[Amelia Chaffinch]

The Baggies v The Terriers

Friday 11th March 2022

20:00

The Hawthorns

The word on the sofa is that there's going to be trouble between Baggie Bird and Terry the Terrier. I'm not revealing my source but lets just call him Felix. Therefore I've had to put Felix the cat between them. Terry's already started sledging. He's made comments about BB still wearing his Christmas hat. BB wouldn't put it away with the Christmas decorations because he likes to let it slip over his eyes when he can't bear to watch his beloved Baggies playing. He's been doing this more and more since SSN starting speculating about Steve Bruce coming in with the last time being when they lost 2-0 at home to Swansea on Monday 28th Feb. Poor lad. So glad our TTT isn't having to sit with his head in his paws any more.

It's from that same sofa that Snoots chuckled to himself the other day about our positive goal difference. It may be hysteria setting in but, if so, we probably all have it at the mo! Whether we gain promotion automatically, go up via the play-offs, lose the play-offs and stay down or finish out of the play-offs, we've had a much better season than speculated by a lot of people. We're in a nice position.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said about West Bromwich Albion. We all know they started well, been at the top or in the mix for promotion from the start of the season. Alas, not as it stayed. Now in 13th on 49 points. Not impossible to come back from but getting more unlikely with every match. As everyone knows, I adopted WBA as my premiership team in the days when it was a pipe dream for us. Their fans on this board are top notch and I wish them well almost every time they play... unless it's against us! I said on their thread about Bruce that I didn't know what the question was but Steve Bruce isn't the answer. I wasn't joking. As we know, he's pretty clueless. They say he has a record for getting teams out of the Championship. Yes, but didn't he usually get them demoted in the first place? After our experience with him, would you trust him to buy players? Seems a nice enough fella but one of the great managers? Not in my opinion.

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Where are we after last evening's fixtures?

Well, not too shabby; still on 62 points obviously but dropped to 3rd. We were holding 2nd position until Bournemouth equalized against Peterborough in the 52nd minute. We're equal with them on points but they have a better GD.

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What's our record against the Baggies?

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Last time out at our place in November we finished 1-0 with the goal coming from Danel Sinani in the 6th minute. Albion's Jake Livermore was sent off in the 78th for a foul on Fraizer Campbell. They did appeal but failed. 

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Highlights of the last match

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Form (Baggies, look away now)

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Who to watch

Top of the list is Karlan Grant who was electric but that honour passed to Naby Sarr when Grant left for the Midlands.

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Starting XI v Hull City (away) on 5th March

They won that one 2-0, both goals from Grant. Bruce hasn't been consistent with his formations from what I can see.

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Carlos speaks

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Find out what the Baggies are saying here

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The old ones are the best...

or maybe not... 

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West Bromwich is traditionally known for its metal products including coiled springs. Is the Baggies spring ready to boing boing? Sorry, Baggie friends, just for now, I need you to carry on like this...

Anyone want to help me with places to go for refreshment and a bit of bants prior to the match? Personally, I recommend the Costa by the Three Degrees statue.

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How to find the stadium wba.co.uk

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one, Chaffers.

It's true an all. I was chuckling away to myself. Plus 13 goal difference. It's mad.

[jjamez]

Don't think Bruce was/is the right sort of manager for them, neither was Ishmael nor would have been Waggers, think it's telling that they are having to go out and bring Carroll and Dyke in during the winter window so they have players to fit the managers tactics.

Saying that I'm not 100% sure which manager would really have suited them, probably wilder but they missed out on him

[Lord Snooty]

Town says pay on the day will be available if anybody's interested.

[theo_luddite]

Another one from the Statto playbook

When Town played West Brom it was the 18th match of the season. We've now played 36. The rest haven't as yet, having taken a few days off over Christmas due to Covid (claims) or ahh-tissue of other issues.

So comparing the two of us with the top 2, as they are still there, over those two separate spells (not the full season combined to date).



Town's points per game has gone from an average of a shade over 1.5 to a shade under 2 in the same number of games. Fulham have stuck around at just over 2 per game, Bornmuff have gone from over 2 per game to just over 1 per game while the Baggies have gone from just under 2 per game to 1 per game

[WakeyTerrier]

Town says pay on the day will be available if anybody's interested.

I think I'll save myself the bother, instead I'll be in Flocky Club having a pint for £3 and Pie and Peas as my half time snack with only a 5 minute journey back down the road at the end of the night.

[theo_luddite]

Their website says you need to show a Covid pass. I know news can be slow to get around down here at times but .....

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Strange, I'm sure I did a post mentioning The Vine as a place for incoholic beverages and bantz yesterday. It's on the junction of Roebuck Street and Roebuck Lane followed by a er, refreshing walk to the ground. Should blow the cobwebs away anyway.

[talkSAFT]

Great read, Amy, but......

The gloves are off (not just Baggie & Terry).
Albion need the points if we're going to catch Fulham up, and same with Town if they want to avoid The Drop.
I'll forecast 4-1 to Baggies.

[theo_luddite]

I get the tongue in cheek stuff there talkSAFT but we already achieved our first goal, we can't finish on the trap door let alone under it - but you haven't yet in either case, given you are exactly halfway between Fulham's points and Posh's points, but I love your optimism chap.

I don't see you doing a Barnsley or Coventry of recent seasons though but, with around half of your games to play against sides below you. Still, at least you've got Brucey, which means nobody else has, which is a Brucey bonus for the rest of us. If we lose every game from now on, the worst we'll likely finish is where you are. If you win every game, you might be lucky and finish where we are. Lot of if's in there though. I doubt your cup will runneth over this season, you're lot have lied down in far too many green pastures this season, with a still front line, let alone still waters.

[jjamez]

Already found some town fans here, gonna nip across the road and see if they'll put it on for me tomorrow