[May68]

I was only saying yesterday that modern football is so BORING compared to when we had the late 70's team.

That team into 1982 was brilliant, played fast flowing football. Once Willie Johnston or Laurie Cunningham got the ball out wide, they wouldn't turn back to the half way line they would fly down the wing or do a quick one two then off to the by-line to get a cross over.

I hate this boring sideways, backwards stuff and with TP its sideways, backwards then HOOOOOOOF down the middle. Its killing me and as I have said on another thread even though I have a season ticket I really can't be arsed any more. I'm taking a break, it's sad but I might even go and watch the Saddlers (whom I have always had a soft spot)who although are league one are playing some decent football and deserve better support.

Albion already have my season ticket money so no slagging me off please, just racked off with WBA at minute, its taken 40 years for me to get to this point but there it is.

Don't blame you for that at all Worldclass. I gave up my season ticket in the summer because I feared the worst having endured TP's Stoke team over the years (who he never turned into a remotely entertaining team despite being there for about a decade). Don't feel guilty about not giving the club your money. Most of the money comes from TV deals, and virtually all of it ends up as players' wages anyway. You need it more than them.
I was thinking of getting a half season ticket if things picked up but that's not looking likely at the moment. I've started supporting my local non-league team (Pilkington xxx). To be honest they are rubbish but at least you see some goals and some passion.

[DannytheBaggie]

Watched the game on TV...fell asleep...woke up at full time and saw that nothing had changed.

Unfortunately, this is trademark Pulis! Starting a team with Gardner, Yacob, and Fletcher all in the same midfield, at home is criminal! McLean, like him or loathe him, gives us a balance and is a better option than Gardner on the left. Gardner may have been fresher though as he didn't have internationals etc??? If its not McLean, why not play Gnabry? Basically anyone with pace and an element of guile, Gardner has neither.

Lambert and Rondon doesn't work. Since we have been in the PL, a 5 in midfield has always been a better option.

Back to Pulis though... I am willing to give him time but i fear this may be a season where JP ignore's the fans (if the footy remains the same) and see's it out with Pulis as he almost guarantees safety for the next season. And that , unfortunately is the sole aim of the season due to the money coming from next years TV deal.

It could transpire to be a good point, but having at least 1 shot on target would have been nice...

[silverbaggie]

I was only saying yesterday that modern football is so BORING compared to when we had the late 70's team.

That team into 1982 was brilliant, played fast flowing football. Once Willie Johnston or Laurie Cunningham got the ball out wide, they wouldn't turn back to the half way line they would fly down the wing or do a quick one two then off to the by-line to get a cross over.

I hate this boring sideways, backwards stuff and with TP its sideways, backwards then HOOOOOOOF down the middle. Its killing me and as I have said on another thread even though I have a season ticket I really can't be arsed any more. I'm taking a break, it's sad but I might even go and watch the Saddlers (whom I have always had a soft spot)who although are league one are playing some decent football and deserve better support.

Albion already have my season ticket money so no slagging me off please, just racked off with WBA at minute, its taken 40 years for me to get to this point but there it is.

I sympathise Worldclass.
I think it's just as well that my health problems now deny me the chance to visit the shrine but, I'm making do with watching Cheltenham Town,where there are no prima donnas, no Saido type wantaways and, everyone delights in the results they are achieving.

0-2 down yesterday thanks to one awful referee decision and one awful attempt at a back pass to the keeper.
Nevertheless, another battling performance and another narrow win.

Premiership footie it ain't; real blood and guts at times and a crowd of little more than 2,000 getting right behind the team; warts and all.

If I can't have the football of the late 70's then I'll settle for this even if I am running out of heart control tablets.

[talkSAFT]

Back to Pulis though... I am willing to give him time but i fear this may be a season where JP ignore's the fans (if the footy remains the same) and see's it out with Pulis as he almost guarantees safety for the next season. And that , unfortunately is the sole aim of the season due to the money coming from next years TV deal.

It could transpire to be a good point, but having at least 1 shot on target would have been nice...

Danny, I disagree that "Pulis almost guarantees safety for the next season" and that "It could transpire to be a good point".

