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+----- Thread: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread (/showthread.php?tid=6366)
WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - Ska'dForLife-WBA - 22-02-2018
![[Image: DSC_0231.jpg]](https://preview.ibb.co/byW0Sb/DSC_0231.jpg)
Tony Morley grabs the second goal of his hat-trick as Albion beat Huddersfield 3-2, 24th October 1987
Having exited the cup in predictable fashion, Albion turn back to the league this Saturday in what's more than likely a doomed attempt to stave off the inevitable. It's reached the point where we need a Leicester-like winning streak to get our heads above water again, and there's quite simply no team in the league right now who look less likely to accomplish that than us.
On paper, if such a winning streak were to happen then it would need to start in this match against Huddersfield. However, with our mooted saviour Sturridge sidelined, and our senior players acting like spoilt children, I struggle to see us even clearing this hurdle.
That said, I hope we can continue to make the kind of noise for this that we have all season. The fans can't be faulted for support, but our effort simply hasn't been matched by the team and the management. If they want to make amends, then now would be the time to start.
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - Amelia Chaffinch - 22-02-2018
I had been looking forward to my first trip to the Hawthorns but, with so much riding on it for both of us, it is taking the shine off it. I don't want to be the team that puts another nail in your coffin but we need this as much as you do. We are both so bleeding unpredictable, though!
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - Lord Snooty - 22-02-2018
So, when you came to ours, it was all about Pulis. Seeing as you've gone from mid table to seven points adrift, do any of you regret hounding him out? Or do you still blame him for all that's followed?
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - WBA-Josh - 22-02-2018
(22-02-2018, 21:32)Lord Snooty Wrote: So, when you came to ours, it was all about Pulis. Seeing as you've gone from mid table to seven points adrift, do any of you regret hounding him out? Or do you still blame him for all that's followed?
Tony Pulis had to go and he should have gone after the Huddersfield defeat instead of after the following match which resulted in a 4-0 defeat. Tony Pulis did good things for the club but when his team can no longer defend properly and is not effective in the minimal attacking that it does, then the time comes for him to leave. The same happened to him at Stoke and it will also eventually happen with Middlesbrough.
When Tony Pulis left we were just outside the relegation zone but we were going to drop into the relegation zone whether he went or stayed and I believe that if he had stayed, we would be in a even worse position with him still at the club. That is how much he lost the plot.
He was replaced with Alan Pardew which I was happy with because he was the best guy in the "Premier League experience" category that John Williams restricted us to. I'd have preferred Óscar García but that would have been a risk. Unfortunately for Alan, it just hasn't worked for him here. He has made mistakes, some glaring, but he has also had player problems (Barca4, injuries to best players and underperforming players) and the same lack of luck that Tony Pulis also suffered from at times. If we lose on Saturday then I expect him to leave.
Overall I don't think even Pep Guardiola would keep us because there are fundamental problems within the club that goes above who the Head Coach is. From the top with the incompetent buffoons who were running the day to day operations to player recruitment (which Tony Pulis is to blame for given he had final say on transfers) to poor coaching, player ill-discipline and poor performances.
If we go down then the club will rebuild and come back up in a stronger postion.
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - Ska'dForLife-WBA - 22-02-2018
(22-02-2018, 21:32)Lord Snooty Wrote: So, when you came to ours, it was all about Pulis. Seeing as you've gone from mid table to seven points adrift, do any of you regret hounding him out? Or do you still blame him for all that's followed?
It's entirely possible that we might have ground out two or three more wins by now under Pulis. However, I think we'd still have been in big trouble purely based on the players we have up top, and if he went on to keep us up, the club would have stuck their fingers in their ears, given him another year in charge and let him buy a load more "footballers" who can't actually play football. We had to break the cycle somehow.
Long story short, the players aren't good enough, but they're players that Pulis bought.
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - Sir Megson - 22-02-2018
(22-02-2018, 22:22)Ska\dForLife-WBA Wrote:(22-02-2018, 21:32)Lord Snooty Wrote: So, when you came to ours, it was all about Pulis. Seeing as you've gone from mid table to seven points adrift, do any of you regret hounding him out? Or do you still blame him for all that's followed?
It's entirely possible that we might have ground out two or three more wins by now under Pulis. However, I think we'd still have been in big trouble purely based on the players we have up top, and if he went on to keep us up, the club would have stuck their fingers in their ears, given him another year in charge and let him buy a load more "footballers" who can't actually play football. We had to break the cycle somehow.
Long story short, the players aren't good enough, but they're players that Pulis bought.
Pretty much bang on. The only thing I'd add is that the trouble stems not only from the players up top, but the absolute lack of pace in the middle of the park. We have too many of the same type of central midfielder in the squad.
This was made even more apparent last weekend against Southampton with Barry getting a special mention. The bloke looked like he was trying to run in quicksand in that game.
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - Amelia Chaffinch - 23-02-2018
You're welcome on our match thread, too.....
http://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/thread-6368.html
Theo's done a grand job.
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - Sir Megson - 23-02-2018
Anybody reckon Sturridge might be risked from the start in this one? I know we've said he's injured but could possibly be a bit of mind games from Pardew?
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - WBA-Josh - 23-02-2018
(23-02-2018, 20:20)Sir Megson Wrote: Anybody reckon Sturridge might be risked from the start in this one? I know we've said he's injured but could possibly be a bit of mind games from Pardew?
Maybe he might as a surprise tactic like he did when Sturridge started against Southampton but I hope he doesn't.
After what happened against Chelsea, I'd hope that Pardew has learned from his mistake of trying to rush Sturridge into the team. Of course he might not have and Sturridge might start but common sense would dictate Sturridge starting on the bench at best tomorrow. Rushing him back, just like with Chadli, will do more harm than good.
RE: WBA vs Huddersfield - Match Thread - Beefy 1965 - 23-02-2018
As far as I'm aware Sturridge is not fit anyway
