Tuesday night was very disappointing, and as much as I hate to admit it, I am worried, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
After fighting back to two all, I thought we would go on and win, but Paul Robinson’s ill discipline cost us.
His first booking was for kicking the ball away, and for player of his type, and more importantly his experience, he should have known better.
I have mentioned before in my blogs that I felt we needed additional defensive cover, and maybe dipping again into the loan market would have been added insurance against the situation we now find ourselves in.
For Saturday’s trip to Leicester we will be without Albrechsten, Cesar, Robinson, and Clement.
Mowbray will have to choose from Hoefkens, Hodgkiss, Barnett, Tininho, Martis, and Pele.
Not taking into account whether these players are good enough, have they had enough game time to be thrown into a physical battle which Leicester will inevitably deploy.
Now many fans will say it is only for one game, but we will suffer other injuries and suspensions in games to come.
Also, when Barnett suffered a lack of confidence, Mowbray correctly gave him a break on the sidelines to reflect and learn, but with no other cover he has now lost that as an option, not only for Barnett, but other key players.
Kiely has been excellent for us since signing last season, but he has not been faultless in a number of games this season, but do we have the quality in reserve to be really pushing him to keep his shirt?
It is not just the defence that is causing me sleepless nights, our attack while missing Miller and Phillips is struggling due to having no one to partner Bednar.
I think Bednar is doing a great job in their absence, but lacks support from a recognised centre forward.
I have now seen Beattie on a number of occasions, and although I can appreciate he is probably a confidence player, unfortunately I have no confidence in him.
My fear is that we have done so well to reach second position in the league; it could all come undone due to injuries to key players with substandard replacements.
I hope I am panicking for nothing; Beattie hits the goal trail, the defence tightens up, and we still have the best midfield in the world, but when entering into the busiest part of the seasons fixtures, I find my confidence waning.
I hope I am wrong; it would not be the first time.
Albion fans, what do you think? Have your say below
29 Comments
At last - a realistic Baggie !! Im not Over Confident about the way the Wolves are playing either at the moment. That said - I have tipped the two of us for automatic promotion and cannot see why that cant happen !!
The one positive from the timing of the four knee injurires we sufferred is that all of them will be back in the next few weeks (KP has already been back in training for a week). By the time we face Charlton next week, we will have Cesar and Robinson back and may have KP to partner Bednar up front. Suddenly it won’t look so bad.
When we hit that intense Christmas period, we should be close to full strength and that is when it will matter.
For christs sake stop panicking and more to the point stop whingeing. We have no divine right to stay unbeaten, the squad has lost 4 1st team regulars in the space of 2 games and now we have lost 2 further 1st teamers through a 1 game ban. Live with it and apprecate that we have probably the best team in the league and those 6 regulars will all be back by the end of this month.
Chances are leicester will turn us over with those 6 missing, name me another team that could live with 6 1st choice players out, but we`re in the mix and will only get stronger. Don`t stsrt bleating the first time you watch something you don`t like - Mowbray has got us playing the best football we`ve played for 30 years now sit back and enjoy!
We have no reason to be confident.
We are missing 6 regulars. 3 of them are the defence and the main strike force.
Dekker, you have highlighted the point which is being made, “we will probably get turned over by Leicester”, and why? Because we are now lacking any real depth to our defensive options, albeit due to injuries and suspensions.
However, we will suffer injuries and suspensions all season. You rightly point out that Mowbray has done a fantstic job, but the fear for me and many other fans is losing ground while we wait for the injured players to return.
What did you want, a blog saying everything is rosy and losing 2-4 at home to a mediocre side is ok?
Just like Roy Walker suggests, i say what i see!!!
And if you think that was whingy or bleating, you should meet the missus!!!!!
I seriously think we will have enough to beat the Foxes.Hodgkiss Hoefkins Barnett Tinman at the back, Beattie to score two late goals, coming off the bench. Oh what fun it is to see the Albion win away!Come on get into the Christmas spirit.
Lest go back to what TM said after the defeat
‘Lets not make a crisis out of this’
So lets get behind them and don’t faulter, give up the defeatist talk lads’
Fair play Dekker,you got it exactly right. We’ve lost a lot of important players, but its time for other players to take their chance, Hodgkiss for one, is probably dying for a start. Tininho was at one stage going to be our first choice left back if Robbo had gone.
Also in my opinion we should play Mcdonald up front next to Roman the weekend, Bednar got some good flick ons and touches against Cov,but we need someone in the middle running on to them. I think once he gets that first goal we will see a very different player, its not gonna happen if he’s out hugging the wing.
Who would not be worried with this amount of absentees ??
Thank god TM did the job he did in the summer or we would be playing our 17 year old reserves by now.
Short term i am worried - I would take a point tomorrow no problem, and yes we may lose 2nd place, BUT….
With our players coming back and with the transfer window only weeks away I am not worried about us long term.
This squad IS good enough to nick results with plauyers missing, but as we gret them back I can see us putting a great run together through 2008 a bit like sunderland did.
