51

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

« on: February 28, 2024, 06:19:54 PM »

Just watched the interview with Patel on the OS.

Can anyone explain in more detail his answer to the question about the MSD loans. It sounds like he is still planning for the club to pay them back to MSD, not the new owners. Which I thought would be the plan?

I’ve just watched it to. I would recommend anyone watch it rather than read it.

I had hoped he would clear the debt (maybe he can’t as it’s a club debt, not sure how that would work with FFP), but obviously he’s now on record saying he will not. That means his initial investment is  relatively cheap, the £10m the Athletic have reported probably.   

That matter makes me a little nervous to be honest and I’m still not convinced they are that rich (football wise)

However, he speaks well, it’s clear it’s a business and investment for him (which I don’t think has been in doubt) but he seems sincere. He speaks a lot like the chairman of the company I work for which is a large Fortune 500 American company still run by members of the founding family.

I hope he’s can be as bright and astute as he thinks he can be within football ,because his plan is to do this with his intellect not his wallet!

It’s a good interview though and the interviewer does ask the right questions and overall he comes across well.

He said the club will have what it needs to operate inside FFP when asked about finances. I wonder if that is a signal he plans to put in the £8m per year he can.

The part I didn’t quite follow was about the Warmfront loans.

Big shake up and huge reductions to wage bill still needed this summer
 

52

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Darnell Furlong

« on: February 28, 2024, 11:10:45 AM »

Someone has applied the Fantasy premier league points system the championship and used it to create a championship team of the season.  Kipre, Palmer and Furlong all make it using those metrics.  With us having kept the most clean sheets it is not surprising but the defense have done well as a unit.

Some turnaround given that after pre-season and until the end of September many were wondering how on earth we would compete conceding 2 goals a game. Including Millwall on September 23rd, its 15 clean sheets in 27 matches. 

Megson kept a club record 24 clean sheets in the league, ill be difficult for this defense and CC to do that, but if we maintain the consistency of clean sheets since the the Millwall I have us hitting 21!

If only we had an out and out goal scorer.

53

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Alex Palmer

« on: February 26, 2024, 07:45:49 PM »

Think Palmer's getting an unnecessarily harsh deal here.

Yes he has saved tougher shots but it was the run up to it for me, you could see it coming.

I think so too.

He should have saved the goal in my opinion, it wasn’t right in the corner and it went through him, it’s not like he only got finger tips to it and his kicking / touch was terrible on Saturday.

However he’s been good generally, seems he has  a decent relationship with his defence and he’s quite commanding.  He’s made some very good saves over the season and most keepers outside the prem will cost their sides a few goals a season, even prem keepers cost a couple. 

I wasn’t a fan either but I’ve changed my opinion and he’s good enough for a championship side that could get promoted. That’s not to say we don’t have a decision with Griffiths. He really needed another loan though.

54

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 26, 2024, 10:15:41 AM »

Very big game this, a win here and that gap to 7th could be looking good

5th to 10th in the league are all playing each other.  Sunderland probably need to beat Norwich or they are out of it. 

If we win, and Sunderland get anything against Norwich, its a minimum 6 point gap to 7th unless Preston beat Hull (4 points if they do and its not the worst thing in the world for Hull to lose). 

55

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

« on: February 25, 2024, 12:28:42 PM »

Agree with Oldbury. I said yesterday I still thought we would drop out but the next two weeks / four matches were huge. Yesterday’s results were better than realistically expected and I think expectations and the measure of success now changes. Not making the play offs from here would now be a failure.

Our away form has to continue get better though, as does our return when going behind. We have a lot of away matches against teams that will be scrapping and they will be tough matches to come.

Big chance to dent Coventry’s chances further coming up with Norwich also playing Sunderland and Hull, Preston. Thats 5th-10th all playing directly against another in that group in the next set of fixtures.

56

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: February 24, 2024, 02:28:41 PM »

They were better second half without being dominant. Probably a fair result but we certainly didn’t deserve to win.

Good point overall, most of us would have taken it.

57

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 24, 2024, 02:05:46 PM »

Got the Ipswich feel about it at present. We need a goal against the run of play as I think they’ll get one

58

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 24, 2024, 01:39:21 PM »

I agree it was disappointing that Palmer didn’t save their goal but what alternative options have we got?  Bringing Griffiths on would be a disaster given his last performance for us.

I’ve only really seen one person implying he should be replaced.  It’s a mistake but sadly as a keeper it has a huge effect.

59

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 24, 2024, 01:26:34 PM »

Mikey Johnston started really well. Also interesting to see Fellows again against Giles, as I distinctly remember Giles showing how far off it Fellows was a couple of years ago when he started against Cardiff.

Think overall we have done well but that’s a poor goal to concede, too slow to react and Palmer beaten too easily. Shocked to see we’ve only taken 2 points when going behind this season.

60

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat

« on: February 24, 2024, 01:09:34 PM »

Palmer should save it. He’s been shaken generally today

61

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

« on: February 24, 2024, 12:25:21 PM »

Playoffs will be an outstanding season for us even if we go out in the semi's. I don't expect us to beat Leeds/Leicester/Southampton over 2 legs in the semis but I think we could give Ipswich or A N Other a good go. Not sure we would win a final though.

If we make play offs they are free hits in effect as with our injuries and off-the-field issues we shouldn't be in this position.

