[Albion] Have you ENJOYED this season?

[Cheshire Cat]

After spending over £200m and loaning out young South Americans who were seen as our future stars , I expected much much more


10o% bloody disappointment of a season

There's always next time.....

 

[goldstone]

Bits have been marvellous. Other bits have been dire. Some consistency would be much appreciated. If the players are all giving 100% and playing together as a team, then I don't have a problem.

 

[Withdean and I]

It’s been great at times, not great at times, but having sat in freezing rain at Withdean watching us lose 3-4 to Rochdale, it still feels a bloody fantastic time and after all, it’s only a game!

 

[drew]

I’m not sure what’s wrong ? but you seem to be being churlish for the sake of it, you clearly know what I’m getting at…

Okay (assuming you’re an FH apologist fanboy), fabs has just been unlucky and he’s a top coach, who for example, masterminded a 7-1 defeat at Forest by picking his best possible XI and set us up brilliantly… masterminded two superb performances against Palace and saw us lumber (which is the perfect word) to a 4-2 defeat yesterday…

He’s bang average, and has failed to be pragmatic on too many occasions (when the squad has needed it because of our injuries and his own self inflicted fatigue, see bizarre tactics) on too many occasions.

To suggest it’s ALL down to our injury record is stretching credulity, I say again (which you’ve successfully side stepped in every reply) he couldn’t pick his best XI even if the entire squad was fit and raring, he’d set us up suicidally all too often and we’d be about where we are, it’s his par for the course because he’s an average PL coach at best.

Get over yourself. I'm not being churlish. The injury statistics speak for themselves. However, you were trying to dismiss them by excluding players with long term injuries and then massaging your findings to suggest we were the same as other teams that have done better. I merely pointed out that you hadn't looked at their lists for any sicknotes! If you are going to judge, do it on level playing field.

As for being an FH apologist, I'm not. I'm also not throwing my toys out of the pram like some. He's made some mistakes but it wasn't that long ago where we won 9 out of 11 games! We are, just (albeit unlikely), still in with a shout of European football for only the second time in our history. We are a long way from being relegation candidates, we narrowly missed out on a trip to Wembley in the FA cup. Yesterday was desperately disappointing. A week ago had the team taken a few more of the chances than they did, it would have been a different story.

I don't see TB getting rid of FH either now or in the close season, the only way he will leave is if he choses to walk.

As for the style of football, I'm not a great fan but it is what a lot of teams are trying to do. I'd rather more urgency in the team. Then again, I remember the amount of passes that El Abd and Gordon Greer used to make between each other!!!

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

I imagine TB would have been disappointed with the position after his summer outlay if it had all gone on 27-year-old established Premier League players. But it didn’t.

 

[Kosh]

Get over yourself. I'm not being churlish. The injury statistics speak for themselves. However, you were trying to dismiss them by excluding players with long term injuries and then massaging your findings to suggest we were the same as other teams that have done better. I merely pointed out that you hadn't looked at their lists for any sicknotes! If you are going to judge, do it on level playing field.

As for being an FH apologist, I'm not. I'm also not throwing my toys out of the pram like some. He's made some mistakes but it wasn't that long ago where we won 9 out of 11 games! We are, just (albeit unlikely), still in with a shout of European football for only the second time in our history. We are a long way from being relegation candidates, we narrowly missed out on a trip to Wembley in the FA cup. Yesterday was desperately disappointing. A week ago had the team taken a few more of the chances than they did, it would have been a different story.

I don't see TB getting rid of FH either now or in the close season, the only way he will leave is if he choses to walk.

As for the style of football, I'm not a great fan but it is what a lot of teams are trying to do. I'd rather more urgency in the team. Then again, I remember the amount of passes that El Abd and Gordon Greer used to make between each other!!!

Fair enough post… let’s see what happens, like I say it’ll be interesting… if FH stays we desperately and I mean desperately need to address the squad shortcomings in terms of being able to play the shape(s) and style(s) he wants…

Get it wrong and I see another season of confusing and befuddling results/performances…

 

[Clive Walker]

I don’t feel I’ve got value from the £1400 I paid. So no.

 

[BadFish]

Fair enough post… let’s see what happens, like I say it’ll be interesting… if FH stays we desperately and I mean desperately need to address the squad shortcomings in terms of being able to play the scape and style he wants…

This! We desperately need to sign a number 10 and a couple of wingers.

 

[OzMike]

A lot of ups and downs, but all a bit meh now.
Would be a good time to get odds against us getting relegated next season, as we just about may survive and odds favourable.

 

[Kosh]

Very simple ask for me, does Fab improve us and take us forward?

I don’t think he does personally.

I don’t see us having an identity anymore, I don’t understand the tactics and I don’t understand why we aren’t doing anything to mitigate the same reoccurring mistakes

The back four was all over the place positionally yesterday and left us exposed on the break. Taking the risk knowing we haven’t got the pace hasn’t justified the approach.

