Brunty

drewks · 21-01-2017, 23:04

OK...hands up those who thought he was finished!
Include me in that number - when he was switched to LB it was as if he could no longer hack it in midfield, and he looked vulnerable in his new position.
Bad, bad injury....age he is, most players would've wilted and either retired or gone down a couple of leagues.
Brunty stays, gets his fitness back (no mean feat at his age after that injury) .....and is then, IMO, a main reason for our great improvement over the last few months.
Great to see! A great bloke and a fantastic club servant!!

Mosestheballwinner · 22-01-2017, 00:10

He's a talented lad. Years ago I wanted to see him play upfront through the middle. He is good on the air too.

**Ska'dForLife-WBA** · 22-01-2017, 01:55

Yeah, two or three years back when we were desperately lacking players with pace and the ability to beat a man, it felt like Brunty - certainly in midfield - was part of the problem rather than part of the solution; but now that we've added some quality to the team again, it's obviated the need for him to be especially quick or tricky, and has allowed him instead to concentrate on his real strengths of picking out incisive passes, curling the ball in from out wide, and of course, smashing belters into the top corner.

He was always a great club man, but has once again become a solid player for us at this level, and all after the heartbreak of missing the Euros. I'm overjoyed that he's proved me wrong these last couple of seasons.

brokenmanrepaired · 22-01-2017, 03:24

(22-01-2017, 01:55)Ska Wrote: Yeah, two or three years back when we were desperately lacking players with pace and the ability to beat a man, it felt like Brunty - certainly in midfield - was part of the problem rather than part of the solution; but now that we've added some quality to the team again, it's obviated the need for him to be especially quick or tricky, and has allowed him instead to concentrate on his real strengths of picking out incisive passes, curling the ball in from out wide, and of course, smashing belters into the top corner.

He was always a great club man, but has once again become a solid player for us at this level, and all after the heartbreak of missing the Euros. I'm overjoyed that he's proved me wrong these last couple of seasons.

Ska'd I think you have nailed it as always. With a few other quality players around him now a newly rejuvinated Brunty has been able to catch his breath and use his specific talents to good effect. I also think removing the responsibility of being captain has helped considerably. He has been a great clubman over the years and I think we will see another couple of good seasons from him yet.

Worldclassalbion · 22-01-2017, 14:20

I admitted I was wrong last season and when he was injured he was missed. He is still a very important player for us and deserves all the plaudits he is getting. A great strike yesterday and if Messi had scored like that it would be on every sports channel on the box.

WELL DONE BRUNTY AND WELL DONE TP

Alouion · 22-01-2017, 15:36

He should be recognised as the first Albion legend of the Premier era. He has had his ups and downs but every manager has recognised his ability. He has stuck with us when relegated and been promoted with us. Scorer of some great goals, many fabulous assists. There was a time when he was on Liverpools radar but he stuck with us.
Yesterday's goal was a belter and the free kick against Everton remains the best free kick I have ever seen. Great goals against Middlesbrough and Arsenal in particular.
We fans often criticise modern players for the loyalty to our clubs. There is no worse example than Saido Berahino. There is no better example than Brunt.

Beefy 1965 · 22-01-2017, 16:15

(22-01-2017, 15:36)Alouion Wrote: He should be recognised as the first Albion legend of the Premier era. He has had his ups and downs but every manager has recognised his ability. He has stuck with us when relegated and been promoted with us. Scorer of some great goals, many fabulous assists. There was a time when he was on Liverpools radar but he stuck with us.
Yesterday's goal was a belter and the free kick against Everton remains the best free kick I have ever seen. Great goals against Middlesbrough and Arsenal in particular.
We fans often criticise modern players for the loyalty to our clubs. There is no worse example than Saido Berahino. There is no better example than Brunt.

Great post Thumb up

4evaabaggie · (This post was last modified: 22-01-2017, 16:18 by 4evaabaggie.)

(22-01-2017, 15:36)Alouion Wrote: He should be recognised as the first Albion legend of the Premier era. He has had his ups and downs but every manager has recognised his ability. He has stuck with us when relegated and been promoted with us. Scorer of some great goals, many fabulous assists. There was a time when he was on Liverpools radar but he stuck with us.
Yesterday's goal was a belter and the free kick against Everton remains the best free kick I have ever seen. Great goals against Middlesbrough and Arsenal in particular.
We fans often criticise modern players for the loyalty to our clubs. There is no worse example than Saido Berahino. There is no better example than Brunt.

We have been fortunate as a club to have some great players that are also great people, Brunty has been a special case, last year he was coined by his own fans, he could have walked, he stayed, another is Jimbo, James Morrison, been a loyal servant and a great player thorough the good times and the bad. Ben is another been with us a while, signed a new contract wants to finish his career with us .... then we have had the others .... Saido, Anelka, Peter. Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

Hoping for great testimonials for Chris and James and hopefully Ben further down the line ...... rare commodity players that serve ten plus years for one club.

drewks · 22-01-2017, 17:46

(22-01-2017, 15:36)Alouion Wrote: He should be recognised as the first Albion legend of the Premier era. He has had his ups and downs but every manager has recognised his ability. He has stuck with us when relegated and been promoted with us. Scorer of some great goals, many fabulous assists. There was a time when he was on Liverpools radar but he stuck with us.
Yesterday's goal was a belter and the free kick against Everton remains the best free kick I have ever seen. Great goals against Middlesbrough and Arsenal in particular.
We fans often criticise modern players for the loyalty to our clubs. There is no worse example than Saido Berahino. There is no better example than Brunt.

Me too - absolutely inch perfect!

It's been said/hinted at above, but he was the wrong choice IMO for the captaincy, but that wasn't his fault!
His commitment could never be questioned and it's great to see the words above that say about him being a modern day club legend. Thumb up

Salopbaggie · 22-01-2017, 22:13

Yes, Brunt is a legend and our form does get better when he is in the team, this I posted on here back in May 16, when he was out with is knee on one of those "who do we keep" threads and the press and others were saying our drop in for was due to us reaching 40 points.

"Brunt: I really think we have missed him and I put our drop in form down to his absence, more than the reported reaching 40 points."

........... and he still has another season or two yet, unless we bring in better, but we do have a bit of a habit of letting players go then bringing in someone who is technically better on paper but then does not gel with the team so well and do not fight tooth and nail for the club.

I just hope when it comes to his testimonial it will be a full house, I will certainly by buying a ticket whether or not I can make the game, which will probably be an evening game and rule me out :-(