Sitting on top of the table with an almost fully fit squad to choose from, you would have thought the January transfer window would see little activity at the Hawthorns, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
Yet each day we seem to be linked to different players, this week it has been, Luke Moore, David Murphy, Nejc Pecnik, and Michal Danek, pictured.
We also have other issues to be resolved regarding our current squad, Phillips, Albrechsten, and Gera, are all out of contract next summer, and I am hoping they are all offered and accept new deals.
Bednar and Miller are currently on loan, but both have done enough for me to warrant pursuing permanent deals (if possible), and then we have fringe players who may be looking to leave.
On top of a wonderful week it was fantastic news to here that Neil Clement had played in the reserves after recovering from a serious injury.
I am full of admiration for a player who has remained a loyal baggie and given excellent service since arriving from Chelsea in a bargain deal.
How we could use his resilience on Saturday against the bogey men, we all know Stoke are our bogey side, and we know what type of game to expect, however unlike last season, we have shown that we can live with the bully boy tactics adopted by many teams in this division.
As we are almost at the half way point of the season I thought we could vote on our half season awards. I have included my vote, but if writing this blog has proved anything, it has proved that my opinion is often wrong.
Best Player, Jonathan Greening, as I have stated on a number of times, he is our most influential player, he determines our tempo and links defence to attack.
Best New Signing, Filipe Texeira, has filled the entertainers gap left by Koumas and Kamara.
Best Goal, Filipe Texeira, Coventry away, what a goal.
Best Team Performance, Leicester away, against adversity showed real spirit, and highlighted the strength of squad we have.
Please do let me know your thoughts, and I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I hope Santa brings us three points against Bristol.
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28 Comments
As ever jarrod your blog is thought provocking, yes there are lots of possible outcomes to several players, Bednar, miller, Mcdonald etc who nare yet to be contracted in, and of course there is the gera, phillips and alby situation to be tied up, but i think if we get where we want to be, namely the premiership, then i feel these contracts will almost certainly sort them selves out, if they dont well all i can say is i really do have belief in Tony Mowbray. Your half term “Best of’s” is also reflective of our season. Best Player……. You really could name 5 or 6, Greening, tex, Gera,Phillips or even brunt now, all would get my vote, and you would still be leaving out some very good players. Best new signing, Tex,Brunt, Millar or Bednar (if you count loan signings) and Best team performance there has been so many for different reasons, Charlton at home, Awesome, Leicester away, brilliant (depth of squad), Watford away, slick, and on and on, in fact its easier to name the bad games,(southampton away coventry at home ) And this is really how our season is, so many positives and so few negatives. Lets hope it continues, because i for one would love to see how we fair in the top flight playing real football, i believe europe is calling for us in the not too distant future
Jarrod,and the same to you (lets hope 3 points against stoke first)
My player of the half season so far is Filipe Texeira he links up well with Greening to give us the drive from mid-field.
Best new signing is Filipe Texeira again (cant fault this guy so far)
Best goal have to agree again Coventry away The flair and skill this guy has is unbelievable,just to see Filipe Texeira perform his talents is worth the entrance fee.
Best team performance I think Charlton at home we really turned on the style and had most of our doubters praising us.Here`s to a happy xmas and a prosperous new year. Boing Boing
I fully agree with your comments about Clement, and I think you have to feel for a player who has had such rotten look.
In terms of our on-lona players, I’d like us to keep Roman, but think Miller still has a lot to learn and his work-ethic could be improved. Also, if we got up, how much success would he have against better defenders who aren’t worried by a bit of pace and power…?
Anyone see Ish on Central Soccer Night ? he was asked about going back to Man City and he wouldn’t confirm whether he would be going back or not.
If you read everything his agent says it’s a banker that he’s going back.
I reckon he might just stay……
Hiltop - europe? Lets just get in and stay in the prem first!!!!
Been a great season so far. I’ve been lucky enough to see all but one game (plymouth away), god I’ve been entertained.
Best player - Greening easily, he just makes us tick.
Best signings - Tex and Brunt, with loads just behind (Morrison was doing great before injury)
Best performance - Watford, not only performance, but lets be honest totaly unexpected at the time.
Best Goal - tough, but the second at Watford involved about 20 passes and most of Tex’x have been special.
Hi Jarrod - another interesting blogg mate.
You have missed a player out though… someone whoI think has kickstarted our rise to top of the league - and someone who we DEFINATELY need to get signed asap… I mean of course Cesar !
The guy has transformed us from a great team losing 3-2 to a great team winning 3-0. He has improved both Albre and Barnett, and we look far more confident now.
If we only sign one of our loanees, I would suggest it should be Bostin’ Bostjan.
The best team performance is a hard one - there was QPR, Watford, Charlton, Scunny - loads of grat games. Leicester was a special game for all the obvious reasons so I can’t disagree with you.
I have no idea why but I enjoy reading your thoughts Jarrod. Keep up the good work in the business end of the season.
Ho ho ho, going to be a very happy 12 point xmas me feels……..We should beat BC 2-0…..Boing boing
Did anyone see Ish Miller on TV last night ?
Graham (do i not like that) Talyor was on with him. Taylor basically said Miller should not sign for the Albion as other teams will be interested in him as he is playing so well.
He also said something about wanting all midlands teams in the prem but if only one team DIDN’T make it he hoped it would be albion.
When you don’t see someone on telly for a while you forget just what a prat they are. A silly little man still full of his own deluded importance. Even Stan collymore was looking at him like he was a moron.
Won’t be posting much today (hurray you all cheer) as I’m off to do blokey christmas shopping.
