kick it off

I''m unsure as to why people are going for Ayala? He gave the pen away with a horrible tackle, on two occassions ran around in circles in his own box, dribbling out and giving away unneccessary corner (and once a throw that prob should have been a corner). He was shaky yesterday in my book, however I think he has done really great these past few weeks and he''s only a young lad - looks like he could be a great signing but never MOTM for me yesterday. I thought MOTM was probably Surman or Naughton, both of whom had outstanding games, Whitbread wasn''t too far behind them. Morison also had a class game yesterday.

I like Ed Balls, and saw him at games a few times in the League 1 season so whoever said he wasn''t there is talking nonsense - the bloke is a genuine fan. I would much rather see Ed Balls in a City scarf than his Tory counterpart (with the creepiest smile in the history of man) Mr Osborne. If you think Labour screwed up the economy but can''t see the Tories destroying EVERYTHING good about the country then you need to read more. Unless you are one of the Tories millionaire elitist friends then to vote Tory would mean you have to know/understand very little about politics imo.

I was only 7 during the 1993 season, but I was there and have a vivid memory of being in the stand watching Gossy notch up the equaliser to knock out the mighty Bayern Munich. That team had some fantastic players. Ruel Fox, Gossy, Crook, Culverhouse, Dave Philips, Mark Robins'' one good season, Efan Ekoku, Chrissy Sutton. We had some not so great ones too though - Rob Newman, Lee Power, But I doubt I will see a better team in my lifetime. The current team is great, and play lovely football - it''s great to see us doing so well. Yes football is different now, but we were still little old norwich back then, with a team made of other people''s rejects and reserve players and what that side achieved was sensational. Yes we''ve achieved a lot, but we won''t replicate beating Bayern, or a trip to the San Siro where we only lost 1-0, despite having half our starting XI suspended or injured. No comparison for me - the heroes of the early 90s win all day long.

Great to find out that it was the ST holders paying full price matched by Foulger that meant we were able to get him in - First Huckerby, then Holt. Two absolute legends the fans have paid for, money well spent, everyone who didn''t take a rebate should be proud to have contributed to our meteoric rise.

100% true - I dont make stuff up! See link below! http://www.wba.co.uk/page/TicketNews/0,,10366~2574572,00.html

We have been allocated the whole Smethwick end as we requested 15% of ground and segregation issues mean that they''ve had to give us the whole end. They are selling home tickets for £15 so hopefully ours will be similarly cheap!!

I''m going on Saturday but not sure where I''ll be drinking beforehand - I might go with the Vine. [Below has been taken from footballgroundsguide.com] There are no pubs for away fans that are particularly close to the ground. Huw Morris, a West Brom fan, recommends ''The Vine'' which is about a 15-20 minute walk from the ground. From Junction 1 of the M5 turn left towards West Bromwich town centre (opposite direction to the ground). Take the first left into Roebuck Street. The Vine is down on the left. You can also street park in this area and walk to the ground. This pub also does Indian food and has an indoor tandoori barbeque (from 1pm on Saturdays), plus has a beer garden with children''s play area. Barbara Osborne a visiting Newcastle United fan adds; ''The Vine from the outside looked like any small corner boozer, but inside it was quite large and it was fairly easy to get served. It had a good mix of home and away fans.'' Dave Wilson recommends; ''The Park Hotel which is just off junction one of the M5 and a 10 minute walk to the ground. You can park on their car park for £5 and away fans are always welcome. There are plenty of families who meet in here before games and it is a very safe environment. There is also plenty of street parking in and around the area of the hotel if you don''t want to pay the £5.'' Sean Mowat a visiting Sheffield United supporter adds; ''As you pass the ground on the right on the main Birmingham Road. Carry on about another half a mile and there is a pub on the right set back off the road called the Royal Oak. We''ve been in the last two times we''ve visited WBA. The beer is okay and they also serve Asian food (try the chicken kebabs!). It had a friendly atmosphere''. If travelling by Metro or train from Birmingham Snow Hill and you like your real ale, then it may be a good idea to stop off on the way to the Hawthorns at the Jewellery Quarter station. Within a 10 minute walk of the station are at least four pubs serving decent real ale. These are the Rose Villa Tavern, Brown Lion, Red Lion and Lord Clifden. The Red Lion and Lord Clifden are both listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, whilst the Brown Lion has recently opened and is effectively the brewery tap for the local Two Towers Brewery. See the Google map below for their locations (this will require you to use the arrows to move the map down and then to the to show the Jewellery Quarter and pubs). Alcohol is also available within the ground, albeit in plastic/cans, in the form of Carlsberg, Tetleys and Strongbow (all at £3.60), plus red and white wine, Smirnoff Ice, and various spirit minatures (all at £3.80).

