http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/fulham-1-albion-1-chris-6025561

Great article by Chris here.

I'm an optimist by nature boys (I still think Johnny Depp is going to come along one day soon and whisk me off to his yacht) but right now I don't think any team we put out is going to smash anyone.

We're still waiting to score our first goal from open play this season and the two points we have got were both very lucky.

If you take away the great start we made to last season, we've been playing relegation football for ages and ages. I'm already getting really scared that we could be playing the Black Country derby again as soon as next season. What's worse, my boyfriend (the one who supports Villa - the other one doesn't like football very much) is already starting to tease me about 'what happened to being the best team in the West Midlands?'

I hope I'm wrong but I'm beginning to wonder if Steve Clarke is as good as we all thought he was.

the two points we have got were both very lucky

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Why were they lucky?

We thoroughly deserved a point from both games. The home start has been terrible, granted, but with our new players settling in, that will pick up.

I've got my doubts too but its still early days and there is players that still need to gel into the team/get fitness. Sessegnon could provide that spark we need. And it won't be long until people get on the end of these good quality Amalfitano crosses etc.

I just see teams like Palace and Sunderland that seem to be in a worse situation and theres bound to be another to fall from their current position now, perhaps Hull?

Sunderland is a massive game, no doubt.

Oh dear. Come on its 4 games in.

Surely you can't be desperately searching for 3 clubs worse off than us already.?

Last November we were in a Champions League position.

The strength of the squad will prevail in the long run, in my opinion. It may take a few weeks to get everyone on song but we will be comfortable in the end.

The question is whether its Clarke who gets us comfortably up the table. A few more bad days at home and he'll be gone.

You've got the tools SC, it's up to you now!

If Benteke gets a bad injury Villa would be really struggling and can still do with him so don't let him say 'best team in the midlands' just yet.

I'm trying to put Mavis at ease a bit, maybe myself too

Villa are struggling WITH Benteke.

They are a massive 1 point ahead of us

Out of sight, out of touch.

What a team
What a manager
European Kings
Pride of the Midlands

JH

Albion's no.21 Youssuf Mulumbu made 3 interceptions against Fulham as well as completing 92% of passes attempted. 65/70. #WBA (442 SZ)
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really? seemed worse than that.
probably because he got tackled a lot.

We also had 4 shots on target to Fulhams 2.

But yes, deffenately a 'lucky' draw.

Sorry, JH I tired to answer you earlier but I must have pressed the wrong button or something. Makes a change for me to do that rather than have my boyfriend do it to me (that's the one who doesn't like football not the Villa one - he's not too bad in that department once you get him started - not as young as he once was so I have to cut him some slack).

I say we were lucky on the basis that our opponents had more pressure and more opportunities to score (not exactly the same as shots on target). Fulham had three goals disallowed, one very marginal, which should tell you something about the balance of play and our defence.

Three things really worry me - first it's not just four games its the latter part of last season when we were also playing relegation football. Second its our strikers. Anichebe is a 'flatter to decieve' kind of guy (again, a bit like my boyfriend), Anelka sulks more than I do when my boyfriend has forgotten my birthday (that IS the Villa supporter - the other guy is much more sensitive - in fact, now I think about it if you could combine the qualities of the two of them I would be one very happy girl), I've got more chance of scoring than Rosenberg (and before you ask, that's both guys) and Long (who used to be good) is more 'off' than the fish counter at Netto after a very long bank holiday weekend (they put the fish from the previous Thursday out and scrape the scales to make them shine like fresh fish - don't you boys know anything?). Thirdly, and worst of all, I'm not sure our manager has a clue how to put all this right. After his flying start, things haven't looked quite so good.

I know you are a very loyal supporter JH - and so am I - but I prefer to look the facts squarely in the face. right now, what I'm seeing is pretty ugly - just like the boyfriend - the one that supports Villa - but he has got other qualities, bless him.

Mavis' Metaphors

Welcome to the to the team

actually I think they are similes but it doesn't have the same ring to it.

Hmmm. ...Some very valid points there mavis.....the question is...who are you?

UH on another mission?

I do know about UH but I'm not him.

Actually, I'm a forty-four year old woman, brought up to support the Baggies in a very sporty household with two older brothers who were both good amateur footballers. I played netball, hockey and squash when I was younger (a very naughty older married man taught me to play squash - and to be honest, that wasn't all he taught me). Now I just play golf. I'm not too bad even though I say so myself (14 handicap) but I'm not playing very well at the moment - just treated myself to a new driver and I can't hit it straight yet - it's a bit of a beast to be honest and I'm starting to think I've wasted £229 (hee! hee! hee! - don't tell my boyfriends - most girls sneak new clothes into the wardrobe but I prefer to sneak new clubs into my golf bag).

I really have got two boyfriends - but it's OK 'cos they know about each other. One is very sporty (I met him at the golf club) and the other likes things like books, films and the theatre which the sporty one thinks are a bit 'pink' (sometimes you boys can be so silly) - so it all works OK most of the time (the sporty guy gets a bit insecure and jealous now and again but he's OK after a good talking to - I had a bad marriage and promised myself I would never get into that kind of a relationship again).

I don't really understand why you think I might be something I'm not - unless it's because I'm a girl who knows a bit about football (if I do - it is a game of opinions, after all). As you should be able to tell by now, I'm a pretty open and honest person. I've only tried to tell the truth as I see it and I'm not winding anyone up - although I admit I do like to tease and play the 'cougar' card now and again - but that's just a bit of fun. I've always been a bit flirty but that's all it is. I talk to my girlfriends just the same. I think it helps make the world go round.

I've followed ja606 for quite a while but I've only started commenting today. I do so hope we can all have some (good, clean) fun together without all this suspicious nonsense rearing its ugly head. And talking of 'ugly heads' has reminded me I'm due to see the Villa guy this evening. Thank God they lost on the weekend - that should stop him being quite so cocky - oh, hang on a minute . . .

I attended Fulham.

We were well worth the point.

As for Everton...see how super Chelsea got on this weekend.

I'm not pretending everything at WBA is rosey. It's just I can see the positives and look at things a little more long term.

Can't be bothered to go into it now but many many things contributed to how we ended last season and overall we came 8th.

Good to have you here anyway

Are you fit? You seem to be a fan of p£nis.

EPL Index ‏@EPLIndex 16m
Mesut Özil & Chris Brunt created 2 clear-cut chances each this weekend.

25 other players created 1 each.

http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/stat-attack-brunt-closing-in-on-mata-1057514.aspx

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Thats a great stat.
I remember when Chris Brunt was criticized for his corners on here (or on bbc 606) a few years back.

btw I'm away on a holiday for week tommorow so please don't go away if your articles and posts don't get much feedback
but I can't see that happening anyway.

Can't see why Sess can't play on Saturday, it was only a small problem with his work permit.

Di Canio will be in the stands next game won't he? could possibly be interesting to see what he does about that. Knowing that guy he'll try to get around it.

I for one appreciate the effort you put into your comments. they're like articles. JH has a rival here.

Why thank you, Kanga - but I'm not trying to rival JH - he knows more about WBA than I ever will.

I do like the craic (apologies - Irish ancestry - potato famine and all that), though - haven't had so much fun since . . . err . . . last night.

Nice to have you here.

A MILF is exactly what was needed.

Kanga, have a good holiday pal.