09-01-2021, 19:49
WHAT A JOKE OF A CLUB WE'VE BECOME!!!
Blackpool vs WBA - FA Cup Third Round Match Thread
09-01-2021, 19:56
Totally pathetic, neither players or manager looked as if they cared.
Cannot remember when I have felt so let down by the club, I should think that Snodgrass will be looking for a get out clause.
Cannot remember when I have felt so let down by the club, I should think that Snodgrass will be looking for a get out clause.
09-01-2021, 20:06
(This post was last modified: 09-01-2021, 20:12 by Slick_Footwork.)
To be honest, when it got to penalties I wasn't really bothered if we won or lost, after all it's not like we're going to win the cup if we can't even beat Blackpool over 120 minutes. I actually expected us to lose anyway as we're a team full of bottlers.
Although we did learn a few things today, if we didn't know already...
- We don't have a single leader or winner at the club. Livermore and Sawyers simply plodded around the midfield showing no desire to step up and drive us forward. There was nothing that triggered in their mind to say we're playing against lower league here so we should boss the game and play with urgency. They simply continued with the same, slow tempo, dilly dally football we would see against anyone. While I've stuck up for Sawyers in the past (never rated Livermore) I'd be happy to see them disappear from the team forever. Given their lack of mobility, I'm not sure they will even offer much in the Championship next season.
- The fringe players are not good enough. After being the subject of my onslaught for his first half performance, Kamil Grosicki was actually the only one who looked likely to open Blackpool up with a 'reasonable' performance post half time. Peltier tries but is an aging standard lower division full back. Ivanovic tries but is well past his best, physically. Bartley is lower league fodder who doesn't break sweat. Krovinovic was simply dreadful, yet another stark reminder of why I was so critical of Bilic for making him the top transfer target. I must not be the only one who thinks he is slow and useless, surely...
- We are desperate for a forward. I think with a forward we would've scraped through, but there was simply no focal point in that team which resulted in a none existent pattern of play. I realise we have injuries and Austin is off, but surely we shouldn't let him go until we fill the avoid.
The selection from Big Sam was poor, as I think we probably should've gone with Phillips up top as he was worth the risk. At the same time, this set of players really are dreadful. The lack of effort is embarrassing. Even when we were first promoted under Megson 20 years ago with a very limited budget, we at least had a set of lads who cared. The likes of Pereira, Krovi, Sawyers simply don't have a second gear. When you combine a lack of quality with a lack of character, fight and spirit, you really don't have a formula capable of winning football matches. With Austin on the move, it looks like even our last smidgens of 'guts' are being taken out of us. It really is a huge job now. I said earlier in the season that my big worry is that relegation could lead to the dark times coming back and what we saw today seemed like a look into the future.
Although we did learn a few things today, if we didn't know already...
- We don't have a single leader or winner at the club. Livermore and Sawyers simply plodded around the midfield showing no desire to step up and drive us forward. There was nothing that triggered in their mind to say we're playing against lower league here so we should boss the game and play with urgency. They simply continued with the same, slow tempo, dilly dally football we would see against anyone. While I've stuck up for Sawyers in the past (never rated Livermore) I'd be happy to see them disappear from the team forever. Given their lack of mobility, I'm not sure they will even offer much in the Championship next season.
- The fringe players are not good enough. After being the subject of my onslaught for his first half performance, Kamil Grosicki was actually the only one who looked likely to open Blackpool up with a 'reasonable' performance post half time. Peltier tries but is an aging standard lower division full back. Ivanovic tries but is well past his best, physically. Bartley is lower league fodder who doesn't break sweat. Krovinovic was simply dreadful, yet another stark reminder of why I was so critical of Bilic for making him the top transfer target. I must not be the only one who thinks he is slow and useless, surely...
- We are desperate for a forward. I think with a forward we would've scraped through, but there was simply no focal point in that team which resulted in a none existent pattern of play. I realise we have injuries and Austin is off, but surely we shouldn't let him go until we fill the avoid.
The selection from Big Sam was poor, as I think we probably should've gone with Phillips up top as he was worth the risk. At the same time, this set of players really are dreadful. The lack of effort is embarrassing. Even when we were first promoted under Megson 20 years ago with a very limited budget, we at least had a set of lads who cared. The likes of Pereira, Krovi, Sawyers simply don't have a second gear. When you combine a lack of quality with a lack of character, fight and spirit, you really don't have a formula capable of winning football matches. With Austin on the move, it looks like even our last smidgens of 'guts' are being taken out of us. It really is a huge job now. I said earlier in the season that my big worry is that relegation could lead to the dark times coming back and what we saw today seemed like a look into the future.
