can replicate performances like yesterday he'll certainly start more games than many of us imagine. He provided a good balance to the side, used the ball effectively and when we needed his quality the most, he stood up and delivered.
Was he carrying an injury? At start?
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Was he carrying an injury? At start?
Not as far as I'm aware. He's been fit enough for the bench so I assume fit enough for first team selection.
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Not as far as I'm aware. He's been fit enough for the bench so I assume fit enough for first team selection.
He was injured for the final friendly of the season, so understandable he didn't play against Southampton, after that, no excuse for Clarke imo.
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Brunt is just a 'good' Premiership player, nothing more, nothing less really.
And at the moment he's one of our best players. Granted, he can be inconsistent and is fairly one-dimensional at times but he's also a lot better than the likes of Dorrans. He is an asset and should be used more often.
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Excellent ammunition for his supporters
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38 games in a season and those are based on the past 3 seasons so 114 games plus 4 from this season 118 games and the average for Mata (if he played every game) is one every 13 games, when you consider how many free kicks and corners are taken during a game its a weapon that no club seems to exploit. Interesting to see Shorey on there as well.
I don't think anyone disputes that Brunt can put a good corner across or free-kick and as shown on Saturday in the right position is an asset, consistency from all players around seems to be the problem. Maybe if players attacked them more as McAuley did Saturday and as Andy Carroll showed how to do last season a bigger advantage could be taken from it.
Ignoring sub appearances then Brunts is on a par with Mata. Brunt has 99 starts in the time of those stats so 1 in every 14.14 games, Mata has 119 starts so 1 in every 13.22 games
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If selected at Anfield tomorrow I feel its a big game for Chris, he needs to add more than corners and freekicks . I've no doubt he is capable of so much more but its now time to show it on a consistent basis.
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After the game i know but Brunt should have played wide left today , goodness only knows what SC was thinking with Anichebe.
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After the game i know but Brunt should have played wide left today , goodness only knows what SC was thinking with Anichebe.
Have to agree ;D
9 corners wasn't it? If Brunt takes all 9 then there is going to be a minimum of 2 clear chances created imo.
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After the game i know but Brunt should have played wide left today , goodness only knows what SC was thinking with Anichebe.
Well after he came on he ended up in the middle with Sessegnon out wide left, makes no sense at all.
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Well after he came on he ended up in the middle with Sessegnon out wide left, makes no sense at all.
I agree that Brunt in the middle makes no sense, but I thought Sessegnon on the left was excellent. I think he should have started like that (Sessegnon, not Brunt).
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It is simple Clarke has to stop picking Centre Forwards as wide players. Berahino can play wide and maybe Vydra but the rest of our forwards cannot and Brunt who is a natural wide player has to be a better option.
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It is simple Clarke has to stop picking Centre Forwards as wide players. Berahino can play wide and maybe Vydra but the rest of our forwards cannot and Brunt who is a natural wide player has to be a better option.
I honestly thought we had moved on from playing players out of position ::)
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I wish he'd bring Brunt on instead of Morrison when he makes his sub, If only for his set-pieces, Must be tough when Anichebe gets picked ahead of you in your position. Clarke probably thinks he hasnt got the legs to go up and down the wing anymore. And with Morrison being Clarkes goto sub then Brunt will struggle for games when Sinclair is fit again.
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It's a big problem that this has been noticed. Last thing we need is an us against them dynamic between players and supporters.
That said Brunt would start for me whenever available.
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I know he isn't a favourite amongst some fans but I don't think there was any more negativity towards his astray passes than anyone else on Saturday, in fact if anyone got moaned and groaned a lot at it was Morrison, who had an absolute nightmare of a game.
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It's a big problem that this has been noticed. Last thing we need is an us against them dynamic between players and supporters.
Brunt is not the only example in terms of your 'them and us' reference. Lepkowski wrote last week how there is genuine bemusement and surprise among the coaching staff at the disapproval directed at Anelka thus far. A collective is at its strongest when all participants are pulling together and the last thing we want is our players having an almost siege mentality because of the negativity coming from our own ranks. We should be as one.
We have finally reached a point where we have a fantastic premier league squad, 20+ players who are all more than capable of performing at this level consistently. A particular favourite might not be selected on any given week but behind that decision will be a clear and competent sense of reason. We have strong squad and in my opinion a highly qualified team of management/coaches, there record I believe should afford them the trust to select and arrange the team as they see fit without pessimism .
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It's a big problem that this has been noticed. Last thing we need is an us against them dynamic between players and supporters.
You're dead right that it's a problem and that it has been noticed. Clarke has made reference to players and fans being united in his programme notes recently.
I think it safe to assume that the players aren't happy with the attitude of some of our fans, hence these views emanating from the club.
I've been critical before, on here and other forums, of people who are overly critical and abusive toward particular players and been told "fans pay their money and it's their right to express their views".
No argument from me on that, but don't be surprised if the result is players getting hacked off with them and their mates getting in the neck while trying to do their jobs.
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Can we all stop having any critical views on our precious players please, what a load of tosh Mr Downing, maybe you would be best suited just doing the job you're paid for & not worry about what the fans think, I'm sure the players have somewhere between 20 & 40 thousand reasons not to take any notice of a bit of moaning, although I'm very rarely critical of players I reserve the right to do so if I see fit.
Mountains & Molehills >:(
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Can we all stop having any critical views on our precious players please, what a load of tosh Mr Downing, maybe you would be best suited just doing the job you're paid for & not worry about what the fans think, I'm sure the players have somewhere between 20 & 40 thousand reasons not to take any notice of a bit of moaning, although I'm very rarely critical of players I reserve the right to do so if I see fit.
Mountains & Molehills >:(
So does Downing, the players, the manager and the club as a whole. Just 'cause they are paid doesn't lose them the right to an opinion and it doesn't mean they have to just sit there and take abuse from some random guy whose only credential is paying for entry.. Try abusing the staff in a nightclub for example, see how long you last......
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Try abusing the staff in a nightclub for example, see how long you last......
I really don't see what that has to do with anything?
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Can we all stop having any critical views on our precious players please, what a load of tosh Mr Downing, maybe you would be best suited just doing the job you're paid for & not worry about what the fans think, I'm sure the players have somewhere between 20 & 40 thousand reasons not to take any notice of a bit of moaning, although I'm very rarely critical of players I reserve the right to do so if I see fit.
Mountains & Molehills >:(
Of course, folks are just going to say "they get paid big money", "they're grown men", "they should just get on with it".
At the same time though, they're people like the rest of us, and get hurt or distressed or depressed by external influences. When you're being jeered and booed I doubt that for a lot of them their bank balances matter when they hear the crowd on their backs.
I've been on a lot of management courses, lots of psychology training, lots of motivational training and so on, and you know what? I never, ever heard anyone say that constantly yelling abuse and telling someone they're crap would improve their performance.
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So does and the club as a whole. Just 'cause they are paid doesn't lose them the right to an opinion and it doesn't mean they have to just sit there and take abuse from some random guy whose only credential is paying for entry.. Try abusing the staff in a nightclub for example, see how long you last......
As employees of West Bromwich Albion, Downing, the players & the manager are paid very well to do their jobs, I'm sure they're job description isn't to tell us how the poor players feel for being moaned at, of course they have the right to an opinion but maybe its best kept in house.
Not sure where the word 'abuse' has come from & how do you know what credentials any random guy has? I know a STH with a Uefa B licence, don't see what abusing staff in a nightclub has to do with this debate.
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Of course, folks are just going to say "they get paid big money", "they're grown men", "they should just get on with it".
At the same time though, they're people like the rest of us, and get hurt or distressed or depressed by external influences. When you're being jeered and booed I doubt that for a lot of them their bank balances matter when they hear the crowd on their backs.
I've been on a lot of management courses, lots of psychology training, lots of motivational training and so on, and you know what? I never, ever heard anyone say that constantly yelling abuse and telling someone they're crap would improve their performance.
I agree 100% I believe in positivity to get the best out of people & as I said I'm very rarely critical but in my humble, its a football fans right to call it how he see's it & if that upsets a few precious pre madonna's then so be it.
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Of course, folks are just going to say "they get paid big money", "they're grown men", "they should just get on with it".
At the same time though, they're people like the rest of us, and get hurt or distressed or depressed by external influences. When you're being jeered and booed I doubt that for a lot of them their bank balances matter when they hear the crowd on their backs.
I've been on a lot of management courses, lots of psychology training, lots of motivational training and so on, and you know what? I never, ever heard anyone say that constantly yelling abuse and telling someone they're crap would improve their performance.
I believe the simple truth is that the abusers just use the players as an excuse to vent their own emotional frustrations. The players are easy targets that cannot answer back really. Your quotes above are nothing more than rationalizations by the abusers to camouflage their own behaviour.
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As far as I'm concerned, the players need to grow a pair and just accept that its part of the job. Brunt seems to be doing just that so not sure why downing has come out with this.
Maybe footballers and the staff should come work in a secondary school for a while, on normal pay and see how they deal with having teenagers swear/shout abuse at them, knowing that there isn't a fat lot you can do about it. Perhaps then they would see the difference.
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As employees of West Bromwich Albion, Downing, the players & the manager are paid very well to do their jobs, I'm sure they're job description isn't to tell us how the poor players feel for being moaned at, of course they have the right to an opinion but maybe its best kept in house.
Not sure where the word 'abuse' has come from & how do you know what credentials any random guy has? I know a STH with a Uefa B licence, don't see what abusing staff in a nightclub has to do with this debate.
Agree with this.
Also detected a slight patronising sentence which is something else I don't like - a part from that, I do agree with what Downing has said, just wish he had kept his thoughts indoors.
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I agree 100% I believe in positivity to get the best out of people & as I said I'm very rarely critical but in my humble, its a football fans right to call it how he see's it & if that upsets a few precious pre madonna's then so be it.
Pre madonna's? Awful use of language. Boo! Gerroff! Rubbish! What a waste of space! Absolute chite!
:)
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I think Brunt is a very one-dimensional player, but his talent is very good at what he does. He's a bit like one of those extreme Football Manager players whose stats are crap but then they have a massive spike in one area: his would be crossing.
I think Palace summed him up, generally a fairly poor performance but also got a key assist/great delivery. We know what he is and he is/always will be a decent Premiership footballer - but he is definitely a one trick pony, it's just a good job he's good at his trick!
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I think Brunt is a very one-dimensional player, but his talent is very good at what he does. He's a bit like one of those extreme Football Manager players whose stats are crap but then they have a massive spike in one area: his would be crossing.
I think Palace summed him up, generally a fairly poor performance but also got a key assist/great delivery. We know what he is and he is/always will be a decent Premiership footballer - but he is definitely a one trick pony, it's just a good job he's good at his trick!
Does him a big disservice imo. His passing, vision, long shots, creativity, movement, work rate, positioning, first touch, corners, heading, teamwork, balance and stamina are all very good... With my football manager head on :P
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Apparently football is the only profession where it is acceptable to abuse an employee for their performance. ;) (other than at the pantomime)
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Not sure where this has come from as no abuse of Brunty around us this season ?
Gets good applause and support when he comes over for corners too.....
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Does him a big disservice imo. His passing, vision, long shots, creativity, movement, work rate, positioning, first touch, corners, heading, teamwork, balance and stamina are all very good... With my football manager head on :P
I would take issue with the long shots - potentially yes but how many are on target in a season ?
Also pushing it with heading and movement...but he's a worthy member of the match day squad, starting or on the bench.
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I would take issue with the long shots - potentially yes but how many are on target in a season ?
Also pushing it with heading and movement...but he's a worthy member of the match day squad, starting or on the bench.
Always finds pockets of space and very good in the air, we don't hit the diagonals from the goal kicks towards him for effect mate. My post was somewhat facetious as I listed FM attributes in response to the poster suggesting Brunt was a one trick pony yet in the same post saying he was decent Premier League player.
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Big fan of Brunt. Quality player who makes us tick. Not guaranteed first 11 but offers us an alternative to Sinclair and Berahino.
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for me brunt is invaluable
hard pressed to find a player with his attitude ( ok everyone has a bad game or two so what they are human!) so many assists, crosses, passes and goals that he has provided over the seasons
his corners are worth 10m alone never mind charlie madam
http://lockerz.com/u/20891437/decalz/9528835/everton_fc_vs_west_brom_1_4_
his free kick against everton
what a game
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Reading the last few comments re this usbject takes me back to the topic i started a couple of weeks ago.
I was slated by many on here for stating we should be doing our job to get behind the players, not slag them off.
Brunt, Anelka, Long, Morrison, Olsson, Ridgewell, Anichebe ... the list goes on
These are all players who are moaned at massively every week. Beyond a joke in my eyes from 'supporters'
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Reading the last few comments re this usbject takes me back to the topic i started a couple of weeks ago.
I was slated by many on here for stating we should be doing our job to get behind the players, not slag them off.
Brunt, Anelka, Long, Morrison, Olsson, Ridgewell, Anichebe ... the list goes on
These are all players who are moaned at massively every week. Beyond a joke in my eyes from 'supporters'
Totally agree with you. Just been reading a blog talking about the difference in atmosphere between now and days gone by, specifically the Swansea play off game. The stadium is so quiet these days, and when there is a noise it's often a groan or a jeer at a misplaced pass or mistimed header.
Even "boing boing" these days seems a little perfunctory.
Is it because we see ourselves as an established side maybe? Is it because we now expect victory rather than celebrate it.
I don't know, but I do know that jeering players will backfire. It's not just the ones on the receiving end who don't like it, none of us want to see our mates being abused or bullied.
Time to cut it out, and like you say, support the team.
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I haven't a problem with the odd groan and moan here and there, I suspect everyone who goes to the football does this as it is a passionate game. What does my head in are people who love to go out of the way to criticise the team or the player, its seems as though sometimes they can't wait for something to go wrong so they can have a pop and if it's a player that they criticise quite often thats a bonus for them as they can turn round and say I told you so. Most of them who boo you see them after they have booed looking at there mates with smiles on the face as if they have done something to be proud of.
Its as if they love to play the victim and act as if everything the club does is wrong, like we lose 3 in a row and they try and make out we are in a crisis I don't understand it. They never seem to enjoy games and always worked up when with how we are at the moment they should be enjoying it.
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Big fan of Brunt. Quality player who makes us tick. Not guaranteed first 11 but offers us an alternative to Sinclair and Berahino.
If he isn't guaranteed a first team place then he isn't a quality player who makes us tick.
He's not in the team because he isn't good enough to get past our current crop of players.
Over the past couple of seasons he has been on the cusp of average/poor, hence why the number of people who moan and groan at him has risen.
There is nothing considerably brilliant in his game that makes him stand out. The odd good pass and corner does not warrant a first team place.
We've grown as a team, he's not grown as a player and that's why he gets grief, it football, it happens
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For those who deny Brunt is premier league standard if we sold him where would he go? Another premier league team is the answer.
I don't buy this we have moved on lark, more like the rest of the targets for abuse have moved on and Brunt is the fall guy for actually being good enough to still be with us and our club captain.
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If he isn't guaranteed a first team place then he isn't a quality player who makes us tick.
He's not in the team because he isn't good enough to get past our current crop of players.
Over the past couple of seasons he has been on the cusp of average/poor, hence why the number of people who moan and groan at him has risen.
There is nothing considerably brilliant in his game that makes him stand out. The odd good pass and corner does not warrant a first team place.
We've grown as a team, he's not grown as a player and that's why he gets grief, it football, it happens
Yet those 'odd good passes and corners' usually are far more telling contributions than from other players.
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Really poor decision-making in my opinion not to pass it elsewhere rather then sky it over the bar, 3-1 and it's game over.
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For those who deny Brunt is premier league standard if we sold him where would he go? Another premier league team is the answer.
I don't buy this we have moved on lark, more like the rest of the targets for abuse have moved on and Brunt is the fall guy for actually being good enough to still be with us and our club captain.
How can you say that we haven't moved on when he struggles to get in to the first like before? Mulumbu is a perfect example of a player who has continued to progress as a player, Brunt reached a point and stagnated. People aren't blind, there's a reason why he was booed off against Fulham and has become a "target" That's why we went out and bought the likes of Amilfitano, Sinclair, Sessegnon because Clarke recognises this too.
Brunt will never play for a club higher than us, if he was to leave it'll be to a team like Palace, Hull etc IMO
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Yet those 'odd good passes and corners' usually are far more telling contributions than from other players.
