WBA vs West Ham - Match Thread

bomberbrown1968 · 16-09-2017, 19:57

'Arrys available Laugh

May68 · 16-09-2017, 19:59

This was the first game I've been to for two years. I used to have a season ticket but gave it up when Pulis was appointed. Needless to say I am in no great hurry to go to another game any time soon. The only time I got out of my seat was to let someone past to go for a piss. And I am not exaggerating there.

Beefy 1965 · 16-09-2017, 21:11

More
#WBA Tony Pulis tells @bbcwm that Jake Livermore is "mentally drained" so allowed a couple of days off. #Baggies @WBA.

WBA-Josh · (This post was last modified: 16-09-2017, 21:44 by WBA-Josh.)

I think that the bigger investment during the summer on quality players could end up being Tony Pulis' eventual downfall at this club. As we know he has a very good reputation at being able to squeeze out a lot from an average team which he did it with Stoke, Palace and his time with us.

Now however the expectation from the fans and hopefully the upper management is much higher than it was before. We had a good 10th place finish last season which has given us a good platform and proper investment was made in the summer transfer window on quality players like Krychowiak, Rodriguez and Gibbs so there are now no more excuses for the negative football that we play and most importantly it should not be accepted.

drewks · 16-09-2017, 23:03

(16-09-2017, 21:16)WBA-Josh Wrote: I think that the bigger investment during the summer on quality players could end up being Tony Pulis' eventual downfall at this club. As we know he has a very good reputation at being able to squeeze out a lot from an average team which he did it with Stoke, Palace and his time with us.

Now however the expectation from the fans and hopefully the upper management is much higher than it was before. We had a good 10th place finish last season which has given us a good platform and proper investment was made in the summer transfer window on quality players like Krychowiak, Rodriguez and Gibbs so there are now no more excuses for the negative football that we play and most importantly it should not be accepted.

I agree Josh, but the thing is if that type of football keeps on bringing enough points, will it be accepted by the new management? After all, Moanino has all the resources any coach could want, but his football is still bloody boring

WBA-Josh · (This post was last modified: 16-09-2017, 23:28 by WBA-Josh.)

Drewks, I think it all depends on the ambition that the new owner and his team (chairman, board etc) have. If they are happy with average football bringing about a decent points return season after season then Pulis is definitely the long term man for them. If the ambition is more than that and they want West Bromwich Albion to be a team that can get consistent results whilst playing an attractive style of football and attracting a wider audience then they will have to eventually move on from Tony Pulis.

Time will tell really. Tony Pulis still deserves this season with this better squad but if everything is the same at the end of the season as it is now (results and points return is good but performances are bad, fan attendances lower than they should be and a general negative atmosphere when we play like a League One team away at Chelsea in the FA Cup when we're actually playing away at Brighton in the Premier League) then I would hope the club takes a ruthless approach.

BaggieMan · 17-09-2017, 01:15

After wasting my time going to the game today, I am very depressed.
What a waste of time and money watching that dross but we must not forget it is Pulis and Pulis' team and set-up.
Confused

**Ska'dForLife-WBA** · 17-09-2017, 02:39

(16-09-2017, 23:27)WBA-Josh Wrote: Time will tell really. Tony Pulis still deserves this season with this better squad but if everything is the same at the end of the season as it is now (results and points return is good but performances are bad, fan attendances lower than they should be and a general negative atmosphere when we play like a League One team away at Chelsea in the FA Cup when we're actually playing away at Brighton in the Premier League) then I would hope the club takes a ruthless approach.

Thing is, to hop on this old merry-go-round again, where does the ruthless approach get you? West Ham were pretty ruthless with Fat Sam because he wasn't delivering football "the West Ham way". Having now watched that lot play twice in the space of five days, I honestly can't see how Slaven Bilic's football differs either in quality or in effect from Allardyce's. They've got a more expensive and (arguably) slightly better squad than us, and they play like absolute drains. If that's the so-called West Ham way, they can keep it.

Ultimately, unless the Premier League itself changes, we're all stuck with one type of negative shite or another and just trying to make the best of it.

Stairs · 17-09-2017, 09:38

Tactics aside we need to give them a few weeks to settle and become a team. But basically Ska'd hit the nail on the head. A few tens of million more does not make any real difference to the need to fight for 40 points first and Pulis's way is a safer way than many others we have seen crash and burn.

Worldclassalbion · 17-09-2017, 09:47

(16-09-2017, 23:27)WBA-Josh Wrote: Drewks, I think it all depends on the ambition that the new owner and his team (chairman, board etc) have. If they are happy with average football bringing about a decent points return season after season then Pulis is definitely the long term man for them. If the ambition is more than that and they want West Bromwich Albion to be a team that can get consistent results whilst playing an attractive style of football and attracting a wider audience then they will have to eventually move on from Tony Pulis.

Time will tell really. Tony Pulis still deserves this season with this better squad but if everything is the same at the end of the season as it is now (results and points return is good but performances are bad, fan attendances lower than they should be and a general negative atmosphere when we play like a League One team away at Chelsea in the FA Cup when we're actually playing away at Brighton in the Premier League) then I would hope the club takes a ruthless approach.

Josh, a very good post mate When I arrived at the ground yesterday I was quite excited with the line up but it sank in very fast once we kicked off that Pulis had asked Phillips to literally play alongside Gibbs!! so we literally had 2 LB's and 2 RB's.

He constantly shouts from the side lines which in my opinion doesn't help the players one bit. A few times Phillips started to move forwards and Pulis is yelling for him to drop back.

We had hardly any attacking threat and Jay Rod was making runs but due to TP's philosophy when the ball was played up he had run offside. I watched him make his moves several times but had to arch back.

After 10 minutes I said to my lad 'This will be a 0-0' or first goal will win it.

The problem with Pulis is whoever we play be it home or away, he sets up like we are playing Barcelona in the Nou Camp and everyone who sits by agrees that we cannot remember being excited on a match day since he has been at the club. Sometimes I actually think shall I bother today and that is unacceptable in my eyes and the other poor buggers who are season ticket holders who.

I know I keep banging on about it and I have had the balls to put my hands up when he's done well but he is killing our clubs DNA of what used to be attractive have a go football.

It takes me a fair while to get to the games and the same back home and I honestly think I can't be bothered anymore because there is no entertainment value whatsoever. My Daughter couldn't make the game yesterday and I couldn't give her ticket away. That's the Pulis impact for you.

In some ways I agree that now he has the players he should be given time but I always hope to see on SSN that he has quit.