[Beefy 1965]

Just got in raced to TV to listen about Irvines sacking, and what do i Hear ?

Sky Sources say Irvine will be in charge for the West Ham game on thursday WTF !!!!!!!!!!

Can someone fill me in on the latest and let me no what's going on ?

And tell me the above is NOT true

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

If we lose against West Ham then Irvine will have lost four games on the trot for the second time in quick succession. No other manager since Tony Mowbray has been given so much leeway. JP's showing a level of patience here which RDM and Steve Clarke could only have dreamed of, but it has to run out sooner or later. If Irvine takes us on a sudden and unexpected winning streak then fair enough, but failing that, it just looks like delaying the inevitable.

[WillieJohnstonsGreenhouse]

- Fair Play to him he owes the Newcastle fans absolutely zero loyalty


- Agree - IMO Pardew is a decent bloke and a good manager, and has been treated terribly by what seems a good proportion of Newcastle fans. He owes them nothing.




Before anyone goes mental   --- absolutely NO offence but Newcastle were also a bag of shi*te  and in free-fall not long ago and their fans wanted him out...............




(I seem to be in the slender minority   , but I thought we played some good football against Stoke - in fact I've seen us play worse . Their first goal was great football and beautifully taken. Their second was a joke and killed the game.)

WE WERE NOT SH*T!!!!


Just my opinion but Irvine is far from being the problem at West Bromwich Albion, it's much deeper than that, yet he takes the flak...... I doubt any new manager will do better. I know the majority disagree but I'd like to add my opinion  

All the best friends - we all want the best for The Baggies  

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

In the first half, we played football which was good but ineffective. Again, it was reminiscent of Mowbray; we were passing the ball around and creating goalscoring chances, but the fact is, Begovic could have put a deckchair on the goalline and got stuck into a Bosnian crossword book for all the trouble we caused him.

I've said many times that I don't think Irvine is the source of all our ills, and there's plenty of blame to go around the players who aren't pulling their weight, the coaching staff who seem to preside over a team which is going backwards in terms of ability, and the recruitment staff who are scouting and signing players not fit for purpose. But when "Norman" Wisdom is nailed on for a starting place each and every week despite being this season's answer to Liam Ridgewell, you have to wonder just what is going on. Either Cristian Gamboa isn't good enough for the Premier League (in which case, why is whoever signed him still in a job?) or Alan Irvine just refuses to hand a chance to a different player (in which case, why is Alan Irvine still in a job?)

Basically, this is where we are right now. We as fans aren't party to what's going on behind the scenes, but what's going on out on the pitch still isn't good enough, and we'd like some reassurance that the situation's under control. As I said on the match thread: new year, new start, and if that means sticking with Alan Irvine, then I'd at least like to see some honesty from the club about what the long-term plan is with this guy.

[WillieJohnstonsGreenhouse]

I don't disagree with you Ska'd,

I just see the same mentality and lack of confidence in our team that's been obvious for the last few seasons. Surely that's not Irvine's fault??????
I'm not saying he's the answer but he's a proven coach who knows football and I feel he may be getting stick for the several seasons of underachievement.

The bloke had no chance from the start and that is not a reason to hurl abuse at him. I'm not happy being a Baggie at the moment, and not just because of the situation we're in.

I thought our fans had more class and that's what upsets me.

What also worries me is getting a 'proper manager' in without changes at the club. I just can't see how anything will improve.

[drewks]

Yeh, I agree with the main thrust there Ska'd; I'm sure that Gamboa would've played virtually every game in all but the top 5/6 teams and Samaras wouldn't have been far behind....followed by Blanco and then Valera. I'm now understanding the wish to get rid of AI before it's too late because of these very talented players not even getting a look in, which HAS to be the decisions of AI.

Haven't even mentioned Ideye - if he's not a 10, or even 5 million pound player then who FFS sanctioned that purchase? We don't know the answer to that one but either AI or one/all of the recruitment/scouting team have got serious questions to answer.

A win v WHam then a VERY convincing one v Gateshead followed by another 3 points v Hull................IMO it's very possible with the squad we have - but will AI pick a more offensive team to be able to do it?
If he doesn't, and we don't win all 3, then I fear has HAS to go.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

The rot from the last two years isn't Irvine's fault, but the reason he was hired was to turn things around and usher in a new era. At this moment in time, there's nothing to suggest he's capable of doing that. It's possible he needs better tools, but even if he's given them, I'm not convinced he's got what it takes to really make this a success in the long-term. That's why I think the club need to break the silence and actually start talking about a blueprint for Albion in a year's time, and two years' time, rather than muddling through from one season to the next, chopping and changing styles and managers at a whim. There's no vision here which fans can buy into.

[Beefy 1965]

Don't usually disagree Willy

But until recently I thought the supporters stuck by him quite well,

However the team set up on Saturday was criminal,

Injuries Irvine keeps stating for certain players they have to be match fit,

Yet Morrison is Injured , gets straight back in the team, Then Brunt gets Injured,gets straight back in the team, Dorrans gets Injured and feels Ill yet gets straight back in the team,

These are Championship Players from 2008,

What have any of them done for us this season ?

Wisdom along with Dorrans seems undroppable , yet they are 2 underperforming players yet they are picked week in week out,

Varela, Sameras, Blanco, Gamboa who every time i have seen him is good, Quick, and gets stuck in yet never starts.

AFI's teams stinks of favorites and now is getting all what he deserves,

You make your bed , you lie in it

[tidy]

We're not shìte but we do have problems.

Stats from the last 4 games:

Stoke attempts at goal = 16
West Brom attempts at goal = 19

West Brom attempts = 24
Man City attempts = 14

QPR attempts = 24
West Brom attempts = 22

West Brom attempts = 18
Villa attempts = 9


.....goes to suggest our strikers are not very good.

[WillieJohnstonsGreenhouse]

I'm not trying to defend Irvine (much),
I agree his reliance on our 'stalwarts' is bizarre but that's been the problem with our previous managers as well. Where's that come from?

I honestly don't know the answer but blaming AI is too easy.
According to the media he (and any future Head Coach) has no say in signings - that's surely madness. Hence the lack of strikers.

Irvine is not an idiot, I'm sure he would like a better strike force but he has to pick the best team from those on the training pitch - we never see that.

If you look back at my posts you will see I was gob-smacked and against his appointment. I feel no different.

My anger is against Baggies fans blaming him, but more importantly Peace for putting the bloke in an impossible position.

It was always going to end in tears and we're about to lose ANOTHER coach who didn't stand a chance.....................WTF