Albion Outlook: West Brom fans have their say as winless run continues

Clint McCormick

Another week without a win as the run goes on. That's the negative amongst so many positives.

We are passing the ball with confidence, players are moving and trusting each other and we're making chances.

We had more shots on target than Manchester United this past Sunday.

Chris Brunt has to start if he's fit. He brings so much to our side as was again evident on Sunday once he came on.

With Matt Phillips, Nacer Chadli and Craig Dawson almost fit and James Morrison not far behind hopefully, then we are could be getting some great attacking options on the field.

I see a point on the road anywhere as a positive and with one win away this calendar year a point at Stoke – even if we end up bottom at Christmas – is a step in the right direction.

The league is so tight like last season when we were just above the pack and Everton, Leicester and West Ham have shown that a few results can change your outlook from a relegation fight to a top half finish.

Saturday's game in the Potteries feels like a good chance to start that run and give us all a Merry Christmas.

Shaun Harrison

Yes we battled against Liverpool, and yes we pushed a bit harder against the might of Manchester United, but we still have no victory to our name to help us climb out of trouble.

Chris Brunt was a clear spark of enthusiasm last Sunday, and whilst it's true the majority of the team are trying, their somewhat limited abilities are now as evident as the jangled nerves in the stands of The Hawthorns.

Alan Pardew has moved the team into a more offensive direction but even though he's attempting to load both barrels, for now it seems he has a lack of ammunition.

Albion need a stroke of luck, an own goal or something to ignite them to victory.

My biggest worry is that without a match-winner in our midst we will give mere spoonfuls while taking in buckets.

All we can do as fans is get behind the team, and have a go at the opposition because seeing Albion in the Championship would be a disaster beyond words.

There are signs of improvement, we have seen more desire from our team and it's that we need to build on. It's not over yet by any stretch of the imagination.

Alan Foster

Looking at our fixture list over the Christmas period and into the New Year shows it is not going to get any easier, with a vital away game at Stoke and home games coming up against an in-form Everton side, and a top six Arsenal.

With this in mind it is imperative we keep in touch with the sides that are only a win or two away from us.

Although we are looking more of a threat in front of goal, we have only scored one goal since our new manager’s arrival, and looking at the squad it is hard to see where the goals are coming from.

With this in mind, I think the priority in January has to be a striker, who can actually score goals, and a goal scoring midfielder.

Our need for a right back is there for all to see, but with Dawson near to returning, all our funds need to address the goal-scoring problem we have had for a few seasons. The problem has worsened because set-play goals are drying up in the absence of Dawson, McAuley and Brunt.

Tom Goffe

I saw a lot of criticism aimed towards Alan Pardew after Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United, but I felt it was completely unjustified.

He’s inherited an un-balanced squad heavy on defensive players and of the few players that actually do offer some sort of threat going forward, the majority are injured at the moment!

I genuinely believe that a couple of new faces in January combined with Nacer Chadli, Matt Phillips, Chris Brunt and James Morrison all returning to match fitness will help results start to improve and the goals will start flowing.

However, the worry I have is that it will be too late. Everyone around us seems to be picking up a win here and there yet our horrific winless run continues.

With the players he currently has at his disposal, I just can’t see that changing any time soon.

You can see he’s desperate to put his stamp on this team but I just don’t think its possible with what’s currently available to him.

The only way I see us getting out of this mess is if he’s backed in the January transfer window and new signings are brought in early doors.

Because if not, I fear by the time he eventually does manage to put his stamp on things we could find ourselves cut adrift from the pack.

Sarah Rudge

Since Alan Pardew's arrival a few weeks ago, it is clear to see that our style of play has began to develop and we are seeing more attacking football than under Tony Pulis.

However, with the situation we currently find ourselves in, languishing in 19th place in the table, only results matter and currently they are not improving.

In all fairness, Pardew has had a tough start facing the task of high flying Liverpool and Manchester United along with Crystal Palace and Swansea who are also fighting for their lives.

With our next game against struggling Stoke City, this match is being billed as one of the most important in the club's recent history.

With games against in-form Everton and Arsenal to come over the festive period it is vitally important we take all three points against the Potters.

Defensively we have certainly improved in recent weeks but we are still finding goals hard to come by with only one goal having been scored during Pardew's tenure so far.

Obtaining another striker in January should definitely be high on our list of priorities and could be the difference between us retaining our Premier League status or returning to the Championship.