A whiff of karma?

Tuesday 29th May 2007, 2:07PM BST.

wd2143289albion-derby-28-d.jpgDid fortune turn its back on the brave or was this a case of what goes around comes around? writes blogger Andy Toft.

There is no question that judged purely on the 90 minutes of football at Wembley Albion deserved promotion.

They were the more adventurous, positive side throughout, taking the fight to Derby from the opening seconds when Diomansy Kamara slalomed his way into the opposition area.

But over the course of the season it was the Rams who collected more points in the league.

The Baggies may have had the more extravagantly talented side but it was the functional consistency of Billy Davies’ men which proved more effective.

Albion’s defeat at Wembley was an injustice. Tough on a committed bunch of players and a wonderful set of supporters.

But Derby would have felt equally hard done by if a season when they finished above the Baggies in the league had seen their Wembley opponents promoted.

And as desperately unlucky as the Baggies were on Monday it is difficult to shake off the nagging notion that the seeds for their season’s agonising climax were sown after just eight games in.

Bryan Robson’s dismissal still ranks as a blot on Albion’s recent history. If the decision itself was, at best, questionable, its timing was inexplicable.

To sack him so early on, with Albion still well-placed and having backed him in the summer transfer market, made a beggar of belief.

The theory was that anything other than promotion was unthinkable for the Baggies and Robson was not the man to deliver it.

This was a huge act of assumption but one that could only be judged once the season was over and the identity of the Premiership’s three latest arrivals decided.

The moment for judgement finally arrived at Wembley with Derby’s victory.

And as the motive behind getting rid of Robson was to improve Albion’s chances of promotion then that very decision looks laughable amid the debris of Monday’s defeat.

At the same time laughter of a very different kind can still be heard eminating from nearby St Andrews where Birmingham’s decision to stay faithful to Steve Bruce amid trying circumstances was rewarded with promotion.

Believers in fate might argue there was a whiff of karma in the Wembley air.

The fans and players deserved much, much more.

But the custodians of Albion who sanctioned Robson’s sacking may have got their comeuppance.


  1. 1
    wednesbury 1

    I AGREE IT WAS A RUSH AND ALWAYS WILL BE A RUSH AT THE BIRD CAGE STADIUM ALL TESCO,S ARE INTRESTED IN IS KEEPING THE SHARHOLDERS HAPPY

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  2. 2
    thamebaggie

    Robson should have gone in the close season and fault for the fact he didn’t rests with Peace. But the decision was too late, not too early – had he remained in charge we would have been facing relegation, not possible promotion and with fewer & fewer people there to see it.

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  3. 3
    AndyToftWho

    How poor is this piece of writing, totally out of touch with what was going on at the Albion when Robson went, if we had kept him i doubt we would have even made the playoffs, i know the EandS is a wulfs paper but come on do the Baggies some justice and get real.

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  4. 4
    joest

    Tosh. Mobray inherited a club that had a ‘pub team’ (Mowbray’s words, not mine) attitude, that had a terrible keeper and that was a pale shadow of the team that stayed in the Premiership 18 months earlier. He didn’t get backed by the Chairman in January and had to cope with an unbalanced team without a ball-winning midfielder. He’s done a fantastic job under trying circumstances and has transformed the Albion into the best footballing team in the Championship. OK, so promotion wasn’t won but the time to say that sacking Robson was a mistake will be when Sheffield United win the Championship and the Albion again fail to get promoted.

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  5. 5
    Wolvo

    You need to put the ball in the net. Baggies couldnt.

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  6. 6
    JOHN HOLT

    Albion for ever.
    The reason I did not renew my season ticket for last season was Robsons total negatvity after Christmas resulting in our relegation.His demise should have been during the close season and not after 8 games.
    However blame for yesterdays result rests with anumber of so-called premiership players who appear to have contracts already tied up with other clubs.
    Mombray can only be judged when he has his own men giving 100%.
    Don’t write them off for next season.Never underestimate the Baggies

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  7. 7
    scotty

    just sour grapes from the dingle…they sold their club for a tenner….I’d have wanted change out of it!
    Wolves fans are only heard moaning, never singing.
    Third rate team, ground and fans.

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  8. 8
    Rowley Baggie3

    Robson was awful but so is Mowbray. The team is full of players who are there for the money and now want to go and find some more. Gera was nothing before he came to us and he will leave a nothing. Ellington can walk back to Wigan, Koumas can take his spotty mug to wherever he wants. McShane is an awful player, Sodje can go back. I really hope Robinson leaves, waving his fist covers the fact that he is an awful footballer. Perry is a big headed gimp, Veno is a dingle,  Cheryl McDonald is not a footballer. Davies has turned into a big time Charlie. Infact I can easily say I only want Kylie to stay next season.
    The spring is broken, no more boinging from me. Over and out. God bless Amy’s Tavern

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  9. 9
    tony.

