[4evaabaggie]

St Charles, you have watched us more than I have for a while, the greed league has killed most of my enthusiasm and interest, I barely watched the world cup, 2 and a half England games. So I bow to your superior knowledge on our squad and performances but The Albion runs thorough my blood, my very DNA. The optimism is ingrained in me, like England fans and the media, I believe England and Albion should have had more success than they have had and always expect us to go unbeaten winning trebles every season.
It's the hope that kills you.

Still hoping for the title on a 29 (4 done, 25 to play) winning streak.

Wishing all baggies fans and owls fans a Merry Christmas.

St Charles, I am also sending my best wishes to Sheffield Wednesday, good fortune and success for the rest of the season, with the proviso that we don't meet in the cup.

[valpayne]

I think personally top two is a bridge too far but that said i wouldn't say its impossible? There is a gap of 15 pts to 2nd which would take some doing whilst those teams would need a huge dip in form but the play offs there is a gap of only 8pts and all the teams around the play offs with the exception of preston have lesser form than us lately. I say the chase is on.

After all in the 18/19 season Villa were on a poor run of form with a familiar figure to us at the helm. One Steve Bruce after sacking him they came on very strong in the latter part of the season went on a record unbeaten run and of course as we're painfully aware put paid to our promotion hopes in the playoffs in the process.

I would also say with respect to you Sir Charles that its often the mark of a good team that can still find a way to win when not playing their best. All teams in this league will have poor halves or poor games and stutter at some point BUT the mentality has changed at WBA and it has to be down to Carlos, his philosophy, his will and determination and his ability to change things up tactically, or the personnel on the pitch.

I think another 5 games and we'll really have a solid idea of how good CC really is? 10 games is a good measure. At the moment his win ratio is 80% I also think this next game against Rotherham is important Their recent form is poor and we do have a habit of losing this type of game, its a 6 pointer.

all the best to you gents onwards and upward baggies and owls

Val, a great post, one with which I fully concur. I haven't watched us play since the Pulls debacles and the repeated mistakes made by the board in employing the entire footballing cast of Jurassic park. However, we appear to have a purpose, a focus, a manager/head coach/director of football whatever term you care to use who can bring a squad together, give them clear instructions, a direction if you like and, this is the important bit, if it is not working he has another plan, he can change it around and get results.

We are 18 points off of top spot with a game in hand, let's not aim for the playoffs, lets shout loud and proud "Burnley, we are The Albion and we're coming to get you".

I will stick my neck out and say we should be aiming for and securing automatic promotion, a top two finish.

Albion til I die ...COYB.    

Wow, love your optimism!!  I have watched you half a dozen times this season and you are definitely better now than you were earlier in the season, but that first half performance last night was abject and better teams than Sunderland would have had you 2 or 3 down at half time.  Carlos did a great job to change things and the second half was so much better for you but he now needs to get it right from the start if you want any chance of making the playoffs let alone the Autos!!

[4evaabaggie]

Val,

You say that 15 points is probably a bridge too far and that we should aim for the lottery of the playoffs, that is a sensible stance to take, we have a game in hand, win that, 12 points, still a sizeable but a very doable gap.I

I remember March 2002. The automatic places were done and dusted, Wolves were second and cruising to the premier league, we were able to put a great run together, we overturned the points deficit, ended with a 14 point swing, we finished second, wolves finished third then missed out via the play offs.

Hope springs eternal and it's the hope that kills ya

---

02 March 2002

Wolves second, played 36 73 points
Albion third? played 36 63 points

Wolves ten fixtures ... W D D L D W L L W D
Albion ten fixtures ... W D W W W W W D W W

[BaggieSteve]

Very good 2nd half performance and if Dike stays fit, I think we make the playoffs.

Such is the importance of a proper centre forward. He changed the game. No disrespect to Thomas-Asante or Grant, but neither feel like a proper centre forward to me, they don't have the physical presence to disturb defenders.

