Everything Shocking Bilic

[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.

[SwedishBaggie]

Truth be told we have not played well since lockdown - we won three of our last nine games. I don’t know whether it’s just me but I don’t see the team busting their b***s for effort. Where is the hunger, desire, passion, energy...... for a team just promoted we should be up for it .... but `I simply don’’t see it. Worse still I don’t see where the change is coming from. Bilic yesterday gave the impression of someone who had just had his kn*****s done - as someone said it was as if he was waving the white flag after just 4 games.

The only players worth a definite starting berth in the next game are:

Johnstone, Gibbs, Livermore, Gallagher, Pereira and Diangana. Perm any five for the others... therein lies the problem .... no depth in quality...

Bang on, I wrote this on the match thread:

”It seems as they have already given up (saw it already in the second half vs Leicester).

Bilic comes across as crestfallen and despondent, clearly not knowing what to do.

Some players don’t put in a shift and seem quite happy afterwards even when losing - saw Bartley and Davenport smiling and chatting with opponents after the game - they should be fuming FFS. The pay check is probably enough to keep them happy...

Lai has of course not given up, he has never started caring about the club he owns!!! 😡”

[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

[saltnshake]

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

I'm totally convinced Lai is trying to sell the club all the decisions made since we gained promotion point to him trying to minimise the amount of money he will lose.

[baggieal]

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.

What has Bilic done?
Signed a box to box midfielder for the season in Gallagher - Seems very odd to me he was not in the plans for Sunday and Bilic did say
he wanted him to be fitter!

Resigned Krov - I really like Krov but wouldn't say this was anything to boost about! I would have boosted about Ollie Watkins though who is a different class


Publicly stated Field is a part of his plans this season

Changed formation for the last game - Good but exposed weaknesses perhaps even more!

Why does he persist with Sawyers?
Perhaps showing some loyalty, given he played most games last season and helped us win promotion - totally disagree as any manager should be ruthless if a staff member/player not doing it! Lets see if he has the balls to drop Sawyers against Burnley - I would donate a tenner to cancer research if Sawyers is dropped!

To be fair 123 - there were plenty of games since the lock down where selections/subs were baffling! Blackburn away re subs and oh my God - starting with Phillips against Huddersfield who had been shocking in almost every appearance since lock down! This season against Chelsea why did he not bring on Ivanovic to steady the defense especially as it was the last 10 minutes and he played 60 minutes against a good Brentford?

Under Pulis our defense was fantastic but the football mostly dour and parking the bus. Now we have weaknesses all over the park! I really like O'Shea but not ready for the Premier - Townsend is championship at best - like Edwards. Furlong was decent against Chelsea but dropped against Saints. I do think getting the midfield right ( dropping Sawyers and Livermore if ruthless ) as this is the engine room to supply goals to to protect those behind.

I like Bilic but not convinced by him and if Sawyers starts against Burnley and we lose - Bilic could be a dead man walking. I hope not for his sake and for the good of our club.

Rather than persist with Kanu who quite frankly is out of his depth, surely there must be other options too!

[WBA123]

What has Bilic done?
Signed a box to box midfielder for the season in Gallagher - Seems very odd to me he was not in the plans for Sunday and Bilic did say
he wanted him to be fitter!

Resigned Krov - I really like Krov but wouldn't say this was anything to boost about! I would have boosted about Ollie Watkins though who is a different class


Publicly stated Field is a part of his plans this season

Changed formation for the last game - Good but exposed weaknesses perhaps even more!

Why does he persist with Sawyers?
Perhaps showing some loyalty, given he played most games last season and helped us win promotion - totally disagree as any manager should be ruthless if a staff member/player not doing it! Lets see if he has the balls to drop Sawyers against Burnley - I would donate a tenner to cancer research if Sawyers is dropped!

To be fair 123 - there were plenty of games since the lock down where selections/subs were baffling! Blackburn away re subs and oh my God - starting with Phillips against Huddersfield who had been shocking in almost every appearance since lock down! This season against Chelsea why did he not bring in Ivanovic to steady the defense especially as it was 10 minutes and he played 60 minutes against a good Brentford?

Under Pulis our defense was fantastic but the football mostly dour and parking the bus. Now we have weaknesses all over the park! I really like O'Shea but not ready for the Premier - Townsend is championship at best - like Edwards. Furlong was decent against Chelsea but dropped against Saints. I do think getting the midfield right ( dropping Sawyers and Livermore if ruthless ) as this is the engine room to supply goals to to protect those behind.