Yet out-weighed by the lesser talents.
When Sinclair comes back, and possibly even Gera, he'll struggle to get back in the team IMO
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Yet out-weighed by the lesser talents.
When Sinclair comes back, and possibly even Gera, he'll struggle to get back in the team IMO
Brunty was poor today, for some reason he tried to do too much for himself. I think Gera is past it now. Sinclair has never really impressed me either but at least he has a bit of mobility.
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Brunty was poor today, for some reason he tried to do too much for himself. I think Gera is past it now. Sinclair has never really impressed me either but at least he has a bit of mobility.
I'm hoping we've not seen the best of Sinclair yet, I think he can be a very good player for us.
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Mixed bag from Brunt again today , always willing to take the ball and find space but for drifted into the middle too much leaving Chelsea far too much room down our left.
Another like Long who has been out of the side and takes time to get up to speed for me , I know he should have laid Mozza in or at least hit the target but I ' d stick with him starting a bit longer yet.
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Great player, but never a captain in a million years. His disgraceful selfishness today highlighted this. I'd like to think that he'd panicked or hadn't seen Vic, but it looked more like he was after a piece of personal glory. A real captain would have put his teammate through every time.
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Great player, but never a captain in a million years. His disgraceful selfishness today highlighted this. I'd like to think that he'd panicked or hadn't seen Vic, but it looked more like he was after a piece of personal glory. A real captain would have put his teammate through every time.
I can't criticise him for shooting, Morrison had run his blind side and he may not have seen him before he snapped to shoot, I'd also say Vic's run was to close to brunt so it would have been hard to put him through, had he connected (and we know he can) he would have finished the game and been an hero?
Thems the breaks, if we are going to blame anyone try these.
#mariner
#ramirez
#spineless-FA
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I agree I don't blame him for shooting but it was another example of lack of composure in his shooting. He's got the power - just hit the target.
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I can't criticise him for shooting, Morrison had run his blind side and he may not have seen him before he snapped to shoot, I'd also say Vic's run was to close to brunt so it would have been hard to put him through, had he connected (and we know he can) he would have finished the game and been an hero?
Thems the breaks, if we are going to blame anyone try these.
#mariner
#ramirez
#spineless-FA
I blame nobody other than the cheating scumbags you listed, but I was very disappointed in what I perceived to be extremely selfish actions by the team's 'leader'. He has form for it as well, I recall an occasion where he took a penalty off Dorrans, the designated penalty taker. Dorrans of course was fuming. That and the fact that his head often goes down in matches and his tendency to have a go at his own players rather than encouraging them, is a clear reason why he shouldn't be anywhere near the captain's armband.
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Brunty was poor today, for some reason he tried to do too much for himself. I think Gera is past it now. Sinclair has never really impressed me either but at least he has a bit of mobility.
I agree about Gera, I think Sinclair needs a proper run out. There's obvious talent there, it's just a shame he wasted a year of his career on City's bench
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I blame nobody other than the cheating scumbags you listed, but I was very disappointed in what I perceived to be extremely selfish actions by the team's 'leader'. He has form for it as well, I recall an occasion where he took a penalty off Dorrans, the designated penalty taker. Dorrans of course was fuming. That and the fact that his head often goes down in matches and his tendency to have a go at his own players rather than encouraging them, is a clear reason why he shouldn't be anywhere near the captain's armband.
That was Odemwingie but hey ho. Brunt was fine captaincy wise yesterday, was the last player to leave the field... Well he was virtually dragged from the field by our backroom staff such was his berating of the referee.
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That was Odemwingie but hey ho. Brunt was fine captaincy wise yesterday, was the last player to leave the field... Well he was virtually dragged from the field by our backroom staff such was his berating of the referee.
I can understand the players having strong feelings but its questionable whether a captain should need to be dragged off the field by backroom staff - that can't go down as good captaincy. Should take a leaf out of Clarke's book - make your point then get off the field as its obvious the decision isn't going to be changed.
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That was Odemwingie but hey ho. Brunt was fine captaincy wise yesterday, was the last player to leave the field... Well he was virtually dragged from the field by our backroom staff such was his berating of the referee.
The penalty incident was at Everton in the League Cup couple of years ago, Brunt took it off Dorrans
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The penalty incident was at Everton in the League Cup couple of years ago, Brunt took it off Dorrans
Brunt was the penalty taker at the time though wasn't he and Dorrans was just keen to take it? Thought Brunt took them all that season including the two against Liverpool and the wild one at Villa Park. My memory must be going anyway because I think the penalty Odemwingie took he wrestled the ball from Mozza, who had words with him...
Either way I've got it wrong haha.
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Dorrans was the penalty taker for the game, he picked the ball up, Brunt went over, practically wrestled it from him, couple of players tried to have a word with him but he wasn't having any of it and took it himself. Was no need for it.
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I can understand the players having strong feelings but its questionable whether a captain should need to be dragged off the field by backroom staff - that can't go down as good captaincy. Should take a leaf out of Clarke's book - make your point then get off the field as its obvious the decision isn't going to be changed.
From what I saw, he ushered his players away and then made his point to the referee. Excellent captaincy. Me, I'd have chinned the bloke.
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Yeah but he overdid it, that's my point.
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I like Brunt and hate the amount of stick he gets whenever he makes a mistake. Thought he was very good on Saturday and I don't blame him for shooting near the end. He had a clear shot on goal and is probably our best striker of the ball from that sort of distance.
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He shouldn't have been shooting at that distance with two players in a better position.
It was a shocking decision from the club's captain.
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He was virtually on the edge of the area. He had every right to shoot.
He couldn't get the ball through to the player to his right. The only other option was Anichebe who was out wider than him
The shocking decision was Popovs.
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He was virtually on the edge of the area. He had every right to shoot.
He couldn't get the ball through to the player to his right. The only other option was Anichebe who was out wider than him
The shocking decision was Popovs.
I still think Morrison was the better option at the time of his final shot.
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Looked to me like he couldn't get the ball to Morrison even if he'd wanted to.
Just don't see how some fans can blame him for having a shot from where he was. Maybe there was a better option but it was hardly an outrageous thing to try unlike Popovs pathetic attempt.
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I still think Morrison was the better option at the time of his final shot.
I agree. It's been a repeating pattern of Brunt, when he's played, there's always shots that are powerful, but miles high and miles wide. He's got the power, but all week in training he should be working on scenarios like the counter attack at Chelsea, with two players either side, and 2/3 defenders. Regarding his captaincy, I don't think he's the right man for it. A captain should be a good, strong leader who can perform well every game, and talk to his team every second of the game. There's two players in our team that are right for the captains armband; McAuley and Mulumbu. Both keen to be captain.
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He needs composure in his shooting. I always feel he's trying to hit the wonder goal - hitting across it slightly to make it bend - overcomplicated. He should take a leaf out of Saido's book for shooting from the edge of the box....composure, accuracy.
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Is Brunt good enough for our team? He is not the complete player, if he was he would not be at West Brom. What he gives us is goal assists. Is there a better corner taker in the Prem? Nope! When it comes to set pieces and corners he is top quality, the question is ...is that enough for us to progress, probably not but without him in the team we are no where near as threatening from corners, this coupled with GMAC well you see the damage it can cause.
Who is better in this league than Brunt at taking corners?
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Is Brunt good enough for our team? He is not the complete player, if he was he would not be at West Brom. What he gives us is goal assists. Is there a better corner taker in the Prem? Nope! When it comes to set pieces and corners he is top quality, the question is ...is that enough for us to progress, probably not but without him in the team we are no where near as threatening from corners, this coupled with GMAC well you see the damage it can cause.
Who is better in this league than Brunt at taking corners?
Robin Van Persie?
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amalfitano
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Robin Van Persie?
Van Persie 'ain't bad I'll give you that
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dont feel its fair brunt gets any more stick then morrison mulumbu or anyone else in our midfield.
even when he is having a stinker you can never accuse him of hiding.
with regard to the last few matches i think hes been one of our better players. at chelsea morrison was blind side and anichebes run was poor he was the edge of the area an entitled to shoot. if there was a moment of stupidity in the game that lost us this match it was popov not keeping the ball!
brunt is our best corner taker hes set half of gmacs goals up since hes been here. other goals we have scored have come from brunt corners: winner at villa park, equaliser v villa (odemwingie before mulumbu winner) not to mention 3 of the goals at the custard bowl came from the aftermath of his distributions.
since jonathan greening left there hasnt been anyone in the albion side who could hold the ball like brunt. he has the abilty to slow the game down and speed it up. not all games are built for fast wingers. so he is worth his spot, also he can play through the middle and as a left wing back should we require it.
why people attack one of our longest serving players. we have plenty of fringe players who are further down thepecking order that need removing before brunt
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To be fair I don't think many on here are slagging him off - I've had a groan about his shooting accuracy as he's wasting his ability in that aspect of his game in my view.
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I thought it was a great finish last night from Brunt. I can't name you another player who would have finished it from that angle who was on the pitch for us last night.
No surprise to see it seems to have been overlooked by many Albion fans.
Made the wrong decision later on when he could of squared it but blazed it into the crowd but overall I thought he put in a good performance.
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It was an excellent finish but to be fair with a left foot like that you expect it from that range. No-one seems to mention the little flick from Long either.
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It was an excellent finish but to be fair with a left foot like that you expect it from that range. No-one seems to mention the little flick from Long either.
Expect better from you mate, Long was heading for goal. Pure luck he diverted it straight into the path of Brunt.
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Expect better from you mate, Long was heading for goal. Pure luck he diverted it straight into the path of Brunt.
Whether it was fluke or not it was an excellent little flick to get there ahead of the defender. From where I was and not having seen it again at all today its difficult to say what he was doing as if he was trying to head it at goal his body position was not very good for it.
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Its a pity he doesn't play Rugby, i loose count the amount of times his shots and free kicks hit row z.He has improved slightly this season but a starting position still questionable for me
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One thing you can always count on is that at any point he could set up or score a goal with something special, villa game assist, Newcastle game - goal. I think he's assisted GMac twice. I think he's unstoppable
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One thing you can always count on is that at any point he could set up or score a goal with something special, villa game assist, Newcastle game - goal. I think he's assisted GMac twice. I think he's unstoppable
I agree he has a good record with assists from set pieces, I just wish he would learn how to look forward more often. On the occasions when he does he is quite capable of providing a killer pass, but the number of times he is in an attacking position, with options forward, but stops and passes sideways or back is so frustrating. He never tries to beat a player, and I don't think he is captain material. When something goes wrong you don't want your captain standing and throwing his arms out and blaming everybody else
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One thing you can always count on is that at any point he could set up or score a goal with something special, villa game assist, Newcastle game - goal. I think he's assisted GMac twice. I think he's unstoppable
Not sure he's unstoppable. The special goal comes up once a season maybe. He just needs to make it count more often especially with shots on target and with crosses from open play.
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Not sure he's unstoppable. The special goal comes up once a season maybe. He just needs to make it count more often especially with shots on target and with crosses from open play.
Haha, just realised that, it's a typo it's meant to say undroppable
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Chris Brunt was appalling today, his set pieces were poor a lot of them didn't even beat the first man. He has been a good player and servant for us over the last five years but today and this season he has been really poor, I don't see him as a first team regular no more, more of a squad player.
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I started this post on 17-3-2012 which is almost 2 years ago.
If I could see the warnings then, why has Clarke failed to address it?
When I see the teamsheets with CB in, I do question if I'm in the wrong and the manager is right, but we never win with Brunt in the starting line-up so I rest my case. This is no witch-hunt by the Albion fans, just people calling it as they see it.
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The thing with Brunt is he hasnt the legs to go box to box as proven today when his tracking back was woefull, He wants to be in the centre. Also we need a winger who hogs the line as Brunt drifting inside actually makes it tough for players like Sessegnon as Brunt is never going to be a quick 1-2 type player, His set-pieces get him in the team but they are not exactly great alot of the time either.
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He was playing well, now he's not and Sinclair is fit, he makes our team look too narrow by drifting in, Scott will widen out game. Sorry Chris, time for a change
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Our current form is not just down to Chris Brunt but unfortunately i think he is part of the problem. Our best run of performances results this season Fulham / Sunderland / Man United / Arsenal and Stoke he played one game and that was against Fulham, and i await to be corrected but i am pretty sure during the good start to last season he didnt figure that much, it tend to be Gera / Odemwingie / Lukaku / Long and Fortune who played most games.
Brunt is a good player and in a different setup would be valuable but sadly similar to Long i think he doesnt suit our style, rightly or wrongly we are a counter attacking side and the plan is to hit teams quickly on the break, due to his style he slows our play down and is just not the right player for that system.
Counter attacking is usually attack at speed with a focal point of the point being the striker, for some reason when Long is in that role we dont play off him or through, we just hoof it, that is neither Brunts or Longs fault its just it brings the worst out in us.
As stated i dont think Brunt is the only problem, personally i would look at trying him left back, more like a quarter back role, he has one of the best footballing brains in our team just dont think he suits our style of play, that may change with a different manager.
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To be fair to Brunt he wasn't that bad , i will say as we sit so deep all game Brunt simply isn't mobile enough to play out wide in this system. Would be much better in a more attacking side.
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To be fair to Brunt he wasn't that bad , i will say as we sit so deep all game Brunt simply isn't mobile enough to play out wide in this system. Would be much better in a more attacking side.
Brunt and Amelfitano both sit way to deep. What's the point in having wingers when both of them have to start attacks from 10 m from our own corner flags and work the entire length of the pitch? No wonder opposing teams have such an easy time playing against us. Amelfitano has to try to dribble past wave after wave of defenders. Brunt resorts to punts/crosses half the length of the pitch. Our football has become so slow, ponderous and predictable.
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He didn't have a bad game yet its the Brunt thread that is pulled back to the top... ???
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I think you're in denial about Brunt.
It's nothing personal, I'm sure he's a top bloke.
He just shouldn't be playing for WBA.
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He didn't have a bad game yet its the Brunt thread that is pulled back to the top... ???
no , but he wasn't good either ?
to be fair to him its almost guilty by association, the left side for us is woeful and that left back (who I cant bring myself to name ) is making those near him nervous/having to cover ?
did anybody notice how many times (v Norwich) lugano had to cover , suddenly lugano had a bad game
and how many times brunt /Olsson had to cover /have a word (v Cardiff) then those 2 have had bad games .
Brunt has served us well , he has had a big part to play in our recent history , but its probably too high a level for him now, and certainly should not be starting.
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The first decision the new manager must make is who should be captain.
If he leaves Brunt as captain he will be shooting himself in the foot as he will be unlikely to leave him out in the first few games yet I do not think he should be an automatic starter.
Brunt takes nearly all the free kicks when arguably Gera,Dorrans,Amalfitano,Reid and Morrison may all be better.
I am not saying Brunt is no good but he should not be a certain starter and if picked he should be on the left wing or at the moment he maybe an acceptable emergency left back.
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i find it staggering in a team where sessi has no form and amalfitano looks a flat as a pancake brunt is receiving stick. yes hes not as exciting but hes worth his wait in gold hes the only player we have in our squad like him, can pick a pass, that ball to long v villa prime example
doesnt help that he doesnt score enough goals but who in our midfield does? let alone our strikers
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I've said for a few years now, and especially since he became captain that he doesn't do enough for us. YES, he can pick out that one killer pass like nobody else, but can we afford to carry him for 89 minutes for that one pass? Gera can pass and (maybe not so much anymore) used to work his balls off to get around the park and put in a tackle.
Brunt's defending, one sidedness and inability to inspire lets him down and I think we can do much better. We need a captain who will run through hell for us, and give us that bit more fire when we need it - Brunt will NEVER do that. Before him we had Carson who was the least inspiring person I could imagine other than Brunt.
First role of the new manager is get some passion in the team. I'd say McAuley would make an ideal captain; Olsson has long said he doesn't want to be Captain and I think GM has a similar level of passion and more maturity.
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I've said for a few years now, and especially since he became captain that he doesn't do enough for us. YES, he can pick out that one killer pass like nobody else, but can we afford to carry him for 89 minutes for that one pass? Gera can pass and (maybe not so much anymore) used to work his balls off to get around the park and put in a tackle.
