Match Day Thread West Bromwich Albion - Home

Game #37 sees our hardy Bluebirds back at the CCS for the visit of the Throstles, hoping to once again bounce back from a disappointing loss on the road up at Deepdale on the weekend.

The Baggy birds come to us in mixed form, not too dissimilar to ourselves, with them having picked up a point more across the last 6 games (W3, D1, L2) but also seeing victories over relegation threatened teams (Huddersfield & Wigan) in their last 2 matches... time to break that trend and not let it become 3 in a row for them methinks!

Despite the Baggies talented squad they don't have an out and out goal threat, with top scorer Thomas-Asante on just 7 goals, however, ex-Lion Jed Wallace is amongst the top assist makers in the division (7 assists, 5 goals), so that would indicate potential threats throughout the team.

A win for the Bluebirds tonight would see us move above Rotherham, but also, just as importantly would see us move within just 2 points of 17th placed Swansea, thus dragging them, Birmingham & QPR firmly into the relegation mix.
Conversely, a win for the Midlanders would see them close the gap to a much coveted play-off spot, however even with 3 points they won't yet get themselves back above that dotted line under 6th place.

Earlier this season we played out a 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns. From a City perspective it was a decent point given that we didn't manage to muster a shot on target.

The corresponding game last season saw the horror show under Mick McCarthy and his "keep it tight" 5 centre back experiment that led to a 0-4 defeat... a repeat of that is to be avoided at all costs and to be fair, under Lamouchi and Sol, although we can occasionally set up in a "pragmatic" fashion, such outright negativity isn't likely to be seen.

Early Bluebird Team News
Luckily, Ryan Allsop is back from suspension just in time to cover the suspended Jak Alnwick , however, defensive stalwart Cedric Kipre is ineligible to play against his parent club, so a re-shuffle at the back is imminent.
According to Lamouchi he has a couple of options with him stating "I have two options to cover, but not more. To keep the same system or to change. We don't have a lot of centre-backs, so we will see what we will do." (That clears that up then!)
Joe Ralls is likely back from his injury that kept him out away at Preston but Connor Wickham remains a doubt.
Ex-Baggie Romaine Sawyers is likely to play a big part again but sadly there appears to still be no news on top scorer and ex-Baggie Callum Robinson.

Cardiff's goalkeepers await a return to action.

Prutton & Co Predict
You'd have thought that our result against in-form Bristol City may have made Davey boy have a change of perception towards us, but no, he just wants us to keep proving him wrong, with him predicting a 0-1 defeat for our gallant boys in blue.

The bookies at Sky also seem to agree with him however, with odds as follows;
Home Win 5/2 Draw 21/10 Away Win 6/5

Fun Fact
With West Brom being one of those teams with more than 1 nickname, I though it would be interesting to find out where/how/why the 2 names came about.
When WBA was formed in 1878 it was known the The Albion and In its first 22 years the teams was based at five different grounds around West Bromwich before settling at The Hawthorns in 1900.
The new ground bought with it the team nickname The Throstles, the Black Country word for Thrush, commonly seen in the hawthorn bushes from which the area took its name.

In its early days The Hawthorns had only two entrances, one behind each goal and on match days the gatekeepers would gather up the takings at each end and be escorted by policemen along the sides of the pitch to the centre line where their was a small office under the stand.
The gate money, mostly in pennies, amounted to a considerable sum and was carried in large cloth bags and It wasn’t long before some wag in the crowd started shouting ‘here come the bag men!’ at their appearance in front of the main stand, and this developed into a chant of “here come the Baggies!”, giving the team its unofficial nickname.’

There is also a further theory that their rivals Aston Villa gave them the nickname ‘the Baggies’ after taking the mick out of the West Brom fans who worked in the factories and consisted of workmen wearing baggy attire.

Sharing The Love
Having covered some favourites previously such as Koumas, Gabbidon, Earnie, Ken Zahore & Ricky Scimeca there are still a few names on the list that catch the eye.
You can't help but think though of Peter Odemwingie when thinking of common players, and his bizarre attempt to move to QPR from the Baggies not long before he briefly became a Bluebird. Such a funny story, with ex-Bluebird Junior Hoilett also playing a part in it, as it seems the move was dependent upon Junior wanting to go in the opposite direction.


Peter Odemwingie's Deadline Day "Heatmap"



So, can the Bluebirds bounce back and bash the Baggies? Will we throttle the Throstles with an on song performance?? Can Romaine reign and prove an antidote to a tricky "Throstle" invasion in the midfield???

All I know is, I've returned from a week away with a stinking cold and 3 points would really help me to stop feeling sorry for myself tonight!!

Blooooooooooobirds!!!

 

Marvellous

I find myself disproportionately desperate to win this one. No idea why that is as I've nothing against the Baggies. I'll talk to my therapist about it.

I wonder if we'll add to our record of four different keepers in two games. Dismissals only accepted in 95th minute when we're six up.

Those of you going tonight, please give the boys a shout for me.

Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds

 

Another marvellous and humorous masterpiece Brizzle. I wonder how many teams have more than one nickname. My first thoughts are Reading as the Royals and the Biscuit Men.
Just hope the Bluebirds do enough to baggie all three points tonight.

 

Left it late BB but top notch as expected

 

Great write-up. Makes the anticipation of every game so much more happy and interesting. Sadly, the end product leaves a bit to be desired on occasions...but what to do? We can't win every game.......and lately it's been getting better. But Smoochie will have a trick or two up his sleeve I bet!!!

 

Clingy pal, tickle your bum with a feather? No offence intended!

 

Thanks Maskey. It was lovely x

 

Another new striking partnership in Etete and Davies.

 

According to the Beeb.

Could be 442 with O'Dowda at LB??

 

Bugger.... We were looking good up until now.

Can we do what Smoochie has mentioned and turn around a defecit under him??

 

Of course we can.
Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds

 

Positives so far.... Apart from their goal we've restricted them to very little.

Negatives, although we still look ok, we're also not creating enough chances and their press appears to be working....

Long way to go... Let's hope we can up the pace a little more.

 

Predictably being overrun in midfield, creating nothing really save Philogene, and toothless in the penalty area. Class goal by WBA.

 

Not a poor showing by any stretch, but our old habit of not having a decent end product is showing through again.

Not sure either Davies or Ojo have really done enough yet but not sure I'd shake it up just yet... Maybe 55-60 minute mark if there's no improvement after the break??

 

Predictably being overrun in midfield, creating nothing really save Philogene, and toothless in the penalty area. Class goal by WBA.

 

It's all still a bit too slow from us sadly.

WBA keeping very disciplined with their shape.

 

Goooaaaaallllllllllll.

 

Kabadabadoo

 

That'll do, boys. that'll do

 

Fair play, better second half. Think a draw was a fair result in the end.

Could be a big point come end of season.