Bit of a lengthy blog today due to all the transfer news, Tuesday night’s game, and the fact we have had a player chosen in the England squad, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
Tuesday night’s loss to Preston was disappointing, the performance going forward was good and we created our standard boat load of chances, but for once we failed to convert enough of them.
We desperately missed Super Kev, and not for the first time this season I find myself saying, if he had been on the pitch we would have won.
Again set pieces cost us, Mowbray does not seem to be able to cure us of this Achilles heel, whether it is personnel or organisation I am not sure.
Many fans point at the fact Deano does not come of his line and command his box, particularly the first goal on Tuesday, the ball has come a long way deep into the six yard box yet Deano has stayed on his line.
Results were kind to us; however we have again missed an opportunity to open a gap between our selves and our competitors for automatic promotion, I am hoping that we are now over our blip and we can now push on.
I must admit, I am not a fan of playing one up front with either Tex or Gera playing just behind, Mowbray may have had his choices restricted with Phillips injured, but does that then highlight the need for another striker???
Well the transfer window closed yesterday and it was a busy day, Kim, Danek, Dorrans, and more surprisingly Miller have all signed up.
The reported fee surprised me even more £900,000, although Miller has a lot to learn, at that price and his age it represents a fantastic bit of business.
Dorrans has signed but will remain with Livingston until the summer, and both Kim and Danek have signed loan deals.
So, the question is do we now have the squad to gain promotion?
Personally I would have liked to seen us sign another striker, but I am nit picking.
Did any of you bloggers expect us to have a player in the England squad (wonder what odds you would have got)?
I am disappointed the press have not stated he is a WBA player, and keep harping on about Villa having five players in the squad, until they hand over that cheque for £8.5 million I am sticking to my guns that we have a player in the England squad (as much as I despise him).
I would like to update everyone regarding the Honour Bomber campaign.
I have received a letter from Jeremy Peace parts of which were printed in last night’s Express and Star, it basically ruled out either a statue or renaming a stand to honour our greatest ever club servant.
It cited a number of reasons, including, we already have Bombers bar in the Halfords, and choosing to honour a player is difficult because fans will have a differing opinion on who should be chosen.
Also rather confusingly he goes on to state how he receives a number of letters asking the same question (does this not add more weight to the argument??).
I respect our Chairman’s comments, but I certainly do not agree with them.
I have received support from Tom Ross at BRMB/Capital Gold, the Express and Star, but more importantly I am yet to speak to, or hear of a single fan (Albion, Wolves, Villa, Walsall, or Blues), who thinks that it is not a good idea.
I had no response from Paul Franks at WM, (whether he received my correspondence I cannot confirm), but all other parties have now responded, and all apart from Jeremy Peace have been positive.
So it looks like we will have to organise something to force the issue further. I will keep you updated.
So it has been a disappointing week, but a win against Burnley tomorrow and I will be smiling again.
Albion fans have your say below
23 Comments
Hi Bomber - great blogg again.
very disappointed that JP feels we have honoured Tony Brown enough - but I believe he will get more recognition in the future - i pray he is here to see it.
That said, i don’t wish to detract from the fantastic job JP is doing in his duties as Chairman. He is allowing our best manager in over 30 years to develop a blue print for sustainable success - he is backing him financially without putting the club into trouble… a great balancing act.
On the transfer activity, like most fans i was amazed that Ish signed at this stage - and even more amazed at the great deal we negotiated. Also very happy to see a new keeper come in - although I still back Deanno it was a position that needed cover.
I don’t know anything about Kim - but those that have seen him rate him very highly, so I expect he will be another ToMo diamond, and the signing of Dorrans is brill - he is a real talent and letting him progress and develop at Livindston is a great decision.
So another great transfer window for us - all set for the final push now i think.
Finally - I hope we have a clause in the Davies sale that puts the price up if he is selected for England…and to the dingles - Who was your last full english International ???? Na na nee na narrrr !!!!
LOVIN IT !!!
p.s - if we need a striker to cover we have 24hr recall on Bart, plus Beattie is playing well now AND we have MacD - plus Nicholson is also on recall… don’t be greedy !
We should honour Albions greatest servant with something that stands out like we have for the king. I can not imagine a single Baggie who would put another player ahead of Bomber for this.
In my opinion
He IS Mr Albion.
He deserves this honour more than any other player.
