[Albion] Yesterdays Game Just Reaffirmed My Opinion.

[Reddleman]

Maybe he is trying to bring in extra income via additional investment - we just don't know. There is also financial fair play to bear in mind as well as being sustainable. If it was your business and had lost what we had in the last 2 years would you plough even more in? Maybe you would.

Perhaps Tony is trying to sell the soul of the club to potential investors in the Middle East or some Russian Oligarch but from what I can see, he is trying (and barely succeeding) to keep the club afloat so we don't end up being the next Portsmouth or Sunderland.

As you say it's a matter of opinions, and that is fine, but I personally would rather see the club reduce it's debts and become more sustainable even if it means us bumbling around the bottom third of the best league in the world. Until such time as Tony sells the club to some money magnet, I am happy with the way the club is being operated, even if the results we all want to see are hard to come by. From nearly going to the wall 25 years ago to 13th in the Premier League - hmm, real life problems?

I’m fine with being sustainable and think Tony is fantastic but on this particular issue doing the same thing over and over and hoping things turn out differently doesn’t make any sense and it’s simply not working. So let’s mix it up, sell Bissouma and sell Trossard and invest that money in a new forward. Sure it’s a gamble but i can’t see how it can bring less than the options we have now.

Or, sell Duffy, Clarke, Connolly, Molumby and Bissouma and don’t renew the wages of Lallana and for one year forgo signing so many up and coming youngsters to put all that money into that one player.

We are a fantastically run club and long may that continue but we went into this season with forward options that included Locadia and Connolly alongside an injury prone Welbeck and hit and miss Maupay. We are now paying the price and people are blaming Potter for such poor recruitment.

 

[southstandandy]

I’m fine with being sustainable and think Tony is fantastic but on this particular issue doing the same thing over and over and hoping things turn out differently doesn’t make any sense and it’s simply not working. So let’s mix it up, sell Bissouma and sell Trossard and invest that money in a new forward. Sure it’s a gamble but i can’t see how it can bring less than the options we have now.

Or, sell Duffy, Clarke, Connolly, Molumby and Bissouma and don’t renew the wages of Lallana and for one year forgo signing so many up and coming youngsters to put all that money into that one player.

We are a fantastically run club and long may that continue but we went into this season with forward options that included Locadia and Connolly alongside an injury prone Welbeck and hit and miss Maupay. We are now paying the price and people are blaming Potter for such poor recruitment.

I will agree, that if Biss and Trossard to go then this summer that money should be invested in the squad and hopefully focussed on just a couple of key players (deemed to up to 1st team level) rather than do what we've done in the past buying young hopefuls and sticking them in the U23's or on loan.

Agree to that Tony is a great Chairman, but just feel that the current frustration this board has shown over the last few weeks is just down to a bad few weeks of form. 34 points with 8 to play still gives us a chance to beat our haul from last season. I'm confident we are still in good hands too, but having worked in financial services my whole life I wouldn't want the club to put their future at risk by over spending.

Knowing us we'll probably beat Arsenal next week!

 

[usernamed]

Quite. A playing system which yields 31 shots clearly isn’t a fault.

Those 31 shots were mainly against a set defence camped in their own penalty area, and only four were on target. I’d say only the penalty and two of those chances had a realistic chance of hitting the back of the net. As others have pointed out, even the best strikers can’t magic the ball through a packed wall of defenders. A more natural finisher may have got one of those three opportunities in, which would have been enough yesterday, but probably wouldn’t be enough very often.

I still feel that either we quicken our attacking play, so our chances are real chances, or we play “will we be relegated?” roulette every single season.

 

[durrington gull]

Maupay would get 20+ in the Belgian league but I really hope we don't test that theory. We need Undav and another striker and Maupay and that would still probably not be quite enough as other teams that we are trying to compete against. Our supporting guys like Andy Z and Aaron C still don't look ready and Evan F needs to be allowed to develop

I would personally sell Maupay in the summer- he lacks pace and composure

 

[Springal]

I would personally sell Maupay in the summer- he lacks pace and composure

Easy to sell that - but to who? He’s only got 1 year left on his contract so wouldn’t command much of a fee, but he’s on Premier League wages and pretty sure he won’t take a pay cut without being paid what he’s owed for the last year.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I would personally sell Maupay in the summer- he lacks pace and composure

To who?

