Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Albion blog: Welcome Roberto
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill welcomes the Baggies managerial choice from left-field in Milton Keynes Dons boss Roberto Di Matteo.
When I received the call from Craig Birch at the Express and Star informing me who our new manager was, I thought he was kidding. Then I thought if only I had bet on it!
Let’s face it you have got to hand it to Jeremy Peace – he could replace Simon Cowell on the X Factor for springing surprises and hamming up a situation.
Many fans had already predicted a surprise appointment and our chairman lived up to their expectations, by plumping for someone who was considered a complete rank outsider for the hot seat.
So what is my take on his appointment?
Truth is I know very little about Di Matteo, I know he played for Lazio and Chelsea and scored the winner in the FA Cup final in 1997.
Since then he has gained his coaching badges and had one season with the Milton Keynes Dons in League One, which by all accounts was relatively successful.
He represents a gamble, but doesn’t every manager?
But obviously he interviews very well and has the ability to convince people of his future potential, which is always a useful talent to have when convincing players to join us and maybe more important to us in the short term, convincing players to stay.
He is represents a virtual clean slate in terms of his managerial career, which means we have little to judge him on. It reminds me a little of when Ossie Ardiles arrived and I hope Di Matteo delivers the same level of entertainment!
The fact he has no previous managerial baggage – for want of a better word – means most fans are open minded on his appointment and wait to judge him on what he achieves with us, which when you think of it is quite a good starting point for any manager.
The new manager certainly has his work cut out before the season gets going in which player’s leave, who stays, who arrives and – a key point for many fans – our style of play.
Many are keen to see the continuation of free flowing football developed under his predecessor Tony Mowbray, but I believe it would prove difficult to change our playing style to any great degree due to the playing squad we have.
I imagine that his desire to play an attractive game ,while still winning games, is the reason why Jeremy Peace handed him the job.
Now we watch with interest what decisions he makes regarding the playing squad. Players who had also fallen down the pecking order with Mowbray now have a fresh opportunity to stake their claims for first team football.
I am sure the likes of Marek Cech and Roman Bednar are ready to unroll the welcome mat.
I must admit I never even considered Di Matteo when looking at suitable candidates, but now he’s here he will receive my full support and I look forward to seeing how he tackles the job of getting us back into the Premier League.
It’s certainly never boring being a baggie, so like a good – I use that term lightly – soap opera, we all now await the next episode.
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Its an appointment that has got most of us scratching our heads wondering whats gonna happen – will he play the beautiful game or are we in for some Italian style 1-0 grinds ??
I think (hope) we may get a combination of the two – and i also expect RDM to bring in players from Europe that maybe we don’t know…. but as the blogg says – I think 98% of fans are looking forward to seeing what he can deliver and are ready to back him.
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The main thing is that we have an appointment who can now get on with the job of preparing us for the new season, with plenty of time to assess the players, make any changes and dictate his style of play. Peace has always preferred the “continental model” of Technical Director and Head Coach so maybe selecting a continental manager who will be very familiar with this set up from his playing days, should be no surprise to us.
I wish him well, and I must admit to being rather excited by the appointment.
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I’m actually quite inspired with Di Matteo as head coach! From being pretty down at losing Mowbray, this appointment has given me a nice boost of optimism and positive feelings towards the up-coming season…
Let’s hope our rear-guard get a lesson in defending the Italian way!
Best of luck Roberto, Forza Albion!
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This guy was at the top of my list from the get go. My gut told me he was the bloke for the job, I just hope Im right.
Interesting time at the Hawthorns. Then again its always interesting times for us lot. Promotions, relegations, play-offs, great escapes,new managers, new players, new stands, same old prices! IMO JP aint doing to bad in keeping us entertained for our money.
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Morning Jarrod, morning Happy !! I think any new manager is a gamble regardless of his pedigree. I’m perhaps one of the old school that says the manager is only as good as the players he has to choose from. Having said that I think this is a good move for you and will watch your progress under him with interest. Be warned though that if things do not start well you will get the moaners and groaners back very quickly. Good luck for the new season and let’s hope that both our sides are in the Prem next time around.
