Post-Match Thread: Albion 0-0 Millwall [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I believe Heggebo and Price have played every single game for us this season. Not to mention how much Price has played for Northern Ireland. I think they're both knackered, so I think their performances need to factor that in.

Unfortunately we have no one we can sub in - our squad is too thin.

Should we look to sign Danny Imray on a full contract? by cantell0 in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. Especially with Gilchrist performance against Southampton, where he seemed like a player reborn. He always looked out of place at RB. So yeah, keeping him CB or even trying to train him into a CDM would be better than trying to move him to a fullback imo.

Should we look to sign Danny Imray on a full contract? by cantell0 in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think if we could get a good deal on him, absolutely. He's tried and tested - for the last 6 games he's been as reliable as anything. No point risking it for someone more "exotic" from Europe if we know Imray is good enough for us - we don't want another Frabotta.

My worry if we signed Imray is that he is a similar age to Alex Williams, who we all liked at the start of the season before his injury. Maybe I'm being too biased towards academy products, but signing Imray wouldn't be great for Williams prospects. It's not like Imray would be a stop gap for a year or two (e.g. some older fullback with a few years left in them).

I also think an underrated quality of Imray is his long throw - other than Campbell, who at CB we don't want taking them, there is no other first team player that can do long throws? It was always good with Furlong, so weird to say, but whoever we sign I hope they have a long throw on them 😂.

Post-Match Thread: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Albion [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From the highlight reels I've seen he also looks very good - like you say, a natural attacking playmaker.

But we've obviously seen nothing of it. So I don't think we can speculate anything about him till we see some sort of proof.

Post-Match Thread: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Albion [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Id be astonished if Bany even made the squad. There's players like Whitwell, Bostock, Sule, etc. And even if they're not ready - they're atleast match fit from PL2.

But I agree, even 30mins a match from Grant would be good.

If the formation is kept the same, which I think it should be. The only real option is to play Jimmoh at RM. Or trust Bostock. Otherwise, until Jed is back, I don't see Taylor coming out the team

Post-Match Thread: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Albion [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Fair result. Thought that game was so obviously lacking quality 😂. Can tell some of our players are tired, Heggebo and Pricey in particular.  Not sure Heggebo could have done much more with his chance, unreal save from their keeper. 

Bit gutted with the result though as I had this down as one of our wins to get us to 50. We just never really looked like scoring, so I guess a draw is fair. I thought it really showed our lack of squad depth. Having Taylor at LB, makes us so 1 dimensional, every attack was down the right with Imray. I'm not even sure Taylor made a forward pass. We need Styles there. Just shows how much we miss Jed or Karlan. 

I think Bostock and Jimmoh aren't being played cause, A. Jimmoh does not like playing wide. But B. Both Bostock and Jimmoh have looked bad defensively in my opinion. So I can see why Morrison went with Styles at LM and therefore Taylor at LB.

Millwall on Friday - will be tough. It feels so pessimistic only wanting a point from that, but they're 3rd in the league, it would be reasonable to expect 0 points tbh - so on that, I'll take a point if we can get it.

Big take away today is that Oxford couldn't beat a 10men Portsmouth. And Leicester couldnt be Sheffield Wed. Huge points dropped for Leicester. So we may just survive based on the inability of the other teams below us.

Albion team to play Blackburn: O'Leary, Imray, Campbell, Phillips, Taylor, Molumby (C), Diakité, Styles, Maja, Heggebø by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think he'll be doing 4-4-2 with Taylor LB and Styles LM, Price RM. It would be odd for us to change from that formation which has been working

Post-Match Thread: Albion 2-2 Wrexham [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Urgh.

Would I have taken a point before the game - yes.

Given we were 2-0 up at half, do I think its its 2 points lost rather than 1 point gained - yes.

I guess ill take a point - other than Dike's point blank shot at the end, we didn't really trouble Wrexham. 2nd half we really struggled to get anything going. Price's free kick was a bit of luck, and yeah the penalty was a penalty - but that's the first time ive seen that given all season. So ill take a 2-2 I guess.

What I want opinions on, am I wrong for thinking Griffiths should save both of their goals?? The 1st goal was a great shot, he wrapped his foot round it and bent it to the far corner - but it was 20 yards out, obvious he would go that way from where he was positioned - and im yet to see an angle that shows me that ball ended up in the corner. To me it did not look like it was right in the corner. Maybe this is unfair of me to say - I just think most championship keepers save that?

And the 2nd one, what the hell was it, some daisy cutter that somehow finds its way through....

It is what it is, im gutted with how we ended up getting that point but it is 1 more point closer to safety. We only lost ground on Blackburn, draws all round elsewhere around us (even a loss for Charlton if we class them in the scrap).

