Mark Brailsford on how the end of the season might pan out
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Those present at The Amex for the Blackpool game might only now be emerging from their bouncy white rooms. Coach Oscar Garcia may have called for fans to turn the stadium into a cauldron, but after the team’s nervy display against a plucky Blackpool side, the stadium more closely resembled a pit of anxiety.
Although Reading seized the opportunity to leapfrog the Albion and move into 6th place, they, like Forest and Ipswich, seem to be possessed by what golfers call the ‘yips’. None of the teams chasing that last play-off spot seem to want it badly enough. In Albion’s case, they look like a bunch of kids playing pass the parcel with a ticking bomb, quickly throwing the parcel away in case the prize blows up in their face.
At the time of writing, Albion have yet to play Yeovil, so their fate may or not have been sealed by the time you read this. But if, as I suspect, this dodge the parcel game has led to yet another twist, then it could all come down to that last game of the season at Nottingham Forest. If you think the tension is bad now, wait for when the music finally stops at the end of that game. If Albion somehow do fluke their way into that last play-off spot, then the men in white coats may have a job lot on their hands.
How will this season be judged?
Once the dust has settled and the World Cup hoves into view, perspective will dawn and the season can be reviewed in a calmer atmosphere than the febrile one of the play-off chase. At the start of the season, the Gus Poyet fallout was still settling, Oscar Garcia had very little time to shape his team, that is if you can even call this Oscar’s team. The injuries have been quite devastating. CMS, Hoskins, Ulloa and notably Crofts – they left a huge hole in the squad, and quite an expensive one at that. Selling Ashley Barnes can also be viewed as contentious in the circumstances. However, despite all this Oscar Garcia has presided over a chase for the play-offs.
Unconvincing as it has been at times, the fact remains that this can be viewed as a positive. This summer sees the opening of the new training ground. This will have a series of advantages. That the pitches are similar to the Amex surface is a much underestimated bonus, while the usefulness of an all-weather training facility when the winter bites cannot be ignored.
There have been numerous positives in the shape of the massively impressive Rohan Ince (Liam Bridcutt’s exit has barely registered), the emergence of Solly March and the increasing maturity of Jake Forster Caskey. Factor in the signing of the excellent Dale Stephens and the nucleus of a fantastic team is emerging.
“Now may not be the ideal time to get promoted”
It is to be assumed that Oscar will be given more time to build his own team, and at the risk of sounding pessimistic, now may not be the ideal time to get promoted. Much better to have a more convincing style of play and aim for automatic promotion next season, but then again, this is the Albion and as the older fans will tell you, we never do it the easy way. Wembley anyone?
