Just Back from Blackburn

[baggieal]

Free parking - two pint glasses of lager - carnival atmosphere in the Fenhurst Pub - deafening singing before the game THEN

It was like watching two pub sides without one inch of quality. So many back passes to O?Leary I lost count - awful on the ball - no energy - Price was like a fairy and Jesus - Heggebo! Did we really pay almost five million for that slow lump!

Many saying Campbell better in his natural position which is correct but he was poor against Wrexham and unlike Heggem who was class in comparison - he still lacks composure and tidiness with the ball. Did Ok though.

Very disappointed in Morrison to be honest and his lack of experience showed. We played Friday and the game lacked tempo and pace and he should have made a few changes. Would youngsters like Bostock or Sule been any worse than what was on the pitch? No - they would have injected pace and enthusiasm!

So not a bad point but with 7500 supporters the second half was flat and it was glaringly obvious why we are near the bottom. Zero quality and awful football.

Don?t get me wrong Jimmy has steadied the ship well but no way should he be given the managers job and one hell of a player clear out is needed.

Not one player is top six championship material and to think we had class players like Okay who controlled the midfield. Diakite loses the ball too much and Molumby tries hard but big standard average. The midfield is the biggest problem as there?s zero quality or creatively!

Very disappointed!

[boinggazmic]

Free parking - two pint glasses of lager - carnival atmosphere in the Fenhurst Pub - deafening singing before the game THEN

It was like watching two pub sides without one inch of quality. So many back passes to O?Leary I lost count - awful on the ball - no energy - Price was like a fairy and Jesus - Heggebo! Did we really pay almost five million for that slow lump!

Many saying Campbell better in his natural position which is correct but he was poor against Wrexham and unlike Heggem who was class in comparison - he still lacks composure and tidiness with the ball. Did Ok though.

Very disappointed in Morrison to be honest and his lack of experience showed. We played Friday and the game lacked tempo and pace and he should have made a few changes. Would youngsters like Bostock or Sule been any worse than what was on the pitch? No - they would have injected pace and enthusiasm!

So not a bad point but with 7500 supporters the second half was flat and it was glaringly obvious why we are near the bottom. Zero quality and awful football.

Don?t get me wrong Jimmy has steadied the ship well but no way should he be given the managers job and one hell of a player clear out is needed.

Not one player is top six championship material and to think we had class players like Okay who controlled the midfield. Diakite loses the ball too much and Molumby tries hard but big standard average. The midfield is the biggest problem as there?s zero quality or creatively!

Very disappointed!

Jeze..thank god we didn?t lose.

[baggieal]

Jeze..thank god we didn?t lose.

The beer was good 😭😭. Dreadful game though and can?t disguise this. I certainly do not agree with Morrison?s comments - the players gave everything! Worst game of football seen for a long time by both teams! One effort on goal from both teams FFS. Morrison should have introduced 3/4 subs especially with the Wrexham match and internationals to have injected fresh legs. Clearly he does not like Mowatt!

[baggiematt]

The game had bore draw written all over it. Its not the sort of fixture you want at the moment. The way the results went, it all went for us.

Heggebo is a problem. The chance he missed was as easy as Dikes in previous weeks. These are the moments that count. If both chances go in, it’s 6 points instead of 2.

[baggieal]

The game had bore draw written all over it. Its not the sort of fixture you want at the moment. The way the results went, it all went for us.

Heggebo is a problem. The chance he missed was as easy as Dikes in previous weeks. These are the moments that count. If both chances go in, it’s 6 points instead of 2.

Exactly that Matt. Not a big fan of Heggebo as yes he tries hard but slow and poor feet. The one who disappointed me again was Price. Morrison should have freshened it up and surprised how Mowatt has not been used with two games in four days. Our biggest problem and said it for the last two years apart from a regular scorer is the midfield. Not one of them has the quality or creativity to produce anything special.

We are really missing Mikey! It seems Morrison only trusts about 13 players and shame the youngsters are not getting a sniff. Williams for example will be snapped up like Taylor was and hope he does if he not getting an opportunity!

Morrison has done a good job steadying the ship but with a big clear out next season - we need a new manager ( like the Lincoln chap ) to bring fresh ideas and contacts. FFS - Jimmy no doubt would keep Wallace!

[baggiematt]

Exactly that Matt. Not a big fan of Heggebo as yes he tries hard but slow and poor feet. The one who disappointed me again was Price. Morrison should have freshened it up and surprised how Mowatt has not been used with two games in four days. Our biggest problem and said it for the last two years apart from a regular scorer is the midfield. Not one of them has the quality or creativity to produce anything special.

