So a long three month break finally came to an end with the game against Liverpool. A new man in charge with Steve Clarke taking the helm for the first time, and of course the fixture list made it so we played his old club Liverpool.
The away fans were in high spirits with Borini and Allen new signings and a new manager themselves in Brendan Rodgers. They had also had the pleasure of already playing competitive football, a two legged Europa League qualifier against FC Gomel, who they convincingly beat.
That being said, we had had a positive pre-season with competition as rife as it has ever been. Honestly, have you ever seen a side where one bad game and you could be replaced by someone just as good or, in some cases, better? Amazing, credit to our scouts, coaches and the board.
Questions were asked who would start and, more importantly, which formation we would take up as we have a large contingent of attacking talents all worthy of starts, but as Clarke himself said: “I didn’t come here to make things easy for myself.” And, well, he hasn’t.
The team
He started with the old reliable back 5 of Foster in goal, Ridgewell, Olsson, McAuley and Reid. Good as they know each other and the way they play, lots of experience – although not so much pace but, then again, it can be argued that a player that can read the game needs no pace.
Our midfield was always going to be a big call with many wanting to play but Clarke made the call to start Yacob and Mulumbu as the holding players, Gera on one wing and Odemwingie on the other, with Morrison in behind Long. This was interesting to see, mainly because we could change a game without subs. Gera, Odemwingie and Morrison can all play across the front four which always helps.
Long started up top beating off Fortune and new boy Lukaku. The bench showed no Billy Jones, instead, a player I actually thought had left in Jara-Reyes along with Myhill, Brunt (worth noting he will start when fit as he is captain, where he will fit no one knows) Dawson, El Ghanassy – very much an impact player this season, and one for the future I believe in cup comps and maybe the odd cameo – Fortune and Lukaku.
First half
Anyway, the teams were announced, the crowd was in good voice, and we kicked off, a game with little in it early on. The midfield looked lively with Yacob man-marking Gerrard very well and forcing the England captain to turn backwards when on the ball or cutting off the option. Along with Mulumbu we kept shape and the knowledge of the ever vocal Gera seemed to work wonders telling players to slide or move into pockets and, although the Hungarian has little pace he certainly has ability and strength to hold off a man.
The first chance fell to Liam Ridgewell after a neat piece of interplay with Gera. His shot however curled just over. The next chance for the Baggies fell to Steven Reid, the full back took a free kick just outside of the area and it looped just over the bar with Pepe Renia not overly worried by the Irishman’s shot.
As the half went on we became comfortable, we pressed early and high but never looked too venerable. We did give them possession, but that comes with Rodgers, you know, like a game against Arsenal or Barcelona, possession will not be something you dominate therefore you have to cut off forward options, something, I believe, we did well. Liverpool were made to go square and play in front of us as we didn’t allow the pass through the backline, although some good work on the wings did create chances for the visitors.
Johnson was striding forward at every opportunity and with Odemwingie lethargically getting back it meant Reid was covering two players meaning Suarez was benefiting far too much. He made a smart turn and forcedFoster, last season’s fans and players’ player of the year, into a smart but simple stop diving to his left to deny the unpopular striker.
Foster was again forced into a low down save, again by Suarez, when the Uruguayan used some quick footwork in the box to get a shot off from a difficult angle. Suarez’s third chance came when the Reds again used a 2 vs 1 against Reid to get Johnson in to cross from the by line, the ball went across the 6 yard box to an unmarked Suarez who thankfully could not get over the ball. But if he had done then it would have been a goal – Foster couldn’t get over the goal quick enough and the defenders weren’t anywhere. I must stress though, those chances came from breaks when we had possession but either little or nothing came from them.
That may seem a little bit like it was one sided, and to an extent it was, but you always felt we had a goal in us. We weren’t disorganised, we were fluid, strong and seemed to have confidence and self belief. We didn’t create bucket loads, but we always felt we were as good as them and then we took the lead. A corner was whipped in and headed out to Gera who took it on his chest and let rip, Johnson couldn’t get to him quick enough and the swerve meant it beat Renia.
The place erupted, literally, the love for this man at the club is matched by few, if any, I was pointing at my shirt like he had forgotten his name, I was nearly reduced to tears. If anyone deserved it it was him as shown later with Clarke and Reid both telling of their joy for the club’s modern day legend.
We gave away a daft free kick on the edge of the box, we did this far too much for my liking, the issue wasn’t how close they were but how central they were, they could have gone either way, any corner, luckily they came to nothing.
Half Time came and I have honestly never heard a cheer so loud for a half. It really was amazing. Even the bloke in front said: “it’s a shame it’s a 90 minute match.” The players were clapped and cheered by all after working hard and keeping disciplined.