A point at Watford and a point at home to Saints is relegation form. I even cringed watching the ManCity and Chelsea matches, because if you don't have a go you'll never get anything against the Top 6 Clubs. Never. Not by having 30% of the ball and hoping to get a breakaway. We crawled over the finishing line, playing out time against 9-men Stoke.
Get real - this is a doomed side, and we've shown no sign of improvement since Day 1. I kept thinking back in August: "He'll really get them geed up for the next match after that shit display". Then the next week they're even worse. Port Vale was (apparently) a humiliation. The players brought in (bar Evans) are either not trusted (Lindegaard, Chester, Gnabry + Gamboa and Poco from last year) or they're crap (Rondon, Lambert, McLean). Dawson and Brunt aren't comfortable - or good enough - for the specialised skills of fullbacks, and the midfield is simply not gelling with the front 2............and then he replaces the only one likely to get behind the defence (McManaman) with - NOT Morrison - but McLean, who would not have got into our Championship side of 5-6 years ago.
Just because Pulis hasn't been relegated in his managerial career doesn't guarantee that he won't be this Year.
We're dooooomed!

[May68]

talksaft I'm reminded of 2 seasons ago where we got about 15 draws and Pepe Mel just about kept us up (or perhaps more truthfully Downing and Kiely did). After every drawn game everyone would go home mildly satisfied that we hadn't lost, and I think this lulled us into a false sense of security. I think it's a very dangerous strategy to build a survival campaign on draws and it nearly cost us that season. In my opinion, we should consider every draw at home as two points lost, with the exception of the games against the top 5/6, who are in a different class to us even without home advantage.

[Stathemwasthebestever]

Watched the game on TV...fell asleep...woke up at full time and saw that nothing had changed.  

Unfortunately, this is trademark Pulis!  Starting a team with Gardner, Yacob, and Fletcher all in the same midfield, at home is criminal!  McLean, like him or loathe him, gives us a balance and is a better option than Gardner on the left.  Gardner may have been fresher though as he didn't have internationals etc???  If its not McLean, why not play Gnabry?  Basically anyone with pace and an element of guile, Gardner has neither.

Lambert and Rondon doesn't work.  Since we have been in the PL, a 5 in midfield has always been a better option.  

Back to Pulis though... I am willing to give him time but i fear this may be a season where JP ignore's the fans (if the footy remains the same) and see's it out with Pulis as he almost guarantees safety for the next season.  And that , unfortunately is the sole aim of the season due to the money coming from next years TV deal.  

It could transpire to be a good point, but having at least 1 shot on target would have been nice...

Totally agree Danny. I see no reason (or ambition) to start with that midfield against Southampton who are a good side (and have managed their recruitment superbly and played attractive football) but are not truly frightening.

[baggietrousers]

Just watched the Leicester v vile game, I hope pulis did as well. See what a bit of pace out wide can achieve. Now that's entertainment.

[BaggieMan]

Anyone who says Pulis is an odd on 100% guarantee that we won't get relegated is living in a dreamworld.

Consider, 0-0 Watford, 0-0 Southampton and a lucky win against 9 man Stoke which we would have lost had they kept 11 men on the field is relegation form and judging by our pathetic team selection, tactics and display, we will have a long hard struggle to avoid the drop.  

Unless of course, JP gets pee'd off with Pulis and boots him out. Hallelujah ! we could celebrate then !

[Squirrel Regis]

Baggieman,
Nothing is ever 100% in football, but we will not get relegated under TP.
Don't get me wrong yesterday we were poor as far as creativity goes but Southampton & Watford & Port Vale for that matter never looked like scoring. To be fair neither did we against Watford & Saints !
Sorry but this talk of relegation is simply bizarre.
Generally our home performances under TP have been ok, QPR and Leicester apart last season.
Whilst I can't argue that this style of football isn't to everyone's taste, especially away from home ! Yesterday aside its been ok at home.
Sorry bud but I told you so doesn't wash.
Entertainment wise you may be right, but results wise just look at them. It's been pretty good. Last 6 games last season many on here had us relegated without getting a point, well LOOK at the results...
We ended up with a respectable position and will do again this season.
Unhappy I might be but let's not get ridiculous eh !
Things are not certainly rosey in the garden and I will probably miss my first game of the season as I don't fancy going to villa park after the disgraceful scenes last season.
Will give it some thought but might be out of my grump and sat in the villa end yet.
C O Y B

[Zinman]

Villa looked very vulnerable against a team attacking them with width and pace..........comfortable clean sheet for them next week then.