*** West Brom v City - Official Match Thread ***

[Foreverinbluedreams]

good to see that Mangala's passing is still just as shit as it was last season.

Oh ffs! He had a couple of loose ones but no more than any of our other defenders.

Edit: Just checked, 89.1% pass accuracy, same as Vinnie.

[Original Dub]

good to see that Mangala's passing is still just as shit as it was last season.

Oh ffs! He had a couple of loose ones but no more than any of our other defenders.

Edit: Just checked, 89.1% pass accuracy, same as Vinnie.

Are you surprised by his post mate?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

good to see that Mangala's passing is still just as shit as it was last season.

Oh ffs! He had a couple of loose ones but no more than any of our other defenders.

Edit: Just checked, 89.1% pass accuracy, same as Vinnie.

Are you surprised by his post mate?

Not at all. It just annoys me that he'd single out Mangala for criticism after he put in such a solid performance, there again if the commentators specifically highlight his errors in particular I guess people will pick up on it.

[bayblue]

Great first game.
I really liked the comment made earlier about what we bought with Sterling was space. So true. And when they man marked Dave in the second half that just created space for others.
Though Fern looked light years apart from last year's tired and almost shell shocked model. Also liked the physicality of our CBs. Them v Costa will be interesting.
As someone said we will with this style of play be vulnerable though the defensive middle. Some of WBAs attacks came from passes straight up the middle of the field. I think judging by Pellers interview and his comments re scoring goals that he's banking on outscoring other teams and if so then it's going to be a hall of a season for us to enjoy.

Finally a shout out for the fans. I wasn't there but on TV they sounded great all the way through the game (even if the commentators didn't seem to notice). And liked the appreciation shown for Lescott as well.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Doug, I thought the free kicks were given away because there was a conscious effort not to let them near our goal. Also hack anything that moved in the penalty area. Seemed to work so far

Not really buying that. I agree with others that Fernandinho was excellent but one of his strengths is also a bit of a weakness when he is determined to get in front of players and nick the ball he does give free kicks away and they can be very dangerous.

[Yffi_88]

Doug, I thought the free kicks were given away because there was a conscious effort not to let them near our goal. Also hack anything that moved in the penalty area. Seemed to work so far

Not really buying that. I agree with others that Fernandinho was excellent but one of his strengths is also a bit of a weakness when he is determined to get in front of players and nick the ball he does give free kicks away and they can be very dangerous.

Got a little bit frustrated with Fernandinho and his needless free-kicks in dangerous areas last season and there was a bit of the same last night. Its alright looking at the ref like you're being hard done by but it happened more than once and the lesson wasnt learnt (learned? - can never get that one). Looks like a silly sending off waiting to happen at times and his little clips and obstructions just put us under unnecessary pressure. When he's playing well he's brilliant but last night i think there were times when he could just have took a bit more time to think about what he was doing instead of trying too hard to win the ball through the back of his man who was often facing away from goal.

[sheblue]

Understand the comments about kelechi not coming on, but also understand that he wanted to give sergio 30 mins ahead of sunday.

[nottsblue]

Being nit picky Iheanacho instead of Nasri on for Sterling wouldn't have weakened us too much I'd have thought. But equally giving Nasri game time is not a bad idea especially as he's likely to feature against Chelsea

[carl_feedthegoat]

Doug, I thought the free kicks were given away because there was a conscious effort not to let them near our goal. Also hack anything that moved in the penalty area. Seemed to work so far

Not really buying that. I agree with others that Fernandinho was excellent but one of his strengths is also a bit of a weakness when he is determined to get in front of players and nick the ball he does give free kicks away and they can be very dangerous.

You cannot give free kicks away outside that pen area..its playing with fire ffs !!. Kompany gets slated, by me mostly, when he fuckign does it and the same applies to Fernando.....cut it out !

[getdressedmctavish]

Wasn't at all surprised by Fernandinos inept tackling. For the avoidance of doubt he CANNOT TACKLE AND WILL NEVER MAKE S DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER AS LONG AS.......... As Ted told us years ago he's an attacking central midfielder who can break quickly and link up play. He showed with his brilliant pass to Sterling that he has quality. But our problem has always been that, when teams stifle Ya Ya and Dave and get in behind us, the defence does not have an effective screen. If you cant cope with Gardener and Fletcher except by fouling how will you cope with Messi and Iniesta et al?i am sure that was the point of the Pogba bid. I think Delph will be better at it but its a big ask. As another poster says, it looks like Pellergrini has decided to risk conceding with a view to outscoring the oppo. Swap Navas for de Brune and we should be unstoppable in the Prem. But will we be good enough to take on the top five in the chumps league which is our goal?to me, Fernandinho has always been a square peg, too similar to Ya Ya in terms of his attributes. so it will be interesting to see whether we can swamp Chelsea with our skill and pace or whether they can cynically stifle us and get behind our midfield and catch us on the break as Mourinio will doubtless try to do.Just for a marker, I still think Hazard is vastly overrated and easy to send down blind alleys. Think Sagna will keep his place.We are well equipped to get the big lumps turning and floundering but we need a tough ref willing to book the early Chelsea attempts to kick Dave out of the game.

[Hazy2]

Doug, I thought the free kicks were given away because there was a conscious effort not to let them near our goal. Also hack anything that moved in the penalty area. Seemed to work so far

Not really buying that. I agree with others that Fernandinho was excellent but one of his strengths is also a bit of a weakness when he is determined to get in front of players and nick the ball he does give free kicks away and they can be very dangerous.

