Everything Shocking Bilic

[baggieal]

Team selection - subs yet again so you really do need to look in the mirror as really starting to have doubts over you!! West Ham supporters always said he had no plan B and since the lock down - that’s been true with us!

Grosicki is decent - why is he off?
Why wait until now to come to the conclusion Austin and Zohore are not good enough? That was evident in the championship!!

What’s the point of bringing in new players to sit on the bench?

PS - after another shocker Dowling will probably up the transfer fee for Grant by another 100K
What does Sawyers do to be first on the team sheet?

[mickd1961]

His bubble burst well before the end of last season in reality.

I like him as a bloke and his character but his management in recent months has been awful.

I’m sad to say this but for me he needs to be replaced.

We need a manager of experience who can meld a competent defence with our attacking players and someone who can bring us up again next season.

Maybe a boring choice to many but I think Hughton has to be considered and yes.....I’m going to say it......Nigel Pearson.

Pearson wouldn’t take the b o l l o x from Lai and Dowling so at least it’d be interesting.

I think Bilic’s time is just about up.

[WBA123]

His bubble burst well before the end of last season in reality.

I like him as a bloke and his character but his management in recent months has been awful.

I’m sad to say this but for me he needs to be replaced.

We need a manager of experience who can meld a competent defence with our attacking players and someone who can bring us up again next season.

Maybe a boring choice to many but I think Hughton has to be considered and yes.....I’m going to say it......Nigel Pearson.

Pearson wouldn’t take the b o l l o x from Lai and Dowling so at least it’d be interesting.

I think Bilic’s time is just about up.

I don't agree with you, I'm still behind him.

We've had some shaky moments this season, but we are still yet to play or even know our best 11.

And the transfer window is still open, which we are working towards what Bilic wants in line with our budget. To sack him 4 games into the season would be very premature.

We were poor yesterday, and I think Bilic has made mistakes with team selection. But he got us promoted last season and deserves a good period of time in the prem to find our best XI and get some points on the board.

He's also had his hands tied with the budget available, which is far lower than had been agreed in the event of promotion because of Coronavirus.

Yesterday was frustrating, we're going to have plenty of days like that this season. And if we finish 17th or above, he'll be a miracle worker. I can't see any other viable manager out there who I'd rather have, including Hughton or Pearson.

[billsbest]

I don't agree with you, I'm still behind him.

We've had some shaky moments this season, but we are still yet to play or even know our best 11.

And the transfer window is still open, which we are working towards what Bilic wants in line with our budget. To sack him 4 games into the season would be very premature.

We were poor yesterday, and I think Bilic has made mistakes with team selection. But he got us promoted last season and deserves a good period of time in the prem to find our best XI and get some points on the board.

He's also had his hands tied with the budget available, which is far lower than had been agreed in the event of promotion because of Coronavirus.

Yesterday was frustrating, we're going to have plenty of days like that this season. And if we finish 17th or above, he'll be a miracle worker. I can't see any other viable manager out there who I'd rather have, including Hughton or Pearson.

Agree with everything you say. On a positive note, despite a tough start to the season we aren't in the bottom 3!! I am hoping to see us play this team in the near future.
Johnston, Furlong, Ivanovic, Hegazi, Gibbs, Field, Gallagher, Diangana, Pereira, Krovinovic, New CF.

[WBA123]

Agree with everything you say. On a positive note, despite a tough start to the season we aren't in the bottom 3!! I am hoping to see us play this team in the near future.
Johnston, Furlong, Ivanovic, Hegazi, Gibbs, Field, Gallagher, Diangana, Pereira, Krovinovic, New CF.

I would swap Hegazi for Ajayi, and maybe Livermore for Krov (dependent on opposition) otherwise that would be my team too

[baggieal]

I would swap Hegazi for Ajayi, and maybe Livermore for Krov (dependent on opposition) otherwise that would be my team too

Prefer Hegazi to Ajayi as often Ajayi is left flat footed! Prefer Krov overall to Livermore as he can provide the creativity but when/if Livermore turns up - he would give more steel! Too often though Livermore goes missing. If Livermore was half as good as Mulumbu in his prime we would be laughing but sadly that's not the case!

[stripes39]

I don't agree with you, I'm still behind him.

We've had some shaky moments this season, but we are still yet to play or even know our best 11.

And the transfer window is still open, which we are working towards what Bilic wants in line with our budget. To sack him 4 games into the season would be very premature.

We were poor yesterday, and I think Bilic has made mistakes with team selection. But he got us promoted last season and deserves a good period of time in the prem to find our best XI and get some points on the board.

He's also had his hands tied with the budget available, which is far lower than had been agreed in the event of promotion because of Coronavirus.

Yesterday was frustrating, we're going to have plenty of days like that this season. And if we finish 17th or above, he'll be a miracle worker. I can't see any other viable manager out there who I'd rather have, including Hughton or Pearson.

Agree. I don't think Hughton or Pearson would make much difference as we are badly lacking in quality in certain areas. We simply aren't good enough. I also think that the economics dictate that Lai will persevere with Billic as he won't want any extra outlay hiring and firing.

Every club has had to contend with the effects of Covid so in that respect it's a level playing field. I would imagine that if we don't bring the right players in during the window then that's down to Lai looking to recoup losses fully aware of the consequences. I do wonder if Billic is making a point playing certain players that are clearly more suited to the Championship but maybe its just me.

[baggieal]

I don't agree with you, I'm still behind him.

We've had some shaky moments this season, but we are still yet to play or even know our best 11.

