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+----- Thread: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread (/showthread.php?tid=707)
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - Slick_Footwork - 09-11-2014
We have a top half squad that will be in a relegation battle because Irvine
is a complete buffoon.
I think a comparison to Clarke is very harsh on Clarke. If Clarke has this
squad at his disposal, we'd be much more competitive. He was bright
enough to know that Dorrans was never a Prem player and had the balls
to drop Brunt. A couple of traits that might come in useful for our current
coach.
Irvine's 2 flat banks of 4 is neither easy on the eye or effective. There is no
pattern of play, nobody getting between the lines, no creativity - nothing.
I'm not sure if Irvine had the nounce to watch the DVDs from last season, but
if he did, he should realise that the Brunt, Mozza, Dorrans, Mulumbu combo
almost got us relegated.
Are any of those players going to score more than 2-3 goals per season
from open play? Nope. At the same time, are they strong is the tackle,
physical, powerful? Nope.
I have watched enough of Celtic in the Champions League to know that Samaras
is a decent left winger. Yes, he's a bit awkward at times, but he's pacy, physical
and will chip in with goals both from open play and set pieces. Somehow though,
he's being kept out by Dorrans and Brunt...
I've got no confidence that we'll ever see Varela when he's fit anyway. Irvine
seems to have no interest in creative players. At home today and Blanco and
Ideye can't even get on a bench which contains both Baird and Yacob when we
already have what are essentially 4 central midfielders on the pitch...
As for Dawson, I don't think he'll make a Prem defender in his life. Yes, I like the
lad's desire and he's reasonable on the ball - but the guy is a baby elephant. He's
slow, cumbersome and has terrible timing. He's been caught under the ball numerous
times, handled in the box because of mistiming headers, often fouls because he's
too slow.
McAuley has been great the last few years - never missed anything in the air,
great positioning, a threat in the oppositions box. Now we finally have a decent
partner for him, muppet Irvine decides Dawson is a better option. How many
times do we have to keep conceding 2 goals at home for him to wake up and
smell the coffee?
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - Beefy 1965 - 09-11-2014
Personally, I wouldn't mind too much if Irvine wants to continue the narrow, compact approach away from home - it's given us a good couple of wins and some decent performances - but on our own patch, we NEED to start taking it to teams, and that may well require sticking on players who don't run ten miles in a match or stick tackles in at every opportunity, and may well even loaf about aimlessly until the time comes for them to conjure up a bit of game-changing magic. I get the feeling Irvine doesn't like or trust players of that ilk, but used wisely, they'll win you matches, entertain crowds and keep you in this league. If he keeps snubbing them in favour of "hard workers", we'll have a long and toothless season ahead.
THIS
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - Stairs - 09-11-2014
Is Tim Sherwood still free!
I feel we might survive purely on the basis of we are 'just' better or luckier than 3 other teams. But this as ugly as I feared and just wish we (JP) would act.
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - drewks - 09-11-2014
(09-11-2014, 21:13)Slick_Footwork Wrote: We have a top half squad that will be in a relegation battle because Irvine
is a complete buffoon.
I think a comparison to Clarke is very harsh on Clarke. If Clarke has this
squad at his disposal, we'd be much more competitive. He was bright
enough to know that Dorrans was never a Prem player and had the balls
to drop Brunt. A couple of traits that might come in useful for our current
coach.
Irvine's 2 flat banks of 4 is neither easy on the eye or effective. There is no
pattern of play, nobody getting between the lines, no creativity - nothing.
I'm not sure if Irvine had the nounce to watch the DVDs from last season, but
if he did, he should realise that the Brunt, Mozza, Dorrans, Mulumbu combo
almost got us relegated.
Are any of those players going to score more than 2-3 goals per season
from open play? Nope. At the same time, are they strong is the tackle,
physical, powerful? Nope.
I have watched enough of Celtic in the Champions League to know that Samaras
is a decent left winger. Yes, he's a bit awkward at times, but he's pacy, physical
and will chip in with goals both from open play and set pieces. Somehow though,
he's being kept out by Dorrans and Brunt...
I've got no confidence that we'll ever see Varela when he's fit anyway. Irvine
seems to have no interest in creative players. At home today and Blanco and
Ideye can't even get on a bench which contains both Baird and Yacob when we
already have what are essentially 4 central midfielders on the pitch...
As for Dawson, I don't think he'll make a Prem defender in his life. Yes, I like the
lad's desire and he's reasonable on the ball - but the guy is a baby elephant. He's
slow, cumbersome and has terrible timing. He's been caught under the ball numerous
times, handled in the box because of mistiming headers, often fouls because he's
too slow.
McAuley has been great the last few years - never missed anything in the air,
great positioning, a threat in the oppositions box. Now we finally have a decent
partner for him, muppet Irvine decides Dawson is a better option. How many
times do we have to keep conceding 2 goals at home for him to wake up and
smell the coffee?
