[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Like many people, I thought that Astle Day was going to go down as the most memorable occasion at Albion in years.  And so it did; but for all the wrong reasons.

Off the pitch, everyone played their part in making the day a special one, but out on the field, Brunty and Mozza were the only two players to come away with any credit, at least looking like they cared about the result while the rest of the side shuffled to yet another avoidable defeat.  Nor is Tony Pulis blameless in the grand tactical debacle, trying to ride his luck to three points on an afternoon when the league's bottom team attacked us with a pace and purpose which fully deserved its eventual reward.

The sad epilogue to a gut-wrenching day is that we now find ourselves in more or less the position Norwich City were in this time last year; perched precariously above the relegation zone with a run-in from hell.  The good news is that we have a greater cushion than the Canaries did, and may yet be capable of snatching a point or two to keep ourselves alive.  But make no mistake; in the coming weeks, our anxious eyes will be cemented to the full-time scores as we pray that other teams' failures will keep us in the Premier League.  Again.

We kick off our disastrous run with a trip to Selhurst Park, where a genuinely rejuvenated Crystal Palace are in imperious form, with pace and guile in their side which makes our previous opposition Leicester and QPR look, frankly, as slow and predictable as us.  If there's any hope for us in Croydon this weekend, it's as follows:


1. We always lose the games we're expected to win and win the ones we're expected to lose (except, notably, times when everyone expects us to lose and we do.  In style).
2. It's our free travel game, which generally ends positively for us (if there's anyone left who actually wants to suffer watching these players for ninety minutes ever again).
3. Palace have just crossed the 40-point mark, and may yet suffer a dose of complacency themselves (i.e. limit themselves to just the seven goals).
4. Pulis could prove capable of pulling a rabbit out of the hat against a former club, as he did against Stoke (when we heroically romped to an edgy 1-0 win, for a change).


So, the stage is all set for a famous Baggies triumph.  In your own time, gentlemen.

Classic Match

Crystal Palace 0-1 West Bromwich Albion

Football League First Division: 4th October 1980

Regis grabs the winner as Ron Atkinson relays his in-match tactical thoughts to the commentary box.  Can't decide whether that would be a good thing for Tony Pulis or not.

[betterthanbaird]

I'm on a general football forum and a lot of the palace fans expect us to steal a win because it's Pulis' return and it's written in the stars etc, I might out some of their comments on here later if people want.

Sadly I can't see us dealing with Bolasie, Puncheon and Zaha. Hopefully the lads will prove me wrong and win.

[drewks]

Another great one Ska'd

As you say, a mix of utter complacency from Palace and a Pulis-Walks-On-Water Type Return seems our only hope.....
....unless he actually plays Gamboa & Poco

A stodgy, stale, uninspired us v The PL Form Team with pace and skill to burn.....

....2-0 to us

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

....unless he actually plays Gamboa & Poco    

I heard from someone who was at the BSC match last night that Poco and Gamboa were awful.  You could question whether the chicken or the egg came first there (are they being left out because they're shite, or are they shite because they're being left out?) but if they aren't inclined to play their way into the first team, you have to ask why we should expect them to put any more effort into a Premier League game than our current starting XI.

[Tom_Wba]

....unless he actually plays Gamboa & Poco    

I heard from someone who was at the BSC match last night that Poco and Gamboa were awful.  You could question whether the chicken or the egg came first there (are they being left out because they're shite, or are they shite because they're being left out?) but if they aren't inclined to play their way into the first team, you have to ask why we should expect them to put any more effort into a Premier League game than our current starting XI.

After reading what Gamboa said i don't think it matters if they start sticking in M.O.M performances in the U21s Pulis has no intention of using either of them

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

But I doubt Gamboa's own opinion on the matter is exactly impartial. Always a lot easier to blame your own shortcomings on someone else than really have a good look at where you could improve.

[aries22]

I heard from someone who was at the BSC match last night that Poco and Gamboa were awful.  You could question whether the chicken or the egg came first there (are they being left out because they're shite, or are they shite because they're being left out?) but if they aren't inclined to play their way into the first team, you have to ask why we should expect them to put any more effort into a Premier League game than our current starting XI.

Because they're professionals.
But I think they've been left out because they've been found wanting in training. I can't think of any other logical explanation.

[Salopbaggie]

I heard from someone who was at the BSC match last night that Poco and Gamboa were awful.  You could question whether the chicken or the egg came first there (are they being left out because they're shite, or are they shite because they're being left out?) but if they aren't inclined to play their way into the first team, you have to ask why we should expect them to put any more effort into a Premier League game than our current starting XI.

Because they're professionals.
But I think they've been left out because they've been found wanting in training. I can't think of any other logical explanation.

I do tend to agree Aries, but there is still that naggy feeling underneath it all, that would our scouting system really select so many players who are not good enough?

I know that you will always make some naff purchases, but it is well known the number of players we brought in last summer and virtually all of them not good enough???  It does make you wonder!

[drewks]

But I doubt Gamboa's own opinion on the matter is exactly impartial.  Always a lot easier to blame your own shortcomings on someone else than really have a good look at where you could improve.

...nice choice of words, Ska'd 

[aries22]

Anyway, if we go behind in this game, I doubt if we'll get a draw, let alone a win, but you never know in football.
Also, James Morrison's been quoted in the Birmingham Mail that no one wants to go to Palace. In that case, James, remove yourself from selection and let somebody else take your place.