[Sir Megson]

The other thing people have to remember is that a change of manager doesn't guarantee a better style.

Everyone talks like the football was great before Pulis, but it was absolutely dross under Irvine. At least under Pulis we are competitive at home, under Irvine we were dross to watch and weak.

There has been a lot of teams playing terrible, defensive football in the Premier League for the last 2 or 3 years and good football from anyone outside of the top 6 is the exception to the norm. I guess it's a coincidental time because we've just played Watford, but Marco Silva is the only new manager in the last 2 years I can remember coming in and playing football with a 'lesser' side.

I mean people give Bournemouth a lot of credit for good football, but when I watch them, I don't see it. Yes, they have a fair share of the ball, but they don't have players that excite you, beat a man, thread balls through. When we played them at home on the opening day they huffed and puffed but didn't create anything.

Swansea brought in Clement, who had been at all the big clubs and they are terrible to watch now. Southampton have had 2 foreign managers at in last 2 years, both successful abroad, but barely look like scoring. Boro were absolute dross last year with Karanka in charge, once a cracking player at Real Madrid. West Ham are just as boring as us under Bilic, who has spent a lot more money. Even Everton, having spent probably 4x the money that we have in the summer play with multiple defensive midfielders, no width, no pace and are absolutely shocking to watch.

Palace brought in De Boer, who was apparently a footballing coach and didn't score a goal in 5 games... Then they brought in another 'dinosaur' in Hodgson to try and save the day.

We need to be careful what we wish for. The grass isn't always greener.

The fact is, this is Premier League. It's a league where teams at the bottom defend for their lives, foreign manager or not. It's all about money, clubs couldn't care less about entertaining.

Another accurate description of the current state of the Premier League, especially your comments about Bournemouth. They were a fantastic side to watch in their promotion season but since their days in the PL they have become one of my least liked teams. Diving/Play acting to waste time and not the most entertaining football to watch either.

This poll and the reaction in general since the Watford game is a hideous overreaction. 

Conceding a last minute goal to scupper what would have been a good result is definitely annoying, however I don't recall calls for Pepe Mel's head after the 3-3 at home to Cardiff. His football was also shite to watch.

The comments in this thread are not a reaction to the Watford game, they're a reaction to 3 years of mind-numbing boredom of watching Albion under Pulis. I also don't agree with your comment re Pepe Mel - the results may well have been shite but most games I saw (and those were my pre-Pulis season ticket times) had at least some entertainment, even if some of it was of the comical variety. We scored goals and we conceded goals and, guess what, we stayed up.

Sorry but this is a reaction to the Watford game. If we'd have held on for 2-1, this thread and poll would not have been posted. 

Yesterday was also anything other than a boring game, although I'd probably be bored just watching the football via streams on a laptop as well. The point of going up the Albion isn't just about the 90 minutes on the pitch, it's the meeting up with friends, watching the early KO, having a drink and some banter. 

To be honest I cannot wait until the eventual day when Pulis does leave just the same as you; because he won't be here forever, however I'm not naive enough to think that just because we change the manager our style of football will improve.

[4evaabaggie]

Sir Gary, another good post, all the posts on this thread are making good valid points, everybody has different reasons for going to / supporting the Albion, their respective posts reflect their individual views, hopes and expectations, their desires and their disappointments, nobody is wrong and I for one respect everybody who choose to post, for being brave enough to face potential flack. This is, after all a divisive subject.

This may seem like I am sitting on the fence.

After thirty years dealing with conflict, dangerous and explosive confrontations you learn to read between the lines and to appreciate both persons agreements ...... without being aggressive or judgemental. I hate lots about our current situation, and if we played more attractive football would have attended more games this last twelve months, but it is what it is.

---

One last post before I leave this thread alone ........

If we had held on for a win, if we had not gifted stoke an equaliser and if we hadn't been robbed by the ref against Arsenal we would be third on 16 points and a positive goal difference ....... Would the collective we be calling for the HC's then ........ fine margins weighted in favour of the few.

[Zinman]

Sorry but this is a reaction to the Watford game. If we'd have held on for 2-1, this thread and poll would not have been posted.

Yesterday was also anything other than a boring game, although I'd probably be bored just watching the football via streams on a laptop as well. The point of going up the Albion isn't just about the 90 minutes on the pitch, it's the meeting up with friends, watching the early KO, having a drink and some banter.