Brunt's defending, one sidedness and inability to inspire lets him down and I think we can do much better. We need a captain who will run through hell for us, and give us that bit more fire when we need it - Brunt will NEVER do that. Before him we had Carson who was the least inspiring person I could imagine other than Brunt.
First role of the new manager is get some passion in the team. I'd say McAuley would make an ideal captain; Olsson has long said he doesn't want to be Captain and I think GM has a similar level of passion and more maturity.
G Mac, a good honest professional, gives it 100% and seems like a figure who could invigorate a fire in our team. I think it would be the most logical step.
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no player is to good to carry yet at the moment we are carrying the full compliment of our attacking players. dont think you can just single out brunt
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no player is to good to carry yet at the moment we are carrying the full compliment of our attacking players. dont think you can just single out brunt
Have we won a game with Brunt in the team this season? Him and Ridgewell make our left hand side distinctly weak. I am aware other players are playing badly at the moment but Brunt is the captain and hasn't played well since being made so under RDM
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G Mac, a good honest professional, gives it 100% and seems like a figure who could invigorate a fire in our team. I think it would be the most logical step.
Yep, I was thinking McAuley today, he's the most logical choice. Brunt shouldn't be a starter for me and therefore shouldn't be captain.
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McAuley is Brunt's best friend, don't see the new man changing it anyway but McAuley would probably decline it I would think.
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Have we won a game with Brunt in the team this season? Him and Ridgewell make our left hand side distinctly weak. I am aware other players are playing badly at the moment but Brunt is the captain and hasn't played well since being made so under RDM
to be fair we have only won 3 without him in the team. I wouldnt put the fact that we are losing down to soley one man or give that many any larger share of the blame less i was directing it towards Steve Clarke.
ridgewell was a step up from shorey but he has had no competition to make him evolve as a player. From the start of this season and for the latter part of last season we have been woefully under par in all departments
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when we have gone on to have decent winning streaks like we did under Hodgson after the wolves win and first half last season..Brunt wasn't in the side though. It may be coincidence.
He definitely does make the team lopsided with his need to come inside leaving a big space in front of the left back.
Also recently his corners have been poor. I'd rather Amalfitano took them from the right hand side.
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His days are numbered.Thanks for your loyalty and service
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One of the best players i have seen at the Albion. Not as exciting as the Clarks, Cunninghams or Johnstons, but his pass completition,assists and match and season turning goals are up their with the best.
Can change a game in an instant.
Some people would sooner see someone like Andy Johnson or Dorrans who run around for 90 mins with their tongues hanging out yet contribute sod all.
Todays football fans..i despair.
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I like to see us win and unfortunately it hasn't happened very often when Brunt has been in the team over the last couple of years.
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Time for a change today. The bench is calling Chris.
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One of the best players i have seen at the Albion. Not as exciting as the Clarks, Cunninghams or Johnstons, but his pass completition,assists and match and season turning goals are up their with the best.
Can change a game in an instant.
Some people would sooner see someone like Andy Johnson or Dorrans who run around for 90 mins with their tongues hanging out yet contribute sod all.
Todays football fans..i despair.
Good player but have to take issue with match and season turning goals exactly how many ? The potential is there with his left foot but his stats for hitting the target must be pretty woeful.
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I am amazed at the good write ups that Brunt gets from some fans. The way I see it with my own eyes:
Passing - used to be good, but recently mostly punts it long or diagonally
Corners - used to be good, recently mostly poor
Free kicks - poor
Shooting - woeful. If I see him waste another free kick by blasting it over the bar, I'll scream
Tracking back - poor
Tackling - poor
Heading - poor
Leadership qualities - poor
Inspiration to the team - non existent
Basically, shouldn't be playing and needs to be stripped of the captaincy and sold asap
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Chris Brunt is nowhere near as bad as some of our fans think. Yes he is frustrating at times but no more so than any of our other players. He is the only one in our team who can pick a pass. Yes they don't always come off but does any player in the premier league have a 100% pass completion record of passes greater than 10 yards?
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Chris Brunt is nowhere near as bad as some of our fans think. Yes he is frustrating at times but no more so than any of our other players. He is the only one in our team who can pick a pass. Yes they don't always come off but does any player in the premier league have a 100% pass completion record of passes greater than 10 yards?
Really? The only one in our team who can pick a pass? So no-one in our team picked a pass in the games we won without him in the team? This really has to be one of the least accurate statements ever.
And your last statement is meaningless. Of course no-one has a pass completion rate over 10 yards of 100%. I am unaware of any table showing these stats, but if there was one, I am pretty sure Chris Brunt would not be near the top of it.
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Really? The only one in our team who can pick a pass? So no-one in our team picked a pass in the games we won without him in the team? This really has to be one of the least accurate statements ever.
And your last statement is meaningless. Of course no-one has a pass completion rate over 10 yards of 100%. I am unaware of any table showing these stats, but if there was one, I am pretty sure Chris Brunt would not be near the top of it.
You know full well that I mean that some passes reach their target some don't and that he does at least try things whereas others rack up countless 10 yard passes that go nowhere.
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He was awful today, should never be in the centre for one. Luckily Downing realised and moved him out wide second half.
Whether its confidence or what he is not the player he was a couple of years ago and is not justifying his place in the side.
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He was awful today, should never be in the centre for one. Luckily Downing realised and moved him out wide second half.
Whether its confidence or what he is not the player he was a couple of years ago and is not justifying his place in the side.
Totally agree, his set pieces were shocking.
The few times he tried a forward pass he gave the ball way.
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He's reaching the end of his sell by date here. It's time for him to move on. He was absolutely dreadful today. The game totally bypassed him by in the middle because he doesn't have the mobility to compete, even out wide in the second half, he was hardly brilliant, he just plodded along. For someone with his left foot ability, his set pieces were crap - just total rubbish.
Getting increasingly fed up of just watching him stroll a long the pitch.
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Sell him in January. Time to move on.
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Sadly, his usefulness seems to be fading away. His set piece delivery was just awful today. His reluctance to use his right foot means he shouldn't be played in the middle and his lack of pace has always been a limitation. I can only see him at left back (but that's 'because I have no idea what Ridgewell does to justify his place) or a squad player - and we have a bucket-load of those!
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Hasn't got the pace for left back to be his future - OK slotting in during a game but no more than that.
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Why wasn't he just taken off for Gera? Ridgewell was actually doing okay for once, so I don't see the need to make two changes to bring one player on. It's not like his corners were anything special today.
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I forgot to mention this in my previous post but his defending for their goal was abject really. I think everybody in the ground knew what they were planning to do and instead of tracking the runner, he turned himself square, allowing Livermore to run off him and it was then ultimately too late. He should have just tracked Livermore and I'm sure he would have made a great block and therefore received a standing ovation for his efforts. It was basic defending for anybody and he cocked it up - although I'd like to also ask why we were so all at sea.
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I forgot to mention this in my previous post but his defending for their goal was abject really. I think everybody in the ground knew what they were planning to do and instead of tracking the runner, he turned himself square, allowing Livermore to run off him and it was then ultimately too late. He should have just tracked Livermore and I'm sure he would have made a great block and therefore received a standing ovation for his efforts. It was basic defending for anybody and he cocked it up - although I'd like to also ask why we were so all at sea.
You could see it coming! He is not good enough now sadly.
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I've always been a big fan of Brunt and felt he was underrated but i have to say I'm just not sure where he fits in anymore , too slow and lightweight for the middle and struggling out wide. In previous times his lack of pace wasn't an issue as he had that killer pass or cross not to mention free kicks that hit the target! , now we seem to get simple slowed down passes that create little. We can't afford to keep starting Brunt in the hope a corner or free kick will work out for us , maybe Brunt will benefit from the new manager and we may see the player we know he can be.
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Set piece is his only use for us,but now he can't even deliver a decent cross,his yesterday delivery was poor,so time for change,he should sit on the bench in the coming matches.Also we need some pace on the wing.
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He is contributing to our rigid style of pay at the moment, being one of the main offenders for knocking long, hopeless balls over the top. I think we could play a far more fluid style of play with Brunt on the bench, we have more than enough midfield options to make it work.
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I reckon he's arguably our best left back.
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The sooner Brunt is left out of the squad the sooner the more expansive attacking football can be rekindled!
We're going back in time with Gera, Brunt, Morrison all playing! No wonder we can't put an attack together!
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I reckon he's arguably our best left back.
id try baggie bird there instead of Ridgwell/popov??
On brunt , the crowd appears 50/50 between love and hate , for me hes ok , he can have a place in the squad but you would have to say there are a few limitations ?
*should not be captain
*set piece delivery has got worse rather than improved
*positional sense is not where it should be for such experience?(although not helped by insisting on taking every bloody corner freekick on the right side)
*for some reason he thinks hes Beckham (always goes fancy rather than steady functional pass)
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The sooner Brunt is left out of the squad the sooner the more expansive attacking football can be rekindled!
We're going back in time with Gera, Brunt, Morrison all playing! No wonder we can't put an attack together!
Gera was the only player yesterday who could pick the pass that unlocked Hull's defence and funnily enough resulted in our goal. Morrison gets huge stick but nobody else in the midfield has performed any better than him.
Unfortunately for Brunt his time with us is up. Nothing to do with ability in my opinion. He has reached the Carson level of abuse from fans and it's best for him he moves to another Premier League club and flourishes there with a fresh start.
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Brunt wont be flourishing at any "PREMIER LEAGUE" club as he isn't premier league quality. He could walk into any championship side including QPR but as for the prem, ........never, never, never !!!
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Feel sorry for brunt, I feel he has the Neil Clement of this age. There is always a player that gets the stick no matter what, Clemo used to be that man now it's brunt. It doesn't help he gets played all over the pitch and not his position which is a LEft Midfeilder. This formation means he can't play there so he is losing as soon as he is picked. We should get off his back, remember it isn't him that decides when and where he plays!!
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Feel sorry for brunt, I feel he has the Neil Clement of this age. There is always a player that gets the stick no matter what, Clemo used to be that man now it's brunt. It doesn't help he gets played all over the pitch and not his position which is a LEft Midfeilder. This formation means he can't play there so he is losing as soon as he is picked. We should get off his back, remember it isn't him that decides when and where he plays!!
Have to agree Frank,also players going missing and no movement makes it even harder to find a pass.
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He is contributing to our rigid style of pay at the moment, being one of the main offenders for knocking long, hopeless balls over the top. I think we could play a far more fluid style of play with Brunt on the bench, we have more than enough midfield options to make it work.
I think Brunt's main problem nowadays is that he plays far too far back, he is basically a defender now. He used to be useful popping into the box but now he plays so far away from the forwards he can't find them with a pass unless it's a 50 yard punt and he carries zero goal threat as it is now.
Root problem is that he lacks the pace to play both secondary fullback and attacking winger. This is something the new coach needs to sort out.
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Feel sorry for brunt, I feel he has the Neil Clement of this age. There is always a player that gets the stick no matter what, Clemo used to be that man now it's brunt. It doesn't help he gets played all over the pitch and not his position which is a LEft Midfeilder. This formation means he can't play there so he is losing as soon as he is picked. We should get off his back, remember it isn't him that decides when and where he plays!!
well i must have been asleep all through the clemmo era then, because i dont remember him ever having stick!!
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Seems at times whenever a player is criticised its turned into him getting abuse. Not at all and the other players who get mentioned as not getting the same do get it. Ridgewell, Sessegnon, Mulumbu, Olsson, Morrison all having received it.
For me if he is not being played as wide midfielder then its a waste of a place in the team as he does not have the same impact. At the moment his set-pieces are just not happening for some reason and the killer balls etc haven't happened for a while so maybe its time for him to sit it out for a few games as others have done when their form has dropped or stick him out wide in a system where he stays out wide and sticks some crosses over for a striker to stick his head on it.
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Agree Albion 59. I'm fed up with Brunt and his shrugging and moaning.
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Never a box to box player, Always drifts in from the left as he hates tracking back, Which creates congestion in the middle then as he isnt an outlet to give the ball too, Set-pieces are pretty mediocre as of late and he really does wave his arms around alot. Sessegnon needs players who can do quick one-twos as proven with Saido or Morgan, Brunt for all his assists people mention doesnt do enough on the pitch to justify his starting berth.
Cant tackle, Cant head the ball, No pace and his crossing which is his bet asset rarely gets used in a game.
Not many teams come in for him or Morrison either.
Good servants too the club but with this squad he wouldnt be in the first 11.
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For me - we have gone backwards since he started playing regularly this season.
He has one world class set piece each game. Unfortunately the rest of the team don't understand which one that is so there is rarely anyone in the correct position to benefit from the worldie.
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Again Yesterday he didn't play well. He needs to be dropped as he has been on a poor run of form for a long time and I don't remember the last time he has a spell of good games for us. Brunt seems to slow our moves down and I don't see why he is the club captain as he seems one of least likely players in the team to be the captain.
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Again Yesterday he didn't play well. He needs to be dropped as he has been on a poor run of form for a long time and I don't remember the last time he has a spell of good games for us. Brunt seems to slow our moves down and I don't see why he is the club captain as he seems one of least likely players in the team to be the captain.
Well we seem to be short of candidates for Capt Olsson would be ideal but apparently he does not want it? Although he acts like he is the Capt? Gmac would also be good.I think the CB position is good for Capt in fact best as they can rerad the game as the best position.Of course the temperament needs to be suitable.
Which both our CB's have in my humble?
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Seems at times whenever a player is criticised its turned into him getting abuse. Not at all and the other players who get mentioned as not getting the same do get it. Ridgewell, Sessegnon, Mulumbu, Olsson, Morrison all having received it.
For me if he is not being played as wide midfielder then its a waste of a place in the team as he does not have the same impact. At the moment his set-pieces are just not happening for some reason and the killer balls etc haven't happened for a while so maybe its time for him to sit it out for a few games as others have done when their form has dropped or stick him out wide in a system where he stays out wide and sticks some crosses over for a striker to stick his head on it.
Brunt misplaced a pass yesterday and got boos and a load of f*** offs. That is abuse not criticism, no other players get this treatment and they have arguably been as poor as him.
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Brunt misplaced a pass yesterday and got boos and a load of f*** offs. That is abuse not criticism, no other players get this treatment and they have arguably been as poor as him.
Not condoning it, BUT the MISPLACED pass you mentioned was the culmination of many casual and lazy balls from our captain in the first half added to his set pieces becoming less and less effective - two free kicks around the box were just slammed low into the first Hull player near the ball.
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Not condoning it, BUT the MISPLACED pass you mentioned was the culmination of many casual and lazy balls from our captain in the first half added to his set pieces becoming less and less effective - two free kicks around the box were just slammed low into the first Hull player near the ball.
The boo's and the abuse clearly had it's desired effect.
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Brunt misplaced a pass yesterday and got boos and a load of f*** offs. That is abuse not criticism, no other players get this treatment and they have arguably been as poor as him.
Well given that I was talking about posts on this board I can say that at a game I hear the same when Olsson does hoofballs to no-one, I hear the same when Ridgewell messes up, the same when Sessegnon messes up etc etc so others do get this treatment. I also heard boos for Lugano when the teams were read out before the game.
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Well given that I was talking about posts on this board I can say that at a game I hear the same when Olsson does hoofballs to no-one, I hear the same when Ridgewell messes up, the same when Sessegnon messes up etc etc so others do get this treatment. I also heard boos for Lugano when the teams were read out before the game.
One thing I will say about Lugano he was right in front of me warming up when they scored and he looked genuinely pee'ed off by it. That says a lot to me about his character. Compare that to Dorrans during the Arsenal penalty shoot-out...
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One thing I will say about Lugano he was right in front of me warming up when they scored and he looked genuinely pee'ed off by it. That says a lot to me about his character. Compare that to Dorrans during the Arsenal penalty shoot-out...
Last game he played he had to cover for Ridgewell quite a bit?
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id try baggie bird there instead of Ridgwell/popov??
On brunt , the crowd appears 50/50 between love and hate , for me hes ok , he can have a place in the squad but you would have to say there are a few limitations ?
*should not be captain
*set piece delivery has got worse rather than improved
*positional sense is not where it should be for such experience?(although not helped by insisting on taking every bloody corner freekick on the right side)
*for some reason he thinks hes Beckham (always goes fancy rather than steady functional pass)
To me those are issues that the head coach should be on top of.
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Last game he played he had to cover for Ridgewell quite a bit?
