Today's result won't deternine our fate, it will give us a better indicator but that's all.

The odds are against any of the bottom clubs picking up points this weekend so we'll most likely still be in the same position, just with one less game.

West Brom can seal their fate by winning, a draw is a step closer and a defeat leaves them where they are because it's unlikely anyone will gain on them.

The players will be as excited as they are nervous, they'll be itching to get out there and win so I wouldn't worry too much about how they'll be feeling.

I worry about today. We have to break down a very organised defence and not conceed.

We've not been very good at either if those things this season.

Don't worry Ferry boy Arro say so, and his predictions are always spot on!

What are you on about now Nev? I've not made any predictions about today's game so stop spouting rubbish!

Calm down its a joke you have made loads of predictions in the past and that what i am talking about

Today feels massive because we have a chance to really put the cat in with the pigeons, a win today and other teams struggling against top opposition could really unnerve them.

With 2 games in hand on QPR and Villa they'd really be looking over their shoulder and Hull having such a bad run in it would be anyone's game.

A draw would still be a point gained and while a defeat would be another missed opportunity it wouldn't be a total disaster unless of course the other teams do a miracle and gain unexpected points.

KTF

Todays result is really important despite arro playing it down, partly because he doesn't want to get his nose rubbed in it from the West Brom fans should we lose!

If we do lose then even of all others do, it's one game less for us to make up the gap and time is running out. It's a must not lose, a draw wouldn't be the end of the world unless the teams around us win

Quite correct BS -we are the team having to make up on all others and we cannot afford to see games drift away. QPR put four past them last week.

- we must expect point minimum -that's the mind set

Aside from the Chelsea match, every match is important from here as it's an opportunity to rack up some points and catch our rivals. However, I don't think it's necessarily the most important. (Unless the teams around us get a lot of points, in which case a loss would be very damaging.)

The ones to watch today are Sunderland - can they build on a vital derby victory or was it one moment of joy in an otherwise alarming plummet?

Can i join this unholy alliance we are rock bottom waiting for the right game for a win is not an option. We need momentum to try and win more games than we have won all season not an easy task.

Momentum is key Nev. I believe we have Chelsea after this so a loss here followed by another one pulls the players back into a losing mindset. We must follow up last weekend with a positive result if possible

Today is huge. I think if we win we stay up and lose and we are down.

comment by BlackStarr (U12353)
posted 7 minutes ago
Momentum is key Nev. I believe we have Chelsea after this so a loss here followed by another one pulls the players back into a losing mindset. We must follow up last weekend with a positive result if possible
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Swansea at home next game

Ah fair enough then, just keen for us to get something going before that Chelsea match.

The big question is what team to play and what formation?

I'm perfectly happy with an attacking back 5 similar to the Tottenham game ( Wasi in it though for Upson ).

It allows to get at em but be solid at the back.

BS - no I'm not playing it down on behalf of the Baggies fans, I'm playing it down because I don't think its as important as say Burnley, Sunderland or QPR, these are the games we have to win.

The bottom teams are unlikely to gain on us and the games we have coming up can still yield enough points and are arguably more winnable than today.

I think if West Brom attack us then we'll have some joy and I'm hoping the occasion will make for an open game because that's exactly what we need. That's all I'm saying about it.

comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 9 minutes ago
The big question is what team to play and what formation?

I'm perfectly happy with an attacking back 5 similar to the Tottenham game ( Wasi in it though for Upson ).

It allows to get at em but be solid at the back.
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I wouldn't want to be Nige today. 5 at the back may well be the way to go but he'll come in for stick changing a winning team and formation if we lose.

I think that will depend a lot on the performance, play like in the Spurs game and he'll get away with it, play like the Hull game and criticism deserved.

Not sure id stick with the same back four away to WBA?

comment by BlackStarr (U12353)
posted 45 minutes ago
Ah fair enough then, just keen for us to get something going before that Chelsea match.
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Just out of interest there has been a lot mentioned about Chelsea being our game in hand and technically they are BUT they are our only top 4 team to play still, most if not all of the relegation threatened teams have one or more top 4 team to play still so in reality it is a team around us that is our game in hand.

Didn't we play five at the back against Arsenal away too? We've played well in every formation we've played, we've just not got the results.

As Nigel said in the week, it's not formations that win games, it's the players. Whatever formation we play, we have to attack and we're not going there for a point, we're going there to try to win so I'd be surprised if we see a back five but who knows?

I think with a back 5 it comes down to his choice of personnel. As a forward usually has to make way and if it's Kramaric for Upson then understandably there will be questions raised.

West Brom have a pacey attack and Upson will struggle in a back 3 as he did against Spurs to start with. Against Spurs the back 5 were not picking up Tottenhams runners and we struggled for the first 20 mins. We actually improved when Upson went off.

So Wasi ahead of Upson for me

This is our toughest away game left on paper so I'm sure he would be delighted with a point. Sunderland and Burnley away we shouldn't be sticking 5 at the back.

WBA will want to be solid at the back and have older defenders so five a the back might be a waste five in midfield though?

Only one change and one that many fans gave called for, Allbrighton in for Mahrez!!