West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[four fornicholl]

Going down with a whimper.

Looked like going down in complete silence before, so an improvement of sorts.

two more weeks and its a roar of



no fkn way

[citizenDJ]

I actually think that the last few matches have shown that we have a really pretty good coach in Garde. We've managed to get some sound results (i know we needed wins, I mean in the broader picture) which have been largely down to an improved defence, tactics which seem to suit the opposition (at least in terms of stopping their game) and which have seen us, in my opinion, look like a team that can complete properly with other Premier League teams.

That he has managed to this with a really, really shaky squad only improves my opinion of him. I hope he sticks around.

As for today, I thought we were well-organised and disciplined and, of course, lacking in real quality attacking-wise. I thought Lescott, Okore and Gueye were very good, Cissokho and Gil not bad at all either. Bacuna, Kozak and Westwood were very bad. The rest were alright.

[LukeJames]

By all accounts the referee today has given 10 pens in 15 games this season ,the  most by any referee in the Prem this season. Yet he has denied us two blatant pens this season,the other one being against Sunderland at home .It feels like everything is against us at the moment

The Gil dive? Not a chance.

[aj2k77]

Who enters a season with your main striker as Gestede but no wide men in the squad? Madness.

That's very true mate. Pre season I wanted Matt Phillips and Yanick Bolase
Quality wide players who could have been great signings for us. Surely if Gestede was on the radar anyone with an ounce of football knowledge would have been lining up quality wide players. It ain't fuckin rocket science is it?

Lennon and Townsend were mentioned by tactics in the summer 

Fox said midweek that the manager would tell them who he wanted and then they'd offer him alternatives as well. Who were the alternatives to wide players? The summer transfers and season in general makes no sense at all to me, it looks like a bunch of individuals doing their own thing and no cohesion.

[Steve R]

Playing out and out wingers would upset the balance of the team as Garde currently has it. We don't really need them, we got into plenty of positions to cross the ball today, it's just that too many of Richards/Cissokho/Westwood/Bacuna are shite at crossing.

The ability to cross a ball should not be the preserve of wingers, and competent crossing can be coached. Not that the likes of Lennon and Townsend are the greatest of crossers I have seen.

[QuintonVilla]

I said after the Leicester game they should have spent five days practicing crossing the ball but obviously they didn't. Set plays or open play are just as bad, to keep hitting the first man is criminal for professional footballers. I coach an u13's team and we've got a lad who takes a brilliant corner, he gets more height and curl on the ball than Westwood and his floaty efforts.

The most frustrating thing about today is the other results actually went our way with Norwich and Newcastle losing, Sunderland and Bournemouth drawing and you'd expect Swansea to lose tomorrow. Big opportunity missed and we haven't got many left.

[Pete3206]

On the other hand, if Swansea do lose, we'd have reduced the deficit from 10 to 9 points.

Everything's a long shot at this stage, but if we could shut out West Ham and beat Norwich for 4 points, you never know.

[four fornicholl]

motd, bet were on last

[Duncan Shaw]

motd, bet were on last

We are and Timmy is a pundit!

[tomd2103]

motd, bet were on last

We are and Timmy is a pundit!

Two very good reasons to give it a miss!

[Axl Rose]

Going down with a whimper.

Really? A good striker and a referee with eyes, and we could have easily won.

Jesus, west brom are shit.

[Richard]

Penalty all day long having just seen on MOTD

[tomd2103]

I actually think that the last few matches have shown that we have a really pretty good coach in Garde. We've managed to get some sound results (i know we needed wins, I mean in the broader picture) which have been largely down to an improved defence, tactics which seem to suit the opposition (at least in terms of stopping their game) and which have seen us, in my opinion, look like a team that can complete properly with other Premier League teams.

That he has managed to this with a really, really shaky squad only improves my opinion of him. I hope he sticks around.

As for today, I thought we were well-organised and disciplined and, of course, lacking in real quality attacking-wise. I thought Lescott, Okore and Gueye were very good, Cissokho and Gil not bad at all either. Bacuna, Kozak and Westwood were very bad. The rest were alright.

I think it took him a while to work out his best team and formation, but since he has I agree that there have been positive signs.  We are desperately short of real quality in the final third and there isn't really anything he can do about that. 

[Witton Warrior]

Penalty all day long having just seen on MOTD

But not given - again

Too little, too late

[saunders_heroes]

I've only seen the highlights but boy does it show up how poor we are up front. Lots of decent play going on outside the box but as soon as the ball's played in theres no one on the end of it. Just sums up our season really.