I'm on about when Hull scored on Saturday. He was warming up right in front of me and looked genuinely annoyed by us conceding. For someone who has barely had a sniff of first team action that said a lot about his character to me.
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Last game he played he had to cover for Ridgewell quite a bit?
I counted 5 times v Norwich in the first half, and ridgewell had the nerve to have a go at him??
Probable that the captain of Uruguay has a winning mentality and wouldn't want to lose at monopoly , and its a bloody good trait to have.
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Not good enough for the squad and yet he's still captain. I was fuming at him on Saturday he is just simply not good enough and shouldn't be playing. If he's unhappy where he's being played, as captain he can speak up surely? I seem to remember him WANTING to be in the middle or right so he could cut inside and shoot rather than cross it.
A terribly unmotivational, technically inconsistent, defensively poor, one footed player who may be subject to some abuse from fans but I feel it's justified as there is frustration at his sheer lack of effort and consistently poor performances. He doesn't do himself any favours by belting balls long to nobody and his increasingly terrible set pieces to the first opposition man. Drop him, strip him of the captaincy and maybe when he's had some time off he'll play to a decent standard. For me ever since he's been captain he's performed badly, and it can't be because of his extra captaincy duties as he does sod all.
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Well given that I was talking about posts on this board I can say that at a game I hear the same when Olsson does hoofballs to no-one, I hear the same when Ridgewell messes up, the same when Sessegnon messes up etc etc so others do get this treatment. I also heard boos for Lugano when the teams were read out before the game.
I take a lot of the comments on here with a pinch of salt really they have no real effect on the team or players performance on a match day.
There are far more groans and personal insults when Brunt plays compared to others. He was booed off when subbed at some point last season, this stuff is not constructive and has no positive effect on anything.
Yes there are groans when others do things wrong but the insults and booing of Brunt is just completely stupidity and pretty inexplicable. It doesn't get anybody anywhere and some people just don't seem to realise it for whatever reason.
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I'm on about when Hull scored on Saturday. He was warming up right in front of me and looked genuinely annoyed by us conceding. For someone who has barely had a sniff of first team action that said a lot about his character to me.
I know mate I understood your post.
It was very good to know that he showed that response thanks for the info.
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2 direct assists from Brunt today and took he corner for Anelka's second.
He is proving he is still an important player for us, I thought he looked very fresh today and up for it a little more than usual.
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Yep, credit where credits due, i posted not long ago i wondered if Brunt was only a squad player now, i still stand by that but when used if he performs like he did today, ie - 3 x assists then fair play.
Like the rest of the team he played with a bit more freedom and enjoyment and fair play to him.
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Yep, credit where credits due, i posted not long ago i wondered if Brunt was only a squad player now, i still stand by that but when used if he performs like he did today, ie - 3 x assists then fair play.
Like the rest of the team he played with a bit more freedom and enjoyment and fair play to him.
There are a lot of Albion fans who dislike Brunt for whatever reason. Today he showed what he is capable of.
No doubts he has under performed at times this season - however the same can be said for almost the rest of the squad, he just seems to suffer more intense criticism than others.
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There are a lot of Albion fans who dislike Brunt for whatever reason. Today he showed what he is capable of.
No doubts he has under performed at times this season - however the same can be said for almost the rest of the squad, he just seems to suffer more intense criticism than others.
he worked hard today. People around me think he is lazy and I think at times he can be.
However worked hard and provided the quality today.
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I don't dislike Brunt and he played a part in the goals today but for me he is not suited to a central role and never will be. I give credit when I feels its due and criticism again when I feel its due. I don't kiss arse any player (maybe exception of Dorrans ;) ) and I don't over criticise others. I comment on what I see.
I thought he was okay at times and sloppy at other times in a hard-working team performance along with the rest of the midfield. What did help today was the fact Anelka came very deep to collect the ball and made himself available so the long balls were not needed and that helped Brunt amongst others.
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I don't dislike Brunt and he played a part in the goals today but for me he is not suited to a central role and never will be. I give credit when I feels its due and criticism again when I feel its due. I don't kiss arse any player (maybe exception of Dorrans ;) ) and I don't over criticise others. I comment on what I see.
I thought he was okay at times and sloppy at other times in a hard-working team performance along with the rest of the midfield. What did help today was the fact Anelka came very deep to collect the ball and made himself available so the long balls were not needed and that helped Brunt amongst others.
Brunty also played a bit further up the pitch today so he didn't have to hit those 50 yard balls looking for a forward. It was good seeing him have a good game, we will need him to be on form this season. Hope Morrison finds his feet again as well.
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He was knackered 2nd half and should have been subbed. I'm still not convinced by him in the middle and he's not fast enough to be a winger and ditto Morrison. Mulumbu, Yacob, Amalfitano, Gera, Sessegnon are all superior IMO.
There was no protection for the defence out there with Brunt and Morrison, felt sorry for Mulumbu.
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directly involved in all 3 goals, didnt have most fluid game but shouldnt be doubted. amalfitano and sessi not on form dont deserve to play over him atm
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Chris Brunt had 5 assists this season before the West Ham game. If he gets credited with 3 assists from this game he could go up to second in the PL after Rooney (9). ::)
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I should think so all the free kicks and corners he takes, which must amount to 10 per game.
Brunt's overall contribution provides more negatives than positives IMO. Having a central 3 of Mozza, Brunt and Mulumbu was suicide to me.
Gera must be reinstated for Newcastle, then you've got Yacob, Amalfitano, Sinclair also.
Brunt and Mozza should be moved on in January window.
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good game today, he shouldn't be sold but i don't think he is first 11 material.
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Why can't the coaching staff see what thousands of ordinary WBA supporters can :
That we are a superior team WITHOUT Brunt and Morrison in the starting line up!
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I should think so all the free kicks and corners he takes, which must amount to 10 per game.
Brunt's overall contribution provides more negatives than positives IMO. Having a central 3 of Mozza, Brunt and Mulumbu was suicide to me.
Gera must be reinstated for Newcastle, then you've got Yacob, Amalfitano, Sinclair also.
Brunt and Mozza should be moved on in January window.
I wasn't tickled pink when I saw it either, but come on other players are taking as many corners and free kicks as Brunty. I agree with you that he isn't the best defensively why imh he should play further up and focus on putting those through balls to the forwards (Berahino, Vydra, Anelka). I'd play Brunty over Sinclair on the left any day. To me the man out in that midfield setup is Morrison who just doesn't have traction to his game atm.
The freekick from when Berahino hit the post was also from when Diame scythed down Brunty on the edge of the box. Nolan also got a warning for a similar tackle on Chris.
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Why can't the coaching staff see what thousands of ordinary WBA supporters can :
That we are a superior team WITHOUT Brunt and Morrison in the starting line up!
Brunt has been having a poor run but he was excellent today. Morrison has always been hit and miss.
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The thing is, the strain on our defence is massive when Brunt and Morrison are on the pitch. This is because their tacking / closing down ability is about 10%. Fans turn around after today and say our defending is poor but what do you do when you have 4 onrushing midfielders plus 2 strikers to contend with?
For me Mulumbu and Yacob do a fantastic screening job which limits opposition attacks on our defence. We conceded 3 goals to a poor team today, I reckon had we fielded this team v Spurs it would have been 5.
The best AM is Zoltan Gera the guy is an artist. Sessegnon is a good AM. The best winger we have is Amalfitano. Sinclair needs a run to build confidence not 10 mins as a sub. Vydra could do a job as a winger. All this leaves no room at all for Brunt and Morrison surely?
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For the first 40 mins Morrison was the only player for us who looked like he could create a goal,to blame him and to a lesser extent Brunt for a defensive frailties today is just totally wrong as we had 5 out and out defenders plus Foster plus Mulumbu on the pitch if that aint enough then i think we really do have major problems!!
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You can't have a midfield offering little protection to a defence! The midfield have to break up opposition attacks.
Why don't we play 6-0-4 then? By your reckoning we won't concede because there's 6 defenders in the way.
Mulumbu is probably knackered by now. He's played virtually every game and generally has to do the closing down of 2 players every game. I think that's why he's off form a little.
The offensive side of our midfield is way too slow with Brunt and Morrison there anyway.
As a fan I want energetic closing down in DM (like Mulumbu), skilful pacy wingers and a creative AM (Gera or Sessegnon). Mozza and Brunt are not in any category.
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Why can't the coaching staff see what thousands of ordinary WBA supporters can :
That we are a superior team WITHOUT Brunt and Morrison in the starting line up!
Who would you play instead? Sess and Amalfi? One guy who seems to lose the ball every time he gets it and can't hit a barn door and a player who hasn't looked good since we beat United? Brunt had three assists today and stats clearly show he covers more ground than every other player on the park most games? Morrison's a fantastic player and clearly isn't being utilised properly. Sess needed dropping as did Amalfitano. Brunt and Morrison obvious choices to replace them and have proved their worth. Morrison great against Spurs and Brunt great today.
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Who would you play instead? Sess and Amalfi? One guy who seems to lose the ball every time he gets it and can't hit a barn door and a player who hasn't looked good since we beat United? Brunt had three assists today and stats clearly show he covers more ground than every other player on the park most games? Morrison's a fantastic player and clearly isn't being utilised properly. Sess needed dropping as did Amalfitano. Brunt and Morrison obvious choices to replace them and have proved their worth. Morrison great against Spurs and Brunt great today.
I can't agree with you. Gera was the driving force against Spurs, he put Vydra through twice one on one at 0-0. West Ham are amongst the very worst the Premiership has to offer. Brunt wasn't great today by any means. Why haven't we won with them 2 in the side?
I've seen how good Morgan and Sessegnon can be and when that happens they are on a higher level to Brunt and Mozza.
Gera and Vydra have arguably done more in 2 games than Brunt and Morrison all season.
Why isn't the team picked on merit?
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I can't agree with you. Gera was the driving force against Spurs, he put Vydra through twice one on one at 0-0. West Ham are amongst the very worst the Premiership has to offer. Brunt wasn't great today by any means. Why haven't we won with them 2 in the side?
I've seen how good Morgan and Sessegnon can be and when that happens they are on a higher level to Brunt and Mozza.
Gera and Vydra have arguably done more in 2 games than Brunt and Morrison all season.
Why isn't the team picked on merit?
That is simply not true. For some reason Brunty's assist record and involvement in other goals doesn't register with you.
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I've accepted Brunt's assists record in particular and no one takes that away from him.
Brunt and Morrison are almost incapable of tracking back and putting in a tackle. The defensive side of the game is severely lacking.
Gera in AM is more lithe, can cover more ground defensively, and puts through more killer balls. Yacob and Mulumbu do the screening and hey presto you've got the perfect balanced midfield with better options as back up. Namely Sess, Morgan, Vydra, Sinclair.
Mozza and Brunt shouldn't even be on the radar. It's a total mystery to me and thousands of others.
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Gera was never going to play 2 games in less than 48hrs, Vydra may have been unlucky but as Anelka and Saido scored 3 goals between them its difficult to say the decision to leave them out was wrong!
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For the first 40 mins Morrison was the only player for us who looked like he could create a goal,to blame him and to a lesser extent Brunt for a defensive frailties today is just totally wrong as we had 5 out and out defenders plus Foster plus Mulumbu on the pitch if that aint enough then i think we really do have major problems!!
I agree wholeheartedly with these comments. Morrison had a very good game against spurs and was one of the few players to play the 2 games over Christmas period. Perhaps he tired , that seems to be a common excuse these days when players play 2 games in 3 days let alone 2 in less than 2 days. Brunt is another hit and miss but he never shies away or hides.
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Brunt's corners are quite possibly the best in the premier league, its laughable when people moan about his crossed set pieces. Some people seem to think its possible to take an amazing corner time after time. Brunt's flat set piece deliveries are amongst the best in the game, almost always create at least one great chance a game, for that reason alone he's worth a place in the team. Its particularly noticeable when someone else (usually Morrison or Amalfitano) take a corner and they never create anything resembling a chance.
Frustrating he may be, but anyone our level will be. Brunt and Gera are really our only two players who can consistently unlock a defence with a great pass, its an asset we can't overlook. Even if Brunt plays badly he still creates chances.
Sessegnon's the other side of the coin in that he can look brilliant but he virtually never picks the right pass and his finishing is abysmal.
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Brunt's corners are quite possibly the best in the premier league, its laughable when people moan about his crossed set pieces. Some people seem to think its possible to take an amazing corner time after time. Brunt's flat set piece deliveries are amongst the best in the game, almost always create at least one great chance a game, for that reason alone he's worth a place in the team. Its particularly noticeable when someone else (usually Morrison or Amalfitano) take a corner and they never create anything resembling a chance.
Frustrating he may be, but anyone our level will be. Brunt and Gera are really our only two players who can consistently unlock a defence with a great pass, its an asset we can't overlook. Even if Brunt plays badly he still creates chances.
Sessegnon's the other side of the coin in that he can look brilliant but he virtually never picks the right pass and his finishing is abysmal.
Brunt's set pieces haven't been great this season. But yes when he gets it right it can be deadly.
However, I still haven't seen him create much from open play all season, West Ham apart.
You cannot pick someone just for set piece ability alone. Even Stoke had to dispense with Rory Delap in the end.
We might as well coax Roberto Carlos, Ronald Koeman, David Beckham or Neil Clement out of retirement!
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Brunt's set pieces haven't been great this season. But yes when he gets it right it can be deadly.
However, I still haven't seen him create much from open play all season, West Ham apart.
You cannot pick someone just for set piece ability alone. Even Stoke had to dispense with Rory Delap in the end.
We might as well coax Roberto Carlos, Ronald Koeman, David Beckham or Neil Clement out of retirement!
I haven't found an up to date assist table, but it is possible that Brunty is joint 2nd in the Premier League atm. Are you seriously comparing that to Rory Delap's throw ins?
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I thought the pass that Brunt made for Anelka's goal was top quality and also the corner which lead to our second goal. When Brunty makes those great passes then it can lead to us scoring and unlocking defenses. I just think that a player with the passing ability and the left foot that he has should be doing it more for us and scoring more.
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I thought the pass that Brunt made for Anelka's goal was top quality and also the corner which lead to our second goal. When Brunty makes those great passes then it can lead to us scoring and unlocking defenses. I just think that a player with the passing ability and the left foot that he has should be doing it more for us and scoring more.
It was a simple through ball which you'd expect most of our midfielders to be able to do.
The Brunt argument will never end, and to be fair, it seems like more and more people are starting to pick up on the same thing. There's no smoke without fire
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For every game he has where he makes good passes and takes decent corners/free kicks He has more games like he did against Hull where his corners either don't get past the first defender or are over hit.
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As i posted a few weeks back Brunt needs to find some consistency in his game , West Ham was his best game in months but he needs to back that up with a couple more good months play....all the talent is their in him we know that much.What his best position is in this squad I'm still not sure , great crosser of the ball but forward wise other than Gera and maybe Long we don't have much aerial threat in open play.
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Thought he had possibly his best game of the season on Saturday.
The problem I have with Brunt is that although he is always well up there in the assists table for us I often don't think he does enough in games, if he doesn't get an assist or two he often looks a waste of time. It is clear to see he has plenty of talent he's just inconsistent, been a great servant to the club and he is a joy to watch when at his best. He is a little like Morrison in the way that he appears to be either very good or very poor with little inbetween for me.
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He was very good against West Ham but he's not consistent enough, saying that most of our team are not consistent at the minute.
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That's from before the West Ham game.
I can't comment on others, but brunt is definitely on 5 after the west ham game.
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He was very good against West Ham but he's not consistent enough, saying that most of our team are not consistent at the minute.
consistently inconsistent ?
I have criticised him before but when you look at that list of assists, can anyone name one youd get for less than 7mil ??
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consistently inconsistent ?
I have criticised him before but when you look at that list of assists, can anyone name one youd get for less than 7mil ??
And there is the uncomfortable truth...
Championship player ay he?
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Lovely through ball to Vydra to carve open the Newcastle defence to win the penalty.
Terrible header first half but he is in the team to create chances and he's notched up another today.
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It was a decent through ball but one I would expect and hope all our midfielders plus Anelka are more than capable off. All round performance was like the rest of the side today, in and out.
Should have buried the header but not the only one guilty of sloppiness in front of goal today
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credit where credits due on the last 3 performances
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It was a decent through ball but one I would expect and hope all our midfielders plus Anelka are more than capable off.