You cannot give free kicks away outside that pen area..its playing with fire ffs !!. Kompany gets slated, by me mostly, when he fuckign does it and the same applies to Fernando.....cut it out !

Ferna was briliant at times, but a red card waiting to happen and the Chelsea cheating cunts will milk that on Sunday.... last night, however if a clumsy player like Joleon can thread ball through the middle of the pitch I fear we could get done by a side with say with Hazard running through last night was full of positives just big holes in the MF again. Sorry to be a nitpicker. The top teams in CL will see that all day.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Wasn't at all surprised by Fernandinos inept tackling. For the avoidance of doubt he CANNOT TACKLE AND WILL NEVER MAKE S DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER AS LONG AS.......... As Ted told us years ago he's an attacking central midfielder who can break quickly and link up play. He showed with his brilliant pass to Sterling that he has quality. But our problem has always been that, when teams stifle Ya Ya and Dave and get in behind us, the defence does not have an effective screen. If you cant cope with Gardener and Fletcher except by fouling how will you cope with Messi and Iniesta et al?i am sure that was the point of the Pogba bid. I think Delph will be better at it but its a big ask. As another poster says, it looks like Pellergrini has decided to risk conceding with a view to outscoring the oppo. Swap Navas for de Brune and we should be unstoppable in the Prem. But will we be good enough to take on the top five in the chumps league which is our goal?to me, Fernandinho has always been a square peg, too similar to Ya Ya in terms of his attributes. so it will be interesting to see whether we can swamp Chelsea with our skill and pace or whether they can cynically stifle us and get behind our midfield and catch us on the break as Mourinio will doubtless try to do.Just for a marker, I still think Hazard is vastly overrated and easy to send down blind alleys. Think Sagna will keep his place.We are well equipped to get the big lumps turning and floundering but we need a tough ref willing to book the early Chelsea attempts to kick Dave out of the game.

Dinho is not an attacking midfielder, he's a central midfielder, a box to box player. I agree as a defensive screen he ain't great but he's not an attacking mid.

Pogba ain't either so I'm not sure what you mean when you say that was the point of the Pogba bid.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Just watched the highlights and Id like to say this :

The first goal...Tyler was absolutley gutted it went in,,,he didnt even raise one decibel to describe the goal.

Bony had a wicked shot and just missed.....TYLER virtually said NOTHING..not even a raised whisper to describe the shot.

And LESCOTT was fuckign PAP........take it Ted Take it !!!

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Doug, I thought the free kicks were given away because there was a conscious effort not to let them near our goal. Also hack anything that moved in the penalty area. Seemed to work so far

Not really buying that. I agree with others that Fernandinho was excellent but one of his strengths is also a bit of a weakness when he is determined to get in front of players and nick the ball he does give free kicks away and they can be very dangerous.

You cannot give free kicks away outside that pen area..its playing with fire ffs !!. Kompany gets slated, by me mostly, when he fuckign does it and the same applies to Fernando.....cut it out !

Ferna was briliant at times, but a red card waiting to happen and the Chelsea cheating cunts will milk that on Sunday.... last night, however if a clumsy player like Joleon can thread ball through the middle of the pitch I fear we could get done by a side with say with Hazard running through last night was full of positives just big holes in the MF again. Sorry to be a nitpicker. The top teams in CL will see that all day.

Lescott threaded one ball through midfield and that was at a point in the game where our intensity had dropped. For the most part they couldn't get possession in the middle third of the pitch, never mind our third.

[Nigels Tackle]

Just watched the highlights and Id like to say this :

The first goal...Tyler was absolutley gutted it went in,,,he didnt even raise one decibel to describe the goal.

Bony had a wicked shot and just missed.....TYLER virtually said NOTHING..not even a raised whisper to describe the shot.

And LESCOTT was fuckign PAP........take it Ted Take it !!!

where is ted?

[Yffi_88]

Regardless, IMO, that gap will be exploited by better sides, and people with a bit more ability and quick feet will draw Fernandinho into more and more silly tackles where we can easily find ourselves with 10 men and an even bigger gap between the midfield and defence.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Regardless, IMO, that gap will be exploited by better sides, and people with a bit more ability and quick feet will draw Fernandinho into more and more silly tackles where we can easily find ourselves with 10 men and an even bigger gap between the midfield and defence.

I think we'll be more risk averse when playing better sides, at least I hope so.

[Yffi_88]

Regardless, IMO, that gap will be exploited by better sides, and people with a bit more ability and quick feet will draw Fernandinho into more and more silly tackles where we can easily find ourselves with 10 men and an even bigger gap between the midfield and defence.

I don't think we'll be as risk averse when playing better sides, at least I hope not.

I'm not sure he has the ability to switch his 'shit tackle filter' off. But as you say.. we can only hope.

I'm picturing what happens when Barcelona are playing the ball around and we're relying on Fernandinho to dominate the midfield without giving away dangerous free kicks. I feel sorry for him because (as someone mentioned) i dont think thats his strongest position but its glaringly obvious that last season - and now this - he's not looked the best of tacklers/decision makers.

[Mase]

Just watched the highlights and Id like to say this :

The first goal...Tyler was absolutley gutted it went in,,,he didnt even raise one decibel to describe the goal.

Bony had a wicked shot and just missed.....TYLER virtually said NOTHING..not even a raised whisper to describe the shot.

And LESCOTT was fuckign PAP........take it Ted Take it !!!

where is ted?

With Marky Mark I think

[Slim]

You should have heard it when Chelsea went ahead, he sounded like he just knocked one out saying "Champions lead".