To be honest I cannot wait until the eventual day when Pulis does leave just the same as you; because he won't be here forever, however I'm not naive enough to think that just because we change the manager our style of football will improve.

I think you'll find that threads like this have been commonplace since Pulis arrived.I'm sure yesterday wasn't boring, and watching a team play fast attacking football, able to pass and control the ball, keep possession and put pressure on the opposition must have been good to watch- pity that team wasn't Albion. I agree that meeting up with friends, having a drink and good banter is great, and has been part of my life for far too many years. The good thing now is that I don't have to spend £500+ and waste 2 hours of my life every Saturday to do it.

I've watched Albion under some dreadful managers, Saunders, Little, Howe to name just 3, but Pulis is the only one to drive me away from the Hawthorns. Some people used to criticise Peace for not taking a risk - those same people seem now to criticise others for wanting to take a - in my view very small- risk in changing the manager to bring just a slight hope of entertainment. I don't consider this view to be naive.

[Sir Megson]

Sorry but this is a reaction to the Watford game. If we'd have held on for 2-1, this thread and poll would not have been posted.

Yesterday was also anything other than a boring game, although I'd probably be bored just watching the football via streams on a laptop as well. The point of going up the Albion isn't just about the 90 minutes on the pitch, it's the meeting up with friends, watching the early KO, having a drink and some banter.

To be honest I cannot wait until the eventual day when Pulis does leave just the same as you; because he won't be here forever, however I'm not naive enough to think that just because we change the manager our style of football will improve.

I think you'll find that threads like this have been commonplace since Pulis arrived.I'm sure yesterday wasn't boring, and watching a team play fast attacking football, able to pass and control the ball, keep possession and put pressure on the opposition must have been good to watch- pity that team wasn't Albion. I agree that meeting up with friends, having a drink and good banter is great, and has been part of my life for far too many years. The good thing now is that I don't have to spend £500+ and waste 2 hours of my life every Saturday to do it.

I've watched Albion under some dreadful managers, Saunders, Little, Howe to name just 3, but Pulis is the only one to drive me away from the Hawthorns. Some people used to criticise Peace for not taking a risk - those same people seem now to criticise others for wanting to take a - in my view very small- risk in changing the manager to bring just a slight hope of entertainment. I don't consider this view to be naive.

I'm sure they have. I still stand by the valid point I made that if we hold on for 2-1, this poll/thread doesn't appear on here. Pointless having further debate on that specific point as it's obvious that few would be calling for a managers head after 3 points won. Not rocket science.

[Worldclassalbion]

The other thing people have to remember is that a change of manager doesn't guarantee a better style.

Everyone talks like the football was great before Pulis, but it was absolutely dross under Irvine. At least under Pulis we are competitive at home, under Irvine we were dross to watch and weak.

There has been a lot of teams playing terrible, defensive football in the Premier League for the last 2 or 3 years and good football from anyone outside of the top 6 is the exception to the norm. I guess it's a coincidental time because we've just played Watford, but Marco Silva is the only new manager in the last 2 years I can remember coming in and playing football with a 'lesser' side.

I mean people give Bournemouth a lot of credit for good football, but when I watch them, I don't see it. Yes, they have a fair share of the ball, but they don't have players that excite you, beat a man, thread balls through. When we played them at home on the opening day they huffed and puffed but didn't create anything.

Swansea brought in Clement, who had been at all the big clubs and they are terrible to watch now. Southampton have had 2 foreign managers at in last 2 years, both successful abroad, but barely look like scoring. Boro were absolute dross last year with Karanka in charge, once a cracking player at Real Madrid. West Ham are just as boring as us under Bilic, who has spent a lot more money. Even Everton, having spent probably 4x the money that we have in the summer play with multiple defensive midfielders, no width, no pace and are absolutely shocking to watch.

Palace brought in De Boer, who was apparently a footballing coach and didn't score a goal in 5 games... Then they brought in another 'dinosaur' in Hodgson to try and save the day.

We need to be careful what we wish for. The grass isn't always greener.

The fact is, this is Premier League. It's a league where teams at the bottom defend for their lives, foreign manager or not. It's all about money, clubs couldn't care less about entertaining.

Another accurate description of the current state of the Premier League, especially your comments about Bournemouth. They were a fantastic side to watch in their promotion season but since their days in the PL they have become one of my least liked teams. Diving/Play acting to waste time and not the most entertaining football to watch either.

