15-09-2014, 09:46
(This post was last modified: 15-09-2014, 11:36 by Ska'dForLife-WBA.)
Chris Brunt
Following Ben Foster’s show of support today I thought it was the right moment to bring the subject of Chris Brunt to the surface. We are all thinking about it so let’s have it out.
Whilst a good servant to the club, I no longer rate Brunt as regular starter in our team or even a premier league player. The bloke has never had pace but I feel he has lost the zip and invention he had 3 seasons a go. If you lose your zip then your quality has to be consistent of which I don’t think his is. In fact I would go as far as saying that I don’t think Brunt would stand out in an average championship side. Question - If he was playing in the Championship now, would he be a target of ours and would you want to sign him? I think the answer is a resounding no. Although we did sign Chris Baird – god love him
The fact Irvine continued Brunt’s captaincy was silly and naïve. We needed a fresh start. Irvine had the perfect opportunity to give it to someone like Foster (who is guaranteed to start every game if fit) and then explained to the outfield players that competition for starting places is intense and no one is guaranteed to start therefore I don’t want to give the captaincy to an outfield player until they prove they deserve to start every week. That ‘should’ install the hunger in players and give them an even bigger desire to break into the starting 11.
I always support the players on the pitch and I would never boo anyone off the pitch. However, the fan’s have a right to voice their opinion and without booing or sarcastic cheers, it’s the only way the message can get through at times. 24,000 people can’t all be wrong can they???
Anyways, much looking forward to peoples views on this subject in particular…
Whilst a good servant to the club, I no longer rate Brunt as regular starter in our team or even a premier league player. The bloke has never had pace but I feel he has lost the zip and invention he had 3 seasons a go. If you lose your zip then your quality has to be consistent of which I don’t think his is. In fact I would go as far as saying that I don’t think Brunt would stand out in an average championship side. Question - If he was playing in the Championship now, would he be a target of ours and would you want to sign him? I think the answer is a resounding no. Although we did sign Chris Baird – god love him
The fact Irvine continued Brunt’s captaincy was silly and naïve. We needed a fresh start. Irvine had the perfect opportunity to give it to someone like Foster (who is guaranteed to start every game if fit) and then explained to the outfield players that competition for starting places is intense and no one is guaranteed to start therefore I don’t want to give the captaincy to an outfield player until they prove they deserve to start every week. That ‘should’ install the hunger in players and give them an even bigger desire to break into the starting 11.
I always support the players on the pitch and I would never boo anyone off the pitch. However, the fan’s have a right to voice their opinion and without booing or sarcastic cheers, it’s the only way the message can get through at times. 24,000 people can’t all be wrong can they???
Anyways, much looking forward to peoples views on this subject in particular…
15-09-2014, 10:11
Baggie_One you beat me to it, see my thread and comment please mate :-)
15-09-2014, 10:45
First of all, on the subject of captaincy - I'm the (smaller) camp that doesn't care who
captain is, nor think it should make a massive difference. In my opinion, 11 grown men,
all professionals, should be able to go out there, self motivated and do a job.
While I'd agree that Brunt doesn't seem like captain material with his body language and
demeanor, I don't think this is to blame for our form. I'm guessing he's well respected in
the dressing room.
On the subject of his performances though...
For me, he wouldn't be a regular starter at this level. Nor do I think he's suited as a wide man
in a 4-5-1. IMO, a wide man in that formation has to be able to link up with the strikers and get
in behind him. That's not Brunt's game at all.
I'd be happy if he was played in one of the central 3 positions to cover injury.
So all in all, happy with him as a squad member, but he certainly wouldn't be in my XI. In fact,
he'd be quite a bit down the pecking order.
captain is, nor think it should make a massive difference. In my opinion, 11 grown men,
all professionals, should be able to go out there, self motivated and do a job.
While I'd agree that Brunt doesn't seem like captain material with his body language and
demeanor, I don't think this is to blame for our form. I'm guessing he's well respected in
the dressing room.
On the subject of his performances though...
For me, he wouldn't be a regular starter at this level. Nor do I think he's suited as a wide man
in a 4-5-1. IMO, a wide man in that formation has to be able to link up with the strikers and get
in behind him. That's not Brunt's game at all.
I'd be happy if he was played in one of the central 3 positions to cover injury.
So all in all, happy with him as a squad member, but he certainly wouldn't be in my XI. In fact,
he'd be quite a bit down the pecking order.
15-09-2014, 10:47
I have been another critic of Brunt BUT I never a boo an Albion player. I sit in the BRE and as fans were booing, myself and a fair few others were telling them to shut up and get behind the team......HOWEVER that doesn't mean to say I am happy with the current set up because I AM NOT.
If you want to do anything just don't clap/cheer when they call out the players names if you don't think they should be playing BUT NEVER BOO!