In other words - hang on in there - its gonna get better - ALOT better.
Exactly what I feel Jarrod. I have the utmost respect for TM but he has bought some donkeys and Beattie Tintin and Martis are just three.Shame we don’t have any young players to blood now and perphaps we could ask why? Hoefully JP will see that we do need a good intake in Jan—goalie, left back central defenders and another good stiker and probably a new Gera(one who cares)
Although we have some of our top players missing, we must have a bit of confidence in that the players coming in are on par with the Leics players and should at least give them a game. Some of their 1st choice players are going to be missing. Hoping to sneak it but will be happy with a point.
Boing Boing
Boneswba, i would also like to see Sherjill given another chance upfront, and i think we look better at 442.
I have no worries about Hodgkiss, it is at left back (remember Burnley) and centre of defence. If Mobs goes with Hoefkens in the centre i fear his lack of aerial dominance will be a problem, and after speaking to a Leicester fan, they do like the long ball and set peices.
For gods sake calm down. That was the first game we have lost at home since March!!! We were unbeaten in 9. We’re not going to stay unbeaten all season.
Yes we have injuries and the defensive back up is a worry, but we will hopefully be back to full strength in a couple of weeks.
Bednar has done well, to say Tintin and Martis are bad signings when they have only been involved in a couple of games is ridiculas!!!
As for Beattie - give the bloke a chance. He also needs games, he is young and I believe will prove himself over the next few years.
One defeat in nine NOT one victory in nine.
I personaly never get carried away with a victory, it`s merely a stepping stone to the ultimate prize,
so consequently by the same token
i am not going to get carried away by a defeat.
The nature of this loss was bizzare
in the extreme, Robbo`s dissmisal
just compounded a woeful defensive performance, the like we have not witnessed before this season,
so why the assumption that performances of that ilk will now be the norm.
Any team would miss players of the calibre we have out tommorow,
and yes i do agree we need good quality cover for certain positions,
but to already consign the team to defeat at Leicester is somewhat shortsighted.
I cannot imagine TM`s team talk will go along the lines of,
oh well you`re just a bunch of back up players that none of our fans rate, but go out and do your best and try to keep the score down.
It doesn’t really matter if we end up fall out of the top 6 by December.
The most important time is Feb-May with March been a particular important month.
If we have everyone fit and on form during that time we will soon run away with it.
Hoefkins and Fiely are doubts now.
Argh!
Never easy being a baggie is it!?
And as if to highlight the point, Kiely and Hoefkens are doubts.
Steele, Hodgkiss, Pele, Barnett, Tininho.
On another note, can anyone tell me why we kick off at 2.15pm?????
because a Rugby match kicks off at 3:30 about 1 mile down the road or something.
The do not panick comments are correct,however although it was our first defeat at home since last March the last three home games as seen us drop 7 points out of nine not promotion form,I just hope we have not been found out and that T.M. as a plan B.
We must strengthen in Jan we need quality back up in goal.
LETS HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PLAYERS COMING IN, WE STILL HAVE THE BEST MIDFIELD IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE ROMAN THE GOALSCORER,3000 STRONG ARMY AT THE GAME.GOING UP IN STYLE.
Dorset 19 - I’m pretty sure that having 6 players out is not plan A. I think this is now plan d or even plan E…
At least we have plans B/C/D/E - some teams aint even got plan A sorted.
Our Plan A will be back soon and watch us go again then.
And Leicester (who have only scored 9 goals at home in 10 matches) are without their first four strikers.
The season does not depend on this match.
Wolves Mick
You make me laugh. Cast your mind back…if you are capable. The congo at the custard bowl against Gillingham celebrating promotion in March and we all know what happened don’t we
Yes we have a strong squad and yes we should have confidence in them, but for all these defensive cover players to come into the team at the same time with hardly any first team experience is a bridge too far. I fear that we’ll get turned over at Leicester tomorrow and drop out of the top 2 but I fully expect us to be good enough over the season to go up.
Fear not Baggie Boys, all will be well, Jarrod is a doom-monger, Dekker’s right,we can’t win ‘em all, at this moment in time I’ll be happy with a point against the Foxes. Keep the faith!
BOING BOING.
Having watched Beattie on a number of occasions, I do not think he is a lost cause - he’s just being played out of position. I genuinely think he would make a better central defender!! I know it sounds daft, but there are plenty of forwards who have converted and done an excellent job and Beattie has all the attributes to be an ideal candidate and chip in with the odd goal or 2.
26. I will assume you are taking the piff.
Otherwise - thank god you aren’t the manager!!!!
Wolves Mick- fair play; it could happen this year.
Worried!!! Ridiculous to say that!!
Yes we’re 100 players down but any team would struggle with that.. how can you prepare to lose this many players? You can’t..
2-0 down after silly start tue BUT battled back well and without the sending off (1st of season is it!!) we’d have won!!
Also 1st deteat in 8!! C’mon jarrod