If only the league only ran until Christmas. Since the turn of the year our form has dipped considerably, and we witnessed another poor result on Saturday, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
1-0 up and although not playing well were looking threatening in patches, then came the defining point of the game, Luke Moore was given a straight red card for a two footed challenge which was completely unnecessary.
The capitulation that followed highlighted the lack of strength and steel within our current squad.
Whether it is tactical naivety or a lack of character within certain players I am not sure, but when faced with adversity and the need to dig out a result we do not have what is required.
We still have two games in hand on the top two and can still go top if we win them, but our current form suggests we may have to settle for the play-offs again.
I have said since the start of this season that what we lacked was a Derek McInnes type player and captain who could drive the team on through the bad times and poor form; I have not changed my opinion.
Injuries are starting to mount up with Barnett adding his name to the treatment list on Saturday, and the fact we are missing one or two key players is not helping, but surely we have the squad to cope?
Many fans are pointing the finger at Mowbray’s rotation policy, and I must admit when he chose to play Moore on Saturday I was a little critical myself.
Moore is struggling to find any form which may be in part due to not playing enough games this season and still getting used to the Championship.
Our stats this season show that we have scored more goals and collected more points when Phillips and Miller have been paired in attack and maybe when fit should be picked to play.
The loss of all three of our wide left players has left Mowbray with a bit of a headache in midfield, and when we lack width we lose one of our best attacking elements.
We now have a trip to Charlton on Friday and the need for a good result is imperative, other results on Saturday meant we did not lose much ground on the teams ahead of us and our fate is still in our own hands.
With fewer and fewer games to go each game is now taking on increasing importance and as the pressure mounts, I just hope this squad of players has enough character to handle it and does not follow the same path as last season.
My gut feeling is that we will have to endure the play offs again; I hope I am wrong, but our form and players confidence seems to have deserted us at the wrong time.
Has the FA Cup been a distraction?
Only the players can answer that question, my belief is that we lack a Plan B in many of the games we have played.
The old saying that “if you cannot win a game you make sure you do not lose a game”, should be printed out and put up on the changing room wall.
I can name half a dozen games this season were we have dropped points when we have been the better team, but have lacked that collective resilience when things have not gone our way.
The players need to develop greater mental strength in the face of adversity, in the run in to the end of season it will be the teams who have this belief and strength of character that will achieve their goals, without it I fear we will have to spin the wheel of chance and enter the play offs.
I just hope I am wrong, come on you Baggies.
Albion fans have your say below
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52 Comments
Jarrod,
you sound very down hearted,this blog will only transmit fear of the unknown to the faithful that follow
our great team.Yes we are going through a sticky patch at present and yes the officials are not equal in their decision making but you must stay focused,we will come good and decisions will go for us.IN MOWBRAY WE TRUST
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Great blog Jarrod. I think you’ve said what a lot of Albion fans have been thinking for quite a while but didn’t want to admit to. No matter what happens over the first part of the season, it all comes down to who has the bottle over the final dozen or so games and at the moment we haven’t got what is needed. I hope we can turn it round but it needs to happen fast otherwise it will be play off again.
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You are correct Jarrod, if you make up a league table for 2008 you would find us three points ahead of you, we have 18 to your 15. You have scored loads more but we have the better defence. Nobody would have predicted that we would meet five times last season but who would bet now against us meeting in the playoffs again maybe home and away or maybe even at Wembley. If that was the case you would have a slight advantage having played there last year and again in a couple of weeks. Against that if all this happens we would go into the game or games in better form. It could be a very exciting few weeks and we need to make it happen with three points tonight.
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Cov baggie
I know i sound like i am being negative, and i truly hope i am wrong, but i just feel like we will be in the play-offs. The effects of injuries, poor form, and the fa cup, i think will result in us just missing out on automatic.
If we go up through the play-offs who cares, another trip to Wembley, at this rate we should all invest in parking spaces!!
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ok so we have had a dip in form,and the cup has no doubt been a distraction,we must keep going and giving our best,we do have the players to turn it around, and personally i think we will turn charlton over on friday and kick on from there,write us off at your peril because we will win our games in hand and we will finish top,and turn pompey over in the process boing boing doing the double the MOWBURY WAY
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Good Blog , my only critacism of TM has always been the lack of a plan B. But i don’t think now is the time for a faint heart. All the teams around us are faltering also. If we can get the hoff back on friday(i think gera is at his beat when hoff plays) and get a result at charlton it will all look diffrent.
Lets all keep the faith we will do it
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The seeds of doubt have been planted in the steptoe’s of sandwell’s minds, you all know deep down that you are going to blow it in style bong bong
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Jarrod.
