He’s gone

I respect all opinions but for Barnsley fans to say that Ismael was a success at West Brom, in my humble opinion, is not correct.. Yes, we had a good start but even as early as the Peterborough away game, when we won 1-0 with a last minute goal, the signs were there. They had sussed us out and we didn't deserve the win. From then on we knew how sides were going to play against us but continued with the same dire style. We, as fans, worked out that we had been found out, so why couldn't he and alter the system? No, he just stuck to the same tactics with the same results. In the end I couldn't see any recognisable system to our play, except hoof it upfield and hope for the best.

His success at Barnsley, again in my opinion, was in no little way due to the fact that with five substitutes, five players out of ten outfield players could run themselves into the ground and then be replaced. They also had a striker in Dike who knew where the back of the net was. All credit to Ismael for his success but it just wouldn't work with the type of player we have. His downfall was that he couldn't or wouldn't accept this fact.

You were doing alright in the PL under Pullis but that wasn't good enough because you weren't playing like the 1970 Brazil team .

You got him out and were relegated the season after .

That worked well didn't it ? .

It's laughable you get rid of Val because of his style of football and then hire hmmm Steve Bruce !!!!!!

Paid us £2m for Val , bring Mowatt in and then pay another £8m for Dike and then get shut of Val .

So that's £10m plus and wages plus Mowatt's signing on fee plus wages only to sack him after 6 months .

It makes no sense .

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Originally Posted by Leicesterbaggie

I respect all opinions but for Barnsley fans to say that Ismael was a success at West Brom, in my humble opinion, is not correct.. Yes, we had a good start but even as early as the Peterborough away game, when we won 1-0 with a last minute goal, the signs were there. They had sussed us out and we didn't deserve the win. From then on we knew how sides were going to play against us but continued with the same dire style. We, as fans, worked out that we had been found out, so why couldn't he and alter the system? No, he just stuck to the same tactics with the same results. In the end I couldn't see any recognisable system to our play, except hoof it upfield and hope for the best.

His success at Barnsley, again in my opinion, was in no little way due to the fact that with five substitutes, five players out of ten outfield players could run themselves into the ground and then be replaced. They also had a striker in Dike who knew where the back of the net was. All credit to Ismael for his success but it just wouldn't work with the type of player we have. His downfall was that he couldn't or wouldn't accept this fact.

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You never gave him time .

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Originally Posted by animallittle3

You were doing alright in the PL under Pullis but that wasn't good enough because you weren't playing like the 1970 Brazil team .

You got him out and were relegated the season after .

That worked well didn't it ? .

It's laughable you get rid of Val because of his style of football and then hire hmmm Steve Bruce !!!!!!

Paid us £2m for Val , bring Mowatt in and then pay another £8m for Dike and then get shut of Val .

So that's £10m plus and wages plus Mowatt's signing on fee plus wages only to sack him after 6 months .

It makes no sense .

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We lost last night ( I was there ). Why do you think the thousands of travelling support applauded the players off at the end? Because for the first time in 3 months we tried to play football! The points are important but being entertained is priority!

Had we kept Val we probably would have been fighting relegation judging by last ten games and lost 10,000 supporters plus more player fall outs with him.

Don’t expect promotion but I do expect to play football like QPR, Blackburn and Forest. Do they have better squads than us? No!

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Originally Posted by baggieal

Very accurate summary Matt and couldn’t agree more. Bruce and the players were applauded off last night as despite 10 men - they tried to play football and gave 100%. Result was not as priority as trying to play again!

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Because you got your wish with VI you would have clapped toffee

The bare minimum for any football club is effort and desire - has this been lacking ? (I dont know as I dont watch you). You've actually highlighted my point of 'only win in 3 in 13' - you only won 5 in 38 last season!!

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Originally Posted by animallittle3

You were doing alright in the PL under Pullis but that wasn't good enough because you weren't playing like the 1970 Brazil team .

