West Bromwich Albion 2 - Atletico Madrid 0

Gareth:

Here's the things I noticed about the 1st half:

1. gera is awesome
2. aj is a liability
3. we need a striker

Lee Winwood:

Just seen the goals on sky sport news.

First goal Carter crossed to gera (rose like a samon!) on back post who hearded back to cambell, good first touch and quick turn in the six yard box.

2nd goal Kanu bought down in the box, Kamara sloted the ball in to the bottom left.

nottsbaggie:

Gareth, I agree with points 1 and 3.

But I really don't see what AJ did wrong today. I thought he played well... you must have ben watching a different game mate!

Alan Coley:

Further to gareth's comment below, I thought this was a very composed performance after the first 15 mins or so. Attacking wise, I felt that Cambell and the Horse played too far apart and were essentially playing as two separate sole strikers! This partnership will not work.

However, Kamera looked extremely lively, and helped raise the whole pace of the game, which suited us better, and even made Kanu look interested.

One worrying aspect was that BR said AJ had a good game... must have been in the training session, because it wasn't after 3:00.

Good stuff though... looking forward to a good season.

The Throstles are great:

The beauty of football is that everyone sees what they want to see (or) what they believe they have seen! I'm no different......!

A few personal points picking up on earlier postings.

• Kirkland. Didn't do much wrong. His kicking from back passes and when he had to come out for the ball was far superior to that of Russell Hoult.
• Albrechtson, Gaardsoe, Clement, Wallwork, Robinson... Steady games all round.
• Darren Carter... Wasn't the box to player i anticipated but it's early days yet.
• A. J. The only player who, from where i was sitting, received a far from encouraging response to the announcement that he was playing! Ran around giving his usual 100% without doing a great deal. Had one shot that was closer to hitting the Rotunda building in the City centre than the back of the net!
• Greening... the usual accepted, expected, display.
• Campbell and Horsfield... Look like being Robbo's first strike duo. Both displayed their 'usual' willingness to chase and graft but a lack of pace was very noticeable.
• Kamara... Useful start and a goal to boot from the penalty spot. Judgement has to be reserved particularly as he's reputedly very versatile, and Robbo's giving the impression that he'll change systems and personal depending on the opposition.
• Interesting to note that Ernie didn't feature when the inevitable substitutes came on. Not much change here either. Chaplow buzzed around... Kanu, was well, Kanu! Big Dave... not getting any quicker but as usual made vital interceptions when needed.
• Steve Watson... surprisingly late coming on so hard to judge.
• Was disappointed we didn't see Inamoto. Keep reading 'good things' about him but he seems to be invisible man of the squad!
• FINALLY....and if you were there you surely won't be surprised at this opinion? ZOLTAN GERA... There's no such thing as a friendly for this dynamo. He ran, chased, won balls he had no right to win, and I'll state here and now that a continuation of this form means he MUST already be odds-on to be voted Player of the Season!

Minus points...The Spanish 'passing' game' carved us open far to easily in the first half. They missed chances more reminiscent of the Baggies at their best!

As i say too early to judge, it was a 'pleasant afternoon and feel free to disagree as I've no doubt many of you undoubtedly will!

PS. Oh yes!!! An extensive report in the 'News of the World' quoted Paul Jewell as saying, in relation to Nathan Ellington... "Bryan Robson is wasting his time trying to lure him to the Hawthorns. I want Nathan to stay because he's very important to us. We're having a meeting with his representatives on Wednesday to discuss a new deal. I don't think we're to far away from reaching an agreement. He's a tremendous asset. We now have three quality strikers on the shape of Nathan, Kamara and Jason Roberts"

So if that's he case we can forget the 'Duke'. But as Wigan are blessed with no less than THREE (!?) quality strikers perhaps Robbo will slap in a bid for a certain Jason Roberts!!!!???

PPS...For all that, again in my opinion, I'd have been more disappointed if England had lost to the Aussies than if Albion had lost to Atletico! What a nail biter and for once even a majority of the media pundits had to agree that on this very rare occasion the Bat and ball game was definitely THE game of the day.

So on to Manchester. The Third Test and Albion taking on City. See you there?

AJ-B:

Happy New Footballing Year! Here we go again on the big dipper that is West Bromwich Albion F.C.

Firstly it was disappointing that only just over 6,000 bothered to see our only home pre-season game, and on such a loveley day weatherwise, I would have expected to be at least 10k+ attending. My son and I left my grandsons 3rd birthday party celebrations to see the 'new look' baggies again, its ok I bought the little chap his first ever baggies outfit for his birthday!

My thoughts on the game are that at times we played some good stuff with all the new boys adding much needed quality to the already industrious longer term tenants of the Hawthorns. Best performances were from Gera who is going to such a big player for us again, Albrechtsen who pulled off the tackle of the whole pre-season and made many surging right wing runs, Gaardsoe who was terrific against such quality strikers, AJ did actually have his best game that I can bear witness to for at least 3 years! But he surely cannot be above Inamoto who MUST be in the side. Campbell took his goal very well and Kanu showed bursts of acceleration not seen before. Kamara will be magic, has more speed than Earnie and also has much better quality. Darren Carter did excellent - even when he was moved to left back and created the cross for the first goal.

Some negatives were Clement who looked out of his class on a few occasions especially in the difficult opening 15 minutes or so, but Clem will come good. Greening again displayed his "one trick" pulling the ball back before continuing down the wing, lost out too easily and did not create much. Kirkland was out of position on a few occasions and was lucky the finishing of Madrid was awful - Kuszczak MUST be selected in goal next week. Robinson was a powerhouse forgetting the 'friendly' part of the match in making bone crunching tackles. Chaplow did well taking over from Wallwork.

My thoughts are that we had 8 games before this to try out different permutations and would have expected the opening line up for this game to be the one that starts against Man City to at least give the players a game to 'jell', it may well be that this actually was the intended line up but as it proved in the early stages it was not quite up to scratch.

Overall I was pleased with the result and some of the football played, now I trust Robson will get it right in his selection for our opener, I will be there again so heres to a good opener and a good season-without the last gasp dramas of last season. Hope you all have a good one, BOING BOING!

John Branson:

Quite a pleasing performance against a team that showed lots of skill and some commitment. I was surprised at the line up Campbell & Horse up front with AJ, Wallwork, Carter & Gera in midfield, the team tried to play football and showed some good touches but the lack of skill in some areas showed. AJ may run around but the skill level is not good enough, Carter was not on the pace and although he had good touches needs to sharpen up. Chaplow when he came on showed much more urgency. Albrectson had a good game as did Robinson before being taken off, but Clem was poor with a game full of mistakes, he will not get away with them for real. Campbell & Horse were as we know them and will not trouble premier defences. Kamara looked keen and up for it, no sign of Earnie, Kanu did show a little more effort and Greening showed some good classy touches when on after half time. Our new goalie looked safe enough and got on well with the others.

I cannot believe this was our best team, Inamoto must start before A J and Greening is a must, Horse and Campbell cannot be the answer to our striking problems & why no Earnie?