[drewks]

I think the fact we are disliked by neutrals is a myth.

I work around the country and most fans of other sides say they've seen us 'play some decent stuff' and are shocked when they hear our fans calling for Pulis' head on talksport.

I also think it's a myth that our football is the worst in the league. While I agree, it is very negative, is it really any worse than any of these?

Middlesborough
Sunderland
Burnley
Watford
West Ham
Palace
Stoke

I don't think so...

IMO Stoke haven't come on at all since Pulis left - despite Hughes spending millions on creative players like Shaquiri, Bojan et al. IMO they're just as boring as ever.

I detest watching all of the sides of TV...

Southampton play a lot of tippy tappy possession, but they've even scored less than us this season!

The fact is, negative football is a 'norm' in the modern game. Especially in England.

Playing backs to the wall stuff is pretty much the norm for anyone outside of the top 6. In fact, I've seen Mourinho dish up our style numerous times over the past 10 years even with the best clubs! Did anyone watch Man Utd play City a couple of weeks ago? Mourinho set up for a 0-0 - managing a side with the most expensive player in the world!

Let's not even get into him 'parking the bus' against Liverpool a couple of years back...

Get used to it. If Pulis goes, we'll play negative stuff again... Even if we hire a foreign coach, young Brit or whoever else...

Why? Because the Premier League is money driven and negative.

Marco Silva is the exception to the norm with sides at the bottom, he tried to play possession based stuff, but his Hull side just lost 7-1 to Spurs at home... Hell, that result could cost him his next job. Is it any wonder managers are 'scared' to play expansive in this league?

Since Mowbray, Pepe Mel is the only manager who has tried to play football IMO.

Mel tried to play high pressure stuff and the players revolted. They preferred us sitting back like we did under Uncle Roy...

Di Matteo was negative as they come and got promoted by default with Mowbray's team. Irvine's football was absolutely dyer even in comparison to Pulis' - but his self proclamation that he was a 'football purist' seemed to make him immune of criticism for the dyer football.

Hodgson and Clarke were similar to Pulis, but had better personnel in Odem and Lukaku. Rondon is a willing runner, but doesn't have anywhere near the ability to create something out of nothing that these guys had. We're often impotent on the break because Rondon either can't trap a ball or pass it to someone in the same colour shirt...

Pulis gets more stick from West Brom and Stoke fans because of the stigma, but I don't think other clubs fans dislike us.

I personally dislike Pulis' style of play and wish some of our players could actually pass the ball!

But this is the nature of English football. With the exception of the top 5 or 6, nobody plays against decent. There's a plethora of foreign managers serving up the same negative dross too!

Until there's less money involved, we're not going to see good football in England regardless who manages. Managers set up their team with a 'rather not lose' attitude because of fear. The Tony Mowbray style is the exception to the norm and look where that got us... The plus side of Pulis is, at least we'll be watching the best players next season rather than Millwall, Burton Albion et al - like the Sunderland and Boro fans will - despite playing terrible football too.

Great post, slick, and some very good points made.
The one I'd not agree with is regarding RDM - I never thought of his teams as negative......is that just me?!

[Slick_Footwork]

The one I'd not agree with is regarding RDM - I never thought of his teams as negative......is that just me?!

Maybe negative was a bit harsh, but I remember going to several away days in the Championship in the RDM era and his selections were certainly 'pragmatic'.

Jara (who was bought as a centre back, then used as a right back) in defensive midfield next to Mulumbu. Luke Moore (backed up by Roman Bednar) on his own up top. Lots of passing around the back then playing long ball to Moore and winning the 2nd ball.

That said, our midfield was excellent at winning the 2nd ball with Dorrans, Brunty and Robert Koren creating and scoring plenty of goals and Jerome Thomas' dribbling destroying full backs. Don't think Thomas has ever really been replaced.

Must've been the best Championship midfield for many a moon that. James Morrison barely even got a look in...

[aries22]

Can we be very clear about Alan Irvine.
He got a LOT of stick from Albion fans from before he was appointed right up until the very day he was sacked, and I was one of the Albion fans who never wanted him in the first place. His record at Preston and Sheffield Wednesday had been dismal. Was it two relegations from the Championship? What Jeremy Peace saw in him I will never know. Good egg, nice chap? What a complete waste of space he was. For me, we couldn't get rid of him fast enough. He was completely out of his depth at Albion.

[Sir Megson]

Just to throw my hat into the ring so to speak on this one. I'm mainly active discussing Albion on Twitter and other sites but have read posts on here from time to time.

I honestly don't buy into the narrative that Pulis needs to go and I say that as someone who's not missed a game either home or away this season. Has the football been entertaining all of the time? No, but I'd say only Chelsea and Tottenham fans have had seasons where the entertainment has been spot on for every game.

There's absolutely no denying there have been games and results this season that have been hard to take, but there's many a time I'd say the blame lies at the feet of certain players on these occasions rather than Pulis. They have to take some responsibility.

Yesterday, a prime example. Not one, two but THREE golden opportunities for Rondon to score when we were already 1-0 up. Take one of those and we'd have killed the game off from there. Derby in the cup yet another example of chances created and not taken. 10 games could have been won with the chances we made that day. We simply haven't had the quality forwards needed to take us further up the league and I point the finger at Lai and the board for not bringing in a replacement for Berahino on his departure. Although that's looking like very shrewd business for us to get £12-15M for someone who's not scored a goal in 25 league games. Giving Soloman a run for his money!

Phillips imo has been a revelation this season and it's hardly a coincidence that our poor run has aligned with his time out injured. I just fear that he may well not be a player we can rely on to last a whole season, so some very shrewd signings in midfield and 1-2 top strikers are needed in the summer, along with a replacement for McAuley as I think one more season could well be one season too far.

Foster, Dawson, Nyom and Evans are the main standouts imo alongside Phillips - Main worries are Fletcher who is a good player but looks like his legs are going and Rondon who has been decent but doesn't look likely to ever be prolific in the Prem. What I'd give to have a Lukaku or Odemwingie back in the side. Just one or two of those types of players and we'd of been possibly talking about renewing our passports for a European tour next season and none of this bemoaning Pulis or style of play.

[drewks]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40043130

Marco Silva anyone?
Maybe one extreme to another....

[Stairs]

There are a lot of management movements already - I wonder if TP gets a surprise when he arrives in China!!