    Karma has nothing to do with Andy T, I didn’t see boy george at Wembley did you? Albion fell for the sucker punch despite being the better team for much of the 90 minutes.Derby have had to rely on team spirit,grit, determination and energy most of the season. They’ve won lots of games by the odd goal. At one stage of the season I remember them trailing in virtually every game by the odd goal until the last 5 minutes when they seem to conjour up a magical 1-2 and went on to win.
    bad luck Albion you fell for the Derby sucker punch…Losing at Wembley..i wouldn’t wish it on anyone incase sooner or later the same fate befell me and my team.

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  10. 10
    Lee

    Cannot believe that our inability to get promotion this season is partially down to the sacking of Bryan Robson.
    If we had continued under his management and style of negative football, we surely would not have even reached the play offs let alone visit the superb Wembley stadium.
    Very easy for journalists to wax lyrically about what a great man Robson is, to me I think his track record is appaling. see Middlesbro, Bradford and West Brom for evidence.

    Mowbray is a far better manager as our football has shown in recent months. Kopumas plays with more flair and to top it all off Mowbray would not play 36 year old Kevin Campbell up front alone, at home, in a 4 5 1 formation leaving the likes of Earnshaw and Kanu on the bench.

    Andy – you are with very few friends saying Robsons dismissal was untimely

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  11. 11
    Tomato Chops

    Pearson had us 3rd and flying before To Mo entered the fray. To Mo was the wrong man at the wrong time. Oh what a joy it would be to have Robbo back at the Nouthorns now!

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  12. 12
    Tomato Chops

    To Mo was the wrogn man at the wrong time. Robbo was undermined. Look at what Bruce has acheived!

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  13. 13
    Blowee

    Let’s judge Mowbray on his performance over the coming months. He should now have the chance to build his own squad. I for one trust him to do a good job. Compare him to Robson next season. I would definitely prefer to have Mowbray in charge. Robson has a lot to prove at Sheffield it could be his last shot at management.

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  14. 14
    Wolf4ever

    The amazing thing for me is how Alb*on failed to beat a very poor Derby side despite on paper having a much better set of individuals. Perhaps individuals is the key word as I felt that Derby had a bond that clearly the Sandwells didn’t. Footballing mercenaries do not make for good team spirit as we found out some time ago. Alb*on found out yesterday that no matter how arrogant and ‘one eyed’ you may be as a fan that doesn’t count for anything if your team doesn’t care enough on the pitch. Perhaps Shergill and Chappers will restore some pride in the sparrow badge next season but with gates dwindling and the wolves on the up I think their supporters will soon come to realise that Wembley WAS the highlight and the undertaker certainly won’t attract bright young things based on personality alone.

    Enjoy…

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  15. 15
    john cahill

    I think you have got it all wrong my dear friend….the person you need to blame for all of this period is Jeremy peace,everything he has done regarding helping the manager has always been negative and never positive,just take a look at the last 2 jan transfer windows,that says it all !! bye bye peace

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  16. 16
    Baggie Boy Kev

    Mobrey needs time to his job. Robbo was beaten before we got on the park. We were a whisker away from promotion so lets not go over the top with negativity. I enjoyed watchingTo Mo’s football more than anyone in ages (Ossie?) Keep the faith. And Dingles… we are coming for ya !!!

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  17. 17
    Baggies pete

    Its the chairman of the board who needs to go. He apears to have no ambition, he let Robson down and no dout he will let Mowbray down as well.When you consider how much money as just gone begging their lack of spending in the transfer window was criminal. Hes just cost the club millons.

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  18. 18
    Baggiesbird79

    Mowbrey has always said he wants to make it his own team and I think he will. I have enjoyed some highs and lows this season with them but as an Albion fan for so long this is more than what we are used to eh??!

    I always think back to being up the Smethwick end a few years back and seeing a man head in hands asking ‘why do you always do it to me Albion?’!! Nothing much changes does it but I feel confident we can win automatic next season and have a stronger more unified side with people who actually want to be there.

    Come on you Baggies!!!

