MATCHWATCH : West Bromwich Albion (a)

[Stranded]

Thought we were more than fine after the first 15 min onslaught where Lumley pretty much earned himself a contract if he wants he - truly excellent - the one handed save back on himself was top class.

We grew into the game in the first half and whilst you can't blame him for shooting, if Hoilett had squared to Carroll we may well have gone in with a lead. Second half was even and we were undone by one good strikers run to meet a decent cross, and as said if the header in the last 5 falls to a striker, or Joao looked more like the Joao we got used to, we may have snuck a draw.

Still 13th and just 3pts behind the play-offs and 10 ahead on the bottom 3 going into two winnable games is not a bad place - if we can take 4pts from those then things really look up.

[RoyalBlue]

Thought we were more than fine after the first 15 min onslaught where Lumley pretty much earned himself a contract if he wants he - truly excellent - the one handed save back on himself was top class.

We grew into the game in the first half and whilst you can't blame him for shooting, if Hoilett had squared to Carroll we may well have gone in with a lead. Second half was even and we were undone by one good strikers run to meet a decent cross, and as said if the header in the last 5 falls to a striker, or Joao looked more like the Joao we got used to, we may have snuck a draw.

I thought Joao did look more like his old self. Twice displayed very good feet to manoeuvre himself into good positions to shoot but his shots were blocked/deflected. Also won a freekick on the edge of the area.

Mick Gooding made a very valid point after the game: Joao will score if we create the opportunities for him but our current team is desperately short of that creativity and creates relatively little.

IMO we really need Ejaria to get his head in the right place, return fit and be used in the sort of role and position he is best suited to.

[RoyalBlue]

It annoyed me at one point when the Sky commentator said we were 'very fortunate' not to be behind.

It is not 'fortune' to have a good keeper, on top of his game, making some great saves. To suggest it was, was to do a massive discredit to Lumley.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Thought we were more than fine after the first 15 min onslaught where Lumley pretty much earned himself a contract if he wants he - truly excellent - the one handed save back on himself was top class.

We grew into the game in the first half and whilst you can't blame him for shooting, if Hoilett had squared to Carroll we may well have gone in with a lead. Second half was even and we were undone by one good strikers run to meet a decent cross, and as said if the header in the last 5 falls to a striker, or Joao looked more like the Joao we got used to, we may have snuck a draw.

IMO we really need Ejaria to get his head in the right place, return fit and be used in the sort of role and position he is best suited to.

I think the issue is, where is that position exactly? Some people believe it's a LW, I believe it's in a CM role, possibly an AM role, whereas really, I don't think anybody really knows.

I think with both Ejaria and Joao in the side, we could change our game to play on the floor a little bit more and get some quality into them that way but, this season especially, it's very much hit or miss as to if it will work or not.

I think we honestly lack someone capable of getting their foot on the ball and playing in a deeper area. Hendrick and Loum are more industrious rather than creative and don't really have that eye for a pass where they can play through the thirds, but rather "give it to the players who can create". Perfectly acceptable, that's their jobs, but we could probably do with someone in that position who can create from a deeper position.

Bowen used to have Swift playing slightly deeper during his time, getting on the ball and knocking it about into areas where we could attack. Little Lewis Fiorini at Blackpool (on loan from Man City) I thought was very good at doing this when we lost to them at Bloomfield Road. Always an option, not scared to get on the ball, could get on it and play etc.

[Hound]

We do lack creativity but on the other hand do look like scoring (mainly from set pieces) in every game. It’s a bit of a needs must at the moment - the side we have are capable of winning set pieces and putting them away, changing the balance of that won’t necessarily lead to scoring more and may be detrimental

Joao has been a bit unfortunate that he has fallen victim to us playing more direct which suits the other 3 strikers a lot better

[YorkshireRoyal99]

It annoyed me at one point when the Sky commentator said we were 'very fortunate' not to be behind.

It is not 'fortune' to have a good keeper, on top of his game, making some great saves. To suggest it was, was to do a massive discredit to Lumley.

Agree on this point as well.

I don't especially like it when fans comment after our game saying how poor we are. It's not poor to be a good defending side that is tough to beat if that's what our strengths are. We obviously can't be that poor at doing it if we sit comfortably in mid-table, a few points shy of the play offs and with 11 wins this season.

[morganb]

I think we honestly lack someone capable of getting their foot on the ball and playing in a deeper area.

Just wondering if there is anyone coming through our Academy that could step up into this role? Perhaps not this season but next.

[genome]

Danny Mills seemed like he had better things to do than report on the game for the whole 90 minutes. It was like he was being forced.