17-12-2014, 22:24
(This post was last modified: 20-12-2014, 19:41 by Ska'dForLife-WBA.)
Ah, the joys of the festive season. The family roasting pork scratchings round the fire. Granddad cradling a nice hot jug of mulled WKD. Children lying wide-eyed in bed, listening for the clatter of hooves on the roof as some tatter tries to get the lead into his oss and cart. And of course, me hunched over a keyboard with a cold turkey sandwich, trying to create four match threads in the space of a fortnight.
Not this year, folks! I'm following in the footsteps of the Radio Times and doing a special omnibus match thread. All of your thoughts and comments for QPR away, Man City at home, Stoke away and West Ham away are welcome on here, as well as any seasonal fun and chitchat between games, and I'll resume normal service for the FA Cup tie against Gateshead next month.
Welcome to the Albion Yuletide Match Thread!
![[Image: b5c460b7_e941_41c3_bb78_9d2826c9b75f_800.jpg]](http://s14.postimg.org/bhum9vmw1/b5c460b7_e941_41c3_bb78_9d2826c9b75f_800.jpg)
Following what seemed an unlikely - and certainly very laboured - but nevertheless welcome win at the weekend, is there cause for renewed optimism around the prospects of Alan Irvine's Albion side? It's possible we've taken the first faltering steps on the road to recovery, even though the football itself isn't exactly great to watch. In the short-term (which Irvine must focus on if he's to have any hope of a long-term), we have to build on the lessons of the last fortnight and come away from Loftus Road on Saturday with at least a point, however it comes.
Man City on Boxing Day is, as always, a bonus if we can get anything. This is one fixture where I'd forgive Irvine for keeping it cautious and compact and seeing if we can nick a goal on the break; memories abound of the goalless draw Roy Hodgson's team battled for on Boxing Day 2011, which was celebrated in the stands like a thumping win.
Stoke away has been an interesting one in recent years. Though they still hold their baffling curse over us at the Hawthorns, it's been years since the clayheads managed a win against us in their own quaint little windswept wasteland - 2008 to be precise - and you have to wonder whether they're finally due one. Still, their form of last season has faded away into a string of erratic results, and now is probably as good a time as any to face them.
West Ham's already-great season got that little bit better when we gifted them three points at the Shrine a few weeks ago, and for this one, in spite of their strong home record, I'd really like to see the team try and put that defeat right. It's usually around this time of year that the wheels start to come off for the "surprise package", so there could be points for us at Upton Park if we're crafty about it.
A couple of Christmas crackers from years gone by, against inferior opposition who've since vanished off down the leagues.
And finally, I'm pleased to announce that this week I've had my debut novel published, and it's all about the Albion. The online edition costs more or less the price of a pint, so if you've got a Kindle or a tablet/smartphone which can run the free Kindle app, then you can buy and download it here. If you don't have the gadgetry to do this then a paperback edition is also available, and you can buy that here.
If you've enjoyed the match threads I've written on 606 for the last couple of years (for free!) then you'll almost certainly appreciate this journey through forty years of Albion history, so give it a whirl, and if you enjoy it, don't forget to spread the word so I can avoid having to go and live in a tent on the Wolverhampton ring road.
Thank you for a great year, and merry Christmas!
Not this year, folks! I'm following in the footsteps of the Radio Times and doing a special omnibus match thread. All of your thoughts and comments for QPR away, Man City at home, Stoke away and West Ham away are welcome on here, as well as any seasonal fun and chitchat between games, and I'll resume normal service for the FA Cup tie against Gateshead next month.
Welcome to the Albion Yuletide Match Thread!
It's still better than pinstripes.
Following what seemed an unlikely - and certainly very laboured - but nevertheless welcome win at the weekend, is there cause for renewed optimism around the prospects of Alan Irvine's Albion side? It's possible we've taken the first faltering steps on the road to recovery, even though the football itself isn't exactly great to watch. In the short-term (which Irvine must focus on if he's to have any hope of a long-term), we have to build on the lessons of the last fortnight and come away from Loftus Road on Saturday with at least a point, however it comes.
Man City on Boxing Day is, as always, a bonus if we can get anything. This is one fixture where I'd forgive Irvine for keeping it cautious and compact and seeing if we can nick a goal on the break; memories abound of the goalless draw Roy Hodgson's team battled for on Boxing Day 2011, which was celebrated in the stands like a thumping win.
Stoke away has been an interesting one in recent years. Though they still hold their baffling curse over us at the Hawthorns, it's been years since the clayheads managed a win against us in their own quaint little windswept wasteland - 2008 to be precise - and you have to wonder whether they're finally due one. Still, their form of last season has faded away into a string of erratic results, and now is probably as good a time as any to face them.
West Ham's already-great season got that little bit better when we gifted them three points at the Shrine a few weeks ago, and for this one, in spite of their strong home record, I'd really like to see the team try and put that defeat right. It's usually around this time of year that the wheels start to come off for the "surprise package", so there could be points for us at Upton Park if we're crafty about it.
Classic Matches
A couple of Christmas crackers from years gone by, against inferior opposition who've since vanished off down the leagues.
Shameless Self-Promotional Spot
And finally, I'm pleased to announce that this week I've had my debut novel published, and it's all about the Albion. The online edition costs more or less the price of a pint, so if you've got a Kindle or a tablet/smartphone which can run the free Kindle app, then you can buy and download it here. If you don't have the gadgetry to do this then a paperback edition is also available, and you can buy that here.
If you've enjoyed the match threads I've written on 606 for the last couple of years (for free!) then you'll almost certainly appreciate this journey through forty years of Albion history, so give it a whirl, and if you enjoy it, don't forget to spread the word so I can avoid having to go and live in a tent on the Wolverhampton ring road.
Thank you for a great year, and merry Christmas!
"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
![[Image: 1167726_West_Bromwich_Albion.jpg]](http://www.footballuser.com/formations/2014/12/1167726_West_Bromwich_Albion.jpg)
Only joking, I will look out for the paperback when online. Well done and best of luck with it.
![[Image: 1348664730___West_Brom_-_Banner.png]](http://www.footballaid.com/uploads/teams/1348664730___West_Brom_-_Banner.png)