What was refreshing was to see us going for it after we equalised.

We had a very open, attacking line up out there looking for the equaliser. After scoring, many managers would've changed mindset and try to hold the draw (A la Southgate), but it was good to see us keep pushing and get what we deserved.

Dike and Rogic were excellent when they came on. I thought Rogic was the best player when he came on against Preston earlier in the season, but we didn't see him again after that. Hopefully this performance doesn't go unnoticed and it kickstarts his career as he's easily our best footballer if he's anything like the player he was at Celtic. He certainly looked it on Monday.

I don't want to get carried away as we clearly have our flaws - namely in both full back areas and lack of proper centre forward cover for Dike - but the signs are we're definitely good enough to make the playoffs. Especially when you consider we were missing Bartley, Ajayi, Grady and Jake on Monday. Not to forget Kean Bryan. Just think it's imperative that we get in cover for Dike in January (at the least) as we need that presence up top.

Slick, I think you’re spot on with the need for two full backs. Townsend is a continual penalty waiting to happen while Furlong, even though I thought he had a decent second half, always makes me nervous when the ball is in his vicinity. I’m less concerned about getting more cover for Dike, although that is based upon the proviso we can keep him injury free: if we can, I like the look of BTA - he’s young and still a bit raw but I think he has real talent and will only improve under Corberan’s coaching. I’d be happy for him to be the striker coming off the bench with his pace against tired defenders. I don’t see where Grant fits in now, if we could move him on I think we should. I’d prefer to see Cleary in the squad for experience than Grant.

Like you I was delighted to see Rogic come on and change the game. He’s an outstanding player and he now needs to start.

Interesting to see we are looking at signing Ryan Porteous from Hibs; although he’s a player most non Hibs fans love to hate, I think he is a very good defender - no nonsense but comfortable on the ball. I’d be interested to hear what HibeeJim thinks if he reads this

[hibeejim21]

Very good 2nd half performance and if Dike stays fit, I think we make the playoffs.

Such is the importance of a proper centre forward. He changed the game. No disrespect to Thomas-Asante or Grant, but neither feel like a proper centre forward to me, they don't have the physical presence to disturb defenders.

What was refreshing was to see us going for it after we equalised.

We had a very open, attacking line up out there looking for the equaliser. After scoring, many managers would've changed mindset and try to hold the draw (A la Southgate), but it was good to see us keep pushing and get what we deserved.

Dike and Rogic were excellent when they came on. I thought Rogic was the best player when he came on against Preston earlier in the season, but we didn't see him again after that. Hopefully this performance doesn't go unnoticed and it kickstarts his career as he's easily our best footballer if he's anything like the player he was at Celtic. He certainly looked it on Monday.

I don't want to get carried away as we clearly have our flaws - namely in both full back areas and lack of proper centre forward cover for Dike - but the signs are we're definitely good enough to make the playoffs. Especially when you consider we were missing Bartley, Ajayi, Grady and Jake on Monday. Not to forget Kean Bryan. Just think it's imperative that we get in cover for Dike in January (at the least) as we need that presence up top.

Slick, I think you’re spot on with the need for two full backs. Townsend is a continual penalty waiting to happen while Furlong, even though I thought he had a decent second half, always makes me nervous when the ball is in his vicinity. I’m less concerned about getting more cover for Dike, although that is based upon the proviso we can keep him injury free: if we can, I like the look of BTA - he’s young and still a bit raw but I think he has real talent and will only improve under Corberan’s coaching. I’d be happy for him to be the striker coming off the bench with his pace against tired defenders. I don’t see where Grant fits in now, if we could move him on I think we should. I’d prefer to see Cleary in the squad for experience than Grant.

Like you I was delighted to see Rogic come on and change the game. He’s an outstanding player and he now needs to start.

Interesting to see we are looking at signing Ryan Porteous from Hibs; although he’s a player most non Hibs fans love to hate, I think he is a very good defender - no nonsense but comfortable on the ball. I’d be interested to hear what HibeeJim thinks if he reads this

No problem mate.

