"The players that I really, really like we cannot afford" - Poyet

[Sarisbury Seagull]

I think with a fit Buckley, Lua Lua featuring more (which seems to be happening now he's been signed permanently) and Noone's form returning (as at Reading) the chances and then goals will come. If Vicente and Hoskins can also start playing then even better.

At Reading we missed 3 absolute sitters (CMS x 2 and Paynter 1). On another day all 3 would have gone in and that is away to one of the top teams in the division.

Hopefully we will sign another striker in January in place of Paynter who really is shite, but I'm not going to panic yet if we don't. We have the players but are lacking a bit of confidence and luck at he moment.

 

[NMH]

Touche. I like McGhee and always will.

The long high ball to a midget played on the wing.
Magoo, what a jocko genius

 

[portlock seagull]

Wow, how fickle football fans can be at times eh?!

We are coming to the end of a year where we were top of League 1 right to the end of the season, sold out of season tickets for a poxy little stadium that none of us wanted (cough), promoted and crowned champions, broke our transfer record on more than one occasion over the summer, moved into our poxy little stadium complete with 'unfinished' south end and poor unproven transport (cough again), started our first season in the Championship better than could realistically be expected, added a flair Spanish legend to our squad to the shock of the football world, beat a Premier League team in our first month at the Amex, played Liverpool, Leeds and Palace in a week, had more live games on Sky and media coverage than we have in years and despite problems with key players/signings being injured we are halfway through the season sitting 4 points off the playoffs in a division crammed full of ex-Premier League clubs and long-term Championship contenders.

Of course we can't afford to buy every player that Gus likes, we aren't West Ham and aren't going to compete in the squad stakes for years. His statement is clearly aimed at us the fans (to keep our hopes in check) and at the media and agents (to keep their demands and expectations in check). Saying that his comments will unsettle our current players etc is pure speculation, Gus sees them every day and can say what he wants to them behind closed doors. Do you really think our players sit and follow the media reports/press conferences to find out what Gus is thinking?!

A few months ago we were all cooing that Gus and the players were all together and the team ethic was what brought us our success, I can't see any evidence of that team ethic breaking down just because of the odd mistake on the pitch.

The only negatives we have recently are our poor disciplinary record, which is hurting us and the reputation that we now have is influencing referees and opposition players and fans, and a few unwise comments Gus made in the Luis Suarez case. Now a couple of dips in form have given us fans a jolt/reality check and knocked a few pairs of rose tinted specs onto the floor and it is all doom and gloom.

Recently whenever a manager was sacked and Poyet was linked to the job we have been wringing our hands and hoping not to lose him! Try and have a balanced view before slating him, he hasn't even completed 2 full seasons with us yet!

One thing is for certain, a swell of negativity from the fans is not going to help solve any of our 'problems'. What next, banners at the Amex telling Tony Bloom to get his chequebook out or else?!

So stop the moaning, think of the positives, keep your fingers crossed that our injuries are on the mend, get behind Gus and the team, do your bit and enjoy what is still the best period for the Albion in many many years! And if we do strengthen the squad in January see it as a bonus!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

We are all behind the team. We love the new stadium. Love Poyet. And I'm not worried about not going up (never was). But I am worried about getting sucked into a relegation battle now because our dip in form is several months old now.

I don't think reminders of where we've come from etc need to be continually trotted out as defence against anyone sticking their head up above the parapet. WE DO ALL KNOW THIS! Last season was last season, football is rarely about the long-terms, it's all about the short if not the here and now. In this context, our blistering start is now 3 months ago and since then we haven't created many chances let alone goals whilst our disciplinary record is shocking. Given football managers typically last less time than a WW1 fighter pilot before it's all change again, I think, our poor performances have gone on for a comparatively long time now. At least enough to share some concern without being labelled hysterical, moaning etc by the blindly loyal (ironically such types are guilty of this more than those they're labasting in my view!). I'll continue to support the team as I have done for last 3 decades. But right now e.g. past 3 months it's more about looking over our shoulders than chasing the play-offs, hence my concern.

 

[aolstudios]

No, that is your opinion, not a fact. I do not see it as being 'totally unacceptable' at all.

This is our first season back at Championship level for years so the team and Gus are still learning. We are going to have difficult periods when we struggle to score or pick up points. This season we are playing against teams like Ipswich, West Ham, Reading and Middlesbrough who have been at this level or higher for years and have been able to spend money on proven quality Championship or Premiership players over a sustained period rather than one summer and have much stronger squads than us.

We have had some very tough games recently and when you consider the bad luck we have had with injuries to our key attacking players like Buckley, Vicente and Hoskins during that time I do not find it surprising we are struggling to score. You can also add in the poor refereeing decisions we have been on the receiving end of and the suspensions (partly self inflicted).

So to say that goal ratio is 'totally unacceptable' is, in my opinion, a total over reaction.

It's incredible how far Gus has taken us in 2 years but there was always going to be a time when things got a bit tougher on the pitch. I have every faith the goals will come again.