I''m not going to comment on the likelihood of this signing or even my opinion on him - just to point out to posters who are unaware that the linked youtube video is his goals from the ANC 2010 so the level is International football - make of that what you will, but it''s not a highlights reel from the Egyptian league.

I''m assuming you''re referring to the relegation countdown clock thing, but I can''t see it - can only see the olympic one...

I don''t think he was doing badly enough to get sacked, however I do think he''s a to$$er and therefore do not feel sorry for him in the slightest. Im glad we wont have to listen to his crying, whinging and blaming everyone else, every time his team loses for a while

We''ve had good news today - Shanahan is to coach the talent packed South in the senior bowl. Couldn''t have happened to us in a better year as we''ll need a good knowledge of the later round picks if we have to trade our early round to move up for RG3/Luck. Disappointed for the 49ers to get the Saints but then again, I guess if you want a shot at the SB you''ll have to beat the best sides.

I''ll be there cheering the lads on both occasions, but if we can only win one then I''ll have the 3 points thanks. Much rather win this weekend than in the cup.

Easy away day for me so I''m well chuffed!

I agree with LDC, it will be tough but I honestly don''t think WBA are a good side, they just defend well. They don''t score many at home. I hope we get a result as Im travelling to and from the game with my WBA season ticket holding mate and I''ve a bet with him we finish above them come May.

Much as you think it''s cool to be the most pathetic poster on here JG who tries and consistently fails to say something witty, but just proves the menopause is still going strong in Norfolk.... Unfortunately we see crap like this from you with every post you make.

Agreed. BW I dunno what you''re on about, I''ve not said that to you once, and nobody reads the other forums - everyone knows that...

LOL Trent, Manning deserves MVP seeing as he got you the number one spot and either Andrew Luck or a shedload of picks!! I hope you''ll trade it away so we have less QB needy team fighting for a trade with the rams for Robert Griffin III (RG3). I desperately want him as the Redskins QB next season. Even Rex Grossman got a few TDs on the board against the giants! We need a total rebuild on the O side now, we have a decent defence - starting with RG3 (or Luck if RG3 goes #1). Im jealous of the Colts though, there is no way they are remotely as bad as this season has looked. Any coincidence they started winning once they were locked in for a top 2 pick? ;)

Nope I cant see us giving Carson any problems either... I don''t rate him at all, think he is a bit of a TURKEY...

Wild card weekend is here! Who do you want in the playoffs? Personally out of the 3 you could end up with I''d take the Giants every day of the week. Even the Skins managed to beat them twice this year!! I definitely wouldn''t wanna face NO and Brees, and ATL are a decent team too. I''m an honourary 49ers fan for the playoffs btw.

They are decimated by injury too. (Copy/paste from WBA official website - dated yesterday) Injuries: Youssouf Mulumbu will miss his third successive game against Cardiff due to a groin strain. A scan has shown no serious damage but Roy Hodgson is refusing to put a timeframe on his return. Paul Scharner will miss tomorrow''s FA Cup clash with Cardiff due to an Achilles problem. Shane Long needed an injection in his back to get through the Everton game and will miss his second successive match against Cardiff due to the same injury. Chris Brunt has been ruled out for between eight and ten weeks after fracturing his right ankle when landing awkwardly in stoppage time of the Everton game at The Hawthorns. Jonas Olsson will miss his third successive game against Cardiff due to a calf strain. Jerome Thomas limped out of the Spurs game in the 27th minute due to a groin strain and will miss the Cardiff game. Steven Reid has been sidelined for around a month after twisting his ankle in the 3-2 win at Newcastle and undergoing a successful minor operation on his left knee. Zoltan Gera will miss the rest of the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the 3-1 defeat by Tottenham on November 26. I thought they were bloody crap against us at FCR - very negative and played constant longball. We never deserved to lose that game. They''ve only managed 7 goals at home all season - as many as Grant Holt has managed on his own (home and away). They are there for the taking, and although they are tight defensively I think we have enough to get a goal or two. I don''t expect us to win, but I think we have a decent enough chance. P.S I hope Tamas gets his legs snapped for what he did to Vaughany. To$$er. I want to see some crunching challenges go in on him.

Afraid not mate, there never is streams for cup games unless they are televised - I''ve had to buy a month of CanariesWorld to listen today as I''m in the same boat as you.

Wow. Incredible reading. Absolutely gutted for the Darlo fans, they don''t deserve this.

and now he''s back to crying about it on Tw@tter. Reckons he''ll use his time off for acting lessons, I for one think he is already Oscar worthy after Gervinho incident. c0ck

Can''t see anything more than a rumour at the moment but having said that, he is exactly the type of play I''d expect Sir Paul to be looking at - would be a decent signing in my book, big, strong, quick and an eye for goal.

Yeah, think it was Motty, GP