After the break
Start of the half, no changes. We again gave away a daft central free kick and Suarez, rightly, deciding the ball was too close to get it up and down in time, tried to audaciously curl it around the wall, this attempt failed. Worryingly, if you look at the wall there was a huge gap in it, could have easily been planted there.
Anyway, again we didn’t let the team we were facing get above us and we continued playing nice attractive passing football. But this, unlike the Mowbray days, always looked to have a purpose, a movement would always mean someone was available, that person would normally be in a forward position as well.
Morrison then threaded the ball through to Long. Agger was the man against Long and the defender was attempting to ‘ease’ Long off the ball. Sadly, for him anyway, he seemed to turn the ease into a push and fouled Long, arguably outside the box, at the speed it happened it is a tough call and I would have said pen. I think the contact began outside the box but the movement that fouled Long was inside, therefore a pen. And of course as last man he has to go.
What riled me before the penalty was taken was the fact that Agger took an age to get off and Renia didn’t get on his line, then, due to time taken Liverpool made a sub, something I feel shouldn’t happen. Anyway that all seemed to play a part as Long stepped up to hit it weak, central and low Renia saving easily.
I must however say Long then gave Carragher, the sub, a 10 yard head start and still forced the former England international into playing it out for a West Brom throw in. As his name was sang by all four corners of The Hawthorns, Long, gratefully, clapped the Hawthorns faithful.
Then in case we were in any doubt of his commitment to us he got in-between Skrtl and the ball, touched the ball and Skrtl, not realising Long was there, went to play the ball, in doing so he made contact with Long, the contact sent Long down how big was the contact? It wasn’t massive, did it send Long down? Yes, therefore a pen.
As Liverpool licked their wounds, Odemwingie was having an altercation with Morrison. It appeared to most that Morrison wanted the penalty but Odemwingie, who had begged Long for the first, forced Morrison to step back and he himself would take the spot kick. Thankfully for him the ball rocketed into the right corner with Renia simply not long enough to reach it.
From here on in it was an easy ride. Liverpool looked lost, Albion looked majestic. Like I said before we had a purpose; a purpose we hadn’t really lacked under Roy, but under Roy we sometimes looked fruitless going forward. With Clarke we were anything but.
Suarez again missed a sitter from a free header, but that is nothing unusual. As we showed little fear we wanted to get towards the Brummie Road, and when we did it came with delight. Lukaku, a man that can’t help but get the name Tchyoi associated with him, headed home after Liam Ridgewell chipped an absolutely beautiful ball over to the Belgium international where Lukaku impressively stood still while the Liverpool defenders around panicked. He didn’t and he found a gap between Glenn Johnson and the post to make it three. Chants of ‘easy’ rung around the Hawthorns.
Frustration came when Morrison had a chance on a plate. Lukaku used power and pace to find the Scot, free and with time but he leaned back and went for the top corner and instead found the stands. I know it is easy for me, behind a computer screen to say, but get over the ball drive it low and you get four. He could have probably even took a touch and shot or tried to round Renia!
Fortune was closest to making it another as Lukaku threaded the ball through to the big man who powerfully shrugged off Martin Kelly to get a strike off on goal where Renia, who with all due respect, was in no man’s land but still made a smart save.
As the end neared fans wanted four but it didn’t seem we were going for it. We kept the ball, played square and didn’t attack as much as some would like. The full time whistle went, players clapped fans and Long came back out, the only one to do so, while Steve Clarke shook every hand as they left the pitch which, although it may not seem much it all adds up!
On reflection
Pinch me! Hands up if you would have taken a draw pre-match. Steve Clarke deserves a lot of credit. He set up a side that worked well. We just had so much interplay, we knew what to do in every situation. I can see the players’ minds working - “right he has gone there, so I move here” etc. It was a really organised, attractive and impressive performance.
Yacob had the job of marking Gerrard and he did it to perfection. He completed 50/52 passes –the best of the day out of all game in the Premier League – and really seems quite an addition. Well done to the scouts. Lukaku was a real impact, the size and presence of Tchyoi, power and pace of Miller and the talent, it seems, like a striker we haven’t seen for a while. I hope we use this confidence to get more points and release pressure on us, it would be great to see.
I don’t have many issues, but the one I do have is where Brunt will fit into the side as captain. Clarke has a job on keeping all players happy, I doubt a cup run will do enough for most of them.
I like the way we play, I really do, and it will be interesting to see how Clarke deals with a bad run of results because he seems to be very realistic and smart. I really do believe he will make it as a manager.
Great win, great performance, football is back, the good days are back. Attractive, passing football is at The Hawthorns and let’s hope it is here to stay. We look a Premier League side, but we have to prove it and show it on the pitch, keep the football and style the same and my 12th place prediction looks good.
Proud.
Also a quick mention to Zoopla who are donating a grand a goal to charity this season so every goal West Brom score grand from Zoopla goes to charity, very good of them.
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