23rd February 2003: It's looking
grim. The season-long problem of not scoring goals has cost us dear
once again, and as for the Great Escape, Steve McQueen's motorbike
won't even start now.
I thought the Albion played very well today. In the second half, West
Ham were on the rails and ready to capitulate and I think that the
goal we conceded added that bit more pressure on strikers which saw
the easier chances that came when the Baggies were losing go begging.
In fairness, after suffering the taunts of the Albion fans "If David
James can play for England so can I", the Hammers stopper went on
to play magnificently and win man of the match, although that only
emphasises Albion's domination.
Although he missed three or four good chances, I have to say that
Hughes played well today. I know I've said for months that Hughes
should play, and it's easy to point at the facts and say he hasn't
done the business now he's been given the chance, but I'll say this.
No other striker in the club at the moment would have been in the
situations he was today, and nobody has had as many opportunities
as Hughes has today - and that is down to Lee Hughes. He plays on
the shoulders of defenders and reads the game well, which gives him
those opportunities. No current Albion striker, apart from maybe Bob
Taylor, has that ability and that is why he must carry on playing.
All strikers have barren spells and it's fair to say that Hughes's
is coming at exactly the wrong time for him and the club, but if you
drop him what choice do you have? Assuming you wait until Roberts
is back before changing the formation, you have the following options.
Roberts and Dichio - they've played together many times this season
and it's been shown that the chemistry is not there. JR does not read
Deech's flicks and does not make enough runs into space. The chances
he creates are generally made by his own ability to turn defenders.
Dichio and Dobie - Dobes did a great job when he first came but the
goals he scores are more often than not spectacular rather than bread
and butter, and it's the bread and butter that we lack. He's a great
prospect but he lacks the experience to get in the positions to score
often enough.
Roberts and Dobie - again, they've played together many times this
season and they've never shown any great understanding. And as I've
just said, I think Dobie is not ready to do it at this level.
Taylor is apparently injured, has reportedly fallen out with Megson
and agreed a move to Cheltenham, and cannot play ninety minutes anyway
so can be ignored for the sake of this exercise, although I'd love
to see him on the bench.
So, in my humble opinion, Hughes should play with either Dichio or
Roberts. I though he and Deech were on the same wavelength today,
but JR offers the ability to make something happen out of nothing,
so he would be my first choice. They had a great partnership two seasons
ago, and they could hopefully re-kindle that understanding.
But to go back to the survival issue, I thought West Ham were poor
today even though they won, and contrary to my opinion after the game
at Upton Park, I would be surprised if they stay up. A side with a
half decent confident strike force would have had a hat-full today.
As a neutral, I would say the bottom three today will go down, but
as a Baggie I have to do some ritual straw-grasping. Birmingham probably
clawed themselves clear by beating Liverpool, but another run like
the one they just had could see them dragged back down. Bolton seems
the more likely target not only because of their lower points tally,
but because of their apparent inability to finish teams off. Conceding
last minute goals must take a toll on confidence, and that's the only
hope I can offer.
But the points will not come unless the goalscoring issue is resolved,
and I've been saying it all season.
It's not over yet, but the Fat Lady is squeezing her ample frame into
her posh dress in readiness to take to the stage.
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