Friday 31 December 2010

Half time Report

The Baggies have reached the halfway stage of the season. Despite a recent dip in form we are still on target for survival having got 22 points from 19 games our best return at this stage of a premiership season.

Highlights of the season thus far have been fine away wins at Everton and Arsenal. The lows have been the poor performances against Blackburn and Wigan.

As a team we are inconsistent and I expect that is the biggest criticism that could be levelled at each of our players. At their best they look a top half team at their worst cannon fodder. There is a reason why they are plying their trade at the Hawthorns not at the Nou Camp or Old Trafford and it is there is a little something missing from their game which separates the merely good from the best.

Di Matteo and the rest of the coaching staff deserve a huge amount of credit for what they have achieved to date and hopefully he has enough nous to get us over the line in the 2nd half of the season. Have no doubt it is going to be tough.

Traditionally the the Baggies have not been active in the January transfer window but reinforcements would be welcome. Di Matteo has already admitted that a striker is high on his shopping list. The team is too exposed to the vagires in the fitness and form of Peter Odenwingie. He might also add a right back to his shopping list as Jara does not appear to have made the step up the premiership.

Going into the New Year I am cautiously optimistic this our best opportunity to rid ourselves of the yo-yo tag although we really cannot afford too many performances like the one we turned in against Blackburn.

Monday 6 December 2010

A Ghost from Seasons past Exorcised

One of my most miserable moments watching Albion in recent times was February 2008 when we lost 2:3 to Newcastle and it was curtains for any remote chance we had of staying up. We were awful Newcastle were hardly better but they got a crucial win.

Trooping out of the East Stand I knew we were doomed I really didn't need a couple of thousand Geordies pointing out the fact with glee. Much good it did them at the end of the season they were relegated and I was not entirely heartbroken. Since then we have had the better of a couple draws and beaten them the Cup. However today was payback and I was quite happy to see the delusional Geordies sent packing from the Hawthorns on the wrong end of a 3:1 scoreline.

It was a comfortable we barely needed to get out of 2nd gear, Newcastle were poor but the Baggies were quite brilliant in possesion at times with Brunt hugely influencial in midfield. Scharner and Tamas shut out Carroll at the back and Odenwingie was clinical in front of goal end result mission accomplished.

We now sit comfortably in 8th with 22 points and looking forward to 2 local derbies between now and Christmas. Things are looking good for the Baggies but just to spoil my day the idiot Savage has just declared us as safe on MOTD2.  Not until the points are in the bag is anybody safe, least of all West Bromwich Albion.

Post Script

Hughton has been sacked by Newcastle. Do they have a death wish? Seriously they are a promoted team 11th in the table with a string of decent results under their belt what did Ashley expect? Shocking decision could undermine the progress that they have made since the relegation of 2 seasons ago. Well heres hoping.