You got him out and were relegated the season after .

That worked well didn't it ? .

It's laughable you get rid of Val because of his style of football and then hire hmmm Steve Bruce !!!!!!

Paid us £2m for Val , bring Mowatt in and then pay another £8m for Dike and then get shut of Val .

So that's £10m plus and wages plus Mowatt's signing on fee plus wages only to sack him after 6 months .

It makes no sense .

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The Pulis era was one of the darkest in our recent history, IMO. I'm sure most outside our club will disagree but they didn't experience it. When you turn up week in week out to see a side setup at home with 10 men behind the ball with the aim of knicking a goal off a set piece, it's not entertainment. It's not really the football we all fell in love with. We were on the slide with him anyway as sides had figured out how to combat his style, which is exactly why he hasn't done well since he was sacked by us.

Val-ball wasn't as bad as Pulis to be fair. But he just couldn't figure out how to get us breaking down sides that park against us. We saw no change each week. He's highly effective at keeping it tight and would no doubt be good for a club with low expectations but he didn't have a clue how to break sides down. He was as found out as Pulis was. If he'd have had a more tactical brain and tried new things, we would probably all still be on board with the project, regardless of the results.

You realise we still have Mowatt and Dike for the next manager? And the one after that...?

Why do you think players fall out with him? Wet nursed prima donna's perhaps?

Like I said , if you lose the next 5 playing 'the west brom way' let's see how many applaud them off the park.

You would be nowhere near relegation - if it was such a demotivation playing for him, then how come, with the shackels off you still fluffed your lines?!

Funny, because he is a disciplinarian and without that we have gone to sh!te this season!

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Originally Posted by baggiematt

The Pulis era was one of the darkest in our recent history, IMO. I'm sure most outside our club will disagree but they didn't experience it. When you turn up week in week out to see a side setup at home with 10 men behind the ball with the aim of knicking a goal off a set piece, it's not entertainment. It's not really the football we all fell in love with. We were on the slide with him anyway as sides had figured out how to combat his style, which is exactly why he hasn't done well since he was sacked by us.

Val-ball wasn't as bad as Pulis to be fair. But he just couldn't figure out how to get us breaking down sides that park against us. We saw no change each week. He's highly effective at keeping it tight and would no doubt be good for a club with low expectations but he didn't have a clue how to break sides down. He was as found out as Pulis was. If he'd have had a more tactical brain and tried new things, we would probably all still be on board with the project, regardless of the results.

You realise we still have Mowatt and Dike for the next manager? And the one after that...?

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Totally agree Matt but you have to say - Pulis was the manager when we were in the premier where Val was the manager in a very weak championship. Makes a huge difference and certainly not excusing Pulis but you would expect to lose against many premier teams but not have relegation form in the last 8 championship matches.

What are your expectations though? This is my point. You want to play great football? Dont we all. Would you take great football but ending up in League 1, 2?
You're a competitive Championship team, if you played fast flowing football against the best , you would get absolutely caned every week-as you did last season

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Originally Posted by renno

Why do you think players fall out with him? Wet nursed prima donna's perhaps?

Like I said , if you lose the next 5 playing 'the west brom way' let's see how many applaud them off the park.

You would be nowhere near relegation - if it was such a demotivation playing for him, then how come, with the shackels off you still fluffed your lines?!

Funny, because he is a disciplinarian and without that we have gone to sh!te this season!

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Hugill was not a prima donna but was s hite and looked unhappy in Val's set up but a different player for Cardiff!

Your not getting the point Renno!!!! Was I that bothered spending £200 quid going last night and losing? Not happy but very HAPPY that for the first time in months the football was on the ground and the players despite having ten men gave 100%

You don't go to the cinema to be bored s hitless do you so why should football games be any different. Are QPR, Blackburn, Forest and Luton playing Valball and boring their supporters? No and their squads are no better than ours! Answer the question?