[Albion] Slowly, slowly catchy monkey

[sydney]

Lamptey's was a penalty but Maguire V Chelsea was not!!

The biggest problem with referring is consistency. No one would mind if they were at least consistent. We'd complain for a bit but at least we would understand.

One good thing about Optus Sport over here in Aus is that Dermot Gallagher explains the decisions and the process (as best he can). It is very interesting listening to him and often you can see where the refs were coming from at least.

I think it would be a brilliant idea for them to come out and explain their decisions after a game.

me too.

 

[Berty23]

I think there’s a separate thread for Ryan bashing

The odd thing is I am not sure he has even been at fault for any has he. We have just conceded with more than half the shots on target we have conceded. Off the top of my head. Three pens. Carved open twice by Everton, some headers from set plays and then reece James worldie. We have just been unlucky.

Let’s hope it all clicks on Monday and we give West Brom a battering.

 

[Superphil]

I guess the plan for this season is 16th or better. As the OP wrote, we have got better, but other teams have got betterer. Hopefully there are three teams that have not improved as much as us.

 

[Icy Gull]

The odd thing is I am not sure he has even been at fault for any has he. We have just conceded with more than half the shots on target we have conceded. Off the top of my head. Three pens. Carved open twice by Everton, some headers from set plays and then reece James worldie. We have just been unlucky.

Let’s hope it all clicks on Monday and we give West Brom a battering.

I was joking

 

[southstandandy]

Confident we'll be ok again this season although I still think we are only a couple of players short of a mid table team. Happy to tread water again this season in order for us to be in the Prem next season when hopefully the fans will be able to get back to the grounds.

Loving the football we're playing, although I'd prefer us to remember to shut the back door occasionally, as we don't want to become this season's Bournemouth.

16th is what I predicted this season and is what I'd be happy with to slowly build again for next year with hopefully those couple of additions plus another season of experience for our younger players. The future looks bright - we just have to be patient.

 

[bluenitsuj]

I said bottom 5 before the season started and will stick with that for now

 

[Shooting Star]

I think we, along with others, have got better. Some (Sheffield, Burnley, Newcastle) have got worse. I think what’s skewing the table at the moment is that the top 6 have all either stagnated or got worse.

 

[Stat Brother]

If only we had some kind of season long predictor thread on which we can gauge current performance.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Confident we'll be ok again this season although I still think we are only a couple of players short of a mid table team. Happy to tread water again this season in order for us to be in the Prem next season when hopefully the fans will be able to get back to the grounds.

Loving the football we're playing, although I'd prefer us to remember to shut the back door occasionally, as we don't want to become this season's Bournemouth.

16th is what I predicted this season and is what I'd be happy with to slowly build again for next year with hopefully those couple of additions plus another season of experience for our younger players. The future looks bright - we just have to be patient.

Isn’t this what the OP is getting at though? Yeah, we’re probably 2 players short of mid table mediocrity (which would be a lovely place to be), but every other team is only a couple of players away from making that next step. At the moment we’re hoping for WBA, Fulham and one of Burnley or Sheff Utd to stay rubbish, but then what? It seems like it’s incredibly difficult to make that step up from perennial relegation battlers to a comfortable mid table club.
I appreciate we’re only 5 games in, everything could look a little different tomorrow night.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I don’t get the panic yet. We battered palace and united and should have won both. Had we got the proper results the performance deserved - yes the shocking refereeing in both should be included with Maguire manhandling dunk, lamptey pen and obviously connelly changed on VAR. Then we would be sitting 9 points and a win tomorrow could send us 3rd. This is not “should have taken that chance” stuff, this is the assistant ref messed up. The “we should have taken that chance and beaten them” that I am not including was Chelsea. That was just one of those things.

After 5 games only Liverpool had taken more shots and no ones keeper had made fewer saves. We should be fine.

Just shoot Kevin ****ing friend And all will be good

 

[Berty23]

I was joking

Yeah I know. Sorry should have made that clearer. It is just very odd.

 

[ChickenBaltiPie]

it doesn't help when the refs let big name players get away with mugging opponents (Maguire and Pickford ) whereas little Tariq gets a penalty given against him for farting on Batshoohiyee.....refereeing is a joke this season , almost like its intentional.

my mojo will improve if we wipe the floor with west brom.

Oh boy! Did that fnck me off!!

 

[zefarelly]

Lamptey's was a penalty but Maguire V Chelsea was not!!

The biggest problem with referring is consistency. No one would mind if they were at least consistent. We'd complain for a bit but at least we would understand.

One good thing about Optus Sport over here in Aus is that Dermot Gallagher explains the decisions and the process (as best he can). It is very interesting listening to him and often you can see where the refs were coming from at least.

I think it would be a brilliant idea for them to come out and explain their decisions after a game.

It would be even better if they showed all the replays on the big screen and the officials justified/explained their decisions live.

How Maguire got away with another wrestling move yesterday is so incomprehensible you have to assume there is a bias, or the officials are cheating.

 

[Icy Gull]

It would be even better if they showed all the replays on the big screen and the officials justified/explained their decisions live.