We are really missing Mikey! It seems Morrison only trusts about 13 players and shame the youngsters are not getting a sniff. Williams for example will be snapped up like Taylor was and hope he does if he not getting an opportunity!

Morrison has done a good job steadying the ship but with a big clear out next season - we need a new manager ( like the Lincoln chap ) to bring fresh ideas and contacts. FFS - Jimmy no doubt would keep Wallace!

I wouldnt be writing Jimmy off just yet. This wasnt a bad result and he has done well.

I dont think you judge managerial quality by how many kids we play. He doesnt trust these kids in a relegation scrap and he knows their qualities best.

[baggieal]

The game had bore draw written all over it. Its not the sort of fixture you want at the moment. The way the results went, it all went for us.

Heggebo is a problem. The chance he missed was as easy as Dikes in previous weeks. These are the moments that count. If both chances go in, it’s 6 points instead of 2.

I wouldnt be writing Jimmy off just yet. This wasnt a bad result and he has done well.

I dont think you judge managerial quality by how many kids we play. He doesnt trust these kids in a relegation scrap and he knows their qualities best.

He?s doing a decent job but he?s inexperienced and his lack of subs showed today. With a big clear out I would rather we go for an up and coming manager. Morrison, Abella and Myhill have been part of the problem for three managers and whilst they did not have the final say their input and contribution would have been significant. Again Jimmy is doing a decent job but not the manager for me and many others by the comments today. Fresh vision - fresh ideas -more quality and creativity otherwise I can see nothing changing. We do deserve to be near the bottom and the table does not lie.

PS - you can judge managerial quality by having the balls to play an excellent kid as seen by many managers in the premier and even in this league.

[Omegstrat6]

I was only able to listen to the game so difficult to properly comment without having watched it for myself, but think you may be being a bit harsh on Morrison Al.

Certainly, it was a poor game in terms of quality and doubtless nerves affected both teams as neither could have afforded to lose yesterday. Too many of our players were poor in possession, losing the ball too easily and either over hitting passes or else making them too short. Styles, whose deliveries in more recent games have been pretty decent,was particularly under par. Heggabo, Maja, Dike and Price have all been underwhelming for much of this season and despite improvements in recent games, seemed to revert to type yesterday-though Price's efforts during the international break doubtless contributed to his rather leggy performance.

Whilst Morrison's comment about them "giving their all" may certainly have been over-egging it, I do think that they still battled however. They lack quality-particularly in the final third-but he has got them playing for each other and showing more attacking intent. Their lack of quality isn't down to him surely?

I was concerned after half time that the lessons from Wrexham hadn't been learnt as we took far too long to adjust to their new formation and our own mistakes allowed them to dominate. Thankfully, we managed to weather the storm but whilst I agree that changes needed making it was difficult in all honesty to see what better options Morrison had to use. He brought Dike on but whilst Sule has been impressive in front of goal in PL2 would he really have had the experience needed for a must-not-lose game? The same with Bostock and Whitwell. They may indeed be the future, but I agree with Matt that it is too risky to throw them into a relegation dog fight. As for Jamoh-Aloba, he hasn't been too impressive either despite the odd flashes of ability.

Midfield remains a problem but would bringing in Mowatt really have helped? Molumby may lack quality but no-one can deny his battling attitude and whilst it was perhaps something of a risk keeping Diakite on with a yellow card, he was surely the better option than Mowatt still and, along with Campbell, one of our better players again.

With Wallace, Grant and MJ all out injured, Morrison has limited resources to play with but this is not his fault. Certainly, we need a clear out and rebuild over the Summer but I personally believe that Morrison -inexperienced as he may be in the role-is doing the best he can with those at his disposal. His "giving their all" comment may have been hyperbole, but otherwise his post match interview was a pretty fair assessment (as most of his have been). He readily acknowledged our lack of quality, especially in the final third, and the impact of nerves and he instantly recognised during the early stages of the second half that we needed to tighten up and stop allowing Blackburn their chances to break through our lines but I don't think he was wrong to also acknowledge that the players still dug in and battled to get a much needed point from the game.

If we survive this, Morrison may not have the experience yet to be the manager the club decide we need to take us forward next season but he will forever be remembered for this achievement and rightly so. He has managed to turn things around and a run of 6 unbeaten games in our position and with the limited squad available to him is no mean feat. Could an experienced Championship manager have really achieved any more in these circumstances?

[baggiematt]

He?s doing a decent job but he?s inexperienced and his lack of subs showed today. With a big clear out I would rather we go for an up and coming manager. Morrison, Abella and Myhill have been part of the problem for three managers and whilst they did not have the final say their input and contribution would have been significant. Again Jimmy is doing a decent job but not the manager for me and many others by the comments today. Fresh vision - fresh ideas -more quality and creativity otherwise I can see nothing changing. We do deserve to be near the bottom and the table does not lie.

