17-01-2017, 20:54
I stole this from the HITC website rather than paste the link.
Interesting angle and can't make my mind up if I am happy or sad......
Article reads:
It's January, we are just past the halfway mark in the season and most teams are searching frantically to identify January targets to help their cause; whether that be winning the title, making the top four, qualifying for Europe or merely maintaining their Premier League status.
For West Bromwich Albion though, such targets or fears do not really exist. The Baggies currently lead the way when it comes to the 'best of the rest' of the teams outside the top seven, impressively having more points at this stage of the season than arguably more fancied teams during pre-season such as West Ham, Southampton and Leicester.
With 29 points to their name, 2 wins from their remaining 17 games would all but confirm Tony Pulis' men retain their place in the Premier League for another year, whilst it would take some effort to displace any of the teams above them for a shot at a European place. Everton are the only team the Baggies would have any chance of catching, but their respective performances against Tottenham and Manchester City at the weekend would suggest such an event is unlikely.
Knocked out of both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup at the first possible opportunity, to Northampton Town and Derby County respectively, Pulis' men don't even have the hope of cup glory to turn their attention to, during a time of such mid table obscurity in the Premier League.
One could argue then, that West Brom's season, in terms of genuine aims and objectives, is already over in all reality. It is a reality that dawned on some Baggies fans following their 2-1 defeat in the third round of the FA Cup at the hands of Derby County, a game in which Pulis fielded a relatively strong side.
A victim of their own success, perhaps, the Baggies obviously wouldn't wish to be further down the table and have more to play for as a consequence, but Tony Pulis and his team have to find some way to motivate themselves to put in the same levels of performances that they have in the first half of the season between now and May.
One target which the Baggies could set themselves is to match or beat their highest ever Premier League finish and points tally. Their best Premier League season to date came in 2012/13, when Steve Clarke guided them to an 8th place finish, setting their record points tally of 49 in the process.
If West Brom managed to maintain the points per game tally that they have set so far this season for the remainder of the campaign, they would narrowly beat that record 49, most likely finishing up on 52 or 53 points.
Finishing any higher than eighth is likely to prove even trickier though. As alluded to earlier, Everton are the only team above the Baggies that they could realistically catch, and that would take some doing. In truth, if they could hold on to their currently position of eighth, that would have to go down as an impressive achievement.
The Baggies final placing is also increasingly relevant on the financial side of things. Each position in the Premier League table is worth an extra £1.25 million, meaning the difference between finishing 8th and 15th would be worth £8.75 million for the club, enough to finance a first team recruit in the summer.
Interesting angle and can't make my mind up if I am happy or sad......
Article reads:
It's January, we are just past the halfway mark in the season and most teams are searching frantically to identify January targets to help their cause; whether that be winning the title, making the top four, qualifying for Europe or merely maintaining their Premier League status.
For West Bromwich Albion though, such targets or fears do not really exist. The Baggies currently lead the way when it comes to the 'best of the rest' of the teams outside the top seven, impressively having more points at this stage of the season than arguably more fancied teams during pre-season such as West Ham, Southampton and Leicester.
With 29 points to their name, 2 wins from their remaining 17 games would all but confirm Tony Pulis' men retain their place in the Premier League for another year, whilst it would take some effort to displace any of the teams above them for a shot at a European place. Everton are the only team the Baggies would have any chance of catching, but their respective performances against Tottenham and Manchester City at the weekend would suggest such an event is unlikely.
Knocked out of both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup at the first possible opportunity, to Northampton Town and Derby County respectively, Pulis' men don't even have the hope of cup glory to turn their attention to, during a time of such mid table obscurity in the Premier League.
One could argue then, that West Brom's season, in terms of genuine aims and objectives, is already over in all reality. It is a reality that dawned on some Baggies fans following their 2-1 defeat in the third round of the FA Cup at the hands of Derby County, a game in which Pulis fielded a relatively strong side.
A victim of their own success, perhaps, the Baggies obviously wouldn't wish to be further down the table and have more to play for as a consequence, but Tony Pulis and his team have to find some way to motivate themselves to put in the same levels of performances that they have in the first half of the season between now and May.
One target which the Baggies could set themselves is to match or beat their highest ever Premier League finish and points tally. Their best Premier League season to date came in 2012/13, when Steve Clarke guided them to an 8th place finish, setting their record points tally of 49 in the process.
If West Brom managed to maintain the points per game tally that they have set so far this season for the remainder of the campaign, they would narrowly beat that record 49, most likely finishing up on 52 or 53 points.
Finishing any higher than eighth is likely to prove even trickier though. As alluded to earlier, Everton are the only team above the Baggies that they could realistically catch, and that would take some doing. In truth, if they could hold on to their currently position of eighth, that would have to go down as an impressive achievement.
The Baggies final placing is also increasingly relevant on the financial side of things. Each position in the Premier League table is worth an extra £1.25 million, meaning the difference between finishing 8th and 15th would be worth £8.75 million for the club, enough to finance a first team recruit in the summer.