West Bromwich Albion 1 - Stoke City 2

Summary:

Albion's final game of the season pretty much typified the whole thing - good in parts but ultimately disappointing. The omens weren't good following the dismal defeat at Sunderland and Stoke could boats a 100% record at the Hawthorns since the Premiership began, although that only came to a total of four games. Jonas Olsson and Craig Dawson were recalled to the back line, Youssouf Mulumbu was recalled over Claudio Yacob and Saido Berahino was pushed up front in favour of Victor Anichebe with Morgan Amalfitano brought back in the centre of the midfield.

Albion seemed to start the game with renewed enthusiasm with Brunt, Morrison and Sessegnon combining well down the left to create several chances, onw of which hit the woodwork, but they fell behind to an own goal from Gareth McAuley after he got in the way of Marko Arnautovic's cross.

Stephane Sessegnon levelled the scores with his fifth goal of the season ten minutes into the second half after Dawson crossed for him from the right hand side, but substitute Charlie Adam secured all three points for the visitors when he ran through almost unchallenged to fire home from 18 yards with just three minutes remaining.

Albion end the season in seventeenth place, three points above Norwich; a win today would have seen them leapfrog Sunderland, Hull and Villa into fourteenth spot.

Steve Fereday:

I thought the Stoke fans summed it up quite well with 'You lucky bastards, you should have gone down'.

I think this week has seen the end of Pepe Mel. Some amazing quotes in the press, ultimatums to the Chairman, 9 additional players needed for next year, etc. A nice bloke but should never have been appointed. I do not disagree with his assessment on the number of new players, but to be quoted on it before this game is rather silly and smacks of a lack of experience and poor English perhaps.

For what it's worth, I believe Peace should make the decision on Mel this week and a new manager installed reasonably quickly. Reasonably quickly for him to see what we have on our books and get rid, and identify transfer targets for the August window.

To be fair to Mel, I think the performances of most of the players have been nothing short of disgraceful. That has not helped his cause. Let us only hope that the Chairman chooses carefully on his next appointment. What a difference a year makes.

Is that miss from Sessegnon the worst in Premier League history??

Brendan Clegg:

A fairly apt end to a poor season, although I guess on balance with where we were at the start of the year and our transfer activities we ended up roughly where everyone thought we would.

I don't think we were awful but the intensity wasn't there and we were found wanting where it mattered. I thought a draw would have just about been a fair result but Stoke looked to have a slight edge on us and it counted.

Last Summer was a write-off so we head into this Summer needing to do the work of 2 transfer windows, and we do need the at least 9 players Pepe has mentioned.

As with last summer, we should be looking at players to improve or impact the first team, not cover for what we have.

I am not sure Pepe is the man but we must respect the dignity he has conducted himself under in ludicrous circumstances and the dedication and genuine interest and effort he has shown should not be forgotten. There is a huge job to do here, do we trust him now that he's had the benefit of bedding in or do we start again? If there is a high calibre experienced manger in the EPL lined up then great, otherwise he'd probably be as good as anyone else to be given a shot.

Marks for the game (and comments on the season) -

• Foster - 6 A couple of wobbles but rightly the winner of every award going this year. A fantastic ambassador for the club, honest and good enough to play for anyone in this league.
• Dawson - 6 I will not berate a player who gives his all out of position with basically no support from the player in front of him. Has improved for us with every game but being brutally honest isn't good enough to replace Olsson or G Mac. Good assist and better than Lugano but simply not good enough at this moment in time.
• McAuley - 6 Somehow we need to replace him next season with a better and younger player which is very difficult. Will still play 10-15 odd games over a season and still a fantastic pro for us.
• Olsson - 7 Has given his best years for us when in honesty he could have played at a better level. Our real captain and despite the odd wobble remains our leader and best defender.
• Brunt - 6 Has done Ok at left back when called upon and despite my own criticism and the boo boys) gives his all and is one of the few who has been way better under Mel. Despite the worries about his pace as left back has done a good job there. Keep him as a squad player.
• Morgan - 4 The most infuriating kid of player. all of the ability in the world yet strolls around like nothing matters. Performance against Arsenal was a disgrace given Dawson was behind him and vulnerable. If we have a 2 million option on him it is still worth it as you wont get a player of his ability for that money but it looks like he's gone. A shame, any striker in a team he plays in should hit the 6 yard box whenever he gets the ball. Full of faults, but he creates chances given half a chance.
• Mulumbu - 7 Drove us on as per usual. A great player, deserves a crack at the top 6 if we get decent money for him.
• Dozza - 6 A good footballer who was wasted over a couple of years due to tactical decisions to play on the break over controlling games. We have to keep him and his resurgence reflects badly on those who let him rot, but another we need to try and find a replacement for.
• Mozza - 7 I thought he was hugely improved today but has had a poor season by his standards. Lots of good running today but a season of poor decision making. Another we need to keep but try and replace.
• Sess - 7 Has largely given us what we expected and at 6 million was a good buy, but we need to build a side that will give him the ball to feet and cover for his defensive neglect. Good goal and over the last 5 games has been our best and only outlet.
• Berahino - 6 Shows good strength and appreciation and before we coached it out of him a ruthless streak for shooting. At his age he could still become a great player for us but he lacks the blistering pace in behind and as a result we look toothless. If we rely on him as our main striker next year we'll be doomed.
• Anichibe - 5 A disappointment.. Utterly abysmal against Sunderland, the truth is he is good at what he does but is so stoically one dimensional it's painful and often to our detriment when he plays and never mobile enough. An option we need to have but horrendously overvalued for what we paid.
• O Neil - 5 Has done OK in any game he's featured. Good on Pepe for giving him minutes.
• Vydra - 5 Did nothing in this game but any match he started we created chances, his pace a real threat and outlet, and his awareness of others good. If he's available cheaply I'd be interested.