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Wolves fan comment…. I think you got a superb manager, I think if backed by your chairman will have squad capable of getting you up and staying in the prem. Just my opinion……
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Jarrod, I don’t think it was that much of a surprise. On this blog and others a number of fans me included had Di Matteo on our possible list. I think it was the press who set false hares running and I for one am glad we have appointed a young hungry (not in the Hartson way)manager. I agree all appointmenst represent a gamble but lets get behind Roberto and the team and see what happens. I am more optimistic now than I was a few days ago.
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I think it is an interesting choice. I hope he does well, and I think given time he will do. What we don’t nned is the fickle fans to get on his back early if we don’t have a great start. I agree with Filtonwolf where the manager is only as good as the players. Di Matteo will need time to shape his squad and get the style of play right. What we MUST remember is that he is not Tony Mowbray so do not expect to be playing exactly the same way as we did. I think the change will do us good, and like Adam said, we may even get a masterclass in defending which as we all know is much needed. I hope he gives Cech a chance now – I want Robbo out. Am sick and tired of him saying every pre-season that he wants to leave. I hope RDM notices his lack of commitment and ships him out.
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I was very surprised yesterday morning when I read that irvine had been beaten to the job by Di Matteo, and I couldn’t really understand why at first.
It seemed nailed on that Irvine was our man, but obviously Di Matteo did an amazing job at convincing a hard to please JP that he is in fact ‘the man’.
Reading up on his managerial career to date (didn’t take long) it looks like he did a cracking job last season and all we can hope it that he can progress himself and our beloved football club in the years to come.
Sure up the defence and supply Miller / Bednar / Cox (hopefully announced tomorrow) / Moore (perhaps) with the ammunition and we’ll be straight back up there.
I’m a lot more confident on his appointment today than I initially was.
Welcome to the Shrine Roberto!!
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newsflash newsflash newcastle game 5-30 k/o live on bbc1 aye boing boing wim on the box already
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Good Luck Roberto
I like many was sitting there last night saying over and over in my head Di Matteo ay, but it does excite me the stature of the guy!!!
Hopefully the current squad will all stay put and give it another crack next season to get back, as this is a new chaptor now !!
COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!!
DI MATTEO’S BARMY ARMY !!!!
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If im totally honest not 100% sure about this. After sleeping on it though I think there is an element of risk whichever manager takes over. I for one am going to get behind him and the lads and see what happens. At least the bloke actually wants to be there!!! He seems a clever, articulate man so good luck RDM lets see what happens. Never a dull day at the Hawthorns.
Boing Boing
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1. Happy Baggie.
Grinding out 1.0 results = 3 points, it may not be the beautiful game your used too, but if it gets you back in the Prem, surely you’ll take that wont you?
George Graham did it that way at Arsenal for years and everybody called them boring, that is those who tried but never could beat them.
Good luck with your new manager, I hope he gets you back in the Prem.
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As a player he always seemed to be a man of integrity who loved the game and gave is all.
As a Manager he’s relatively inexperienced and will surely be tested over the next few months with players wanting to go and getting new blood in.
I like everyone wish him the best of luck, hope we all give him the time he needs to settle and forgive him the odd mistake.
For him like Mogga sees this as a big opportunity to show himself as a manger and see’s us a stepping stone to something bigger.
If he helps establish us in the premier over the next couple of years then he will move onto something bigger with out blessing.
My head wanted Curbs but what does he really have to prove? he’s done it all before and already achieved his goals.
Good luck roberto, hope we are having a Italian away day last match of the season, pizza anyone?
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Ledbury Baggie, I’m with you on the Robbo factor mate, let him go now, we could have a new and improved bid of 750k, I’d snap their hands off.
I always liked Cech from his Porto days. Champs League experience and we don’t play him, it baffles me. Robbo was brilliant but his a bit of an old boy now.
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Help!!!!!!!
What is JP doing? doesn’t he realise how stupid we look to those Dingles down the road. Could not get a sponsor and we had more refusals for the Managers Job than Harvey Smith had for jumping fences – now we appear to have gone for an Italian with no history of success, even worse he looks like a Chinaman. Who will we be signing next players from the Italian third division?
Sad and disappointed – looks like we will be living in a darkened room for the next 12 months.
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No comments by JP knockers then? Or maybe waiting to be wise after the event again?
Welcome Roberto, play it the way it should be played!
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16 – That’s a cracking idea!! How about you go and find that darkened room for us all and come back to tell us what it’s like in 12 months time?
