el punal
Well-known member
Disappointing as it was that we didn’t beat Villa we can at least reflect on the progress the team have made since the start of January :
Played 8 Won 3 Drawn 4 Lost 1 Points 13.
In that set of results are three very convincing wins against Leeds, Tottenham, and of course, the unforgettable away victory at Liverpool. The one loss being at a bang-in-form Man City (0-1) where the performance won us many plaudits.
Then we had the necessary “grab a point while you can” draws - Wolves (3-3) a fight back after being 1-3 at halftime and looking dead and buried. For me, that game transformed Albion’s fortunes - our luck changed for the better (at last!) and our confidence grew.
There was the absolutely knackered, mentally and physically, draw at Burnley. And, the two could’ve, should’ve fixtures with Fulham and Villa.
So what’s changed? We are still playing attractive, pleasing on the eye football without the cutting edge. We have managed to get the ball in the net though when it really counts, to get those three wins and score draws - something that was not happening at the end of last year. The big improvement has been the defence. Whether it’s Spanish Bob in goal or the the likes of Webster, White, Dunk, Burn, Veltman all gelling. All reflected in the goals conceded, just two in the last seven games.
Can we now relax a bit? We are now 11 points clear of relegation. Over the last three seasons, at roughly the same number of games played, the points difference was anything less than 5. I would like to see us despatch our next opponents (Palace !! and West Brom) to truly justify that we’ve turned the corner. One thing is for sure, I’m a damn sight more relaxed now than I was on 31st of December!
Played 8 Won 3 Drawn 4 Lost 1 Points 13.
In that set of results are three very convincing wins against Leeds, Tottenham, and of course, the unforgettable away victory at Liverpool. The one loss being at a bang-in-form Man City (0-1) where the performance won us many plaudits.
Then we had the necessary “grab a point while you can” draws - Wolves (3-3) a fight back after being 1-3 at halftime and looking dead and buried. For me, that game transformed Albion’s fortunes - our luck changed for the better (at last!) and our confidence grew.
There was the absolutely knackered, mentally and physically, draw at Burnley. And, the two could’ve, should’ve fixtures with Fulham and Villa.
So what’s changed? We are still playing attractive, pleasing on the eye football without the cutting edge. We have managed to get the ball in the net though when it really counts, to get those three wins and score draws - something that was not happening at the end of last year. The big improvement has been the defence. Whether it’s Spanish Bob in goal or the the likes of Webster, White, Dunk, Burn, Veltman all gelling. All reflected in the goals conceded, just two in the last seven games.
Can we now relax a bit? We are now 11 points clear of relegation. Over the last three seasons, at roughly the same number of games played, the points difference was anything less than 5. I would like to see us despatch our next opponents (Palace !! and West Brom) to truly justify that we’ve turned the corner. One thing is for sure, I’m a damn sight more relaxed now than I was on 31st of December!