From previous threads of yours, I’m guessing this is part reverse psychology, if only to set your own mind at rest and part being a football fan. All of us fans are blessed with the gene that makes everything rosy one week and a a disaster the week after a defeat.
Our illustrious friends down the road win Saturday and the doom and gloom becomes sweetness and light, the reverse happens with us. The truth is somewhere in between. Like you I’ve never gone over the top, always saying if rather than when we go up. Perhaps we all got a little carried away when we were top at Christmas but remember pre season we would have taken a play off place and Wolves fans were confidently predicting we would struggle.
Let’s not forget, we’ve reached the stage of the season when clubs like Leicester, Scunthorpe etc are scrapping for their lives and the fact that we’ve had such a poor spell and the other teams haven’t pulled away or indeed the chasers gained any ground says it all, this is a difficult league. Those who say it’s a poor standard look at the FA cup results this season.
Like many, I’d swap our FA cup exploits for another 3 points but football doesn’t work like that. In the words of the Mammas and Papas’ the darkest hour is just before dawn. Let’s hope we can get a run going to the end of the season. On the injuries front, remember the year we reeled in the Wolves? We had a paper thin squad and lost our two best players Roberts and Appleton early in the season. Different circumstances I know but where would you rather be, where we were with 10 games to go that season or this season?
As for Luke Moore, he made a mistake but give the lad a chance, he may have a big role still to play for us. Players like Derek McInnes don’t come along too often and when they do they normally cost a fortune. Derek was having his last hurrah with us and I’m sure if you know where there’s a similar player available TM would take your hand off.
Many people have questioned our players attitude in diversity, we don’t have the sort of midfield that can steam into tackles. We saw on Saturday with Luke Moore and earlier when Kim tried to make this sort of tackle, with this referee we could easily have played most of the game with nine players. I didn’t see a lack of commitment from our team and at the end clapped off nine players who gave it their all.
Another thought provoking blog Jarrod. KEEP THE FAITH!
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Jarrod good blog again mate, even though I do not feel as downbeat as you put over.
I honestly believe as does Terry we will get a good result whether being a draw or a win at Charlton and kick on from there, the realisation the players will feel now the pressure is down must be immense, but we have some big names in this team who I think and hope will find what is needed in them to get a run going.
It is important more than ever now to win the 3 home games we have Colchester, Watford & Southampton, we then have the “on paper” daunting away trips, in my opinion we are bettr set-up at the minute to play away from home, with opposition teams having to open up obviously leaving spaces for the talented players we have.
The FA Cup has been an hinderance on our league form but an absolute enjoyable one, and i for one would never of dreamed of West Brom in a FA Cup semi final, so i’m loving it.
Hopefully after this coming weekend everything will look a little better and that next week we can see a positive outlook from all.
“COME ON YOU BAGGIE BOYS”
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good blog–I’m with you overall although I still can’t fathom our defence and goalie. Why haven’t we tried the new goalie yet? And please TM bring in a loanee or two to bolster the defence. Every time a high ball goes into our area or a corner or a free kick my heart goes into my mouth
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Hi Real Bully, anyone who quotes from the Mamas and Papas is all right with me ( and probably the same age too ). Have you sorted your ticket for Wembley yet?
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11 Malvern.
Thanks for asking. The money has been taken from my account but I haven’t received the ticket yet. Says it all about being a Baggies fan over the years although probably you would say the same of your lot. I have also got the Boing Boing Baggies Baggies on my machine, which I obviously don’t find as disturbing as some Wolves fans who’ve got it, well apart from the accent, which is very Jasper Carrott. Good luck in your play off quest. Wouldn’t a Black Country derby in the prem be tremendous.
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Spot on again Jarrod, We need some balls in midfield, something we havent had for many years.
No excuse for not having any wide left players, Ishmael was a winger at city, Clement could have played there or even Robinson with Clement at left back.
IMHO Koren and Greening are too lightweight in midfield together, pair one of them in a midfield four with Pele or both of them in a five.
And we are still letting in stupid schoolboy goals that could be prevented, Kiely as much as I like him as a proffesional footballer he is not good enough anymore, he lacks agility and communication skills to arrange his defence.
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11 Malvern.
Since I replied to you the postman has been and I now have my ticket and total faith in my club to organise any future celebrations in a beer manufacturing facility. I’m currently engaged in reading the FA’s conditions that govern the manner in which I may use ‘my’ ticket. If I can finish reading them in time I intend going to the game.
All the best Bully.
