[Slick_Footwork]

Chuffed with this. I think it had to be done to give us a fighting chance of staying in this league.

I'm not letting yesterday's result cloud my judgement, we had been underperforming for months and couldn't even win the must win games at the tail end of last season.

And actually, I believe yesterday's improved performance was because the players knew. I don't think the lads have played for Slaven since he said they were "not real men" last year.

It's a shame it didn't work out for Slaven, because he was a likeable guy with the right footballing principles. Unfortunately he was naive to the fact that we couldn't outplay teams at this level, naive to the fact we needed to sign more stronger, defensive minded players, particularly to protect the defence. As a result, we have been p*ss poor at both ends this season and it will be a tough job for whoever comes in.

But all credit to him for getting us promoted. That job will not be forgotten.

Now I would welcome Sam Allardyce on a short term deal to keep us up. He can hit the ground running because he knows the league, knows what it takes to win games. He's been there and got the t-shirt. If we want to start a "project" with a younger coach, we can do so in the summer as an established Premier League side, rather than bringing someone inexperienced in now.

No guarantees of him keeping us up, but if he can't with his track record, I don't think anyone could.

Wish Slaven all the best for the future, he's clearly a good manager when the going is good. I just feel he needs to calm down when the going isn't so good in order to be a geuinely good manager. He seems to let his emotions get the better of him and says rash things and makes rash decisions. Some of our lads need that father figure, big Sam is a great man manager as we've seen time and time again, even getting good football out of noticeable rebels like Ravel Morrison, Ivan Campo and Whabi Khazri. Time will tell, but I think he will transform the likes of Pereira if he is brought in.

---

Sacking has been confirmed. Reports are that replacement will be in place before the weekend.

Thanks for everything Slavin.

---

I guess Connor and Filip will go back to their clubs if Big Sam is appointed

Why would the loanees go back to their clubs?

They will be here to stay and I expect Gallagher will be one of the first names on the sheet considering Big Sam will demand work rate.

[Devongone]

There are plenty of clubs where Big Sam would be the right fit.

If he could drop thirty odd years he'd improve your defence 100% at centre back.

But he's no more the right fit for managing West Brom than he would be for PSG or Barcelona.

You might finish seventeenth, but you'll be envious of the club in 18th who are sacking their manager.

In my eyes, and I'm sure in those of many other football lovers, you are worth more.

[Minizin]

Sad but kind of inevitable. Results have been poor since lockdown and as always a new manager may be the best way of changing our fortunes.

Allardyce to the end of the season could work to solidify and reorganise us... as long as we don’t make the Pulis mistake and give him a longer contract as a reward. Need to figure out a Howe/ Cook/ Appleton etc for the longer term (because obviously the owners have a long term strategy...)

[Slick_Footwork]

There are plenty of clubs where Big Sam would be the right fit.

If he could drop thirty odd years he'd improve your defence 100% at  centre back.

But he's no more the right fit for managing West Brom than he would be for PSG or Barcelona.

You might finish seventeenth, but you'll be envious of the club in 18th who are sacking their manager.

In my eyes, and I'm sure in those of many other football lovers, you are worth more.

I think a fan would have to be mad to finish in 17th and be envious of a relegated side, frankly.

But you can't please everyone

Go down and you can go south rapidly. Just ask fans of Sunderland, Hull, Wigan or the numerous others that have slipped from Premier League to League 1.

Under Bilic, we are drab to watch, a soft touch and not picking up the points required to stay up. We need a short term fix to provide a platform to build on. If we are able to stay up this season, get another year of TV money, then we can focus on playing exciting football. Big Sam doesn't have to manage us from now to eternity, he just have to come in and give us the optimum chance of survival.

[Blue Baggie]

Sam has his good points, but he wouldn't be my choice. Also the way Bilic's removal has been handled is a poor show
Don't expect any of our players to be reminded of loyalty if the big boys come looking. Some people have absolutely no idea what the word eticate and tact are.
We needed the change, Luke, Ken and Lai need to be publicly thrown out ASAP. just to even things up.
Good luck SB - COYB.

[Worldclassalbion]

Gutted to be honest. I’ll get behind Big Sam though.

Thank you Slav. Surely the board would have been more justified if we lose to Villa the weekend. The fans would be angry and not care so much but after the performance last night its odd Timing.

I’m sure Sam will be demanding about £50m to spend in January as a condition of taking over.

[hibeejim21]

That seems a harsh decision. Looks like WBA chop and change their managers too often.

Seemed to me that he got little support in the summer after getting you up, sold a player behind his back etc. The squad looks nowhere near good enough to compete in that league but they certainly put a shift in for the manager last night.

I like big Slaven, like the way he talks about the game. Nice mix of passion and wry humour about him.

[Slick_Footwork]

That seems a harsh decision. Looks like WBA chop and change their managers too often.

Seemed to me that he got little support in the summer after getting you up, sold a player behind his back etc. The squad looks nowhere near good enough to compete in that league but they certainly put a shift in for the manager last night.

I like big Slaven, like the way he talks about the game. Nice mix of passion and wry humour about him.

He's been let down by the board for sure, unfortunately they are unsackable.

That said, he's been playing the wrong formation, personnel and failing to motivate for ages. People forget the nature of us stumbling to promotion.

We spent over £30m on Diangana and Grant in the summer - both Bilic choices - and they played a grand total of 45 mins between them when we lost to the patched together Newcastle side at the weekend. His primary target in the summer was Flip Krovinovic who was bit part last year and has been a waste of an essential loan.

Harsh from the outside, but his failings were clear when you watch week in and week out. Ironically, we got back to basics last night with 4 at the back and dug a result out.

It was well justified, but unfortunate because I agree he's a likeable character. Although not sure the players feel that way about him after being called "not men" and "stupid" publicly.

[Stairs]

I agree - from the outside this seems weird and unfair but we know that the decision was made before this game and stems back to a stuttering final phase to promotion and a lack of gutsy performances since the start of this season - The team looked united and fought out an amazing 1-1 with City and looked to be fighting for the manager (But why has this not been on display all season).

The board did support him with money but only to secure the services of the loan players we had already. Yes we have Grant - but they sold Hegazi and have entered into a HP agreement for Grant, it was not a war chest.

The damage was done at the Hegazi stage. Bilic, I assume, expressed his feelings in no uncertain terms and so there has been a rift ever since. We have effectively been trying to survive in the Premier League with a Championship Squad and with relationships soured there would have been little trust in a January spend supporting a manager that could be gone at end of season.

I guess the board spoke to candidates and listened to what they would do to shore up and improve the squad and decided they can trust 18 months under Big Sam more than a disgruntled and soon out of contract current manager.

It's a shame as I liked SB very much but this is football. He will walk away suitably compensated and will be earning even more somewhere else very soon. Big Sam will unite the squad and we will become harder to beat and in a few weeks we will have a few new players and possibly start getting results. He might even earn a bonus for staying up.

As they said on the radio - the players won't care as Big Sam gives them a chance of surviving and having another premier League contract next year.

The gravy train continues.

[Zinman]

A shameful act that will be made worse if Allardyce is appointed.


Hughes would be marginally worse.