126

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 12, 2021, 10:02:16 PM »

Well I think it’s clear they’re trying to get a midfielder.

There are a host of reasons as to why we haven’t - the main one being that Allardyce isn’t in charge of negotiations

It’s Allardyce bashing for the sake of it.

What's wrong with getting A.CM in now then still trying to get Choudry later in the window?

We are absolutely desperate, lower than a snakes belly.

We couldn't even beat a League 1 team in 2 hours of football.

We are going to get pummelled on Saturday. 

127

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 12, 2021, 09:38:54 PM »

Bit harsh, Bilic had best part of 18 months to sort it and didn't.

Also fair to say Allardyce has identified who he wants and the player wants to come here. It's over to the board to work their magic now.

Go on about Bilic all you want.  It took us 11 months to get out the Championship (after Covid).  Sawyers & Livermore were adequate then.  Yes in hindsight they should've been replaced in August.

If Allardyce was sharp he'd have drafted someone in on 3rd January post Arsenal.  The inadequacy was for all to see. Even a £500,000 central midfielder from the Swedish Premier would've improved matters!

How much evidence does the bloke need?  He can watch Football highlights round the clock, player databases of player performance.

There is no excuse to reach 13 January with no incoming midfielder.

Furthermore he still hasn't ditched Ivanovic, when it's clear O'Shea, Ajayi & Bartley are all better (despite limitations).

128

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 12, 2021, 08:59:38 PM »

By the time this game comes around Allardyce has had half of January to get in a central midfielder and has failed.

Sawyers or Livermore and a Loss is a formality.

Failing that play Harper, how can he actually be any worse?

129

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 12, 2021, 04:27:21 PM »

Some points about Allardyce:

1) OK so training hours are limited due to Covid.  What's stopping him from talking to the whole group of players morning, noon and night to get his ideas across?  Even if its on Zoom.
2) In football it's a given that you work with players brought in by a previous Manager.  This cannot be labelled as an excuse.  SA knew he has to navigate through at least 6 wks of a congested Xmas schedule before he could get his hands on new players.  This period was critical to the success of his tenure in keeping the club in the division.
3) Why are we not seeing the stamp of an Allardyce team, at least in the GA column?  The one thing he has done is reduce possession more in keeping with his teams.
4) I'd rate his performance so far 1/10.  That's for turning up to work.  Obliterated in almost every match and failing to beat Blackpool.
5) When is he actually accountable for his performance in the job?
6) Has he lost motivation in the job already?
7) There's intelligent football people on this site that would do the job for a tenth of Allardyce's wages.  Where is Allardyce's managerial skill, I can't see it?
The players sure are lacking in ability and confidence, but it's the Managers responsibility.

I'm 99% sure we will lose to WW, but I'd just take a stirring performance as a source of pride. 

130

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 11, 2021, 11:10:17 PM »

11 days in and we have signed just Snodgrass, who will improve the team BTW.

The most important acquisition is someone new to play alongside Gallagher.

It's the time and space afforded to opposition runners that's the problem.  Yes the individuals in defence could be better, but in truth they have zero protection.

Mulumbu and Yacob have not been replaced.  It cost us relegation from the Premier last time when alternating between Barry, Morrison, Brunt, Krychiowiak, Livermore, neither was good or quick enough.

The longer we go on with Sawyers and Livermore then the closer Allardyce is inching to the exit door.

Got no chance of keeping a clean sheet or even winning 1 football match.

131

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Charlie Austin

« on: January 09, 2021, 09:32:11 PM »

Pretty useless was Austin. 

He never wanted to do the hard yards, that he was below HRK despite being more talented says it all. 

He couldn't be bothered to get fit and demand a 1st team place, just all too easy to accept his inflated wages and "hide".

132

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Romaine Sawyers

« on: January 09, 2021, 09:29:24 PM »

Athletism is important in football. Ability, and positioning in the team is more important though.

Positioning - exactly our dumb ass managers played Brunt at CM and we got slaughtered in midfield v better teams.

133

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Romaine Sawyers

« on: January 09, 2021, 08:26:24 PM »

Brunt was too slow and was kept 3 years too long out of loyalty, a decent player early on.

Sawyers a better athlete.

134

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 09, 2021, 08:19:42 PM »

It was me and one or two others that said Bilić should have gone after the draw at home to QPR. Appoint a new manager straightaway in order to give them the summer to prepare for this season. Bilić was sacked too late and that’s entirely the boards fault.

