WBA & WFC Logos The footy chat bit Well, I was all set to write something suitably downbeat: then last night happened. By the look of the poll, not many people thought we would get anything out of a match with top of the table Leeds... at home. Anyway, will Clevs be able to carry on the good work on Monday? We will see soon enough. By the standards of our home performances since November, the first half last night was a bit of a shock. Attacking from the whistle? Who would have thought we were capable of that? Betting odds suggest The Albion will win, but that we're in with a decent shout of avoiding defeat. After taking Leeds by suprise, I am much more confident than I was on Friday at 19:59 that we can get at least a point, though I fear tiredness could be a factor. We will have Hoedt back (though some conspiracists may want to point out that we got 4 points without him) though the thinness of our squad will likely be an issue with tough matches close together. But I'd like to end on a cheerful note, hoping that the new manager bounce bears more fruit. A Happy Easter to all. The personal bit I lived for thirty years at the Bearwood end of Harborne (as if anyone on here knows where that is) so only 3 miles south of the Albion ground. It was the first ground to which I took my elder son, but not by design. We got to Stoke that day to watch the ‘Orns, only to find that we were in a cup game. D’oh! I had to consult fixture lists in a newspaper in Smiths (no internet in 1995). Anyway, we saw a good match, with plenty of goals, as The Albion beat Notts County 3-2. The useless facts bit 1. West Bromwich is definitely NOT in Birmingham, any more than Watford is in London. 2. The only other Bromwich nearby is Castle Bromwich, 8 miles east in Birmingham, where Spitfires were made during the war. 3. The Hawthorns ground takes its name from the trees that used to grow roundabouts when the ground was built. 4. Boing Boing Baggies derives from spring making being the local metal bashing trade. 5. Baggies has its origins in either the baggy trousers worn by local foundry workers, or in the bags of money, and the bag men who carried them, from the turnstiles round the pitch to the office shortly after kick off. Take your pick. There’s no agreement. 6. In West Bromwich there’s a factory (Robinson Brothers Ltd) that makes the odorant (foul smell) that goes in natural gas. Chaos reigned when they had a leak. Where I worked, 5 miles away, it stank for half a day. The stats bit Soccerstats has a way of calculating how surprising different match outcomes would be, based on teams’ recent PPG home and away. For this match it predicts a draw as the least surprising result and an away win the most surprising. This is my prediction. If you don’t like it, I have others.
Sorry, in my excitement about the performance against Leeds I forgot to include this: Oppo Forum: https://westbrom.com/forum/index.php Also, they're in very good form at home, having won 9 of their last 10 (losing only to Southampton) beating playoff rivals Norwich and Coventry and inflicting Leeds last defeat.
My biggest concern is that our tiny squad is going to be shattered from last nights first half exersions. They were shattered after 60 mins last night. I guess Chak can come back in and maybe Kone from the start. Will Dennis be fit to start ? Is Hoedt back ?
Considering Kone' did next to nothing when he came on last night he has no excuse to not start other than what TC decides before hand. I think Hoedt will easily slot back into the system with ease. Andrews could do with a confidence boost and starting him on Monday would be the best thing to give him a chance to better that performance. Livermore is a possible starter, his old charges and he likes a physical game - could be one for him to flourish. As for attack, dependant on Dennis it will probably be Bayo and Raj with maybe Colins in reserve. Bachmann has done pretty well since coming back in but I would think Hamer is far from frozen out again. Kayembe was at his best again and the way WBA play we will need to get hold of the ball in the middle when we can. I'll go for another well earned draw as I cannot see us beating them. Technically we have nothing to play for now and the importance of them getting a win will mean the pressure is off us. 1-1
Play like we did against Leeds and it'll be a comfortable 3 points. Hopefully Dennis is fit, looked back to his best yesterday. Top half finish here we come. 'ORNETS
I think you’re being too optimistic. However top half of the bottom half of the bottom half IS still on.
Or as the hierarchy would put it: we are aiming to establish ourselves as the best of the rest of the mediocre crud after all the good teams are discounted from the discussion.
I'd agree with this. WBA are dangerous but they do not have the players' of the capability of Leeds. Not saying the game will be any easier tomorrow afternoon, as fatigue may still be a lingering factor, but I think they have all earned another start. Heodt would be an ideal sub if we need to keep it tight going into the final minutes if we are winning/drawing I feel.
Hoedt in for Pollock every day of the week. His distribution alone is worth having. Would mean moving a Porteous back to RCB to help out Andrews but that’s easy enough.
I had a good feeling before the Leeds game, thought we would get something. I think we will get something tomorrow too.
It was always going to be a huge ask against Summerville, but thought he should have had a more experienced head along side him to back him up. Expect Kone and Georgi will be in to add some fresh legs and pack too
West Brom are mediocre, nowhere near as good as Leeds, but we simply cannot have too much of a good thing so I fear we will lose
Ancient Greek is known to be quite slippery. I couldn't possibly say apart from Menelaus being 'good at the war cry' or shouting if you prefer?