Agree about the semis in that I’d rather meet Ipswich and in many respects I think the semi being over two games is a tougher ask. If we made the final we wouldn’t be favourites but we would have more than a punchers chance over 90 minutes.

I still think we will just miss out though but the next 2 weeks are huge and I think they will be make or break.

62

General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD

« on: February 24, 2024, 09:56:54 AM »

Coventry 3 down to Preston at home 

Good result for us. If we could win the next two and Norwich stutter a little our play off chances would look really strong

63

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

« on: February 23, 2024, 02:43:30 PM »

There’s a number of debates with Celtic and Rangers joining the prem, including how they’d do immediately and how they’d do in time.

I personally don’t think there is much doubt about either. Both would struggle and potentially be relegated if the went straight in. Over time I think they’d be solid premier league clubs though.

They are too both big not to be, and would probably both be brought by billionaires quite quickly. Newcastle and spurs both get over 50k attendances with rich owners though and both have a battle on for top 6 nevermind league titles. 

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

64

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

« on: February 21, 2024, 03:19:39 PM »

I think it’s almost certain he will be in the championship next year. Don’t think it’ll be for us though as Celtic will want as much as they can get.

65

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Yann M'Vila signs short term deal

« on: February 20, 2024, 09:32:55 AM »

Not sure about the value in this, but if you read the Sunderland forum you'd think we had signed their golden child at his peak. He must have been some player for them 9 years ago considering the reaction to us signing him at 33, having not played for 6 months. 

66

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 19, 2024, 10:42:33 AM »

It’ll depend on the team selection
We have a number of players that look like they are running on empty.

Palmer

Kipre
Semi
Pieters

Johnstone
Fellows
Chalobah
Mowatt
Wallace

Swift
Weimann

Plymouth have played more than we have in the last few weeks, with their 4th round replay going to extra time. Plus we have had an extra days rest.

I think this is a must win with Hull and Coventry coming up. I don't think its the end of the world if we slip out after playing those two (although we cant lose both) but we need to keep in touch. 

On paper, I think we then go in to kinder fixtures than both Coventry and Hull.  Hull's end to the season is awful. Their next 5 games are Southampton, Us, Preston, Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry. They also still have Leeds, Ipswich, Watford and Middlesbrough to play.  Norwich have the kindest fixtures, I think if they get in they will stay there.

67

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Ian Pearce

« on: February 16, 2024, 01:42:36 PM »

Patel follows some people on X who are all data driven wouldn’t be surprised to see one of them or people associated to them employed by us in some capacity . Whilst the first team is doing well there are a lot of other areas that seem slack and need a rethink or a kick up the backside .

Have to hope so. Bologna signing players like Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson from Scotland for about £2m a piece, one of which sold for 20m with the other likely to go for a similar figure, suggests to me they cast their net wide looking at data too. i thought both, particularly ferguson,  should have been players we should have been in for before they moved.

68

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

« on: February 16, 2024, 10:39:02 AM »

I doubt it as the independent investigation hasn’t yet determined whether it’s owed by Peace or Lai

The independent investigation has always felt like an exercise to appease. Even with KCs involved in the investigation I’m  fairly sure any action would be outside the statute of limitations, so with the debt in holdings accounts and owed to group I can’t see how they could leave it. Patel’s prospects of getting it back in to group down the line would seem slim. 

69

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

« on: February 16, 2024, 08:22:56 AM »

The Wisdom Smart loan will no doubt be “dealt with” as part of the sale, ie deducted from the net sale proceeds.  The Peace loan is still the subject of the KC investigation.

Wasn’t the peace  loan was to holdings, and with reports Patel is buying group, shouldn’t that’ll be dealt with in the takeover too?

70

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

« on: February 16, 2024, 07:24:50 AM »

Does anyone know how quickly we would be likely to see something change with the MSD charge on companies house, if as reported the debts are being settled as part of the take over?

71

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

« on: February 16, 2024, 07:21:50 AM »

Well I didn’t expect to wake up to this news, turns out it was close in November after all. Lai had to go and thankfully its before we hit rock bottom. It’s also the preferred of the rumoured owners but I still have no idea what to expect from Mr Patel, I can only hope it’s good.

72

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Josh Maja joins Albion

« on: February 14, 2024, 12:37:49 PM »

CC said 4 months minimum at the time I believe. Not sure if much more has been said and whether he is on, ahead or behind schedule

73

West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Daryl Dike

« on: February 12, 2024, 05:07:20 PM »

He's just tweeted thanking everyone for their support and he's not giving up so guess he will be back just after start of next season?

He was out March/April - December i think?

Club official release says end of 2024. Based on his prior timeframe it suggests they are being cautious. Wouldn’t rule out October but wouldn’t rule out 2025 either!

74

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Pre Match Chat

« on: February 10, 2024, 07:56:01 PM »

Didn't realise they were same time zone as us. Grady can definitely be invovled, he's been rested big time.

Grady starting in third play play off.  Can’t see him being involved Tuesday.

75

Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate

« on: February 10, 2024, 06:32:36 PM »

Ipswich are an excellent team. We didn’t allow momentum to swing, they seized  the momentum. We always want Albion to win of course but there are 2 teams out there. I am pleased with a point although I dared dream of all 3 of course.

Thought we did. We sat back and started wasting time. First 25 we were easily much better. They are a well drilled team, but they’ve now won 1 in 9. I thought they were there to beat before KO and felt that more so after half an hour. 

Fair play they rallied, but we gave them a platform to and didn’t help ourselves in my opinion.