Saturday was disappointing to say the least and for once I am going to aim some criticism towards Tony Mowbray, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
Hull are on a wonderful run of form and results are going their way, we had our usual sluggish start and did not come to life until going a goal down, but once Bednar had scored many thought there would be only one winner.
The game was very congested in the middle of the park and we were struggling to get any width to the game.
Morrison is a good player but is a little predictable when playing on the left.
Being right footed he likes to turn back inside and this had two consequences, one, it again failed to give us width, and two, it made his runs predictable and easy to defend against.
Mowbray’s attacking array on the bench would have any Championship manager turning green with envy, but his substitutions on Saturday were simply baffling.
The game was crying out for Brunt, and with Bednar having just scored you would have backed him to get another, although he had not felt well during the week.
Phillips was having a quiet game and I can understand him being replaced, and then when we were pushing for a winner, our captain and in my opinion most important player Greening was substituted.
It is the first time I have found myself questioning Mowbray’s decision making, personally I would have left Bednar on and replaced Morrison with Brunt, and Phillips with either Moore or Miller.
Having assembled a wonderfully gifted squad of players I just hope Mowbray is not falling into the trap of trying to keep everyone happy, at this point in time I am not aware of any injuries, and I appreciate Mowbray gets to watch them in training all week, but if Brunt was not fit he would not have been on the bench.
I am a huge fan of Mowbray and this is the first time I have questioned his decision making, on the balance of play we were unlucky to lose the game, and we need to rebuild some winning momentum in the league.
Let’s not forget we are having a wonderful season, and there are still plenty of games to go, and we must not allow our collective support to become negative.
I understand it is frustrating to see us slip up and drop places in the league, but we have time and games to put things right.
With fixtures piling up and Saturdays result it would have been beneficial to have had a midweek game this week, but we now have to wait until Saturday to meet Plymouth.
I would love to know what starting eleven Mowbray believes is his strongest, I realise you have to take the opposition and their style of play into account, and a players form, but barring injuries who is our strongest eleven?
Mowbray has stated on many occasions it is up to the players to force their way into his plans, I thought Brunt played well at Coventry and if I was him would have been disappointed to find myself on the bench, especially with a right footed player replacing him on the left hand side of midfield.
Maybe it is time to slow down on the rotation of key players, and allow the team and players to build some form and momentum.
I believe our strongest team at the moment is Kiely, Robinson, Barnett, Albrechtsen, Hoefkens, Brunt, Greening, Koren, Gera, Bednar, and Phillips, playing 4-4-2.
But what do you think?
Albion fans have your say below
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28 Comments
Totally agree that Brunt should have played; I would have said from the off be certainly come on for Morrison. You strongest 11 would also be mine at the moment (although it is also a tough decision as whether Kiely should play in starting 11 as I think he has had a poor season so would be tempted to have Danek in GK if we knew more about him; can he be any worse?) but I’ll also add my subs……
Pele; Moore; Miller; Morrison Texi (no GK whenever Alby plays)
I agree completely, we need a settled side which includes Brunt.
Due to the lack of form by certain players i would go with-
Keily, Robinson, Barnett, Albrechtsen, Hoefkens, Brunt, Greening, Koran, Gera, Moore, and Bednar.
I think Phillips should be dropped for afew games as he has not been himself since his latest injury.
Miller is too predictable now for defenders. Keep him on his right foot and he is nothing more than a sunday morning footballer with pace. He is still young so hopefully he will learn.
I do believe that this run of form is just a blip and we will come good! I just hope it is not to to late.
The Albion team for Saturday to steady the ship should be Keily Hoefkins Barnett Albrechtsen Brunt Gera Koren Greening Morrison Bednar Moore. Subs to the managers discretion. Please give it a go.
Frank Yates
Are you suggesting going with a 3-5-2 formation?
Or Brunt at left back?
Jarrod.