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The albions problem is your defence. Barnett, Hoefkens, Hodgkiss etc are not good enough, infact thats a very average to poor championship defence. You have a few good midfield players and a cracking attack but teams have now worked you out and the term PREDICTABLE can be used, teams will attack you and score goals. Leicester scoring at the poorthorns. do you albion fans agree?
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jarrod, you’ll lose to pompey at wembley. anybody with an ounce of common sense knows that!. you should still make the play offs, but anymore results like saturday and that could threaten your play off chances too.
either way it’s been a good season for you, but just remember at the end of the day..your west brom, not chelsea or man utd. you lot are worse than us for expectation, we only want the impossible but even that wouldn’t be good enough for you lot.
just enjoy what’s happening so far, don’t spoil it by expecting things your current squad has no chance of delivering.
see you in the play offs, at wembley this time hopefully.
goin’ up the mcarthy way..in style of course..oh yes.
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Real Bully, good news mate, I am pleased it has arrived. Cheers.
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Wolves 1877 post up to his normal pathetic rubbish I see!!!!
Jarrod, I dont think the cup has been a distraction infact the opposite in a way when they have lost in the league they have had the cup to take there minds of it in a funny way.
We may well get stuffed in the cup but at the end of the day on current positions we are playing the 6th best team in the country, but on the day anything can happen.
We have had a good entertaining season whether we win the cup or not /get promoted or not its been entertaining and thats what its all about.
Certain fans come on here from other clubs and the highlight of there season is when west brom lose !
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15,glouc,you dont know what your talking about,barnett is a superb player,over the last few games we have missed hoefkens moer than any other player in my opinion,though i dont think hodgkiss is ready for first team football yet,as for teams attacking and scoring goals,i can assure you saturday was a one off,over the last 8 games we have conceded 7 goals id hardley call that teams finding us out,as i said saturday was a one off,its nice to know that you take an intrest in our players but being as we have only played you once this season how do you come to that conclusion bout them,think you best take a look at your own defence first dont you,boing boing going to wembley to lift the cup,
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southbankbarmyarmy
I agree with some of your points, but to say our expectations are to high or as you put it higher than your own (Wolves) is a bold statement which holds little water.
When top at christmas why wouldnt we expect to be challenging for promotion, and if we acheive nothing this season most fans would still back Mowbray. I like most other baggie boys see the fa cup for what it is, we are not expecting to win it or even make the final, but it has been a great run to the semis which we have all enjoyed immensely.
All clubs have expectations, and both Albion and Wolves would expect to be challenging for promotion from this league, both have done it in recent seasons and both are relatively big clubs int he championship, but then again there are probably 10 others that fall into the same category.
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Keep the faith this team is going up as champions.going up in style.
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18. I see baggieboy is on his moral high ground again, very quick to pass judgement on others opionion’s yet what you spout is ok is it, I’ve argued with you before on here and you ain’t clever enough to have a decent debate with. Blowing it in style, stepoes of sandwell town bong bong
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terrywembleybaggie you silly boy! I take an interest in every team in the championship as they are my teams opposition and I actually like football?! Barnett is a liability, prone to mistakes. Makes me laugh 2 weeks ago doing the double the mowbray way now its..well if we dont go up and lose to portsmouth its been goodfor parts of the season. CHEERIO WINNING THE LEAGUE, CHEERIO WINNING THE CUP! Winning absolutely nothing and looking silly for a second season the mowbray way!
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22 Not morales I just dont think terms steptoes sandwell town boggies bong bong etc etc etc etc…….
is a clever or a decent debate do you .
No seeds of doubt in my mind if we are good enough we will be promoted if not we wont its very simple really
as I have said before I dont see the point in childish name calling whether it be your lot or our lot doing it. In my 40’s think it would be rather silly to be calling silly names
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Gloucester I agree with Hoefkins as the jury is still out on him for me but Barnett has been great since his return to the team he as been my man of the match for the last 3 games. All defenders make mistakes as goalkeepers they are just highlighted because they normally end up with a goal conceded
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Wolves 1877.
I presume your not with the current lot as your mob went out of business sometime in the eighties. I have to agree with Baggieboy, your entries on here range from puerile to pathetic. There are a lot of posts on here from Wolves fans that are excellent, unfortunately yours are never among these.
On the defence question. I had my doubts about Barnett but those who watch regularly will know that he improves week on week. Like Barnett I’ve had doubts about Hoefkens but as is often the case, you don’t realise how good someone is until they’re not their. I think Jared Hodgkiss’ lack of pace is always going to be a problem in his position, at the moment he lacks the experience to get away with it, a spell on loan may help. Robbo and Albie are easily good enough in this division along with Bostjan. We do need cover at full back. Martis looked what he is on Saturday, a centre half playing out of position. We are still in a great position, we just have to recapture our form and hold our nerve. KEEP THE FAITH.
