The Easter draw at Charlton turned out to be a good result as many of the other challengers for automatic promotion also dropped points, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
It means we still have our destiny in our own hands.
Games in hand are only good if we manage to win them, but with Colchester at home being our next game we should be confident of getting three points and placing more pressure on those teams around us.
We witnessed again at the Valley that super Kevin Phillips is the master goalscorer in this division and when fit must surely start the remainder of our games this season.
The formation in the first half was a little baffling, and when we went 4-4-2 in the second half we looked a lot better.
However the point turned out to be a good result when I nervously watched Saturday’s games unfold.
The big talking point this weekend was the sending off of Liverpool’s Mascherano. On the back of the Ashley Cole incident last week it was almost inevitable that there would be a reaction from referees.
In both incidents the players showed a lack of respect to the officials involved, but who is to blame and how do we solve it?
The most common thought among football fans is to adopt the rugby rule of only allowing captains to address the officials. Others include lengthier bans, docking of points, and sin bins.
One of the reasons the rule of only captains talking to referees works in rugby is due to their combined use of video play back.
If a player feels like an incorrect or disputed decision has been made he knows that the likelihood is that someone has looked at the incident a number of times and come to the correct decision.
So maybe now is the time to introduce both?
Maybe what Steve Bennett did on Sunday is enough, if all referees adopt the same mentality towards harassment from players then managers will instruct their players to behave and the problem will recede.
Either way I feel the problem has become such an issue that the powers that be must address it now.
Anyway back to the Baggies, hopefully this week we will see some of our injured players return to the fold, we have particularly missed Brunt, and with his normal replacement being Morrison we have consequently missed him too.
Barnett was replaced by Cesar on Friday and although not playing for a while looked ok, as did Pele in a holding role.
They must all be wondering if they will be playing in the semi-final and I hope it acts as motivation, I hope they all realise what an opportunity now rests in their hands (or feet might be a more appropriate), they may never have a better season, but they must now finish the job they started back in August.
Three points on Saturday is a good start.
Come on you Baggies
Albion fans have your say below
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20 Comments
3 points is essential on Saturday along with the other 2 home games, I really do believe getting 9 points from our remaining 3 home games will give us the excellently strong basis to pick up the required points away from home.
Regarding discipline, it has become part and parcel of the game over the last few years and more so from the so called bigger clubs, they expect everything. The sooner the big clubs get some control over it the better, but whilst they tend to get away with crowding the ref they will continue to do it, so it does look like strict guidelines need to be installed by the powers that be, but then the next question will be over consistency of sticking to it by referee’s.
What ever happened to “the referee’s decision is final”?
He’s made his decision and the players have no right to challenge him.
On Sunday the ref decided that although Torres had been fouled, his reaction deserved a yellow.
That should have been the end of it.
But, following a little Argy Bargy (no pun intended!), he also decided that he and he alone was going to make the decisions in teh match - exactly the way it should be - and issued Javier with his second yellow for dissent that game.
Absolutely fair IMO.
However, if it had happened to a bloke in blue and white with a pink stripe across his chest I would probably have an entirely different opinion!!!
;)
Mascherano & Cashley Cole.
2 Powder Puff players who would’ve run as far away from proper players i.e.Mike Bailey, Dougie Fraser,Ron “Chopper” Harris & Norman Hunter as possible.
Long gone are the days of the “Magic Sponge”,used to fix everything from a bruised shin to a compound fracture.
It’s squeeky bum time. It sounds so easy - win our games in hand and we’re top! Unfortunately its just not that easy as the Leicester game proved. We have been handed yet another chance by the teams above us on Saturday but sooner or later they are going to pick up points too. We have to win the next 2 prior to the Cup game simply to stay in touch. The cup will give the other teams the opportunity to get further ahead.
Hi Jarrod - its left up to the refs and the FA to police our players because the managers can’t / wont discipline them. Can you imagine Clough letting this happen - or even Ferguson of 15 years ago ??
The pressure and the money in footbal means that the clubs wont discipline the players - so it has to be done externally… this is why I don’t bother to watch the big 4 on T.V. Wenger was a figure of fun with his “I didn’t see it” comments - but now EVERY manager uses it - its killing the game I love.
I heard the Ashley Cole situation being discussed on TV - and whilst they didn’t condone it, they ended by saying “well he is a great player though” - as if that made it all ok.
As you know I love the baggies - but football in general is losing its appeal to me a little more every season.
Rant over.
p.s - I have no worries about the amount of away games we have left - we have the squad to win these no problem.
With regard to the Albion, the balance doesn’t seem right when we start with Miller. He just doesn’t complement Phillips. It is important that players work well together and Bednar seems to be a better partner.
