1

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: OUT ON LOAN THREAD

« on: April 17, 2024, 09:02:06 AM »

Last time BTA had a full season in League Two he got 11 goals. So what I think you’re trying to tell me is that Faal is twice the player already 

  This is the kind of maths/logic i have to deal with at work. I swear i spend a proper amount of my time trying to figure if people are winding me up or not.

On the topic of Faal, surely he's worth a 1+1 contract and bringing home to try next season?

2

Last Match Forum - 13/04 Sunderland (H) / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: April 11, 2024, 01:00:57 PM »

First game i'll be able to attend for an age. Going with Dad and Brother. Not been to the shrine since the 0-0 with Luton 18 months back.

Please give us a reason to smile Albion!

3

Last Match Forum - 10/04 Rotherham United (H) / Re: After Match Debate

« on: April 11, 2024, 12:13:24 AM »

I’m 43 and I think that’s the worst decision I’ve ever seen. I’d be furious if that went against us.

Four more points to be 99% certain.

I’m glad some were rested today. More testing needed over the next four games I think.

4

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: WBA FC Financial report 22/23 published

« on: April 04, 2024, 01:51:56 PM »

Me too. The fact that he'd just had a great season in the Prem and at a time where Buendia and Benrahama (similar records and age) went for far more money. He was worth way more. Either something dodgy has gone on or the people running our club are complete idiots.

To my memory he demanded to leave and nobody else came in for him offering those types of wages. West Ham were interested, but the wages were like £45kpw under UK tax law or £100kpw tax free. MP said he'd only go to Saudi Arabia. So that was that. We were forced.

5

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Darnell Furlong

« on: April 02, 2024, 01:04:36 PM »

There are a lot of atheists and Darwinists around these days and even though DF resurrected our po bid, those God botherers outside the Brummie before games, aren't everyone's cup of tea.

Fair point... In other news I don't think either of them are good defenders either!

6

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Darnell Furlong

« on: April 01, 2024, 10:48:31 PM »

Neither of our fullbacks are god defenders. They are however the best fullbacks at the club currents. I expect both to be replaced this summer.

7

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Kyle Bartley

« on: March 30, 2024, 07:25:01 PM »

Honestly I’d sell Ajay not matter what in the summer, he seems to find running tricky, let alone football. I’m also of a mind  that CT being better than the current options doesn’t mean he’s actually any good and Furlong is good in attack and wanting in defence.

Bartley has surprised me by his quality this season. If we’re in the Champ I’d keep him, so that he can help Caleb next season.

8

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Play off Points Target

« on: March 17, 2024, 09:26:47 PM »

An interesting point is that while it will be worse collectively for our hearts and stress levels, we may actually be better served by not being "home and dry" before say a game or two to go.

I'm not sure it's in the interest of the team to be able to hold back (not get injured, etc), as i'm not sure how able they would be to then gear back up for the playoffs?

Just a thought

9

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Play off Points Target

« on: March 16, 2024, 11:11:25 PM »

Assuming we have a better goal difference than the chasers, which we currently do. I’d be confident with 76 and 99% certain with 78.

Coventry and Hull still concern me greatly.

10

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

« on: March 14, 2024, 05:08:17 PM »

It also sounded like he will taking a lot of what his other club Atlanta have done.

It's Bologna

11

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Alex Palmer

« on: March 13, 2024, 09:35:18 PM »

Hahaha, thanks for explaining. I thought I was just out of touch with modern terminology 

I had it the other day when i referring to myself as a C H U M P and it changed it to "Championship"

12

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Brandon Thomas-Asante

« on: March 12, 2024, 08:38:02 PM »

I think it’s safe to say we haven’t missed him. Happy to have him back on the bench but I wouldn’t be starting him again any time soon despite our lack of striking options

I very much don't agree. We were lucky to hold out for a point Vs QPR and we were terrible for the opening half Vs Huddersfield.

Wallace has been poor to very poor as the replacement striker.

I think BTA (or any striker, but BTA is the only one) as a direct swap for Wallace is the move. It also allows people to rest and play in their natural positions more.

13

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Alex Palmer

« on: March 10, 2024, 02:10:54 PM »

That's just not true. He made three great saves in the second half alone.

Agreed. AP has fluffed a couple and we’re not pretending otherwise. But he pulled off a great 1-on-1 save and the win came from that.

He’s a mile better than other recent goalies.

14

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

« on: March 08, 2024, 04:18:44 PM »

a player like marshall when it seems he is not up to the task and has no history to suggest he is.

To be fair he's this season's top goalscorer in the youth league. He was worth a punt and so far it's not worked.

