West Bromwich Albion 0 - West Ham United 0

Date:	Sunday 16th December 2012
Competition:	Barclays Premier League
WBA: 6.0	(4-2-3-1) Myhill 6.5, Jones 6.4, McAuley 6.8, Olsson 6.8, Popov 7.4, Mulumbu 6.3, Morrison 6.2, Odemwingie 6.5, Gera 6.4 (Lukaku, 75 5.1), Brunt 4.9, Long 6.5 (Rosenberg, 83 4.4) Unused subs: Daniels, Dorrans, Dawson, Tamas, Fortun Manager: Steve Clarke 5.6
West Ham: 5.3	(4-3-3) Jaaskelainen, Demel (Tomkins, 81), Reid, Collins, J O'Brien, O'Neil, Noble, Nolan, Taylor, Cole, Jarvis (Maiga, 76) Unused subs: Spiegel, Spence, Moncur, Lletget
Referee:	Phil Dowd (Stoke on Trent) 5.0
Attendance:	24,186 Home Fans 6.5 Away Fans 5.2

Summary:

Not a great deal to report from a game that was dire in the first half and only provided the minimum of entertainment in the second. Boaz Myhill continued to deputise while Ben Foster's recovery from surgery continued, while Billy Jones and Goran Popov replaced Steven Reid and Liam Ridgewell and Claudio Yacob also missed out.

Solid defending from both sides meant that chances were limited, although Albion had more of them and should probably feel the more unfortunate not to have taken all three points. Of greatest note was the fact that a pointless booking for Youssouf Mulumbu after squaring up to Kevin Nolan means that he will miss the next game - against in-form Norwich City at home next Saturday.

At least Albion have ended their run of defeats and remain in sixth place.

Kev Buckley:

Defend deep, knock it long for Long, but always take him off before the end, and shoot from 20/25 yards instead of looking to play him in, seemed to be the order of the day this morning.

Is it just me, or is Mulumbu finding it hard to complete a pass these days? Similarly, how come Odemwingie, usually the right sided man in three, put in more and better, left wing crosses than "The Wand"?

If Morrison really is the link we need in behind the striker then why has he been dropped back alongside Mulumbu, where he does very little?

Thought Lukaku and Rosenberg did little to justify being brought on, indeed, as regards Lukaku, even the commentators (Craig Burley?) now seem to be of the opinion that he "can change games", which, for me, sits right up there with the myth that Brunt and Briuser are capable of scoring from long range: yes they do every now and agan, but it's actually always been the exception, rather than the rule.

oshawabaggie:

Well, a poor West Ham were there for the taking, but for the third game in a row we failed to score and created very few clear chances. In the first half we looked like we set out to play for a nil - nil draw. Most of the passes seemed to be sideways or backwards. To be fair we were a big improvement in the second, without ever sustaining the smooth posession play or launching the thrusting counter-attacks we were able to produce earlier in the season.

Some points to ponder: 1) We were so effective earlier in the year with a 5 man midfield and getting men wide to whip in crosses. In the 2nd half Peter O. and BJ (to a lesser extent) got wide and looked dangerous. Why didn't we start like that? 2) Brunt looked better playing deeper in the middle than wide and forward, but still not great. 3) Morrison is much more effective playing further forward (bad luck with two cross-bars). 4) God, we miss Jacob. 5) Why take off Long for Rosenberg? 6) And then, why on earth let Rosenberg take a free kick in the A1 position with a last chance to win the game when we have the likes of Morrison, Brunt, Peter O., Lukaku on the pitch to have a crack? 7) Has all this talk about getting to 40 points made us too cautious/unambitious?

After 3 losses a home draw is disappointing, but maybe they can learn something from an improved 2nd half performance. Norwich will be a tougher nut to crack than West Ham, so I hope we come out playing positive right from the start next week. Mulumbu will be suspended so I hope Jacob is back.

