To quote a famous film, “what have the Romans ever done for us”? writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
Well on Saturday quite a lot, a Roman scored the winner while a certain Mr Cesar scored the equaliser!!
After the disappointment of Preston, Saturday was a welcome return to winning ways, Burnley are having a good season and their team included three returning old boys, and it was one of those old boys who drew first blood.
I thought Cesar took his goal like a seasoned striker, and then up stepped bang bang Bednar to score the winner.
I was surprised that we did not sign Bednar on a permanent deal during the transfer window but I have been reliably informed that there is a deal in place and a fee to sign him at the end of the season.
If he keeps scoring goals at the rate he is currently, he may even receive a call up for his country and be travelling to that summer tournament that the English nation do not like to mention.
We were still made to chew our collective finger nails due to another missed penalty; I was a little surprised Bednar did not take it due to his confidence being high and the way in which he scored his penalty against Charlton.
After our visit to Barnsley we have three league games at home, and this surely represents our best opportunity to open up a gap between ourselves and third spot.
Earlier in the season I gave my opinion as to who I thought would finish in the top six and below I have updated my prediction.
1st WBA
2nd Stoke
3rd Watford
4th Bristol City
5th Charlton
6th Crystal Palace
I have gone for ourselves and Stoke finishing in the two automatic places, although we are chalk and cheese, Stoke have found a winning formula based on a blueprint we used ourselves under Gary Megson.
Many experts keep predicting Bristol City will tail off in the final stages, however, they did not sell the crown jewels during January and I can see them achieving a play-off place.
Watford and Charlton have wobbled recently but should have enough quality in their squads to gain a play-off place, and under Warnock, Crystal Palace have a manager who knows this division better than most.
Ipswich and Wolves are the only teams I can see crashing the party, if Ipswich can solve their problems away from home and Wolves can address their inconsistency in front of goal (seven strikers should help) both could be in the mix come May.
I have refrained from my normal pessimistic approach and for the record predicted we will finish as Champions, but to be honest I am not that comfortable being so positive about our success, and if you offered me second spot I would not just tear your arm off, I would probably tear your leg off aswell!
One final prediction, 82 points will be enough for automatic promotion this season.
Albion fans have your say below
See Also:
24 Comments
nah, the form dip is heading yopur way!!
Report abuse
ALBION WILL FINISH AS THE CHAMPIONS THIS SEASON. THEY PLAY AS A TEAM (WHICH IS A PROBLEM FOR MOST CLUBS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SEASON) WITH GOOD QUALITY FOOTBALL.
Report abuse
look forward to reading your blog,but raised expectations do not help!! at the game on saturday there was so uch pressure on the players,somehow we have to cutail the enthusiasm which is nigh on impossible,i will be amazed if wolves dont make the play offs!!
Report abuse
What points do you predict for relegation next year then?
Report abuse
One glaring ommission from your top 6 prediction….
Hull?
Report abuse
Hi Jarrod,
I don’t disagree with your prediction, but i fully agree with Mark 3 - we should let the team get on with things and see where we end up in May.
Like you I am fully confident - but just fear that we are tempting fate doing this.
Better to follow TM’s example - quietly confident.
Report abuse
Dont like everyone predicting us as top team as it puts pressure on fans and the team. March will be the deciding month with 7 games, followed by cardiff & blackpool in the first week of april.Its a big test as we seem to struggle when we play 2 games a week. I am praying that we dont draw the coventry game, in fact will be over the moon if we get knocked out.
Report abuse
Thats new,being able to update predictions,i will update mine just before the last game of the season then.
Report abuse
tividalebaggie,Silly statement about being over the moon if you get knocked out of the cup.Surely you would like to win the FA cup.
Report abuse
Let’s face it - it could all come down to the last game of the season away at QPR. 82 points means 1.8 pts per game (same rate as now) for the rest of the season i.e. win every other game …. no pressure there then …? deebee
Report abuse
#9 - What would you have preferred - 3 points off Watford or beat them in the cup. The teams in this division may not have the skills, but they are really fit.We cannot have a cup run and keep winning league games. As for winning the FA cup, I wont go, even if we make the final, and I am letting people who have not watched a league game this season use my season tickets to get cup tickets.I know several other season ticket holders who remember what happened last year and want us out.
Report abuse
9 Big Rich Wolves:
I can see where he’s coming from.
I too would sacrifice the FA Cup for a return to the Premiership.
But at this moment in time,unfortunatly I can see Wolves winning sod all,especially if they give away silly goals at set pieces like last weekend.