Don’t agree with everything you say but an excellent piece nontheless. I presume when you wrote it you didn’t know about Roman’s illness. Agree about Brunt, I think his pinpoint crosses are one of our most dangerous weapons with Bednar in the middle and Gera coming in from the right, as well as the natural balance he gives us. Although it’s easy to flatter to decieve, I thought Luke Moore looked very, very promising, especially when he gets a run in the side.
I’m taking the liberty to reply to Cyril here from a previous entry I’ve just read, regarding Hull’s tactics. Fully agree Cyril, although Hull’s tackling was ‘meaty,’ I don’t think they were particularly dangerous. All of our players got up fairly soon and we suffered no injuries. The problem was that they were cynical, happening every time we had a break away. After the first couple the ref should have warned them that the next one would be a red card. I don’t like to say this but perhaps we’re a little naive, had Gera bundled over Folan in no man’s land, he would have recieved a yellow card and we would have another point, I’m sure that Stoke or Watford would have done this.
Last but not least and I’m not trying to do a longer blog than your’s Jarrod. Where is Happy? spiritual leader of the sensible Baggies, Forever, Bomber, Cyril and many others too numerous to mention without an Oscar style address. Happy Baggie MIA. Come back we miss you.
I’d play Morrison on the right—-I worry about Gera–he misses too many but he still puts in loads of effort so I would play him in the second half. Apart from that I would go with your selection although I would like to see our new goalie.
agree with the comments,but luke moore eas always going to play and thats why he bought on him and ish,i feel he was obligated to play those two!!remember what happened to newcastle when asprilla joined,i hope player power does not influence descisions,i felt barnett finaly showed his promise,still think we will go up and play at wembley at least once!!!!
Do you think your season is going to explode like it did last summer?
Never did like ‘tipy, tappy’ football!
Do you think you will be the best team that never won the league?
I do hope so!
My strongest 11
Danek (I want to see what this highly rated keeper is like, I’m feeling a little miffed with Kiely at the minute)
Hoefkens, Albe, Barnett, Robinson
Gera, Greening, Koren, Brunt
Phillips, Bednar
Subs: Kiely, Pele (more versatile than Cesar), Morrison, Texiera (Do want to see more of this Korean Lad though), Moore.
Ishmael Miller is disappointing me at the minute, at the start of the season I thought he was exceptional off the bench, but he don’t look like that since injuries all to 1 dimensional, needs that little bit more.
Ok the real strength behind this team is the fact that they can rotate and have good players on the bench. On Saturday Gera had a bad one, and to be honest most of the lads looked off the pace. Changing the team around every week may not be the answer but on the run in i would prefer a fresh team to a nackered one
If you take a look at Stokes teams in the last ten games, their only players to be rotated have been the strikers and have played the same eleven in the majority. Ok their cup run was not as long as ours but by keeping the same team together they have hit on a winning formula, and the players have developed an understanding.
I remember the first season we went up under Megson, you could name the first eleven for most games, and yes we had a cup run that season aswell.
Hi TRB… don’t worry, I aint decided to end it all after the Hull result - I was there in the 80’s so I can take anything now !!
I agree with the comments about Brunt - but you have to wonder why he wasn’t used… was there a reason we don’t know or did TM see something we didn’t ?? TM aint got many calls wrong thos year, so even if this was a duff one i think I will forgive him !!
The Bednar sub was just down to illness so was understandable.
Yes we lost and for once most results went against us opening up a small gap - but we have pulled back bigger gaps than this and with our game in hand it really aint all doom and gloom, in fact there were some positives too.. the obvious talent of Luke Moore bodes well and the rekindled form of Barnett.
So overall not a great weekend, but certainly not the end of the world and I am sure normal service will be resumed.
I ogt there late on saturday after about 5/6 mins…
I said to my mate…this in my view is our full strength side….but..anyone of the bench could come on and make us just as strong.
a liitle critiscism of Mowbray is all well and good…no one seems to be getting on the players back..which is also good…but….the picking of the team is easy….
with hindsight…!!!!!