Can I wish all the baggies fans a very merry, happy and points laden christmas, and a very happy New Year (particulary around May).
Also a very happy christmas to the Albion team. staff and management - thanks for a brilliant 2007 !!
To the majority of wolves fans I also extend seasons greetings and wish you all a happy christmas.
Oh sod it - ALL wolves fans then.
Merry Christmas everyone !!
Boing Boing Boing & Ho Ho Ho !!!!!
haha hilltop, i hope your having a laugh, i just wanna get promoted and stay up there established
Jarrod, Merry Christmas from one over worked blogger to another!
Let’s hope we can catch up the Baggies in the New Year!
Would have to say James Morrison’s goal against Blackpool was a bit special too Jarrod? Phillips at home to QPR? Greening’s in the same game? We really have scored some crackers so far this year and we’re not even halfway through!!
It’s bloody GREAT being a BAGGIE!!
BOING BOING!!!
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Did Taylor say why he hoped Albion wouldn’t be promoted? It’s probably because he’s never moved on from his Watford style (not able to) and he saw what Mowbray’s dream football can do to that!
baggybomber - I think he was wearing his dingle hat… maybe he’s heard there will be a job coming up there soon ???
He is obviously carrying on some old wolves / albion rivalry - but it just made him look petty and stupid.
Well, I am not going to write anything controversial as most of what has been written, I agree whole heartedly with. The one thing that no-one has picked up on, is that in past seasons it has been easy to pick one or two individuals that have shone over and above any other player. This season however TM has built at TEAM. All have, in one way or another, contributed to some fantastic performances’ I cannot really name anyone who has not warranted their place in the side at any particular time. One or two have had off games but generally everyone has contributed in one way or another to an excellent first half of the season.
For what it is worth I agree that Greening has been a constant performer throughout. Bednar looks to be a great loan signing lets hope it is made permanent soon. I really enjoyed seeing Super Kev’s goal last week. Not only signalling that he’s back but it sealed an important win and killed Charlton off. It would have been a nervous end to the game without that goal. The best performance. Well! There have been several but I think the win away at Watford was a superb result and showed that the Baggies mean business this season.
well Graham Taylor was a loser and still is, I never rated him as a boss, only a ten carot prat. For someone to speak so unprofessionally at this time when even Wolves fans are congratulating us and wishing us the best and vice versa, he has only placed himself amongst the rabble that grunt narrow minded slur 24/7. I hope he gets gout for xmas hahaha
Teams like Holland & West Bromwich Albion will always give Graham Taylor nightmares, footballing sides who gave him a torrid time when in charge of the opposistion!
best goal so far beattie’s at leciester great confidence from a player who prob had not got much after a far from great start to his time at the albion boing boing happy xmas roll on may!
To Happy baggie, having only read my blog back once after writing it i couldnt beleive i had not added Cesars name to the list of players we need to get signed up, my mistake, but i really thought i had put his name in.
I must be still feeling dizzy from being so high up, (the league that is).
But did he explain why he said it I don’t understand why anyone would want to say such a thing about a fine footballing side Also what gives him the right to pontificate about Millers future?
So did he explain his reasons for making such moronic statements
Taylor does not have a football soul. Taking Linekar off in the European qualifiers, denying him the opportunity to equal Bobby Charlton’s England goals, was the defining donkey hearted act of Taylor’s managerial career. He looks but does not see the beautiful game.
WE have had 3 games on live in OZ so far this season. All the Baggies over here in Perth are saying this is the best we have seen since the Atkinson era, however, as Cyrille told me once when I met him ” but we never won anything”. So let’s not get carried away yet. You the fans really need to help and make a difference, don’t except them to play like Brazil every week because they won’t. The fans really need to get behind them especially at home.
Best signing and most important person is TM.
Enjoy Christmas and have a wonderful New Year all you Baggies from all your Baggie friends in Perth Western Australia
Hello Jarrod. Good blog, again!.However, best goal in my opinion, Beattie’s at Leicester! Best performance?. The last one, probably the best I’ve seen since the Atkinson era, what a fantastic match, especially if you watched it on TV, as did my daughterinlaw’s parents (Spurs,well, someone has to be).
So what about tomorrow?. They are our worst bogey side for years and I for one will be happy with a point.
So Jarrod, I wish you and everyone at the Hawthorns, JP, TM, MV, CS,& all the staff,the squad & your families,and especially my fellow Baggie Boys & Girls & and, er, them up the road, a Merry Christmas & a happy, peaceful & prosperous new year. God Bless one & all.
Best player - Them all!! Ahh bless
Best signings - Them all(except,Hartson)
Best performance - All the wins!!
Best Goal - Them all, they have all been special.
‘Albion…. The beautiful team’
Merry Christmas to the Albion family and here’s to a great new year guys
This is the most virtual part of the season for the baggies,nearly half way through and top of the league.Win the next two games against stoke and bristolthen it will be catch up time for the rest of the league,As a season ticket holder and supporter for a number of years,these are good times for all baggies supporters. I can see the good times coming back with the present manager, the ron Atkinson area was good but we didn’t win anything.With mobary in charge lets hope we can go one better and get promoted to the premiership and stay there.We dont whant any more great escapes as with Robson who was very lucky,and proved it the next season by taking us down
If West Brom, Wolves and Stoke get promoted, and Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham get relegated (it could happen) - there’ll be far more central teams than London teams in the Premiership. Maybe then some Midlands players could get on the England team…
I’m looking forward your report on the match between the Stoke bully boy pub team v world class, carpet football playing Albion.
Will Stoke manage to score? Will Stoke get shed loads of bookings and sendings off?