Angry fans are voting with feet in season from hell
STEVE Bruce is still seeking his first win in charge of beleaguered Albion after Monday night’s woeful 2-0 defeat to Swansea.
Furious supporters chanted “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” as the Baggies’ alarming slump continued.
Late goals from Joel Piroe and Cyrus Christie made it one win in 12 Championship games for West
Brom, one point from a possible 21 and one goal in ten-and-a-half hours of football.
The home side twice hit a post from Callum Robinson, but failed to test Andrew Fisher, the Swansea goalkeeper.
Here are the talking points from another horror show at The Hawthorns.
n Fast-forward
Forget the play-offs! Albion just need this hellish season to end. There is a crisis of confidence and the players must shoulder plenty of the blame.
They got both barrels from the fans, which ought to cut deep for a bunch of players, many of whom have been at The Hawthorns for years – but we’ll see.
A mid-table finish, anywhere between tenth and 18th, now looks the most probable outcome for a club who have fallen off a cliff in frightening fashion.
Let it not be forgotten they posted Albion’s longest unbeaten start to a league season in the first couple of months. Then Stoke inflicted their first defeat, and the season has since unravelled.
What they must do, what the supporters have to see, is something to take into next season.
These hangovers can take their toll and span multiple campaigns.
Back-fire
The players need to accept responsibility but Bruce was also at fault.
After damaging defeats to Luton and Middlesbrough, many supporters were bemused to see minimal changes to the starting XI.
It is true, as Bruce pointed out, that he hardly has an embarrassment of riches to turn to on the bench, but at this point fans would rather see youthful exuberance.
The labouring midfield was asked to go again, while Jake Livermore sat out his fourth and final game of a suspension. These past few weeks have made him look invaluable.
Then there was the second-half gamble which backfired. Bruce called for Quevin Castro, who showed energy and an eagerness to impress, but the switch in shape – in the hope they could go on and nick a winner – was detrimental.
Sad state of affairs
I personally know supporters who stayed away on Monday night, not for the first time this season either.
It is sad that others who have bought tickets for upcoming away games are looking to sell them.
They would rather do other things than follow Albion, and that can be no bigger indictment, no greater indicator of the collective attitude of the fanbase right now.
Yes, Sky Sports have ripped up the calendar. Moving games to Mondays and Fridays has meant many fans can’t attend, or for those ‘umming’ and ‘aahing’, their minds were made up.
Albion didn’t announce an official attendance but there were empty seats in their thousands around The Hawthorns, which has sadly become a common theme this season.
Bigger picture
Huge changes must take place in the summer – but will they?
Over the course of this season, Conor Townsend, Darnell Furlong and
Matt Phillips have been handed new contracts. Livermore and Kyle Bartley will stay for another year after triggering extensions.
Karlan Grant, Grady Diangana and Callum Robinson have at least three years remaining on their respective deals. The only senior players set to move on are the two goalkeepers, one of whom would otherwise be an asset but for his contract status.
Daryl Dike and Taylor GardnerHickman have extensive contracts so there is something to build around going forwards, but on the face of it a number of players at the club will remain there.
How Albion negotiate the summer transfer window will be key but it is clear there needs to be more imagination in recruitment.