Mate it was a beaut. Perfectly weighted with a bit of curve on it to bring it right into Vydras path.
Sorry but none of our other midfielders with the exception of Gera are cultured enough to do that. I'll give you Anelka but Yacob or Mulumbu couldn't and Sessegnon cant pass 5 yards to feet without messing it up. With Morrison theres a 30-70 chance it would go our for a goal kick or keeper.
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Mate it was a beaut. Perfectly weighted with a bit of curve on it to bring it right into Vydras path.
Sorry but none of our other midfielders with the exception of Gera are cultured enough to do that. I'll give you Anelka but Yacob or Mulumbu couldn't and Sessegnon cant pass 5 yards to feet without messing it up. With Morrison theres a 30-70 chance it would go our for a goal kick or keeper.
I wouldn't expect Mulumbu or Yacob to be far enough forward to do it but others are capable of it. I haven't criticised Brunt at all. Why is when a comment is made people jump straight off ?
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I thought he had a good game today, superb through ball for the penalty and how anyone can question his effort is beyond me.
As our longest serving player he deserves a lot more respect from the fans than he is currently getting, but it seems there always has to be a scapegoat with the Albion fans in recent times.
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I thought he had a good game today, superb through ball for the penalty and how anyone can question his effort is beyond me.
As our longest serving player he deserves a lot more respect from the fans than he is currently getting, but it seems there always has to be a scapegoat with the Albion fans in recent times.
There's a good picture on the main website where Brunty hugs Ridgewell - which shows how happy he was with the win.
There are a lot of weaker players at the club atm than Brunty but for some reason he gets stick while the headless chickens can do no wrong.
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4 assists in 2 games - you can't get much more influential.
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Apart from his ball which lead to the penalty I thought he had a poor game if I'm honest. He is capable of so much more and it is infuriating to watch somebody of his quality give the ball away so cheaply. There were at least two occasions today where a routine switch of play ended up skidding out of play, either in-front or behind Liam Ridgewell who had made an overlapping run - it has been a common theme at The Hawthorns for a couple of months now.
He has to be careful he doesn't start attempting to do to much, especially when he is struggling with the basics. The ball, however for Vydra was a peach.
He had a good game on Saturday and I was hoping he would back it up today but unfortunately, he didn't.
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Thought he was good again today. Lost possession a couple of times, one involving Ridgewell 2nd half and one that was intercepted on halfway in the first half, but the fact this is highlighted when the number of times Mulumbu gave the ball away must have been in double figures I'll never know. Aside from that he sprayed the ball about nicely, covered Ridgewell well enough and put through a worldy reverse pass for the penalty which is already being played down on here. To put it frankly today had Brunt not played we'd have drawn nil nil.
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Thought he was good again today. Lost possession a couple of times, one involving Ridgewell 2nd half and one that was intercepted on halfway in the first half, but the fact this is highlighted when the number of times Mulumbu gave the ball away must have been in double figures I'll never know. Aside from that he sprayed the ball about nicely, covered Ridgewell well enough and put through a worldy reverse pass for the penalty which is already being played down on here. To put it frankly today had Brunt not played we'd have drawn nil nil.
It is highlighted because this is a thread specifically dedicated to Chris Brunt - it is also widely accepted on here that Mulumbu isn't great in possession of the ball.
The other bold comment is pure guess work. I could easily suggest that if Gera had played he would have scored the sitter that Brunty missed.
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It is highlighted because this is a thread specifically dedicated to Chris Brunt - it is also widely accepted on here that Mulumbu isn't great in possession of the ball.
The other bold comment is pure guess work. I could easily suggest that if Gera had played he would have scored the sitter that Brunty missed.
In the literal sense after the fact had Brunt not played that ball we don't get the penalty anything else is conjecture, that is a fact.
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poor first half better second. it does help when you have players like vydra and berahino making runs to be passed to!! before they came on we had the ineffective anelka and sessegnon again.
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poor first half better second. it does help when you have players like vydra and berahino making runs to be passed to!! before they came on we had the ineffective anelka and sessegnon again.
Anelka was excellent today but that's for another thread!!
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Anelka was excellent today but that's for another thread!!
Apart from the horrible, hairraising, horrendous miss from three yards out! (but yes not for the CB thread).
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Didn't think he had a great game today but still made the contribution that lead to our goal.
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Another assist for Brunt and a decent performance to go with it.
He is a key player for us and anyone thinking he is going to be moving on from us this month I'm afraid it's not happening.
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Another assist for Brunt and a decent performance to go with it.
He is a key player for us and anyone thinking he is going to be moving on from us this month I'm afraid it's not happening.
I believe technically Vydra is credited with the assist. The rest of your post I completely agree with.
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I am not a Brunt fan as per my previous posts, but for me he had a decent game v Newcastle.
The thing i have noticed around where i sit, is that both Brunt and Ridgewell are completely finished, it does not matter what they do, it will never be enough......... every mistake they make gets completely blown out of proportion. For me, they need to be taken out of the spot light for a few games, then brought back into the fold to see if the crowd can accept them again, if not, they must be allowed to leave.
It must affect their performances / confidence if they know that they are not liked / under complete scrutiny.
The same is starting to happen to Sessegnon aswell, the rumblings are starting to grow......
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I am not a Brunt fan as per my previous posts, but for me he had a decent game v Newcastle.
The thing i have noticed around where i sit, is that both Brunt and Ridgewell are completely finished, it does not matter what they do, it will never be enough......... every mistake they make gets completely blown out of proportion. For me, they need to be taken out of the spot light for a few games, then brought back into the fold to see if the crowd can accept them again, if not, they must be allowed to leave.
It must affect their performances / confidence if they know that they are not liked / under complete scrutiny.
The same is starting to happen to Sessegnon aswell, the rumblings are starting to grow......
Yes it is a huge shame I completely agree with what you say about Brunt and Ridgewell.
It seems as though there always has to be someone to moan at and dislike no matter how bad or well things are going and unfortunately those individuals have singled out these two players.
I did like how Downing went out of his way to praise Brunt yesterday, he knows Brunt is disliked by a section of our fans. It may have been just praising him for a good performance or he may well have been trying to turn some peoples heads with regards to the criticism he gets.
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I don't know if anyone else noticed yesterday that during a lull in the first half Chris Brunt appeared to be throwing up in front of the East Stand. If that was the case and he was feeling ill it may explain why his performance was, as some people have suggested, was a bit flat. Then again, he might have just had a good look at the fans in the East Stand and that made him throw up. Anyway, he is frustrating at times, but when he does get that left peg working properly, he is just priceless.
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I am not a chris brunt fan,most games its 10 v11 when he is the side,no pace,slows the game down too much,sulks ,doesn't encourage and he is supposed to be captain,we usually get better results when he is not starting;however he can produce a killer pass out of nowhere,but needs a speedy forward with nous to work with,from not having him anywhere near the starting line up,my opinion is slowly changing especially after last 3 games where his passing has gotten us points,i would rotate him and gera in the middle behind vyhdra and berehino
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Every mistake Brunt makes gets jumped upon and blown out of all proportion. Every time he does something wrong, the groans and moans start up.
Against Hull, Brunt played a pass for Sessegnon to run on to, and because it wasn't right to his feet and he didn't move for it, people had a go at Brunt. Later, Sessegnon played a poor pass for Brunt to run onto, and because he didn't get it, it was down to Brunt being useless. He can't do right for doing wrong.
So by getting on our captain's back, we might drive him out of our club. Even when he is having a bad game, he can play one ball, and we can score from it. He may not be the all-action captain some people want, but he is often the fulcrum around which our team works, and people either can't, or won't, see it.
We'll drive him out, the goals will dry up, we'll go down, and people will wonder why.
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Brunt-appreciation-page/1403984146514706?ref=hl
i dont get this chris brunt thing Albion fans have to have a go at someone Brunts had a lot of poor games but so as everyone ,the big difference is he doesn't hide ,he always shows for the ball,if someones out of postion,look at the bloke who covers for him,more often than not its Brunt,if someone goes off injured,Brunt steps in there postion.Hes a team player hence whyevery manager we have had hes always one of the first names on the team sheet,he does a lot of the ugly work that goes un noticed ,and just for his assists would always get in my team,and lets be honest someone with a left foot like his who tracked back,never gave the ball away scored great free kicks etc would not be playing for us
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Comes in for a lot of criticism but I thought he was good today. Apart from the one shot which cannoned someone at the top of the Brummie he was good. It's amazing what a player can do when he is played in his rightful position. We've had three matches on the spin where in my opinion he has been a contender for MOTM. Hopefully Brunty can continue this form. His effort is unquestionable but it's good to see him supplementing it with quality.
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His attitude,work rate and commitment today were quite outstanding looked a proper captain.
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His attitude,work rate and commitment today were quite outstanding looked a proper captain.
Absolutely that. Superb performances from him since Mel came in and put him on the left. It really isn't rocket science
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Another excellent display from the skipper today.
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Leading by example exactly what a captain should be doing. Think he has been pretty impressive the last few games in difficult circumstances with results not going our way, we need players to step up in hard times and he is one of the few that has done just that. Long may his current form continue.
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im not a brunt fan but the last few games he is well worth his place,he still should not be captain though
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3 games in his rightful and best position sees 3 excellent performances.
Nice to see him pointing out a few things to Mr Friend today as well about his inconsistencies.
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Earlier this season I said that CB was now a squad player after giving us good service. I was wrong. He was good against Everton, scored a screamer at Vile & was superb today. He will never have blistering pace but he is proving me so wrong by being an outstanding member of the team at the moment and in no way has he outlived his service to The Cause. I apologise CB.
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3 games in his rightful and best position sees 3 excellent performances.
Nice to see him pointing out a few things to Mr Friend today as well about his inconsistencies.
Completely agree. He ran his heart out for the team and put in a numerous amount of important tackles and blocks throughout the match. Fantastic to see.
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Still a very important member of the team, look a lot better with him playing. His set-pieces were annoying today though.
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Chris is looking the part again which is great to see. :D
he played at a high tempo for the full 90 mins.
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Still a very important member of the team, look a lot better with him playing. His set-pieces were annoying today though.
. Yes been shouting is corner to play left back but on today's performance an important part of the midfield
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Earlier this season I said that CB was now a squad player after giving us good service. I was wrong. He was good against Everton, scored a screamer at Vile & was superb today. He will never have blistering pace but he is proving me so wrong by being an outstanding member of the team at the moment and in no way has he outlived his service to The Cause. I apologise CB.
Very much in agreement with this. I was calling for him to be dropped a month ago, but recently he has been superb.
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I don't understand the hype. Mulumbu and Yacob are much better players for me. Also, a fit Zoltan Gera is superior. I don't know if Zolly's age and injuries have finally caught up with him?
CB is not a captain and not a natural leader. It'll take time to get over the fact he joked with Villa players after that defeat.
Surely, we'll never make the mistake again of playing Morrison and Brunt in the same midfield line up.
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I don't understand the hype. Mulumbu and Yacob are much better players for me. Also, a fit Zoltan Gera is superior. I don't know if Zolly's age and injuries have finally caught up with him?
CB is not a captain and not a natural leader. It'll take time to get over the fact he joked with Villa players after that defeat.
Surely, we'll never make the mistake again of playing Morrison and Brunt in the same midfield line up.
Morrison was injured so I would expect he would have played if fit.
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Brunt and Morrison, both quality players imp
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Always been a big fan of Brunt. Never understood the people who booed and never rated him. Whether its out wide or in the middle I dont think hes let us down.
Today he was fantastic. I think Mel is getting the best out of him at the minute and long may it continue.
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I don't understand the hype. Mulumbu and Yacob are much better players for me. Also, a fit Zoltan Gera is superior. I don't know if Zolly's age and injuries have finally caught up with him?
CB is not a captain and not a natural leader. It'll take time to get over the fact he joked with Villa players after that defeat.
Surely, we'll never make the mistake again of playing Morrison and Brunt in the same midfield line up.
The two players who had a hand in all of the goals that night? With Morrison assisting two and Brunt scoring one.
Sounds like an enormous mistake to have played them ::)
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I don't understand the hype. Mulumbu and Yacob are much better players for me. Also, a fit Zoltan Gera is superior. I don't know if Zolly's age and injuries have finally caught up with him?
CB is not a captain and not a natural leader. It'll take time to get over the fact he joked with Villa players after that defeat.
Surely, we'll never make the mistake again of playing Morrison and Brunt in the same midfield line up.
Mulumbu and Yacob both do different roles so the comparison is unfair.
I agree about Gera but I think Gera doesn't have the legs anymore.
Also, his performance today was that of a natural leader. He lead from the front. He put down a blueprint for his team-mates to follow. The role of a captain though is he really more off the field based nowadays rather than on the pitch.
Morrison and Brunt are two players who have gone under some kind of re-emergence under Pepe Mel.
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The two players who had a hand in all of the goals that night? With Morrison assisting two and Brunt scoring one.
Sounds like an enormous mistake to have played them ::)
Yes, but it's the lack of defensive work that's the worry for me. You can say Villa scored 4 going the other way.
The closing down in midfield is handed over to Yacob and Mulumbu. Is that fair for a relegation threatened side?
For me, playing Brunt and Morrison in tandem is a luxury we can ill afford.
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Yes, but it's the lack of defensive work that's the worry for me. You can say Villa scored 4 going the other way.
The closing down in midfield is handed over to Yacob and Mulumbu. Is that fair for a relegation threatened side?
For me, playing Brunt and Morrison in tandem is a luxury we can ill afford.
It was awful defending and individual mistakes that played a greater part rather than the lack of defensive work from the midfield.
They are two of our best players and both more than capable of closing down the ball. I can't really see who you would play instead of them who offers any more than they do defensively? Whilst not sacrificing their creativity which is what makes them our best players.
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Yes, but it's the lack of defensive work that's the worry for me. You can say Villa scored 4 going the other way.
The closing down in midfield is handed over to Yacob and Mulumbu. Is that fair for a relegation threatened side?
For me, playing Brunt and Morrison in tandem is a luxury we can ill afford.
But I thought the Villa loss was solely down to Lugano?? Now I find it's because Brunt and Morrison don't put a shift in?
Win as a team and lose as a team.
A few could take a leaf out of Brendan Rodgers book, who refused to condemn Kolo Toure for todays goal, labelling him brave for trying to play to the managers instructions of passing out from the back.
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But I thought the Villa loss was solely down to Lugano?? Now I find it's because Brunt and Morrison don't put a shift in?
Win as a team and lose as a team.
A few could take a leaf out of Brendan Rodgers book, who refused to condemn Kolo Toure for todays goal, labelling him brave for trying to play to the managers instructions of passing out from the back.
Up to now, I've found the issue of not pressing the ball the most important factor in our dire league position. Do you know CB wasn't part of the wins against Sunderland and Man U (50% of total league wins)?
Anyhow, Pepe Mel must make us a more effiecient closing down team than we've been. Look at what Pulis has done at Crystal Palace with a team of less ability, simply by closing down all over the pitch and defending from the front.
Lugano was poor against Villa no doubt (and in these early days he doesn't look commanding). However, another ref wouldn't have pointed to the spot.
I think on the whole this season our defence has been well organised and defended stoutly.
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Up to now, I've found the issue of not pressing the ball the most important factor in our dire league position. Do you know CB wasn't part of the wins against Sunderland and Man U (50% of total league wins)?
Anyhow, Pepe Mel must make us a more effiecient closing down team than we've been. Look at what Pulis has done at Crystal Palace with a team of less ability, simply by closing down all over the pitch and defending from the front.
Lugano was poor against Villa no doubt (and in these early days he doesn't look commanding). However, another ref wouldn't have pointed to the spot.
I think on the whole this season our defence has been well organised and defended stoutly.
You mentioned Pulis as something to aspire to, the mind boggles, you sure your're an Albion fan? I'm honestly curious? Stoke-ball? No thanks I prefer watching footballers like Brunt and Mozza trying to play football the right way.
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Brunt's played well lately and again today excepting a wasted free kick from a dangerous position.
Only thing I'll criticise him for was protesting his innocence to the ref after conceding what was a blatant free kick - Yacob did the same also. Almost laughable that they protested their innocence on those.
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You mentioned Pulis as something to aspire to, the mind boggles, you sure your're an Albion fan? I'm honestly curious? Stoke-ball? No thanks I prefer watching footballers like Brunt and Mozza trying to play football the right way.