Having said that BRUNTY doesn't help himself with his demeanour, throwing his arms around blaming other players when he is at fault and if I had a quid for every time I have said he's never a captain in a million years I'd be a rich man and it's not just me.
If I was YACOB or any of the others sitting on the bench I'd be thinking WTF if he is better than me and be looking to move on.
IRVINE is clueless and isn't helping Brunt or the other players with his shit team selections and tactics.
Before you start saying 'well we pay our money we have the right to Boo'.....Yes you have BUT its embarrassing, We are not Wolves but we are becoming just like them......THATS UNACCEPTABLE IN MY EYES
SILENCE IS FAR BETTER THAN BOOING, please think on before you do it.
Its been a very hard and frustrating 12 months and it seems we are no further forwards. BRUNT, DORRANS,OLSSON, DAWSON need dropping for starters and IRVINE needs to go, nice guy or not.
C'mon you Baggies...................pretty please with sugar on top
If you want to do anything just don't clap/cheer when they call out the players names if you don't think they should be playing BUT NEVER BOO!
Having said that BRUNTY doesn't help himself with his demeanour, throwing his arms around blaming other players when he is at fault and if I had a quid for every time I have said he's never a captain in a million years I'd be a rich man and it's not just me.
If I was YACOB or any of the others sitting on the bench I'd be thinking WTF if he is better than me and be looking to move on.
IRVINE is clueless and isn't helping Brunt or the other players with his shit team selections and tactics.
Before you start saying 'well we pay our money we have the right to Boo'.....Yes you have BUT its embarrassing, We are not Wolves but we are becoming just like them......THATS UNACCEPTABLE IN MY EYES
SILENCE IS FAR BETTER THAN BOOING, please think on before you do it.
Its been a very hard and frustrating 12 months and it seems we are no further forwards. BRUNT, DORRANS,OLSSON, DAWSON need dropping for starters and IRVINE needs to go, nice guy or not.
C'mon you Baggies...................pretty please with sugar on top
BLACK COUNTRY BY BIRTH, ALBION BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND MY OLD MAN
You go in the cage? cage goes in the water, sharks in the water....Our Shark
Ultrinque Paratus
You go in the cage? cage goes in the water, sharks in the water....Our Shark
Ultrinque Paratus
15-09-2014, 11:01
He's certainly taking the brunt of all the criticism. Taking the BRUNT, geddit?? HA HA HA!
15-09-2014, 11:19
(15-09-2014, 10:47)Worldclassalbion Wrote: I have been another critic of Brunt BUT I never a boo an Albion player. I sit in the BRE and as fans were booing, myself and a fair few others were telling them to shut up and get behind the team......HOWEVER that doesn't mean to say I am happy with the current set up because I AM NOT.
If you want to do anything just don't clap/cheer when they call out the players names if you don't think they should be playing BUT NEVER BOO!
Having said that BRUNTY doesn't help himself with his demeanour, throwing his arms around blaming other players when he is at fault and if I had a quid for every time I have said he's never a captain in a million years I'd be a rich man and it's not just me.
If I was YACOB or any of the others sitting on the bench I'd be thinking WTF if he is better than me and be looking to move on.
IRVINE is clueless and isn't helping Brunt or the other players with his shit team selections and tactics.
Before you start saying 'well we pay our money we have the right to Boo'.....Yes you have BUT its embarrassing, We are not Wolves but we are becoming just like them......THATS UNACCEPTABLE IN MY EYES
SILENCE IS FAR BETTER THAN BOOING, please think on before you do it.
Its been a very hard and frustrating 12 months and it seems we are no further forwards. BRUNT, DORRANS,OLSSON, DAWSON need dropping for starters and IRVINE needs to go, nice guy or not.
C'mon you Baggies...................pretty please with sugar on top
Great post, worldclass - well said
15-09-2014, 11:39
On the subject of booing him or any other player for that matter.
Totally insane in my opinion, I appreciate that we spend our hard earned money on the turnstiles and I feeling like booing along with others on occasion, why don't I?
Because it is totally counter productive. If any player is going through a bad patch, gets the ball and has in the back of his mind he is going to get booed if he makes a bad pass, it must be like going up to take a high pressure penalty every time he gets the ball and makes him far more likely to make another mistake and we end up in a downward spiralling, never ending circle, more booing, more mistakes, leading to worse booing, worse mistakes and so on.
This then spreads throughout the team with players fearing the same treatment, they stop wanting the ball in case they make a mistake, it makes it uncomfortable in the dressing room, ask yourself the question if you were doing your best at work and your bosses kept knocking your work day in day out, how would you feel, would you keep trying your hardest to do well?.
Now this has nothing to do with whether you are good enough to do the job you have been asked to do, that is up to the manger in hiring and firing and it is their responsibility if you are not up to the job they are asking you to do and they should be held responsible, not the person themselves if they keep getting asked to do the job.
There is also the add on for the future, would you want to play for a club where you get booed by your own fans.
And other than making you feel a little better, the positives are?
