51

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Next 6 Games.

« on: March 11, 2024, 02:54:45 PM »

be good to be secure before Leicester away

52

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Alex Palmer

« on: March 11, 2024, 02:50:21 PM »

Okay - so we've narrowed it down then.

We want a goal keeper who
- Never ever drops a clanger
- Commands his box
- Catches everything in sight
- Makes match winning saves
- Never gives the ball away

Has any one got £30m or £40m spare?

We're not going to afford anyone better than Palmer on our resources. He will make the occasional mistakes but so do most goalkeepers to be honest.

He is the very least of our problems.

You missed, pings the ball 50 yards to players feet without fail.

53

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Mikey Johnston joins on loan (Official!)

« on: March 11, 2024, 02:47:01 PM »

could he finish as our highest scorer?

That would be impressive !

54

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Callum Marshall Joins Albion on loan

« on: March 11, 2024, 09:21:47 AM »

Without wanting to get into in too much on the Marshall thread, who was a gamble worth taking and I have no issue with the signing. But our recruitment has taken us from a comfortable Premier League squad, to bottom of the Championship under Bruce, with a real risk of administration and virtually zero saleable assets in the playing staff.

Our recruitment has been disgraceful for over a decade, and has set the club along a very dangerous path. I've been saying it every year since Pulis and I'm pretty disgusted at the people running the club who have let it continue for so long. We have been saved by CC and Patel, but the legacy of this shocking recruitment might mean another 5-10 years before we see Premier League football again.

And yes, we probably do still have the 4th-6th best squad in the league. It's ageing, overpaid, many won't be here next season, and we'll make a loss on almost every single one of them.

Thats the best summary of the performance of our recruitment "team" I have read to date, well said.

55

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Conor Townsend

« on: March 08, 2024, 09:52:12 AM »

I agree. Statham was outstanding though, probably one of the top 2 in the country at the time, so that's a very high bar to set. Arguably Gibbs at his best was also better than Conor, but he was also an international standard. Other than that, I can't off the top of my head think of any better left backs that we've had.

Statham was the best at the time, but Kenny Sansom played for Arsenal and got all the caps

Back to CT, as far as we know, he hasn't attracted significant interest from prem clubs but he has been a constant part of a statistically high performing championship defence for a number of seasons, so he is in my opinion a good / very good championship defender. Maldini or Ashley Cole he aint.

56

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tom Fellows

« on: March 08, 2024, 09:40:15 AM »

He may well have been doing that if we had a fit central forward so Wallace could play wide right.

true enough, CC is somewhat hamstrung currently.

57

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Conor Townsend

« on: March 08, 2024, 09:33:31 AM »

I think "Yes" is the answer to your question. If not the best, certainly one of the top 3 or 4 without any doubt. Other people, including all the managers since he's been here and many on this forum, can see what a good player he is and how important to the team he is. It's just you and a couple of others that can't see it, for reasons that are frankly a bit of a mystery.

I'm in the pro CT camp for the record, He does have a problem defending crosses to the back post, but his overall game is more than adequate for the level we are currently at.
Our last season in prem, I would say he was one of our most consistent performers.

We have had some right dross in his position and CT is better than most of them, then again we had Dekka Statham.

58

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: March 07, 2024, 10:01:31 PM »

midfielder / winger at full back,
full back at CH,
Afcon finalist CH on the bench

I think CC sometimes overthinks stuff,

59

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Tom Fellows

« on: March 07, 2024, 08:55:30 PM »

I would rather he were coming on against tiring players if he cannot manage 90mins

60

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Albion Tackle Crowd Behaviour

« on: March 07, 2024, 08:53:25 PM »

This seems to have gone very quiet as the suspended season ticket holder been reinstated yet

too quiet, this will not have gone away

61

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Player insurance

« on: March 06, 2024, 04:36:14 PM »

Yup, i think to cover 18 of us in my Sunday League team it was a grand total of about £80! Our transfermarkt squad value was only £100 as well!

yep, likewise club insured the team and we paid the club, I seem to recall it was a league requirement that the club demonstrated players were insured, I think the League "recommended" an insurer. (clearly no opportunity for back handers m'lud)

