Topic: General West Brom thread

[rafathegaffa83]

They seem to be using an approach as a more low-market version of Fulham at the moment by signing older and experienced players. It's a gamble and is likely an expensive one given that older players will demand higher wages. Fulham have done it for years and have managed Premier League survival either comfortably or by scraping through at the death. As I said earlier in the thread, I'd be worried if I was a West Brom fan. The likes of Swansea, Norwich, Aston Villa, Southampton and Fulham have all improved in some shape or form. Last season, West Brom scored a respectable 53 league goals. However, 17 (32%) of those were scored by Lukaku, who likely won't be returning on loan. They're also likely to sell Odemwingie (5 goals) released Fortune (1 goal) and haven't resigned Gera (4 goals). That's more than half (27 or 51%) of their goals from last season gone and Anelka is the only forward they have presently signed. Marcus Rosenberg, who they signed on a free last summer, didn't score once in 24 league appearances. And they have no Dan Ashworth to keep things in check. They're an outside candidate for relegation in my book.

[Hank Scorpio]

They seem to be using an approach as a more low-market version of Fulham at the moment by signing older and experienced players. It's a gamble and is likely an expensive one given that older players will demand higher wages. Fulham have done it for years and have managed Premier League survival either comfortably or by scraping through at the death. As I said earlier in the thread, I'd be worried if I was a West Brom fan. The likes of Swansea, Norwich, Aston Villa, Southampton and Fulham have all improved in some shape or form. Last season, West Brom scored a respectable 53 league goals. However, 17 (32%) of those were scored by Lukaku, who likely won't be returning on loan. They're also likely to sell Odemwingie (5 goals) released Fortune (1 goal) and haven't resigned Gera (4 goals). That's more than half (27 or 51%) of their goals from last season gone and Anelka is the only forward they have presently signed. Marcus Rosenberg, who they signed on a free last summer, didn't score once in 24 league appearances. And they have no Dan Ashworth to keep things in check. They're an outside candidate for relegation in my book.

Good shout that.

[Drinks Sangria]

Is Clarke trying to assemble the ultimate dirty bastard team? Lugano joins the ever growing Hawthorns rogues gallery that already consists of Olsson, Yacob, Odemwingie and ass magnet Mulumbu. Right under our noses, one of the most inoffensive sides in the league are being transformed into masters of the dark arts.

[AJ4Seven]

ESPN are claiming Anelka has walked out of training & has informed West Brom he has retired, pretty bad news for West Brom if that is true.

[Alan_X]

His brother died and he's been given time off on compassionate grounds. I've deleted a few posts for obvious reasons.

[child-in-time]

ESPN are claiming Anelka has walked out of training & has informed West Brom he has retired, pretty bad news for West Brom if that is true.

He's been poor since he left Chelsea, it actually does more good than harm to West Brom as they will play Vydra up front. Anyway, I am sorry to hear his brother/agent has died.

[mkferdy]

Very sad news to hear  . With regards to West Brom they are going to find this season very tough for me, just cant see where the goals are going to come from.

[CB]

I think Steve Clarke has handled the situation with Anelka really well.

[ThePeetmix]

Feelings go out to Anelka. Those kind of things can really be distressing. Also feel for Steve Clarke as that's a major blow for them.

[krispy.red]

Sessegnon makes his dream move sounds like... 

http://youtu.be/mS9sRRQFd3o

[Vinay]

Is probably going down this year.

[pundapat]

Is probably going down this year.

Still early days but that's the same feeling I've gotten off them so far.

[Alan_X]

Is probably going down this year.

Less than a year ago there were people on here bigging up West Brom and suggesting Clarke should have been the Liverpool manager instead of Rodgers. How things change...

[The Playmaker]

I wrote in another thread that I think that they will struggle this season. We saw Newcastle United drop from 5th to 16th in the space of one season and I don't believe that this West Brom side is any better than what Newcastle has/had. West Brom has not really done any good business this summer. If they could have landed Lukaku on loan again then they might have had a chance because he worked well in their system and would more than likely get them enough goals to keep them safe. I’m also very surprised that they let Shane Long go. I know that he isn’t the most prolific striker in the world but he has scored 8 league goals in both of his seasons at West Brom which can’t be sniffed at when you’re clearly going to struggle for goals!

edit: it looks like Shane Long isn't joining Hull City! I should probably wait until the transfer window properly closes before spouting rubbish! 

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

Kept Long, signed Anichebe (well they would have liked Lukaku but Anichebe may well be a decent-ish signing for them) and Sessegnon also joined them.

Let's see how Clark can make a decent attacking force out of these players.

[RoshanA]

Less than a year ago there were people on here bigging up West Brom and suggesting Clarke should have been the Liverpool manager instead of Rodgers. How things change...

Very Owen Coyle-esq about him in that sense. They'd be my outisde bet for the drop.

[bornandbRED]

Don't think they'll go down.