This poll and the reaction in general since the Watford game is a hideous overreaction. 

Conceding a last minute goal to scupper what would have been a good result is definitely annoying, however I don't recall calls for Pepe Mel's head after the 3-3 at home to Cardiff. His football was also shite to watch.

The comments in this thread are not a reaction to the Watford game, they're a reaction to 3 years of mind-numbing boredom of watching Albion under Pulis. I also don't agree with your comment re Pepe Mel - the results may well have been shite but most games I saw (and those were my pre-Pulis season ticket times) had at least some entertainment, even if some of it was of the comical variety. We scored goals and we conceded goals and, guess what, we stayed up.

Sorry but this is a reaction to the Watford game. If we'd have held on for 2-1, this thread and poll would not have been posted. 

Yesterday was also anything other than a boring game, although I'd probably be bored just watching the football via streams on a laptop as well. The point of going up the Albion isn't just about the 90 minutes on the pitch, it's the meeting up with friends, watching the early KO, having a drink and some banter. 

To be honest I cannot wait until the eventual day when Pulis does leave just the same as you; because he won't be here forever, however I'm not naive enough to think that just because we change the manager our style of football will improve.

Sir Megson,
THIS IS NOT A REACTION TO THE WATFORD GAME........I know because I wrote it, this is a reaction to most of Pulis' tenure. If you look back you will see I haven't really changed my opinion of the man and his soul destroying brand of Football. Even at 2-1 the game for us was hanging on for dear life after 23 minutes and Foster wasting time in the 1st half, let alone the 2nd half...............................That's the Pulis factor.

Do you go to games? And as for Bournemouth, Palace and other teams that others have mentioned......I don't care about the way they play, I care about the way West Bromwich Albion FC play and the fact is we are woeful.

No excuse for Pulis now as he has the players.......my hideous overreaction Poll isn't either, it's not hideous or an overreaction. You're not Fireymoose reincarnate are you?

The poll results at the minute say it all.......PULIS OUT

[Baggie_One]

Fireymoooooose, i remember him from the 606 days. What a character !

[Bournemouth Baggie]

The second half against Man City and the first twenty minutes against Arsenal, uptempo, wide game, pushing on with options upfront when the ball is crossed. In the latter game we are undone by an atrocious refereeing decision and heads go down but that didn't hide the fact that we were competitive and deserved to be in front. That style works so why then abandon it against a side we should beat, at home, 2-0 up? Complaining about refereeing decisions does not mask the fact that we have the resources to beat these sides but he will revert to his default tactics of trying to defend rather than looking to put the game beyond doubt. The issue we have is the paucity of decent managers with no one out there that springs immediately that can take us forward. A few decent prospects but none with experience at this level. A few testing games on the horizon which now, because of some poor results, we need to get something from. Hate the football, don't like Pulis but we are unfortunately stuck with him I suspect.

[Zinman]

I think he still posts on rhe BBC site when they occasionally allow posts on an Albion related subject. His current recurring theme is to blame Maclean for every goal conceded., every misplaced pass, North Korea etc etc. No mention of Peronis though.

[talkSAFT]

WCA is right. It's not an over-reaction at all. It's almost like a final straw. It's been simmering for a couple of seasons. This time last year we were very poor and allowing much poorer teams to have all the ball and outplay us, and fans started to kick up a fuss. So, as if by magic he brought 'players' into the team (Morrison and Brunt), gave Chadli more freedom, and we attacked other teams and got ourselves up to 8th place. Once we reached that Target of 40 pts, he reverted to his old system, and we finished the season in down-and-out relegation form. Fans have trusted his judgement (probably because clappers keep reminding us he's never been relegated, and who else would little Albion get?)

As for working aard, they all seem to shuffle backwards quite well, but working aard should include sprinting into the final 3rd of the pitch to support the occasional attack. I've never seen Livermore break sweat yet, but I bet he'd sprint occasionally if we showed more intent, instead of looking over his shoulder to see if Pulis was whistling at him to get back.

[Bournemouth Baggie]

I think he still posts on rhe BBC site when they occasionally allow posts on an Albion related subject. His current recurring theme is to blame Maclean for every goal conceded., every misplaced pass, North Korea etc etc. No mention of Peronis though.

He was in need of some serious psychological help, deluded and living in an imaginary world in which he was on first name terms with everyone at the club running a multi-million pound business from his bedroom, when I offered to meet up with him he was curiously unavailable