Quite a few different selections and formations, best we trust the main man TM to get it right. For what my opinion is worth [and I know it doesn’t gel with TM’s philosophy], I would go with a 4 1 4 1 formation and rely on the midfielders to get forward and way in with goals. The most common team then, depending upon the opposition, would be:
Danek [subject to what we see]
Hoef, Alby, Barny and Robbo
Pele
CB, JG, RK and ZG
Roman [or Moore] with KP or IM in the 2nd half.
Issues:
DK - whilst he may be a good stopper, he will not come for crosses, causing the defence unnecessary problems and concerns.
CB - A terrific crosser of the ball but a tad lazy
JM - A worker, some good skills but too lightweight in mid-field. Backs out of challenges.
IM - Needs to learn to hold the ball up, look up and make better choices.
The above are intended as constructive criticisms only. It has been superbly enjoyable since TM arrived and as I stated earlier, we should trust his deceisions and continue to get behind him and the team. Let’s good the fotball right and the results will follow. [Managed to get tickets for BR this morning, niiiiiice!
We definitely need a more settled team and more width in the form of Brunt when playing Bednar.
9. You never know what to expect when watching the Albion, and I can understand you not liking “Tippy-Tappy” football when you are used to watching the traditional Wolves “Hoof!!”
Frank Yates
Would you really drop Robbo?
It takes until about Tuesday for me to get a bad result out of my system and look forward to what will prove to be a very,very difficult game Saturday. Anyway, for his crossing alone, I would prefer Brunt to Morrison as well and i’ve said so, on many occasions, but it is not when we have possession that our problems exist, it is when we haven’t got it. We don’t work hard enough to win the ball back in midfield (Mozza is far too lightwieght). However, if we persist in having two marauding fullbacks who are consistantly out of position (both at fault on saturday for the goals Robbo, the Hoefkens), leaving Barnett and Alby on there mainly on there own, we will be relying on Kiely to save us. I’m hoping that the Hull game will turn out to be a turning point in our season. We really do need to put a promotion like run of results together. Five wins on the bounce should do it. Stoke (I dislike mentioning them) have done it. So far we have won two on the trot 3 times and three on the trot once. We have just hit relegation form. Now is the time to stuff Plymouth, a good morale boost, not just the players but fans as well, don’t get me wrong we don’t have to win all fancy for my money, eleven or twelve scrappy and horrible one-nils would suffice. Can i suggest we don’t surrender a one goal lead to Plymmo. It would make a change to go one - nil up….
Boing-Boing (renewed confidence)
With Bednar up front in every game, with a partner or on his own. That bloke gives me the confidence to think we can still do the job to get out this division.
Come on!!!
Exploding Wolf.
Only one question. When?
Another craking blog Jarrod!,
If i was TM and was picking the side to face the pilgrims on Sat i would got for a change as i believe we have now been found out and teams now what to expect when playing us!! Why not change the way we line up
e.g
Goal - Danek
Defence - Robinson, Barnett, Hoefkens.
Midfield - Brunt, Greening koren, Morrison.
Attacking Mid - Gera
Attack - Bednar, Moore.
Sub’s - Kiely,Cesar,Texiera, Miller and Phillips (Give the legand a rest!!!)
You may think Im way off the mark but you dont win the lottery if you dont buy a ticket!! (Althought were gonna need to if you wanna watch the albion away next session!!)
Heads up lads and lets start believeing again!!
Boing Boing!!!
I’m a Brunt fan, unconditionally. he may look lazy, but he isn’t, he is deceptively quick, loses defenders with a beautifully balanced swivel and has a decent shot, (not used often enough maybe)and centres the ball better than anyone in this League and much of the Prem. So he would always be on the left wing in my team.
