Match Thread West Brom V Everton kick off 15.00 26th

[Toffee-nerd]

I don't buy the squad being thin thing. We had Klaassen, Vlasic, Mirallas, Besic, Lookman, Sandro all who can be involved in this period. Vlasic should be in the team or on the bench atleast.

Vlasic deffo needs to he involved in the squad. Martina being so utterly pants at left back means bfs needs someone on the left who can cover him, gylfi has done really well doing that lately. Looking forward to us bringing a left back in which will hopefully let us see a bit more of Mr V

 

[Rook]

This is Moyes football. It's unsustainable, it's negative, it's outdated and I don't like it. We set up to nick a nil nil against the second worst side in the league who haven't won since August.

We'd sometimes play long ball under Moyes, usually when Fellani was up top and in 04-05 when Bent was so good at knocking long balls down to Cahill et.al. Also Moyes had a habit of closing up shop with a 1 goal lead or to preserve a draw but there were also seasons where we consistently had 50-60% possession stats in his tenure as well.

 

[LiamG]

We'd sometimes play long ball under Moyes, usually when Fellani was up top and in 04-05 when Bent was so good at knocking long balls down to Cahill et.al. Also Moyes had a habit of closing up shop with a 1 goal lead or to preserve a draw but there were also seasons where we consistently had 50-60% possession stats in his tenure as well.

Moyes had better players. Pienaar, arteta, cahil, fellaini etc were all decent to very good players and that team would challenge the top 6 today.

He was just unlucky it coincided with a time when the English top 4 dominated Europe.

 

[Sarnia Kevin]

Just back from the match after a few drinks. Staying with my cousin here in Regis.

I was sat in the Birmingham Road End and every single Baggies fan I spoke to agreed that we deserved to win.

Their 'keeper was outstanding.

That's the (Christmas) spirit lollol

 

[Sarnia Kevin]

Not good watching such a poor game that finished at 4am. The endless sight of the ball looping up and down in the air was like some sort of sleep inducing therapy. Oh well. The unbeaten run goes on. Christ knows how Evans didn't get booked in the game either, left a nasty one on dcl. Need a win next blues, hopefully Rooney's back.

I noticed that too. The ref went out of his way to talk to Martina after a couple of cases where WB players tripped over his foot (really! Not challenges!) and then Evans (it looked deliberate) stood on DCL's ankle, followed shortly after by another foul, with nothing said. 2 WB players were booked though.

 

[Sarnia Kevin]

Vlasic deffo needs to he involved in the squad. Martina being so utterly pants at left back means bfs needs someone on the left who can cover him, gylfi has done really well doing that lately. Looking forward to us bringing a left back in which will hopefully let us see a bit more of Mr V

Martina has done well in the last few games despite being so right footed as to be unsuitable for the role he has been asked to take. Vlasic, although he hasn't had much game time, hasn't actually done anything to prove you right.

 

[hktoffee]

Maybe you should just narrow it to the games he lost.

We came 5th, got to two semi finals (both against teams we went toe to toe with and narrowly lost who would now blow us away) and topped our European group of death.

Our home form snookered us but like a lot of things we didn't know what we had until he was gone.

Who cares about semi if you don’t win it it means nothing.

From day 1 I don’t think he was not the right choice. Got a fantastic first season of course but literally was found out in his 2nd and 3rd seasons which were absolutely horrendous to watch.

 

[West Ham Fan]

Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. oh yes what was it ahh pathetic. Never mind the performance we should have won this game it was crucial. Allardyce has shown a defence can be organised now how about midfield and attack? He needs to wake up. All very well keeping clean sheets but they do not win games!!!!!! 38 games in the pl, if you draw them the team ends with 19 points, rubbish!

Got to do one hell of a lot better.

You also don't lose. I would hazard a guess most managers would say success starts by building from the back.

Unfortunately this us where Sam gets undone. His ethos of efficiency over "pretty" football (although you can argue efficiency is "pretty" in itself) results in him fielding 10 defenders and 1 flair player.

Admittedly didn't see the West Brom game and only managed to catch extended highlights, but it was reminiscent of his West Ham teams; grind.

Early days for us, but it seems he and Mesr Moyes aren't too disimilar.

 

[Jeff Jones]

10 points down going into the end of the first quarter

Who? Collingwood?

 

[Steve Wigan]

Martina has done well in the last few games despite being so right footed as to be unsuitable for the role he has been asked to take. Vlasic, although he hasn't had much game time, hasn't actually done anything to prove you right.

I agree. Lennon is by far our best option on the wing because the way SAm is setting up at present needs the wide man to do defensive duties, and Lennon is our only winger capable of this.,

 

[evertony]

Fair play mate....it is a game of opinions after all but the manager and his coaching team can only do so much in a short period of time.

It is mate. I expected nothing more from Sam and Sammy. You get what it says on the tin. I felt we panicked too early and talked ourselves into believing we were almost relegated in November. I'm accepting the current situation on the basis that the owners had to guarantee top flight status to push the ground deal through. Ironically, if Sam and Sammy's signature dish is still being served up once Bramley Moor Dock is ready theres no way we'll fill 55,000+ seats, so I fully expect one will be delivered without the other.

 

[Norwegian Cow]

It is mate. I expected nothing more from Sam and Sammy. You get what it says on the tin. I felt we panicked too early and talked ourselves into believing we were almost relegated in November. I'm accepting the current situation on the basis that the owners had to guarantee top flight status to push the ground deal through. Ironically, if Sam and Sammy's signature dish is still being served up once Bramley Moor Dock is ready theres no way we'll fill 55,000+ seats, so I fully expect one will be delivered without the other.

We were in a relegation fight. We might had been relegated if koeman wasn't sacked, or if we got the wrong manager in. Sam has really steadied the ship. And too many seems to not appreciate how effective he has been on doing it and are now complaining that we are not fun enough to watch and are totally ignoring how bad we were before Sam came in.

 

[Rapidvienna]

It is mate. I expected nothing more from Sam and Sammy. You get what it says on the tin. I felt we panicked too early and talked ourselves into believing we were almost relegated in November. I'm accepting the current situation on the basis that the owners had to guarantee top flight status to push the ground deal through. Ironically, if Sam and Sammy's signature dish is still being served up once Bramley Moor Dock is ready theres no way we'll fill 55,000+ seats, so I fully expect one will be delivered without the other.

I think we're very much in agreement on the reasons why the appointment happened and that things will undoubtedly have to change. However, my original point still stands, regardless of opposition (and WBA are a revitalised squad since Pardew arrived), our lads did all the ugly things required of them to get something from the game. Allardyce has said himself we've got to be better in possession and take the game to the opposition, I for one will give him chance to demonstrate he can get the blend right. HNY mate.