I like Bilic but not convinced by him and if Sawyers starts against Burnley and we lose - Bilic could be a dead man walking. I hope not for his sake and for the good of our club.

Rather than persist with Kanu who quite frankly is out of his depth, surely there must be other options too!

I thought Gallagher was ill on Sunday, which is why he couldn't play?

[wbaliquidator]

Bilic will go , but he will probably walk himself
Lots of anger directed at Bilic but he’s been thrown under the bus by our board
£20/23M kitty is a Joke. He expected about £50M
He has persevered with Sawyers as I guess he thought he saw potential in him. But let’s face it who else can he play there. Gallagher was actually under the weather yesterday and Krov is not match fit and has been training alone. So you have field (who did come on) and Harper.
Remember these words of wisdom (paraphrased)
Bilic ( after the QPR Game) We Can’t do a Villa and spend £100M but we won’t do a Norwich and spend nothing … Somewhere in the middle
Jenkins ( After we lost out to villa in the playoffs) We made the mistake of preparing a team ready to play in the premiership when we should have assembled a team that could get us out of the championship in the first place. This was an excuse to sell any player who was or had premiership quality , Rodriguez, Dawson, Rondon and also totally discount Gayle coming back.
Bilic brief was to play attacking football, get the fans back. So don’t bother looking for quality defenders we won’t sanction it.
Jenkins jumped ship, job done for him but Bilic was left with what Jenkins wanted a decent Championship Team that go us promoted ( just).
But Phase 2 promised to Bilic has not been delivered ( unless my some miracle we have the 4 or 5 players needed having medicals)
No don’t get on his back, that’s what the board want, they need a scapegoat .

[mickd1961]

Why is Ivanovic on our books.

Is it some kind of SAGA related deal he’s on?

[baggieal]

Bilic will go , but he will probably walk himself
Lots of anger directed at Bilic but he’s been thrown under the bus by our board
£20/23M kitty is a Joke. He expected about £50M
He has persevered with Sawyers as I guess he thought he saw potential in him. But let’s face it who else can he play there. Gallagher was actually under the weather yesterday and Krov is not match fit and has been training alone. So you have field (who did come on) and Harper.
Remember these words of wisdom (paraphrased)
Bilic ( after the QPR Game) We Can’t do a Villa and spend £100M but we won’t do a Norwich and spend nothing … Somewhere in the middle
Jenkins ( After we lost out to villa in the playoffs) We made the mistake of preparing a team ready to play in the premiership when we should have assembled a team that could get us out of the championship in the first place. This was an excuse to sell any player who was or had premiership quality , Rodriguez, Dawson, Rondon and also totally discount Gayle coming back.
Bilic brief was to play attacking football, get the fans back. So don’t bother looking for quality defenders we won’t sanction it.
Jenkins jumped ship, job done for him but Bilic was left with what Jenkins wanted a decent Championship Team that go us promoted ( just).
But Phase 2 promised to Bilic has not been delivered ( unless my some miracle we have the 4 or 5 players needed having medicals)
No don’t get on his back, that’s what the board want, they need a scapegoat .

Don't disagree with most of what you are saying but Bilic picks the team albeit not much quality. Sawyers has been poor since the Blues game but never dropped. Why? I don't think he will be dropped for the Burnley game either!

Krov has been training but how fit does a player need to be? Ivanovic was fit enough for a very good Brentford side but not fit enough for two Premier games - does not make sense! Had Ivanovic come off the bench against Chelsea he could have used his vast experience at keeping Chelsea out. Field is not even an established championship player as he was in and out.

We scraped through to promotion with Brentford blowing it twice but have we really improved? Yes Periera and Diangana are our players but on the other hand they were still part of our championship squad.

Bilic will carry the can but other managers may have been stronger with demands!!! How long have the majority been screaming for a Gayle type replacement? Perhaps Bilic should call the Board's bluff - the need for two quality strikers or I will be looking elsewhere!

I do agree with you Jenkins saw this coming and happily retired. I bet he had a whacking bonus for promotion and in his heart knew we would struggle like hell!

What you reap is what you sow every time - can't see Leeds or Villa struggling as they have plugged their weaknesses and signed some quality players. In fact as much as I hate to say it - Villa and Leeds players have worked their socks off and played some great football!

Did our players work their socks off against a very average Saints? Why not? What other motivation do they need by being in the Premier League - must be nice on 50K a week and not even having to trot on the team bus at the weekend!