I don't like Pulis particularly but I admire the guy for what he achieves on limited resources, nothing wrong with that. It's all very well trying to play the right way, but that could be in the championship from next season. Now that would be a come down from what we achieved in 2012/13.
I don't enjoy watching the likes of Stoke, my favourite other team is Barca. Now that is proper football.
I just feel we've held onto certain players for too long and the bottom line is we're not winning games.
You wouldn't have seen me giving Mowbray a standing ovation in 2009, just because we played passing football.
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I'd have taken Pulis as manager as I mentioned on another thread a while ago, purely because we needed to become a difficult team to beat again and he would have achieved that at the Albion.
Back on subject. I'm not Brunt's biggest fan by any means but he's performed really well over the last few games.
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A more positive approach to our play is bringing the best out in Brunt not to mention playing wide left ;) , touch wood but Brunt hasn't looked this good since Mowbray's top flight season.
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I must admit that I haven't been a fan of Brunt's in recent seasons. He always looked to be whinging and not enjoying his football at all, and his negative body language really didn't help his cause, especially as captain.
But today I saw something different. I saw a smiling Brunt, with more positive body language, perhaps resulting from being played where he should be played. Maybe he is trying to impress the new boss, but I liked what I saw.
Long may it continue. If he creates the killer ball out of nowhere in enough of our remaining games then it may well be the difference between staying up and going down. Now that he is out on the left, he is at last in the best position to do some damage, especially when Big Vic is on the pitch.
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Not been massively convinced with Chris Brunt this season and at times throughout last season. However recently he has a lot looked better and I've been pleased that he has been starting, scored a great goal the other night at Villa. I really hope his good form can continue as he is always worth a goal to us either from him self or from a great set piece.
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Up to now, I've found the issue of not pressing the ball the most important factor in our dire league position. Do you know CB wasn't part of the wins against Sunderland and Man U (50% of total league wins)?
Anyhow, Pepe Mel must make us a more effiecient closing down team than we've been. Look at what Pulis has done at Crystal Palace with a team of less ability, simply by closing down all over the pitch and defending from the front.
Lugano was poor against Villa no doubt (and in these early days he doesn't look commanding). However, another ref wouldn't have pointed to the spot.
I think on the whole this season our defence has been well organised and defended stoutly.
this is a good point,i thought our best results were without brunty in the team,he really is an enigma 2 months ago I never wanted him near the team,now im not so sure,he offers little in the pressing game but his assists can be quality,if he plays though we must have yacob and mulumbu both in the team to cover him
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I p nothing wrong with that. It's all very well trying to play the right way, but that could be in the championship from next season. Now that would be a come down from what we achieved in 2012/13.
I don't enjoy watching the likes of Stoke, my favourite other team is Barca. Now that is proper football.
I just feel we've held onto certain players for too long and the bottom line is we're not winning games.
You wouldn't have seen me giving Mowbray a standing ovation in 2009, just because we played passing football.
Not that limited?,in fact I'd say he's always outspent us?.
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He's been one of our best players recently and a few weeks ago I didn't want him in the team but he seems to have stepped it up a gear under Mel. Good idea with the free kick today too.
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Him and Morrison look far better under Mel. Not sure Brunt has looked this good since Mowbray....
needs to play out wide needs chalk on his boots, hopefully with the likes of Gera and Big Vic in the team he can get some crosses in. Benefits from the left back bombing on so he can cross from deep.
whatever peoples views are about the captaincy he has it, and it wont change. Hes scored an absolute belter against the Villa and that might well be goal of the season.. Im glad him and Morrison are back in the fold and thriving under Mel.
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It was a great goal against Villa - it was an instinctive strike.....think its better when its like that rather than him having time to think about it. Whenever he has time, he seems to try to fizz it and doesn't hit the target.
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The way I see it is Brunt is playing in his best position and enjoying a bit of a revival under Mel. I hope it continues prior to Mel's arrival his form varied between okay and poor but often in a position that exposed some of weaknesses and did little maximise his strengths.
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He's looked better last couple of games but he is no leader IMO. Joking with Villa players after the game last week was criminal. Remind me of how many games over the last couple of season that we have won with him in the side. Our best football comes without him continually slowing the play down. For me he has been a great servant and is a decent player but we need to move on without him.
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Brilliant last night - the captain leading from the front.
Exceptional defensive performance covering every blade of grass whilst also offering us a great deal going forward. When he is in his best form, he is without doubt our best creative midfielder in my opinion. I was urging towards the side of letting him seek pastures new in the summer but if he can continue this revival under Pepe then I may be having a change of heart.
Good stuff captain, keep it going.
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I too thought he was great last night, really worked hard for the team. He can't do anything right in the eyes of the guy behind me who gives him dog abuse every week though. Really want him to bang a free kick in the top corner so it will shut him up, need him to stop letting Reid take most of them.
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The big difference with Chris Brunt is he is being played in his proper position - wide
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I think Chris Brunt has been playing much better since Pepe Mel took in charge, playing in his more naturally position, his set pieces aren't always great, but he has been playing better, hopefully he can add more goals to his game too.
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Superb last night. Superb since Pepe came in. :-*
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As i posted a few weeks back Brunt needs to find some consistency in his game , West Ham was his best game in months but he needs to back that up with a couple more good months play....all the talent is their in him we know that much.What his best position is in this squad I'm still not sure , great crosser of the ball but forward wise other than Gera and maybe Long we don't have much aerial threat in open play.
Really pleased to see consistency in his game at the minute , driving us on under Mel .
Really pleased for Brunt , keep it up.
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Really pleased to see consistency in his game at the minute , driving us on under Mel .
Really pleased for Brunt , keep it up.
coudnt agree more Dexy. when he is on form he is one of the best passers in the PL
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Amazing what a round peg in a round hole does. Best position has always been out wide and it shows, just need someone on the end of a few crosses now.
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Amazing what a round peg in a round hole does. Best position has always been out wide and it shows, just need someone on the end of a few crosses now.
hes even performing his captain duties better too or am i hoping
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Pepe Mel is a genius playing a left winger left wing....
This about as good as we were getting from Brunt under Mowbray. If big vic can get on the end of some of them crosses or he can drive a few more screamers in il be extatic. Looks fired up under mel
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theres a scary mad woman at the rear centre of the brummie who blames him for everything , the shrill she gives out is frightening , more frightening is the fact that shes got a daughter , which means somebody has......... :D
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theres a scary mad woman at the rear centre of the brummie who blames him for everything , the shrill she gives out is frightening , more frightening is the fact that shes got a daughter , which means somebody has......... :D
Was'nt you was it ;)
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theres a scary mad woman at the rear centre of the brummie who blames him for everything , the shrill she gives out is frightening , more frightening is the fact that shes got a daughter , which means somebody has......... :D
If its the same wide'ish woman I remember when she sat near the front left side of brume end during the Mowbray days. "You're sh*t Brunt!" every 30 seconds in front of her kids. She was happy as Larry when Dorran's was given a run.
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Was'nt you was it ;)
I'll resist the temptation. To lower the town and just say I'd have shut her up first :D
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If its the same wide'ish woman I remember when she sat near the front left side of brume end during the Mowbray days. "You're sh*t Brunt!" every 30 seconds in front of her kids. She was happy as Larry when Dorran's was given a run.
Less wide , more wild
Looks like rod Stewarts pale twin sister.
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Been a critic of his over last couple of seasons, must say he has been much improved of late. Credit where it's due, long May it continue.
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Lets just see after tomorrow
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Brunt has been close to MOM in every game since Pepe arrived IMO, he has really changed peoples opinion to a degree, even playing like a captain & leading by example, long may it continue because we are going to need those battling qualities for every one of the remaining games BUT the cynic in me is wondering why he has suddenly raised his game to a level where most Albion fans are being complimentary towards him instead of slagging him off, is it something Mr Mel has done or is he due new contract talks soon (told you I was being cynical) some might say he is being played in his best position (wide left) but he played most of the second half more centrally yesterday & still got MOM.
Food for thought.
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I still think we look a better side without him. How many of our wins over the last couple of seasons have been without him starting? Quite a few early last season and 2 of the 4 this season.
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Playing well because he's playing in his preffered position in a style that suits him more. Just a shame that no one even attempts to get on the end of the numerous brilliant crosses he puts in every single game.
Also consistently the only player in the entire squad who doesn't hide, which is to his eternal credit. Even when he's playing badly, he always makes himself available and is constantly wanting the ball. Always trying to create something than hide away. Baffles me in light of this why people don't understand why he's captain.
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I still think we look a better side without him. How many of our wins over the last couple of seasons have been without him starting? Quite a few early last season and 2 of the 4 this season.
seriously ? he's been playing out of position for many years and the influence on assists and goals have been as invaluable as the people scoring them, like every player/person in the world they can have a bad day at the office for some reason when he does he gets singled out, he's invaluable to us and if we force him out we would miss him greatservant to the club very loyal
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A word of praise for the skipper, one of very few who are stepping up when they are needed most. Who knows, he maybe one of those players behind the scnes who is unhappy, but if he is then he's doing a good job of hiding as he's putting in determined, fighting but also classy performances week in, week out. A lot tends to be made of him as Captain but I feel he's really stepping up to the plate, he's taking responsibility and leading by example. A few of our players could do a lot worse than look to him for some inspiration.
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A word of praise for the skipper, one of very few who are stepping up when they are needed most. Who knows, he maybe one of those players behind the scnes who is unhappy, but if he is then he's doing a good job of hiding as he's putting in determined, fighting but also classy performances week in, week out. A lot tends to be made of him as Captain but I feel he's really stepping up to the plate, he's taking responsibility and leading by example. A few of our players could do a lot worse than look to him for some inspiration.
Under Mel Brunt is actually playing like a captain.
hes playing dangerous passes and his crosses have been delicious- no one on the back post, another reason for either Gera or big vic to have more game time
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A word of praise for the skipper, one of very few who are stepping up when they are needed most. Who knows, he maybe one of those players behind the scnes who is unhappy, but if he is then he's doing a good job of hiding as he's putting in determined, fighting but also classy performances week in, week out. A lot tends to be made of him as Captain but I feel he's really stepping up to the plate, he's taking responsibility and leading by example. A few of our players could do a lot worse than look to him for some inspiration.
When the going gets tough the tough get going. Maybe there's a reason that Brunt is Captain? :-X
It's good to see Brunt getting recognition for playing well lately.
Here are some interesting stats to back it all up as well:
http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/stat-attack-brunt-leads-from-front-1380073.aspx
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Seem's to genuinely care, excellent since Mel came in. If he isn't keen on Mel's style he's certainly not showing it, which is how it should be. Though frankly you'd think Brunt is one of our few players that genuinely fits into a footballing team that treats players as more than robots and relies on technical ability.
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Seem's to genuinely care, excellent since Mel came in. If he isn't keen on Mel's style he's certainly not showing it, which is how it should be. Though frankly you'd think Brunt is one of our few players that genuinely fits into a footballing team that treats players as more than robots and relies on technical ability.
As I keep saying, we have other core players that need to follow suit. If I was Pepe I'd be tempted to drop them tbh. It seems as if they find it easier to shoot their mouths off rather than perform on the pitch.
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I still think we look a better side without him. How many of our wins over the last couple of seasons have been without him starting? Quite a few early last season and 2 of the 4 this season.
seriously ? he's been playing out of position for many years and the influence on assists and goals have been as invaluable as the people scoring them, like every player/person in the world they can have a bad day at the office for some reason when he does he gets singled out, he's invaluable to us and if we force him out we would miss him great servant to the club very loyal
I might get abuse for it, but I actually agree with Smethwickw. Brunt has rivalled Yacob and Foster as our best player over the last month or so, and yet I still feel he is a bit of a burden to the team.
I will use an example which is quite poor and misleading, but I can't think of another one at the moment. Imagine when you were at school, there was always the kid with lots of skill and pace who could dribble the ball around and take people on and was clearly he most talented [;ayer in the side but he didn't pas enough to his tea mats in space. On the other team you may have a load of average footballers however they worked better because there was more team work and harmony and they would actually end up winning more games, aided by the fact they didn't have the really skilful kid playing for them.
Just because a player is playing well, does not necessarily mean he makes the team better. That was certainly Mourinihos opinion of Juan Mata (right or wrong), in that he did not fit his own style of play and so sold him despite him being one of Chelsea's best players.
For me, Brunt is quite one dimensional. He does have a great eye for a through ball and adds a lot more assist than most in the team, and yet he rarely ventures down the wing and beats a man and gives the opposition defence a lot less to think about If you had 2 marauding wide men, their wingers are occupied making more space for the other players in the team to exploit, whereas at the moment Brunt sits quite deep and makes us look quite rigid.
Maybe in a 451 system this could be remedied and he has been successful in other winning premier league teams for us (I would never claim to be a tactical expert so can not tell), but it isn't helping in a 442.
Brunt has after all only featured in 2 of our 4 wins this season, and had played in nearly everyone of our last 18 games, where we have picked up 1 solitary win from the penalty spot. Stats can of course be misleading, but If you want t play a more fluid style with more avenues of attack, I think we might need to look at either 451, or simply moving Brunt out of the starting line up.
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Not been his biggest fan over the last couple of years but it would be suicidal to take him out the team at the moment. I've been saying for a while that Mulumbu needs dropping, but with Yacob picking up his injury we can't afford to take him out.
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I agree, I haven't been his biggest fan and we was decent at the start of the season when he weren't in the team, But his probably our best player at the minute, Not sure about his tracking back and helping Ridgewell though, Hodgson would have been making it vital he gave cover like he did with Thomas.
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If you look at the start of last season, five of our first 6 wins came without Brunt in the side. Generally we were playing a midfield 3 of Yacob, Mulumbu and Morrison with Gera and Odemwingie out wide. We looked so much more fluid and playing with a much higher tempo. Brunt kills us at times. Generally when he receives the ball he always looks to stop and play the ball inside. It slows the game down far too often. He is the modern day Greening for me. A decent player and servant but we need to move on. We let Greening go and never looked back. Same needs to happen to Brunt too for me.
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If you look at the start of last season, five of our first 6 wins came without Brunt in the side. Generally we were playing a midfield 3 of Yacob, Mulumbu and Morrison with Gera and Odemwingie out wide. We looked so much more fluid and playing with a much higher tempo. Brunt kills us at times. Generally when he receives the ball he always looks to stop and play the ball inside. It slows the game down far too often. He is the modern day Greening for me. A decent player and servant but we need to move on. We let Greening go and never looked back. Same needs to happen to Brunt too for me.
Totally agree. We need Mulumbu and Yacob in the holding positions. The 3 attacking midfielders for me must be Sessegnon, Gera and Amalfitano. We've got to start pressing the opposition and breaking at pace.
Pepe Mel wants us to press higher up the pitch, we've got no chance with Brunt & Morrison on the teamsheet. I reckon Brunty's lifted his game as he's now out of his comfort zone with a fresh manager in place and he's scared of being jettisoned.
Which players are doing the complaining? We need to break this comfort zone clique before we are dumped in the championship.
Downing & Kiely - no thanks.
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i have been one of Brunty's biggest critics , but to be fair to him since Mel came in he has generally worked his socks off, and if he is one of the senior players not liking this new pressing style of Mel's then i can understand why , but all of these players need to get real, the best players and the winning teams all have one thing in common, they have a big work rate to add to their undoubted skills, classic example at the moment is Suarez if he ain't scoring them, he's making them he is always on the move.
So to stay in the premiership, switch on straight from the off, we have got to keep pressing high up the pitch, shoot a lot more than we are doing, rather than trying to walk the ball into the net, keep the full backs high up the pitch, I know Ridgewell a'int the best but at least its an extra body , get men and crosses into the box, the goals will come.
to my reckoning we will get away with 4 wins and a couple of draws keep the faith
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Best left back at the club!
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Best left back at the club!
5 3 2
wingbacks brunt and amalfitano
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Brunt has been one of the better performers since Pepe came in. Play people on form, and currently he's better than other options.
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Reportedly brunt and mozza have injuries for tomorrow from international duty and will be assessed in the morning..
Brunt would be a big loss if indeed he is out..
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Massive loss, he is our most important player at the moment.
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Massive loss, he is our most important player at the moment.
Yet we won at Old Trafford without Brunt/Morrison in the team.