Absolutely, this. It's not 'totally unacceptable' to, at a higher level than most of the squad have played at, and with injuries and suspensions, not run away with the league again and only be mid table ffs. We're creating and scoring less and conceding a few more, while being less easy on the eye. Big fuckin deal, we seem to have forgotten every down we've had in the last 25 odd years and finding anything but last years success 'totally unacceptable', 'dross' and judging last years' heroes 'shite' because they're finding their feet at a new level. I'm enjoying the ride and will continue to - it's been a long time coming

 

[supaseagull]

Sorry. Dull as in the last 12 or so games. Not all season.

Christ you must be really hard to please!

How can you say things have been dull? As Daffy says - I would never call any game this season dull compared to some games when Mcghee, Wilkins or Taylor were in charge!

 

[portlock seagull]

I think with a fit Buckley, Lua Lua featuring more (which seems to be happening now he's been signed permanently) and Noone's form returning (as at Reading) the chances and then goals will come. If Vicente and Hoskins can also start playing then even better.

At Reading we missed 3 absolute sitters (CMS x 2 and Paynter 1). On another day all 3 would have gone in and that is away to one of the top teams in the division.

Hopefully we will sign another striker in January in place of Paynter who really is shite, but I'm not going to panic yet if we don't. We have the players but are lacking a bit of confidence and luck at he moment.

But that's the rub isn't it? All these players seem to be continually injured so when exactly are they all going to play together, if ever? We could have signed Van Basten in his prime but if he's always injured then it's just hypothetical whether or not he'll make us a better team. It's very frustrating as you allude to Also, sitters or not, we're not scoring 'em and often as not, not creating more than 2 or 3 chances all game. So when we don't score, like we didn't at Reading, you think, great, that was all we're likely to get given current performances. And then if the opposition score, as they did quite early on, you can't help thinking it's game over because we can't put the ball in the back of the net it seems. Or even trouble the keeper again in the same match. That's the basis of my concern, which, I hasten to add, isn't the same as panic - something so many on here seem unable to differenciate between.

 

[aolstudios]

The long high ball to a midget played on the wing.
Magoo, what a jocko genius

he was, and indeed is, a lardy dinosaur. We've come a long way, baby

 

[portlock seagull]

Christ you must be really hard to please!

How can you say things have been dull? As Daffy says - I would never call any game this season dull compared to some games when Mcghee, Wilkins or Taylor were in charge!

Well we see things differently chap. In comparison to your examples, you have a point. If I, by contrast, said compared to some of the stuff played under Catlin, Mullers, Lloyd and Poyet last season....? But it's all about opinions and I do think that coming to watch a team with the talents we have is currently frustrating or not exactly exciting (perhaps dull was too strong a word) when it's all keep ball and no final product. As it has been for some time. Football is all about goals after all!

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Actually Mr Hot-head. It's not "utter bullshit".

When I lwrote the "worrying stats" thread I did in November, what had triggered it was the absence of many memorable efforts on target, let alone goals, against lots of possession and passing left to right without any really cutting edge. So I looked at some official stats when these games had just featured so where fresh in my mind.
Southampton - no shots on target BBC Sport - Southampton 3-0 Brighton
Watford - ditto BBC Sport - Watford 1-0 Brighton
Birmingham, sorry, we had 3 apparently in a scoreless draw.
.

What like you've just done claiming my claim that we had no shots on goal in several matches as "pathetic nonsence and utter bullshit" is actually true according to official stats? Eh Mr Angry hot-head? Weakens your case I believe?

No offence taken. So are you now changing the subject from 'shots on goal' to 'shots on TARGET'? Those would be a different count clearly. At Watford we had 3 or 4 shots on goal, NONE of which were on target for example.

Don't get too hung up on your precious official stats either. You can post as many links as you like to an incorrect official stat (Southampton) - it still won't make it right. I prefer to base my arguments on what I witness myself, when I'm there.

 

[Bozza]

I prefer to base my arguments on what I witness myself, when I'm there.

In which case you seem to be agreeing with [MENTION=663]portlock seagull[/MENTION] - we've been as utter wank at creating goalscoring chances as you seem to be at beating me at WwF.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

In which case you seem to be agreeing with [MENTION=663]portlock seagull[/MENTION] - we've been as utter wank at creating goalscoring chances as you seem to be at beating me at WwF.

Agreeing with you both, that we are not creating nearly enough chances. Just pointing out that his stats are made up / incorrect, that's all.

WwF, - you've had a run of good luck...

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

^^^^^ouch^^^^^^

By the way, what happened to BOF's WWF tournament?

 

[Seasider78]

Our club, manager and players have less championship experience than almost any other club in the division. Despite this and a crippling injury list we are mid table in a very competitive division. Just look at the stature of the clubs below and around us.

This year is about experience and consolidation which given our roller coaster history of promotions and relegations does not fit well with some fans.