In midfield, when fit I would like to see Gera, Greening, Morrison or Koren and Brunt out on the left. We must play Gera whenever possible as he not only works so hard but is always contributing in such a positive way. He is now playing as well as he has ever done. We cannot afford to lose him.
In your own hands.
Well you have had it then boys…
I think we should have won on Friday against a very poor Charlton team. Shame our stripper wasn’t there either!!!I thought the selection of Miller on the right and Gera on the left was awful and the more I see Alby struggling the more convinced I am that he is not a central defender. Assuming we have a full squad( excluding Tex) to pick from this would be my first 16: Danek,Alby,Ceasar,Barnet,Robbo,Gera,Jonno,Koren,Brunt,Miller,Phillips SUBS: Kiely,Hoef,Morrison,Pele and Bednar. I would always bring Bednar on each week.
Happy Baggie
I too beleive it is a blessing in disguise that we have more away games than home games left, our form away from home is ok. Getting one of either Morrison or Brunt back fit is imperative, we need that attacking option on both sides of the pitch.
Bomber - totally agree that getting those lads back is vital - we need the width Brunt gives us and the ball winning Mozza gives us.
I was a little suprised when TM went 2 up front at Charlton given that he often goes for a 4-5-1 in the tricky away games.
Do you think thats an indication of intent for the rest of the season ??
5. I agree. I can’t be bothered watching the big four anymore. The example should be set from the very
top of the game and if the players and the managers won’t do it then it has to be the referees. It’s
a tough job but someone has to do it and set an example for the youngsters to follow. Maybe in the
future when managers realise that they are losing matches because of screaming pre-madonnas they will
also take a tougher stance. Money talks.
Prediction for the championship: Watford and WBA automatic. Play-offs: A.N.Other (preferably Wolves)
11. Cheers hope your prediction is right hope we go up as champs though, as wba fan there is
nothing more i would love than to see albion and wolves promoted, and show the premiership
what a proper derby is about not these liverpool derbies where the fans sit together or these
so called cockney derbies, would also love us to win the cup but oh well if i had a choice of
promotion or the cup, id still choose promotion although every other baggie i speak too disagrees and
says the cup, boing boing!
12: Dan
I disagree my friend…..I want both!!!!
Seriously originally I had my mind set on Promotion and I still do, but the FA Cup has opened something up that i never believed I could ever see. Now we have a chance.
Fingers crossed, legs crossed, me wotsits crossed, but whatever happens I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the season, and roll on the next.
Tonywba
I know how you feel!!!
This could go down as one the best ever seasons ever or a season of o so close!!
I just hope the players grasp the opportunity and have something to show from it all.
Des anyone else think that when we go down to 10 men as we did aginst Leicester that TMsahould adapt rtghe formation accordingly? It seems to me that ewe play just as open with 10 as with 11 and hat makes us easy prey the venr home game and Leicester show. Lets face it both these teams sould have been seen off with 10 men. On another poin Moore shouyld be sent back to Vlla his body language reminds me of that other hard running goal scorer Ellington now a sub at Watford I belive?
15, I don’t think it’s in TM’s make up to play defensively, even when down to 10. He just can’t seem to bring himself to change the formation to a defensively set up one. My Leicester friends could not believe how open we were. If we do manage to go up then it’s surely going to be a roller coaster ride. I can see us picking up enough wins but getting a few hammerings along the way. Bring it on, please.
Good result against Charlton but could have been better if geras volley had gone in
Self discipline is usually brought about by Forced Discipline. A code of behaviour set up by Ma and Pa (if you’re lucky), a good manager if you’re a footballer. The one I remember best is Army discipline. They first dismantle you, then reassemble the bits in their image. All done in about 6 weeks. Result? Someone in charge issues an order, you obey first and then complain later if it’s unfair. Used to be like that in schools too, but anarchy now rules, OK? A lot of footballers are just arrogant, uncultured, macho yobs. A REAL man offers his hand to his opponent, not his fist.
Truth is we’re a couple of players in big positions short - some teams have spotted this, others haven’t a clue. As such we’re not ready for the premiership in the way Giles’ team was in 76. I respect Mowbray & want to see him given his chance - problem was with Giles, Atkinson we couldn’t hold on to them - I fear TM will be the same in a few years - in which case we have to endure a few years of winning something - hopefully two things - this year.
Devon, the truth of the matter is, neither ourselves or Wolves have been ‘a big club’ since the early 80s and as things are at present, we cannot hope to be again. We are battling to leave an exciting, everyone equal, Championship to join a Prem. Club where we shall struggle to be mediocre to fair. It’s totally daft really but the magnet of money blinds us all to reality. However, the public is fickle, so today’s must is tomorrow’s maybe. Messrs Peace and Mowbray have re-structured the club from bottom to top. We have excitement and promise. That’ll do for now.