[valpayne]

There has to be a reason for the CB at LB thing but I'm also not sure about Poco from what I've seen he's a bit reckless and his challenges frighten me. I can only think TP is going for prem experience here after all Lescott was a LB once obviously hasn't got that pace anymore. Wisdom has a lot of knockers on here to perhaps rightfully so. He does seem to be at fault for letting crosses come in that lead to goals despite being fairly pacey going forward. We can only go with what we've got and I suspect it's prem experience over positional that's the thinking. As already mentioned Swansea have given us a hard time these last few years so who knows where this will go. Nail biter perhaps hopefully not all over by HT as a certain 3-0 springs to mind that baffled me and spoilt a potentially lovely day in sunny spain for me a few years back
Good post Ska'd

[WBA-Josh]

Subs
Rose
Dawson
Wisdom
Gardner
Morrison
McManaman
Anichebe

[drewks]

Subs
Rose
Dawson
Wisdom
Gardner
Morrison
McManaman
Anichebe

Would love to see that Josh....perhaps Brunt out, Sess LM and Mozza RM for me tho.
I know Gardner seems to divide opimion too but IMO he's very steady, is always there and can offer a goal threat - surprised to see him not starting often any more. Maybe he'd be better, as above but Gardner not Mozza?
(WTF.....this is HARD, this PL Manager lark!)

[pieandabovril]

Did I read somewhere that Brunt played left back in the second half against Burnley? He might end up playing there against Swansea! Can anyone who was at the Burnley game answer the Brunt question? Did he end up at left back?

[wba_1996]

Did I read somewhere that Brunt played left back in the second half against Burnley? He might end up playing there against Swansea! Can anyone who was at the Burnley game answer the Brunt question? Did he end up at left back?

I wasn't there but watched it on a stream and he did end up at LB. He was twice the player he was in the first half and twice the LB that Lescott was last week.

[meandbrenarebaggies]

Just found out I can only make comments with lap-top after trying for weeks to make comments using my kindle fire. So my comment on the Swansea game is that a few years ago a home game against them would have been an almost certain win and we have to get ourselves back into that same mentality. OK Swansea have had a few years good output but compared to The Albion they really should be seen as very beatable with us at home. Our aspirations should be competing with the likes of Everton and Newcastle Utd for top ten positions and seeing home wins against Swansea and Aston Villa as more or less routine. If we continue to self-denigrate ourselves and whinge about our own players shortcomings then we deserve to rattle around in the relegation dog fight area of the league. The difference between a team winning and getting better and a team sliding is CONFIDENCE. I hope Pulis does instil this but it's really down to Lescott and Fletcher to pick the kids up and get them going. We are a gnat's hair away from being a more positive, aggressive and durable team. And......we must get our striped shirt back ASAP!

[drewks]

Just found out I can only make comments with lap-top after trying for weeks to make comments using my kindle fire.  So my comment on the Swansea game is that a few years ago a home game against them would have been an almost certain win and we have to get ourselves back into that same mentality.  OK Swansea have had a few years good output but compared to The Albion they really should be seen as very beatable with us at home.  Our aspirations should be competing with the likes of Everton and Newcastle Utd for top ten positions and seeing home wins against Swansea and Aston Villa as more or less routine.  If we continue to self-denigrate ourselves and whinge about our own players shortcomings then we deserve to rattle around in the relegation dog fight area of the league.  The difference between a team winning and getting better and a team sliding is CONFIDENCE.  I hope Pulis does instil this but it's really down to Lescott and Fletcher to pick the kids up and get them going.  We are a gnat's hair away from being a more positive, aggressive and durable team.  And......we must get our striped shirt back ASAP!

Do you know, meanbren.....I AGREE with you!!
Self belief/confidence is SO important in any sport, and IMO we are, as a club, going through a bit of a crisis in this department because of the last few years. Enter Mr Pulis. I know, meanbren, that you have a pretty low opinion of the value of the input of HC/Managers, but the mindset that they can - or cannot - instill into the players is, IMO one of the biggest factors that they can influence.
It was mentioned on the match thread how, on Sunday, Fletcher went round to several players after the equaliser and had a word or 2; this is the type of leadership we need on the pitch from the elders, and it needs to be the same type of stuff that is coming from Mr Pulis too.
We really need to toughen up and play with more conviction, belief, and passion; PROACTIVE rather than reactive, and impose ourselves on the opposition much, much more

[talkSAFT]

HearHear, You&Bren and Drewks.
I also think that we should be going all-out for a win at Villa Park. Avoiding defeat is not the object in that game, because that's a definite win-win - and it will lift everyone at the Club, doing the 1st double over them for......how long?

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

It was under Don Howe. 1972ish?

---

Just checked: it was 1973-74.

[aries22]

... my comment on the Swansea game is that a few years ago a home game against them would have been an almost certain win and we have to get ourselves back into that same mentality.  OK Swansea have had a few years good output but compared to The Albion they really should be seen as very beatable with us at home.  Our aspirations should be competing with the likes of Everton and Newcastle Utd for top ten positions and seeing home wins against Swansea and Aston Villa as more or less routine.

Times have changed. Swansea have overtaken us big time. There's no way nowadays Swansea should be seen as very beatable, I'm afraid. We have to accept we are a very average PL team.