But I agree as of late Brunt has been playing well and the only one capable of seeing a pass.
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It's all a cover up. Just heard that brunt is tired. Tired my ass. and as for Morrison he can do one. It's all excuses
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Yet we won at Old Trafford without Brunt/Morrison in the team.
But I agree as of late Brunt has been playing well and the only one capable of seeing a pass.
That was our best performance all season but i'm not sure the team that played that day has been the team since; anyone know?
We should go back to that team and formation ASAP.
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Does anyone really believe any player wouldn't want to play against Man Utd simply because they are tired? If he is missing the game it will be on the advice of the medical staff at the club. If the club have stated he is a doubt due to fatigue then then they have made a mistake not just putting it down to a knock, it doesn't take much for people to have a pop at Brunt without giving them ammunition.
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Nothing against Brunt at all. He's been a great servant for us but I still say we are much better without him. Granted he's been playing well of late but it is a team game and as a team we are not working. Look at some of our better performances this season. Wins v Manure and Sunderland. A good draw (should have won easily) away at Stoke and at home against Arsenal where again we should have won comfortably. Brunt started none of these games. Even the start of last season 5 of our first 6 wins came without him starting. He slows the game down far too often. We play with a higher tempo and are a lot more fluid without him.
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Only a fool would have played Brunt today after playing in Cyprus wed night.
If ever there was a time for starting Sessegnon it was today, but the guy only gets 30 mins.
Brunty knows if we go down there's still a job for him next season in the championship, his natural level.
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Only a fool would have played Brunt today after playing in Cyprus wed night.
If ever there was a time for starting Sessegnon it was today, but the guy only gets 30 mins.
Brunty knows if we go down there's still a job for him next season in the championship, his natural level.
So only a fool would start a footballer twice in one week? Why? It was only fatigue that made him a doubt. Besides - he went off because he was challenged hard. Sess didn't even look match fit either. So where's the fool?!
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Only a fool would have played Brunt today after playing in Cyprus wed night.
If ever there was a time for starting Sessegnon it was today, but the guy only gets 30 mins.
Brunty knows if we go down there's still a job for him next season in the championship, his natural level.
He played in Cyprus, hardly the other side of the world is it ? he wouldn't have trained Thursday, would have done minimal yesterday so why shouldn't he play ? Utd players seemed okay, so did McAuley who was in the same game (albeit about 11 mins less)
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It's mental and physical fatigue, travelling 9 hours on a plane, time differences etc. Brunt is not a natural athlete anyway so to expect him to perform to 100% capacity today was foolish in the extreme.
We are way too slow in midfield and all the other teams know it.
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Nothing wrong with Brunts performance today and the injury wasnt down to fatigue.
Id argue only an idiot would have left him out hes been out stand out player for 3 months.
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Nothing wrong with Brunts performance today and the injury wasnt down to fatigue.
Id argue only an idiot would have left him out hes been out stand out player for 3 months.
Don't agree mate, he's not good enough. He's the captain and we NEVER take the game to the opposition. Was he in the team at Old Trafford?
Why can we never win with him (or Morrison) in the line-up?
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Like many he was poor today . What's the fascination with him . He has no pace , can't tackle , can't beat a man and don't create from free kicks or corners . One of our main midfield players and we can't win . Get yeah heads round it .
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Like many he was poor today . What's the fascination with him . He has no pace , can't tackle , can't beat a man and don't create from free kicks or corners . One of our main midfield players and we can't win . Get yeah heads round it .
Durrr. He's in the team for his exemplary leadership and captaining abilities.
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Durrr. He's in the team for his exemplary leadership and captaining abilities.
What leadership exactly? I could play for Albion and bark out instructions and encouragement but am I worth a place on that score alone?
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Only a fool would have played Brunt today after playing in Cyprus wed night.
If ever there was a time for starting Sessegnon it was today, but the guy only gets 30 mins.
Brunty knows if we go down there's still a job for him next season in the championship, his natural level.
Can you tell me what Sessegnon did in those 30mins?
Is he an idiot for playing Gmac as well?
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Like many he was poor today . What's the fascination with him . He has no pace , can't tackle , can't beat a man and don't create from free kicks or corners . One of our main midfield players and we can't win . Get yeah heads round it .
He's produced 5 assists this season - more than anybody else.
He produced 4 assists last season - the joint highest alongside Lukaku
He produced 6 assists in 2011/2012 - more than anybody else.
He produced 9 assists in 2010/2011 more than anybody else.
That is four seasons in a row where he has topped our assist charts. Since the introduction of Pepe Mel, he is one of two players to actually look like they care about what is happening at our club. He has lead from the front where others couldn't give a toss.
Gets unwarranted criticism from our supporters at times. He's having a period of good form and one OK-ish performance and people are jumping at him again.
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It's mental and physical fatigue, travelling 9 hours on a plane, time differences etc. Brunt is not a natural athlete anyway so to expect him to perform to 100% capacity today was foolish in the extreme.
We are way too slow in midfield and all the other teams know it.
Not a natural athlete ? i've been one of his biggest critics and I wish a few others put the effort in he does.
Takes around 4 and half hours on a plane from Cyprus. Boredom more than fatigue would be the problem.
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He's produced 5 assists this season - more than anybody else.
He produced 4 assists last season - the joint highest alongside Lukaku
He produced 6 assists in 2011/2012 - more than anybody else.
He produced 9 assists in 2010/2011 more than anybody else.
That is four seasons in a row where he has topped our assist charts. Since the introduction of Pepe Mel, he is one of two players to actually look like they care about what is happening at our club. He has lead from the front where others couldn't give a toss.
Gets unwarranted criticism from our supporters at times. He's having a period of good form and one OK-ish performance and people are jumping at him again.
He will top the assists given he takes most set pieces to be fair so stats can be misleading. Even saying that take the 10/11 season out and not much to shout about is it ?
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Can you tell me what Sessegnon did in those 30mins?
Is he an idiot for playing Gmac as well?
Mate we were 0-1 down AGAIN when he came on. If he starts the game is 0-0, there's a better chance of him succeeding.
Gmac is a better athlete than Brunt and generally is required to do less running as Central Defender. Brunt is in the most demanding area of the field in terms of running. Gmac is a fantastic reader of a game and therefore his positional sense means there is less requirement to run.
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Mate we were 0-1 down AGAIN when he came on. If he starts the game is 0-0, there's a better chance of him succeeding.
Why is there?
Sessegnon had 30 minutes to show what he can do.
More than enough time and he did bugger all.
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Why is there?
Sessegnon had 30 minutes to show what he can do.
More than enough time and he did bugger all.
Well I happen to think Sessegnon is a fine footballer in the right team and system, I've seen evidence of it this season. He deserves a run of matches IMO.
On the other hand, I believe Brunt and Morrison are busted flushes and past their sell-by-date.
Morrison and Brunt have had more minutes on the pitch than the likes of Sessegnon, Vydra, Sinclair, Gera, Dorrans etc.
What have we got to show for it? Our positon is dire and relegation is staring us in the face, yet we do nothing to change it.
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Not bothered how many assists he's got . Like Reid Morrison ridge well we have not moved on . Take away the contributions of lukaku long and wingy in recent times and we would have gone down before .
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Well I happen to think Sessegnon is a fine footballer in the right team and system, I've seen evidence of it this season. He deserves a run of matches IMO.
On the other hand, I believe Brunt and Morrison are busted flushes and past their sell-by-date.
Morrison and Brunt have had more minutes on the pitch than the likes of Sessegnon, Vydra, Sinclair, Gera, Dorrans etc.
What have we got to show for it? Our positon is dire and relegation is staring us in the face, yet we do nothing to change it.
Sessegnon has had a handful of good games and for the rest of his appearances he has flattered to deceive. In-fact, he is probably our most incosistent player and in terms of creativity has brought very little to the table - as well as missing several guilt edged chances which have cost us dearly as this season progresses.
There are reasons as to why Brunt has had more game time than the players you mention. One spent the early part of the season injured and has an horrific injury record, Sinclair and Vydra have also had injury spells and in the opportunities they were afforded have offered us very little. Sinclair has actually been a waste of a loan signing. Dorrans has had several runs in the Premier League and has failed to meet the required standard - he should have gone by now.
There are numerous reasons as to why we are where we are but I tell you, it's not because of Chris Brunt.
In-fact, had some of our other players showed some of the balls and effort Brunty has lately we wouldn't be in this bloody mess - are you going to criticise them or are you just saving your blame game purely for the captain?
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Not bothered how many assists he's got . Like Reid Morrison ridge well we have not moved on . Take away the contributions of lukaku long and wingy in recent times and we would have gone down before .
So you say he doesn't create but when you're given the statistics (that prove he does create) you're not interested. Brilliant.
As for your final sentence, that point is pretty redundant. Had you taken away Rooney and Van Persie away from Man United last season they wouldn't have won the league.
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Mate we were 0-1 down AGAIN when he came on. If he starts the game is 0-0, there's a better chance of him succeeding.
Gmac is a better athlete than Brunt and generally is required to do less running as Central Defender. Brunt is in the most demanding area of the field in terms of running. Gmac is a fantastic reader of a game and therefore his positional sense means there is less requirement to run.
Brunt is 5 years younger for a start and one of our players who gives the most effort, doesn't often leave his full back exposed like some of the other wide men we have, brunt always puts a shift in and if you had the stats I would imagine he is up there with distant covered in every games so how can you say he isn't a natural athlete I don't know.
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Sessegnon has had a handful of good games and for the rest of his appearances he has flattered to deceive. In-fact, he is probably our most incosistent player and in terms of creativity has brought very little to the table - as well as missing several guilt edged chances which have cost us dearly as this season progresses.
There are reasons as to why Brunt has had more game time than the players you mention. One spent the early part of the season injured and has an horrific injury record, Sinclair and Vydra have also had injury spells and in the opportunities they were afforded have offered us very little. Sinclair has actually been a waste of a loan signing. Dorrans has had several runs in the Premier League and has failed to meet the required standard - he should have gone by now.
There are numerous reasons as to why we are where we are but I tell you, it's not because of Chris Brunt.
In-fact, had some of our other players showed some of the balls and effort Brunty has lately we wouldn't be in this bloody mess - are you going to criticise them or are you just saving your blame game purely for the captain?
You talk about "Showing Balls and Effort" from Chris Brunt and sure as hell the bloke does try. But I remember the days when Brunt DID have quality. Fantastic crosses and corners resulting in headed goals and thunderbolts from outside of the area. But when does it happen now?
Effort is not enough in the Premier League, you can run all day, it's quality that counts and we're suffering from a lack of it.
I can't see any difference between the respective ability of Dorrans and Brunt (both are too slow). I believe Sinclair suffers from a lack of desire although some quality is there.
I think Vydra has been harshly dealt with and is a player who I rate highly. Please sign him up.
I think Sessegnon is our most talented offensive player.
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I am not just complaining about brunt . If we go down will anyone come in for him. Reid Gera ridge well Morrison in fact most of the side if we go down won't be sold to premier clubs . The only class act is Gera and he is too old . We have to have a clear out .
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Brunt is 5 years younger for a start and one of our players who gives the most effort, doesn't often leave his full back exposed like some of the other wide men we have, brunt always puts a shift in and if you had the stats I would imagine he is up there with distant covered in every games so how can you say he isn't a natural athlete I don't know.
I intended to steer clear of this debate but I have to comment on the highlighted part: Ridgewell was exposed countless times today, often left 2 on 1.
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You talk about "Showing Balls and Effort" from Chris Brunt and sure as hell the bloke does try. But I remember the days when Brunt DID have quality. Fantastic crosses and corners resulting in headed goals and thunderbolts from outside of the area. But when does it happen now?
Effort is not enough in the Premier League, you can run all day, it's quality that counts and we're suffering from a lack of it.
I can't see any difference between the respective ability of Dorrans and Brunt (both are too slow). I believe Sinclair suffers from a lack of desire although some quality is there.
I think Vydra has been harshly dealt with and is a player who I rate highly. Please sign him up.
I think Sessegnon is our most talented offensive player.
It was more a counter point to your not a natural athlete.
His fantastic crossing and corners are evident every week. The only problem we have is that nobody is willing enough to get themselves on the box to get on the end of them. Had our players have an ounce of desire to get into the box and header the ball then those goals from crosses might happen more regularly. In-fact, it is quite infuriating to watch Brunt deliver a superb cross only for the likes of Berahino, Anichebe and Gera to stand motionless as the delivery goes flying past them.
Sessegnon might be our most talented offensive player - despite being highly inconsistent. In-fact, he can only really occupy one position because he cannot be trusted to help out defensively - hence why is he played behind the forward. Matej Vydra, for me, has not shown enough to even contemplate being signed permanently at the end of the season. He is another who when has had a chance to start has offered very little and on his last start ended up being hauled off at half time due to his inability to effect the game, hold the ball up or play a pass to a team-mate - all of which Anichebe did effectively in the following second half.
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It was more a counter point to your not a natural athlete.
His fantastic crossing and corners are evident every week. The only problem we have is that nobody is willing enough to get themselves on the box to get on the end of them. Had our players have an ounce of desire to get into the box and header the ball then those goals from crosses might happen more regularly. In-fact, it is quite infuriating to watch Brunt deliver a superb cross only for the likes of Berahino, Anichebe and Gera to stand motionless as the delivery goes flying past them.
Sessegnon might be our most talented offensive player - despite being highly inconsistent. In-fact, he can only really occupy one position because he cannot be trusted to help out defensively - hence why is he played behind the forward. Matej Vydra, for me, has not shown enough to even contemplate being signed permanently at the end of the season. He is another who when has had a chance to start has offered very little and on his last start ended up being hauled off at half time due to his inability to effect the game, hold the ball up or play a pass to a team-mate - all of which Anichebe did effectively in the following second half.
I obviously disagree with you but it's important for me to acknowledge the worth of your own opinion.
If we go down (which now seems likely) then I tend to look at who's played the most matches and look towards those individuals as not forming an effective team unit. How can you look at it any other way?
Those core individuals have not performed as a collective this season and must be deemed as not effective enough. It can be argued all day which of those are players are Good, Average or Bad.
Anyone playing less than half of the games or handful of games have the right to state they may not have had enough of an opportunity.
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I intended to steer clear of this debate but I have to comment on the highlighted part: Ridgewell was exposed countless times today, often left 2 on 1.
You could say many a time Brunt has played his always left Ridgewell exposed, And it's always Ridgewell bombing forward getting cross's in.
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Brunt's played well lately but disappointing that he fluffed that early free kick today. We are crying out for positive starts at the moment yet we made 2 or 3 mistakes early on today and before long were on the back foot again.
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The one thing you can't aim at brunt is lack of effort. However when we set up to counter attack I think having brunt and amalfitano out wide offers us no threat and couple that with Gera even though Gera had a decent 2nd half today offers no pace.
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The one thing you can't aim at brunt is lack of effort. However when we set up to counter attack I think having brunt and amalfitano out wide offers us no threat and couple that with Gera even though Gera had a decent 2nd half today offers no pace.
We all know this. At least Brunty can hit long range passes to make up for his lack of pace.
The basic problem remains the same, this squad needed a major overhaul in the summer for a number of reasons (stagnant lazy core players, unbalanced squad, lost quality players, aging players, weak positions needed upgrade etc) but it only got made worse by inept decisions.
I'm not blaming Brunty but some of our other core players are just happy to lift their fat pay checks atm.
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One thing I dislike about Brunt, especially as captain, is he very often concedes a clear free kick then has a quick rant at the ref and throws his arms about even though it was a correct decision.
I'm not a fan of dissent when the wrong decision is made but to show dissent when the correct decision has been made is pretty crap from the captain. Latest example was the foul on Rafael that gave the free kick for the first goal yesterday.
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Brunt doesn't defend leaving the fullback exposed, happens every game. He's slow and spends most of the match mouthing off at the ref. Yet he plays every game. Just one problem of many. Everybody has slated Sinclair this season but he's yet to have been given a decent run in the team. 45 minutes and then he was subbed if I remember correctly was his last outing. Ridiculous that we are in March with a big squad and the likes of Vydra and Sinclair still have not been given a run in the team. It's no use playing them for the odd game and the current lot have failed consistently.
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Brunt is one of our best players, let down by not having the quality to play alongside him. Sessegnon is a waste of space, more chance of scoring if he keeps his eyes shut and his back to goal; who the hell bought him?
