Albion Outlook: West Brom fans have their say on Southampton, survival, and Cyrille

Tom Goffe

First of all it needs to be said that the Cyrille Regis tribute Saturday was superb.

The club deserve huge credit for putting on what was a very emotional, but very fitting celebration of the life of the Baggies legend. It’s safe to say I was very proud to be an Albion fan.

In regards to the football, just when we looked to have turned a corner, Saturdays disappointing defeat to fellow strugglers Southampton sees us now cut even further adrift from the pack and has thrown serious doubt as to whether we can remain in the division.

I appreciate key players were missing, but for me Pardew got his XI wrong. Barry and Yacob in the middle weren’t ever going to offer much going forward and his decision to leave out Rodriguez, our standout player of late, was baffling to say the least.

If we are going to give ourselves any chance of survival, Pardew needs to be brave with his team selections from now on. He needs to throw caution to the wind and make a genuine attempt to win every game.

That sounds fairly obvious, but I still don’t feel enough of our attacking players are being given enough game time, hence why we have only won three league games all season.

Alistair Jones

Well after the optimism of the last month, we certainly came down to earth with a bump.

The Liverpool result, capped with what I thought was the best performance of three years, may have catastrophic implementations on our league status.

Losing Evans, Gibbs and – to a lesser extent – Livermore, was then compounded by losing Krychowiak at Man City, and it meant we were without nearly 50 per cent of our starting XI for the most crucial of games at home to Southampton.

Walking up to the ground, when I heard the team news, I was filled with dread.

I don’t think you can start with a central midfield of Yacob and Barry in any match, never mind at home in a must-win game.

Granted, as stated, our options were limited in central midfield, but surely starting Brunt with Barry and playing Rodriguez wide would have given the team greater attacking impetus and more threat than we carried.

I was extremely disappointed with Matt Phillips’ display. At a time when we really need our players with a threat to carry the game to Southampton, I thought he hid.

He did nothing at all second half, and his ‘challenge’ that led to their goal on the half-way line was nothing short of cowardly. Looks like we’re giving ourselves too much to do.

Sarah Rudge

It was meant to be a special day and it was. Its just a shame that the celebrations had to remain off the pitch. What Albion lack in quality on the field, they have in abundance off it. Celebrating the passing of a true icon in Cyrille Regis with a whole host of famous faces of the footballing world turning out to honour one of the very best.

There could have been no better poignant tribute to a true legend of our football club. What we would do to have him in our team now. I highly doubt we would be languishing at the foot of the Premier League table that's for sure.

It started so well with an early Hegazi header but all that work was undone before half time with two quick fire goals from Southampton ultimately condemning us to another defeat. There seemed to be some tired legs with certain players playing twice within the matter of a few days.

But there seemed to be a lack of endeavour from some. Some players noticeably pulled out of tackles and challenges which simply can't be defended. Perhaps they should take a look at our 'Big C', he would have never backed away from a tackle.

David Skiba

With recent defeats to Manchester City and now Southampton, things are starting to get very serious at the bottom of the table. The squad has looked sluggish for two games in a row, and the lack of Krychowiak and Gibbs has been quite obvious in the performances.

The team simply doesn't flow as well with Yacob and Nyom slotted in their spots.There's plenty to be worried about, but the squad looks to be entering it's best health of the season and just at the right time.

Getting anything from the Chelsea game will have to be looked as a bonus, and four points adrift, that is a worrisome fate.

However, the squad appears to be nearing full-fitness for a run of games that includes the rapidly-sinking Huddersfield, Watford, Bournemouth, Leicester, Burnley, and Swansea in the league, with a home tie to Southampton in the middle in the Cup.

If ever there was a time to see what Sturridge, Rondon, Phillips, and Rodriguez - plus Chadli and Morrison once they return - could do together in whatever combination, the time is then.

Who knows, the additional rest before a recently lost-looking Chelsea could make for a spirited affair on Monday night.

The return of Gibbs and Krychowiak cannot be understated, and Evans cannot come back soon enough, as McAuley has looked off the pace in the middle of defence, as well. If the squad can stay at, or near, full health, February and March are when they must make their case for survival.

Alan Foster

Firstly I would like to congratulate the club on the way they helped us all celebrate Cyrille’s life at The Hawthorns on Saturday. It was a very emotional time for all of us inside the ground and I think the big man deserved it for the way he conducted himself on and off the field.

It is such a shame the players, and I have to say, the manager had not read the script. Before kick-off I had my doubts about the team selection, mainly involving the centre of midfield, with Yacob and Barry expected to compete with what turned out to be three in the opposition midfield.

We were completely overrun in that area from the off, and although we have a large number of players out, I could not understand why it took AP until the hour mark to make changes when everyone in the ground could see we needed another body in midfield, either Field or even Rodriguez.

As Chris Brunt as said, we now have 12 cup finals and we are far from finished but we must win at least six games. Although I will never stop believing, it’s a very tall order.