[Slick_Footwork]

Slick
I agree with much of what you say. I actually wasn't against Pulis' appointment and it did bring some much needed organisation to the team. You're absolutely right that he stayed too long and that would one of my concerns in appointing Allardyce - if he keeps us up, the Board/Owner will persist in his appointment into next season, as they did with Pulis even though it became obvious that he was taking us backwards. There will be consideration of the longer term.

I honestly think the issue at the Hawthorns is systemic and it wouldn't really matter who is the manager; it starts with the owner, who is not prepared to invest in the club but expects PL performances from a squad that is at Championship level, and a Board that is not willing to stand up to him or seemingly challenge his decisions. I just think short term thinking kills any club of our size - there is no continuity, it's all about survival in the PL (which is usually in vain) and an unwillingness to recognise that, for a club of our size, survival will always be a struggle. Sometimes I just think we have to break out of that thinking otherwise we just perpetuate the issue that we face - I accept that, in doing so, we may be relegated but I can't help but think that we face that outcome anyway, if not this season, then likely next since there will be no investment of any significance to markedly improve the squad. Of course, we may have been watching a PL quality squad all along and didn't realise it, and Allardyce will get them performing to that level but I don't think that is the case.

You're right that our history - and that of clubs of similar size - tells us that if we have players or managers of genuine ability, then we are at the mercy of them being lured away by clubs bigger than our own. It's always been the case - Cunningham, Robson, Moses, Atkinson etc (I'm sure there are plenty more of that era that others on here could name) and it's the reality right now for us and others like us. I don't think that should prevent us from being ambitious in our recruitment, otherwise we'll be appointing the Allardyces, Pulis', Pardews, Hughes', Bruces etc of this world until they're all dead - even then, we'd probably appoint one of them on a five year contract.

If it's Allardyce, then so be it, of course I'll still support the Baggies, they're my team...but it won't stop me thinking it's a sh*t appointment from an unambitious club.

You may be right (and probably will be) that if he keeps us up, he will be appointed longer term.

If that happens, then I'd deem that to be the mistake at the time, rather than appointing him now. That was the mistake with Pulis.

That said, if he keeps us up, his stock will be high. He might well wish to move on himself for more cash. He never stuck around with Palace after keeping them up. Who knows, he might just be here to have a crack at one last bonus payment for survival and that's it. Either way, I am in the camp that relegation could be a disaster based on the impact of covid and our board's reluctance to spend and that's why i'm in favour of him over a young coach right now. But I do appreciate your vision would be nice if we are able to build on safety this season.