I always feel I need to write a post whenever Albion disappoint me.
After Ben Foster brightened up injury time against Liverpool by deciding to show some much needed passion and determination to push for an equaliser, Tony Pulis insinuated post match that he wasn't happy with the stopper's decision to abandon his post. Fans have been outraged by this, especially as this is now the fourth consecutive game in which the team have failed to find the net. I, for one, was particularly impressed that Foster, who labelled himself a "Baggie for life" earlier this week, inspired the best passage of play for the hosts, albeit with little time left.
This is not the first time Albion's head coach has come out with frustrating comments. The fact that he'd rather Foster prevent a second goal to be conceded than lend a helping hand in search of picking up a point shows a particularly negative mindset and his lack of trust in said player. Pulis has been known to "namedrop" particular players in the past, whether rightly or, in my opinion, wrongly. Gareth McAuley on Astle Day for an uncharacteristic Cruyff turn fail on Jamie Vardy, Foster again for his penalty gaffe at Villa Park and poor James Chester was supposedly the sole blame for a loss against Everton. These particular moments cannot help confidence, and Chester was rarely seen again.
It is often said that making a mistake in a Pulis team can cost a player a place in the squad, and ultimately freeze them out completely. The likes of Callum McManaman and Sebastien Pocognoli made a number of mistakes and were sent on loan to Championship clubs. Chester, surprisingly a Pulis signing, was shipped out after a single season for supposedly not being tall enough. Players who Pulis is trusting continuously may have as many errors to their name as those on the periphery. Only those behind the scenes know the story there I guess.
That said, fans are now worried that our squad is too small to maintain our 8th place standing in the Premier League. Ever since the end of February in particular it has been plain to see the lack of depth we have, with the same players playing week in week out. But whilst they may not have been world beaters or Albion starters even, surely it wouldn't have hurt to have aforementioned players in the ranks for when this slump inevitably started?
If not, there were two options. Firstly, when Craig Gardner left on loan for Birmingham City and He Who Must Not Be Named departed to the Promised Land of Stoke, we had to bring in at least two new faces, which we did in Jake Livermore (Gardner's replacement) and Marc Wilson, who is yet to kick a ball in the stripes. But we didn't purchase the most important item on the shopping list: a striker. And now we are four games on the bounce and six in seven without a goal...
The second option was to play the kids. Jonathan Leko, Sam Field and Kane Wilson are three promising academy prospects, the former two already having Premier League minutes under their belts. Pulis said that once our safety was secured these three would get a chance. Albeit Leko spurned his chance with a rather appalling mistake that led to an Andros Townsend victory-sealing goal for Crystal Palace, Field has looked the real deal during his cameos and Wilson would be welcomed as a natural full back!
This has obviously come from the frustration of three consecutive losses and four games without scoring, but for a couple of seasons, the workings of Tony Pulis has baffled me. This season has been dubbed a "fantastic season", when in reality the period from November to February, on and off, was the pinnacle. We are now in danger of tailing off with a disappointing end and even at risk of being caught by Southampton and Watford behind us in 9th and 10th place respectively.
I have enjoyed much of this campaign but the sobering words of our head coach that this is "the best we'll get" puts a huge dampener on the implied lack of ambition from him. If his negativity is anything to go by, all credit must go to the players for giving their best shot, especially with the fight and passion of the loyal Ben Foster.