09-01-2021, 20:18
Over the last couple of weeks there have been call for Ajayi to be moved into midfield; I have to be honest and thought it might be worth a punt. I think today we saw why it would be a catastrophe, he was dreadful. Unfortunately, when he moved back into his back four role, he was equally shocking. I would give him 1/10 for that performance- the 1 only earned because he scored. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Albion team so devoid of talent. Someone earlier commented that this gave Allardyce the chance to look at some of the fringe players; I would argue that his starting 11 comprised players who all would be considered first team squad, that’s the disturbing part for me. Villa’s youth team, based upon their performance last night, would have beaten us. We were disgraceful.
The light at the end of the tunnel is the light of an oncoming train
09-01-2021, 20:28
Our next 5 games are Wolves away, West Ham away, Man City home, Fulham home and Sheffield Utd away. Anything less than 5 points from those 5 games and Allardyce will surely have to go.
Knowing our idiotic club though, we'll lose all 5 and give him a 2 year contract extension.
Knowing our idiotic club though, we'll lose all 5 and give him a 2 year contract extension.
09-01-2021, 20:35
(09-01-2021, 20:18)BaggieSteve Wrote: Over the last couple of weeks there have been call for Ajayi to be moved into midfield; I have to be honest and thought it might be worth a punt. I think today we saw why it would be a catastrophe, he was dreadful. Unfortunately, when he moved back into his back four role, he was equally shocking. I would give him 1/10 for that performance- the 1 only earned because he scored. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Albion team so devoid of talent. Someone earlier commented that this gave Allardyce the chance to look at some of the fringe players; I would argue that his starting 11 comprised players who all would be considered first team squad, that’s the disturbing part for me. Villa’s youth team, based upon their performance last night, would have beaten us. We were disgraceful.
I've personally called for Ajayi to play in midfield, because of our lack of defensive awareness in there. But you're right, on that evidence, it doesn't look like he can play there. He's always looked reasonable on the ball at the back, but judging on what we saw today he can only play with the game in front of him. He didn't look at all comfortable in the role at all.
The game further highlights the desperate need for a proper defensive midfield acquisition. Although I have serious doubt that we can find someone for the pennies we have available.
It feels like we have gone back 20 years since our last relegation, when you think that team had the likes of Jonny Evans and Rondon, true professionals.
But what really gets me this season is the lack of players that actually care. It seems the few we have that care out of their depth ability wise, while those that are technically good are not really bothered to break sweat. Even in the dark days we always had players that had some self pride in their performances, I simply don't see it with this set of lads. Most of them can't even make a tackle.
09-01-2021, 20:41
In the season before he signed for us Ajayi played as a defensive midfielder in all but 1 of his league matches that season. I remember when he signed that I was unsure of where Bilic would use him because of that above stat.
Of course that was with Rotherham. Whole different game at Prem level.
Of course that was with Rotherham. Whole different game at Prem level.
09-01-2021, 20:43
(This post was last modified: 09-01-2021, 20:49 by Slick_Footwork.)
(09-01-2021, 20:28)WBA-Josh Wrote: Our next 5 games are Wolves away, West Ham away, Man City home, Fulham home and Sheffield Utd away. Anything less than 5 points from those 5 games and Allardyce will surely have to go.
Knowing our idiotic club though, we'll lose all 5 and give him a 2 year contract extension.
It wouldn't surprise me if he walks out, citing Covid as an excuse. He's already planted the seed for that.
You can tell from his demeanour that he's completely uninspired by the tools - or lack of them - at his disposal.
The blame is with him for us failing to progress today, because he should've selected a team capable of beating Blackpool. That said, blame also has to go with Bilic and Dowling for accumulating a squad of mercenaries that simply play for the pay cheque and have very little in the way of self pride. Even with our best XI on the pitch, I can't see us getting results in the Premier League without major reinforcements. Our underbelly is far too soft. It seems like it's a slippery slope downwards whoever in charge unless we're able to obtain some players that play with pride on the pitch.
(09-01-2021, 20:41)WBA-Josh Wrote: In the season before he signed for us Ajayi played as a defensive midfielder in all but 1 of his league matches that season. I remember when he signed that I was unsure of where Bilic would use him because of that above stat.
Of course that was with Rotherham. Whole different game at Prem level.
Maybe today was just a bad day at the office for him. Although it would've perhaps been nice to see him alongside a ball player. Neither Jake and Gallagher, for their endeavour, are the purist footballers.
Although the one game he played there for us last season - Middlesbrough at home if I recall - he was equally poor.
I feel he has the attributes to play there, so maybe he needs time to readapt to the role. But time isn't something we really have in our current plight.
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