Right wing, Morrison before Gera at the moment. Zoltan has played lately like the ‘girl with the curl’, when he’s good he’s very, very good, when’s he is bad he is hopeless. Who gave the ball away for Hull’s winner? Who missed an absolute sitter in the last minutes? Koren is a must too. Miller? I’ve said all my points too often already. Too selfish by far. If the first defender doesn’t get it off him, the second or third always will. Even if he improves he’ll be another Kamara. It’s difficult to know what to say about Kiely. I’d love to have seen the new man against Coventry. Deano is a good shot stopper overall, but, he ain’t big enough, doesn’t command the box in the way I think a goalie should and his kicking is erratic. However, his huge experience for the final quarter is worth a fortune. The rest? Whatever the boss decides.
Completely agree with your blog Jarrod. I have been saying it since before christmas that Brunt has to start on the left with Gera on the right. It took a while for him to settle in but showed good form from October onwards and is far and away the best deliverer of a ball at the club. In Gera I can’t think of many better right midfielders in the air in any league. This is a massive attacking weapon and with the likes of Bednar and Phillips both more than capable with their heads we should be scoring more goals from Brunt crosses. I don’t agree with Alfie’s comments that Brunt is lazy – I don’t think any of the Albion players are allowed to be – Mowbray just doesn’t accept it.
As much as I like Morrison I think Mowbray needs to give Brunt a run of games. Have I also been watching a different Gera in the past 2 or 3 games to some of you as he was my man of the match on Saturday - although he had a costly last 10 minutes. I honestly believe we look much more of a threat with him on the right hand side than the likes of Tex or Morrison.
My strongest line up at the moment is the same as yours Jarrod but I do stress that although Barnett has defended very well since coming on at half time up at Oakwell his ability on the ball (or lack of it!) is frightening. In my opinion he is as bad if not worse than Big Dave was and although still very young I’m not sure he will ever be good enough for the Premiership in this area of the game. Hope I’m wrong on this.
As a home and away season ticket holder am I watching a different Dean Kiely to the ever growing list of fans getting on his back? I do acknowledge that his kicking has got worse over the past 3 months (it doesn’t help with the fans getting on his back at every opportunity), however, it’s far from shambolic. Although he had one moment of madness that Barnett came to his rescue during the second half did he really have that bad a game? I thought he punched and claimed all crosses very well? Has he let us down many times this season? He’s one of the main reasons we have a fantastic chance of getting through to a semi final at Wembley in the FA cup – Charlton away in 3rd Round he saved us numerous times.
I think Mowbray made tactical mistakes on Saturday for sure. Miller on for Bednar was a must due to illness but not changing our style was criminal – Miller is not the same player as Bednar and needs to be running at defenders rather than trying to win the ball in the air or with his back to goal. However, as stated on a previous article I think TM has earned the right to make a few mistakes - I just hope he learns from them for Saturday!
Keily, are you really having a laugh?
DREAD IT WHEN MILLER comes on can’t rise to head a ball and too lazy to run with the ball
JH’s observations seem pretty accurate from where I was sitting at the back of the BRE. TM. on the other hand, must have a restricted view from the technical area.
In addition to the mystery of removing our midfield anchor in Greening (leaving the space for the Hull 2nd goal), and the non-appearance of Brunt - the only way to get round their defence was decent crosses from the byline - there was the failure to appreciate what Miller could & couldn’t contribute.
He only makes a real difference when the opposing defence plays a high-line. That gives him the space to get past the last man. With Hull playing so deep he was never going to get those opportunities. And as others have said, his vision is too poor to exploit situations when he’s surrounded by laying it off.
One more thing: why were first Phillips and then Moore put out so wide? Those sort of players you want in and around the box where they can do some damage not sidelined as makeshift wing players. The mysteries mount.
Hull play such a high back 4, it was a game perfect for Brunt. Still, if Zoltan have of put in even a slight challenge for their second and then kept his late shot down we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
It was crying out for blunt against hull, tony why didn’t you play him
I notice recently that Mr MOWBURY! is getting the BRUNT of the criticism!!!!!
Up the Villa BOING BOING.