PS - you can judge managerial quality by having the balls to play an excellent kid as seen by many managers in the premier and even in this league.

I wouldnt go near Skubala. He cant be a good manager because he was part of the coaching staff in a failing Leeds side between 22-23. A big part of the problem the fans said.

Same with Carrick and McKenna at United under Mourinho. A big part of the United demise Im sure.

See how that isnt logical?

[baggieal]

I was only able to listen to the game so difficult to properly comment without having watched it for myself, but think you may be being a bit harsh on Morrison Al.

Certainly, it was a poor game in terms of quality and doubtless nerves affected both teams as neither could have afforded to lose yesterday. Too many of our players were poor in possession, losing the ball too easily and either over hitting passes or else making them too short. Styles, whose deliveries in more recent games have been pretty decent,was particularly under par. Heggabo, Maja, Dike and Price have all been underwhelming for much of this season and despite improvements in recent games, seemed to revert to type yesterday-though Price's efforts during the international break doubtless contributed to his rather leggy performance.

Whilst Morrison's comment about them "giving their all" may certainly have been over-egging it, I do think that they still battled however. They lack quality-particularly in the final third-but he has got them playing for each other and showing more attacking intent. Their lack of quality isn't down to him surely?

I was concerned after half time that the lessons from Wrexham hadn't been learnt as we took far too long to adjust to their new formation and our own mistakes allowed them to dominate. Thankfully, we managed to weather the storm but whilst I agree that changes needed making it was difficult in all honesty to see what better options Morrison had to use. He brought Dike on but whilst Sule has been impressive in front of goal in PL2 would he really have had the experience needed for a must-not-lose game? The same with Bostock and Whitwell. They may indeed be the future, but I agree with Matt that it is too risky to throw them into a relegation dog fight. As for Jamoh-Aloba, he hasn't been too impressive either despite the odd flashes of ability.

Midfield remains a problem but would bringing in Mowatt really have helped? Molumby may lack quality but no-one can deny his battling attitude and whilst it was perhaps something of a risk keeping Diakite on with a yellow card, he was surely the better option than Mowatt still and, along with Campbell, one of our better players again.

With Wallace, Grant and MJ all out injured, Morrison has limited resources to play with but this is not his fault. Certainly, we need a clear out and rebuild over the Summer but I personally believe that Morrison -inexperienced as he may be in the role-is doing the best he can with those at his disposal. His "giving their all" comment may have been hyperbole, but otherwise his post match interview was a pretty fair assessment (as most of his have been). He readily acknowledged our lack of quality, especially in the final third, and the impact of nerves and he instantly recognised during the early stages of the second half that we needed to tighten up and stop allowing Blackburn their chances to break through our lines but I don't think he was wrong to also acknowledge that the players still dug in and battled to get a much needed point from the game.

If we survive this, Morrison may not have the experience yet to be the manager the club decide we need to take us forward next season but he will forever be remembered for this achievement and rightly so. He has managed to turn things around and a run of 6 unbeaten games in our position and with the limited squad available to him is no mean feat. Could an experienced Championship manager have really achieved any more in these circumstances?

Morning Omeg and hope the weekend was good!
We all see things differently which is the beauty about football. For example many will not have sentiments about Wallace due to wage, injuries and legs and will want him gone. Many will not care and want him to stay.

I have said Morrison is doing a good job but still sideways passing and loads of passing back to the keeper. That?s been there since CC and Abella would be in on that. We need to remember Morrison, Abella and Myhill were part of the problem under three coaches and their input was huge and still there.

I along with many others yesterday was disappointed with no fresh legs considering Wrexham 3 days earlier and internationals. Price was awful and on his last legs so of course Bostock would have been no worse and added needy pace. Could Sule have been any worse than Dike who is slow and barely touched the ball? No! Not a fan of Mowatt but again he?s not played in two games so fresh legs. We were that bad! CC was criticised for changing players when we were winning and he said fresh legs were needed. Why not yesterday when the game was there for the taking?

I think Morrison is doing a good job but don?t honestly feel much will change under these three next season if they stay! That is my view and again the style of sideways and backwards football is not down to the quality of players but on what they are coached.

Looking forward to seeing an excellent youngster in Taylor arriving Friday. Millwall who are looking forward to promotion are another club who saw something promising in one of our young lads 😁. A huge failure of ours with young players and who will be next to shine in different colours?