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Boing Bang – get over yourself. If you know football and you are a true fan of West Brom (which I doubt) then you will know this is the hardest league to get out of in Europe unless you adopt the Charlton/Norwich/Southampton or Leeds model of running a club. As such any manager (new or otherwise) will face a great challenge – and in that light any appointment will have its share of risk. Di Matteo has contacts at very high levels (Chelsea, Italy etc). He is a winner in the game at club and country level. His career as a manager is in its early days but he shows promise. Many others with proven track records come to this league and struggle. How can we do anything but get behind RDM and wish him all the best and hope to see him succeed.
And on Robinson I hear Bolton have upped their bid to 750k – snap their hands of JP. I’m off work today – do you want me to drive him there for you!
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16. I would imagine you’ve been living in a locked room with white coated nurses in abundance for a lot longer than 12 months. Quite clearly a Disruptive Dingle in Dog-Head duds. Now be good, put on your old-Gold shirt and sit in the TV Room where the nice nurse will bring you a cup of tea with Largactyl in it. Sleepy Time!
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Where’s ‘Jordao 1-0′ and his Italian translation today?
I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Bing bong!
P.s. Anyone heard anything else on Cox signing from Swindon, or is RDM having a look at him 1st before they decide on whether to spend the money on him?
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Pleased we have got someone INTELLIGENT and who wants to progress as a manager.
Hopefully we can play stylish football but importantly winning football.
Forget all the negative stuff.
Weneed to give Roberto massive support this season.
He may well make mistakes but so did Mowbray. Loads of them!
Our players need to hear our support on matchdays.
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On the point about people laughing at us because we have no shirt sponser (yes you number 16) can I say that I believe that our shirt last season, and this season, looked good and it’s excellent blue and white stripes were not sullied with a patch on the front.
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AMS
I am hugely impressed by your statesmanlike diplomatic response to number 16.
There is of course another method of response,
here`s mine.
16 You are fooling no one you sad little dingle.
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Typical of Peace to pull off a signing like this. To be honest, i think Peace has probably been the best thing that happened to our club in the last few years. We always have something to look forward to and the new manager RDM is no exception. I think it’s a brave and perhaps (only time will tell) shrewd signing. I wish you all the best and hope that you get the same backing Peace has given the other managers.
Looking forward to the new season with optimism.
G
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Absolute disgrace of an appointment. Mid table at best next season. I’m amazed that some of you have swallowed the tripe from Peace.
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Good appointment, i’d rather have a young up-and-coming manager than a has-been who is on the way down.
Boing Boing Albion ’til we die
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Who cares 1-0,= 3 points,grind ‘em out RDM if you have to.
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I was gobsmacked by this appointment. I like most others was resigned to it being Irvine, but this is exciting. Lets get behind him and the team and help make another chapter
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Well done JP its given our fans a lift after TMs
departure. It should give the want aways hope not
to jump ship and were told RDM has a book full of
contacts. As regards lack of experience Big Rons
appointment from Kettering Town heralded the best
period in Albions recent history. I hope our fans will get behind RDM.
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Brilliant appointment. Totally happy and excited about new season. First job for RDM sign Cox, second job put Robbo in a car to Bolton, third job sign Menzingues and Mulumbu, then sort out the CB’s. Hope Clem is back this season.
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Despite the style of play which we all enjoyed under Mowbrey we did finish bottom! At least he will be able to claim that he finished in the top two in Scotland at the end of the season. We have also secured a fee for him and we will not have to listen to his ramblings on Match of the Day.
Roberto Di Matteo should be a good appointment and he will carry on with our style of play, which will see us back in the Premiership.
Jeremy Peace continues to run the club on prudent lines avoiding the disasters that have befallen Leeds, Southampton etc long may it continue.
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The more I read about him, the more I like him! What a tough 5 weeks he’s got infront of him though! Try to keep our best players at the club before the dingles try & poach them, offload Mowbray’s little pet Robinson to whoever’ll have him! And hopefully bring in some players he wants to improve the side! Exiting times! Roll on August 8th!
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It’s certainly an exciting move and a real gamble, I would have preferred Mac or Little fergie but RDM certainly comes across as someone with genuine passion and he always played with a desrire to win. If you’ve seen his youtube blooper then you’ll know he isn’t afraid of saying what the thinks and I’m sure that the players will get the message about his expectations pretty quickly.
