West Brom Post Match Thread

[its grim up north]

Let me try to spell it out for you. The roster is not that good. Hart will be the first to lose his spot with Pep. He is unable to restart the play without a long kick in no-man's land. Zabba is not as reliable anymore and Sagna is not the best defender either. Ota and Mangala make at least 2 blunders per game each, like Kompany did last year. Navas cannot see the goal and his crosses are off (though he's been crucial these past few months). Yaya no comment. Silva has momentarily lost his powers, looking to link up when he should shoot and vice-versa. Sterling's shooting and passing needs improvement - he's best in space but ManC don't get much of that. Pressing is difficult if your center forward doesn't help, but if you ask that of Kun, he'll play 6 months. Count all the injuries and how important Nasri may be to the mix, there is still time to reconsider his legacy. Especially because one of his more important traits is to keep the team united without collateral damage. That's why even Bony keeps on playing - belief and faith in all his team and knowledge that it all may start clicking wonderfully at any time.

We're doomed, Capt Mainwaring we're doomed.

 

[daztrueblue91]

I actually feel sorry for Bony because there is no other club in world football less suited to him than us.

This squad has a staggering lack of creativity and forward thinking. In the first half yesterday only Kun and Nasri were players who could receive the ball under pressure and keep it. The rest were happy to receive the ball in a non-dangerous position and pass the ball backwards. It's football not Rugby and we surely must have the record for the most backwards passes in a match.

Whenever Bony got the ball there was no one up with him. At times he held the ball up well but again, he's getting the ball and playing it backwards. There was on moment in the game where I thought it had clicked for him. He powerfully controlled the ball, turned and played a top pass out wide to Navas and drove forward. That's what we need to see more of.

However, I think what best sums Bony's role in this side is the lack of crossing. I lost count of the number of times Navas and Zabaleta or Nasri and Kolorov could have crossed the ball into the box but instead cut back and either went back the the CBs or wasted possession. There must have been at least 10 occasions. My point is why not whip the ball in for Bony? He might not win the ball but we seem to favour needless possession over creating chances and that's the precise reason why Leicester are where they are in the league.

To compound matters, when KDB came in for Bony, we then started to cross balls into the box and no one was there. I lost count of how many times Kun was standing wide left or playing very deep when he was the lone striker.

There just doesn't seem to be any tactical organisation in this side and Bony is a victim of that.

 

[East Level 2]

Do you have trouble with reading the league table? Or maths?

Do you have trouble understanding how poor we have been since our great start to the season? We are 12 points behind Leicester with six games to play; do you really think we can bridge that gap? And if you do please explain it to those that have watched us for the past six months.
And then explain why you'd want the rags just one point behind given they have an easier run in.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I actually feel sorry for Bony because there is no other club in world football less suited to him than us.

This squad has a staggering lack of creativity and forward thinking. In the first half yesterday only Kun and Nasri were players who could receive the ball under pressure and keep it. The rest were happy to receive the ball in a non-dangerous position and pass the ball backwards. It's football not Rugby and we surely must have the record for the most backwards passes in a match.

Whenever Bony got the ball there was no one up with him. At times he held the ball up well but again, he's getting the ball and playing it backwards. There was on moment in the game where I thought it had clicked for him. He powerfully controlled the ball, turned and played a top pass out wide to Navas and drove forward. That's what we need to see more of.

However, I think what best sums Bony's role in this side is the lack of crossing. I lost count of the number of times Navas and Zabaleta or Nasri and Kolorov could have crossed the ball into the box but instead cut back and either went back the the CBs or wasted possession. There must have been at least 10 occasions. My point is why not whip the ball in for Bony? He might not win the ball but we seem to favour needless possession over creating chances and that's the precise reason why Leicester are where they are in the league.

To compound matters, when KDB came in for Bony, we then started to cross balls into the box and no one was there. I lost count of how many times Kun was standing wide left or playing very deep when he was the lone striker.

There just doesn't seem to be any tactical organisation in this side and Bony is a victim of that.

Couldn't agree more.

