This week I spoke to Baggies fans Dean Walton and Dan Watts
1) West Brom are safe from relegation but where will you finish this season? What were your expectations?
I thought we would kick on from last season but we haven’t changed the negative style. I think we will finish 15th
*2) Which two teams do you think will suffer relegation along with Aston Villa this season? *
Newcastle and Norwich
3) How do you rate West Ham’s manager Slaven Bilic and his first season in charge of a Premier league team?
He seems to have done a good job – surely challenging for a European place is more than you could have hoped for?
5) If you could have any current West Ham player in your team who would you choose and who would you replace to slot them in to your first
team?
It looks as though Sessegnon could be on the move so Payet would fit in nicely!
6) Do you understand what the ‘West Ham way is’ and what it means to Hammers fans. Do West Brom have their own way and if so what is it?
I’m old enough to have watched West Ham in the 70s so I fully understand the ‘West ham’ way and the excellent football that the Irons used to play. We used to play the same, however Tony Pulis soon put paid to that!!
7) What is the Baggie’s achilles heel?
It used to be defending a one goal lead, however it now seems to be holding on for a 0-0!
8) The OS deal for West Ham’s occupancy of the Olympic Stadium was published recently but does the fact that West Ham got a good deal bother you personally as a football fan?
Not really, it was sad to go to The Boleyn for the last time this season but at least I have a new ground to visit next season.
9) How do you expect the Baggies to setup against West Ham on Saturday/ Team/formation prediction?
I would like to think that the defensive shackles will be off (like the second half at Spurs on Monday) but knowing Pulis he will give you too much respect and set up not to lose.
10) What is your score Prediction for Saturday?
1-1
Dean is launching a book ‘Born to be a Baggie’ in the Fanzone at The Hawthorns before the game on Saturday. Between 12pm- 2.30pm – all West Ham fans welcome. I have a few Albion legends joining me in the marquee. The book covers my 50 years of following the Baggies – 150 different grounds, 18 different countries. Follow on @BorntoBaBaggie
My thanks to Dean for his answers:
Two for the price of one this week as I also spoke to Baggies fan Dan Watts
1) West Brom are safe from relegation but where will you finish this season? What were your expectations?
A – With three tough games coming up I can see us probably dropping a couple of places by the end of the season. I’m going to say we’ll finish 15th. At the start of the season I think most Albion fans will have said safety is the main concern, so we won’t complain on that front. However many Baggies fans, much like West Ham fans were under Allardyce, are getting a bit fed up with the negative approach to games. I mean don’t get me wrong, facing the big sides, park the bus, but we’ve failed to register a single shot on target in seven different fixtures this season, one of those was against Villa!
2) Which two teams do you think will suffer relegation along with Aston Villa this season?
A – I predict Newcastle United will be the ones to survive. I completed one of those result predictor websites the other day and they came out 17th. What a life I lead!
3) How do you rate West Ham’s manager Slaven Bilic and his first season in charge of a Premier league team?
A – Superb. I remember saying in a similar Q & A for the game at the Boleyn Ground that I felt it was a mistake not taking the Europa League seriously, however in hindsight, you might not be where you are now had you qualified. It’s looking good for the Hammers, who knows you may even sneak that 4th spot.
4) West Ham sit in sixth place after briefly occupying third but what league position can West Ham realistically achieve this season under Bilic?
A – As above. You may as well aim for it! How great would Champions League nights be next season if it were Leicester, Spurs, yourselves and maybe Man City on the box as opposed to the usual lot.
5) If you could have any current West Ham player in your team who would you choose and who would you replace to slot them in to your first team?
A – I suppose every single opposition supporter is going to give the same answer here. Dimitri Payet. For someone a bit different though I’ll say Andy Carroll. Him and Tony Pulis are a match made in heaven.
6) Do you understand what the ‘West Ham way is’ and what it means to Hammers fans. Do West Brom have their own way and if so what is it?
A – I don’t really buy in to any particular ‘way’ for any club really. Every team has had successful spells at some point and every supporter I’m sure would love to see their team playing attractive football on their way to lifting trophies. We (Albion) don’t particularly have a ‘way’. Our current setup, as you may know, is fielding a team full of centre halves and hoping to catch teams asleep at set pieces!
7) What is the Baggie’s achilles heel?
A – Pace on the wings can be a problem. Antonio will no doubt have a field day against whichever of our centre halves starts at left-back. Dawson is able on the right side of our defence but we can be unlocked by quick movement, trickery and quick play, something I’ve seen West Ham do a fair bit this season.
8) The OS deal for West Ham’s occupancy of the Olympic Stadium was published recently but does the fact that West Ham got a good deal bother you personally as a football fan?
A – I’m glad to have contributed towards your new stadium! Seriously though, as I said last time around, I’m not too fussed. Any club in your position would have been stupid not to explore the option, so fair play. It’s a new ground to visit as well. I look forward to it.
9) How do you expect the Baggies to setup against West Ham on Saturday/ Team/formation prediction?
A – Hopefully, as we did in the second half against Spurs on Monday night. We need to punish you from set pieces and look to get Sessegnon on the ball as often as we can, with Yacob winning the ball back in positive areas. Who knows what Albion side we’ll see though, we’ve been hit and miss at home this season.
10) What is your score Prediction for Saturday?
A – West Ham win. 2-0.
Cheers for inviting me to complete another Q & A. You can find me on Twitter at @TheWatts22 or @BaggiesFacts Dan
My thanks to Dan for his answers.
Personally I predict a 2-1 win for West Ham and another important three points as we chase that European place.
Come on you Irons Sean @WestHamFootball on twitter