The same observations I think stand in the two lucky runs we have had this season, with the players personal touch / skill or desire taking over the baseline tactics and delivering what they are capable of. They don’t look inspired and some don’t even appear to care.

Injuries obviously impact every squad but. I genuinely think it’s the lack of system / plan B set up, tactical ability that is costing us.

I don’t see us even with a full Squad improving playing like this, that’s a problem

Yep, exactly where I’m at…

 

[Bold Seagull]

Perhaps, but those same coaches bring in players who understand the style, so in a lot of cases, the replacement slots in and perhaps the level drops a little.

This season, the players look to me like the only thing, they’ve been told is “intensity” and “win the ball high up”. Those alone are not enough to win games with replacement players.

Another concession yesterday from a set piece, a replacement full-back pushed so far up, that it puts him at a disadvantage. Carved open by a straight diagonal pass, that is not injuries or replacement players. This is all a lack of basic structure without the ball.

Get the structure right and the injuries have less impact (all IMO)

I’m by no means thinking FH is the finished article, or going to be a good or even great manager, but there have been variables this season out of his control. Not only injuries, but many of our signings were new to the PL and UK for that matter - it takes time to settle.

If I’d hired a young manager with no PL or top flight experience - I’d expect a learning curve and errors along the way. I’d also be fairly happy with 48 pts on the board with 5 to play. I can see TB being disappointed with this recent run, but he’s also very pragmatic and will be assessing all the variables. Think 99% FB will be our manager into next season.

 

[Arthur]

No. Haven’t really enjoyed football since VAR.

Wont be renewing my season ticket unless we get relegated. Sadly I don’t think that will happen in the next couple of years so if anyone wants a 1901 (Harvey’s lounge, west middle) DM me.

 

[Chicken Run]

No. Haven’t really enjoyed football since VAR.

Wont be renewing my season ticket unless we get relegated. Sadly I don’t think that will happen in the next couple of years so if anyone wants a 1901 (Harvey’s lounge, west middle) DM me.

Is that short barrel of a man in the cheap suit in that’s to big for him in his 70’s still the door steward in that lounge?

 

[el_ciddy]

Enjoy? Yes, football isn’t it?

 

[carlzeiss]

Good or bad just enjoy the drama as it plays out because for all of us the seasons will one day pass for good

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I’m by no means thinking FH is the finished article, or going to be a good or even great manager, but there have been variables this season out of his control. Not only injuries, but many of our signings were new to the PL and UK for that matter - it takes time to settle.

If I’d hired a young manager with no PL or top flight experience - I’d expect a learning curve and errors along the way. I’d also be fairly happy with 48 pts on the board with 5 to play. I can see TB being disappointed with this recent run, but he’s also very pragmatic and will be assessing all the variables. Think 99% FB will be our manager into next season.

I agree that he’ll be here next season, I also agree with nearly everything else in your post. However, I would add, this is a poor PL quality wise, whilst you can only play what’s in front of you, IMO, both Potter and RdZ would have got a lot more out of this team

Re next season, the bigger question is should he be here (TB will give him until at least the new year, but that in itself is a gamble).

Whilst pre and post match interviews are pointless, Fab indicated we did well, Welbeck almost said the complete opposite. I know who I think is being more factual.

As per the reasons stated yesterday, I came off the fence, the set-up is poor. That’s not injuries or bedding in, that’s poor tactics. We didn’t deserve two goals, they came because Brentford are also poor (Mbeuno aside).

Somehow we still have a shot at Europe, but we need to start winning again.

 

[The Terminator]

Honestly, maybe it shows how far we’ve come, but for the first time I actually found myself wishing the season would just end. Even during the darkest days, I’ve never felt like that. I don’t know if it’s just modern football or this Albion season, filled with constant “if only we had a proper manager” thoughts.

My football mojo is at an all-time low. VAR has sucked the joy out of the game, you can’t even celebrate a goal properly anymore without wondering if it’s going to be ruled out because Pedro’s left bollock hair was offside 25 minutes ago. The game’s just… different now.

Even the club feels like it’s shifted focus, more interested in international fans spending big in the club shop than the loyal supporters who’ve stuck by through everything. Feels like loyalty means little these days. Emails threatening season ticket removals for missing one match? Would that have happened in our lower league days? Doubt it. Just feels like we’re becoming an inconvenience

 

[Arthur]

Is that short barrel of a man in the cheap suit in that’s to big for him in his 70’s still the door steward in that lounge?

No he’s in prison for having his wife murdered 40 odd year ago.

How a love affair led to a murderous plot https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck7l73rjvl1o

 

[A1X]

TBH I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a season in the PL as much as the Championship promotion season under Our Chris, even the European qualifying one

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

Some good, some bad. Looks like it will be fairly forgettable overall.