62

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: March 06, 2024, 04:33:13 PM »

Oh yeah I have noticed the same. Incredible mentality and they fight to the end, which they need to really as they don't have the most quality in the division

so had 30 mins between calls and it turns out Ipswich have got 21 points "extra" in the last 11 mins of games.
turned loss or drawing position into win / draw

More remarkable is they NEVER go from winning to drawing or losing in the last 10 mins

sorry cannot get excel export to format properly below

versus   home / away   90mins   79mins   points gained
s'land    a                       1-2   1-2`              0
stoke   h                      2-0   2-0              0
qpr           a                      0-1   0-1              0
leeds           h                      3-4   3-4              0
cardiff   h                      3-2   3-2              0
swfc           a                      0-1   0-1              0
soton   a                      0-1   0-1              0
bburn   h                      4-3   3-3              2
hudds   a                      1-1   0-1              3
hull           h                      3-0   3-0              0
pne            h                       4-2   4-2              0
brizzle    a                        0-1   0-1              0
pafc            h                        3-2   2-1   0
blooze    a                        2-2   0-2   3
roth            a                        2-2   1-1   0
swan            h                       3-2   3-1   0
wba            a                       0-2   0-2   0
millwall    h                       3-1   3-1   0
cov            h                       2-1   2-0   0
boro             a                       0-2   0-2   0
wat             a                       1-2   1-1   2
norw            h                       2-2   2-2   0
leeds             a                       4-0   4-0   0
leic             h                       1-1   0-1   2
qpr             h                       0-0   0-0   0
stoke     a                       0-0   0-0   0
s'land      h                       2-1   2-1   0
leics             a                       1-1   1-0   2
pne             a                       3-2   3-1   0
wba              h                       2-2   1-2   1
millwall     a                        0-4   0-3   0
swans     A                        1-2   1-2   0
roth              h                        4-3   3-2   0
blooze      h                        3-1   1-1   2
pafc              a                         0-2   0-2   0
brizzle      a                        3-2   1-2   3
            
            Total = +21

63

General Football & Sports / Re: Seals watch - Anything Villa

« on: March 06, 2024, 01:27:48 PM »

Your maths certainly looks good to me, but I am sure that to the ones who make the decisions at the pl will have been given some excuse that gets the scum off with it.

Don't forget this is the same team that stayed in the prem because of the only time the goal line technology was switched off.

Would be great though if a 10 point deduction kept them out of Europe and Dick sees that the situation isn't going to improve and off quickly like his compatriot did at the dings.

I was on Molmix (for a laugh) and they seem comfortable with how things are, apparently players sales mean they are within the rules but only by a few mill and thats why Fosun didn't splash the cash last summer.

64

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: March 06, 2024, 01:25:45 PM »

pretty much the same

I would love to see where they would be if taking points over 80mins.

Living where I do, I keep an eye on their results and they have scored SO many late goals for wins its incredible.

65

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Premier league II

« on: March 06, 2024, 01:13:39 PM »

Cut the Premier League to 18 teams, 34 games (down from 38) and leave more time for their extra European games.

PL2 20 teams (reduce from 24) so 38 games (down from 46).

Increase the funding in PL2. Reduce the funding gap.  Retain parachute payments but stipulate what the parachute money can be used for.  Allow clubs to spend what their owners are prepared to inject as equity, but not debt, and up to a sensible ceiling limit.  Make it attractive for wealthy owners to want to buy clubs and invest in them, but find a way to prevent it being “richest man wins”.

But if you increase the funding in PL2, you create a bigger gap at the next level down. the money HAS to be spread across all tiers,
The elite will argue they earn the cash as they are the games that TV wants to purchase, the reality however is that clubs as far down as mid chumps are in demand, the evidence being the levels of disruption which TV creates to match schedules.

66

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: March 05, 2024, 06:49:02 PM »

I don't believe, even in these strange times, that you are allowed to marry yourself.

Bugger, I was looking forward to divorcing my other persona

67

General Football & Sports / Re: Seals watch - Anything Villa

« on: March 05, 2024, 04:00:18 PM »

Sounds like a bundle of unfortunate life choices you're unlikely to forget.

