I like this Derby.
While it doesn’t have quite the er, edge that the Villa-Blues one does, it’s pretty much the same, in that the enmity is there, but it’s played in a more gentlemanly way, in my opinion.
Let’s face it, Albion are just a classier club than the other locals, aren’t they? Much better history and pedigree etc.
But I might go into that more in a few day’s time.
Tony Pulis went well over the top with his criticism of the Villa fans in our last meeting, where some of us stormed the pitch in a very happy way.
He also totally ignored the Albion fans behaviour and that of some of his players.
Which is fair enough; A manager should always back his club.
But it helped to cost us serious money, in a £200,000 fine.
Still, that’s football and onto the game.
We all know what Pulis is about, don’t we?
He’s going to try to contain the game and hit us on the break.
It’s all he knows and while it’s boring (as I’m sick to death of Albion fans telling me), it can be very effective.
And Tim Sherwood is going to go all out to win it.
Which makes this look a decent prospect for goals, in my opinion.
Why don’t I predict the bore draw or the odd one goal win either way then?
Well, Sherwood won’t allow it and will attack.
Quite rightly so, as even though some of us might think he’s tactically naive, my opinion says he plays the game in the right way, in that goals get you wins and wins get you points. Draw every game and you’re at risk of the drop, fact.
Hence I’ve come round to the fact that we might concede first, because Albion will be playing the cannier, more predictable game.
But the interesting thing here, is that I think we have enough about us to beat the Albion, even if that happens, at least from an attacking side of things.
The big problem I have, is with our defence.
While it, at face value, looks a much better prospect than the last few seasons, I still quite simply don’t trust it.
We’re always likely to concede, in my eyes, which will always make things hard work for us.
Then again though, contrary to what many of us have said about Gabby lately, I’d expect him to be a starter for this one: He’s the derby specialist isn’t he?
Isn’t he?.
And Sinclair might want to prove a point. As indeed, might Lescott.
Squad news then and Ben Foster apart, I think Albion have a full squad to call on.
Villa-wise, Gana, Traore and Gil are all iffy and these are all big misses.
Llori apparently isn’t ready for the Prem.
Yes, ok Tim.
I’m expecting him on the bench then, with a cameo in mind, if we’re in the right sort of position.
So we’re going to concede, without doubt, in my mind.
But I think we’ll win. 2-1.
Cole for Gil next, at a guess.
No cohesion. Dross.
We haven’t even had a corner for Westwood to float harmlessly in to the box.
Leicester bk from 2 down again would have loved Ranieri miles better than deadwood
First corner – 69th min.
Why does it take us 15 passes to get nowhere yet every team we play against three or four passes and they’ve got a cross or a shot.
so we are a goal down and tim brings on bacuna
gill off
bacuna on.
Bacuna on for Gil????
This is the worst game of football i have seen in years.
Absolute shit.
You said that every game last year under Lamberk lol
Its looking now like Sherwood hasn’t a clue what to do, its now all guess work with the players he’s brought in, no getting together with determination to fight for the team, Sherwood giving excuse after excuse and looking as if its beyond him. We are in the same shit as last season.
Don’t forget Sherwood took off our one in form goalscorer in Sinclair… and has yet to play Kozak who has proven in the preseason/reserve games to know where the goal is. Instead we get Gabby and Gestede who has yet to show he can do more than head the ball.
Ah, it’s so he can get Grealish in the hole.
We should have done that a while ago, imo.
Westwood and gabby bring absolutely nothing to the table yet get another 90!!! Piss poor from Dim Deadwood again.
i wonder if sherwood will come out with the classic “we go again”
like he did last week.
iv lost all faith in dim tim.
…and the pressures now on, congrats Tim – you do yourself no favors.
Exactly Helenius, Dim isn’t the word, you’ll still get fans saying he hasn’t been given enough time, but to me he’s making mistakes to often,
Never seen the game really disappointed we lost again. Disappointed fxxking pissed off not good enough.
Fucking shit ,new players same losing mentality.
Someone on here last week said ” Do we really want to go through the season with 8 managers”
If it means we don’t have to see that every week, hell fecking yes!!!
Really disappointing. Gutted especially losing to the Baggies.
Still I have to believe that Tim can turn it around.
Not much choice there really 🙁
After a spark of penetration, I think that is the right word, from Shagmybedor.. last week when he got two runs at Leicester on the break, and I asked could he keep it up? This week he was back to useless against a team who kept the back four in position. Another of the old guard who looks to be busy doing nothing is Westwood. And yet as posted above, those two still get 90 mins whereas Sinclair who at least looks dangerous is taken off. It makes no sense, Sinclair might well score with better colleagues so why not replace the players having crap games.
Guzan had a decent game for once, with safe handling. He could do nothing about the goal, which was a trifle lucky – not Berahino’s excellent flick but the fact that he was on side in that advanced position. I don’t blame Amavi either because losing a tackle out on the wing still leaves the defence with central cover.
The real problem today is we did not create any danger by running at West brown down the middle and their defence is good a dealing with crosses from the wings.