After what has been the most positive week at the club in terms of results for the first time in a very long time this weekend could make my own previous (and seemingly ludicrous) confidence that we could still dream of the top 10 and maybe even beyond when we were in the midst of our terrible run under Erol Bulut actually seem plausible, should we catch the Baggies with their trousers down. Conversely however, this will also be the toughest test of interim gaffer Omer Riza’s tenure to date and a defeat could dent our new-found optimism and confidence. Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to The Hawthorns we go….. I hope we leave happy! Who Are You? West Bromwich Albion are of course one of the founder members of the Football League. I their time they have won all that the domestic game can offer (League Title, both major cups and Charity Shield) and have been resident at the Hawthorns since 1900. Their current capacity is 26,688, and in all honesty, from looking at the contrasting images, the basic layout of the ground hasn’t really changed too much in quite some time – a rare treat for stadium connoisseurs methinks? Baggies boss Carlos Corberan marks his two-year anniversary as manager this weekend, having replaced Steve Bruce with Albion 23rd in the Championship, the Spaniard eventually guided them to ninth at the end of the 2022-23 season. Last season of course they were losing semi-finalists in the play-off to Southampton. Since 2000, only Tony Mowbray and Gary Megson have managed to go into a third year in charge at The Hawthorns but inside sources (a colleague who is a West Brom fan) have let slip that recent form has already got some of the natives grumbling. Should the Bluebirds triumph on the road that growing pressure is sure to increase. Squad wise there are many familiar and seasoned faces. At the back, ex-Bluebird Semi Ajayi (who never made a senior appearance for us) is now in his 6th year as a Baggie, clocking up over 160 appearances. Ex-Bluebird loan man Karlan Grant is now back in favour after his loan spell with us last season where he scored 6 goals across his 40 appearances. He’s clocked up 11 appearances this season. Moving away from our ex’s, up top Josh Maja is in good form this season, notching 7 goals and an assist to sit 2nd in the divisional scoring charts currently, with Alex Mowett also creeping into the reckoning with 3 goals from midfield. With the likes of Jon Swift, Jed Wallace, Ousmane Diakité and Grady Diangana amongst their ranks it’s easy to see why they made a blistering start to the season and just how big a task faces our resurgent Bluebirds. Last Time Out & Form Last time out we saw our battling Bluebirds go down at The Hawthorns to a 2-0 score line. The Baggies goals that day coming from January signings Mikey Johnston and Andreas Weimann at either end of the match, with the opener coming in the 1st minute and the 2nd in the 80th, providing a result that gave our hosts a 5th straight win on home soil. During the match the Bluebirds passed up a change of an equaliser, Kion Etete wasting a glorious opportunity. Despite the score line, our performance that day was enough to keep us in with a chance (matching the shot count with our hosts) until that late 2nd goal – once again it was very much a case of finishing letting us down. Form wise, would you believe it, we actually appear to have the upper hand going into this one!? The Baggies boast just 1 win in their last 6 and seem to have forgotten where the goal is, scoring just once in their last 4 (a Karlan Grant goal v Oxford away). Our hosts have however only lost 1 league game at home so far this season (0-1 v Middlesbrough at the start of this month) so you’d have to think our chances of maximum points remain slim. In saying that, the Bluebirds have taken more points in October than any other side in the division so it's game on! In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About Once again you’d have to think that unless tiredness or minor knocks are impacting the current starting 11 then Riza will surely stick with the same side once more. With our recent fast starts and new found solidity tinkering for tinkering’s sake would seem foolish, however, Jack Alnwick did take a bit of knock in the Portsmouth game. It wasn’t deemed serious enough for him to come off, hopefully it was only minor. If he does drop out then Ethan Horvath will deputise – a change that will no doubt worry us fans somewhat given his slightly shaky start to his Bluebirds career. The bench again though could perhaps do with a little more dynamism, but with current injuries, unless we start to trust some of the younger fringe players it is hard to see where that verve will come from. Rambo remains side-lined for a further estimated 3 weeks or so. Joe Ralls is progressing but isn’t likely to feature until some time around the Blackburn game a few weeks away. Out other longer term absentees remain unavailable. Predicted Starting 11 Alnwick Ng Chambers Goutas O’Dowda Tanner Colwill Turnbull Robertson Robinson El Ghazi Dimi Goutas modelling next season's change kit The Odds Bods This guy head over heels when asked to present the odds for this one. We’ve certainly not seen too many like him in our history…. Top Boy Top Trumps Having seen him turn out in a blue shirt last season and with his resurgence for the Baggies, it’d be remiss of me to ignore Karlan Grant (who to be fair did ok for us last year), so for this one I think we’ll take a look at the wide-boys by comparing him to our own East End ducker and diver. Match Day Melody Let’s hope this is what Saturday is for us!! (Yes, I know I could have gone with Baggy Trousers, especially after my reference in the opening paragraph but that’d be too easy – and no, I have no idea what the lyrics are to this song either! ) C'mon Omer, get the boys fired up and make sure they send us into Saturday night with a bounce in our step! Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!