If we were looking for a proven goalscorer, i doubt we could have afforded one.

Edit: I've just seen the quote from Carlos, which is in broken english, so it's not totally clear, but the implied note was that he's not ready for 1st team footy and won't be getting time. If that's the case, it does smack of unaligned transfer movement and first team wants. Even if he was very cheap, maybe we would have been better off saving the money?

15

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Player insurance

« on: March 06, 2024, 03:14:20 PM »

Surely the player should insure himself against injury like actors insure themselves against accidents or career-ending disfigurement.  In the old days when film actors and actresses (sorry wokerati out there!) were contracted long-term to film studios pehaps the studio stumped up.

There's three aspects at play to insure. The player's wages in the short term, the player's value on the market and the Player's long term income.

I'd agree that the player themselves should insure against a career limiting injury that screws their ability to earn.

But the player's value on the market and their wage coverage for the remainder of the current contract are things the club may wish to look at. I don't know if they do. But it's an idea.

16

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Premier league II

« on: March 05, 2024, 10:22:22 PM »

Didn't all three promoted sides stay up last season?

Shhh, you're not fitting the narrative.

You'd also be correct to point out the Championship and indeed League 1 are littered with clubs they came down and haven't as yet made it back.

I for one think that even if the 3 that went down in 22/23 are the three that go up this season it's a statistical fluke.

17

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Player insurance

« on: March 05, 2024, 10:15:16 PM »

By total coincidence i did some checking over the weekend about this as i was curious also. Elsewhere in the world (Germany from memory) clubs have to have employee insurance that covers the employee if they get an "industrial" injury. It kicks in on day 1 of the 7th week. As stated above, clubs are insured if a player sustains injury on international duty (Newcastle sued the FA and won after Owen got an injury. They were awarded £10M).

But in terms of clubs insuring players against injury and the covering of wages after that (or indeed the player's market value), i couldn't find anything. I do seem to recall years back reading about such a thing. But i can't find anything.

Logically I don't think it's a thing as the premiums would have to, on average, give the insurance company a profit. So big picture a club would have to take the view they'd be onto a loser (Although this past couple of seasons we'd have done ok, as you say).

18

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 26, 2024, 01:04:22 PM »

Sakamoto got a horrible injury against Preston, rumoured fractured pelvis. Probably been their most dangerous player besides O'Hare. They're a good side but don't worry me in the way Hull did, think we go in as favourites especially with the 2 days extra rest.

That’s horrible for Sakamoto, I hadn’t seen that. Poor lad.

19

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: OUT ON LOAN THREAD

« on: February 25, 2024, 09:49:11 PM »

If it means him gone , I’d let Grant go for free .

Sadly we still owe two years payments on him i think. But getting him off the payroll would be significant.

20

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Run in to end of season

« on: February 24, 2024, 11:27:23 PM »

I agree with you totally 1996.

Coventry’s loss to Preston surprised me. I guess the one thing we can rely on in the Championship is that it’s basically a Wild West drunken shootout. Anything can happen

21

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Alex Palmer

« on: February 24, 2024, 11:21:52 PM »

Needs to be dropped.

I’ll take overreactions for $100 please Alex

22

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

« on: February 23, 2024, 05:03:41 PM »

Zero concern. All's good.

23

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

« on: February 23, 2024, 02:55:42 PM »

It would be interesting to see in theory, but I can’t see it ever happening.

It can't happen, unless they collapse the Scottish league into the English one. If they tried anything else the argument would be does this now mean the Scottish Prem is a feeder league to the EPL? Does Aberdeen or Motherwell get EPL status if they win the SPL five times straight or something? Just doesn't work.

Back to Mikey Johnston, i'm obviously delighted with him. Old firm players who are out of favour might be a decent foraging ground in the future?

24

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Caleb Taylor

« on: February 22, 2024, 03:50:18 PM »

Caleb Taylor is to miss 8/10 weeks due to ankle ligament damage. He may not play for Bolton again.

Shame for the lad and us, more game time would have really helped him.

25

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Run in to end of season

« on: February 21, 2024, 11:10:44 PM »

I for one and very concerned about Hull and Coventry. I think the other chasers are too inconsistent. My random guesses are as follows:


Hull (A) - 0
Coventry (H) - 1
QPR (A) - 3
Huddersfield (A) - 1
Bristol C (H) - 1
Millwall (A) - 1
Watford (H) - 3
Stoke (A) - 1
Rotherham (H) - 3
Sunderland (H) - 1
Leicester (A) - 0
Sheff Weds (A) - 1
Preston (H) - 3

Which gives us 19 points. 74 at end of season. I think it may go down to goal difference…