And the transfer window is still open, which we are working towards what Bilic wants in line with our budget. To sack him 4 games into the season would be very premature.

We were poor yesterday, and I think Bilic has made mistakes with team selection. But he got us promoted last season and deserves a good period of time in the prem to find our best XI and get some points on the board.

He's also had his hands tied with the budget available, which is far lower than had been agreed in the event of promotion because of Coronavirus.

Yesterday was frustrating, we're going to have plenty of days like that this season. And if we finish 17th or above, he'll be a miracle worker. I can't see any other viable manager out there who I'd rather have, including Hughton or Pearson.

Strange post! You say Bilic has made mistakes with team selection but hey we all make mistakes but the best individual learns from them. On another thread you say Sawyers is poor and our midfield totally over run to which I agree. But our midfield has consistently been poor since the Blues match coming out of lockdown. What has Bilic done? Why does Bilic persist with Sawyers? You say we are only four games in - why has Bilic given up on Austin, Zohore and Grosicki now - should this not been the case at the end of last season?

You mention our budget. Leeds have an owner who is worth a fraction of Lai and to their credit they have invested well. We haven’t we? Bielsa is a top manager who knew where the weaknesses were in his side and addressed them! Field and Edwards in my opinion are not good enough for the Premier league and did not light any fires in the championship! Grosicki in my book looked more promising than Edwards who blows hot and cold. Subs or the poor use of them is a major issue - why does Bilic persist in taking off the better players and bringing on inferior ones? Kanu is never a Premier player in a month of Sunday’s which was why Reading released him.

I wouldn’t sack Bilic but he has done nothing for my confidence and does not appear to have a plan B. Will the new replacements sit on the bench against Burnley until it’s too late - I would expect they will!!

Look at the current Leeds side compared with ours - well balanced - full of energy and each player in all four matches has run his socks off. I hate to say it but it’s true and Rodrigo up front looked a proper striker which we lack! How long has it been obvious we lack a striker whose been ruthless since Gayle left? Everyone sees this but four games in - we are still addressing this!!

Villa will do well this year as they have added Watkins who is class and Barkley. In life you reap what you sow and this is why a striker is not the only issue - there are many positions that need addressing and yes I agree with you midfield is the absolute priority. I can’t see Bilic dropping Sawyers though. Why!

[WBA123]

Strange post! You say Bilic has made mistakes with team selection but hey we all make mistakes but the best individual learns from them. On another thread you say Sawyers is poor and our midfield totally over run to which I agree. But our midfield has consistently been poor since the Blues match coming out of lockdown. What has Bilic done? Why does Bilic persist with Sawyers? You say we are only four games in - why has Bilic given up on Austin, Zohore and Grosicki now - should this not been the case at the end of last season?

You mention our budget. Leeds have an owner who is worth a fraction of Lai and to their credit they have invested well. We haven’t we? Bielsa is a top manager who knew where the weaknesses were in his side and addressed them! Field and Edwards in my opinion are not good enough for the Premier league and did not light any fires in the championship! Grosicki in my book looked more promising than Edwards who blows hot and cold. Subs or the poor use of them is a major issue - why does Bilic persist in taking off the better players and bringing on inferior ones? Kanu is never a Premier player in a month of Sunday’s which was why Reading released him.

I wouldn’t sack Bilic but he has done nothing for my confidence and does not appear to have a plan B. Will the new replacements sit on the bench against Burnley until it’s too late - I would expect they will!!

Look at the current Leeds side compared with ours - well balanced - full of energy and each player in all four matches has run his socks off. I hate to say it but it’s true and Rodrigo up front looked a proper striker which we lack! How long has it been obvious we lack a striker whose been ruthless since Gayle left? Everyone sees this but four games in - we are still addressing this!!

Villa will do well this year as they have added Watkins who is class and Barkley. In life you reap what you sow and this is why a striker is not the only issue - there are many positions that need addressing and yes I agree with you midfield is the absolute priority. I can’t see Bilic dropping Sawyers though. Why!

Here are some answers from my perspective to some of your questions.

What has Bilic done?
Signed a box to box midfielder for the season in Gallagher
Resigned Krov
Publicly stated Field is a part of his plans this season
Changed formation for the last game

Why does he persist with Sawyers?
Perhaps showing some loyalty, given he played most games last season and helped us win promotion

Why has he given up on Austin, Zohore, Grosicki now?
Presumably because its easier to move them all on at the end of the transfer window? Forest/Derby/Wednesday all had poor starts to the season and are desperate for attacking players - much like we were last season

The budget
Can't blame Bilic for that one. Can't even blame Dowling. Agree I'd want us to be able to afford priority signings like Grant but we are where we are. Unless someone comes in and splashes the cash, we will never be able to financially compete with majority of other premier teams.

Field and Edwards
In my opinion, Field could be good enough for the premiership if played in his right position. Although I think Edwards needs to be out on loan this season.

Bilic has no plan B
This season (only 4 games in) team selection and formation has been baffling. But last season, he won us a lot of points with his substitutions. I also think pre lockdown, he got the team spot on mostly. The lockdown really stifled us for some reason and affected our fluency in the final few games

And finally, and it will be interesting to see if this happens, I can see him dropping Sawyers. I think Bilic does have a ruthless streak in him. We'll see what happens in the next few games.

[kettering_baggie]

We can moan as much as we like about Bilic and Downing but where is the criticism of the chinaman that took over from Jenkins? Even he, though, I suppose is just another Lai lapdog. Until we are rid of that Chinese **** there will be no joy at WBA.

FOL