[valpayne]

"Said with venom" - fair comment. But McClean would probably prefer to be called a "thick Irish loudmouth" than a "thick FAT loudmouth" (or whatever. He's proud to be Irish - I was proud when I lived in Leeds to be called a Brummy bastard - much better than a useless bastard (or whatever).  "Shite player" might rankle with him, but this is what this Forum is for.
Rainbow brings a bit of passion to this board, I think. He really cares about the Albion. Keep it going, Rainbow. You're controversial, but it adds some spice.

Hold up a second TS Your post suggests we're not as passionate about the Albion as rainbow is and I kinda object to that. I've supported Albion since i was 6 against all my Villa Family's wishes. I remember listening to our games on radio WM in the 70's hiding under the table sulking if we lost as a very unhappy 7/8/9 year old. I once sat in the Holte end with my villa family and I leaped out of my seat when we equalised because my passion unwisely got the better of me In fact my brother (villa) had to grab me by the arse of my trousers and sit me down fast before a riot started, we went on to lose 2-1 and even as a 30 something year old i was inconsolable as my brother put an arm round me and said sorry arr' kid. I remember it affecting me so much that I went into football wilderness during 80s and 90's because I was becoming uncontrollably angry about football and I had to back off from it because i didn't like the feeling of losing so much I became a person I wouldn't have liked. I remember chewing a tea towel and i mean that literally in the last 10 mins of the final game of 05 and screaming and jumping around my flat when the free kick hit the back of the net that sent palace down and kept us up. I went out celebrating long into the night facing an 8am till 10pm shift the next day and ironically my manager that day was a palace fan lol! I remember being so angry about losing 1-0 to Derby in the play offs as I sat watching on my own in a london pub. I became verbally abusive and 4 yes 4 derby fans decided it best to leave as soon as the whistle went because they could see I was losing it. Even now in my late 40's I can't bear to watch us live on TV cos I know I'll lose it. I last did that when we beat chelsea 3-0 only because we were safe and I thought I'd give it a go thankfully it was a joyous event. I am like others on here as passionate as anyone else and that's why were all on here trading views BUT, the constant slagging off of our manager has become a bit too much for most and we are supposed to be on the same side after all!.

We all know rainbows thought's on Pulis. He's made it crystal clear and he is entitled to that opinion. I don't like to see us playing negative football so to speak either but I believe and so do all the ex footballing pundits that TP will keep a team up and right now that is the most important thing along with some stability. We have been farting around changing managers for some time and its got us nowhere. My personal belief is that where its really gone wrong for Albion is in the recruitment department. Ashworth was a genius and sadly that where I think we started to derail I'm grateful therefore for a manager like TP that can keep us in this division at this critical time. Somewhere down the line like Stoke we may get a Hughes Moyes appointment and see a good balance of attacking and defensive football and keep moving forwards as I believe we have done since 2000/01 albeit slowly. I'm grateful we're not still in the relegation scrap this season at this point. I'll take that this season that's my humble opinion on the whole shooting match.

[4evaabaggie]

Val, I am very late forties, don't tend to watch us on tv only because I refuse to pay for biased coverage from know nothing pundits. I could not bear the stress of the Portsmouth game (great escape) so took the family out to Thorpe park, kept bumping into other football fans even a bluenose, all wished us well apart from one saints fan, understandably. Tried to avoid the scores, kept being given updates, wife decided to head home before the theme park crowds all left, because all the games were late kick offs the games were still on, turned the radio on we were winning Palace were losing we were safe, happy times, palace equalised then got a penalty, sad times. Turned off after they converted it. Glum driving up the motorway, tuned back in for our relegation confirmation to hear the commentator say palace have eight minutes to save themselves. Very tense few minutes ..... finally results confirmed .... We were safe, the first team to do the great escape. Very hard controlling the car on the M1 whilst boing boinging ....... great great memory. I was at Wembley for the derby game .... long story of woe .... not a great memory.

As for Rainbow .... We are all one blue and white stripped family on here because of our love of Albion, he is entitled to his opinions, he has expressed them very firmly all season, we all know them, maybe time to tone it down a little and respect other people's right to disagree with his views.

We all want whats best for Albion, attacking entertaining football but safety needs to be in there as well ....

Sorry post may have drifted off topic ...... it's my age.

[talkSAFT]

Val and Eva,
I didn't mean to say Rainbow was any more passionate than anyone else on here. But he's got strong views, and he doesn't hold back. I can tell he's genuine, especially as someone laughingly suggested he might be a pseudonym of The Mousse (who was just an egotistical plastic fan).