I'm no Irvine basher - as you probably know, actually the complete opposite - but that is a very powerful post with strong opinions that it's very hard to completely disagree with.
However......
Dorrans - think he IS a PL footballer
Brunt/Mozza/Dozza/Mulumbu.....think we should play max of 2 of them at any 1 time - all decent players though
Samaras.....agree
Dawson.....agree
McCauley......bloody right!!
Creativity is badly needed and we HAVE got it in the squad, as you say - let's use it
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - pieandabovril - 10-11-2014
Couple of things.The justice for Jeff banner was held up by the Newcastle fans???? ,and someone in front of us in the Brummie held up a flag about 15 minutes later,and everyone started clapping again! Because it was in front of me,I couldn't see what the second banner/flag was about,and no one around us seemed to know either!
Anyone know?
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - BaggieMan - 10-11-2014
Pie, wasn't it something to do with the two Newcastle lads who were killed when that Malaysian Airways plane was shot down by the Russians ?
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - pieandabovril - 10-11-2014
(10-11-2014, 10:24)TheBaggieMan Wrote: Pie, wasn't it something to do with the two Newcastle lads who were killed when that Malaysian Airways plane was shot down by the Russians ?
Not sure Mate,hoping someone could enlighten us on here!
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - Luke_East_Baggie - 10-11-2014
Apparently, they clapped on the 18 minute mark because it was to do with 18 that died on the Malaysian airline (don't quote me though) and also Jonas Guitteriez (Assuming number 18) has just had his op for cancer and will be starting recovery soon.
I think the Newcastle fans clapped for a combination of those.
To post from Slick by the way. Our biggest worry for me is the "Not having anyone between the lines" problem. (and my forever moan about no pace / trickery out wide)
At the End of the game we had: Anichebe, Berahino, Samaras, Sessegnon and none of them could get any ball, andywhere near the oppositions box (I know they were sitting deep by this point)
The gap between midfield and strikers ALL GAME is disgusting. It's either lump to Anichebe (who wasn't THAT bad - but Him / Berahino where on a different wavelength both game) or pass it sideways until someone decides to lose the ball going forward.
Watch the game back (and any other times we are playing) and watch how many times we get the ball to someone who is running (or even moving) towards their centre backs from a central position, and either a) has a shot or b) makes a dangerous forward pass.
I counted 4 times yesterday. One from Lescott (after he piroutted) One from Dawson when he ran forward and one 2'd with Anichebe that Berahino shot at, and 2 that were into Anichebe's feet, where he tried to roll someone.
We need like a Cabella for them that was pulling the strings, or like Bojan did yesterday for Stoke, or someone to grab the game by the balls and dictate.
Last time we did? Burnley at home. Remember those through balls that Dorrans was putting through for Berahino?
Infuriates me.
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - drewks - 10-11-2014
Nice bit of reaction here to a piece in the E&S quoting Big Vic saying about how we'll turn it round after the break:
Comments for: "Anichebe: Albion will come back fighting after break"
Stoney Lane
November 10, 2014 12:37 pm
Reasoned argument. Can you imagine these websites being available during previous generations? Johnny Giles would have been sacked before Christmas in his first season. Alan Ashman would have been ridiculed. Vic Buckingham would not have made it beyond the 1953-54 season. I don't think Bomber, who was in and out of the team between 17 and 19, would have had the confidence to progress. Even Ronnie Allen once complained "I have lost my shooting boots" during a barren spell. But there was no-one around to knock him each and every day during his six weeks without a goal. I watched the great Ray Barlow have a couple of shockers for the reserves early in 1958. The local journalists were kind. It is going to be like this for Albion during this season and any other season in the Premiership. In this intensely crazy and money-obsessed league, ownership by an oil-rich country which spends half a billion pounds on a squad is not enough. Have a look at the bile and sheer hatred spewed out by Manchester City fans this morning. We will have good days, half decent days, bad days and very bad days this season. But, overall, everything will be okay.
RE: WBA vs Newcastle - Match Thread - talkSAFT - 10-11-2014
(09-11-2014, 21:02)SkadForLife-WBA Wrote: I think this has also led to the apparently undroppable status of Dorrans, Brunt, Mozza etc.
Bit harsh to call them "statues", Ska'd, but that's how those 3 + Mulumbu played yesterday. The bloke in front of me said they should have got Bomber to get changed at 1/2 time - he would have at least got into the box; not one of the "statues" could be arsed!
Talking of statues......... we love ya, Bomber!
(I'm getting to be a jinx: My previous game was v Everton, and I honestly didn't think we could play that crap again, but we were god-awful yesterday - all except Joleon, who was 9 out of 10).