Reality check.

[baggieal]

As Albion fans I think that we need a reality check. In our performances this season we have played well against Bournemouth, Sheff. Utd. and Cardiff. In the rest of the games we have been bang average. The style of football is not pleasing on the eye but we must have known what to expect when we appointed Ismael. Having said this, I did expect us to be performing at a higher level than we are. I think that we are fortunate to be where we are in the table considering some of our performances. After a dozen or so matches I can't see us finishing above Fulham or Bournemouth and it will be play offs at best. I have to admit to being more optimistic than this at the start.

Curtis Davies made a very good point last night on TV when he said that Ismael's success at Barnsley came when five and not three substitutes were allowed. This meant that nearly half of the side could be substituted and that his high intensity style could continue for ninety minutes.

We are always going to be vulnerable at the back due to the high line that we play and we need to play in a more considered manner. There are more problems I admit but if he persists in bringing Hugill on for the final thirty minutes it will be a disaster. He brings nothing to the side. I agree concerning HRK. If he was bringing him on, at least he was capable of holding the ball up and bringing others into play. Hugill doesn't do this.

I realise that this is a somewhat pesemistic post but this is the reality of the situation. Hope that I am proved wrong.

It would be easy to see Leicester why we won't finish above Fulham or Bournemouth when you look at the riches/investment in their squads!!! Where is our Mitrovic? No one close since Gayle left and that's one player!

Why did you expect us to perform in a higher level than we have when we are third - Bartley, Ajayi, Phillips, Robinson, Livermore, Hugill and very average championship players at best! Grant and Diangana at 32 million a pop turn up sometimes but not frequently! Not one player including Johnstone in my eyes is Premier class! We sold our only class player ( Pereira ) and zero was invested!

Mowatt is our best player and where did he come from! Don't get why your expectations of these players are a higher level! My expectation mirrors the quality of the players - top six at best!! Don't forget this too is the weakest championship for years!

You reap what you sow in life! Brentford are where they are because of a passionate owner who invests - fantastic recruitment and a new up to-date Stadium! Compared to Brentford we are in decline!! Do you honestly think we would give Brentford a match now?
I don't!!

Don't get me wrong Val is not perfect but nobody better would come to us unless deluded! I hated Dowling but he was never replaced even and a fat chinese chap called Ken is now calling the shots and Lai's puppet!

Whilst I hated Dowling - I bet it's a life changing act to get out of a business/club that's rotten to the core!

Sadly, I have accepted what we have become under Lai! Shame others don't and still expect automatic promotion with a rag tag team! What if we do get promoted? Do you honestly think we would do any better than last season with Pereira, Okay, Gallagher, Diange to name but a few!

Some mention Snodgrass - the guy sadly is a relic now and soon will be out for another 3 months! As our expectations sunk to the bottom of the ocean with people shouting for Snodgrass FFS! Why not ask Lee Hughes to polish his boots as he's still around!

[stripes39]

It would be easy to see Leicester why we won't finish above Fulham or Bournemouth when you look at the riches/investment in their squads!!! Where is our Mitrovic? No one close since Gayle left and that's one player!

Why did you expect us to perform in a higher level than we have when we are third - Bartley, Ajayi, Phillips, Robinson, Livermore, Hugill and very average championship players at best! Grant and Diangana at 32 million a pop turn up sometimes but not frequently! Not one player including Johnstone in my eyes is Premier class! We sold our only class player ( Pereira ) and zero was invested!

Mowatt is our best player and where did he come from! Don't get why your expectations of these players are a higher level! My expectation mirrors the quality of the players - top six at best!! Don't forget this too is the weakest championship for years!

You reap what you sow in life! Brentford are where they are because of a passionate owner who invests - fantastic recruitment and a new up to-date Stadium! Compared to Brentford we are in decline!! Do you honestly think we would give Brentford a match now?
I don't!!

Don't get me wrong Val is not perfect but nobody better would come to us unless deluded! I hated Dowling but he was never replaced even and a fat chinese chap called Ken is now calling the shots and Lai's puppet!

Whilst I hated Dowling - I bet it's a life changing act to get out of a business/club that's rotten to the core!

Sadly, I have accepted what we have become under Lai! Shame others don't and still expect automatic promotion with a rag tag team! What if we do get promoted? Do you honestly think we would do any better than last season with Pereira, Okay, Gallagher, Diange to name but a few!

Some mention Snodgrass - the guy sadly is a relic now and soon will be out for another 3 months! As our expectations sunk to the bottom of the ocean with people shouting for Snodgrass FFS! Why not ask Lee Hughes to polish his boots as he's still around!

Al, In the unlikely event we did go up via the play-off's, we will be just like Norwich and be stuck at the bottom only we won't be as competitive. The only difference is that the Norwich owners seem to care for the club and actually support it so I'd imagine they do have a plan. Lai's only plan is to claw back the inflated sum he paid for the club. The bigger picture for us is quite scary as a club as had Lai chosen to make fairly modest investment then a couple of players could have made a huge difference in a weak league.