England

[Bombers right foot]

For the first time in years I’m watching an England game, got to 60 mins and turned off, if this is the cream of English football we are in trouble, sideways, backwards, rinse repeat, trying to walk the ball in, totally boring, this modern way of playing is awful,

[baggieal]

For the first time in years I’m watching an England game, got to 60 mins and turned off, if this is the cream of English football we are in trouble, sideways, backwards, rinse repeat, trying to walk the ball in, totally boring, this modern way of playing is awful,

Started watching it and just woken up! Two chaps on Place in the Sun looking for their dream home is more entertaining!

[Dubbag]

For the first time in years I’m watching an England game, got to 60 mins and turned off, if this is the cream of English football we are in trouble, sideways, backwards, rinse repeat, trying to walk the ball in, totally boring, this modern way of playing is awful,

It's incredible really, just how many sports are pursuing this course of action. It seems like an attempt to be rid of paying customers through the turnstiles, or whatever you go through nowadays to watch a game. I can't honestly say when I last watched a full game...actually I think I can...precovid.

[mickd1961]

I watched for five minutes and gave up after watching Grealish constantly playing the ball backwards and sideways.

Laurie and Willie were what wingers were supposed to be.

Utter rubbish, Carsley is NOT the man, I’d rather Postecoglu got the job.

F u c k I n g ATTACK!!!!!

[Bombers right foot]

I wonder when this fixation with boring possession football will end, it’s ruining the spectacle of football.
I remember the anticipation, the pre match nerves, the excitement, the highs and lows of a game, walking from the ground talking about the game, all virtually gone now, the football served up now is monotonous, there was a time not so long ago I couldn’t wait for the next Albion match now sadly it’s all changed, Oxford on Saturday will be no different to any other game more backwards, sideways slow pedestrian garbage, waiting for someone to please take a shot, oh for the halcyon days of Willie, Laurie and Tony Brown

[Omegstrat6]

I wonder when this fixation with boring possession football will end, itÂ’s ruining the spectacle of football.
I remember the anticipation, the pre match nerves, the excitement, the highs and lows of a game, walking from the ground talking about the game, all virtually gone now, the football served up now is monotonous, there was a time not so long ago I couldnÂ’t wait for the next Albion match now sadly itÂ’s all changed, Oxford on Saturday will be no different to any other game more backwards, sideways slow pedestrian garbage, waiting for someone to please take a shot, oh for the halcyon days of Willie, Laurie and Tony Brown

Quite agree with you Bomber! Sometimes I think that I'm remembering games from the 70s, for example, through very rose-tinted glasses but then I watch some clips of such games on you tube and I'm quite quickly dis-avowed of this-far more entertaining with direct play, grit, crunching tackles and gifted players who could actually run with the ball -all played on mud bogged and sometimes snow covered pitches. Also an era that allowed more flamboyant characters in the game of course. Not many of them today are there?

No doubting that stadiums and pitches are now far better and that the players themselves are much fitter and better looked after- which is a good thing -but I sometimes think that modern players are also too much like expensive and highly tuned sports cars-great in perfect conditions but they won't deal as well with speed bumps or the odd pot hole as well as your average family saloon. "Drink beer and smoke tabs" Sid on my old Viz t-shirt used to say. Definitely not PC and definitely not healthy-but maybe he had something? 🤔😁

[baggieal]

I wonder when this fixation with boring possession football will end, it’s ruining the spectacle of football.
I remember the anticipation, the pre match nerves, the excitement, the highs and lows of a game, walking from the ground talking about the game, all virtually gone now, the football served up now is monotonous, there was a time not so long ago I couldn’t wait for the next Albion match now sadly it’s all changed, Oxford on Saturday will be no different to any other game more backwards, sideways slow pedestrian garbage, waiting for someone to please take a shot, oh for the halcyon days of Willie, Laurie and Tony Brown

Is it not another Barcelona we are playing on Saturday? I am sure our Darnell will have the forwards more tightly marked than an SAS marksman 😂😂

[mickd1961]

I’ve just been watching our famous 3-5 win at Man Utd in 78, I’ve posted the link below.

Look at the quality of build up play, the sideways and backwards pass didn’t seem to exist.

Regis’s goal to make it 5-3 is for me, the greatest Albion goal of the past 52 years I’ve supported the club.

From Ally Rob winning the ball in the right back spot up until Regis burying it was 15 seconds on a less than perfect pitch with Laurie stopping to sport his pipe and slippers half way through his run.

It takes longer than 15 seconds these days for Bartley and Co to pass sideways and backwards to each other in our own half.

It might be a culture shock for opposition sides if we constantly tried passing forwards and actually beating a man.

I know, I know…..,stupid idea!

https://youtu.be/bdqre2b3inQ?si=qRTG2C6QPqmfqw7U

[Albionic68]

I watched for five minutes and gave up after watching Grealish constantly playing the ball backwards and sideways.

Laurie and Willie were what wingers were supposed to be.

Utter rubbish, Carsley is NOT the man, I’d rather Postecoglu got the job.

F u c k I n g ATTACK!!!!!

It's strange how people can watch the same game and see different things. I like to see attacking players on the ball in attacking areas of the pitch.

After about five minutes I said to my son 'has Grealish even touched the ball yet?' and he replied 'no dad, I don't think he has'.

Are you sure it was Grealish constantly playing the ball backwards and sideways for the first five minutes? Only ask as I'm pretty sure it wasn't.

[mickd1961]

It's strange how people can watch the same game and see different things. I like to see attacking players on the ball in attacking areas of the pitch.

After about five minutes I said to my son 'has Grealish even touched the ball yet?' and he replied 'no dad, I don't think he has'.

Are you sure it was Grealish constantly playing the ball backwards and sideways for the first five minutes? Only ask as I'm pretty sure it wasn't.

I said I watched for 5 minutes, I didn’t say it was the first 5 minutes 68.

It was after I’d seen on my phone that we’d gone 1-0 up do it was a few minutes after that for a few short minutes, it was 100% Grealish I was watching, I’m not quite that senile….,yet.