The tickets are in hand, the bus is booked, the flags are at the ready, and I still cannot believe we are going to Wembley for an FA Cup Semi-final, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
I am contemplating not even bothering to go to bed tonight, what will be the point? I am not going to be able to sleep, I am twitching with excitement.
No mention of the league today, it is purely FA Cup fever, and as much as I am excited about tomorrow, strangely I am not nervous in the slightest.
Win or lose, this season’s adventure through the rounds of the cup has been fantastic and I am viewing tomorrow as an opportunity to have a great day out supporting the team I love.
We are not expected to win and I think I would be more apprehensive had we been playing Cardiff or Barnsley.
Do not misunderstand; I am desperate for us to win, but hold no fear of losing.
Let me cast your minds back, in the third round against Charlton, at 1-0 down did anyone think that we would make it to a semi final at Wembley??
Let’s just enjoy it and see what happens, no worries!
The discussion boards have been full this week of fans discussing the line up for tomorrow, so let’s take a look at the options and decisions facing Tony Mowbray.
Starting with the formation, I am going to presume Mowbray will go for it and play 4-4-2.
Goalkeeper
Kiely or Danek. Kiely has been out of form since Christmas, but with Danek having not made a single appearance for us and Mowbray publicly stating his support for Deano, other than an injury, Kiely will be between the sticks.
Defence
Hoefkens, Hodgkiss, Albrechsten, Cesar, Barnett, Clement, Robinson.
Robinson and Hoefkens have been reliable and very consistent this season and are certs for the fullback positions.
The centre of defence has seen Mowbray experiment with a number of partnerships this season and with only half a dozen league games to go it is still unclear as to who represents our strongest rearguard.
Albrechsten offers pace, Barnett offers strength in the air, and Clement offers an experienced ability to read the game.
Cesar’s performance against Colchester appears to have ruled him out of the Managers immediate plans and with Barnett only just recovering from injury, the clean sheet pairing (Cardiff) of Clement and Albrechsten seems likely.
Midfield
Brunt, Morrison, Greening, Koren, Pele, Gera, Kim.
Presuming Mowbray goes with a 4-4-2 formation, he has to pick four from seven.
Pele is more of a holding midfielder and Mowbray has used him when playing five in the middle.
Kim is still adapting to life in the English Championship and this game has probably come too soon for him.
I have said all season that Gera is our most effective right midfielder, and on any day offers an ability to win a game with either his feet or his head.
Greening has been an integral part of the Mowbray football machine and is a definite to start, his partner when available has usually been Koren and their understanding will be important when taking on a physical and athletic Portsmouth midfield.
The left hand side of midfield is where Mowbray has to make a decision; personally I think Brunt is the best option, with Morrison being more of an impact player coming off the bench.
Strikers
Bednar, Miller, Phillips. Another tough decision for Mowbray, I feel really sorry for which ever one of these three miss out.
Bednar has scored in every round, Miller blasted a hat trick against Rovers, and Phillips is our top scorer this season.
Miller is probably the best impact striker out of the three due to his pace, but Mowbray may see him as a useful weapon against the more mature legs of Sol Campbell.
My starting eleven would be, Kiely, Hoefkens, Albrechsten, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Greening, Koren, Brunt, Miller and Phillips.
Mowbray has some tough decisions to make, but whatever happens lets whip up some noise and create an atmosphere to go with the occasion.
I hope every one has a great day, and the boys give a good account of themselves.
I apologise for the length of the blog, but come on, how long will it be until I next get to write about us playing in a semi final?
Baggggiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeesssssssssssss.
Albion fans have your say below
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27 Comments
Jarrod
I think you’ve summed up the options perfectly.
Personally I think he’ll go for a match up with their likely formation and play five in the middle i.e. include Morrison as well as Brunt. Up front that would leave a sole striker which has to be Bednar with Miller and Phillips coming on early in the second half.
Whichever side he puts out,we’ll have a great day. I’m the same as you - I’m full of excitement but not at all nervous.
Come on you Baggies !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jarrod my opinion on your squad selection would of been exactly the same as yours, I think Miller will be the striker that will have to come from the bench, and I’m sure with the quality of delivery on the big pitch from Brunt he will get the nod.
Hoping everyone enjoys the day out, and fingers crossed we can be a so called giant killer.
Come on you Baggies (oooo I’m a tad excited)
I have it on very good authority that you’re pretty much spot on Jarrod.
Kiely
Hoefkens
Albrechtsen
Clement
Robinson
Gera/Morrison
Koren
Greening
Brunt/Morrison
Phillips
Bednar
Subs yet to be decided.
Jarrod
That is exactly the line up of my preference.
I think the biggest dissension from our fellow Baggies,
will be the Striker options, and i guess a lot will go for KP & Roman.