 

[Weststander]

To who?

Everton.

They’re very, very good at paying lots for lots of players.

 

[J2 DOG]

I would personally sell Maupay in the summer- he lacks pace and composure

We only have 1 player with real pace and he gets 2 on him now. Perhaps if we had more pace in the team this could help our strikers. As for composure, we certainly don’t have it when it comes to shooting.
Instead of a set piece coach who seems to have had little affect so far, we should have got someone in to work on finishing. Zamora or Murray spring to mind!

 

[monty uk]

Having had time to reflect on yesterday, and watching the highlights back this morning, I believe our problem is just as much about how we attack than it is about our strikers (or lack of).

Despite the stats, we didn’t really create many chances that I would expect us to score from (outside of the penalty and set pieces). Most of our chances were either long range attempts, or snap shots in a crowded area.

Having had time to reflect on yesterday, and watching the highlights back this morning, I believe our problem is just as much about how we attack than it is about our strikers (or lack of).

Despite the stats, we didn’t really create many chances that I would expect us to score from (outside of the penalty and set pieces). Most of our chances were either long range attempts, or snap shots in a crowded area.

We are far too slow and predictable at getting the ball forward and into dangerous positions while catching the defence out of shape. This is what the better teams do. Maupay, Trossard, March and Gross are all terrible at this. Our first attack (on the extended highlights) where Maupay has the chance to attack quickly but takes too long and gives it to Trossard in a poor position is a good example of this.

Is it tactics or just crap players? I honestly don’t know. But the way we attack has to change.

You can look at this from another perspective.

If we had a striker bouncing around in the box, midfield could speed up knowing they have somewhere to go with the ball. Too often Maupay, our star striker, is holding back or like yesterday stuck out on the left wing. Or if we had a striker in the style of Salah, who picks the ball up on the right flank and drives into the box like a burning arrow, we'd have someone to aim at.

As it is we fiddle and faff until our own forwards get up, usually after the defenders. And are blocked in.

Cuc, Lamptey and Boss must be chomping at the bit for a target man.

Possession and delivering the ball is not a problem. Pace and positioning with quickstep feet would be an advantage.

IMHO.

 

[albionalex]

I would personally sell Maupay in the summer- he lacks pace and composure

Big call to sell our top scorer. Especially as we will struggle to find a similar player for what we paid for him.

 

[warmleyseagull]

Big call to sell our top scorer. Especially as we will struggle to find a similar player for what we paid for him.

If we are to stay up, TB needs to spend big for the goalscorer we need. If Undav is the answer, what is the question? How many more forwards who score for fun in Mickey Leagues but can't cut it at this level do we need to prove the point? If we get to end July without a sniff of proven GS then I am larging on relegation at any odds.

Financial sustainability is a noble cause, but it is not the way to top 10 (yet at least). You can fudge and mudge as Burnley, Palace, Southampton, and even pre-Saudi have done (and, lets be honest, better then we have for 4 seasons) but it will get you in the end.

 

[jcdenton08]

And how many did Vicente score for us in the CHAMPIONSHIP?

Vicente would walk into this team. You've had a shocker there. Greatest player ever to play for the Albion.

 

[el punal]

We desperately need a new striker!

Even Alan Shearer said it on Match of the Day last night, we look great going forward, create lots of chances, (31 shots yesterday), but just can't find the back of the net.

Ok so we have Deniz Undav joining us in the summer from his season's loan in Belgium, but even he is completely untried at Premier League level.

I know this has all been said countless times before, but sorry Mr. Bloom you will hbave to open your wallet wide one more time, and invest properly on a striker with a proven goalscoring record at this level.

Yes we have a few prospects in the Development squad, Ferguson, Tolaj et al, but they are both young and l don't think ready yet.plus Zeqiri and Sima but l'm far from convinced that they are the an swer to our problems either.

It really is obvious where our greatest problems lay. If you don't score goals you don't win football matgches. End of.

Yes, we do need ANOTHER striker. More importantly we need the players we’ve got to actually hit the target. I can only assume that the whole team is so devoid of confidence at the moment that when the opportunity arises to attempt a shot on goal the following happen :

1. Chicken out and pass to another player to take responsibility.

2. Rabbit in the headlights moment and all composure is lost and the shot is scuffed or blasted over the bar or past the post.

