Daryl Dike at West Bromwich Albion

I mean, tell that to Gyassi Zardes. Sometimes a bad touch is an asset

 

It basically varies from he's the worst football player they've ever seen and should be gone in the summer to he's only 22 he'll come good and be a 20 goal scorer one day!

There are a few level heads but they get drowned out by the 'les miserables' crowd.

It was the same with the Barnsley online contingent except once he started scoring a goal a match they were upset his form was outpricing anything they could afford.

 

Dike starts! West Brom (9th) v Huddersfield (23rd).

Very helpfully, Stoke City defeated Blackburn (4th) yesterday.

 

Went the distance in a 1-0 win over woeful Huddersfield. Still a few points off playoff pace, though.

 

The one midfielder they have that can actually provide a decent ball to Dike scored the winner (pen) today but he's been pretty awful overall the last several games. They just don't have anyone to replace him and that leaves only one other player can do any kind of playmaking except he's a winger and doesn't really influence much beyond the occasional decent cross. They'll need something special to win a few of these away matches coming up that they desperately need to make the playoffs. Dike is going to have to up his game if he wants to keep scoring in these last 10 matches.

 

They're pretty sure it's hairy, carries a club, and eats raw meat

 

Here's what a footballer looks like ...

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Ten games left, WB still needing to outperform several members of the chasing pack, all seeking to finish in the top six.

Home record 12W 8D 3L = 44 points (almost 2/game)
Away record 6W 5D 12L = 23 points ( just 1/game)

@ Cardiff City (21)
{International Break}
v Millwall (6)
@ Rotherham (20)
v QPR (19)
@ Stoke City (14)
@ Blackpool (22)
v Sunderland (10)
@ Sheffield Utd (2) - the only game that looks 'super tough,' if SU is still fighting hard
v Norwich City (7)
@ Swansea (17)

The bad news: Only four of the ten remaining games are at home.

The good news: Only four top-ten opponents remain, and three of those (six-pointers) are home games. The other six opponents are currently 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, and 22.

It's hard to know now how fierce the battle will be with the lower-table teams, perhaps fighting to avoid relegation, but nine of the remaining ten games appear to be winnable.

 

Here's the 538 update, ten games remaining, suggesting WB will need to outperform expectations. Likely the table will remain very tight through the final weekend.

Projected at season's end:

1 Burnley (99)
2 Sheffield Utd (84)

3 Middlesbrough (81)
4 Luton Town (77)
5 Millwall (75)
6 Blackburn (71)

7 Norwich (71)
8 West Brom (70)
9 Coventry City (68)
10 Watford (66)
11 Sunderland (65)

 

I don't see Millwall or Blackburn keeping up the pace they have the last couple of weeks. I think they will be the easiest to pass in the standings... *if* Brom can figure out their away form.

 

Which WC did Zardes play in?

 

Yeah hopefully wba and Norwich get to playoff with Luton and middlesboro. Then we are guarantee to have yank to epl next yr.

 

Great shot of former Barnsley teammates!

 

Zardes is making 1.5 mil in MLS and has 68 caps...both metrics are still far ahead Dike. Point is any player who isn't supremely gifted with his touch has to make up for it in other ways. ALL of our strikers can learn from Gyasi in terms of workrate and professionalism, two things he's all world at. Dike is on a good path and he might one day prove to be the upgraded version of a guy like Zardes (different body types, different games, yes, but the spirit is there). But I'm sure Dike would gladly take Zardes' salary and cap count.

 

Judging by the official WBA twitter Dike is gonna start today: he's all over it. Official lineups out any minute and will update my post.

Starts.

The boss names his side to take on @CardiffCityFC! 📋

𝐔𝐓𝐀! 💚💛

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) March 15, 2023

 

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Dike starts! @ Cardiff City

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Was one of two #9's call in for nations league.

 

I turned it off but Cardiff tied it up and the WBA fans are furious Dike came off.

 

He might have a concussion. Took a blow to the head during the 2nd half. He played on a bit after but would explain why he came off so early.

 

7 goals/1 assist in 19 league matches with 4 goals in his last 5 appearances.

 

DARYL DIKE...DAARRYL DDIIIKKKEEEEE......DDDDAARYL DIKKKEEEEE

DIIIIIKKEEEE IS THE ONE, OH YES DIIIIIKKEEEE IS THE ONE

DIIIIIKKEEEE DDIIIKKKEEEE DDIIKEEEEEEE

WE ARE WEST BROMWICH ALBION

WHERE DARYL DIKE SCORES FOR FUN