How Maguire got away with another wrestling move yesterday is so incomprehensible you have to assume there is a bias, or the officials are cheating.

Yep, it is blatantly corrupt imo. I refuse to believe that qualified refs can be so bad that what happened yesterday with Maguire doesn’t warrant a penalty. I used to think it was incompetence but now I believe bias, whether it be big team or a particular club being favoured is what it’s about. Refs being biased humans and backing the team they prefer. Stinks as does the fact that they do not appear to be accountable and close ranks rather than being open about very clear and obvious errors not being picked up on.

 

[Seasidesage]

We've only played 5 games a sample way too small to know. But as an indication, who have we played who has been better than us? Everton and arguably Chelsea although that could've gone either way. All of the other games we could and should've won. On the basis of what we've seen so far mid table beckons.

 

[Surf's Up]

We have improved. No question. We are getting stronger and stronger and I LOVE the football we’re playing, BUT, have others improved ‘more?’ ...ensuring despite the obvious improvement we can all see, that we will once again more likely remain closer to the bottom than the top and more likely fighting for our survival rather than moving up the table closer to our aspiration of a top 10 spot.

Contrary to the results at Chelsea and Man U it was clear for all to see that we would do well against those outside the top six. The Newcastle result confirmed our hopes, but then Everton, who have clearly improved dramatically, the results/spending of Villa, Leeds and West Ham, and the usual, consistent strength of Leicester, Wolves and Southampton doesn’t leave a great deal of room for us, or does it?

THANKFULLY it ‘presently’ looks like Fulham and West Brom, as hoped/expected, and Sheffield Utd and Burnley despite recent strength might allow us a degree of comfort this year that we have not enjoyed in seasons past and I do not think Newcastle or the scum will enjoy such a comfortable end to the season this/next year either, subject to a change of manager...

So, where might we realistically end up finishing this season and will we improve? I think we will...but not by much, 14th I reckon. Any higher than that and I think we should be very pleased considering how little we have spent, and how well things are improving throughout the club in so many other areas.

It’s been a peculiar, unpredictable season of football thus far and it’s gonna be interesting that’s for sure. It’s a strange feeling, but although I do not think we’re going to be challenging much further up the table than we’re used to, I do not feel concerned about us going down and I’ll take that. That is improvement! (and unlike others, I reckon, once we get where we wanna be, we’ll stay there!)

In spite of their current league placings I wouldn't underestimate either Sheffield United or Burnley. Both have managers and players who are more than capable of pulling their teams well clear of the relegation zone. As you say we haven't competed financially this summer (with pretty much everyone). A lot rests on the extent to which Welbeck and Zeqiri can help Maupay score the goals our approach play merits. If this doesn't happen we've got a problem.

 

[dazzer6666]

Amongst all the bizarre VAR decisions, the Maguire one yesterday is the crowning turd in the water system. There can’t be any logical explanation (within the laws) for that not being a penalty when a ref looks at it from a decent angle - I can accept it being missed on-field as there is a lot to look at, but not in a replay. He shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a professional game again.

 

[Stat Brother]

We've only played 5 games a sample way too small to know. But as an indication, who have we played who has been better than us? Everton and arguably Chelsea although that could've gone either way. All of the other games we could and should've won. On the basis of what we've seen so far mid table beckons.

On that basis we're a decent goal scorer away from mid-table.



Hardly virgin territory, is it?

 

[rogersix]

Yep, it is blatantly corrupt imo. I refuse to believe that qualified refs can be so bad that what happened yesterday with Maguire doesn’t warrant a penalty. I used to think it was incompetence but now I believe bias, whether it be big team or a particular club being favoured is what it’s about. Refs being biased humans and backing the team they prefer. Stinks as does the fact that they do not appear to be accountable and close ranks rather than being open about very clear and obvious errors not being picked up on.

i've thought for years that it's fame, the refs basking in the reflected glory. the bigger the club, the bigger the player, are they the england captain?

 

[ChickenBaltiPie]

I don't see how you can come to any conclusions after 5 games.

You can draw conclusions before a ball has even been kicked should you wish to (and you have given us permission of course.) Making various observations and drawing certain conclusions at various states throughout the season is kinda the point, and why it is an interesting discussion to have. Not a lot of point in making any kind of prediction once the season is over and/or half the season has been played. What’s the ‘fun’ in that. Wally

If only we had some kind of season long predictor thread on which we can gauge current performance.

Glad to see that with some hindsight you’ve had your breakfast and realised the stupidity of your first post.

Note to self: Always PM Bore(d) Brother before posting and make sure he will find your post as interesting as others.

I will post what I want, how I want, and where I want, as will everyone else and if you don’t wish to (can’t) make an interesting contribution then don’t. You’re not the fun police!

...my main point of discussion was our degree of (perceived) improvement vs others (at this early point in the season granted) and that in my opinion (which is the only one that matters) and the opinion of several others too it would seem, is that it was an interesting point worthy of discussion and a naughty little thread all of it’s own.

Rather than spending your morning on this thread you can go and troll other threads you do find worthy of your time.

Thanks for your valuable contribution, you bully.