Albion winger Chris Brunt has warned the Baggies will face the land of the giants when they enter the Premier League inferno.
The Northern Ireland star believes that to combat the extra height and muscle of the top flight they must be fitter than ever.
Brunt and Co are due back to start pre-season training next Thursday. The Northern Ireland winger reckons the work done in the build-up to the new season could be crucial.
He said: “So many players in the Premier League are probably six-foot plus, quick and strong, so it is important we get a good pre-season under our belts and make ourselves physically as ready as we can.
“I don’t think the ability we have in the team is under question. There are areas we need to work on otherwise we will get punished in the Premier League.
“But if we have good fitness levels going into the season it will be a good start.
“I have been doing a bit of extra work down at the training ground because I’m one of those people that need to keep ticking over during the close-season.
“I have done it over the past couple of seasons and I want to give myself the best opportunity to play well in the Premier League.”
Brunt, who scored the goal that sealed promotion back to the top flight, is looking forward to his first full pre-season with Albion, after making his switch from Sheffield Wednesday when last year’s preparations were almost complete.
He said: “Last summer was a bit topsy-turvy with a lot of speculation about my future.
“Towards the end of the summer it was quite stressful, because I didn’t know where I was going to be or what I was going to do.
“It’s nice to have a summer where I can sit back, relax and look forward to next season. I spent almost all of last pre-season with Sheffield Wednesday.
“When you go away on your pre-season trips it’s a good time to get to know people better.”
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13 Comments
there defenders will need to stand tall when your bending the free kicks over the top of um and into the net,aye boing boing in the net BRUNT WAY
I have commented before about our lack of height, however i do not perceive it being a bigger problem in the Prem than in the Championship. If anything Prem sides tend to play the ball more on the deck than the Watfords of this world. I think a keeper who commands his box would eradicate most of our set piece problems.
Brunts to slow and what keeper do you have who can command the box?
He’s right, I remember seeing Terry Henry for the first time and being shocked as to how tall he was.
Someone once told me never buy a dog that you can’t control with a rolled up newspaper…. and i think TM feels the same about footballers !!
Our lack of height was apparent last season too - but as long as you can compete with the football then you can win matches.
Being smaller never did Zola any harm.
6 Happy.
Can’t quite get my head around the dog bit but I’d like to nominate the well known giants Fabregas, Scholes and Juninho.
I like to see a tall goalie who dominates the 6 yard area, backed by two or so 6 footers to deal with crosses. Then if you’re lucky, you can play a Derek Statham in the defence, and height doesn’t matter in his area. How tall was Derek?
5ft 6in or so, yet pound for pound, one of the greatest footballers to ever pull on our shirt. I’ll never forget seeing him in the reserves for the first time. The opposition seemed to passing to him all the time! But we did have some big lads around him even at his finest in the first team. Just watch Barnett grow up this year with Clem alongside him.
I can tell you now that CHRIS BRUNT wont cut it
in the PREM,he has no pace and he couldnt tackle
his way out a paper bag,Id get rid straight away
and hopefully recoupe the 3M we paid.
If BRUNT had pulled out of a tackle under MEGSON
then he would never of played again,he is a
decent CHAMPIONSHIP player but thats about it.
WHY DO YOU THINK MIDDLESBOURGH GOT RID!
8,andy,the same reason they got rid of morrison cuz southgate dont know a good player when he sees one,id sooner take tony mowburys judgement than yown aye aye boing boing aye aye
8 Andrew.
Don’t know what the lad’s done to upset you but surely he should be allowed a chance to prove himself before he’s condemned.
Andrew - maybe he has no pace, and can’t go past players, but he whips a great ball in from out wide, and takes great free kicks… does that remind you of anyone ??
It hasn’t hurt Becks has it ? I think Brunt will have a great season with us…. you watch him !
9 TerryPrettyboyBaggie
Southgate wasnt even the manager when BRUNT was
released,Iam sure the guy in charge was McClaren
and correct me if Iam wrong but didnt he manage
England.
Ive got to say that DAVID BECKHAM is the most
overated player in the world,all he does is score
the odd free-kick,then people rave about him.
I cant stand the big ponse,with that tatto on
his neck and that horrible smug smile.
And if I see anymore brummies wearing MAN UTD
shirts then I wont be held responsible for
my actions.