West Bromwich Albion v. Colchester United (19th Aug) [R]

[DevilDave]

It tells you something about the potential in the Albion when we're concerned that a few of our players don't return with injuries from international action. Curtis Davies didn't play last night for England U21s, but Gera and Zuberbuhler will see midweek action for their respective countries tonight (Wednesday). Hopefully we will have a full squad available Saturday, a match we must win.

It is one of the dreaded scenarios for any relegated club - having to play a club that had won promotion. Colchester have struggled in their first few matches. If they gain anything at the Hawthorns, it would clearly be a victory for the U's. On the other hand, anything less than a thorough thrashing of Colchester by our lads would simply not be good enough.

The challenge is there then. Can we please not underestimate Colchester... at least until we're three goals up?

[DevilDave]

As I said above, anything short of a thrashing of Championship new boys Colchester would not be good enough. So what kind of Albion performance did we get today? Perhaps enough for three points, but not consistently good enough throughout the match.

We bossed the first half of the match, when now-fit Ellington got his penalty and Ronnie Wallwork added a second for us. Unfortunately, as has become a familiar sight for Albion fans, the Baggies returned from half-time a different team... and not for the better. We should have bagged more goals, but we couldn't finish. Furthermore, we let Colchester back into the match, and after they pulled one back late, the U's threatened to leave the Hawthorns with a point.

I should be happy in the wake of a home win, but I'm not. Albion are capable of far better than what we got today. I don't understand how our lads seemed to fall asleep on the pitch in the second half.

[DevilDave]

Until we get at least one new striker, I think this should be part of my sig...

FFS WE NEED A STRIKER NOW!!!!!

[Albion + England]

Spot on. First half we were brilliant - played the entire 45 minutes in their half and could have had 5 or 6. 2nd half we went to sleep for some reason. We were lazy, sloppy and were crap. Very contrasting halves. We really do need a striker.

Wallwork got a goal but was rubbish again. I don't see why Robson can't play someone else there and let Quashie do Wallworks job.

DD, how do you follow the Albion games, via streaming or radio or something else?

[DevilDave]

DD, how do you follow the Albion games, via streaming or radio or something else?


A+E, as you can imagine, my options are limited when the Albion are not in the Premiership. I was able to watch the odd Albion match on Fox Soccer Channel - typically the ones shown on Sky, as Fox Soccer Channel is also part of the Rupert Murdoch empire.

This season, unless we make a run in the Cup, I'll only be able to follow matches via Internet audio. I've paid for the MatchLive option on the "World" part of the Albion site, and usually hear Scott Marsh (?) and Dave Bowler.

When Albion are on BRMB (as opposed to Capital Gold), I can stream Tom Ross and "Bomber" Brown's far better commentary via the BRMB site. (There's some law which only allows the stream to be offered in the UK, but it's easy to overcome that limitation.)

[DevilDave]

In the short time since my last post, I've signed up for Setanta Broadband, through which I'll be able to watch our Carling Cup match against Orient Thursday and then our match against Sunderland.

:D

(I should note, however, that should Albion win promotion, I'll be cancelling my subscription. SB is good for watching the Championship, FA Cup, Carling Cup and European matches, but not the Premiership.)