If we were going to appoint Big Sam he really should have been here in late July, early August 2020. He was brave taking the job on when he did, I’ll say that!

Sack Bilic after promotion and 2nd place in a league where we had no divine right to get promoted, lol.  Enjoy watching that garbage this afternoon, loads worse than anything served up under Bilic. 

Blackpool a league lower than last season's oppo.

Sack Allardyce now.

135

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Romaine Sawyers

« on: January 09, 2021, 08:03:04 PM »

He was really poor today in a level he should be extremely capable in. His tackling is the worst I've seen in a Pro footballer.

Tackling on a par with Brunt.

136

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: January 09, 2021, 08:01:25 PM »

Yes excellent post Rich. Seems to have gone past me until Singhwba highlighted it. Bilic has left us right in the rubbish with his transfers.

The sooner the Bilic Boys club is destroyed the better.

Bilic never had enough money to spend.  What were you expecting exactly?  He didn't get the funds available to sign Watkins or Eze.

Who's Sam going to sign James Tomkins or Phil Jones?  If Allardyce was wise he'd raid little Eibar, who are halfway in the best league in the world.  Their players are on a pittance and very good technically.

137

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 09, 2021, 06:00:03 PM »

So couldn't even beat a League 1 team with a full strength team.

The season is over - don't have a hope in hell of a league win.

How long does Allardyce get?

138

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 04, 2021, 11:11:44 AM »

Too right we need a strong team out v. Blackpool.  How a out we go out to win that match convincingly.

Right now we're staring right down the barrel for Dingle revenge over the 1-5.

139

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 04, 2021, 10:24:48 AM »

Frazzle asked me my thoughts on Allardyce. So they're neither right nor wrong merely my opinion.

Also, Liverpool are the best team in the league and by some distance.

LOL.  The same Liverpool that lost 7-2 at Aston Villa.  Not without VVD they're not.  Also noticed they had Miler, Henderson and Jones in midfield the other day, WTF.  Man City have the best players, and the defence is now sorted.  Liverpool just drew at with WBA and Newcastle back to back!

You are so wrong on Allardyce, he hasn't got a clue.  Already public shamed the players to hammer their confidence further.  He was given substantial funds at Palace and Everton. 

Shortly I'm standing by for the incoming Andy Carroll, Phil Jones, James Tomkins. How about buying some technical players from La Liga who can actually pass and move?

140

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 04, 2021, 08:52:07 AM »

I'd expected us to be tighter at the back although we have got 1 more point than I anticipated. He's known to start slowly as you said.

That makes no sense whatsoever stating Allardyce has basically exceeded expectations after 4 games by getting 1 point rather than 0.  75% of those ganes were at home and the GD in those games is 0-12.

The much maligned Bilic got a draw at the best team in the league (Man City) and was then dismissed!

No other way to put it we have been utterly embarrassing in those 3 home games.  We have regressed under Allardyce.  He's supposed to be this defensive tactical genius. 

Oh hang on, its because they're not his players / players are unfit.

A good manager has multiple ways of playing as should play to the strengths of the playing staff.  Allardyce didn't need to actually change the way of playing in these 4 games.  As is happens, he's gone to the way he knows which is ultra defensive, boring, negative hoof ball, defendinf on the 18 yard line.

141

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 02, 2021, 10:48:38 PM »

'll post this quote from Sam Allardyce's post match press conference, because it gives us all some hope that at least he can see the big problem we have:

""What disappointed me was being in the game at 2-0 and then giving away a sloppy goal."

I'm sure none of us could disagree with that. It's so so important not to concede that 3rd goal.

Got it hand it to Sam he's as sharp as a tack when identifying the problems.

We just need to defend a bit deeper to only lose 0-2 rather than 0-4.

142

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: How do you feel?

« on: January 02, 2021, 10:45:44 PM »

I'm only watching till we go out of FA Cup, no more league matches for me.  Plenty of live Cricket on BT Sport though.

143

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Sam Allardyce

« on: January 02, 2021, 08:43:17 PM »

What a mistake Allardyce has made in coming to B71.

He is massively under the pump already. 

Get these for the next 3 fixtures:
Dingles A
Hammers A
Man City H

Looking like 1 point from 7 league matches.

144

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: January 02, 2021, 08:37:26 PM »

Guarantee he'll have more than 7 after 13...

