[Albion] We are currently experiencing the greatest Albion team of all time

[jackanada]

Quote from Kloppity after the draw with wolves:

Next team is Brighton, if you don’t defend properly there, there is no point going.

 that's how far we've come.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Yeah this is absolutely the best team/football I have ever seen from the Albion.
Enjoy it whilst you can it won't be around forever.

I think there is a chance that De Zerbi will start to get found out, later in the season and next year we may not be so effective.
It takes the Premier League a while to adapt to a new manager.

Vieira was getting plenty of praise last season and now the Vieira Out sentiment is starting to form for our friends up the road.

De Zerbi is a different class to PV and I suspect he will adapt much better, but this moment in time may well be the peak.

Isn't Veira's main problem that their key player last season actually belonged to Chelsea?
Whereas our team's been purring and getting results for months now, and the effective way to play against us hasn't really changed for the last 3 years.

 

[Stat Brother]

Quote from Kloppity after the draw with wolves:

Next team is Brighton, if you don’t defend properly there, there is no point going.

 that's how far we've come.

Says the manager with Salah, Nunez and Gakpo running at our defence.

 

[LANGDON SEAGULL]

Yep, a great team playing great football.

Some of us older folk (well, perhaps only me) used to slightly balk at threads like this and the tendency to think that history only began at Hereford. We had a very good team in the late 70s and early 80s including players like Ward, Robinson, Case and Lawrenson (who, just like Cucu was the most expensive defender in the world when we sold him to Liverpool) playing in front of 20 -30,000 (sometimes more and, yes, under Bailey less) and getting to a Cup Final and finishing 13th in the top division.

But the truth is the current crop blow them out of the water. Better players playing more attractive football and with a reasonable shot at Europe. It genuinely is the stuff of dreams.

Agree with this . We had a great team in the late 70s but somewhat struggled in the top tier . Our highest league finish was achieved with some of the direst football under Bailey .

Todays players and style is the best I’ve ever seen

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Isn't Veira's main problem that their key player last season actually belonged to Chelsea?
Whereas our team's been purring and getting results for months now, and the effective way to play against us hasn't really changed for the last 3 years.

Vieira's main problem is more than just Gallagher leaving, so probably a bad example.

The point remains that De Zerbi remains an unknown quantity at present.
Once the other Prem teams analysts have got enough data on our games, they will be better placed to countering our gameplan.

 

[Stat Brother]

Vieira's main problem is more than just Gallagher leaving, so probably a bad example.

The point remains that De Zerbi remains an unknown quantity at present.
Once the other Prem teams analysts have got enough data on our games, they will be better placed to countering our gameplan.

But he's not though, is he?

As said a minute ago, on another thread.
We knew what we were getting with RdZ.
After the initial "who" we all poured over The YouTube clips and analysis all of which pointed to the same traits, none of which appears to have changed.

 

[Javeaseagull]

I was almost laughing out loud at times yesterday. It’s no secret that we invite teams on to us so we can play through them. The way Boro stood there, refusing to come out of their half, just trying to stare us out made me giggle. It didn’t do them any good but I did enjoy it.

 

[sydney]

Still need someone at Left Back... @ben's Grandad

R.I.P

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Vieira's main problem is more than just Gallagher leaving, so probably a bad example.

Does it largely come down to them just not being very good?

 

[Stat Brother]

I was almost laughing out loud at times yesterday. It’s no secret that we invite teams on to us so we can play through them. The way Boro stood there, refusing to come out of their half, just trying to stare us out made me giggle. It didn’t do them any good but I did enjoy it.

I did enjoy Steele standing with the ball at his feet.
The home fans getting titsy.
Steele eventually passing out to Colwell.
Me thinking:-
'You thought that was bad, you ain't seen nothing yet'.

 

[DataPoint]

Name me a team that play better football than us.I think we are the best passing side in England if not Europe.

In their 26 games in all competitions this season, Manchester City have had more possession than their opponent in every game bar ONE! I wonder which that team was?

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Does it largely come down to them just not being very good?

It comes from the fact they don't seem to have enough financial support to rebuild their squad.

The rebuild seems to have faltered after a decent start last season.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

But he's not though, is he?

As said a minute ago, on another thread.
We knew what we were getting with RdZ.
After the initial "who" we all poured over The YouTube clips and analysis all of which pointed to the same traits, none of which appears to have changed.

That may well be true.
But I still suspect the other Premier League teams will become better at countering our playing style as the seasons go on.

 

[stewart_weir]

My main concern for retaining this level of squad is that as a selling club we need to be close to 100% getting it right when a player is sold off. We will also need to increase the pay structure and offer European football to retain these players. The cross over from non European to European football regards squad depth is as vast as the difference between the PL and Championship. The other issue is how to retain RDZ. At this rate someone will be sniffing by early next season. In the meantime I'm enjoying the ride. A lot

 

[Stat Brother]

That may well be true.
But I still suspect the other Premier League teams will become better at countering our playing style as the seasons go on.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

That may well be true.
But I still suspect the other Premier League teams will become better at countering our playing style as the seasons go on.

Dunno, look down the table nowadays and most of them look like nothing special

 

[Stat Brother]

That may well be true.
But I still suspect the other Premier League teams will become better at countering our playing style as the seasons go on.

Well yes, there's a reason why teams pit crews are bigger than the playing staff.
It all depends on whether the bulk of our players are performing below , at, or above their capabilities.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Dunno, look down the table nowadays and most of them look like nothing special

Villa continue to bamboozle us.
And we haven't beaten Palace for 3 seasons.

Nothing special or not, there are plenty of teams that have managed to negate our strengths.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Villa continue to bamboozle us.
And we haven't beaten Palace for 3 seasons.

Nothing special or not, there are plenty of teams that have managed to negate our strengths.

Well yes, but as you say they've been doing that for years. I wouldn't worry about them working us or De Zerbi out in the future, when the template to deal with us is already there.

 

[Brovion]

Not sure this is really true.


Anyway, this team is incredible. We will probably never see this level again. I'm praying we win a trophy and make Europe in the next 2 or 3 years because this ought to be our time. If not now, then when? Football is cyclical and we will be shit again one day as sure as night follows day.

That's exactly right. Reading the Middlesborough forum after yesterday there were several posts about how football is cyclical, and pointing out they too had once been in our position: top half of the Prem with players (such as Ravaneli and Juninho) who people raved about. Ok, we can argue degrees but the overall point is valid. Also they've had the same owner (Gibson) through the good times and now the (relatively) bad, so they can't blame 'new owners' for their demise. So yes, I really, really want us to achieve something before the wheel turns, we can't go on pulling rabbits out of hats.

But yes, undoubtedly the greatest team, greatest squad, greatest era since I first turned up at the Goldstone ground in early 1966