Up to us to give him all of our backing and the time he needs to establish his style of play, get the players he wants and sort the defence out!
I hope that he’ll ship out the ’superstars’ who think that they are too good to play in the Champ, like Meite and the badge kisser and get players in who are hungry for success.
Come on RDM – boing boing
PS 30 didn’t big ron fatkinson come from Cambridge Utd? Think he brought Batson with him from there, he was Kettering before Cambridge if my fading memory serves me right
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Good appointment now he needs to cut adrift the deadwood Robbo, Carson, and maybe Luke Moore but who knows he may get him playing to his potential,bring in a good old headed, bruising, bustling centre half make him captain and we will see, boing boing
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could have done alot better but at least he came cheap..
same season same policy..
thanks JP.
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Yesterday the news of RDM’s appointment had me somewhat surpised.
Was I pleased? Was I disappointed? I couldnt decide. But having spent all night and day reading about him on various sites including MK Dons pages I am now over the moon.
He appears a very clever, articulate guy who is no doubt hungry for success and is keen to stamp his authority on the way we play. Attractive football but also with a sense that sometimes theres a need to grind out results.
Just from his background im sure he wil receive respect from the players and I would hope with a decent budget will attract the kind of players we need this season.
I cant wait for the pre-season games to start now!!
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I’m an Italian fan of great West Bromwich and I’m very pride to have Di Matteo manager. We could become, finally, a strong and football charme team. Go Albion!
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Di Matteo take Daniels Gk of Baggies!
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I think i’ve read every comment on every board at least 4 times. We have the ‘flair’ camp, the ‘grind out 1-0 camp’, the ‘certain we’ll get promoted camp’ and probably others waiting in the wings. One thing we MUST all do in my view. If DM picks a player, puts him in blue and white stripes on the pitch (with or without logo), we support him. Whether it be Robbo, Meite, Moore, whoever, the slate is wiped clean as from today. There isn’t ONE bad player at the club, just several with problems.
Solve the problem, new player at no pence! Move ‘em on only if all else fails.
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im exited about Di Mateo as new manager, hopefully he can get the best out of players like luke moore
come on you baggies!!
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Does anyone genuinely believe the managers (of lesser clubs) who have publicly stated that they turned us down? Simply managers and club owners trying to lessen the blow of rejection and disguise it as loyalty! If the job had been offered to any of them they’d have jumped at it! Peace has simply followed his interview instinct again, and it worked out well for us last time. FORZA WBA, BOINGIO BOINGIO. P.S. Ciao Roberto welcome to the best fans in football, enjoy!
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What a good choice Roberto could be just what we need now give him a 5 year rolling contract with promotion in the 1st year, staying up for the 2nd year and then possibly european football after that but please give him the finacial and public support he will need and i hope gets it…forza albion……
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How can some of you say that we will finish mid-table, as someone said you’re only as good as the players, if we keep the same players that won us the league, we will be back up in no time.
Thankfully we never went with Irvine, West Brom are the footballing team of the midlands, not this Kick and run you dingles play.
I’ll be there in the smethwick getting behind the ladz as always!
Albion ’til i die
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Good luck to RDM.But if he is head coach and not manager,who will choose the players?Let’s hope JP backs RDM.And lets hope it’s not JP choosing wich players we buy.
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Last season the play of our Team it was very poor and too many players was unadequate for the Premier (for example: Carson, Meite, Kim, Moore, Robinson, Valero, Menseguez, Martis). Next year, I hope that Di Matteo could do our Baggies a spectacular and amusing team, not only for the others fan, but especially for us that are pride to be West Bromwich Albion till I die!
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Have read loads of blogs on this one. While MK fans liked the guy they are to a man very disappointed that having been given all he asked for and was well resourced, when the going got tough at the end of the season he failed. Losing at home to the Saddlers which cost them promotion was a poor old show, that old wartime joke about 5 reverse gears may have some meaning here, I hope not.
JP should tell us why RDM and not Curbs.
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What can i say other than Di Matteo would not be my choice and if we do go back up what next! time to put your money into quality players Mr peace not in the lame ducks we have had at the back last season, i think Di Matteo may not of been the best choice at this time but i do wish him well and will support him and the baggies as always.
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