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Albion - the great top flight enigma
It is difficult to know whether to admire or deride West Brom after their latest relegation from the Premier League.
The only certain thing is that they are in the unenviable position of being too good for the Championship and not good enough for the top flight.
The club, and manager Tony Mowbray in particular, deserve admiration for sticking to their guns, not spending massive money or resorting to strongarm tactics.
Anyone who has seen the Albion play this season, either in the flesh or on television, knows that they are a team without stars and one that likes to play attractive football.
The fact that Stoke City have survived with their direct approach must make it even more galling.
And after three relegations from the Premier League in seven seasons, you would have thought they may have to change the way they approach things next time.
But they won't.
Mowbray, whose position at the club appears to be fireproof and whose name was chanted by the crowd as the club sank to defeat - and confirmed relegation - against Liverpool at the weekend, will not change.
And as long as the fans are happy with their team's yo-yo existence, then there is no reason for the directors to worry.
Mowbray will get the team back up at this time next year, tell everyone that they will not bankrupt the club to keep it there and within one or two seasons return to the second tier.
What I have always wondered is why supporters continue to turn up when they know in their heart of hearts what is going to happen?
And would they not prefer to see a winning team than a team playing the 'right way' and losing?
I suppose it's a case of horses for courses and at The Hawthorns they prefer style over substance.
At the other end of the Premier League table, Manchester United continued their domination with a third successive title.
It is remarkable that before Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed manager at Old Trafford in 1986, United had won 14 trophies.
Since then they have picked up a further 22, including 11 top flight titles.
Fergie has not just had a major effect on United, he has made a profound difference to the other Reds down the East Lancs Road.
Liverpool had won 29 trophies before Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford, but only 11 since and their last top flight triumph was in 1990.
I don't expect things to change back any time soon.
Having joined Halifax Town in becoming the second side to be relegated from the Football League twice in their history, Chester City have taken another leaf out of the Shaymen's book by going into administration after suffering the drop.
The same thing happened at Halifax in 2002 when the entire playing squad was sacked by the administrator.
What price the Deva Stadium hosting Unibond League football in a few years' time?
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
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