[4evaabaggie]

Very disappointed like most with the performances but we only lost by one and still have a good goal difference. At half time I feared a thumping so in the end will settle with 1-2 result. We have to start picking up some wins or we could have a long hard winter.

---

For thirty years I have lived and worked in and around London, due to working three Saturdays in four for most of that time I could not get to many games but always managed a couple of games a season. Last season I found it very difficult to even drag myself to one game ...... no surprise, we lost. This season even though I have more time I can not be bothered to look for any games to attend ... a sad state of affairs .... I want to be entertained. The performances, the defend at all costs, the lack of adventure and creativity, why would I do a two hundred mile round trip, pay for the privilege, to watch such dross.

Retirement approaches, I spent years looking forward to this moment so I could get a season ticket ....... but why would you right now.

[Baggievicar]

First on Match of the Day. We must be good.

[drewks]

I do get the negativity surrounding OUR negativity, I really do.......but we mustn't lose sight of the fact that we've just played the 2 in-form teams in succession. 1-1 and 1-2 aren't that bad in that context. I think a more cavalier approach to these games would've been suicidal.
Before I'm shot down, I do share the frustration that surrounds TP's tactics, and also wish that we WOULD take the game to the opposition generally; however, I think we must recognise that the days of managers taking too many chances are over in this 'sack the coach after 3 defeats' era.
A bit more entertainment WOULD be good tho,  eh?  

[Slick_Footwork]

In my opinion that was the world performance of the Pulis era.

Now the thing about Pulis is, like or lump his style, I can usually explain it. The plan away is usually to keep it tight, sit back and snatch a goal from a break or set play. When we do go behind, then we usually have a crack at pressing them and taking a few more risks.

Sure, there's been some bad performances but there was always a game plan. Today, I just couldn't explain what I was watching.

It's not the lack of quality that disappointed me, because we're used to that. We're used to 3 on 3 breakaway situations that amount to nothing because we don't have players that can pass incisively enough or make the right decision. We saw that a few times today, where Rondon could've put Chadli through but passed the ball behind him and when Phillips made the wrong decision and tried to find Rondon when he should've gone alone. But hell, we see that garbage every week and we know Pulis favours players who 'put a shift in' and 'get into defensive shape' over those that can play; that's his prerogative.

But what I couldn't understand today was that even when we were behind, we didn't seem to have any intention of trying to get back into it. Our defenders go long every time, which is the norm. Yet our midfielders 'choose' to pass back to centre back even when there's a ball in the box on. Now I know that we lack quality, forward options and so on - but I noticed at least 5 times today when we had bodies in the box and Fletcher, Yacob, Mozza etc could've delivered but instead went backwards tamely. There was one occasion in the first half where Yacob was in a decent crossing situation and turned round, was dispossessed and they nearly scored on the break. Hell, there was one where we could've delivered in the box and instead passed it back to Nyom's left foot which is clearly just for standing on! Suffice to say, his first time hoof went straight into touch.

Again, I can understand us playing 'coy' and not committing too many men forwards because our philosophy is defence first. But what I can't understand is why not put the ball in the box when there are bodies there? After all, passing back is just going to lead to the inevitable hike forward from a worse position anyway. If we we're a team that build the play from the back, I could understand passing backwards to start again; but we're not.

Then what really annoyed me was that when we did get it to 2-1, which was almost a miracle given our fear of getting forward; we still didn't try to go at them. There was so many occasions where I was screaming at the TV set when someone should've been running forward and for whatever reason... didn't.

There was at least 2 obvious overlaps where Nyom was completely free yet he was just standing on the half way line like a statue and even one case where Mozza decided not to join the attack despite the fact that he's one of the freshest on the pitch, an attack minded player and we're in the 85th minute 2-1 behind.

I saw one moment of urgency where a defender actually picked up the ball and drove forward and that was from Jonas Olsson! And you guessed it, when he passed it into the midfield and continued his run, rather than get it back the midfielder passed it back to Foster.

I have no idea if it was Pulis, the players inferiority complex or what... But when you're given a lifeline and it's gone 80 minute, you'd expect the players would have the balls to at least push on, get some bodies and balls into the box. After all, for all the talent of this Liverpool team with Coutinho, Lallana and Mane; the keeper and centre halves are still prone to errors, one full back is a midfielder and the other has never been particularly strong defensively.