[rafathegaffa83]

I definitely think they are a potential relegation candidate and have been criticizing their approach this summer, but they might have somewhat redeemed themselves. Keeping Long was important, but the fact they could have lost him to Hull must be worrying for their fans. Sessegnon could either be a great buy, or an absolute flop.  He was excellent for Sunderland the past two seasons, but seemed to tail off in parts that massively affected their form. I think buying Anichebe for £6m is absolutely shocking to be honest: a panic buy of the highest order.  He's only scored 18 goals in 131 games for Everton. Given that the pair of them scored a combined thirteen goals between them last year, they have to hope they can score more, as they heavily relied on Lukaku last year.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

I definitely think they are a potential relegation candidate and have been criticizing their approach this summer, but they might have somewhat redeemed themselves. Keeping Long was important, but the fact they could have lost him to Hull must be worrying for their fans. Sessegnon could either be a great buy, or an absolute flop.  He was excellent for Sunderland the past two seasons, but seemed to tail off in parts that massively affected their form. I think buying Anichebe for £6m is absolutely shocking to be honest: a panic buy of the highest order.  He's only scored 18 goals in 131 games for Everton. Given that the pair of them scored a combined thirteen goals between them last year, they have to hope they can score more, as they heavily relied on Lukaku last year.

As bad of a player as Anichebe is, I doubt he will be used a poacher, more as a base to where they will use his aerial strength to win headers and for Long to bounce on the loose balls and score goals.

Agree with you that Lukaku will be sorely missed though.

[robgomm]

Sessegnon is a bright player, Anichebe has a few attributes that suggest a long run in a team might mean he scores relatively well. Bold moves I think but they needed fresh faces.

[CornerFlag]

Kept Long, signed Anichebe (well they would have liked Lukaku but Anichebe may well be a decent-ish signing for them) and Sessegnon also joined them.

Let's see how Clark can make a decent attacking force out of these players.

If they were ingredients on Ready, Steady, Cook then Ainsley Harriott would trying to make a shepherd's pie with a scratched DVD, the cap from a bottle of Oasis and a shoe.

[child-in-time]

Lost Lukaku and Odemwingie, but it would of been a nightmare had Shane Long signed for Hull. Sessegnon is a good acquistion, they needed some creativity in the final third. Have my doubts over Anichebe, but he;s better than nothing in the end.

[gavshak]

I think we're going to struggle massively this season.

[BigMarcs]

Can't believe they tried to shift Long to Hull, I thought he was quite good for them last year rotating with Lukaku. They're already struggling for goals, I dont see the logic in that.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

Can't believe they tried to shift Long to Hull, I thought he was quite good for them last year rotating with Lukaku. They're already struggling for goals, I dont see the logic in that.

I think they thought Lukaku might be coming himself. Once they realized that big Romelu was heading to Everton, they proceeded with the deals for Anichebe and kept Long.

[Felch Aid]

Think they might struggle to score this year and will be above the relegation zone. They'll still be organised defensively. Remember Clarke did bugger all to help a free falling west ham drop with Zola. Good coach still don't think he's cut out to be a manager for some strange reason.

[ghost1359]

They'll stay up purely because there are teams worse than them.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

Think they might struggle to score this year and will be above the relegation zone. They'll still be organised defensively. Remember Clarke did bugger all to help a free falling west ham drop with Zola. Good coach still don't think he's cut out to be a manager for some strange reason.

West Ham didn't drop under Zola, they dropped the following year with Grant in charge.

[beardsley4ever]

Ian Dennis from the BBC saying on twitter that Steve Clarke has been sacked.  Very very odd, if that's true.

[Yozza1]

Steve Clarke has been sacked by West Bromwich Albion this evening.

More on the site here

http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/clarke-relieved-of-duties-1236295.aspx

[MrLil8]

Sacked.

Benn long coming, they are woeful.

Crazy to think in some parts, people wanted Clarke over Rodgers.

[Enders]

What the fuck?

[Fiasco]

Haha, fuck off West Brom. Hope they go down now.

[sirKennyDaggers]

Unbelieavable,utter disgrace.

[Enders]

Haha, fuck off West Brom. Hope they go down now.

Indeed. Stats don't look good for this year, but weren't they still in and around the top 5 at this point 12 months ago?

[lorenzo23]

West Brom have confirmed Steve Clarke has been "relieved of his duties" and placed on gardening leave following Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Cardiff.

Club director Richard Garlick said: “We have reluctantly come to the decision to relieve Steve of his duties after very careful consideration.

“It has been well documented that we have not had the rub of the green in certain games this season but that does not cloud the generally disappointing points return during this calendar year, culminating in today’s fourth-successive defeat at Cardiff.

“This Club's track record proves we do not take such decisions lightly, having only enforced a change in this position three times in approximately 14 years.

“But with key games coming thick and fast, we felt it was important we acted now to give the Club the best possible chance of a successful outcome this season.

“Our player wage bill is the highest in the Club’s history and we feel we have built a squad capable of being very competitive in the Premier League.

[Liamski-la]

Saft arses.

[Redman0151]

Bell ends, he was great last season, one rough patch and he's gone. Can they not see the best non-oil money clubs all have stability at their core?

Oh well, time to grab one off the merry go round.

Managers must be pissing themselves laughing as they go in and out of clubs picking up millions in pay offs every other year

[sinnermichael]

Modern day football in a nutshell.

[planet-terror]

odd one