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I think Barnett has potential and plenty of pace i think hes undone on too many occasions this season and I have albion fans colleagues who say they are very nervous when he plays especially under the high ball or somebody who hold the ball up well. i think regardless of your outcome to the season geras stated his intention to leave, robinson will go (if he can pass a medical) phillips future is unsure, robert koren is very overrrated
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27 .. Gera has made his intention very clear and as a fan I appreciate that fact. I genuinley no the reason why Robbo did not go but it was not a failed medical but obviously thats your word against mine and i’m not getting into a tit for tat posting but I am sure he will not ask for a move should we not get promoted. KP again his contract talks are ongoing and should he leave thats fine he has been a joy to watch this season.
I do thou’ disagree with your comment on Koren I think he underated (not by albion fans obviously)his general work rate is very good and scores on a regular basis.
Financialy the club can suatain another season in the Championship on the curent wage bill (according to Mr Peace) and with JP’S prudence that probably means 2 or 3 years lol.
Regards
Baggie Boy
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Poor blog.
Totally disagree with the negativity.
Which two teams are stretching away from us?
None, Watford only draw, Bristol City and Stoke have gone into their poorest runs for many months.
Win our two games in hand and we would be top so its still in our own hands.
The trouble is sense of perspective goes out of the window, win a game and reach the semifinals and everything is marvellous champions league stuff, lose and draw a game and we’re out of it, play off bound at best.
Oh and for the record can someone please stop this fa cup distraction nonsense.
The facup always has been important and it is important.
This club has one of the long traditions in the facup.
An facup win would last long after an automatic promotion/playoff to the money prawn sandwich bias and cheating league for one season would.
Stop trying to say theres a choice, if you really believe it then don’t bother to enter at all.
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baggiejonathon
Sorry you disliked the blog so much, but it is just my genuine feeling, whether negative or not.
I do agree with what you have said regarding the fa cup, win it and it lasts forever not like a promotion.
I hope i am wrong, only time will tell, and plus if we are in the play-offs who says we will not win them??
The fact the teams ahead of us have not pulled away further is a good point, but we need to win two games just to catch them, we then have to win afew more to get automatic spot.
I appreciate you do not agree with the blog, but calling it poor has really hurt my feelings, just cant go on, i was on the edge as it was, goodbye cruel world!!
Only kidding, i will be back with an equally poor blog later in the week, and just for you baggiejonathon i will try really hard. Sorry.
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24. Well lets debate name calling shall we, all I ever see from your lot is dingle this and dingle that etc, shall we look at where the name dingle came from, Preston/Blackburn have called Burnley dingles for a lot of years way before you lot copied it from them, As for what i call you well tit for tat as far as i’m concerned and call it childish all you want, that’s why 20 thousand plus fans on both sides sing insulting songs about each other every week, so they must all be childish too.
26. What do you mean not with my current lot please explain as you’re a bit vague with your statement, pureile and pathectic eh did you have to look in the dictionary for those words, It’s so easy to wind you steptoes up, like taking 3 points off the boggies EASY EASY EASY
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31… So if someone was kicking hell out of another fan would You join in, if someone jumped in the cut would you follow.
So fans call each other names at games thats fine but we try to have decent adult postings 9this goes for all the boggie and dingle bashers as you reffer to them
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A negative post bomber, not like you fella!
Has more emphasis been put on the cup rather then the league? Surley the league should be priority and then anything else is a bonus. You “could” end up with nothing this year if your not careful.
Why haven’t Albion recalled clement from Hull?
Why did mowbray drop/rotate Miller and Philips, makes no sense.
Are albion missing Tex, is Brunt not performing. Why is bl00dy Greening your best player (in my opinion)?
Lots of questions. I for one only want Albion to get promoted if wolves do, that is not being bitter or anything like that, I suppose it’s a little childish but i’m sure you can see my point. No-one like there rivals to be doing better then they are. Saying that I’m not 100% convinced either team will be promoted this year, or win a trophy. After such optimism from wolves pre season and such a good start from albion we could be having the same debates next year minus the fa cup.
Come on wolves tonight, doing the single the McCarthy way
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23,glos, well we dont need you to take an intrest in our team,stick with your own bunch of losers DOING THE DOUBLE THE MOWBURY WAY BOING BOING
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Terry 34 - that’a a bit rich coming from you, after the amount of time you spend on our pages.
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WBABOMBER..fair play my friend and agree with everything you replied with.
all i want is for our derbies to be in the premier rather than the championship. i rather we teased each other about who was going to get into europe, rather than he play offs.
