When does a draw feel like a loss? writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
Well it did on Tuesday, to concede the equaliser in the 95th minute when the fourth official had signalled three minutes injury time was hard to take.
This coupled with the blatant foul on Hoefkens in the build up to the goal, made Mowbray and the rest of us a little miffed.
More worrying was the loss of our leading scorer super Kev to what looked a serious injury.
Other than Watford winning, all the other results seemed to go our way, and we have moved into second position.
It is now vital we fight tooth and nail to hold onto it, starting with our visit to Coventry on Monday night, a short journey to the Ricoh Arena offers the chance to keep our unbeaten run going.
With us remaining unbeaten at the Hawthorns we all know that our away games are going to hold the key to where we finish in the league, hopefully the result and performance at Watford has helped the team believe we can go anywhere and win.
If Phillips doesn’t make it due to injury it will be interesting to see who Mowbray plays.
Bednar, Beattie, McDonald, and Slusarski, will all be hoping for a chance to play, personally I would rather us play Texeira just behind Miller, in a 4-4-1-1 formation, and have two strikers on the bench.
Away from home I think it gives us more of an option to change things if we need to, plus from what I have seen of Coventry this season they like to go wide and play a lot of balls into the box.
I also think with Texeira having more of a free role he will create and score goals, he will also be fresh having not played so many games recently.
Mowbray may choose to go with Bednar, now fit and banging the goals in for the reserves it may be time to let him loose on the championship defences.
Due to the success of Miller and Phillips we have seen very little of our other strikers and for many fans it is an area of concern.
Beattie has struggled to make an impression, McDonald still hasn’t scored, and Bednar and Slusarski are new to England and the Championship.
Time will reveal all, and with the January transfer window approaching it is interesting to see where Mowbray will be looking to strengthen.
I think we will see a number of fringe players leave, but with such a large squad and Mowbray already stating he isn’t a huge fan of signing players half way through a season.
It may well be, he believes we have what we need to achieve promotion.
However, injuries to any of our key players may force his hand, and let’s face it we should still have some dough left over from the summer sales.
Albion fans, what do you think? Have your say below
14 Comments
plenty of cash left
but lets give bednar a chance he looks quality in the reserves
and if it dont work out
then mr peace will have to get his cheque book out
boing boing
As always a very measured blog. I feel we need to cover the back 5 in the January sales particularily a new and good goalie and cover for Robbo and I would go for an experienced Prem stopper. Hyypia?
We will miss superkev a lot—-isn’t it funny that he is the only Robson signing left in the team but I hope Bednar or Slusarski come good because I don’t rate Beattie at all so far.
i think we will be on fire after tues. I would play bednar(i am sure who ever plays come what may,we will be back in the prem)COME ON YOU BAGGIES°)
Glenn - there’s nothing like ambition!! Hyypia??! I’d be VERY impressed!
We may stand more chance with his former partner at Liverpool Henchoz who hasn’t yet started a game for Blackburn this season.
A decent keeper is also a necessity rather than a desire. There’s two useful guys sitting in the reserves at the Vile while Carson occupies the gloves there - why not give that a go?
As for Monday night, I fear another away defeat - but I don’t envy ToMo’s selection headache with which formation and who to play! It could go a number of ways - and I have to admit I hadn’t considered Jarrod’s suggestion above.
Here’s hoping for another 3 points though - and a Dingle capitulation to Barnsley!
It would be interesting to know who was responsible for which signings during the summer. Hunt was definately involved in a number of the European signings, however, i am betting Mowbray was the architect of Martis and Beatties arrival.
??????????
astle is the king - even denis rosa looks quality in the reserves mate
shows your judgement when you got that as your name ;-p everyone knows it steve bull is the king
NO 6:
You are wrong again
“It’s Stevie Bulls a Tatter”
ASTLE IS THE KING
I think thats the most simple answer to this solution, good philosophy.
And just read that knee injury has seen off Alby for a month too!
It never rains - it pours!
MOnday’s selection headache just became a minor migrane!
Even though I’d like to see Bednar and Sluszarski in action, I would not dream of dropping either Miller or Kev based on form. But with KP having received a knock, we should give him a rest to make sure that he recovers fully and take a look at Bednar alongside Ish.
Yes, Albrechsten out for at least a month, so it looks like Barnett has got his chance again. Mowbray probably now needs some more defensive cover, with only Martis as a recognised central defender.
Good blog Jarrod. I think Tex will start on Monday playing behind Miller, with Bednar coming off the bench late on. Coventry will hopefully go for it and leave us plenty of space. 3-0 to us.
Interesting thought about Tex. I’d normally favour playing two strikers up front but Cov are doing surprisinlgly well at the moment so maybe this might be the way to go?
I’m still backing us to win on Monday as we always beat Coventry (famous last words?) and, well, if we can beat Watford we can beat anybody! Will be a tough game though.
Don’t see us doing too much different at cov. 2 straight swaps and the same formation. If Tony don’t change it for watford I don’t think he will for Cov.
Plus we need to give the side that will play wolves a chance to gel in.