3. Delaying the opportunity to score and thus allowing a defender to close down the attempt.

Really, the list is endless. I believe Potter should introduce some of the capable development squad players into the team, if nothing more than to instil some energy, pace and enthusiasm into what has become a stale and tired outfit.

 

[nwgull]

Now, I know I'm going to get slated for this, BUT....
I think we should ditch the stripe kit. It makes it difficult to focus on who is near, or far, in the blink of an eye (from an on field perspective).
Most of the perennially successful teams have a single colour shirt.
We have a better away record, maybe because we don't often wear stripes?

Just a thought...

Juventus and Barca have done ok over the years.

 

[GT49er]

Yes, we do need ANOTHER striker. More importantly we need the players we’ve got to actually hit the target. I can only assume that the whole team is so devoid of confidence at the moment that when the opportunity arises to attempt a shot on goal the following happen :

1. Chicken out and pass to another player to take responsibility.

2. Rabbit in the headlights moment and all composure is lost and the shot is scuffed or blasted over the bar or past the post.

3. Delaying the opportunity to score and thus allowing a defender to close down the attempt.

Really, the list is endless. I believe Potter should introduce some of the capable development squad players into the team, if nothing more than to instil some energy, pace and enthusiasm into what has become a stale and tired outfit.

If nothing more than........................... to let other payers know they need to pull their finger out

 

[nwgull]

Vicente would walk into this team. You've had a shocker there. Greatest player ever to play for the Albion.

Prime Vicente would walk into this team. Vicente of 2011-2013 wouldn't.

 

[GT49er]

I’m fine with being sustainable and think Tony is fantastic but on this particular issue doing the same thing over and over and hoping things turn out differently doesn’t make any sense and it’s simply not working. So let’s mix it up, sell Bissouma and sell Trossard and invest that money in a new forward. Sure it’s a gamble but i can’t see how it can bring less than the options we have now.

Or, sell Duffy, Clarke, Connolly, Molumby and Bissouma and don’t renew the wages of Lallana and for one year forgo signing so many up and coming youngsters to put all that money into that one player.

We are a fantastically run club and long may that continue but we went into this season with forward options that included Locadia and Connolly alongside an injury prone Welbeck and hit and miss Maupay. We are now paying the price and people are blaming Potter for such poor recruitment.

"Doing the same thing over and over" {aka not bankrupting the club to pay stupid money for some mythical striker) has kept us in the PL for five (and almost certainly six) seasons. What, exactly, for a small provincial club has not been achieved?

 

[Justice]

If we are to stay up, TB needs to spend big for the goalscorer we need. If Undav is the answer, what is the question? How many more forwards who score for fun in Mickey Leagues but can't cut it at this level do we need to prove the point? If we get to end July without a sniff of proven GS then I am larging on relegation at any odds.

Financial sustainability is a noble cause, but it is not the way to top 10 (yet at least). You can fudge and mudge as Burnley, Palace, Southampton, and even pre-Saudi have done (and, lets be honest, better then we have for 4 seasons) but it will get you in the end.

If Mitrovic can’t do it in the PL I’m not holding out much hope for Undav, Dante looks the much better all round prospect but seeing as he’s valued at £20m that one looks unlikely. Someone mentioned to me Leicester will go for him in the summer which would make the whole Union project laughable if we can’t sign their best players.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

“Financial sustainability is a noble cause, but it is not the way to top 10 (yet at least). You can fudge and mudge as Burnley, Palace, Southampton, and even pre-Saudi have done (and, lets be honest, better then we have for 4 seasons) but it will get you in the end.”
......
I would sooner see my club financially sound , even if we should get relegated someday. Statistically that that is likely to happen to a smaller club. The clamour for a proven striker is understandable but the trouble is they are rarer than hen’s teeth and command a kings ransom.
Years back older players from top clubs would come but now they can go abroad and earn more. We are stuck with the bargain end of the transfer market and the hope that we unearth a gem.

 

[jcdenton08]

Prime Vicente would walk into this team. Vicente of 2011-2013 wouldn't.

I disagree.