Let’s do it while he can also enjoy it.
I have to agree with you Jarrod when you take what you have just blogged in conjunction with the E&S article yesterday, where JP says Bombers goal scoring and appearance records will probably never be broken. Surely these two facts alone stand him out as someone who will be a all time hero at the club. We can name bars and suites after other deserving Albion stalwarts but surely in his own words JP has made the case for a more individual tribute to Bomber. I will watch progress with interest.
Isn’t today eerily quiet after the furore of yesterday, particularly last night for us. Despite implied slight critisism above I have to say that JP is a very shrewd chairman. All identified targets landed and on our terms one and all, with no key players leaving, He may make us sweat but he has shown support for TM.
Danek could be a while before he plays though due to his poor English, though it will keep Deano on his toes even more so now. Bednar and Cesar in at the end of the season…oooh yes…havin fun in the run in
Boing Boing!!
wow what a time to be a baggie,the window was kind to us with no championship club doing whatblues ans sunderland did last year and spending ,charlton even cashed in an assett,this year is probably the most important year for us in living memeory,i believe we have the mananger,players,board and obviously fans to do something REALLY special,so so happy at the moment,feel soorry for the dingles they are having a good season but it pales compares to us hahahah
interesting blog as always—-I really hope we do not have to regret the fact that we did not bring in a proper central defender who would clear the ball without any fuss a la Hyppia. Whilst I respect the fact that TM wants to create a culture of footballers who are comfortable on the ball at our club and I’m all for it—we have to defend properly. All the great teams have great defences and we are going to be great again if we concentrate on this area. I look forward to seeing our new goalie and the Korean in midfield. As to the Davies selection when he first arrived at Albion and played so well I tried to get a bet on at the bookies that he would be the captain of England within 10 years but no-one would give me any odds. Whilst I agree that his behaviour was awful I cannot deny that I wish he was still playing for us and that if he was we would be 10 points clear
HB, with everything that has been going on i had completely forgotten about Bart!!!!
Maybe it is time to bring him back and see how he does playing for an attacking team creating lots of chances.
Danek (i am reliably informed) is a really good prospect, however with no spoken English and this being a huge part of a goalkeepers job, we may not see anything of him this season (barring injury to Deano).
I do not think my blog above (written in a bit of a hurry this morning) quite displays my astonishment at how cheaply Man City have let Miller go for.
all the noises coming from Big Ish was that he would wait until the summer to decide on his future, probably a combination of the team spirit and vibes coming from Man City have made his mind up.
A lot to learn still, but with Phillips tutoring him we could end up with one hell of a player.
How good a player would we have if we could put Phillips brain in Millers body????? Another Henry!!!
Bomber - with Miller due back from injury very soon I hope that we have enough up front with him, KP, Roman & Beatts (plus MacD) - Bart won’t get a look in yet so should (IMO) carry on at Blackpool.
How much english does a keeper need - it seems to be all pointing, pushing and shouting KEEEEEPPPERRRSSS !!!!!
If we put KP’s brain into miller’s body we could get Bednar - and i hope you meant Tierry and not Karl !!
To sign Miller for that price is a bargin in this day, he should also be commended for committing himself to us. As regarding all this about the defence, no-one can tell me we hav’nt got enough capable players here now, what they need is organising and complete faith in what is behind them. Whilst Deano has done a great job for us I feel his command of the area lets him down, this in turn rubs off on the defence. A big dominator of the area will make a vast difference. That saying even with Deano in goal we should win this league, thats not arrogance, but realism. Whilst we don’t have a divine right to be top, we are, so enjoy it.
Morning Happy. Without checking any records I think our last England International was Bully and I can not think that you have had anyone play since then. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Jarrod.
Once again, well done on the Bomber campaign. It’s hard to argue with JP that we should rename the imaginatively and inspirationally named East Stand, my heart misses a beat every time I read it. I’d rename it the Astle and Brown stand. To all who watched them in those days they were inseperable, or if we’re thinking money, for example ‘the T mobile Astle and Brown stand.’ I’m sure any would be sponsors would be only too glad to have their firm linked with two fine players and men whos’ lives as footballers and after have been devoted to ‘our’ club.