And on to the others I can think of...

• Lugano - A waste of a salary where we failed the due diligence badly. Too old. Get rid.
• Ridgewell - Take the year option and buy someone better to start. Not as bad as others would have you believe but as last Summer, needs replacing.
• Myhill - Did a great job when Foster was out. Good cover keeper.
• Yacob - Hasn't looked fit all year and seems to have got slower. Style does not suit a pressing system, but still a useful bench option. Needs games.
• Sinclair - A huge disappointment. Didn't think he was as good as his reputation but has showed no hunger to be involved when he has played. A waste.
• Gera - A year too far. Never looked fit and how we missed his guile. A lesson in relying upon players of his age and injury record.
• Thievy - Take a punt. Quick, two footed and decent goal record. Potential but plenty to learn. We don't sign finished articles.
• Popov - Looked a real player but a couple of awful games and very costly errors raised concerns. We knew he wasn't good enough to replace Ridgewell last year so a wasted salary.
• Jones - Another who needed replacing last year and a new contract. We'll miss his pace and effort if he goes.
• Reid - A credit to his character but should have retired at Xmas - the body clearly isn't up to it. Another we should've replaced last summer.

Virginia Baggie:

Did not see the game today (working) but would like to post on 2013-14 season and what is ahead!

Obviously lucky not to be relegated and although I kind of like Mel - I doubt poor old Steve Clark would have done any worse if left in control. I didn't understand Mel's appointment mainly because of the language problems and lack of Prem experience. I agree his pregame outburst of honesty on Albion's needs for next season has undoubtedly pissed off the chairman and means he's gone (I don't think Peace would have agreed to a Spanish coaching contingent anyway.) So what is next?

THE PLAYERS:

Very few have covered themselves in much glory this year. Definite Keeps: FOSTER MULUMBU JACOB SESSEGNON BERAHINO & ANICHEBE the rest I must be honest I think there are better. Certainly leaves a lot of openings so it maybe just as well many contracts are ending. However that brings us to what may well be the biggest problems...

THE CHAIRMAN:

Not many PEACE fans among the Albion faithfull and understandably. He certainly has made us a difficult sell to any prospective new coach who may be willing to take the plunge (likely only to be fired mid-season). Can't see him opening the cheque book either - very tight with the purse strings; except his salary: Many feel he sees us a Championship team.

THE STAFF:

Here's the crunch. Do we have the people in place to identify the needed players for Prem survival next year and can they convince them the Baggies are anything but relegation fodder next season. You have to say NO!

A very frightening off season and overall future ahead by the looks of things then... unless. Anyone know an Arab sugardaddy?

BAGGIE TILL I DIE

COUCHCRITIC:

What a disastrous yet totally predictable season and I take my hat off to any fans contemplating a renewed season ticket unless drastic action is taken. It makes no difference if we have Tim Sherwood or Tim Brooke Taylor as 'head coach' with Peace as our Chairman and his bunch of understudies we will never progress as a Premiership club. There needs to be a concerted effort to oust the whole lot of them and to attract someone interested in keeping us in the top flight & prepared to invest money to replace our team of predominantly knackered old pro's who for the last 18 months have shown they lack the stamina or ability to last 90 mins.

Without this, and I hate to say it, we will do a Wolves.

Bobby Hope:

Well yesterday was a microcosm of the whole season. Nice to see Stoke actually playing some decent football - pity we let them!! Draw would have been a fair result imo. I won't dwell on the performance but ours was a very good goal.

I don't blame Mel at all and if I were him I would be off like a shot - take the money and run mate, you don't need this!

Where do we go from here? Undoubtedly Mel will be out. But what players will stay? Who will we bring in? Let's not forget we are very much at the end of the food chain when it comes to the transfer market as there is a 'knock on effect' of players being made available when other players are bought in at bigger clubs. Limited budget, limited club appeal to most players. It's a huge task and we have wasted a year and luckily not got relegated - Peace should be thankful. But whilst he continues to take his fat salary (and he is entitled to do so) we will remain in limbo. No ambition to get into Europe, just stay in the Prem, go for the cups and tick over.

George Thorne needs to come back for sure - I have followed him and he is becoming a very good player. Dorrans, for me, has blossomed under Mel and is reborn again as a player. I would consider giving him the captaincy next year - if we can keep him! What has happened to Scott Allan at Brum? - he's hardly played. How do we attract a gifted manager? One that is tactically astute and can man manage and the meld the individual talents and egos that we have on our books into what I call a real team. I don't know. I suspect we are in for much of the same from Mr Peace and his wrongly appointed puppet Richard Garlick. The people I feel for is the loyal supporters, god bless 'em.

I would end by making a plea to Mr Peace - put up or shut up. He will do neither.