Blackpool has always been very accommodating when ever I have been there, and Tuesday night they continued the theme by allowing us to take three points off them, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
It was probably our worst performance at home this season, however we have played better this season and not won.
Morrisons wonder goal was a worthy winner, and the three points keeps us going towards where we want to be.
I still feel we are missing something, and having quickly had a look back at our recent promotion winning squads I began looking at which players (and type) we would most want in our present squad.
Bob Taylor is a legend and rightly so, his goals and performances in the last ten games (the penalty at Bradford and the goal against Palace) ensured we scored goals when we really needed to.
But we now have Miller and Phillips, and their partnership is looking great, and producing lots of goals.
The player I think from previous promotion squads that would be most influential in this squad is Derek McInnes.
Not only was he the midfield soldier that many fans now say we lack, he was also a fantastic captain.
At times during that campaign his experience and capability to help other players raise their game was invaluable.
He was a big voice on the pitch, and a very consistent performer.
On Tuesday, when we had 10 minutes left to a tight game, we just needed someone to grab the situation and say, “look boys lets not go gung ho, lets just keep possession and see out the game”, Deka would have been that man.
McInnes was, in one player, the two things I think we now lack the most, an inspirational captain and a tough tackling midfielder.
Imagine McInnes alongside Greening in the middle, craft and guile, strength and composure, and a player who will look you in the eye and say, “son raise your game, you can do it”.
I think Greening is having a great season so far and his performances have been excellent, but in terms of a captain?
I do not see him as the banging your chest, screaming your lungs out, veins pumping, grabbing your team mates by their boot laces and dragging them along, kind of captain I think this squad needs.
We have quality and flair coming out of our ears, we just need someone like McInnes on the pitch orchestrating the whole thing.
So Mr Mowbray, please go and find the new Derek McInnes, and sign him in January.
And against my better judgement I am going to utter those fateful words, missing piece of the jigsaw!!????
14 Comments
i think your jigsaw has a lot more than 1 piece missing, you have all the straight edged pieces but the middle pieces are nowhere to be found. and by the way that morrison goal was a total fluke and could have gone anywhere at a time in the match when the fans were starting to turn on the team. have fun with your jigsaw
Mcinnes, is one of those players that you only ever get 1 of, in the same mould as roy keane, alex rae, these kind of players that could do drag the team along, be screaming at people and making sure everything is ticking over nicely, if we can find one then fantstic, but i cant see it happening, who is there about that could do that????
Jarrod - I agree than Deka was a fantastic player for us and a real general on the pitch. His determination and desire had a positive effect on the team and he sometimes carried us forward on his own.
However I think Jonno is doing a great job as captain - reliable, consistant and also encourages the younger players (as Morrison said recently).
I’m not sure there is a place for the Deka style in this team. Maybe away from home on occassion - but not on a regular basis.
If TM wanted a gung-ho, drag em along capt I’m sure Robbo would be wearing the armband. I think the players we have now will respond better to the Jonno style than Derek’s - although I would love to see Derek back at the hawthorns in some capacity - he would always have a good effect on any team.
1 - you lot lost the picure on the box the day you appointed MM…
It must be annoying to get to the end of the season only to find a piece missing.
Still, have fun with ya dot-to-dot.
MMDP what do you know about jigsaws, your still stuck on the 10 piece under 5’s one with the picture of a donkey…..or maybe it could be Freddie Eastwood!!!!
shame Freddie could’nt score a fluke from 12yds
the punks talking rubbish as usual.the fans at the blackpool game hadnt turned against the team and as for the goal it was class.
Seriously now I agree with Jarrod, apparently we brought a bloke called Pele in for that job, but IMO no where near upto the standard of the rest of the team….who can come in and do that job god knows how many teams will allow a solid, tenacious, passionate player like that leave their team.
Maybe super Simon Hunt (think thats his name) is already looking to unearth another Gem.
Jarrod/Bomber
I would be amazed if TM was resting
on his laurels,
in his persuit of such a player.
I will guarantee you one thing,
any player he percieves as filling this role, WILL also have to be comfotable with the ball, as to fit
TM`s criteria.
This type of player comes at a cost,
so i think another unknown could be on the way,
and if is the case, and he turns out like Tex and Koren, i imagine we will all be a little bit chuffed.
I can see you`re point about Johnno,
he is not the most voiciferous captain, but actions speak louder than words, and boy does this bloke lead by example.
I think we will probably go this season with what we have (maybe the odd tweak in jan) - and earmark a top ball winner/player for next season if/when we go up.
We should have enough options with our current squad to challenge for promotion this season - i see us spending some serious cash on this type of player when we go up.
I can see us getting a ball winner and a top keeper in the summer, plus moving a few out too.
The majority of this squad already look good enough to play in the prem.
Not sure mate—think we need 2 new full backs and someone like John Wile first to play next to Ceasar then a goalie. If our midfield is allowed to play with a strong defence behind them we have the team to go up.By the way does anyone know whats happened to Clem?
ignore my comment about Clem—just read about his knee probs on the offical site
I just think the type of players who will be better than what we have as being the type who will not play in the championship.
Sunderland paid £9M for their keeper, and villa are about to pay a similar amount for Carson.
Villa will also be paying up to £10M for Davies - all just average/good players…not what you would call top drawer.
I said recently that I can’t think of a current player in our division who I would pick in front of our first 11 - and I still think that, so we will have to “trade up”.
Either we will get another unknown diamond in (as wbaforever said) or we will wait to see where we are next season - and then spend big.
make my day punk what a star you really are talking about jigsaws i thought frankowski was the last part of yours enough said haha
Well guys, you know my thoughts, a player in the mould of McInnes (and yes i can appreciate this type of player is difficult to find) is what our squad needs. When i say squad, by this i mean, we require this type of player for certain games and certain situations. I fear without him, we will tread the same path as last season, which is great if we go up through the play offs, however i want top two.