(24-01-2025, 15:13)Ska'dForLife-WBA Wrote:

For anyone else struggling to believe that the 2000s ended over fifteen years ago, the reminders come in a double-whammy this weekend as Albion host Portsmouth for the first time since a 1-1 draw on 7th December 2008, and as befits the occasion, Tony Mowbray takes charge of an Albion side at the Hawthorns for the first time since 24th May 2009. Inevitably, the memories flood right back: all the talk back then was of the five-year plan which would see the Baggies established as a Premier League club, and while Mowbray's departure didn't prevent Albion from subsequently achieving that goal under Roberto Di Matteo and Roy Hodgson, even climbing heights not seen since the 1970s in the first few months under Steve Clarke, over the last dozen years the dream has come undone.

Time, then, for a second five-year plan? Tractor production certainly isn't what it could be, though first and foremost all attention has to be on the goal-mines, which have been running dry for months and need to strike a new seam. This is where Mowbray's more fluid approach may pay dividends, though we can't afford it to come at the expense of the defence who've benefited heavily from midfield protection in racking up their eleven clean sheets so far this season (none of which, sadly, have come since Corberan's departure). Nor will we get a better opportunity for the big morale-boosting home win than against Pompey, who are winless at the Hawthorns since 1998 and have just lost five on the bounce on their travels, one short of their worst record since March 2006. Three points would also allow Albion to do the double over Portsmouth for the first time since 2001-02, which'll be a fine omen if we can manage it.

There may be no FA Cup semi-finals, four derby wins in a season or Championship trophies on the horizon just yet, but we've got to start somewhere. So here's to the next five years.

(25-01-2025, 17:29)talkSAFT Wrote: Mowatt makes it 1-0 (25 mins)