I'm still laughing at your suggestion Allardyce will keep WBA up, now that was a classic.

In reality we all know Bilic had at least 11pts when you take into account VAR. 

When are we even going to even draw?

145

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: January 02, 2021, 08:28:51 PM »

Game Over

 - Allardyce 1 pt from 4 games.

-  Bilic 7pts from 13 games (and robbed on VAR many times)

146

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: What went wrong?

« on: January 02, 2021, 04:42:43 PM »

I can't wait for this Allardyce tactical masterclass thats going to bring down Arsenal tonight.....

147

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: What went wrong?

« on: January 02, 2021, 11:15:26 AM »

Nothing like spinning words into something dramatic.

Given I’m the only person who has specifically told you that I have no interest in a Willy waving exercise, it is wrong for you to spin that as an attack on other sections of the fan base.

As for your final remarks of the quoted post, well. I don’t know what to say really.

Members have entered into a well reasoned discussion which has been amicable on both sides. They do not deserve to have their posts described as nonsense.

Liam mate, you've banged the drum about Bilic needing to go, satisfied with Allardyce and now wavering with every passing match.

This dismissal of club size, identity, infrastructure is a problem.  Its from this that fan expectations are created.

Very low expectations should have been garnered in this 20/21 season with the budget afforded.

You think WBA of a smaller club than I do, yet you thought Bilic's performance below standard, where I was more than satisfied.  Odd.

148

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: What went wrong?

« on: January 02, 2021, 10:16:16 AM »

Sorry but we've been blown out of the water with investment in transfers.

People going into massive detail about high press, formations, tactics.  Its more about the quality of player IMO. World class players will adapt to formations.

People are going far too deep into analysis, over complicating a fairly simple game.

We have been left behind this season in the transfer market.

149

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: What went wrong?

« on: January 02, 2021, 08:35:47 AM »

Decent discussion looking through the thread. I think a fair few people have analysed the reasons fairly well.

For the first few months we had attacking players who had total confidence that they would score goals, regardless of the situation. Pereira was able to create chances from nothing for the forwards and wingers as well as chipping in with goals, while Phillips, Diangana and Edwards on rotation did well in the second half of games (usually from the bench). In this period, Sawyers was able to shine and play his very best football, dictating the pace and tempo of the game while not having to worry too much about defence. We blitzed sides purely on the strength of our attacking play in the second half of games due to the number of attacking options we had who were all riding a wave.

There wasn’t much of a strong foundation to our play however, no identifiable style, no whole team press or counter attack set up. No robust defensive tactics or innovative attacking play. When we do look back, we were still a bit of an “individual moments of magic” type of team. We had been the season before under Moore, but it felt at the time that Bilic had turned us into a more consistent side. Hindsight now shows that what actually happened was Moore’s Barnes/Gayle/J Rod get out of jail free had just been replaced by the Pereira show.

It was still fun for the first 4 months but it was clear before lockdown that there were flaws and If a neutral was to look back on the last 12 months they would be hard pressed to make a case that Bilic was anything other than a good man manager who can pick up results when a side is on form.

I really can't believe this.  People just keep looking back all the time, trying to pick fault with 2019/20.  Look at the clubs we finished higher than - Derby, Forest, Sheff Wed, Birmingham, Middlesboro, Fulham, Stoke, Swansea.  What did people want 100pts and 3-0 wins all the time? 

What are these magical tactics Bilic should've used to get us to achieve more, it's just a load of nonsense.

There's a real problem with club identity with some fans.  Avoid questions about club size, saying it doesn't matter, then expect to Managers with the ability of a Clough, Ferguson, Mourinho to be at WBA.

Bilic was a good fit for WBA, within the constraints of infrastructure, certainly better than the current incumbent. 

150

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: What went wrong?

« on: January 01, 2021, 09:11:02 PM »

Why is it Bilic gets players playing above themselves. Why can’t they players have got results beyond his managerial ability?

I agree the squad needed investment, youve missed my point. I’m just trying to make the point you seem to have this unwavering support for Bilic and his role, yet it doesn’t extend. It’s beyond belief to question Bilic, but the players are fair game.

So for a £30m/£35m investment the WBA fan base have expectations of avoiding the bottom 3, lol.

Where exactly does that expectation come from.  I've also talked about VAR till I'm blue in the face. 

How anybody can state Bilic should have achieved more this season is totally beyond me