The climate on here has changed since we got the magic 40 pts, and Rainbow (and I) have not forgotten that only a month or 2 ago most on here were vehemently against his safety-first style of play. (And 86.5% voted on another thread for him to leave).
There is more than one way to skin a cat, and those of us who have supported the Club over the years - my 1st match was 58 years ago this month - will have taken pride at the style of play that we have (largely) been renowned for. The only highlights for me this season have been when we've played passing football, and we've shown we've got the players at the Club who can play that way, yesterday included at times. There are quite a few, including my 58 year watching brother, who are seriously considering not renewing next season, because they are fed up and frustrated going home after watching 30% possession, and no shots on target AT HOME GAMES.
I didn't vote on the retain/release Thread. But, if I'm honest, I'd just hope that he will bring the right players in (attacking midfielders, proper full-backs + a quality replacement with Berahino's sale money for his position), and change his philosophy, like the few games when we "had a go". Then I'd be glad to keep him for next season.
I like the bloke, but I don't defend him in case he gets upset reading our Posts.

[Worldclassalbion]

I'm telling you RTE IS FIREY MOUSSE, Gotta be but he/she is entitled to their opinion.

I'm currently watching Sunderland vs Leicester and although everyone slags big Sam off his teams play more attacking than Pulis' teams. It's a great game.

PS Baggies played some good stuff yesterday so Pulis needs to let us attack more because we look good when we do instead of the usual shite served up.

For me McClean has been a decent player for us this season, and if the others put a shift in like him we maybe higher up the league. Incidentally I voted for PULIS to go at the end of the season on the other thread BUT if he lets us attack I may be swayed. I don't understand how we can look quality against top half teams but are totally woeful against teams below us. The stats re lowest possession in the league and games without any shots on target are embarrassing and that needs to change asap. I'm still not sure if I will renew my season ticket next season if TP is still here and its a big discussion with the guys who sit around me in the BRE. None of us are committed yet but I have been going up the Albion since 1971 as a 4 year old but sadly my passion is dying under Pulis as one good showing every 8 games on average is not good enough and not value for my money, time and effort. Yesterday gave me hope again, long may it continue.

[4evaabaggie]

Talksaft, your points are valid and well made without being ott, I do not have ago at anyone for voicing their opinions, I do not and will not slag anyone on here off, we are all Albion fans, everyone is entitled to their opinions and I for one respect that, it becomes a little irksome when said so often with such hate. Does not make his point any less valid just delivered wrongly. I to wish for passing attacking Albionesque football, I have tended to lean towards keeping TP, safety first, but I was tipping the other way. We're safe, let's enjoy that and hope with renewed development the entertaining Albion can re-emerge into the footballing spot light. Three or four bad years of transfer will take time to sort out, to do that we have to be where the money is, safety first again.

[valpayne]

Val and Eva,
I didn't mean to say Rainbow was any more passionate than anyone else on here. But he's got strong views, and he doesn't hold back. I can tell he's genuine, especially as someone laughingly suggested he might be a pseudonym of The Mousse (who was just an egotistical plastic fan).

The climate on here has changed since we got the magic 40 pts, and Rainbow (and I) have not forgotten that only a month or 2 ago most on here were vehemently against his safety-first style of play. (And 86.5% voted on another thread for him to leave).
There is more than one way to skin a cat, and those of us who have supported the Club over the years - my 1st match was 58 years ago this month - will have taken pride at the style of play that we have (largely) been renowned for. The only highlights for me this season have been when we've played passing football, and we've shown we've got the players at the Club who can play that way, yesterday included at times. There are quite a few, including my 58 year watching brother, who are seriously considering not renewing next season, because they are fed up and frustrated going home after watching 30% possession, and no shots on target AT HOME GAMES.
I didn't vote on the retain/release Thread. But, if I'm honest, I'd just hope that he will bring the right players in (attacking midfielders, proper full-backs + a quality replacement with Berahino's sale money for his position), and change his philosophy, like the few games when we "had a go". Then I'd be glad to keep him for next season.
I like the bloke, but I don't defend him in case he gets upset reading our Posts.

Absolutely no offense taken TS   I think collectively any footy fan wants to see attractive football and I too am a bit baffled how we can turn it on against the big teams this season then be so lackluster against the lower half teams. I genuinely don't believe thats all the mangers fault. Its like we think we can walk over these teams but I honestly think someone of TP's nature doesn't send the team out by saying this will be a piece of p**s lads take it easy. I do believe TP is very defensive minded and I think he's right to be but yes I would like to see us being a lot more creative upfront but I'm happy we've reached the safety margin with games to spare and I hope we will take a good look at our recruitment policy next season and get back on track with some astute signings a la ashworth period cos that's where I truly think things have gone tits up for us this past few years