West Ham v WBA @ home Saturday 31st 3pm (UK Time)
So @alderz very good run come to an abrupt end with a frustrating loss at home, we have another tricky game against The Baggies this Saturday afternoon.....
NES will no doubt mix things up like he always seems to do.
I'd personally like to see Veltman return at RB and Golambeckis given a chance a CB, but let's see if NES has enough faith in him to do that.....
We have a PL ref for this game, as we did last week....
Ref appointed -
Referee: Jones, Robert
Assistant Referee: Gilroy, Hugh
Assistant Referee: Bartlett, Conall
Fourth Official: Hicks, Craig
Don't think this is going to be an easy game whatsoever and we'll not have Mavro to rely on to put the ball in the net...
As always, COYI ⚒️⚒️⚒️
NES will no doubt mix things up like he always seems to do.
I'd personally like to see Veltman return at RB and Golambeckis given a chance a CB, but let's see if NES has enough faith in him to do that.....
We have a PL ref for this game, as we did last week....
Ref appointed -
Referee: Jones, Robert
Assistant Referee: Gilroy, Hugh
Assistant Referee: Bartlett, Conall
Fourth Official: Hicks, Craig
Don't think this is going to be an easy game whatsoever and we'll not have Mavro to rely on to put the ball in the net...
As always, COYI ⚒️⚒️⚒️
Comments
We might have developed a habit of conceding the first goal but West Brom have done it six games in a row although three of those six have been 0-0 at half time
Despite that they’ve conceded 13, only Saints, QPR and Birmingham have conceded fewer (12) but they’ve only scored 16 so odds are its not going to be a goalfest.
They’re 2nd for the most tackles but 3rd for fewest fouls committed, 4th for passes completed, 7th for possession and top for most fouls against
Manager James Morrison usually plays a similar 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 system to us
He joined the Baggies as a player in 2007 and stayed on as a coach when he hung up his boots in 2019. He was appointed caretaker manager for the third time in February when they were 23rd, managed to steer them clear of relegation with a 10 game unbeaten run and was given the full time job at the end of the season
They added a few players in the summer with England U20 Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Chelsea £4m) making the biggest impact, 3 goals and 3 assists in the Championship plus 2 goals in the Carabao although he’s only started three of the last six
Norway’s CM/AM Felix Myhre (SK Brann £2.5m) has also been in and out of the starting line up.in the last few weeks. His only goal so far was the 89th minute winner against Blackburn, his first touch of the game, two minutes after he’d replaced Morgan
LB Nolan Galves (Rodez £850k)) started the first six matches but is out for the season with a knee so Brayann Pereira (NEC £1m) has started
CM/DM Toby Collyer (Man Utd £3m) spent the first half of last season on loan with the Baggies and the second half with Hull. He’ll be out for six weeks with a hamstring
From last season’s squad Hungarian (but born in Oldham) LB Callum Styles is solid in defence, third in the Championship for tackles (3.3) while N Ireland LM/CM/RM Isaac Price has 6 goals (3 penalties, 1 direct free kick) and 2 assists
At the back Welsh CB Chris Meopham had four seasons in the Premier League with Bournemouth and CB Nat Phillips had 29 appearances for Liverpool
Ireland CM/DM Jason Molumby (40 caps) is longest serving player with 194 appearances, joined from Brighton U21s in 2022, usually paired in midfield with 2nd longest serving player Mali’s Ousmane Diakite
Up front Scotland U21 CF Barney Stewart has started the last three and scored once, preferred to Aune Heggebo who has scored 4 in 11
It could be a long afternoon...
Would also like to see Austbo given a start.
CO YI
On the plus side, on the ball, if he gets it, he’s been quite good in terms of passing etc.
maybe not such a good option at the moment.
Here is another option!
'People who have been employed to do a job' ... 'may not want to do their job that they signed up to do' because they have been put in that position?
Of course that can happen, but if they have a genuine complaint, or been treated badly or the employers have breached the deal that was agreed, the employee has a union (PFA) or legal recourse.
Throwing a strop is in no way proof that they have been 'put in a position'.
Harry R knew how to get the best out of his squad as do other managers who can be bothered to see what is best for the team. Sorry I don't agree with the manager is always right if it has a detrimental effect on the teams chances.
Have they been mismanaged?
Were the managers stubborn?
You allude to players who may not want to play. But that's a bit vague... Who doesn't want to play?
If you can specify exactly who you are referring to, then maybe I could see if there is evidence that they have ( or have not ) thrown a strop.
But you post is so vague that it's hard to nail things down to specifics.
I could ask you the same - have we any evidence they have been? Are there any links or videos that support this interpretation of the situation?
( And I don't mean just some other folks giving their opinion - I mean is there a sound basis for the opinions)
My reference to links etc is whenever I try to give an opinion the normal response is have you got links which indicates some people think I am making things up but others are able not to do so no questions asked? Some reports in the media are accurate which seems to be ignored if it doesn't sit right with a persons opinion.
I am aware this is only a site that will include speculation, it may not be true, so you can read or not, your choice everyone......👍🏻
He may not be playing Magassa because he’s not very good - he didn’t play him much in the PL. Managers are entitled to decide a player is not good enough, especially ones they don’t sign. This is what he did with JWP. He is not the first - one of the best managers in the world did it with Joe Hart as soon as he got the City job.
Defensive Metrics: He is highly rated by analysts for his defensive work rate. During his breakout time in France, he ranked first in Ligue 1 for ball recoveries (7.89 per 90), establishing his reputation as an elite young ball-winner.
The point is, NES is stubborn, IMO, like of course many managers, but there are players that are not part of the match day squad that many people, again, NOT on here, think they should be, yes we have no clue what goes on behind the scenes, but I'd think Alvarez & Magassa can offer something that others perhaps don't.....
Also re JWP, the way he banished him IMO was shocking treatment, there were times during last seasons debacle that an experienced player was needed, but again NES was too stubborn to even include him in the squad, IMO that was poor.....
Anyhow, while NES is still around, he makes the calls, let's hope they're the right ones, anything less than 3 points on Saturday and I can honestly see the crowd turn against him IMO
I know sometimes there is a blurry line between talking about selection for a match, and opinions on the manager.
But can we try to keep posts on topic.
Polite request, and I include myself in that.
On Saturday the equaliser against Preston was credited to Aune Heggebo but an EFL dubious goals review has decided Morgan got a crucial touch on the way in
Poor old Heggebo is back on 3 goals but gets a 2nd assist