Am I the only one who found Match of the Day dreadfully condescending towards West Bromwich Albion after their brilliant win over Arsenal last Saturday? Alan Shearer said well done in a “let’s get it over with” sort of way before getting onto one of the national media’s favourite subjects Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.
The Baggies did not sneak it nor were they lucky they were deserved winners although MOTD appeared to be certain that Albion won because Arsenal were poor. Without any argument whatsoever the fact is that the Gunners played as well as Albion allowed them to-end of story.
Tactically Tony Pulis got it spot on as his team played at a pace, high energy and physicality level that just did not suit Arsenal. It is an old cliché but Albion definitely wanted it more but that does not mean Arsenal were poor but that Albion executed their game plan better than the Londoners. That is to their credit.
On social media sites Twitter and Facebook people have been saying in answer to me that no one is really interested in West Brom outside of the Hawthorns. Give me a break! That attitude typifies all that is wrong with the game where the ups and downs of the so called six big Premier League clubs dominating our national newspapers and national radio and TV broadcasters.
Most of the reports started with something along the lines of “the defeat means that Arsenal have lost four of their last five games” not a mention of how West Brom out-fought and out-thought them.
I did have a wry smile on my face when I saw that Arsenal had 77% of the possession with Albion only having 23%. I just said to myself “who cares”? And I am sure that went through Tony Pulis’s mind as well.
It is simple chances=shots on target=goals=points whatever the possession stats are.
However to get to that position you have to collectively win the physical battle and that also means players have win their personal battles. If enough do that then you will create chances irrespective of whether or not you have passed the ball hundreds of times to each other in your own half.
The game is not rocket science and is simple but can and often does get over-complicated by those in it, in my opinion.
West Bromwich Albion are carrying the football flag for the West Midlands and should get the credit they deserve for that and also any win they get in one of the most unforgiving and unsympathetic leagues in the world.