Please do not wake me up I am having the most wonderful dream, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
My beloved team are playing attractive football, they are challenging for promotion, and we are now off to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final.
Yes, it all seems like a dream, on a weekend for the underdogs, Albion did not fall into the same trap as Manchester United, Chelsea, and Middlesbrough.
Bristol Rovers can be proud of their efforts and the 1-5 scoreline flattered us slightly, but the clinical finishing from our attackers proved to be the difference.
It only started to sink in when I had to scribble out Blackpool in my diary and insert Wembley, having cancelled the Blackpool hotel I am now in overdrive to start organising the trip to Wembley.
Not only has the FA Cup been blown wide open by Chelsea and Manchester United being knocked out, but Saturday’s Championship results also worked in our favour.
I am literally twitching with excitement, Mowbray quite rightly issued another “promotion is our main focus” call, but it is hard not to become caught up in the hysteria surrounding the FA Cup.
My nephew Noah now thinks we go to Wembley every season!! Oh the folly of youth!
My excitement was tempered by the draw yesterday, I was hoping to draw Barnsley, second choice was Cardiff, and I did not want Portsmouth.
Alas, it was probably a bit too much to ask to get the opportunity to go to the final without playing a Premiership team, and lets face it, this season’s FA Cup run has been great fun.
If we were to beat Portsmouth it would set up an all Championship final, and I think the FA Cup has shown how tough it is to play against Championship sides’ week in week out.
Many fans and pundits have been saying how poor the Championship is this season, however the games between teams of the top two divisions have highlighted the quality and grit that exists in the Championship.
I just hope all of the underdog luck has not been used up, as we will now be up against the favourites to win the cup.
Portsmouth having amassed an amazing twelve away wins with a defence which boasts players like Campbell, Distin, and Lauren will believe their name is on the famous cup.
The players now have to focus their minds on gaining enough league points to ensure we are in the Premier League next season.
Next up is Crystal Palace tomorrow night, and I, like many other fans will have one eye on tonight’s games, Bristol versus Watford means points dropped however you cut it, and lets hope Norwich can do us a favour against Stoke.
Crystal Palace are pushing for a play off place and are set up as a typical Warnock team, uncompromising!
Scowcroft and Morrison upfront are used as battering rams and Albrechsten and Barnett can expect plenty of balls coming into the box.
I know I have mentioned this before, but I firmly believe the key to us winning at home is to score first.
If we can start well with our high tempo passing game we can start using our games in hand to start roping in the leaders, the fact we have a large squad is going to be tested over the next six weeks with the sheer amount of games we still have to play.
Whatever happens for the rest of this season, it has already been one to remember.
Come on you Baggie boys.
Albion fans have your say below
24 Comments
Good Blog Jarrod.
The semi final is going to be tough but we will go there as underdogs so we have nothing to fear.
Is anyone going to Wembley on the coaches organised by the Albion ? I’m undecided as the coach organisation for the play off final was a shambles.2 hours of standing in the rain.
I hope the organisers have learnt their lesson from last year.
Totally echo the dream world you are in to Jarrod, but back to reality for a little while, I do believe we have the size & quality of squad to compete in both competitions, contrary to many others who say things are gonna blow up in our faces.
Tonight is important Watford-Bristol C I want a draw so both teams drop the points, then Wednesday we need to punish the top teams dropping points over the last 2 weeks and continue picking up the 3 points.
It would be nice to be top of the league with the 2 games in hand.
Back onto Wembley, we have been allocated 33′000 tickets and 1 per season ticket/members, I’m a little disapointed as i’ve just had to phone my mother who I had promised a ticket, to tell her I think i’m gonna struggle to get her one (she was nearly in tears), I’m now left with just me & the young un, which brings a dillema, do I get drunk or stay sober???? Missus will kill me if i lose the little one!!!!
LMAO at Wolves, they are so jelous..doing the double in style, the Mowbray way!
Morning Jarrod
Good passionate blog!
I wish Albion all the best in their quest for the cup. Its just a shame you had to draw Pompey from the bag. I do think that however wins that match will go to lift the cup in May.
Hopefully you will beat Pompey and by the time you play us at Molineux next month, try to convince Mowbray that he needs to keep his team wrapped up in cotton wool and that he should rest his first 11 for the final!
All the best.
People think that cos Pompy had all the luck against Man Utd their name must be on the cup… I beg to differ.
I think all the luck pompy got just puts OUR name on it. If we were facing man Utd even the most ardent baggies fans would not be feeling confident - but to get to this stage and be facing Portsmouth…. WHAT A CHANCE !!!!
Whatever the scoreline in the semi, I think we can be very proud of our efforts this year - to play such great football, to still be favourites for promotion AND to be in the semi final of the cup is, ad Jarrod has said, dreamland.
LOVIN IT !!!
we are going to wembely!!!!!!
I,personally,would have preferred Cardiff but we can’t complain. It could easily have been Man.U.!!
It would also have been an injustice to have been paired with Barnsley after Luke Steele’s efforts against Liverpool. At least,if we beat Portsmouth we won’t be accused of winning the F.A.Cup via the Back Door!! We are in with an excellent chance so let’s seize this opportunity! But,for now, let’s win the Championship!!
