[Albion] Missing Midfield - The POLL

Kalimantan Gull said:

I'll just say that this time two years ago we had Trossard throwing a wobbly, Caicedo being kept out of training whilst he agitated for a move and Sanchez benched and falling out with the manager. In all these cases of squad disharmony we backed our newly-appointed manager (with an identical record of 34 points from his first 23 games in charge) and not the player.

But now, with our next new manager, and with nothing other than unsubstantiated rumour of unrest, we instead place the finger of blame for alleged squad disharmony on him. All part of the intense character assassination we are seeing.

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DJ NOBO said:

You think criticism of Fab is personal , and not to do with what is happening on the pitch?

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

It also seems a bit unlikely that Baleba and Ayari both decided to do something which resulted in disciplinary measures needing to be taken.

Neither seems to have a record of this sort of thing.

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7:18 said:

What about head turned due to a transfer bid?

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METALMICKY said:

In Baleba's case that's the worrying possible one

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DJ NOBO said:

You think criticism of Fab is personal , and not to do with what is happening on the pitch?

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ROSM said:

Not quite the same scenario as we had just come off the back of a world cup where all 3 were disappointed. Trossard because the Belgians went all Dutch and argued with each other, Sanchez because he wasn't in the starting line ups and Caicedo as he missed out on a quarter finals where he would have showcased his talents. They also saw Alexis feted on his return.

Disruption in 2 of the 3 were because they agitated for a move. The third was because he wasn't adapting to the way the manager wanted and others in his position were.

Trossard ended up falling out with senior players as well as the manager. Caicedo stayed and played superbly for the rest of the season. The third.......well I think you and I have done that argument to death and there is more chance of Trump and Hilary Clinton agreeing to dueting as Jason on Kylie on stars in their eyes than you and I agreeing on that person.

Also RDZ had lost his 1st 5 games but there was a clear, obvious and driving strategy in place. A theory, a structure, a STYLE that people were getting excited about. Chelsea home, wolves away were the road to Damascus moments like a red admiral emerging from it's Chrysalis as something beautiful, amazing, yes fragile but of wonder. At the moment we are a bit more like a clothes moth

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Kalimantan Gull said:

I agree with the context, but the basic point - we backed the manager then but seem to be automatically blaming the manager now is a interesting juxtaposition

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Westdene Seagull said:

The points comparison is misleading. Under RDZ at the time the team never gave up - there always appeared to be a purpose to his madness. It was proven right by the end of the season.

With FH and his erratic team choices and substitutions there appears to be no purpose - just some bloke guessing what might work.

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The Fits said:

No.
RDZ made an immediate impact. From the very first minute of the very first game you could see his identity on the pitch and feel it off the pitch.
FH is bringing nothing.
I don’t care what Fab says.
How he speaks. What he does with his hair. I want a manager who has a plan.

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ROSM said:

I think people will back him if they believe in him. That belief will be tested by many of the results we have had same as it was under hughton, Potter, de zerbi etc. If all the issues you quoted had happened when we were on a losing run then I'm sure there would have been questions asked then.

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Kalimantan Gull said:

Which is why I pointed out he had an identical points record to RDZ at that stage of their albion careers, in an attempt to head off the accusation that we were treating them differently because of results, to try and get to an underlying issue. But morning after a 7-0 ahellacking is unlikely to find that, I agree.

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Shropshire Seagull said:

Well, if we're playing BHA call my bluff ....

Both Beleba & Ayari were left out after a training ground bust-up with cross words, handbags & fisticuffs ....

Both to attend anger management counselling before being reintroduced ...

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The Fits said:

No.
RDZ made an immediate impact. From the very first minute of the very first game you could see his identity on the pitch and feel it off the pitch.
FH is bringing nothing.
I don’t care what Fab says.
How he speaks. What he does with his hair. I want a manager who has a plan.

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Kalimantan Gull said:

RDZ produced a wonderful football team for that awesome 12 months or so, no doubt. I merely put the comparison of their records down to say that this shouldn't be the reason why we backed one when there was conformed squad disharmony, but not the other when there is alleged diaharmony.

But if we are going to follow the comparison, it seems widely accepted that RDZ had a better team than the current one. Moreover he was able to pick the same team almost every game. He had MacAllister, Gross, Caicedo, Mitoma, March consistently available and his defence picked itself.

The fact that Fab achieved a identical points haul over his first 23 games as RDZ with a weaker squad constantly decimated by injury, so he has not been able to get a regular starting XI playing his style, is something he should in reality be praised to the hilt for.

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ROSM said:

Because as I said earlier, one started poorly but there were obvious visible signs of progress and exciting football. The other started well and has gone backwards. 12 points in 12 games is a more valid marker as when de zerbi had a similar run he got stick even with the credit in the bank that the current manager doesn't have

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