Albion manager Tony Mowbray has ruled out a flurry of January transfer activity as speculation grew linking the Baggies to potential targets.
Czech goalkeeper Michal Danek became the latest player linked with a move to The Hawthorns after the names of Villa striker Luke Moore and Hibernian defender David Murphy resurfaced at the weekend.
But Mowbray insisted he is not looking to swell his squad hugely when the transfer window opens on January 1.
“I haven’t had the conversation with the chairman because I am reasonably happy with my squad,” said Mowbray.
“I keep being told what a good squad I’ve got and I think you have to be careful about over-loading.
“Why do I want to give myself more problems by bringing in loads more players?
“The team are functioning okay at the moment, and we’ve gone from being as stretched as we will hopefully ever be with injuries and suspensions to being okay.
“If the right player at the right price becomes available I’m sure the chairman will be happy to have the conversation.
“But the players we’ve got at the moment are doing a fine job.”
Albion were linked in Scotland once more at the weekend with Murphy, who was mentioned frequently during the close season.
But with the player known to be unsettled at Easter Road there are suggestions that the name of Mowbray – a former Hibs manager – is being used to drum up interest.
Moore is another player unhappy with his current employers, but Mowbray played down the stories surrounding both players.
He said: “This isn’t just manager-speak, I would suggest that both are just pure speculation.
“And at the prices that have been mentioned, I don’t think we’ll be spending that much in the window.”
Meanwhile, Danek’s agent has confirmed reports in the Czech media that he is a potential target in January.
The 24-year-old FC Viktoria Pizen player, who was linked heavily with Celtic in the summer, was invited to the Baggies training ground at the weekend and he attended the 4-2 win over Charlton at the weekend.
And agent Ondrej Chovanec says his 6ft 4in client would be keen on a transfer if the clubs can agree a fee in the January transfer window.
Mowbray’s shortages in the goalkeeping department are well documented, with Luke Steele the only keeper currently available.
14 Comments
The Keeper situation. This appears to be the weakest area in the present squad. We have a really excellent but aging keeper and a youngster with potential but who probably won’t be up to regular first team duty for a while. Danek looks like a good move??
no doubt anothe tm gem ..where does he keep finding them,luke steele is definately a great keeper in the making and his save at leicester was stunning,he will learn from the charlton game and looks to have a promising future ,thanks albion for a great start to the season being a baggie is fantastic at the moment
2m quid would be a huge sum for a championship club to spend on a keeper, but it would certainly show intent. And if the guy is as good as some of TM’s other gems, he’d be worth every penny.
If he saw the Charlton game, he would have to be seriously excited about joining the Baggies…
It’s hard to have a pop at you guys at the moment but I will try with these two. One of your players ( Tex I think ) should have had a straight red on Saturday for a horrible tackle and that COULD have made a difference. Secondly I know it’s Christmas and the game was on TV at a stupid time but I was genuinely shocked to see all the empty seats in the Brummie Road. I know that if we were in your position and playing as you are, the Golden Palace would have been completely full. I posted a while ago and said that if you were above us at year end I thought you would go up. It looks like you might just do that so I will be consistent and say that I do feel now you probably will make it so congratulations on the season so far.
4 - To be honest I tend to agree with you, Tex’s tackle was rash to say the least, whether it warranted a straight red is debatable.
As for us being above you and potentially going up, we all now the hard work starts after crimbo but we have put ourselves in the frame and there’s no reason why that cannot continue, wouldn’t it be nice to see us both go up as 1 and 2 and give them brummies a run for it next season.
As you said, all the best for the rest of the season, and we’ll take a draw at your place now!!!
Merry Boinging crimbo
Malvern Wolf; I think/hope we’ll see much bigger gates after Christmas when the part time supporters realise this is not another false dawn.
Was very shocked to see how your lot are turning on MM. You’ve had a dip in form - I expect we’ll have one too - but you lot are well placed and a run of 2/3 wins will see you right back up there. And conversely, a poor run for us at Xmas and we’ll be chasing the pack again.
Do you think the fans calling for MM’s head are representative or just kids who can’t see the bigger picture? Zero to hero to zero in such a short space of time is just weird.
Malvern Wolf
There have been quite a few digs at
our attendances, mainly by Wolves fans whose only solace is our lowish gates,
but you are a reasonable fellow,
therefore worthy of response.
The absolute fact is that you (Wolves)have a catchment area of much larger proportions,
and whilst i agree our gates are
disappointing and not a little baffling,
it`s all relative.
I would argue that your current
average about 2000 more than us,
and dwindling,
represents a poorer turn out
per ca pita.
Cantello, there a huge number of stupid fans who follow every team. Listen to the WM phone in and when Wolves win Mick is a hero and when we lose he should be sacked and the same goes for you and every other team. Because we are poor at the moment the sack Mick brigade are very active , two wins and he will become Merlin again. I am not sure what the truth is. Our expectation is always high and this is our problem. We could not believe what we achieved last season, I just wanted to stay up after the disaster that was H and we very nearly went up. This season has been a huge disappointment not only with results but also the way we play. We are not good to watch unless Kites is playing and that is no way to run a team. But I do not want him sacked and will wait to the end of the season to make a judgement. Until a few games ago I regarded us as pretty equal but that does not appear to be the case now. However you have to be optimistic to be a fan of any team and a few decent signings, a spell without injuries, one of our strikers hitting form, who knows we could still make it a Black Country double.
My friend Forever you have worked out that we are getting desparate to have a friendly dig at the moment and your crowd is one of our few targets. I accept what you say but gaps in the Brummie Road is not what I expect and in truth it is not what you deserve at the moment. Both North and South Banks are full every game and often the gaps you see on TV are in the away section.
i Agree attendances are an issue for ba playing quality football scoring goals, winning games, high scoring games, its never a boring game at the hawthorns so what more do you want. I think albion have got a big fan base but only a small percentage of fans attend matches, the main reason is price. Against QPR a low key game, sun afternoon, on tele we got 24,500 our second biggest gate of the season behind wolves, because we charged £10 and kids for a £1. I now the club reduced season tickets by 25% but its still expensive specially for families, i think the club should invest in family tickets in the east stand £50 a game (2 kids, 2 adults) and charge £10 in the brummie every game to get some bloody life in it, i sit in the smethwick and it is like looking at a cardboard cut out. Anyway we are top of the league and having a laugth, happy days are here.
no way was the southbank full for your last game,there were empty seats and plenty of them…and you wernt on the tv like us and still only had 20000,the baggies gates will get bigger im sure…..prem here we come…
“Both North and South Banks are full every game and often the gaps you see on TV are in the away section.” Malvern wolf
the top of the steve bull ISNT away supporters at all, against burnley there were more than many empty seats and i imagine the same was said for stan cullis or w.e
youre attendances are good, but if the football isnt theyre not going to remain that way how many of your 20 odd thousands are “LOYAL” if performances drop, players become lazy, manager is being turne upon, these unloyal fans will soon be down the local than at the game wasting 30 quid
Personally I’m pleased the attendances are down a bit - it just makes it easier to get out / home at the end… I hate trying to get back on the b’ham road when its crammed.. keep away everyone - I like the roads that bit quieter.
Malvern Wolf.
There is I believe a downturn in football attendances right across the country, mainly due to the high cost to go to football matches, and the increase in living costs, that have spiralled this year.
Sadly Jonah I think you are probably correct.