[Beefy 1965]

"Hey Jezza, How does £20 Million Pound in January sound" ?

[aries22]

Irvine was never going to last and I'm happy with Pulis, we can finish top 12 with a good Jan imo but obviously survival is the priority. He'll make our defence very solid and we do have some attacking talent and he'll probably add some more so I think we can be positive about this. I've always felt the issue of him being direct has been overstated, one of his main tactics is usually pace on the wings which we all want anyway.

Totally agree with this. I am very happy and confident again about our prospects.

---

WeeWillie
I do not want Pulis, but I will support him and give him time, unlike those supporters who did not want or give Irvine a chance.
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It's nailing colours to the mast time.
I wanted Pulis in as soon as he left Crystal Palace, and Irvine out. I think the overwhelming majority of Baggies fans didn't want Irvine in the first place and are glad he's gone. I know I am.
Sorry, WeeWillie. I only want Albion to prosper and do the best we can.

[Salopbaggie]

I do not want Pulis, but I will support him and give him time, unlike those supporters who did not want or give Irvine a chance.

I think most of us thought the same way about AI and were prepared to support him and give him the chance but six months and our record over those six months speaks for itself.  

Sadly however much we may want someone to succeed it does not mean they will.  The jury was certainly out over the appointment of AI, many of us were underwhelmed, but we gave him his chance and he did not come good.  

Far better he has gone now while we still have a chance of salvaging something from the season and more importantly avoid the drop, which was the only outcome I could see with AI.

Now, 14th place finish and win the FA Cup  

[Slick_Footwork]

I don't believe any fans didn't give Irvine a chance.

Of course, as a fan, you do forge an opinion of a manager based on his CV and for that reason,
I don't know a single Baggies fan who wanted Irvine.

But at the start of the season, the atmosphere was great and the fans were well and truly
behind him.

Unfortunately, some he lost the fans with terrible home performances against Everton and
Newcastle, not to mention being outplayed by Oxford who were bottom of the football league
at the time.

Oh and the Bournemouth game... I felt really sorry for the fans that traveled there on a
week night to see that dross...

Most fans will be more optimistic with Pulis, myself included, because the guy keeps teams up.
I much prefer watching us in this league than in Championship, it's simply the place to be.

For the record, has anyone watched Burnley this season? They're the most direct team I've
seen in the Prem for years. Just hoofball into the box from any position. Nobody has been slagging
Sean Dyche off for that though because he's getting results.

I think Pulis just has a stigma about him because he played to Stoke's strengths (and did well
that way, too). I'm sure with our players, we will play decent counter attacking football like
Palace did. Still, anything that keeps us up will be a job done IMO.

[tidy]

I was never pro or anti AI. I just wanted some stability at the club. TBH, I opted for the 'keep AI and give him some funds' stance as I believe he was 'given' some real dross to try and work wonders with, plus, I must admit, that I underestimated JP (should never do that) and did not think for a minute that some one of TP's stature would be convinced to come to the Albion given the coaching set-up and the role.

I will take the same stance with TP (as just a fan, I don't really have a choice) and, despite my disliking for the guy, hope that we can finally have some stability, win some football matches and generally bring some smiles back to this place....

[drewks]

I think the 'stability' thing is very important at this time for us. We've been through far too many HC's in the last 3 years and, Roy apart, that's got to be the result of JP going for the cheap option and not succeeding.
This appointment for two-and-a-half (how DO you DO that as a fraction on a keyboard??) years hopefully will give us that stability, direction, and will, I'm sure, also give us important Premier League stability too.

[valpayne]

So it looks like this will happen, I for 1 think it's JUST what we need at this moment and if TP can get us playing like he did Palace last year then it's 'good times ahead' IMO.

Just found this article that I remember reading at the end of last season - well worth a read and provides a good and different insight of the man
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27253266

very good article Drewks and if you see where palace are now I bet their all kicking themselves for allowing him to leave. I keep saying I used to loathe this guy but that's because 9 times out of 10 I was watching him talk after beating us. I keep saying on here TP is the best possible man for the job right now. Never relegated in 21 years he will do everything he can to avoid blotting that and he has many many prem years experience. I'm still waiting for somebody that's knocking the guy before giving him a chance. to tell us who else is out there that they'd rather see in charge that can better this guys record? As for those saying they'd rather be in the championship watching pretty football. Honestly I'm stunned, drop out the prem = loss of income = sale of best players = anything but pretty football and besides all that the championship isn't about pretty football the lower leagues do on the whole adopt a more route one approach so lets not even consider that option. Its time to support our manager wholeheartedly and start believing we can get out the mire we are in thanks to JP's previous ill advised appointments COYB  

[Bournemouth Baggie]

I think the 'stability' thing is very important at this time for us. We've been through far too many HC's in the last 3 years and, Roy apart, that's got to be the result of JP going for the cheap option and not succeeding.
This appointment for two-and-a-half (how DO you DO that as a fraction on a keyboard??) years hopefully will give us that stability, direction, and will, I'm sure, also give us important Premier League stability too.

2 1/2?

[valpayne]

Just seen TP on SSN at the press conference. He talks well with confidence but also with just the right amount of cautious optimism. He comes across as an intelligent, diligent, hard working man that knows and understands what's required to turn a team around. He breeds confidence yet his manner wasn't remotely arrogant. Yes I believe JP finally made the right choice. about time to and Interestingly the 2 and half years contract makes me think the plan could be if we don't stay up he will be in charge for a season in the CS and would give us the best chance of coming straight back up and then he gets a year at least back in the prem just a thought but I have every confidence that we won't have to worry about that.

[Foxman_WBA]

Got to admit here, JP has done it again! TP is just the sort of manager we need, a good man manager with the experience and balls to do what is necessary and finally trying to get the fans back on board.

But, it makes you wonder, was this the plan all along? We spent a while without a manager in the summer until the cheap AI option was taken but was this on purpose as he was cheap to hire he’d be cheap to fire if and when a better option became available, which wasn’t there in the summer?

Makes you think.