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  19. 19
    Cyril Randle

    Robson was obsessed with old, experienced players like Campbell, er, ‘brilliant in the dressing room’. On the pitch though absolutely useless and well past it. Likewise Hartson. Yet he sold Big Dave who probably won the game for Derby yesterday. Yes I know, he turns like a battleship, but the quicker ones pick up what he misses. I’m not too sure these ‘stars’ we have will go so easily. If they are THAT good, how come we lost? Give Mogga a chance, he deserves one. You wouldn’t expect a carpenter to make furniture with somebody else’s toolbox, two of some tools, none of others and a few broken beyond repair.

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  20. 20
    Amy Stavern

    Rowley – How do you know of my Tavern? Your comments are wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong. McDonald will score 50 goals next season and Robinson will slaughter the Championship. To Mo is GOD

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  21. 21
    Baggie Boy Kev

    Lets not fall into the dingle trap of thinking we have a divine right to be in the prem. I personally really enjoyed this season. we beat the dog heads, we played fantastic football, scored bags of goals and went to Wembley… remember what football is about lads. If you just wanna watch prem teams get Sky. Love ya football and Boing Boing all the way.

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  22. 22
    jman

    i believe the problems lie at board level…robson i agree was very negative 1 up front at home is shocking !!! whereas mowbray is the otherway around he likes more attractive football which we cannot knock however we never closed the back door !!! Our chairman in january should have allowed mowbray who he elected to be the guy to take us forward to bolster the central midfield with a tough ball winner and not be left with the flair players who lets be honest only want to play and get stuck in when they want to !!!! the so called players who are already talking about playing premiership football should have rolled up there socks and got there with the albion !!! boing boing boys

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  23. 23
    SUPERSTARDJWOLVES

    Never Mind sandwell, there is always next serason having your spitting manager in charge with his hibernian players that he is bound to bring down. You were all smug and arrogant when your were boing boing at the hawthorns a week or so ago and now you are all eating humble pie. It serves you right, you all thought by turning up you would have won. I am glad Derby won they are a team, you lot are all bounty hunters wanting the cash. Wolves found out ages ago that premiership “stars” who are on fat wages wont bust a gut! WBA will have a transitional season similar to us as I dont think your squad will stay together.

    PREMIERSHIP HA HA HA YOUR HAVING A LAUGH :-)

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  24. 24
    Sara Guest

    I agree with Cyril regarding Robson. What possessed him to get rid of Earnshaw and Horsfield at the same time? That is why we were relegated the second year of our time in the premiership because we had no fire power to score goals and played so many defensive matches with one striker up front. From what Ive seen Im impressed with Mowbray in how he is getting the baggies to play attacking football 100 goals is quite an acheivement. I think he needs the chance to build his own team which can play his type of footy and sort out the defensive side of things which has let us down this year. There are a few players I think we need to keep at the Hawthorns Greening, Robinson, McShane, Davies, Koumas, Wallwork, Phillips, Kiely, Koren to name a few. The main one I have been worried about going is Greening I cannot understand why they have not renewed his contract yet as he is a fab player and an unsung hero behind a lot of goals. I dont think we will miss Gera as much as people thing Greening is far better in midfield than him. I dont think we will miss Kamara either I think he forgets that footy is a team game and as long it is your team winning it does not matter whether you assist with the goal or score yourself. Kevin Phillips will be even better for us when he has a decent strike partner who works in partnership with him rather than for his own glory. Bring back Geoff Horsfield!!! Maybe Mowbray ought to try some of youngsters such as Stuart Nicholson and Rob Elvins. Ellington has been a waste of space most of the time not worth the 3 million we paid for him.

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  25. 25
    Brummie Rd baggie

    I really like Mowbray and his brand of attacking football however I don’t believe it will get us out of this division. If Robson had not been sacked we would have got automatic promotion!! Yes he was cautious but I do firmly believe that he would have got us up – when he left he had not had the benefit of playing Kamara in this league( who was injured ) and Koumas (who was not quite got match fit). I believe also that Robson, though extremely cautious in the Premiership, would have got them playing decent football albeit more defensively than Mowbray. Peace acted far too hastily and we have paid for it. Birmingham kept faith with Bruce and they went up.

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  26. 26
    claret and blue

    i read some one called scott calling the wolves fans 3rd rated, the ground 3rd rated and the club 3rd rate. for one they are still the bigger club for 2 they am they loudest fans out of the two teams i.e. play off semi-final leg when they were losing 1-0 and ou of the play offs i cpould only hear then singin on t.v. and 3 i ain’t being funny but there ground is way smarter than urs.

    I aint heard one wolves fan moan this season!! albion supporters look to ur rivals they show passion!!

    avfc for life!!

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  27. 27
    Luke

    YOU SCORED 100 GOALS AND STILL DIDN’T GO UP. Thats Comedy for you.
    So what you went to Wembeley & beat us 4 times, you season has been a failure, ours hasn’t. Its only just starting.