[Omegstrat6]

Morning Omeg and hope the weekend was good!
We all see things differently which is the beauty about football. For example many will not have sentiments about Wallace due to wage, injuries and legs and will want him gone. Many will not care and want him to stay.

I have said Morrison is doing a good job but still sideways passing and loads of passing back to the keeper. That?s been there since CC and Abella would be in on that. We need to remember Morrison, Abella and Myhill were part of the problem under three coaches and their input was huge and still there.

I along with many others yesterday was disappointed with no fresh legs considering Wrexham 3 days earlier and internationals. Price was awful and on his last legs so of course Bostock would have been no worse and added needy pace. Could Sule have been any worse than Dike who is slow and barely touched the ball? No! Not a fan of Mowatt but again he?s not played in two games so fresh legs. We were that bad! CC was criticised for changing players when we were winning and he said fresh legs were needed. Why not yesterday when the game was there for the taking?

I think Morrison is doing a good job but don?t honestly feel much will change under these three next season if they stay! That is my view and again the style of sideways and backwards football is not down to the quality of players but on what they are coached.

Looking forward to seeing an excellent youngster in Taylor arriving Friday. Millwall who are looking forward to promotion are another club who saw something promising in one of our young lads 😁. A huge failure of ours with young players and who will be next to shine in different colours?

Hi Al, hope you are good and that you had an enjoyable day out yesterday despite the relatively poor performance.

I do take your point about the need for fresh legs in yesterday's game as this was apparent even from listening to the commentary but just feel that Morrison erred on the side of caution given that this was a game we could not afford to lose.

Too many of our players may have been too sloppy with their passes and deliveries but I get the feeling that Morrison still trusted them to run back, make the needed blocks and dig in when needed to prevent a loss. I'm sure that that's why he chose to keep them on the pitch rather than bring on Mowatt or some of our youngsters. Had we been winning and more comfortable in the game, it's likely that Bostock and Sule, for example, may have been given their chances. Whilst they have the pace and potential I would have been concerned, however, that their lack of Championship experience might have cost us had they been introduced in the game as it was.

Anyhow, let's hope for a much better performance at home on Friday. It will need to be against Millwall!

(Btw, the impressive number of travelling Baggies fans yesterday certainly made themselves known judging from what I heard during the commentary !)

[baggieal]

Hi Al, hope you are good and that you had an enjoyable day out yesterday despite the relatively poor performance.

I do take your point about the need for fresh legs in yesterday's game as this was apparent even from listening to the commentary but just feel that Morrison erred on the side of caution given that this was a game we could not afford to lose.

Too many of our players may have been too sloppy with their passes and deliveries but I get the feeling that Morrison still trusted them to run back, make the needed blocks and dig in when needed to prevent a loss. I'm sure that that's why he chose to keep them on the pitch rather than bring on Mowatt or some of our youngsters. Had we been winning and more comfortable in the game, it's likely that Bostock and Sule, for example, may have been given their chances. Whilst they have the pace and potential I would have been concerned, however, that their lack of Championship experience might have cost us had they been introduced in the game as it was.

Anyhow, let's hope for a much better performance at home on Friday. It will need to be against Millwall!

(Btw, the impressive number of travelling Baggies fans yesterday certainly made themselves known judging from what I heard during the commentary !)

Was a great day out regardless and hopefully we will beat Millwall but a hard game. One player we are 100% missing in my view is our best asset - Mikey! Any news on when he may come back?

[Omegstrat6]

Was a great day out regardless and hopefully we will beat Millwall but a hard game. One player we are 100% missing in my view is our best asset - Mikey! Any news on when he may come back?

We sadly won't be seeing Mikey this season Al. According to some reports I've read he will be out for between 4-6 months following surgery for the ankle injury he picked up against Oxford. Given how Morrison has turned around the players he does have at his disposal we can only guess at how much better still we would have been in these last few games if we had had Mikey as well.

Hopefully at least Grant will be back soon. I know he doesn't get us very many goals but we miss the work rate and energy he can bring. I agree that Bostock has potential but having a fit Grant -and Wallace- will certainly increase the number of attacking options available and boost our chances of taking more points from the remaining games.

[stargazer_1962]

In less than 4 weeks the season (for us) will be over, that is a short tiime indeed.

[WBA123]

I think your assessment of Morrison is a bit harsh Al. After Oxford game I thought we were down, I couldn't see us winning another game.

He has changed it for the better and we've taken 10 points from 6 games and are unbeaten since then.

I'd also argue that there was no one on the bench that could be brought on to improve us. And that a point was a good result given the other fixtures.

So yes - there is a lack of quality in the squad...but that ain't Morrisons doing. And if he keeps us up this season, he's done his job.