As a pair, we have not seen them too often,
but KP & Ish are……..well, proven.
Jarrod -I also agree 100% with your suggested line up.
I think to play 4-5-1 would be inviting pompy onto us a little too much and we need to be asking questions of them from the off.
We may be the underdogs but Arry and Co WILL be worried about our forwards - so lets scare them from the off !!!
I also feel more relaxed than if we were playing either Barnsley or Cardiff - the pressure is definately on Pompy.
May I take this chance before the boards get clogged up with wolves fans to wish all baggies fans a pleasant and safe day tomorrow- lets enjoy it to the max.
Whatever will be will be…….
Jarrod
Morning. Good luck for the weekend.
It may be a distraction from the main task of winning promotion, but its a nice distraction to have and one that any Wolves fan would be glad of.
Look forward to reading about your Wembley experiences next week.
Cheers
Nath.
No digs or jibes from me, just best of luck for tomorrow, hope you get through to the final and win that as well.
6. May I take this chance to say good luck to albion on saturday before happy_boggie and officer dooey clog up the wolves board….doh, to late you already have. Hypocrite.
Dont worry about the length of the blog mate, i’ll happily read about our trip to Wembley all day today!!
Pretty much agree with your team Jarrod only question is the front two. I’d play Bednar and then its between Phillips and Miller for the other spot, I cant decide…thats why im not a manager!!
Any suggestions on a pre match pub in Wembley?
My team
Kiely
Hoefkens
Clement
Albrechtsen
Robinson
Gera
Greening
Koren
Brunt
Phillips
Miller
Subs (Danek) (Barnett) (Morrison) (Pele) (Bednar)
Come on you baggies lets go and do it. Starting with Miller as he scored 3 in the last round.
Cant wait to get going in the morning, does anyone know what shirt they are wearing?
COME ON YOU BAGGIES …COME ON YOU BAGGIES !!!!
Anyone for a double ??????
HA HA COME ON !!!! WEMBLEY BOUND !!!!
Good luck Albion, hope you put on a good game. Will be watching, beer in hand, cheering on the Black Country.
WWFC
come on you baggies
and they are playing in the blue and whit home shirt come on you baggies boing boing
I think the only dispute is who plays up front.I’m going for Phillips and Bednar as I think we will need Roman against their big centre halves.he will hold the ball up better and is better in the air than Miller.
No.12 We are playing in Blue & White Stripes and Pompey are playing in Blue Shirts.
The ref is Howard Webb.
Morning all,
i agree with Jarrod other than i think id play Bednar instead of Miller.
Im sure whoever plays will so us proud, the closer it gets the more confident i feel, i really do believe now that we can turn em over!
I will be going the Green Man pub before the match (will be getting there about 8.30 ish i reckon) banging the doors down, then i will have a good few beers and a sing song and then head to Wembley in full flow singing my head off!!!
OH WHEN THE STRIPES……….
Tamworth Baggie - i’ll see you at Snow hill, and i think theres 8 of us joining you at The Green Man for a liquid breakfast
see you all in the green man
can’t wait
17 BONESWBA.
Sounds Good to me mate, There will be just me and my younger brother and will be at Snow Hill around 6 ish. i will ring the green man this afternoon and see how early we can get in!!
19. Speak slowly so that he can understand you.
Soooooo excited now.
Just a point though - Bednar hasn’t scored in every round - he didn’t score against Bristol Rov
Aussie-Baggie, What ever team is picked I know the guys will play their hearts out, Have a nice day all you fans traveling to wembley, we will be back there in May
I have just been on the website of the green man……..it needs to be the licenced victuallers
version of the tardis……see you there then.
Ill see you in the green man for a sing song and a
few drinks
WEMBLEYY WEMMBLEEYY
Hope Everyone Has a Good Day
I Cant Hold My Excitment In Anymore Haha
BoingBoing
to no 19, -
Where is the green man? it sound like a party, another three here on the 7am train from rowley.
will be needin a tot after a macky d breakfast !
To all inc 25!! just spoke to ‘The Green Man’ they are opening at 9am and said if we are a bit eraly then they will let us in no probs, they are having a BBQ too and apparentley they have a massive beer garden.
Its on Dagmar Avenue approx 300 yards from Wembley Stadium, the lady said just ask any steward or copper and they will point you in right direction.
She also said there will be far more Albion than Portsmouth in their.
I cant wait, im like a kid at Christmas, lets get the atmosphere going in the pub and sing all the songs and carry that on to the ground!!!
IF YOUR ALL GOING TO WEMBLEY CLAP YOUR HANDS!!!!
I’m on the 7.33 train from Rowley.
I’ll be going to the 1st pub I see the Baggies have took over.
Come on Albion!!!