Fabulous effort as per the usual from our resident match day threadmeister Callum Robinson of course an ex baggie looking to continue his goal scoring form. ps A well known fact is The Hawthorns is the highest ground altitude wise in the country but a perhaps lesser known fact is the ground took its name from a large number of hawthorn bushes that needed to be cleared in order to build it.
Brizzle bringing brilliance once again. Sorry for this kiss of death but I really fancy us to win this. Keep the focus on our game and let them worry about us. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
With 3 draws on the bounce and 2 losses before that, WBA are hardly 'on fire'. However, they will be hard nut to crack having only conceded 7 goals in 11 games. Will our movement and goals from over trouble them? Lets hope so. And since we started winning, we've only conceded 1 in 4 ourselves. Destined for a draw? That's what I've predicted.
The only changes mooted really was to replace one of the more "progressive" midfielders with Siopis or Rhino. Wouldn't like to have been either Turnbull nor Roberston to suffer that - they're both young and deserve to go again **** or bust. Colwill continuing was a no-brainer and with the crap options we've got, who the hell was going to replace Robbo up top? Also glad he's kept the faith in both Tanner and El Ghazi who in particular looked to be improving and getting up to speed against Portsmouth - his goal wouldn't have done him any harm either. Tanner could be the difference this season - he's a complete animal and uses his size far better than Meite.
Anybody else having to suffer the WBA co comms? He’s insufferable As for the game we’ve rode our luck a bit but Robinson should have been on target. The refs too fussy
Reindorf should have been on the bench instead of one of the Chuckle Brothers. Got me drum out again.
Full time 0.0 No shots on target but what the hell. A good draw and defensively resilient. Riza CAN manage defence as well as attack.
Looks as if we were second best. Another clean sheet though. I'll take that. We've gone nearly as long without conceding as the swans have without scoring.
How many golden chances did we mess up? 5. Ok WBA had more of the play and also had some chances but it’s a sign of how far we’ve come in recent weeks that we’re disappointed with an away draw at a top 6 team!
How did it look on Sky? I'd struggle to see how any manager could have done better than Riza with the same players. Tan would be mad not to give him the job. Still need a DoF though.
Didn't know it was on Sky. Been unable to watch TV today anyway. I think you're right about Riza and he identified the best starting eleven quickly. I don't think even a fully fit Ramsey would be a first choice at the moment. I also agree with many that Meitte and Kanga offer very little from the bench. I'd like Riza to get a contract until Christmas with an extension clause until the end of the season. Who we keep, let go of and bring in during the January window will be critical. Anyone keeping count of Ng''s yellow card tally?
Sky? Saw it on line with WBA comms, as said above the co comms was excruciatingly infuriating. Worked out it was Andy Johnson ex Wales midfielder.