I've been a bit disappointed with his consistency and attitude at times this season, and last to be honest (but that might be because he wants away) but he has certainly got the attributes to go on and be a really good CB for you. He is very good in the air at both ends of the park and tough in the tackle. I think a move away from Scotland would be best for him because he needs to grow up a bit and develop his game.

I've not heard how he's done so far but if you give Rogic a bit of time to settle i'm convinced he will do a real job for you. Always thought he was a talented player when he was up here.

[BaggieSteve]

Very good 2nd half performance and if Dike stays fit, I think we make the playoffs.

Such is the importance of a proper centre forward. He changed the game. No disrespect to Thomas-Asante or Grant, but neither feel like a proper centre forward to me, they don't have the physical presence to disturb defenders.

What was refreshing was to see us going for it after we equalised.

We had a very open, attacking line up out there looking for the equaliser. After scoring, many managers would've changed mindset and try to hold the draw (A la Southgate), but it was good to see us keep pushing and get what we deserved.

Dike and Rogic were excellent when they came on. I thought Rogic was the best player when he came on against Preston earlier in the season, but we didn't see him again after that. Hopefully this performance doesn't go unnoticed and it kickstarts his career as he's easily our best footballer if he's anything like the player he was at Celtic. He certainly looked it on Monday.

I don't want to get carried away as we clearly have our flaws - namely in both full back areas and lack of proper centre forward cover for Dike - but the signs are we're definitely good enough to make the playoffs. Especially when you consider we were missing Bartley, Ajayi, Grady and Jake on Monday. Not to forget Kean Bryan. Just think it's imperative that we get in cover for Dike in January (at the least) as we need that presence up top.

Slick, I think you’re spot on with the need for two full backs. Townsend is a continual penalty waiting to happen while Furlong, even though I thought he had a decent second half, always makes me nervous when the ball is in his vicinity. I’m less concerned about getting more cover for Dike, although that is based upon the proviso we can keep him injury free: if we can, I like the look of BTA - he’s young and still a bit raw but I think he has real talent and will only improve under Corberan’s coaching. I’d be happy for him to be the striker coming off the bench with his pace against tired defenders. I don’t see where Grant fits in now, if we could move him on I think we should. I’d prefer to see Cleary in the squad for experience than Grant.

Like you I was delighted to see Rogic come on and change the game. He’s an outstanding player and he now needs to start.

Interesting to see we are looking at signing Ryan Porteous from Hibs; although he’s a player most non Hibs fans love to hate, I think he is a very good defender - no nonsense but comfortable on the ball. I’d be interested to hear what HibeeJim thinks if he reads this

No problem mate.

I've been a bit disappointed with his consistency and attitude at times this season, and last to be honest (but that might be because he wants away) but he has certainly got the attributes to go on and be a really good CB for you. He is very good in the air at both ends of the park and tough in the tackle. I think a move away from Scotland would be best for him because he needs to grow up a bit and develop his game.

I've not heard how he's done so far but if you give Rogic a bit of time to settle i'm convinced he will do a real job for you. Always thought he was a talented player when he was up here.

Thanks Jim

As you say, Porteous has always struck me as having real talent but also can be a bit of a dick. You’re spot on in saying that he probably needs a move from Scotland, not just Hibs - I think moving to the Huns, which has been occasionally mentioned, would absolutely be the wrong move for him. I’d be very happy to see him sign for us and I think he’d do well.

As regards Rogic, I was over the moon when we signed him. It’s taken a wee bit of time for him to figure in the team, primarily I think because he missed a lot of close season training and so wasn’t quite fit enough. On Monday, he came on as sub against Sunderland and changed the game, scoring a beautiful goal. Yesterday he started and moved a wonderful through ball for our first goal. As you say, he is a real talent and I think we’ve been incredibly lucky to get him.