Another win and another great set of results elsewhere have set us up for a fantastic night at the Hawthorns on Monday, writes blogger Jarrod Hill.
Norwich are desperate for points to guarantee survival in the Championship and on the balance of play probably deserved something out of Saturdays game.
It truly was a game of two halves, Albion dominated the first half and the game should have been sewn up after 45 minutes, the second half witnessed a spirited fight back by Norwich and the difference was another piece of sublime skill by Zoltan Gera. It is a measure of our attacking play when both Koren and Gera have made it into double figures for the season, becoming a father seems to have inspired Gera into scoring the goals to get us promoted. I just hope he sees his future at the Hawthorns next season, he is loved by the fans and we want him to stay.
A point against Southampton on Monday will be enough to take us to the Premiership, however if Hull fail to beat Palace on Saturday we will be promoted without having to kick a ball. Whatever happens, Monday night is going to be special, with the clubs decision to reduce ticket prices (an excellent way to say thank you to the fans) and the prospect of confirming our place among the elite for next season, a full house is guaranteed and the atmosphere will be out of this world.
The boys have just played six games in eighteen days, and now have a week to prepare for the visit of Southampton. Our visitors are fighting for their lives and will not come and lie down and let our party begin, as you are all well aware by now I am a cautious Baggie and hope our boys stay focused and finish the job on Monday.
We can then go to QPR with the prospect of lifting the title, this has been the best season I can remember, and it would be the icing on a very nice cake if we could go up as Champions. It would also go a long way to dispel the myth that teams cannot play their way out of this division, Stoke are hot on our heels and our team’s styles of play could not be any more different.
If we do achieve promotion I will feel a little sad to be leaving the Championship behind, I know that sounds strange when it has been what we have been striving for all season, but this has been a truly wonderful campaign.
But if we do go up, you start to think about planning your away trips to places like the Emirates, Old Trafford, and Anfield, and it makes me happier than Simon Jordan on a sun bed!!!!
Anyway let’s not get ahead of ourselves, I know it is not easy, but we are not quite there yet.
I would also like to say a big thank you to the Express & Star for allowing me to ramble on about my thoughts on the Albion every Tuesday and Friday. It has been a great experience and I feel privileged to have been the Albion Blogger during a season that will be remembered for many years to come.
I would like to give out an even bigger thank you to everyone who has taken time to post their thoughts on these pages, on Friday many regular bloggers are calling for us all to meet up and put some ugly faces to some ugly names!!!!!
Happy Baggie and a number of others have suggested Friday 2nd May, and the venue is my regular pre-match haunt The Vine, anytime after 7pm, everyone welcome, even some of the Wolves fans, especially Malvern Wolf, he is the type of fan that makes me wish Wolves all the best.
Anyway onwards and hopefully upwards, hope to see some of you next Friday, hopefully we will be toasting promotion, pint of Premiere anyone????
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19 Comments
great blog agen jarrad, i to will will miss the championship we,ve had some great days and nights out this season,scunthorpe,colchester,plymouth,
blackpool,hull,WEMBLEY,meeting up with the lads,
but what i shall miss most is singing my head off in the lower steve bull and then walking
back to the coach with a victory over our bitter rivals,thats somthing even the prem cant replace,thanks tony mowbray for a great unforgetable season,see you in the vine boing boing going up the MOWBURY WAY
once again,great blog jarrod. It really has been a season to remember, and as is the norm with season’s like this one there is a tinge of sadness that it’s all coming to anend. However for the first time in probably 30 years, there is also a very positive excitement for next year, and a belief that we have a serious chance of more than just survival. Tony Mowbray has instilled such a belief in us that i almost feel completely happy to just let him take us where he wants and to see what the end result is, because i have a funny feeling we are about to embark on one hell of a journey. Anyway here’s to Southampton, and the Super Heroes party at Q.P.R.
The highest praise I can give this season is a comparison with 1953/54 when my Army leaves, 48 hour passes, HAD to coincide with home games. The 36 hour passes meant arriving from Aldershot at half time, motor bike propped against the Brummie Road wall and IN, to witness sublime, passing, moving, free-flowing, attacking football. In those far-off days, the motor bike was always there where I left it. No locks, no nothing, just ordinary, working class, honest Baggies, 40,000 of them usually. Mowbray deserves everything we have, the players Champions medals. Me? I deserve to see them do it after 64 years of watching the ups and downs.
Great blog Jarrod.Let’s hope Nigel Pearson doesn’t spoil the party on Monday.