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31 Wolves 1877.
Sorry i assumed your non de plume referred to when your club was established. I was pointing out that they went out of business in the 80’s due to being unable to pay their creditors. This also means that the present club masquerading under that name have little in the way of history or trophies.
On your second point, no I didn’t need a dictionary, unlike you my English is quite good but not as good as your History if you can remember taking three points off us.
As for winding us up, in your dreams Sonny Jim. Have another go and try not to embarrass yourself too much this time
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32. In answer to your post no I wouldn’t join in and I wouldn’t jump in a cut either, you’ve obviously got issues and you need help.
37. Firstly Wolves never went out of business so get your facts right, as for your statement of the present club masquerading under that name is still WOLVES, always has been WOLVES and always will be WOLVES, with more honours than sandwell and that is a FACT. Theres nothing wrong with my English either or my History and I can remember Wolves taking lots of points off you. I have wound you up that’s why you’ve bitten and responded, and for the record you’re much more of an embarrassment than me that to is a FACT. loser
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38 Wolves1877.
Maybe I haven’t got the facts spot on and your old club didn’t go out of business but there was definitely some problems with reneging on debts to creditors. Anyway good luck with your new club AFC Wolverhampton.
PS. On the subject of winding up and biting. Read your own piece and then run it past me again, who’s wound up and bitten? The CAPITALS give away your anger, please don’t be angry, it’s bad for your blood pressure and I’d hate to be the cause, after all it’s only a laugh isn’t it?
PPS. See you’ve got the dictionary out for this post. Well done.
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38..only problem I have is with moronic posters such as yourself
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39. It would take a lot more than you and anything you write to wind me up, thanks for the concern about my blood pressure but it’s fine, and as for your post well you’ve just admitted you are a liar and have to make things up, bit of a Jackanory ain’t you. LIAR.
40. Now who’s being childish and calling names, don’t come on here slating people for name calling then go and do it yourself, just makes you look stupid. PS read your fellow steptoe’s advice on biting, blood pressure etc as it applies to you more.
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41 - you missed out “pants on fire”.
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Anyone see collymore on the tv last night (in the championship round up )Bully of all people predicted we and watford will be in the 2 auto promotion positions// I could not believe my ears (he did physically wince when he said it mind ). Will wolves fans ever forgive him…
Whatever happens from this run in, I for 1 have seen what the bagies are capable of, and I FOR ONE, would never criticise the vision that JP showed bringing Mowbray to us.
Every week the nerves are tingling in keen anticipation, as we are lifted to the forefront of the soccer psyche of the nation.
We were the only team that did not capitulate our credentials, when the likes of Liverpool, Man U, and Chelsea went crashing out of the Cup.
Did anyone see the focus and grit on the faces of the players, as they fought, and outskilled Bristol Rovers. The Mcinnes spirit bought us the semi-final, we must rekindle it quickly, and get hoff and brunt back even more quickly.
We will then return to where we belong, The Premiership
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Sums up well the thoughts and feelings ive had since the turn of the year.Objective view!
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I thought it was the fashion to do what others did have you not benn trying to teach me this recently???
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45. you my friend are as mad as a box of frogs, you cotradict yourself, you criticise others yet do the same youyrself, but your mad post’s amuse me no end, don’t worry i’m sure the nice men in white coat’s will be along soon.
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41. AFC Wolverhampton.
I’ve had enough of this now, I can no longer engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man.
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47. Is that because you talk total rubbish and fail miserably at trying to be clever, well clever you ain’t, so be a good little steptoe and go do your homework.
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48 - no one else thinks steptoe is remotely funny - no other wolves fans are picking it up - its pointless…. I know you will persist with it, but trust me, it makes you lokk REALLY silly.
Its like starting at chant at the match that no one else joins in with…. do yourself a favour - let it go.
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Interesting article by Kiely in Mondays paper claiming us Baggie fans need to take our blinkers off. All I can say is Deano I dont expect every team that comes to The Hawthorns to roll over but what I do expect is senior Professionals to do the right things in the right areas, and this means The Goalkeeper not kicking the ball out of play when under no pressure ,and, Internationals being able to get the ball past the first man from a set piece, Defenders being able to defend corners and free kicks. Please get the basics right before expressing an opinion in the press.
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49. I think steptoe is funny and relevant, touched a nerve have I, don’t the boggies like being called steptoe, I don’t care if no other Wolves fans use it it’s my saying and I shall continue using it. I don’t think it’s made me lokk or should that be look silly at all, now be a good little steptoe and go get some tat.
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51 AFC Wolverhampton.
Got to agree with you it’s not the only thing that makes you look silly.
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