Baggies fan Alex Newton who writes for Read West Brom gives us his views ahead of the fixture between Tony Pulis’ current side West Brom and his former side Crystal Palace this weekend.
West Bromwich Albion travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon for a Premier League clash and as optimistic as I normally am, I’m dreading this trip.
The game has already been given added interest due to Tony Pulis returning to his old club for the first time since he left by mutual consent at the very start of the season. He guided to Palace to a brilliant 11th last season picking up the manager of the year award in turn so there was an obvious excitement when he took over at Albion.
We was in awful form with Alan Irvine in charge, he was out of his depth and struggling to pick up points so Pulis felt like a breath of fresh air. His start was fantastic he guided us into the FA Cup quarter finals he picked up 12 points out of 21 in his first 7 league games keeping 5 clean sheets in those too. We’d moved away from the relegation zone and we were in the brink of reaching Wembley in the FA Cup, things were looking great.
Since then things have gone downhill very quickly. Consecutive losses to local rivals Aston Villa in the league and cup knocked our confidence and since those 2 defeats we’ve picked up just 3 points out of a possible 12. In our last 3 games we’ve conceded 10 goals and those include home games to Leicester and QPR teams we simply have to be beating.
The fans are starting to turn on Pulis now after poor tactics have seen us lose 3 league games in a row. His refusal to play players in their natural position is costing us especially in the defence where he’s used makeshift fullbacks while players like Wisdom and Gamboa don’t even get on the bench. We have a very tricky run of games until the end of the season where we play 4 of the current top 7 and tricky away trips to Newcastle and of course this weekend to Palace.
Speaking of Palace I can’t admire your team enough. Pardew has done a fantastic job but the system you start with compliments your players brilliantly with Bolasie and Zaha a joy to watch on the wings. You go into games without any sort of fear and if we go with makeshift fullbacks (Dawson and Brunt) again the weekend your wingers will have the time of their lives. I really enjoy watching Palace but I’m certainly concerned you could give us a big defeat the weekend.
STARTING XI – WEST BROMWICH ALBION
It’s been crying for a change of tactics for weeks now and I believe this would be the right choice to make in a 5-3-2 formation. Playing 5 at the back would help to counter your main attacking threat of Bolasie and Zaha but still allow cover for the slower defenders such as Lescott and McAuley too.
The midfield can work as needed with Fletcher dropping deep to track people like Puncheon who will help your strikers. In attack Pulis has often gone for two up front but I feel Berahino should drop back a little. Again this would help the midfield but also let us play some passing football rather than the dreaded constant long ball.
We need to play to our strengths and that’s Berahino and Ideye who can link up really well when given the chance, something that doesn’t happen with long balls. Attack minded players such as Sessegnon and Morrison should help get the ball into the striker’s feet rather than their head.
I’d be amazed if we get to see the team line up as above but the fans are starting to get onto Pulis’s back now. Another defeat would see us dragged further into the relegation fight and with Liverpool next weekend the task will not get any easier. Hopefully Pulis will recognise that the fans want change.
At the moment I can’t see anything over than a Palace win heading into this match. You have great confidence after beating champions Manchester City then routing Sunderland last weekend. Albion are pretty much as low as they can be after the last two defeats but have to respond soon. My heart says we could go to Selhurst Park and get a battling score draw. My head meanwhile says expect another defeat, and if the last 2 games are anything to go by my head will be right.
SCORE PREDICTION
Crystal Palace (Zaha x2 & Bolasie) 3-1 West Bromwich Albion (Berahino)