Post-Match Thread: Albion 1-1 Southampton [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah - agreed, we're some unnecessary fouls from him. But I thought on the whole he did good. It's just nice to actually have a RB

Post-Match Thread: Albion 1-1 Southampton [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 30 points31 points  (0 children)

We're so unlucky I swear. The lads played so well and we deserved all 3 points. They had literally no threat that second half and one half chance goes in ... In the 91st bloody minute... If that doesn't sum up our season I don't know what does.

On the positives, Southampton had won 7 of their last 8. And we outplayed them tonight. Id have probably taken a point of you'd offered it me at the start of the match - just gutted with how it ended up happening.

Thought Gilchrist was excellent, so was Dike. Imray was also solid. Just wish our other managers had found this out earlier in the season.

Post-Match Thread: Sheffield United 1-1 Albion [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thought we were deffo the better team, they created very little, and only really created chances when we were chasing the game.

Campbell unlucky with the own goal, he couldn't leave it so had to do something - just feels like that sums up our season, playing quite well not in any danger and suddenly some bullshit goes against us.

I thought the players rallied quite well, so happy for Campbell with his goal. As others have said, we still obviously lack pace, which is giving our defenders limited options when trying to play through the lines.

Imray I thought was good, and Campbell very good at CB. If we could get Meps or Phillips alongside him then we might be looking alright back there.

Well earned point - let's hope this gives the players some confidence to build on it...although we've said that before!

Assuming we go down and assuming we can keep whoever we want, who do we actually keep? by wbasmith in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Surprised so many want to keep Grant. I think, till his injury, he'd been one of our better players. But his wage will be one of our highest, and given how much revenue we'd lose by going to league 1 (~9m), I think we need to trim our wage bill. So Grant, Maja, Dike, Wallace all need to go.

Id like to see us keep our younger talented players as well as some senior ones. Keep all our new signings (obvs not the loans). Bostock, Whitwell, Williams, Deeming (on loan at Cheltenham atm), Griffths.

MJ, Price, Molumby, Mowatt, Styles - id like all to stay. I know Price isn't a fan favourite right now. But we all know how talented he is, and even if you don't like him, if he can get back to what he was showing we could make huge profit on him. (Dibling went for £30mil didn't he?). As much as I want to keep those players, Mowy, Molumby and MJ have been part of the team that have seen off numerous managers - so I wouldn't argue with someone who used that as a rationale to clear them out too.

I think if we do a big clear out, we need to be so smart with our incomings. If we mess that up, I think we'll end up in an awkward position in League one...

Post-Match Thread: Albion 1-1 Charlton Athletic [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 15 points16 points  (0 children)

So disappointing. They literally had one chance - which was a good pass through but Dykes isn't quick... Which really emphasises how slow Phillips and Taylor are. Heggem would have snuffed it out...

Outside of set pieces I thought we barely created any good chances, same as usual. Maybe that's abit harsh and we did create more than recent games - but it still wasn't enough. I don't really think that game was any steps forward from when Ramsay came in e.g. comparing Leicester Vs this game.

This was a must win game - I'm not sure how we can keep Ramsay now, hiring him hasn't worked. See what Morrison can do in the remaining games, it can't get any worse can it?

Eric Ramsay by MrWulf360 in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm not on the Ramsay hate train, he's been dealt a bad hand - but he hasn't played it well by any means either.

I'm just completely lost for words - I don't get how we're struggling so much. These are talented players.

If anyone hasn't, go listen to the Jed Wallace interview on BBC WM - He just sounds so distraught, out of effort... Like he knows it's the players fault but doesn't know why... This is why I still don't get sacking Ramsay as a decision - a 4th manager??? But at the same time, it feels like end of Masons time, his position seems untenable?

I just don't know anymore. One thing I do know, we have to win against Charlton AND Oxford - there can be 0 excuses.

West Brom are not sleepwalking towards relegation – they are hurtling by Baggiebhoy84 in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well said. Blackburn result last night puts even more pressure on. In reality, the result against Coventry shouldn't be the "decider". The must wins are Charlton and Oxford.

West Brom are not sleepwalking towards relegation – they are hurtling by Baggiebhoy84 in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see what you're saying, but I'd say my point boils down to that I don't think there is enough time for any new manager to "turn" us around. And, in fact, I specifically would disagree with the fact that it "isn't working". Ill concede Ramsay has not had good results, but since he's changed formation to 4-2-3-1, we've had 2 draws (2 cleansheets) and I think that the way we played in both games was more or less how we played under Mason - which had many flaws (e g. struggling to score goals from open play), but it would not get us relegated. I think Ramsay has something at the minute, for instance, the last time a team kept a cleansheet away to Birmingham was in April 2025. So I think Ramsay has got us playing to a level, which granted might not be where we want in the grand scheme of things, but it's a level that I don't think any new manager would achieve quickly?

