[Albion] Reasons To Be Cheerful - Sort Of!

[nickjhs]

But again you (and a few others) decided do to full on extreme as you have to others who have expressed their own views.

Oh Please stop with the hyperbole. I asked a question, followed by a statement showing why I thought what you had said was unreasonable.

 

[ROSM]

Personally, I think that anyone who is critical of the team/Club for our dismal record against the bottom 6 clubs this season, that doesn’t at least acknowledge our quite horrendous injury record as a factor is being disingenuous. To still be in the hunt for Europe after what has been a season with unprecedented absences for a variety of injuries, is, to my mind, exemplary.

When we played wolves at home, Southampton at home, Ipswich at home, Leicester away, I thought we had pretty much a full squad available. Most of what we would now call our 1st choice 11 were in the squad with maybe 1 or 2 out or limited by injuries which is normal for all teams. Same goes for when we failed to have a shot against Brentford's reserve keeper at Xmas.

Yes we have had appalling injuries in the second part of the season but that doesn't so much explain these results.

As I've said elsewhere, this season has been a curate' s egg i.e. good in parts. But I've been very critical at not getting the best out of what was available - the last 2 games have been much much better for that. The previous 4 not so.

 

[ROSM]

Oh Please stop with the hyperbole. I asked a question, followed by a statement showing why I thought what you had said was unreasonable.

I'm not sure it's unreasonable

It's pretty well known that the chairman aims for a cup semi final and Europa league as stretch targets. (Top 10 and quarter finals are targets)

That we haven't achieved either of the stretch means we haven't overall performed at best. On some occasions we have underperformed. On others we have over performed (beating 4 out of the traditional big 6 at home). Beating west ham, fulham and bournemouth at home is as expected. But in a season where so many of the big 6 have also underperformed it's a chance to meet those stretch goals missed.

I'm happy to engage with anybody who has different opinions. I only have a concerns when they start misrepresenting facts. Which I don't think I have done (and to be fair neither have you).

 

[Jim in the West]

OK, this season won’t be quite as good as 22/23, our BEST EVER season in 124 years! But it’ll come close. And if you look back at 22/23, we still had a few downers (1-5 at home to Everton, 4-1 loss at Newcastle where we barely got over the halfway line). But the big thing about 22/23 was the relative lack of injuries, and an incredible midfield (Mac Allister, Caicedo and Gross played most matches).
Despite having a new, inexperienced manager, a bunch of young players new to the EPL, and horrendous injuries, we are not far off our points total from 22/23 (theoretically we could almost match it!)

 

[chaileyjem]

I'm not sure it's unreasonable

It's pretty well known that the chairman aims for a cup semi final and Europa league as stretch targets. (Top 10 and quarter finals are targets)

That we haven't achieved either of the stretch means we haven't overall performed at best.

Not sure TB has ever said what our “stretch targets” are. (A regular top ten club, a cup run - being what I thought was the club goals widely known)
Or what failing to achieve them means for TB - is it “we haven’t performed at best” or “mediocrity”

This is very different to any of us hoping including TB , a few months ago , that we’d make the cup final or get the top 7. When ofc it looked possible that we might. And now being rightly frustrated that we haven’t. (Cos we lost or drew some games we arguably shouldn’t have done).

But the season verdict, and let’s wait three games, is judged against that longer term context I imagine. (Almost certainly a top 10 finish and a decent cup run)

 

[Flounce]

Such a shame there is so much discord amongst us fans on here when we really are still living halcyon days as Albion fans. Entrenched positions seem to be the order of the day. Me? I’m just plain fickle, especially immediately after games but standing back and looking at the big picture all is very rosey isn’t it?

Did I say, I loved NSC anyway though?

 

[Justice]

When we played wolves at home, Southampton at home, Ipswich at home, Leicester away, I thought we had pretty much a full squad available. Most of what we would now call our 1st choice 11 were in the squad with maybe 1 or 2 out or limited by injuries which is normal for all teams. Same goes for when we failed to have a shot against Brentford's reserve keeper at Xmas.

Yes we have had appalling injuries in the second part of the season but that doesn't so much explain these results.

As I've said elsewhere, this season has been a curate' s egg i.e. good in parts. But I've been very critical at not getting the best out of what was available - the last 2 games have been much much better for that. The previous 4 not so.

It’s because people like to use stats instead of the game they have just watched. What the hell do injuries have to do with being 2-0 up against Wolves and committing so many players forward in injury time? Maybe we score if Weiffer doesn’t mess up the pass although he really should be going to the corner flag.

 

[nickjhs]

I'm not sure it's unreasonable

It's pretty well known that the chairman aims for a cup semi final and Europa league as stretch targets. (Top 10 and quarter finals are targets)

That we haven't achieved either of the stretch means we haven't overall performed at best. On some occasions we have underperformed. On others we have over performed (beating 4 out of the traditional big 6 at home). Beating west ham, fulham and bournemouth at home is as expected. But in a season where so many of the big 6 have also underperformed it's a chance to meet those stretch goals missed.

I'm happy to engage with anybody who has different opinions. I only have a concerns when they start misrepresenting facts. Which I don't think I have done (and to be fair neither have you).

For clarity, do you think being content with our present standing is "accepting mediocrity" ?