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Brunt doesn't defend leaving the fullback exposed, happens every game. He's slow and spends most of the match mouthing off at the ref. Yet he plays every game. Just one problem of many. Everybody has slated Sinclair this season but he's yet to have been given a decent run in the team. 45 minutes and then he was subbed if I remember correctly was his last outing. Ridiculous that we are in March with a big squad and the likes of Vydra and Sinclair still have not been given a run in the team. It's no use playing them for the odd game and the current lot have failed consistently.
I disagree, I think Ridgewell is that bad that he makes Brunt look worse than he is. For instance, there were 2 occasions when Ridgewell was in an advanced position and panicked, resulting in diving which lead to 2 United counters - I think he's just so unconfident that it makes Brunt look bad. If you focus on his movement too, Ridgewell will rarely get forward and if he gets the ball he will instantly look to offload it, often playing Brunt into trouble with a rushed, silly pass.
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I disagree, I think Ridgewell is that bad that he makes Brunt look worse than he is. For instance, there were 2 occasions when Ridgewell was in an advanced position and panicked, resulting in diving which lead to 2 United counters - I think he's just so unconfident that it makes Brunt look bad. If you focus on his movement too, Ridgewell will rarely get forward and if he gets the ball he will instantly look to offload it, often playing Brunt into trouble with a rushed, silly pass.
Ridgewell was fouled on both occasions and would have got a free kick from most referees (and if he had been in a Man U shirt would also probably have got the free kick)
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Just as an aside, but still on the topic of Chris Brunt, I thought that it was disappointing that it was Ben Foster who spoke to the press to deny that the players were rebelling against Pepe Mel. It needed to be said certainly, but it would have been better coming from the captain imo.
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Just as an aside, but still on the topic of Chris Brunt, I thought that it was disappointing that it was Ben Foster who spoke to the press to deny that the players were rebelling against Pepe Mel. It needed to be said certainly, but it would have been better coming from the captain imo.
Possibly getting treatment on the injury you would think.
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Mate of mine told me that he'd spoken to Bomber at a charity do not to long ago, & Bomber claimed he would've scored at least 100 more goals if he'd played with Chris Brunt. Said he consistently puts the right balls in exactly the right place & can't believe no one is prepared to gamble to get on the end of them. Interesting comments if they are what Bomber said (& I've no reason to disbelieve my mate) - 279 goals from midfield adds a lot of weight to your opinions.............
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Mate of mine told me that he'd spoken to Bomber at a charity do not to long ago, & Bomber claimed he would've scored at least 100 more goals if he'd played with Chris Brunt. Said he consistently puts the right balls in exactly the right place & can't believe no one is prepared to gamble to get on the end of them. Interesting comments if they are what Bomber said (& I've no reason to disbelieve my mate) - 279 goals from midfield adds a lot of weight to your opinions.............
You can see what he was getting at, Brunt's quality of pass and so on, but I can't help thinking Bomber must have forgotten he played with Bobby Hope, Asa Hartford, Johnny Giles, Bryan Robson...they could all pick a pass you know.
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This a big blow as Brunt has been one of our best players and he seems to be one of the few who are up for the battle.
However it may be a blessing in disguise as for whatever reason we do get better results when he doesnt play, and i think sometimes he does slow our play down so by him been out it gives somebody the chance to come in and make the place their own.
I would think Sinclair would be the obvious choice, what a way to kickstart his Albion career against his old team saturday but the fact he very rarely even makes the squad, despite a few injuries to other players maybe means he isnt such an obvious choice!
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Brunt has been our best player since Mel arrived, this is a huge disappointment we will get him back for the last 3 games of the season if we are lucky. The obvious replacement is Sinclair if we can find him.
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Man Ure were far too physical >:(l
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Huge blow. Our best player recently and arguably our player of the season.
Replacement? Sinclair, Thievy, Berahino?
God help us.
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Huge blow , by far our best player under Mel and it means we are now stuck with Morgan doing as he likes.
Time for Morrison to stand up and be counted as our most senior midfielder.
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Chance for Graham Dorrans to impress.
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Chance for Graham Dorrans to impress.
Agreed
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At least we now get to see if those who say we are a better side without him are right or not. Think its a massive blow personally, probably one of the only players that has shown he gives a toss.
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Chance for Graham Dorrans to impress.
Dorrans won't impress if he's played out wide on the left (and neither would Morrison). He's played there before and never looked comfortable. I think it'll be Sessegnon or Thievy who gets the nod in that position, although it won't do anything for us defensively.
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I just hope Morrison isn't put out there to replace him, Gutted as he has played well recently but he does leave Ridgewell exposed a lot unlike Thomas under Hodgson, So I'd go with a more defence minded player as we need to get tight and compact.
Probably go with either Gera or Berahino, We did well earlier in the season when Brunt wasn't even in the team so not as bad as could be.
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Maybe Popov in left midfield is worth a go?
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Maybe Popov in left midfield is worth a go?
Yep. With the other teams crying with laughter we might have a chance of scoring! Think you may be on to something!! ;)
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Not only our best player under Mel, but a real dearth of replacements for him. It's either a case of playing a central midfielder out wide with Morrison (who's never really effective like that), or playing one of the strikers there, which again has been a terrible tactic so far.
Perhaps Sinclair will get one final chance, left wing is his position. Although the fact he's not even been making it on as a sub recently should tell you everything you need to know about how rated he is.
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Although I don't like to see any Albion player get injured, I'm actually pleased at this news.
I don't believe Mel was prepared to drop him but fate has intervened. Let's see how we get on over these next few weeks. If we can get a few points under our belts then the notion that we perform better / achieve more without Brunt will be there for all to see.
I want to see a fearless Albion team bombing forward with pace up front, this is what the EPL is all about. Essentially, what we've been doing up to now is trying to "out-football" teams with better footballers and it has failed miserably. This is exactly the same thing England do when confronted by Spain, Holland, Germany, Italy etc. And also what Mowbray tried to do a few years ago.
We need to go more direct IMO and get the ball into the channels and across the 6 yard box. Let's see if the likes of Sess, Thievy, Vydra can perform?
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Terrible news.
He is the only player who has looked comfortable with Pepe Mel's methods, furthermore when you add in his ability and composure with the ball, in a side lacking severely in both of those areas then he will be a very big miss. Our replacements are hardly inspiring either given they are all lacking in form and have as a collective unit offered next to nothing.
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Disappointing given he has just found the form we know he is capable of in his rightful position and under Mel only he and YACOB are the only TWO who have shown any consistency. As a replacement its difficult to guess who will come in as the only natural player in that position is Sinclair who's loan has not been a success for one reason or another.
United did a job on us, only defensive midfielder we have, they crocked, only natural left sided midfielder, they crocked. Best two players under Mel, they crocked.
Whoever comes in with the exception of Berahino or a Gera/ Morrison / Amalfitano shift around is going to be suffering from lack of game time.
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It's no coincidence that we only tend to win when Brunt doesn't play.
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It's no coincidence that we only tend to win when Brunt doesn't play.
Think that may be a bit unfair mate. Im not afraid to say i was calling for Brunt to be dropped before Mel took over but he's proven me wrong and id argue he's been our best player in recent games. Thats why I'm not a football manager!
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Its a strange one. One of the most improved players under Mel but 4 of our 5 wins this season have come without him. Second half yesterday we broke much quicker and the 3 in midfield all played well.
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Its a strange one. One of the most improved players under Mel but 4 of our 5 wins this season have come without him. Second half yesterday we broke much quicker and the 3 in midfield all played well.
I've been saying the same thing for a while now regards to the higher tempo we play without Brunt. I've always rated him as an individual but he doesn't help us as a team. The stats speak for themself. His absence is a blessing IMO and will A. Save our Prem status and B. Save Mel his job.
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In the system we played yesterday though brunt would surely be a better option than Ridgewell.
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It's no coincidence that we only tend to win when Brunt doesn't play.
In the interests of balance, we have drawn a number of matches against some of the best sides in the Prem (one of which we clearly should have won at Chelsea) where Chris Brunt has played a key role.
While I wouldn't class myself as Brunt's biggest fan, I sometimes feel some of the flak he gets is a little harsh.
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I'm sorry but we are a far better outfit with Brunt not there.
If you look how quick Swansea pass and move, that must be the template we need to match.
He simply slows the play down too much and allows the opposition to get numbers behind the ball.
It's shocking this hasn't been addressed by the coaching staff over many weeks and months.
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brunt has been our best player since pepe arrived but when hes out we usually win
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Yeah he would have slowed our movement down against Swansea as his more a long passer or through ball type not quick one two's or inter-changing like the 3 in the middle Saturday. Also Ridgewell had the whole left side to himself and didn't have to worry about Brunt leaving his exposed.
We do win without him in the team, But he has also looked good when played recently.
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Not sure where this whole 'we win when Brunt doesn't play' rubbish has come from, but it doesn't appear to be true this year. We won without him on Saturday, as we did against Sunderland and United. However, two of our five wins this year came in games Brunt started, both of which saw him involved in key incidents. Against Palace he put in the corner for McAuley to score the second to kill the game off, whilst against Newcastle he played a superb through ball into Vydra who was brought down for the winning penalty.
Even at the weekend I'd say we won in spite of his absence, not because of it! With Brunt missing we had no real wide left option bar the totally ineffective Sinclair or the out of position more interested in Instagram than football Berahino which forced us to change to a system which did, particularly in the first half, seemed to cause us all sorts of problems. Even though we won, we didn't really create many absolute clean cut chances, both of the goals were opportunistic long range efforts. Brunt can be frustrating like any player, but he's worth his weight in gold for us right now.
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I'm sorry but we are a far better outfit with Brunt not there.
If you look how quick Swansea pass and move, that must be the template we need to match.
He simply slows the play down too much and allows the opposition to get numbers behind the ball.
It's shocking this hasn't been addressed by the coaching staff over many weeks and months.
. You can't blame Brunt for the 1st half debacle. If we are going to play with the wing back formation ,surly he's a better option than Ridgewell
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In the interests of balance, we have drawn a number of matches against some of the best sides in the Prem (one of which we clearly should have won at Chelsea) where Chris Brunt has played a key role.
While I wouldn't class myself as Brunt's biggest fan, I sometimes feel some of the flak he gets is a little harsh.
Horses for courses then? Play him when he will suit the opponents style of play? That'd require us to make someone else captain realistically though.
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He is one of the best players at the club and will be a key figure next season for us if we manage to stay up.
Shame he isn't in the dressing room and on the training pitch at the moment, his leadership (which every head coach has seen) is vital whilst we are struggling at the wrong end of the table.
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It's all speculation as we can't really know what people are like but as captain he does have his flaws. Sometimes his body language isn't great plus I don't like his habit of throwing his arms about and having a snap at the ref when he's pulled up after commiting a clear foul.
Who knows, maybe just maybe it does the team good to have a different voice when Brunt is out.
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He is one of the best players at the club and will be a key figure next season for us if we manage to stay up.
Shame he isn't in the dressing room and on the training pitch at the moment, his leadership (which every head coach has seen) is vital whilst we are struggling at the wrong end of the table.
*In your opinion.
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Brunt would be a disaster at left back. He'd be slower than Ridgewell, smaller for heading the ball from corners and is not the best tackler.
No one is doubting Brunt can put through killer passes but you rarely see him score anymore and his set-pieces have deteriorated.
Also what people fail to recognise is that we CONCEDE chances to the opposition because CB is very limited without the ball.
Finally, Olsson is a much better leader and captain.
I firmly believe we would have been relegated with Brunt and Morrison continuing to occupy the same midfield.
Now I'm sure we're going to complete this survival job in double quick time. I think Sess and Mulumbu will supply the fireworks for us.
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*In your opinion.
I did not realize we are supposed to post other peoples opinions on a message board!
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I did not realize we are supposed to post other peoples opinions on a message board!
My reply was unduly flippant. Allow me to expand:
The post I quoted was very matter of fact - I would like to put forward an alternative viewpoint.
Some, including myself, would argue that the team is more dynamic and effective when Brunt is not present. Chris has a habit of slowing play down and the defensive aspect of his game leaves a lot to be desired. Moreover, I would encourage the club to move on Chris Brunt next season, if we were to stay up, as I think it would be a progressive step to do so. However, I realise this is merely my opinion and can be challenged like any other.
For the record, Chris has recently been in good form individually; results haven't really been affected though.
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Finally, Olsson is a much better leader and captain.
That would be the Jonas Olsson who loses his rag every other week? The same Olsson who can only play 3 passes out of the back, and 2 of them go straight to the opposition? People have been saying it should have been Olsson for years, and he's captained the team when Brunt has been out, but there is a reason he's not been given the job full time, and I'm guessing his temper.
We can't say what Brunt is like behind the scenes, none of us have been there. From what I have seen, the way he conducts himself off the pitch is like a leader and he seems a classy guy. How many managers have to make him captain, and how many goals does he have to create, before his detractors see him for what he truly is?
This stat that we lose more when he's in the team; he is in the team more often than not, so of course you're going to see a higher loss percentage with him in it. And lets not forget, we didn't score a goal in the opening three games this season with him not in the team.
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My reply was unduly flippant. Allow me to expand:
The post I quoted was very matter of fact - I would like to put forward an alternative viewpoint.
Some, including myself, would argue that the team is more dynamic and effective when Brunt is not present. Chris has a habit of slowing play down and the defensive aspect of his game leaves a lot to be desired. Moreover, I would encourage the club to move on Chris Brunt next season, if we were to stay up, as I think it would be a progressive step to do so. However, I realise this is merely my opinion and can be challenged like any other.
For the record, Chris has recently been in good form individually; results haven't really been affected though.
We all know he splits opinion amongst us 50/50.
I just think the fact that the last 4 head coaches and now a fifth picked him practically every week when fit and allowed him to hold the captaincy speaks volumes about who maybe knows best about Brunt's abilities.
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I really wish we would try Brunt at left back or wing back I think he would be a lot more useful than Ridgewell. We really need a quick tricky winger who can help us counter attack and Brunt is not that type of player as he can sometimes slow the game down but he offers too much to be dropped with his corners, free kicks and splitting balls. At left back he could still offer us that and can over lap to put some decent crosses in, he would be a good option for Foster to throw to and although he may not be a better defender than Ridgewell He is faster and is maybe better with his head.
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I really wish we would try Brunt at left back or wing back... At left back he could still offer us that and can over lap to put some decent crosses in, he would be a good option for Foster to throw to and although he may not be a better defender than Ridgewell He is faster and is maybe better with his head.
I'm a fan of Brunt myself, but we are shockingly weak down the left side of our defence, so if you really think he would be a worse defender than Ridgwell, why would you play Brunt there? By that logic we become weaker and even more exposed surely?
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I don't think Brunt being played instead of Ridgewell would make us anymore weaker than it already is, I just think it would make us more creative. For me Ridgewell is out of form and needs to be dropped. Makes no difference now anyway whilst Brunts injured as id rather Ridgewell than Popov.
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The problem is, despite Brunts obvious strengths on the ball, he lacks defensive capabilities. Whichever side of the field he plays, the full back is often left exposed with the consequence of more crosses coming into the box and therefore conceding more goals.
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I don't think Brunt being played instead of Ridgewell would make us anymore weaker than it already is, I just think it would make us more creative. For me Ridgewell is out of form and needs to be dropped. Makes no difference now anyway whilst Brunts injured as id rather Ridgewell than Popov.
Don't get me wrong, I think Ridgewell is shocking, but I just don't see the logic in saying that Brunt is a worse defender than him but drop Ridgewell anyway and play Brunt in his left back position.
And as for making us more creative, I can't see it honestly.
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Don't get me wrong, I think Ridgewell is shocking, but I just don't see the logic in saying that Brunt is a worse defender than him but drop Ridgewell anyway and play Brunt in his left back position.
And as for making us more creative, I can't see it honestly.
what I should have said is when on form Ridgewell is a better defender but he has been shocking for a while now and I feel if we are to continue with playing 3-5-2 than Brunt would be better suited as he offers us more going forward.
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That would be the Jonas Olsson who loses his rag every other week? The same Olsson who can only play 3 passes out of the back, and 2 of them go straight to the opposition? People have been saying it should have been Olsson for years, and he's captained the team when Brunt has been out, but there is a reason he's not b