As a baggie I was astounded after preparing myself for the Sherwood appointment. However sitting back and looking at the Irvine fiasco from another angle I think it could be a shrewd move.
I can see why all the baggies fans are up in arms about the appointment but the banners and demonstrations are pointless and distasteful.
They aren't going to do anything and they won't get Peace out. He is a frustrating chairman at times but the job he has done at Albion since he took over has been immense.
If every Albion fan had their wish and Peace threw the cheque book at any old flop we would be in the position of Portsmouth.
Peace is gambling on Irvine, but it could come off
He took over from Paul Thompson and guided West Brom from a Championship route one '1-0 to the Albion side' to being a side that has had four consecutive Premier League seasons.
He has done a great job, and his latest appointment could come off.
Terry Burton said it today's Birmingham Mail that he could be West Brom's Brendan Rodgers. A little too far for that at the moment, but I feel that when he mentioned Wenger that was a spot on comment.
Wenger had been sacked twice by small clubs in France before he came in at Arsenal and he went on to revolutionise that club.
That won't happen at Albion, but Irvine, who is regarded highly at Everton could be the one to grab his chance.
Poor records at Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End don't bode well, but he has been brought in as a 'head coach' and has a big reputation on the training field.
Going to be a tough start for the new man
I think the baggies players will take to him, but we will have to see what happens.
However with Peace being slammed by the Albion faithful it would be a good time to back track and look at his managerial hiring and firing record.
So here goes:
Gary Megson
2000-2004
Megson was great at Albion. Passionate and got the job done.
Got Albion back in the big time after many years in the wilderness as fans suffered watching football under the likes of Little, Trewick, Hartford and Smith.
Pulled Albion away from relegation in an end of the season dash for points and then got them back in the big time, creating cult heroes in the process such as Hoult, Big Dave and Clement.
Built on a solid base Albion got to the big time, come down as many said they would, and re-built, moving back up again.
That second promotion season produced my one of the best games I had ever seen, the 4-3 comeback at Upton Park.
However his second stint was short lived after a bust up on the team bus.
It was time for Megson to go. Rumours said that he fell out with Peace, as he did with Thompson.
Always be down in Albion folklore though.
Was Peace right to sack him: Yes
Bryan Robson
2004-2006
Not the best of appointments but he did pull off the greatest of escapes.
Robins was never a good manager. He did a job, but in his third season he showed he wasn't a Premier League manager.
A manager who uses Ronnie Wallwork as his main midfield man was never going to work.
Unlucky for Robson who was arguably one of Albion's best ever players.
Was Peace right to sack him: Yes
Tony Mowbray
2006-2009
Mowbray will always be remembered for winning the league with Albion. I remember him for the moment we were relegated from the top flight with 26,000 fans wearing Mowbray masks chanting 'There's only one Tony Mowbray.'
Class manager, but odd that his teams couldn't defend despite him being a great defender.
Nabbed by Celtic in the end, but the grass isn't always greener Tony.
NOT SACKED
Roberto Di Matteo
2009-2011
Was unsure when he came, but what a job he did.
Got us back in the big time with an impressive season in the second tier.
Grabbed some great results back in the big time including the 3-2 win at Arsenal.
Under Roberto we would have stayed up and his sacking was a shocking one.
Showed that as he went on to win a Champions League.
Was Peace right to sack him: No
Roy Hodgson
2011-2012
Roy will always bring success and he did exactly that at Albion.
Built a solid side, kept us up, mid table finish again then went off to lead his country.
Peace couldn't have done anything to keep him, the job was too good to turn down.
NOT SACKED
Steve Clarke
2012-2013
Great assistant, but I didn't feel he would cut it as a manager.
Turned Albion into an expansive side, finishing eighth in the table.
Odemwingie and Lukaku's goals helped but Clarke had Albion playing the best football ever seen at The Hawthorns in my era.
Terribly unlucky to be sacked when he was, and we wouldn't have finished as low as 17th if he was still there for the remainder of the season.
Was Peace right to sack him: No
Pepe Mel
2014
Wrong appointment at the wrong time.
Shocking from Peace, however if he would have been a summer appointment with a clean slate and good funds, he would have been great.
He kept us up and did what he was asked to do, but still went.
There was potential for us to have a lot of Spanish players next season, and play that style of play he played at Betis.
Wasn't to be but a wise move.
Was Peace right to sack him: Yes
The majority of Peace's appointments and sackings have been excellent.
Time will tell with this one but I think he may have just got it right. We will see.
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