On the subject of signings, I’m in Happy’s camp regarding strikers, surely we have enough. I’m more concerned about the defence, Cesar and Albre are fine but we may be a little stretched if we get any serious injuries. I don’t
believe in bringing back Big Dave or Taylor from the Blues but would have liked to bring in some younger defenders to develop but who could do a job if needed. That said, I’m not complaining, it’s been an excellent window. Well done all involved.
Regarding the last, Happy, I think I owe the management an apology for doubting their ability to close a deal. Another thing that concerns me and perhaps other poster’s knowledge is greater than mine. Everyone is saying how wonderful this system of loaning players with a permanent deal attached is. When it works out, as with Ish, then it is. What concerns me is that it’s only binding on the club. If for instance we reach the end of Roman’s loan and another club tap him up and offer him a better deal, he’s free to walk away. Not saying it will happen but it could. Please tell me if I’m wrong.
i believe if cutis doesnt count,kieren richardson must,but if you want to count internationals from other countries??
morning malvern,
that sounds about right - so if Ol’ Glassfoot does somehow manage to get capped we can claim the international bragging rights too (and if you say he is out on loan then i will clain Keiron richardson).
Crikey - soon you will only have your attendance figures to keep you going…
Agree with 8 HB
How long does it take to learn “Mine”, “Leave it” etc?
TRB - not 100% sure on the details of the loan contracts - but I believe we either have written in option of buying at a set price (as in the Miller deal) or a first refusal option to negotiate.
I would think the written agreement option is most likely as neither is just on a short term loan deal, and that why there has been no great rush to sign them. The Miller deal was more urgent as the price option was only valid till end of jan.
Does evryone else remember all the wolfies saying he would never sign ?? ..and its all gone quiet over there…
With regards to a CB - i reckon TM has a few targets for the prem - players who won’t drop into this league - but he feels we are covered for now - and i agree with him.
LOVIN IT !!!
As a Wolves fan it may come as a surprise that I think Bomber Brown was a fantastic player for you and deserves the honour of a statue or certainly something more memorable than a bar or a stand. Those can be renamed as we have at Molineux (John Ireland > Steve Bull) but a statue cannot be renamed can it? It could only be pulled down and that I think would sound the death knell of your Chairman whether it be Peace or someone else! Commemorate Bomber with a statue but NOT at the Smethwick end!
HB, i agree regarding the defensive options, i think the personnel available are upto the job, but whether it is organisation or the highlighted fact regarding deano staying on his line, we keep failing with set peices.
Lets face it, we will be tested again tomorrow on this point, have we learned our lesson??
Time will reveal all.
Team tomorrow and prediction:
Deano
Robbo Alby Cesar Hoefs
Brunt Jonno Koren Gera
Bednar Phillips (hoping)
Possibly Morrison for Gera.
Score prediction, 3-1.
Scorers Bang bang Bednar 2, Brunt 1.
Bomber - I definately think its down to organisation… someone, somewhere aint doing what they should, and i don’t thinks its always the CBs.
maybe Jonno needs to be more vocal as capt, or Robbo / deanno needs to telling the markers what to do. People like Gera and Koren need to get their head to the ball first on a more regular basis.
Saying that, i think this issue is being over-hyped slightly. All teams conceed, and plenty conceed from set pieces. We don’t conceed THAT many and with a bit of sorting I’m sure we can reduce this further.
Can’t argue with your line up - but if KP starts I have him down to get 1 or 2.
Bomber arrived as a lad at the club and spent his career with us, therefore maybe appropriate to name academy after him.This may just highlight to the kids coming through the door what a good pro should be about.
Couldn’t agree more re Bomber.He is indeed Mr Albion,and refusing all ideas does Jp no favours at all.
However i’m quite happy with the Jan business,more great deals from the Chairman-he might be a bit insensitive but boy can he do a deal!Miller is an absolute steal,i bet there are a few Prem teams gutted they won’t be able to get him in the summer now.Would have liked a centre half in the Martin Taylor mould (the other 9 can do his passing for him)but guess it goes against TM’s principles,and who am i to argue!
If any body wants to see what KIM looks like have alook on Youtube.He looks brilliant.
Happy.
Re the loan deals. I know the deals with the clubs are fixed. What I’m saying is if you discover the next Ronaldo on a deal like this, the loan is not binding on the player to sign and he may be tempted by a better deal elsewhere. That’s the bit I’m not sure about.
roman bedrar,hes gonna shoot us back to the premiership,the futures bright,the futures blue n white!