3.Cyril - Great memories and a real pleasure to read about them.
P.S I agree about Malvern Wolf - a proper footy fan.
3. Cyril
You sound like you have many a story to tell, i hope you can make it down to the Vine next Friday!!!!
Terry, what will I miss from the Championship?
Going to the Wolves … Five Pounds …
Buying the Wolves … Ten Pounds …
Missing the Wolves … Priceless
I remember that rumour that went round last season just before the play-off first leg at Wolves,
“if we beat them for a third time we get to keep them”!!!!!
JP apparently said he wasnt bad off for a tenner!!!
I’ve posted this after the first six posts appeared. They encapsulate all that is best on the site.
1. Good banter without the need to be nasty.
2. Good football comment.
3. A lovely look into another fans memories and perspectives.
6. Simply hilarious.
Before I get accused of being all soft and fluffy, I’ve thought about it and I believe the confrontational. The inane. The pointless. The ridiculous and the downright moronic all have a place on here.
So keep it up. Baggies, Wolves, Blues, Villa and the occasional migrants from other clubs. It’s only a game but what a game.
Jarrod
Hats off to the Albion this season. Having seen the quality of the team when you smashed us 1-0 this time last week, I’m amazed its taken the team until now to ‘nearly’ clinch promotion.
I really do think you stand a good chance of survival next season in the Premiership, especially given the fact that there will be a couple of average sides joining you up there. And whoever survives the mini-battle in the Premiership this season out of Bolton, Reading and Birmingham, I don’t think they will have much more than the Albion to offer (in my humble opinion).
Our season is effectively over and to be honest it will be quite nice not to have to play the stripy lot next season! Either we will go up better equipped to give you a good game or you can come down minus Gera, Koren, Phillips, Greening, Bednar, Albrechtsen, Morrison and Robinson ane we’ll give you a better game then!
I’ll save the real congrats until you actually make it!
Cyril, what lovely memories of the greatest season in Black Country history. We won the league and you won the cup. Will we ever see such times again?
this truly has been a great season so far, there werent too many frowns on my face this footballing term. really looking forward to the next fixture. boing boing!
Yes a great season folks. My meomories don’t go back as far as Cyril but I was in awe of the great but short lived side of the late 70’s. from Batson to Cunningham they could all play, the youth of Statham and Robson, the experience of Wile, Roberston and Brown. Is this the start of a new halcyon era? I do hope so. A point and we are there thanks to TM and the players for some great moments can’t wait for Monday.
Hi Jarrod. This may seem odd, but I’ve been looking forward to your blogg for a few days - and you haven’t disaappointed.
Yes Monday will be rocking - the club sold the extra 400 tickets today in under 20 minutes at the ground (my mate was there and lost out).. its gonna be a party.
Talking of parties, I’m definately up for the Vine on the 2nd - be good to finally meet everyone… is this a go-er for people ??
Anyway, just one point needed (or not) and we can really start to party - bring it on.
LOVIN IT !!!!!
In the words of that legend of popular music, Pink:
I’m comin’ up
So you better
Get this party started
I’m comin’ up
So you better you better
Get this party started
Could be our new song for Monday night !
Great Blog again Jarrod, all season you have summed up very well the thoughts of Albion fans, This promotion (If it happens!) will be the most special one for me out of the previous one witnessed because of the style of play. We have finally found a manager that has given us Albion fans the type of football we want and it is great. I know that whatever happens next season we will continue to play with the same swagger and style and thats all I want to see. If we do finish the job which I think we will it will be a big ask to stay in the Prem but I honestly feel that this manager can stear us into mid table with a few desperatly needed additions. Can’t wait till Monday hopefully we will be up without kicking a ball, Stoke draw or loose and 3 points at home Monday night will see us crowned as Champions!!!! (We can all dream can’t we. Could happen though!!!!)
Boing Boing
So are we on for the 2nd at the Vine ??
How much LOVE is there on this board?
I almost have tears in my eye. Good stuff though.
Good luck to everyone.
‘Boing Boing -Going up’ (Hopefully)
Star quality Jarrod like the stuff served up by the Baggies this term.
Best football seen at The Hawthorns since the Three Degrees and before that the Ronnie Allen era, true Albion pedigree.
Fat Ladies singing comes to mind, but whatever, I’ll be there on Monday and at your watering hole for the party.
WE ARE GOIN UP! SAY WE ARE GOIN UP!!