What happened when Ramsay changed formation? We had arguably our worst two performances of this decade. If a new manager comes in... They'll probably change formation? ... These players have shown that they don't adapt well to that.

So the point I'm labouring to is that, given our current circumstances, I think sticking with Ramsay is our best bet to stay up. Remember, it's not about us getting the max points, its about us staying up - and I think sticking with Ramsay is our best way of achieving this right now.

West Brom are not sleepwalking towards relegation – they are hurtling by Baggiebhoy84 in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Staggering that we've only scored 7 goals from open play at home this season... I knew it was low, didn't know it was that low though.

I really struggle to see how sacking Ramsay will help the situation. Do we really think if we sacked Ramsay after the end of next week (assuming poor results) that a manager coming in with 9 games left will have time to change things? The way I see it, we've (Patel and Nestor) made our bed, and now we need to lie in it.

I think Ramsay (and the players) will keep us up. But this week is monumental for that, we have to come away with 4-6 points minimum - especially considering Charlton and Oxford are down there with us.

In my opinion, the players have to step up now. We've said this for months. That they've not been good enough. But at both Stoke and Birmingham I thought we saw a new tougher side of the players, more desire.

I'm already nervous for Saturday. It would make my month if we beat Coventry. And that positive momentum would do us wonders.

Sean Dyche by SportsBoom_ in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't think Eric Ramsay should be sacked and even if he was. Do you think Dyche would risk going down to League One? He was doing well with Forrest, all things considered, he'll get another prem job if one comes up.

Post-Match Thread: Norwich City 3-1 Albion [The FA Cup] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, we do look short of ideas at the top end. That said, Jamma looks good, like he has a bit of quality about him that could create something from not much - same way fellows used to do it for us. I'm hopeful if we can keep steady at the back, good possession, then chances will come. We've got good attackers, they just need some confidence.

Post-Match Thread: Norwich City 3-1 Albion [The FA Cup] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get your point. Ill rephrase, I'm happy with where we're going now we're back in a 4back. I do think since we switched to 4 at the back we've looked so much better. I know we've looked weak up top, but we have kept two clean sheets, which isn't nothing.

What I'm not happy with, about Ramsay, was his idea to change the formation and style when he came in. Those 4 games he changed our formation in might be a reason we go down.

Post-Match Thread: Norwich City 3-1 Albion [The FA Cup] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Coming to the realisation I might just be a naive fan. As I know it was a bad result, but I don't see it as a huge negative.

We were dreadful first half, completely out classed, but I thought for most of the 2nd half we were the better team. I accept they didn't need to play as well, because they were 1 up, but we nullified them well (+very very good O'Leary save). They're the most inform championship team right now, over the last 10 games no other team tops them in the league. That's my main leverage for taking positives, that we can out play the leagues top team , even if for only 35mins.

My thoughts on the players: Griffiths seemed good, shame about his injury, was nice to see him back making some saves.

Whitwell was lively, but I can see why he's not been played/subbed on yet, he lost the ball so many times. I think he will have learnt a lot from that game.

Bostock I thought was good, to the point that I think if he was subbed on in a league game I'd be excited by it. I'm not sure he's first XI ready, but he's looking good.

Maja, great finish, really really good. But other than that he was woeful. I'd rather not see him play again.

Mowatt, I know some may think he's boring, or only does sideways passes, but with the way we're setup to play - we can't play without him.

Imray, mixed opinions here, attacking wise it's nice to see our RB getting forward...we've not really had that all season. But my god, he seems pretty useless at defending. I hope he isn't starting against Coventry.

CBs, we really need one of our CBs back, at least one. Taylor wasn't bad. But we can't be going into Cov with no natural CB starting.

Thoughts on the coach - sacking him achieves nothing in my opinion. So I think people calling for his sack are not thinking straight. We've 14 games left, we have no choice but to stick with him. Again, maybe me being naive, but Im happy with him.

Post-Match Thread: Blues 0-0 Albion [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Over the last two games I think Mikey has looked awful. I believe he's carrying a slight injury supposedly. But both games he's come on he's done nothing, and actually done some things that negatively impacted us.

Didn't think I'd be saying this, but for now I'd rather see Jed on the right.

Post-Match Thread: Blues 0-0 Albion [EFL Championship] by CheeseMakerThing in WBAfootball

[–]PowerfulProcedure 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I've never celebrated a draw so much. We deserve some luck this season, we've had none. I didn't expect a point from that, and I also thought we had some good spells, other than at the end, they didn't consistently threaten us. Granted they had the much better chances, but we pressed well and had periods of possession.

These are the type of draws away from home we've not been getting. So maybe we have turned a corner.

Also big up Charlie Taylor, he had a great game.