Good blog as per usual Jarrod,
and i think you echoed every Baggies fans sentiments perfectly.
Unlike yourself however Pompey was my particular preference, the expectation levels
will be much reduced, and we can approach the game with a little more freedom, and a nothing to lose mentality.
On the ticket distribution,
the club were heavily criticized for the play off final….ie two per season ticket holder,
and indeed i spoke to a woman in a Wembley pub
whose last game was the 93 playoff against Vale, also a chap who was talking to my mate in the stadium before the game who was/is a Villa season ticket holder,
so no one will convince me that these irregular
or non Albion fans did not have a detrimental effect on the atmosphere that day.
So consequently the club appear to have instigated a fairer system,
however there will always be someone who suffers,
a friend of mine who has missed one game this term is such a person.
Non season ticket holders can claim a ticket,
if they have attended a minimum of five games,
BUT they have to be on the clubs database.
Problem with this is my mate buys his ticket on match days from the booth at the back of the Smethwick.
Poor bugger looks destined to miss out.
If it is WBA v Barnsley final Luke Steele will be even more gutted.
To Super kev,
We had our own minibus last season and will probably do the same again, you can drink, but with no toilet it involves stopping quite a bit!!!
Yes tough game against Palace tomorrow we all know our “friend” Morrison likes playing against us!!
Is anyone else sick and tired of certain Wolfies (you know the ones that hate all things Albion) of there envious comments, so what if we go to Wembley and Pompey beat us you have to be in it to win !!
Your kidding yourselves if you honestly would not swap places with Albion in the semi final of the FA cup
Totally agree that the championship is our most important competition. The amount of money that we will receive if we go up does not compare with the FA Cup. But if we were to win the FA Cup then that is European Football, if we can get through to the league stages and beyond then that is a whole new ball game.
I think that if TM had his choice of teams to play he probably would have picked Portsmouth as he never liked playing teams from the championship in the Cup.
It’ll be hard but not impossible, I’m sure they would rather have got Barnsley than us.
Come on you Baggies.
I’ll be going on train like i did last season, departing Smethwick Galton Bridge direct to Wembley, drink what you like and station is right by the ground. Nice and easy
TonyWBA
Is that train direct to Wembley??
Was it full of Baggies??
Was it a good laugh??
How long did it take??
Thanks, still looking at different ideas for the glorious trip!!
party is over now you just had your final when you meet the big boys you will go home crying BOO HOO,BOO HOO,BOO HOO,BOO HOO
Caught our train from Moor Street to Wembley They tried confiscating the beer, the journey was slow and rammed did’nt mind going. Coming back we dashed to Marleybone to find a pub and get a seat rather than wait for the train at Wembley. They shut all the pubs and again the train was rammed and stopped at every station as it was a commuter train too! You should have seen their faces when they got off at their respective stations Sheer Horror Did not get into B ham till 10ish
Never found a pub in Wembley just some hotel near the Stadium for breakfast and that was a joke
I will try to avoid the train this time round unless anyone found a better train service than Moor Street
Looking forward to the trip to Wembley and just loving being a Baggie at the moment. However, I don’t want us supporters to take our eye off the league either. It’s important now that we get behind the team in the remaining league games and give the team a real boost by turning the Hawthorns into a wall of noise. Those missing fans get off your bums and get down there and support the boys starting with Crystal Palace tomorrow. You will not be disappointed! Come on you Baggies!
13.
I’ve looked on T’Internet and I can’t find a direct service to Wembley Stadium.
Can anyone help ?
13: Bomber
It was direct for the play off final, did look yesterday on the Internet but they did nothing direct but i presume they will link sommat up once they know the date.
There was more than 1 train full of baggies.
Atmosphere was good, case of lager between our group & a pack of cards, bit quieter on the way back, all peed up & disapointed after defeat.
It took about 2 hours or so to get there.
there was a big queue to get on the train back, queued about 45 minutes, but the trains come in every couple of minutes to clear everyone.
you watch the attendance rise now all these members that will want to tot up 5 league games at home
Good blog as always mate. Thought you would like to know that my son is 21 and Sunday was the first time in his life that we were live on BBC.
Oh glory days. My mate who is a mad Spurs fan came round and after the match his comment was –you need a decent keeper for the Prem—interesting!Although Pompey were not my first or my second choice and didn’t we all know that Mr Robson would draw them against us still I fancy us to win through. Onwards and upwards
Good luck to your boys in the FA Cup - and the Championship. You play by far the most attractive football and deserve to be in the top flight. Having seen some of Bristol City’s very average recent performances (including that scandalous late equaliser against us) i can’t believe they are still top.
I think you’ll beat us on Wednesday but hopefully we will play our passing style (rather than long balls) and at least give your lot a decent game.
Good luck for the rest of the season and for the FA Cup.
chiltern do direct services to Wembley…in the po final…there was quite a few..
No 14. So what if we lose to Pompey at Wembley? Are you telling me that you Dingles wouldn’t want a day out at Wembley regardless of the result?
Stop being so bitter and just enjoy the fact that us Baggies are off to Wembley yet again.
The future is bright,the future is Blue & White not Gold & Black and certainly not green (the colour of envy!)
easy dingle hater. gonna have to have my saying patented. the futres bright the futres blue and white! mine. never mind boing boing all the way to europe and back!