Philip Cole (RSABaggie):

Again I find myself agreeing with everything oshawabaggie has written. I only have a few more points:

Steve Clarke was outdone tactically for me yesterday. West Ham came set up predictably like an Allardyce side: robust, strong defensively, out to frustrate. So why did we spend the whole of the first half without any width?
The midfield seemed equally confused by these tactical shortcomings. For most of the first half Morrison, Gera and Brunt seemed unsure about who was supposed to go forward to support Long and who was supposed to stay back and help Mulumbu. The result was an ineffective falling between these two stools.
Boy do we need some width! We really only have Peter Odemwingie at the moment who can play as an orthodox winger and we immediately looked more threatening when he moved out to the left wing (??) at the start of the second half. Billy Jones as a result was freed to come further forward and support effectively. But there was no equivalent threat down the right. Surely we either have to bring back Jerome Thomas as soon as possible or bring in another orthodox winger in January if he's no longer up to the pace and demands of the EPL.
Brunt is the player that Baggies dislike the most and I still think he is often unfairly criticised when the whole team has been playing poorly. However, he is currently our weakest attacking midfield option and seems to unbalance the team in the middle whenever he is played. He's not defensive and he's not as good an attacking midfielder as Morrison, a fit Gera and even Graham Dorrans. His main contribution seems to be for set-plays and to be fair he sent over a succession of good corners that on another day against a less defensively solid team could quite easily have produced a goal. However, it says something about his status now within the team when Rosenberg, a barely used striker, can take a free kick over our main freekick specialist still on the pitch. And not a good something...

Didcot Baggie:

Not much of a game to get excited about - the highlight being the 15 minute long rendition of "Popov the Albion Man". Gera and Morrison failed to support Long, meaning our best players were the defenders. We miss Yakob. Rosenberg must be good in training, otherwise why use him, but on a premiership pitch he looks way off the pace.

Still let's not get too downbeat, we're riding high in the league and can find our best form again.

Lamp Baggie:

Disappointing display again - although plenty of effort we seemed to be going through the motions and only occasionally did we get the ball moving quickly & cause West Ham problems, too often players took the easy/lazy option

Have to say Long off the pace today - poor by his own high standards but Rosenberg once again nil contribution also Lukaku struggling - what has Fortune done wrong at least he can hold the ball up & pass to his own team mates.

Only Odem looked the part on the left shame he wasn't on the end of his own crosses - but little from other side - WHU caused us few problems going forward but they only came for a point.

For me more urgency, accurate passing & width are the order of the day i.e. as we started the season.

Have to say once again ref was poor while WHU not on same level as Stoke they are not far behind with time wasting etc. Nolan constantly whinging with the waster eventually goading Mulumbu into a needless booking - are these refs afraid of the bully boy managers?

No doubt if we can get to 30 points by half-way it will be exceptional & as SC said if losses were spread out more we would be a lot happier.

Boing boing!

Highbury Baggie:

Yes, a poor display. Agree with most of the above. Something is not quite right. Our last 4 first half performance have been tame - as if the team have no idea how to penetrate or perturb the opposition. Not sure if it's tactics, a loss of confidence, caution, or poor leader on the field. If we do better against Norwich, we'll be back on track - and I think their bubble may burst soon. If not, let's start to feel worried.

I want Yakoub and Foster back.
I want Brunt on a final warning.
There's nothing wrong with Long & PO.
I'd keep Popov.
Let's not forget Dorrans and Fortune.
Let's all stick with SC. 4 more points by new year?

Perhaps and who knows a Baggie dream draw at Old Traff - we've got previous.

Davo from Dudley:

I thought we started quite spiritedly but alas that soon fizzled out. I agree with most of the above, especially Brunty who hasn't cut the mustard yet this season, and we're almost half way through.

What is this with playing one of our main strikers as a wide player? Surely we need another threat in front of goal? Not sure that I like Peter O playing wide.

Second half was better, although apart from a couple of forays, WHU effectively parked the bus, something we should learn perhaps considering the amount of late goals (and points) we've conceded. Shame we couldn't have got a goal to show for the effort.

Main Points:-

I like Popov, lets keep him
Brunty, erm not sure this season
Morrison, played too deep, lets get him forward
Mulumbu, too many passes going astray
Too many bookings. This will cost us
Yacob / Foster, back asap please Clarky
Rosenberg, Am I the only one who thinks he will come good?