Well the Internet definitely won't and neither will I  .

long time ago and a lot of water under the bridge, yep I did dumb things but then again who hasn't ?

68

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Premier league II

« on: March 05, 2024, 03:55:51 PM »

Didn't think he'd be old enough to be a Villa Steamer.

Very informative this place, I learn something new every day  .

Mixing your threads up mucka !  Pete the Greek Patel does have a ring to it I have to admit though!

69

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Conor Townsend

« on: March 05, 2024, 03:53:28 PM »

Out for next 2 games, QPR and Huddersfield as per CC in today's presser and OS.

Minor hamstring issue

will we see the lesser spotted Pipa ??

70

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Grady Diangana

« on: March 05, 2024, 01:24:25 PM »

Im a big Grady fan hes having a decent season which im hoping will get better, he will be vital when we get to the playoff games, hes
got that magic that could turn the games for us hes mercurial almost exotic, often hailed as brilliant, i think if we got into the premier league he could excell if hes still with us of course. He seems to be enjoying being with CC his actions towards the fans are great to see
Hes almost a mythical being to me

Blimey, whens the wedding?

71

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: March 05, 2024, 01:21:07 PM »

This post is positively dripping with double entendre. Could I have let it pass without comment? Yes. Was that likely? Not really  .

I do admire a man with self control 

72

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Premier league II

« on: March 05, 2024, 12:39:11 PM »

Oh no, sorry if I gave the impression that I thought that from your comments; not at all.... fully understood!

Wasn't responding to your post, was a general clarification, I realised that as Mr Patel is a yank, my post could be seen as having a pop at american owners (my use of Soccer Inc). We are still bezzy friends :-)

73

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Premier league II

« on: March 05, 2024, 12:01:16 PM »

I like your post, Albionic. Would be interesting if Shilen is reading this forum to see how a fair portion of UK's real fans think and feel. Not that it could change anything for the game but would give him greater insight into our passions and disillusioments with how the Leagues are currently set up.

To be clear, I am not knocking foreign owners per se, I am however knocking the multi-national conglomerates / nation states / media moguls who want to change our game for their financial benefit

74

General Football & Sports / Re: Seals watch - Anything Villa

« on: March 05, 2024, 11:14:48 AM »

This may seem like a daft question...... but why?

Me and my mates used to drink in town (Brum) as callow youths and the Hole in the wall / Costermonger / Brown derby were our regular haunts, got to know a lot of the Vile "lads" fairly well, Coming from Great Barr we had a fair mix of baggies / Vile / Bluenoses in our group of lads.  To the extent that when the Albion were away we used to clean seats before games at the Vile (Trinity road), got paid with a pie / pint and watching the game there.

The Steamers used to take a "special" coach (sometimes 2) to away games, they were a very handy firm back in the day, we got "invited" to a few fixtures and as young lads we were daft and got into some stuff I am not proud of now, different times thankfully.

I can answer how, On why, it boils down to stupidity really !

75

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Premier league II

« on: March 05, 2024, 10:27:57 AM »

I agree in principle, when the euro "super" league was mooted, we the fans of non "elite" clubs should have been supporting the concept not fighting it.

Let the elite go play each other at stadia across the globe, away support will be non-existent and "casuals" will fill the void.

We can revert to competitive football, less impact from international breaks for meaningless friendlies, less impact from international competitions like the european nations league thing.

reasonable kick offs aligned to the fans wants would be standard (15:00 saturdays would be a novel idea (sarcasm))

Agree that cup games should be competitive without the elite in the mix, milking the wembley dream to line the coffers on "Soccer inc".

Also get shut of EUFA rule tinkering (Blue cards / sin-bins, VAR, 110 minute games, 5 subs !!  ........)
Let refs and their mistakes run the matches not TV courts vilifying their human interpretation of events.
Allow officials to book / send off players for "un-gentlemanly conduct" Diving / wrestling / rolling about feigning injury.

Re-invigorate the FA to run the game in UK for UK fans, not Soccer Inc.

Yes I am a luddite and I acknowledge that there have been some improvements in the game (goal line tech / more family focus at games / pitch quality, (thats about it actually) but football is the fans game and its been stolen by Soccer Inc and that needs fixing.  Rant over