West Brom (h) post match thread

[dizzycat]

Wish Agger were still here!

We should have put the club first and made sure his replacement was ready before letting him go

[wiw]

I haven't watched the match but seeing people say that Gerrard was moved further forward, so who was sitting?

Gerrard sat until Lucas came on

[G]

I haven't watched the match but seeing people say that Gerrard was moved further forward, so who was sitting?

Lucas came on but he didn't sit it was Hendo who was the deepest.

[G]

QPR next with hopefully a fit and firing Sturridge and todays movement and pace up front from Lallana and Henderson will help us muller them with a bit of luck.

[RedRum]

What did Henderson shout at Gerrard for? J missed it as my stream went at 90 mins

[JohnDoe]

Lallana is a great, great signing.

Henderson is taking on more responsibility and becoming much more productive in the final third. Reliable.

Defence is still shaky.

[cream]

What did Henderson shout at Gerrard for? J missed it as my stream went at 90 mins

Think he was telling to go towards the corner to run the clock down whilst Gerrard was looking to pick someone in the box.

[G]

Think he was telling to go towards the corner to run the clock down whilst Gerrard was looking to pick someone in the box.

[McDermotX]

Game of the day on SS, if everyone wants to relive Lovren's masterclass.

[cream]

Forget Lovren, Lallana will be worth the watch today.

[frank the tank]

Level with Arsenal and 3 points off 2nd.

to be honest, i dont think we need to even look at the table until christmas. It is what you see on the pitch that we judge on. (plus there are only 7 games gone.....and city, chelsea, arsenal, united all only played 6)


In reality though, a 2-1 hanging on at home to WBA isn't anything to be shouting about. Brendan will have some skiddy in his jocks right now.......dropped points today going into the int break would have been a disaster.


On the plus side though, we can regroup, the likes of Johnson, Allen, Sturridge - and hopefully Can and Sakho - will all benefit from a weeks conditioning work....

Our defense is a car crash though - both in terms of personnel (individual errors from Lovren and Skrtel) and the lack of protection they get. It is worrying....

[DannyMan2006]

Slightly better today. Still lacked options in the box at times. Mario playing on last man when he came on - maybe he got the message.

Lovren today had his worst game of the season IMO. But we got away with it. Funny as the pairing looked good today, but they looked poor as individuals. I'd stick with them as I think there's signs they and Mignolet are coming through the storm. Much improved at set pieces today, against the team who are the best I the league at them.

Mind, whilst we looked sketchy at times, they barely threatened. Pen was clearly outside the box too. But Lovren was looking a bit flat footed, think he needs to get used to the pressure and amount of games. I'd say the same for Raheem, who can't shoot or control the ball when he sees the whites of the keepers eyes now after a great start.

Playing two times a week isn't easy if you're not used too it. Thankfully, only the Chavs looked to have taken advantage of our malaise. Wouldn't be too gutted if they won tomorrow, I'm all about top 4 this season after a very shaky start.

[Ams12]

Love when stevie is further forwards! Gets me excited to see him lining up some Stevie G Specials & cheeky backheels to Balo lol

Played much better today. Faster. More urgency. Closed, harrassed & pressed further up the pitch more. Quicker passing. Were unlucky with some of our attempted through/over the top balls. On another day they would have been worldie passes.

We need to work on our long range shooting. Were a few opportunities that were either an easy catch for their goalie or we blazed over. These are the chances that will help relieve some pressure off us if we score and would make us more clinical. 3 points better performance

[Muddled]

Thank **** for that. Not arsed about the performance, just needed any sort of win.

Lovren has to be dropped.

Centre back positions are a worry Lovren doesn't look up to it and I don't think Skrtel is anywhere good enough to be first choice either.

Good much needed win that

Better second half, Lallana was outstanding. The support for the attackers from Gerrard & Hendo was much better, makes such a difference & would have been much more apparent if Sturridge was our CF today. Gerrard looked so much better playing further forward.

Defensively good apart from Lovren... who had an nightmare again.

Agree with all that.

In reality though, a 2-1 hanging on at home to WBA isn't anything to be shouting about. Brendan will have some skiddy in his jocks right now.......dropped points today going into the int break would have been a disaster.

And I know when I disagree with you, all is right in the world.

[Buzzo]

Without being too much of a fanboi, I thought we looked a bit more solid once Johnson came on, I know he has fallen away a bit over the last year or so, but I think we need his experience at the back. I'm not slating Manquilo in saying this, he looks a real prospect, but I thought Johnson added a bit of composure and kept us ticking over moving forward.

There were signs of encouragement today, we held on for the win, WBA never really threatened and it was never a pen. The intensity of our midfield and the speed of our passing looked good. Once Sturridge comes back, and we can rotate him with Mario and play them together we will start to have more options.

A solid if unspectacular win. Just what the doctor ordered.