Louie Barry (on loan to Sheffield United)

[GarTomas]

Good signing for the future.  We should pinch that Bellingham of the Draggers too, so they can join in with the Baggies whingefest.

SmalHeathAlliance would go into meltdown.

[dave shelley]

Welcome young man, your dream has just come true, make the most of it as you are so privileged to wear these colours.

[Deano's Mullet]

Hes actually from Aston isn't he? Welcome!

[Richard E]

It ay fair
It wor fair
It wo be fair

[Holy Trinity]

What type of striker is he? Quick? Big? Strong? All round?

Messi/Aguero/Henry

Hes quite small at the moment I think hes about 5'5-5'6 but obviously he could have a growth spurt.

Skillful and oozes talent

[LukeJames]

My Albion work mate was having a right whinge over this, probably broke the West Midlands record for seperate use of the word cheats in the same rant. Absolute bliss.

[Holy Trinity]

My Albion work mate was having a right whinge over this, probably broke the West Midlands record for seperate use of the word cheats in the same rant. Absolute bliss.

Yh my mate blocked me on whatsapp for rubbing it in! Still not unblocked me yet haha

[themossman]

Why didn’t Barry take the penalty?

Lol

[TopDeck113]

Players like Barry and Bellingham should be at our academies in the first place.

Was there from age 6. Its nuts that talent is identified so early!

I actually have a big issue with it.  They hoover up boys with any potential and then equally discard as readily.  I have two boys in my class at present. Six/seven years old.  One is at Man City, the other trains three nights a week - City, Liverpool and Everton.  I know the journey to Greater Manchester to Merseyside is not that far, but twice a week after school for someone in Year 2?  I also don't think they're that fantastic.  Good, yes, but certainly miles off being the best talent I've taught.  The one consolation I take is that they're both academically able, so when the rejection comes they've got brains to help secure their futures.

As for the best talent I've personally taught, therein lies my other issue with the academies and the pressure they exert.  I taught him in Year 4 and at that point he was training with City and Burnley.  He was a naturally good at all sports and of course I wanted him to take part in competitions for the school, but it was always he couldn't because he was training.  Anyway, eventually one day I said to him that it wouldn't hurt him to miss training just the once and do something different with his school friends... All hell broke loose, with parents complaining to the head teacher that I was pressurizing him and putting his future prospects in peril.   

Now I wish that the punchline was along the lines of, but anyway it was all worth it and it's good to see Phil Foden doing well.   But of course it isn't.  I actually bumped into his dad last summer and asked how was doing.  He was at college doing some sport-related course and, yes, still playing football.  He was hoping that this was going to be his breakthrough season and he'd make his first team debut... for Bamber Bridge.

[The Man With A Stick]

They aren't very happy are they.  First we cheat them out of promotion by beating them at penalties, now this.

If the kid's any good then it's just a bonus.

[garyshawsknee]

Sort of signing other top teams would do, so I'm glad it's us this time and hopefully in the future we'll be getting these type of players coming through the ranks. I hope we keep him longer than our last signing from Barca.

[Sexual Ealing]

What type of striker is he? Quick? Big? Strong? All round?

Messi/Aguero/Henry

Hes quite small at the moment I think hes about 5'5-5'6 but obviously he could have a growth spurt.

Skillful and oozes talent

I must say, Holy Trinity, that your comparisons aren't massively enlightening unless he's short, stocky, slight of build, tall, elegant, does his best work coming in from the left wing, can dribble past an entire defence on one foot from anywhere and only does his best work in the six yard box!

[Holy Trinity]

What type of striker is he? Quick? Big? Strong? All round?

Messi/Aguero/Henry

Hes quite small at the moment I think hes about 5'5-5'6 but obviously he could have a growth spurt.

Skillful and oozes talent

I must say, Holy Trinity, that your comparisons aren't massively enlightening unless he's short, stocky, slight of build, tall, elegant, does his best work coming in from the left wing, can dribble past an entire defence on one foot from anywhere and only does his best work in the six yard box!

All 3 are highly skillful on the ball and can beat a man and have the tricks needed to stand out.

[Sexual Ealing]

What type of striker is he? Quick? Big? Strong? All round?

Messi/Aguero/Henry

Hes quite small at the moment I think hes about 5'5-5'6 but obviously he could have a growth spurt.

Skillful and oozes talent

I must say, Holy Trinity, that your comparisons aren't massively enlightening unless he's short, stocky, slight of build, tall, elegant, does his best work coming in from the left wing, can dribble past an entire defence on one foot from anywhere and only does his best work in the six yard box!

All 3 are highly skillful on the ball and can beat a man and have the tricks needed to stand out.

So was OJ Simpson. Wink.

I get what you mean but I would've thought that Messi/Aguero/Henry are basically three separate archetypes and if, by some weird sorcery, they could be combined, such a player would never have heard of West Bromwich Albion.

[Holy Trinity]

What type of striker is he? Quick? Big? Strong? All round?

Messi/Aguero/Henry

Hes quite small at the moment I think hes about 5'5-5'6 but obviously he could have a growth spurt.

Skillful and oozes talent

I must say, Holy Trinity, that your comparisons aren't massively enlightening unless he's short, stocky, slight of build, tall, elegant, does his best work coming in from the left wing, can dribble past an entire defence on one foot from anywhere and only does his best work in the six yard box!

All 3 are highly skillful on the ball and can beat a man and have the tricks needed to stand out.

So was OJ Simpson. Wink.

I get what you mean but I would've thought that Messi/Aguero/Henry are basically three separate archetypes and if, by some weird sorcery, they could be combined, such a player would never have heard of West Bromwich Albion.

Ah I get what you mean.
I think of the 3 as game changer talisman type player, he is a bit of all 3 to be honest but has a lot to learn still.

https://youtu.be/wiaXirUn1L0 shows examples of what I mean