At the Hawthorns, Terry Wills is getting that end of season feeling.

Seven games to go with nothing to play for apart from pride, and judged on Albion’s disappointing, to put it mildly, display at West Ham, even that appears to have taken a back seat.

I realise that no team deliberately plays badly but when you have defenders who can’t defend, creative midfielders who are anything but, and strikers in name only, it doesn’t leave much to the imagination as to why we slumped to a 3-1 defeat. Most Baggies supporters will have seen and read, courtesy of local and national media outlets, how ineffective we were so I’ll refrain from any further thoughts, except to ask if anyone has anyone EVER seen a more ridiculous, stupid, sending off than the one that resulted in Youssof Mulumbu taking an early bath?

On to Saturday and a visit from an Arsenal team going out flat out to clinch a top four spot to ensure that yet again their fans can look forward to seeing (via very expensive ticket s) the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid next season. Prospects? Being truthful, without a massive improvement I’d have to make the Gunners favourites to take the three points.

Much will depend on Steve Clarke’s team selection and his choice of substitutes, which automatically brings me back to the prolonged, controversial, arguments surrounding Peter Odemwingie. Many, if not all, supporters feel he’s outstayed his welcome and shouldn’t be anywhere near the squad but as if to prove that he’s the Gaffer, our Head Coach is more than happy to stick with him.

Equally controversial is Steve Clarke’s continuing faith in the reported ability of Markus Rosenberg.Recruited to provide genuine competition’ whenever he’s pulled on a first team shirt, he’s done little or nothing to supplement this supposition. All Clarke, and the fans, can do is to wait and see if his initial judgement can be queried.

Come on you Baggies!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]