08-02-2015, 22:54
Two threads to do this week, so this one's short and sweet.
Following another tough game in which we got out of jail free, it seems any ideas we may have had about cruising comfortably to safety this season can be shelved. It'll be a struggle all the way, and every point will have to be fought for. The good news is that we showed some of that fighting spirit in the second half at Burnley, when rolling over and accepting defeat could have been a temptation, but even so, another opportunity to grab a much-needed win and drag ourselves out of trouble has gone begging.
Our fixture list for the remainder of the season is concerning. Aside from the QPR and Leicester games in April, our home matches are all against teams in the top half of the table, beginning with Swansea this week. We're still struggling to break sides down, and Pulis's tinkering with the defence - while obviously designed to maximise our threat from set-pieces - is leaving us very flimsy and prone to conceding. With Victor Anichebe ostensibly suffering from another bout of housemaid's knee, we're looking to Saido and a hopefully-rejuvenated Brown Ideye to lead the way in scoring. Expect a lot more high balls and set-pieces in the months to come. It won't be pretty, and it won't always be effective either, but it's just about the only path left open to us.
Swansea are adapting to life without Wilfried Bony and missing Sigurdsson through suspension, but if TP insists on playing centre-halves at full-back again on Wednesday, their wide men could have a field day. It's vital we field a team which can contain them, and look at snatching a goal by any means necessary. Another point would be welcome; a win would be a serious boost at a time we really need one.
Over to you, Tony. Time to swap the baseball cap for your thinking cap.
Following another tough game in which we got out of jail free, it seems any ideas we may have had about cruising comfortably to safety this season can be shelved. It'll be a struggle all the way, and every point will have to be fought for. The good news is that we showed some of that fighting spirit in the second half at Burnley, when rolling over and accepting defeat could have been a temptation, but even so, another opportunity to grab a much-needed win and drag ourselves out of trouble has gone begging.
Our fixture list for the remainder of the season is concerning. Aside from the QPR and Leicester games in April, our home matches are all against teams in the top half of the table, beginning with Swansea this week. We're still struggling to break sides down, and Pulis's tinkering with the defence - while obviously designed to maximise our threat from set-pieces - is leaving us very flimsy and prone to conceding. With Victor Anichebe ostensibly suffering from another bout of housemaid's knee, we're looking to Saido and a hopefully-rejuvenated Brown Ideye to lead the way in scoring. Expect a lot more high balls and set-pieces in the months to come. It won't be pretty, and it won't always be effective either, but it's just about the only path left open to us.
Swansea are adapting to life without Wilfried Bony and missing Sigurdsson through suspension, but if TP insists on playing centre-halves at full-back again on Wednesday, their wide men could have a field day. It's vital we field a team which can contain them, and look at snatching a goal by any means necessary. Another point would be welcome; a win would be a serious boost at a time we really need one.
Over to you, Tony. Time to swap the baseball cap for your thinking cap.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley