Robert Koren insists he will welcome new faces to Albion this summer - especially in his own position.
The popular midfielder says extra competition, especially in central midfield, will help bring out the best in him when he tries his luck in the Premier League for the first time.
Manager Tony Mowbray is currently plotting his recruitment strategy for next season.
And Koren said: “I enjoy seeing new players, especially if they come into your position. That may sound strange but the competition drives me on.
“In the end we all stick together. We all want to do our best in training and I feel we will need more players with more competition.
“I don’t feel that as being pressure, but it does improve your own game.
“It’s the manager’s decision as to what kind of players he brings in but a few of us from abroad have shown we have the ability.”
Koren is now back home in Slovenia, where he is catching up with friends and relatives and reflecting on the season’s Championship title success a year on from the heartbreak of play-off defeat to Derby at Wembley.
But he already has one eye on next season and preparing himself for the start of pre-season training in July and he is relishing his first taste of England’s top flight.
“I want to enjoy being champions,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing my family. I am looking forward to playing in the Premier League and hopefully can prepare myself properly.
“We need to keep playing good football and if we do we have a chance of staying in the League.
“It will be hard because there are so many quality players but we will be ready for that.”
We will do our best.
“I said that we wanted to go to the Premier League as champions and we’ve done that. We deserve our achievements.
“We showed we are good footballers and I look forward to playing in the Premier League.
“It’s difficult to say what our aim is. We are still emotional because we are champions but we will see what happens in the future.
“Hopefully we will bring more players in, there will be more competition.
“Last season was disappointing. The players who have bounced back and the lads who have joined have created a great team spirit, which was important to get us there.
“I think the extra year helped us. We are much better prepared than we would have been last year.
“Both were good sides but this year we had a bigger squad and the competition helped us.
“That’s helped keep our standards high. The players have been more competitive and that’s been reflected in the results.
“No one was able to coast or not put in 100 per cent.”
And Koren, who is an established Slovenian international, is well aware that Premier League status will raise his profile in the former Yugoslav state.
“Everyone from Slovenia is following me,” he said. “Now there will be more interest because the club is in the Premier League.
“People will be interested to see how Albion are doing. A lot of games were shown this season and next year that will be even more.”
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16 Comments
The only competition I see at the boggies is players wanting to leave.
Bednar, Gera, Philipps
1 You sad little man. Koren i would’nt worrie to much about you position if you can take your form in to the prem then i can not see TM droping you.
Well if Newcastle come in for Gera I think he will be off.
Boing Boing Time to get Kites
1. CHAMPIONS… go boil your head in the sunshineeeeeeee…. oh and great that super star freddie wants out!!
Bob fair play though you’ll be first on team sheet next season..
Any you will keep all your squad won’t you?
Enjoy your sour grapes.
No 1
You silly man, we have a quiz night aswell.
1 - what a prat you are… I’ve read all your anti wolves posts on your own site and you are ridiculed there too.
What a sad person you must be if you have nothing good to say about ANYTHING. You need to grow up son - or maybe football just aint for you.
On the story - Cream always rises and Koren will continue to do just that… true pros relish the battle for the shirt.
1. Unlike your lot we can afford to lose those players and still be in a healthy position. W*lves on the other hand would be shocking without Hennessey/Kightly/Jarvis/SEB.
Run along, and chill out with a COCA COLA!
1. Please…don’t…it’s embarrassing.
7… I disagree … They where shocking with them!!!!!!lol
WOLVESWOLVES, WE CAN LET YOU HAVE MARTIS,PELE,HODGKISS,BARTOS,OUR RESERVES WILL IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF AVOIDING RELEGATION NEXT YEAR,WHEN THE MIGHTY BAGGIES COME AND RAID YOU FOR HEN,EBANKS.AND KIGHTLY,OH HOW IT MUST HURT TO BE IN OUR SHADOW,
No.1…….you got sunstroke mate …?….I think you have..!!!…..we’ll soon be able to tell if you have or not by your next stupid comment….something along the lines of..” Wolves will be champions next season..”….then we’ll know for sure you have it bad…..bells gone…playtimes over….idiot !!
1,WOLVESWOLVES,,you bin on them jamacan woodbines mate,,your soooooooooooooo jealous of the supa baggies its unreal.go see a doctor its very catching,,,MAKIN THE DINGLETS JEALOUS THE MOWBRAY WAY,,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,,OOOOOOOOOOOOH YES.
No. 1 Yawn Yawn, so you keep saying.
No 1.. Ha ha ha ha ha ha !!! Boing boing boing boing bye bye !!!!
Well spoken KOREN a little competition never hurt anyone,as long as you play as you did last season you will keep your place no trouble.if the new players are as good as you then we stay in the premiership for a long time.3or4 new players then we can consolidate ow er position in the premiership
1. Back off!!!!!…Your standing in Albion’s aura….–Now go and potter along to and worry about your next local derby…er,..Shrewsbury while we get ready to lock horns with our traditional rivals “The Villa”….Boing Boing..