Well....thank God that's over. Took a while to get there but we got our man in the end. A decision that seems to excite and put a smile on most Baggies faces, mine included.
But back to business and Saints away tomorrow. Downings last game in charge. To be fair to him, he truly stopped the rot. We remain unbeaten, in the league, under him. 3 draws and 1 win have given us slight breathing space from the R zone.
Tough game tomorrow. Southampton are this seasons WBA. An immense start and hanging with the big boys early season, only to fall of slightly.
Who knows what KD will do with the team. He may revert back to 3 at the back after a good run with that formation in recent away games.
Only 2 injuries for Albion as Billy Jones (player of the season so far) misses out after a minor eye op. Goran Popov also misses out (neck). Steven Reid and Victor Anichebe return.
Thoughts on the game?
Predictions?
Team selections?
Trip to Southampton
posted on 11/1/14
Final score 1-0. BBC gave the impression we didn't show up and didn't deserve anything from the game.
posted on 11/1/14
Glad I chose the Palace game to go to. By all acounts that was pretty bad. Why was Long starting? On current form he should be 5th choice striker.
A lot of mediocrity for Pepe to sort out.
posted on 11/1/14
BBC gave the impression we didn't show up and didn't deserve anything from the game.
----
We didn't. Southampton dominated us in possession and we showed little creativity in attack.
Back to long balls to Long again.
posted on 11/1/14
Vydra once again has no more than 5 minutes of a game and creates more than what the rest of the plonkers did for 85.
posted on 11/1/14
Kanga, I simply don't understand making a tactical substitution with 5 mins to go plus time added on. It's desperate stuff. We must have a better game plan than that.
posted on 11/1/14
I'm really worried about this 'assistant' situation.
Pepe should be allowed to bring in who he wants. Worryingly, it looks like he has to work with just Downing who's obviously learnt nothing since the sacking of SC.
Same players, same late subs
We need fresh ideas and uplift. Mel and his own team should be given the chance to do that.
I feel this may really become an issue at some point.
posted on 12/1/14
JH, it's wrong to suggest Downing has learned nothing since SC's sacking.
He's not a head coach and he's never pretended to be, it was clear to everyone that he was standing in till we made a new appointment, and under his guidance we went four games unbeaten with six points gained. Calm down!
posted on 12/1/14
Perfectly chilled, thanks
I just hope Downing doesn't have too much influence on Mel's attacking style otherwise we'll be seeing more defending for 85 minutes and our best attackers on the bench.
Fresh ideas and impetus is what we need.
posted on 12/1/14
I still find it hard to believe that Mel would have taken the job without a cast iron guarantee that he can bring his own staff in at the end of the season.
I think the club simply don't want to be seen to lose face giving in to Pepe's demands having earlier rejected them and struggled to find another manager. Where this leaves Kiely and Downing I don't know. But they were part of the problem in the first place. To think some were happy for Downing to take us until the end of the season.
posted on 13/1/14
Teix, we may never know, but if anyone's lost face it's Pepe Mel because he's come in without his backroom boys. I just think Albion wanted backroom continuity as opposed to the uncertainty of having a team of three new guys come in at once, three guys who have no first-hand knowledge of the UK, English football or the Premier League, and if anyone's job is under threat at season's end it'll be Downing's, unless Mel also sees some fundamental shortcomings in Kiely's abilities as a GK coach. Kiely himself might feel the time is right to go, and he'll find another coaching job easily, plus he's got his media work as well.