Dirty West Brom

[Hagansbootlaces]

Agreed every time their CB's went through Billy Sharp we just accepted it any other team would be surrounding the ref as soon as play stopped.

Which also, if further proof were needed, shows they have not only lost confidence but team spirit and unity, when Furlong did his fire arm smash on Didsy, no one got in the refs face and no one rushed to back up Didsy, likewise the body check and elbow on Billy by the other wing he, who when the whistle went went down like a sack of spuds and claimed it was Billy's fault, no pressure, on the ref and no one in the team claiming any different

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I think I said on another thread, that I was astonished that none of their players got booked (or their fuckwit manager). They constantly went through the back of Billy whenever the ball went up to him and whenever we had a break they simply clattered into the man on the ball. Not to mention stealing yards on every throw in, Obviously it would have made no difference to the result but the referee has a duty to protect the players. My worry is that everyone will have seen this game and we will be in for this treatment every week

 

[Hagansbootlaces]

I think I said on another thread, that I was astonished that none of their players got booked (or their fuckwit manager). They constantly went through the back of Billy whenever the ball went up to him and whenever we had a break they simply clattered into the man on the ball. Not to mention stealing yards on every throw in, Obviously it would have made no difference to the result but the referee has a duty to protect the players.

As do our players and coaching staff, and none of them seemed to complain either to the ref or the 4th official, other than Skav seemingly questioning the use of the towel.
The lack of confidence and relegation hangover are a handicap, but they seem genuinely shocked regards the physicality and don't show any sign of accepting it and coping let alone dishing it out

 

[Rochdaleblade]

Yep. I wonder if we will be seen like Wengers' Arsenal team. A soft touch. You knew exactly what was going to happen when they turned up at Bolton or Stoke.

 

[Hagansbootlaces]

Yep. I wonder if we will be seen like Wengers' Arsenal team. A soft touch. You knew exactly what was going to happen when they turned up at Bolton or Stoke.

I know people have a go re we never replaced JOC,, Arsenal never came close to replacing Viera

 

[Champagneblade]

I know Sky were wetting themselves over West Brom last night, but chuck a decent goalkeeper and a proper dominant centre half leader into our team and that's three of the goals stopped.

That said I have no qualms with how WBA played last night, there's absolutely nothing wrong with a team being aggressive.

I find myself even laughing making this excuse, but the 4th, yes the 4th, so by no means anything respectible(!) was a foul in my view.

They definitely had hold of Verrips. It was similar to Leno v Brentford, where it really could and possibly should have been given as a foul.

That said, at 6'5", you really want Verrips to take a leaf out of Jens Lehman's book and be a bit of a mad bastard and just shove the attackers out of the way!

There's often talk of keepers being overprotected but when they dish it out, they seldom get called out for it, so just give it out, shove them out of the way next time.

It will have been a massive learning curve for him. In the long term it might make him a better keeper.

 

[blade67]

I know all the focus has been on our woeful display last night, but I thought it was worth mentioning West Brom's IMO overly aggressive approach. Body checking, off the ball incidents, potential ankle breakers and a manager on the touchline ready to Hulk out at any moment. No wonder the ref let them get away with everything, he was intimidated by them.

A stronger team than us wouldn't have put up with half of their antics either. Swansea defenders tried a bit of it with a degree of success and I worry every side we face now will be told to rough us up as we are a soft touch. We are screaming out for at least one aggressor in the side for this level if we want to avoid being bullied all the way down to League 1. I know Baldock tries but really he's just like a yapping small dog that's all bark and no bite. Another reason we miss JOC so badly.

PS - The Baggies may well get promoted playing this way, but they will come straight back down with a bump as they will be giving free kicks away every two seconds in the Prem.

Didn't really get this vibe. I thought they were just stronger, faster and more committed than us

 

[Ridgeway Blade]

Ismael played this style at Barnsley and they did exactly the same last season and got to the play offs. They did the same when played Chelsea in the cup and knocked them out of their style. Yes, Chelsea won, but it was a real dogfight. Fans will forgive a lot when results are right and the team compete. Who bothers about style if you have another three points and a 4-0 win to cheer? Stoke fans loved the Delap years with Shawcoss and Huth to aim for. odd that WBA didn't want Pulis back but go for a foreign manager straight out of the Pulis academy.

 

[Nelson1889]

We've no "hard men" in our squad at all and it's shown in 2 of the first 3 matches.

As much as he wasn't a footballer who would last in this era we are crying out for a Chris Morgan. A real nasty bastard who will leave a leg or elbow in to put an opposition player out of their stride (and on their arse)

Struggle to think of anyone you'd want next to you in a scrap in our team and opponents know it.

First thing Uddersfield will do tomorrow is stick a crunching tackle in on someone and it'll start all over again until we either stand up for ourselves or get someone in who will.