When mid table you can be a glass half full or half empty fan and nothing anyone says will change how you feel about the season

Personally I am a glass half full fan and think with some more luck with injuries and a bit of confidence there is no reason we cannot recapture the early promise we showed

 

[Bozza]

^^^^^ouch^^^^^^

By the way, what happened to BOF's WWF tournament?

LOL.

I have actually found a vBulletin plugin that allows tournaments (of anything) to be run and administered on the site itself - saves someone having to compile scores and chase for games to be completed etc. I'll install it when I get the chance and we can have another go to find the NSC king of WwF.

 

[portlock seagull]

No offence taken. So are you now changing the subject from 'shots on goal' to 'shots on TARGET'? Those would be a different count clearly. At Watford we had 3 or 4 shots on goal, NONE of which were on target for example.

Don't get too hung up on your precious official stats either. You can post as many links as you like to an incorrect official stat (Southampton) - it still won't make it right. I prefer to base my arguments on what I witness myself, when I'm there.

Christ you're such an aggressive little cyber-warrior aren't you? Lambasting anyone and everyone that makes a point that you don't agree with. And then, when it's proved to you, you then wriggle and squirm and say you don't believe!! That makes you a biggot, if not a bit of a cock.

I was always talking about shots on target e.g. that "test the keeper". On both threads. I'm not really interested in shots that go for a throw-in. If you're now going to say I don't believe such stats, that's fine. But it works both ways because e.g. for the B'ham game I can't remember us troubling their keeper once yet the stats say we had 3 on-target. And I'm big enough to have said so, even though it doesn't support my general argument. Unlike you.

Anyway, you carry on enjoying Narnia...say hi to Mr Tumnus from us all...

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

LOL.

I have actually found a vBulletin plugin that allows tournaments (of anything) to be run and administered on the site itself - saves someone having to compile scores and chase for games to be completed etc. I'll install it when I get the chance and we can have another go to find the NSC king of WwF.

Cool. It did seem like a lot of tail chasing that BOF was doing, bless him.

 

[portlock seagull]

Agreeing with you both, that we are not creating nearly enough chances. Just pointing out that his stats are made up / incorrect, that's all.

WwF, - you've had a run of good luck...

But they're not made up! I even put the hyperlinks in.....

Bigot...

 

[hans kraay fan club]

LOL.

I have actually found a vBulletin plugin that allows tournaments (of anything) to be run and administered on the site itself - saves someone having to compile scores and chase for games to be completed etc. I'll install it when I get the chance and we can have another go to find the NSC king of WwF.

Cool.

(it won't be me, that's for sure. It will be somebody sad enough to bother CHEATING).

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Christ you're such an aggressive little cyber-warrior aren't you? Lambasting anyone and everyone that makes a point that you don't agree with. And then, when it's proved to you, you then wriggle and squirm and say you don't believe!! That makes you a biggot, if not a bit of a cock.

I was always talking about shots on target e.g. that "test the keeper". On both threads. I'm not really interested in shots that go for a throw-in. If you're now going to say I don't believe such stats, that's fine. But it works both ways because e.g. for the B'ham game I can't remember us troubling their keeper once yet the stats say we had 3 on-target. And I'm big enough to have said so, even though it doesn't support my general argument. Unlike you.

Anyway, you carry on enjoying Narnia...say hi to Mr Tumnus from us all...

I doubt anyone is interested in shots that went for a throw-in. You're being a bit of a twat there. Fact is, even in say, the Watford game, when we were irredeemably shit (shockingly, shockingly awful) it would still be plainly UNTRUE of me to state that we had no meaningful attempts on goal, whatever the (sigh) official stats insist, when I can clearly recall fairly decent efforts from Noone in each half.

Similarly, I'm well aware that the (sigh) official stats state we had no effort on target at St.Marys. That doesn't alter the fact that we did. Within a minute of Saints taking the lead, there was a scramble in the area when Davies dropped a cross, which resulted in goalbound efforts being blocked twice by defenders.

No-one's claiming that we played well in those games, or that we're creating chances like Keegan's Newcastle. The ONLY point I am making is that if you are going to base your argument on facts and figures, then they need to be accurate. You listed four games, in which we'd had 'no efforts on goal'. You were wrong on all four.

Still, you carry on.

 

[GT49er]

Of course there are players we'd like to have in the team which we can't afford. Talk about stating the bleeding obvious! That applies to just about everyone except Man. City and Chelsea!

Tony Bloom is a very rich man (compared to me, anyway!) and he's stumped up a lot of money for the club - but he's no Abramovich; he can't just go out and BUY a Premiership squad. We're building steadily, even if the last couple of months have been a bit of a disappointment after what went before, and yes, I am a bit concerned about the drop in form, and a bit worried at the number of sick-notes that we've paid good money for - but I still think it's good to be an Albion suppoter at the moment!

It would be good to see a couple of new faces in in January - but I'm not thinking of world class fancy-priced megastars. Not carrying an injury, and without a suspension hanging over them would be valuable qualities!