Get behind the team COYB
Totally insane in my opinion, I appreciate that we spend our hard earned money on the turnstiles and I feeling like booing along with others on occasion, why don't I?
Because it is totally counter productive. If any player is going through a bad patch, gets the ball and has in the back of his mind he is going to get booed if he makes a bad pass, it must be like going up to take a high pressure penalty every time he gets the ball and makes him far more likely to make another mistake and we end up in a downward spiralling, never ending circle, more booing, more mistakes, leading to worse booing, worse mistakes and so on.
This then spreads throughout the team with players fearing the same treatment, they stop wanting the ball in case they make a mistake, it makes it uncomfortable in the dressing room, ask yourself the question if you were doing your best at work and your bosses kept knocking your work day in day out, how would you feel, would you keep trying your hardest to do well?.
Now this has nothing to do with whether you are good enough to do the job you have been asked to do, that is up to the manger in hiring and firing and it is their responsibility if you are not up to the job they are asking you to do and they should be held responsible, not the person themselves if they keep getting asked to do the job.
There is also the add on for the future, would you want to play for a club where you get booed by your own fans.
And other than making you feel a little better, the positives are?
Get behind the team COYB
15-09-2014, 13:26
I dont think it helps the players around him either.
The last few games our team has consisted of: Brunt, Dorrans, Morrison, Mulumbu, Olsson, Mcauley, Berahino, Dawson.
Now I'm not specifically pointing out anyone, but that's 8 players who have been with us for years - Including multiple relegations in some cases. We need fresh blood in (which we've got) and we need to utilise it. There's so much money going around, and teams like Hull / Swansea / QPR / Sunderland etc who in the past 4 or 5 years have been "under us" table wise, have players in their ranks such as Ramirez + Ben Arfa / Bony + Gomis / Ferdinand + Vargas / Fletcher + Johnson etc etc.
Im not sure how many of our squad are near the level of these players, or how many of our squad (especially the 8 above) would get in other sides in the league.
I am more than happy to give the team time - In fact I think we will be far better in 3-4 weeks time, with or without Irvine, but we should be more ruthless - dropping the mediocre players, and working hard on getting lescott etc in the squad.
The last few games our team has consisted of: Brunt, Dorrans, Morrison, Mulumbu, Olsson, Mcauley, Berahino, Dawson.
Now I'm not specifically pointing out anyone, but that's 8 players who have been with us for years - Including multiple relegations in some cases. We need fresh blood in (which we've got) and we need to utilise it. There's so much money going around, and teams like Hull / Swansea / QPR / Sunderland etc who in the past 4 or 5 years have been "under us" table wise, have players in their ranks such as Ramirez + Ben Arfa / Bony + Gomis / Ferdinand + Vargas / Fletcher + Johnson etc etc.
Im not sure how many of our squad are near the level of these players, or how many of our squad (especially the 8 above) would get in other sides in the league.
I am more than happy to give the team time - In fact I think we will be far better in 3-4 weeks time, with or without Irvine, but we should be more ruthless - dropping the mediocre players, and working hard on getting lescott etc in the squad.
15-09-2014, 20:02
I totally have to agree with Fozzy here.
As much as the team are a complete shower of shite at the moment, the blame doesn't lie solely with Brunty and booing a player like some sections of the crowd did is outright criminal.
To quote my own thread I made called did you know, we've won only 5 games out of the last 38 going back to October last year and that's down to more than one player. It's down to the club as a whole and we're in dire need of a leader at the Albion, that's for sure.
Personally I've got nothing but respect for the bloke as he was an integral part of a team that has seen us gain promotions and also go some way towards establishing ourselves in the Premier League, as well as chipping in with a worldy every now and then in seasons gone by.
![[Image: Brunt1a.gif]](http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3929285/Brunt1a.gif)
![[Image: brunt-v-everton-o.gif]](http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/2092824/brunt-v-everton-o.gif)
![[Image: Y1Qo08.gif]](http://share.gifyoutube.com/Y1Qo08.gif)
This may well be his last season with us given the pace of the Prem does seem past him now, but I won't forget what he's helped the club achieve in recent years so quickly as the brain donors who were booing him just this weekend did.
As much as the team are a complete shower of shite at the moment, the blame doesn't lie solely with Brunty and booing a player like some sections of the crowd did is outright criminal.
To quote my own thread I made called did you know, we've won only 5 games out of the last 38 going back to October last year and that's down to more than one player. It's down to the club as a whole and we're in dire need of a leader at the Albion, that's for sure.
Personally I've got nothing but respect for the bloke as he was an integral part of a team that has seen us gain promotions and also go some way towards establishing ourselves in the Premier League, as well as chipping in with a worldy every now and then in seasons gone by.
This may well be his last season with us given the pace of the Prem does seem past him now, but I won't forget what he's helped the club achieve in recent years so quickly as the brain donors who were booing him just this weekend did.
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