He is under so much pressure to justify his place in the team but he actually has no 'place' in a team that doesn't even try to play anything like the kind of passes he requires in order to be effective. I figured we signed him in order to give us the option of changing the way we play but we just play exactly the same with him, as we would with Silva or DeBruyne in that position.

Quite obviously he can't play that role. Why even bother to ask him to do it ?

 

[5948947]

Mangala's a clumsy bastard. Always has been and always will be. Should of gave a penalty away and seen a red against PSG, and should of gave one away yesterday. Not a pep player in the slightest. I actually laughed out loud at him yesterday, we were doing a few passes around the back under pressure with Otter/nando came to Mang and boom! have it! up the field like a sunday league player in the most awkward fashion imaginable. Oh and who ever sanctioned his and Bonys transfers needs disciplinary.

 

[MeatHunterrr]

Mangala's a clumsy bastard. Always has been and always will be. Should of gave a penalty away and seen a red against PSG, and should of gave one away yesterday. Not a pep player in the slightest. I actually laughed out loud at him yesterday, we were doing a few passes around the back under pressure with Otter/nando came to Mang and boom! have it! up the field like a sunday league player in the most awkward fashion imaginable. Oh and who ever sanctioned his and Bonys transfers needs disciplinary.

Scouting network definitely needs upgrading.

 

[doctor whites]

I actually feel sorry for Bony because there is no other club in world football less suited to him than us.

This squad has a staggering lack of creativity and forward thinking. In the first half yesterday only Kun and Nasri were players who could receive the ball under pressure and keep it. The rest were happy to receive the ball in a non-dangerous position and pass the ball backwards. It's football not Rugby and we surely must have the record for the most backwards passes in a match.

Whenever Bony got the ball there was no one up with him. At times he held the ball up well but again, he's getting the ball and playing it backwards. There was on moment in the game where I thought it had clicked for him. He powerfully controlled the ball, turned and played a top pass out wide to Navas and drove forward. That's what we need to see more of.

However, I think what best sums Bony's role in this side is the lack of crossing. I lost count of the number of times Navas and Zabaleta or Nasri and Kolorov could have crossed the ball into the box but instead cut back and either went back the the CBs or wasted possession. There must have been at least 10 occasions. My point is why not whip the ball in for Bony? He might not win the ball but we seem to favour needless possession over creating chances and that's the precise reason why Leicester are where they are in the league.

To compound matters, when KDB came in for Bony, we then started to cross balls into the box and no one was there. I lost count of how many times Kun was standing wide left or playing very deep when he was the lone striker.

There just doesn't seem to be any tactical organisation in this side and Bony is a victim of that.

Sorry mate I witnessed three of the best crosses I've ever seen yesterday and not a blue shirt within ten yards of them.

 

[cibaman]

It does seem to me that Hart and the defence have, probably subconsciously, started to try to play the way that they think that Guardiola will expect them to play. Particularly the way they've suddenly started playing the ball out of defence. The trouble is, if they're not actually working on that in training, its not likely to work too well on matchday.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Sorry mate I witnessed three of the best crosses I've ever seen yesterday and not a blue shirt within ten yards of them.

And which player would have the best chance of getting on the end of those kind of crosses ? The slow one built like a wrestler or the lightning fast world class Argentinian one ?

Those crosses should be tap ins for Aguero. They would be for Tevez or Bellamy.

 

[daztrueblue91]

Couldn't agree more.

He is under so much pressure to justify his place in the team but he actually has no 'place' in a team that doesn't even try to play anything like the kind of passes he requires in order to be effective. I figured we signed him in order to give us the option of changing the way we play but we just play exactly the same with him, as we would with Silva or DeBruyne in that position.

Quite obviously he can't play that role. Why even bother to ask him to do it ?

If you put Bony in a Chelsea or Arsenal side or with wingers who want to get forward and beat their man we would see a different player. However, this tippy tappy rubbish we play doesn't suit him at all.

Sorry mate I witnessed three of the best crosses I've ever seen yesterday and not a blue shirt within ten yards of them.

Exactly my point.

How many of them involved KDB?