Too many teams have “wised up” to Wolves playing style are exploiting the weaknesses at every opportunity.
The loss of key players at crucial times does’nt help the cause.
Prime example:- last years play offs when Matt Murray got injured.As much as I admire Henns, I think Matt commands his area & organises his defenders better.
Wolves rely on key players too much & in Mick McCarthy, they have a bloke who’s as stubborn as they come, fails to drop/rest poor players & over-depends on “his favorites”.
I’ve questioned the ability of our Connor,Daley & Moxey in the past, only to be put in my place.
If the above mentioned people + certain players shared our enthusiasm & passion for the Club, we’d be 15 points ahead of West Brom & not 11 behind.
Report abuse
Boys and girls, it was just a conversational point, i was looking to see what other peoples predictions where, but it looks like nobody has the bottle to have a go!!!
I understand what fans are saying regarding raised expectations, but i think it is a little late for keeping a lid on that, especially as the media already have us installed as favourites, and i am sure this blog page has no effect on such things!!!!
Report abuse
No we shouldn’t count our chickens, we’re not up yet but we are in a great position. Let’s keep getting behind the team as we have, as a BR Ender I can only echo the praise for the Smethwick End for their tremendous vocal support, it’s contagious and the singing now rings around the whole ground, keep it uo lads. On that subject, I’ve been puzzled that the part time supporters haven’t returned but perhaps it’s no bad thing as when we go behind it’s these people who are first to get on the players backs, like our friends down the road. While on the subject of our friends down the road. How laughable that some of them are pointing out that we’re not up yet and we’re too cocky. If they were in our position they’d be crowing about winning the Prem next year and their prospects of winning the Champions league the year after. Don’t deny it, you know you would.
Report abuse
I think this is how the top six will look @ the end of the Championship season:-
1. West Bromwich Albion 46 96
2. Bristol City 46 78
——————————–
3. Stoke City 46 74
4. Crystal Palace 46 74
5. Watford 46 73
6. Wolves 46 72
——————————–
the 1st leg of the playoffs would be a follows:-
Watford v Bristol City
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Stoke
Wolves fans I hate to say this but I think u might lose again in the playoff semis.
Report abuse
No.7. You can’t mean it can you? Winning is a habit just like losing, all based on confidence and a thing called ‘luck’, which the more you win, the luckier you get! (I think I’m slightly mis-quoting Arnold Palmer). I was amazed yesterday. I arrived at The Hawthorns at 8.20am for Coventry tickets and was 4th in the queue! It did build up later a little bit and the traffic was appalling to get there, but where were you all?
Report abuse
1…. Are you having a laugh our last 5 league games have been won 2 lost 2 and drew 1.
I think we are in our dip at the moment.
All this predicitions is just grabbing at thin air and a bit of fun we will finish where we deserve to finish. There are a lot of twists and turns left, dont get me wrong I would sooner be sitting top than 8th for example but promotion is not a dead cert.
Report abuse
Think top two bang on but I fancy Cardiff to sneak in to 6th and then go up. Also won’t discount QPR as an outsider.
Report abuse
I’ll have a bash just for the fun of it, even though i don’t really want to count any chickens.
1. West Brom
2. Crystal Palace (Outside tip)
3. Watford
4. Stoke
5. Charlton
6. Bristol City
Report abuse
I’ll have a go Bomber
1. WBA
2. Crystal Palace
3. Watford
4. Charlton
5. Wolves
6. Bristol City
Hull and Stoke will be in the mix put i think Stoke will fade soon!
Report abuse
My prediction…..
1. Albion
2. Watford
3. Charlton
4. Stoke
5. Wolves
6. Bristol City
Stoke to go up through playoffs?
Report abuse
My prediction ( for what its worth)is a trip to Wembley for Wolves.
Has K.W. lost his marbles you may ask,but with only 5 possible teams going through from the Prem.if we get a favourable draw, anything is possible, even a WBA/Wolves final!
We could always play it at Fantasy Island!
Report abuse
I’ll have a go as well.
Baggies
Watford
Stoke
Charlton
Ipswich
Wolves
Charlton to win play offs
Report abuse
I think predictions at the start of the season are fine - its fun and no one takes them too seriously.
However, predicting promotion in february when we are sitting top of the table is just too close to home for me and feels like tempting fate.
As I said before, I don’t disagree with the prediction in the blogg - I just don’t wanna put the hoodoo on us !
Report abuse