We're all @DarylDike this evening, aren't we? 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3RNrJNcKWw— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 2, 2023
This is a familiar story - Dike joins a team, he contributes to some goals, bullies opponents, produces some moments of low-key deftness - and they fly up the ranks. It happened at Orlando, it happened at Barnsley, & now at WBA: West Brom since Daryl Dike made his return from injury on November 12, 2022:WWWLWWWThe Baggies were in dead last before his return and are now in 9th place. 😳🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Rci3mev3VJ— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 2, 2023 There's little doubt WBA will at least make the promotional playoffs. Their underlying #'s are practically best in the league. Soccerstats has their xg as #2 & their xga #1. They should be in the auto promotional spots. Dike is helping them realize that potential. Unfortunate his return comes after they put themselves in a hole. They're in all likelihood too far back to make a run at the top 2. But I think they finish in 3rd if Dike doesn't go down again for an extended period. And they're favorites to earn promotion from the playoffs. At Barnsley, Dike was part of the little engine that could. Whereas WBA have horsepower.
West Brom is now 6-1 since Daryl Dike returned from injury. Dike has scored game winning goals in two of those wins (Sunderland, Reading). #USMNT— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) January 2, 2023
Their fans were giving him some gruff after a couple bundled half chances early but praising him as well for helping generate them. Then he came through and was a key part of their domination until he was subbed out. He keeps possessions alive and if he's banging in goals as well he's a real force.
West Brom down 3-2 at halftime. I imagine there's a good chance Dike comes in soon. EDIT: 2nd half apparently just started--no Dike yet.
The game ended 3-3, with the tying goal scored by West Brom's Asante very late (90+3). They'll play a second leg at West Brom because of it. I looked up the FA Cup rules because I had expected extra time--if the first meeting ends in a tie then they play a second game. If one team wins in the first then that's that.
According to the broadcasters, Asante should have been sent off for a foul a minute prior to the goal.
Yea, I only know that rule because of FM. It is absolutely brutal to have to replay a 5th division side this time of year in the Championship when match congestion and fatigue is at its worst. There are def parts of the fanbase and coaching staff that probably would have preferred to just lose given their goal of promotion is >>>>> making a unlikely run into Wembley for a Cup Semi Final. As for me, game was mostly over by the time I woke up and had a coffee in me, seems like Dike did OK -- ah west coast English football.
BTA (Asante) is a fun side bar to Dike's Albion adventure... He was scooped up by Steve Bruce's son apparently from a non league level and has scored some pretty great goals since arriving and leads Albion in goals.. and he and DD have developed a broship ever since.
The FA got rid of replays in this round and the next for the last 2 years because of Covid fixture congestion, but reinstated them for this season. There are rumblings about them being eliminated permanently going forward.
Welp looks like a 3 match ban for elbowing is coming down the pipeline for Brandon T Assante... Dike gets the next 3 to establish himself as the #1 guy at WBA.
Dike gets a goal for West Brom today against Luton Town. Sounds like it may not have been Horvath's proudest moment, though a lot depends on what exactly happened on the play. 39’ | Dike gets us a goal back!He chases down the goalkeeper who tries to clear the ball, it cannons off him and goes in!🎩 2-1 💚💛 | #WBA— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 14, 2023
A while ago, many left WBA for dead. They're already in a promotional playoff spot. The Dike Factor: 1614308044137009154 is not a valid tweet id Daryl Dike scores once and logs 90 minutes as West Brom fights back to defeat Luton Town 3-2. Also won 5/11 duels, hit the crossbar, and completed 94% of his passes. #USMNT— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) January 14, 2023
this is like Deja Vu for Dike with Barnsley; Is this the Dike effect? Orlando, Barnsley, now WBA, all winning teams when he plays.
It's a combo of things for West Brom. Hiring Carlos Corberan to replace Steve Bruce is a big one (almost got Huddersfield promoted and without him their likely going to League 1) but Dike has been a huge factor as well. While he may not be the most technical player his speed, strength, and hustle is at times too much for Championship teams