We're short of quality but considering our heart, fight and hustle and bustle; I thought today was a joke. We've lost plenty of times under Pulis but at least the game plan was there to see. Obviously we conceded earlier than we wanted to and that changed things, but that still doesn't explain the last 10 minutes. It doesn't explain why we're a goal behind with 5 minutes to go and players are too shook to commit forward.

Yes 2-1 away to that Liverpool side isn't anything to be embarrassed about, but to choose to pass backwards rather than attempt to put the ball into a dangerous area with 5 minutes left is criminal.

The only positive was Foster continuing his good form and Brunt coming back, who was probably our best midfielder when he came on. Not that it was a tough contest, there was only really him and Chadli in the midfield who turned up.

[BaggyShep]

Hi guys,

So here's my review of the Liverpool game:

https://goo.gl/Yf1KqE

I also have a blog about the games now, feel free to check that out: https://baggyshepblog.wordpress.com/

Subscribe too, I appreciate all support, let's get WBA popular on the video site shall we!

Cheers! 

[Worldclassalbion]

When I was a kid playing football (yeah I know its changed over the last decade.............Its now boring!!) I was always told the best form of defence is Attack.

I still believe in that Philosophy because when you see so called 'smaller teams' playing the 'big boys' you normally get a great game of attacking football because they have nothing to lose and sometimes you get an upset........normally against us when we play in the cups.

Pulis decides to change things when its way too late, he hasn't got the nous to do it before things go T*TS UP.

Fletcher was woeful yesterday and needs dropping but that's not gonna happen because Yacob is suspended next game.

When we actually attack we don't look half bad but Pulis won't allow us to. Even though we were poor Chadli still looked like the one who might make something happen.

I listened to Pulis' after match talk yesterday and its the same every week, we worked hard, we didn't get forward fast enough, there was no support for Salomon blah blah blah.........SAME EVERY WEEK TONE BECAUSE THEY DO WHAT YOU INSTRUCT THEM TO DO..................MUPPET.

Give us an early Christmas present and Jog On, lets get someone in who can get the best out of our players who maybe likes to put the opposition on the back foot for a change.

Before yo give me pelters look at Bournemouth....they are not blessed with super stars but Eddie Howe believes in attacking football and they will give most teams a run for their money and are great to watch. Football is all about entertainment and scoring goals not trying to defend for 89 minutes and attack for 1 hoping to get a goal. As others have said myself included, being an Albion fan has a stigma attached to it now, as other fans across the country think we are a waste of a space in the Premier league and are the most less attractive team going. We have a history of playing nice attractive football but not now and it is killing me...........and you if you're honest.

[Stairs]

Watched the highlights which is never fair to West Brom and read some of the contributions above, always appreciated.

As always, with Mr Pulis, I am a man in dilemma.

I hate the weeks (many of them) when we seem to play very defensively and do little to attack. But then just as I begin to despair we will have a cracking game that makes me feel Pulis does have the capacity to change.

Spurs, Liverpool, Man City and Leicetsre on paper and in reality is a nightmare and we probably all thought this would be a barren patch. We have 1 more point than expected so far and we might get something out of Leicester - we are ahead of plan for this spell - nice performances or not. Goal difference at the end of the season might be important.

If I were the owners I would accept that the above fixtures required a particular approach (defensive set-up and hope set pieces or breakaways steal a goal) and set up and a point is a reasonable outcome. But then we have Burnley, Hull and Watford and I'd expect at least 6 points from these.

This gets us to 2nd December when I'd expect either to stay loyal to Pulis and let him buy his players or I'd sack him and put a new manager in place so he can agree with player purchases and invest in the rest of the season.

[Stairs]

One more point - I think it was Martinez who said he preferred to have a series of tough fixtures all in a block as it allowed him and his staff to prepare the players for a style of play for a period of time instead of switching styles and approach each week.

It makes sense - In theory.

It worked v Spurs, it failed v Liverpool and I expect this to me the mode for the next 2 games.

[Worldclassalbion]

Stairs good post but Pulis' style 90% Of the time is very negative. I'd like someone like Glen Hoddle because he could play and likes his teams to play the right way. A lot of people don't like him but he only got sacked from The England job because of his beliefs and comments he made out of football.

Not saying he'd be my first choice but I would be more than happy with him. I'm now ducking behind the settee with my tin hat on awaiting incoming fire.

[DanTheSmethwickMan]

We never change styles of football though regardless of who we play, home or away, top or bottom, aim is just don't lose. That's the issue.