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  28. 28
    gold and black army

    mowbray needs time?? wasn’t he appointed in november with the best team in the league (apprently) MM came in 12 days before the start of the season with 12 players if ur a good manager then the players would have the respect for him to give him 100% every week!!! u didn’t have the bottle!! ur team was called the great escape but now i think they are called the great disgrace!!!

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  29. 29
    andy the baggie

    whoever wrote that must be a one eyed sore dingle!. i totally agree with baggie boy kev . ok yesterday was a big disapointment but ive enjoyed the footie this season and its time we got the players out who dont want to give their all. we,ll re group and come back a better balanced side . As for the dingles , they think theyre gonna get 30 million on the tranfer kitty ha ha we wait ith baited breath boing boing keep the faith.

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  30. 30
    k johnson

    how many times has the board got to screw up before they have to go the last 2 jan windows have been a joke and killed any chance of improving the team when all the other clubs have invested to get up we stand still or sell off players and not replace them its the board to blame for lack of backing we all know robson was too negative and lived in the past but were were the players this year for mo go pearce now your killing the club

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  31. 31
    mr c

    hahahahahaha unlucky…:) super wolves

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  32. 32
    andywolf9

    hey andy the baggie what is a “tranfer” kitty and you wait “ith” baited breath sounds like you knocked your teeth out walking with your head down lol nevermind

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  33. 33
    kpj

    a club with money in the bank good suport a good ground and training facilities up with the best so how come no big money investers wanting to snap up a club like west brom no debt to pay off so all investment would go into buying the club and improving the team could it be a board that still lives in the dark ages any holds the club back from were they should be a club with history but no future (ps how much money from the sale of the out going players will go on the team and the rest in the bank bet i know which will be bigger just like last year)

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  34. 34
    tipton baggie

    Rowley Baggie3 u sure ur a fan and if u are sounds like u aint seen most of the players u slated play all season they are and will be good players apart from davies who is well over rated and ellington he will be better off away from the hawthorns has he has not proved anything for us but apart from that the team we have agot is a good team sure a few players have had a dip in form but are still good players but at the end of the we have to back tony mowbray he has got us playing the type of football we all want to see unlike robson so he had to go he was a good player but not a good manager so keep the faith and get behind the team what ever it maybe next season boing boing

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  35. 35
    Rather Be A Dingle

    Quote Andy Toft “There is no question that judged purely on the 90 minutes of football at Wembley Albion deserved promotion.”

    Obviously he was watching a different game to me then. Apart from early on and Koumas’s run through the defence before being superbly tackled Derby looked comfortable throughout most of the last 85 minutes of the game.

    Derby on the other hand scored a goal, created the best chance (Peschisolido) and tested Keily more with the 2nd half near post effort. Derby defended well and were full value for their victory IMO.

    How many great saves did the Derby keeper have to pull off? None that I can think of.

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  36. 36
    tipton baggie

    why is it all the dingles come out the wood work when they see us lose do they not realise we made it to wembley they didnt but at the end of the day we are the better team out the 2 seen as we won 4 out of 5 and the villa fan saying the albion were third rate well we didnt sell our club for a tener and has for the fans singing at the hawthorns all i herd was albion singing the wolves fans were like there players that night didnt turn up and life at villa park aint all its cracked up to be aint as if u have had much to cheer about part from fighting relegation all u lot expect big things seen as ur money man has turned up but doubt it will happen so any way we didnt go up aint the end off the world we will learn from this get rid of some players and get some new ones in and go up next season keep the faith boing boing

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  37. 37
    Dan

    Robson should never have been appointed in the 1st place, let’s put it in perspective, the ‘Great Escape’ was more of a lucky esacpe really. Robson proved time and again he was tactically clueless (36 year old up front alone, leaving Kanu, Earnie and Ellington out??! – Should alarm bells not have sounded then?). He also brought in much of the team Mowbray has had to work with. The squad did not have the required balance or work ethic and Robson chose to ignore the finest talent at the club in Koumas. The squad were also not fit enough and often faded after an hour. Since Mowbray’s arrival we have become fitter, played with more of a zip and he has added two fantastic permanent signings (not to mention getting the best out of Koumas). Peace should have done more to back him in January. Give Mowbray a season with his own team and then see where we are.

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  38. 38
    Lee

    I would have been in a deep sleep and missed the second half of the season had Bryan Robson held on to his job. Robson had taken the enjoyment out of watching football matches. Defensive at best at home and away from home not even attempting to get something some weeks.
    Mowbray is an excellent appointment in my humble opinion and hopefully next season will show you you’re only too quick to be negative……AGAIN !!

