Brighton vs WBA - Match Thread

**Ska'dForLife-WBA** · 07-09-2017, 02:59

Peter Barnes rules the wing during Albion's first ever win at the Goldstone Ground, 30th August 1980

It's genuinely hard to remember the last time an Albion transfer window ended in something approaching satisfaction and optimism. 2012 perhaps, or maybe even the false hope of 2014 (because nothing ever goes wrong with signing players who looked good for a fortnight at the World Cup). But certainly this season there's a refreshing absence of torch-wielding mobs on the Halfords Lane and sheepish statements from the club about spinning plates and targets passed over for "footballing reasons". On the contrary: we have strikers who can score, midfielders who can create, wingers who can run and defenders who aren't all centre-halves. The trick, of course, is how we use them.

That'll all be down to the man who just passed a milestone. Transfer deadline day was Tony Pulis's 973rd day as head coach of West Bromwich Albion, surpassing the 972 racked up by his one-time nemesis Tony Mowbray; that officially makes Pulis Albion's longest-serving boss since a certain Gary Megson. (I wonder what became of him?)

It's been slow and often thankless going, but the look of our current team does suggest that progress is being made. There is, at least, hope that we won't be going through yet another season with a weekly objective of "1-0 to the Albion". And this Saturday's the perfect time to start, as the result's bound to please one set of Albion supporters or another: we visit our namesakes down in Sussex for the first time since March 1993, when a Super Bob penalty wasn't enough to keep us from a 3-1 defeat. For our last win there you have to go back to April 1990, when Don Goodman, Tony Ford and Gary Bannister were the scorers in a 3-0 win. Long story short, it's about time we did it again.

Of course, Brighton will know that to have any chance of survival this season they have to win their home matches, and Albion will be on the hit list. Though their transfer activity wasn't amazing they did end up with Tim Krul, who's had some very happy times between the sticks against the Baggies, so there's every chance we may find ourselves up against it; but here's hoping for a professional away performance and a result to match.

Time for some Albion vs Albion. And may the best Albion win.

BaggieMan · 07-09-2017, 08:47

I said on a different thread that I don't expect huge changes to the team with the new signings - that I suspect will be a gradual process done in Pulis' modus operandi. Maybe 'The Pole in the Hole' will be in the starting 11 and a couple on the bench.
Fancy sneaking a 0-1 here.

aries22 · (This post was last modified: 07-09-2017, 10:07 by aries22.)

Great stat Ska'd re 973 days for TP v 972 for Tony Mowbray (my personal favourite manager since Big Ron).

That win in 1990, I was living in Seaford in East Sussex at the time, and my eldest lad, who was 10, was the WBA mascot. My wife and three other children were guests of honour and had good seats in the Goldstone's main stand. To run out easy 3-0 winners was the icing on the cake of a very pleasant day.

The only other time I caught WBA at Brighton was a 0-0 draw (I think) one New Year's Day (I think) circa the 1990s again. This time I was stood with fellow Baggies freezing on the open East Stand terrace.

Here's hoping for three points on Saturday.

BaggieSteve · 07-09-2017, 17:42

(07-09-2017, 10:07)aries22 Wrote: Great stat Ska'd re 973 days for TP v 972 for Tony Mowbray (my personal favourite manager since Big Ron).

That win in 1990, I was living in Seaford in East Sussex at the time, and my eldest lad, who was 10, was the WBA mascot. My wife and three other children were guests of honour and had good seats in the Goldstone's main stand. To run out easy 3-0 winners was the icing on the cake of a very pleasant day.

The only other time I caught WBA at Brighton was a 0-0 draw (I think) one New Year's Day (I think) circa the 1990s again. This time I was stood with fellow Baggies freezing on the open East Stand terrace.

Here's hoping for three points on Saturday.

Aries, definitely with you on Big Ron and Tony Mowbray, the football from both was worth paying the entrance fee for!

Foxman_WBA · 07-09-2017, 18:21

Does anybody think Evans should be brought straight back in for this? I don’t think so, Daws and Hegazi have barely put a foot wrong and have been ever present whereas Evans has basically been on strike. Sorry but what kind of message does it send to have him straight back.

drewks · (This post was last modified: 07-09-2017, 18:54 by drewks.)

(07-09-2017, 18:21)Foxman_WBA Wrote: Does anybody think Evans should be brought straight back in for this? I don’t think so, Daws and Hegazi have barely put a foot wrong and have been ever present whereas Evans has basically been on strike. Sorry but what kind of message does it send to have him straight back.

.....bit harsh, Foxy? Others, I COULD believe would swing the lead in such circumstances, but not Evans (IMHO).

2-0 to us

**Ska'dForLife-WBA** · 07-09-2017, 19:08

(07-09-2017, 10:07)aries22 Wrote: The only other time I caught WBA at Brighton was a 0-0 draw (I think) one New Year's Day (I think) circa the 1990s again. This time I was stood with fellow Baggies freezing on the open East Stand terrace.

I suspect you've misremembered there; we did play Brighton on New Year's Day 1990, but it was a home match which we won 3-0. We only ever had two goalless draws at the Goldstone Ground: one in February 1980 and the other in February 1983.

Foxman_WBA · 07-09-2017, 19:23

(07-09-2017, 18:52)drewks Wrote:
(07-09-2017, 18:21)Foxman_WBA Wrote: Does anybody think Evans should be brought straight back in for this? I don’t think so, Daws and Hegazi have barely put a foot wrong and have been ever present whereas Evans has basically been on strike. Sorry but what kind of message does it send to have him straight back.

.....bit harsh, Foxy? Others, I COULD believe would swing the lead in such circumstances, but not Evans (IMHO).

2-0 to us

Maybe, but for me something very fishy was going on here, from the TP interviews he knew it. I think its been swept under the carpet bit what's happened. Maybe its just the done thing now with transfers but I just don't think any of the lads should be dropped or punished whilst this questionable behaviour was going on.

That's probably just me though as I love the players who give 110% for us.

Sir Megson · 07-09-2017, 19:29

(07-09-2017, 18:21)Foxman_WBA Wrote: Does anybody think Evans should be brought straight back in for this? I don’t think so, Daws and Hegazi have barely put a foot wrong and have been ever present whereas Evans has basically been on strike. Sorry but what kind of message does it send to have him straight back.

Who said he was on strike?

Personally I think we as a club were more than ready to cash in on him providing we A) got a massive amount of money from the transfer and B) got a suitable replacement lined up and C) City could offload Mangala. All those didn't come together and he's still an Albion player (thank god!)

Evans may have been hoping for the move also, but he's definitely not going to be spitting the dummy out like Berahino and going on strike. Too much of a professional for that me thinks.

betterthanbaird · 07-09-2017, 20:17

Not gonna be in the country for this but hopefully the boys will do me proud and give me some good news.

Brighton aren't meant to have any senior strikers fit and haven't scored yet this season, so you'd think this would be a comfortable win (touch wood), quite conflicted on who to bring into the team, Evans and Krychowiak are both excellent players, but it would be harsh to drop players at this stage, hopefully we don't go with Barry, Livermore, and Krychowiak in midfield and leave ourselves lacking a bit going forward.

Anyone seen the 3rd kit we've launched for this game? Dark green and looks quite a lot like the northern Ireland kit.