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  39. 39
    BigBadWolf

    Looking forward to a couple of good tussles next season! Derby deserved it overall, 8pts clear of both of us!
    Next season will show if Mowbray and MM are good managers, both have a lot to turn around. Mowbray has to rebuild most likely and MM has to build a defence.
    Hopefully MM will shut the barn door of a defence and we will give you lot a bit more to think about!
    We both can go up you know, not a bad bet IMO. A WM double next season!!!!!!!!!!!

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  40. 40
    baggiebird

    in reply to reather be a dingle- i hardly believe that derby created the best chance nor did they challenge Deano that often (i believe they had about 3/4 shots on taget with deano making one excellent save in the 2nd half!) i would say that Super Kev had by far the best chance in the match with his 20yrd drive just before half time. Also the baggies did press Bywater, requiring him to makegreat saves to tip the ball over the cross bar!!
    i wouldnt mind if kamara goes because he goes in a strop if he doesnt score in the first half, this was shown on Monday where when the ball wasn’t delivered he didnt go chasing after it, no passion there at all. Ellington- he wants to go back to wigan/up north to be with his family. i don’t mind if he does, i don’t think he’ll be missed much! Gera doesn’t really want to play for us anymore so he can leave. Curtis Davies, yes he is a good defender, but we have coped without him this season from when he broke his foot twice so i feel that we could cope without him next season!
    I would like to see Koumas stay next season, however this will be very difficult seen as he IS ‘the best footballer outside the Premiership’. I also don’t want to see Robbo go.
    TM has made it clear that if someone wants to go then he will let them if their heart isnt with the club anymore. i think we should judge him this time next year after he has sold/brought players into the squad. He has provided us with attacking football which has entertained fans, not just baggies fans. Lets hope Peace gives him the support to buy players that want to play and have skills (such as Robert Koren). Can’t wait for next season- Dingle Derbies and a weekend trip to blackpool maybe! Boing Boing!

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  41. 41
    wolfieboy

    Simply Sandwell Town weren’t good enough see how TM does when all of his so called ‘super stars jump ship can’t wait for next season to start how good it was to see all the tesco’s cryin in their beer lol

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  42. 42
    Bobby

    As a villa fan, i couldnt help but laugh as the albion went 1-0 down at wembley. The arrogance of the team is unbelievable, how can the team with the best set of players finish fourth and then come out of the final as a championship team?

    Boing Boing back down to reality baggies fans…

    Your losing your best players in the summer and next season its going to be an even harder task, get used to championship football ay?

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  43. 43
    Baggie Boy Kev

    We must be the best supported club in the country with all the dog heads keeping an eye on us… just cos there was nowt to watch down your place this year. For a team still getting parachute payments you were a disgrace. But you all seem happy enough with it…. 3000 tesco bags down the custard factory . Haaaaaaaaaaaa !!!

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  44. 44
    Greg Wall

    All you dingles seem very bitter about everything. We lost the final and yes a large amount of our team will now likely be dismantled, but even so they aren’t going to transfer for nothing. You can’t win all the time and we were unlucky at wembley but footballs like that.

    Before any more albion fans slag off mowbray they might want to see him have the chance to actually make his own team. If he does poorly next season fair enough but mowbray has only had chance to make very few transfers this season and the players he brought in impressed me. Kiely was amazing, i’m a huge fan of Koren, Sodje did a job when Davies was injured, I haven’t made my mind up on Macdonald yet as having not seen him play enough.

    I enjoy watching the football Mowbray gets them to play, its interesting and progressive rather than the pathetic stuff Robson used to orchestrate.

    Hopefully Peace will provide Mowbray with backing this summer, get rid of the dead wood i.e Ellington, Hartson, Watson etc and get rid of those who don’t want to play i.e Kamara, Albrectsen (fair play because he hasn’t been played – i rate him)etc. The only player I think it is crucial to keep if we can is Koumas he is immense he can run rings around anybody in this league.

    Come on you BAGGIES!!!

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  45. 45
    sandwell wolves

    it was supposed to be a cup final,and you could only hear derby,when wolves got to cardiff it was a sea of colour and the noise was deafining i was watching one of the worst play off finals ever.

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  46. 46
    baggyboy

    andy tofft is as biased against as the rest of the dingle supporting paper is allways negative towards the albion if he ever watched us he would see the difference we now play good attacking football under robsonwe would have been mid table get rid of mr peace and we will get promoted

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  47. 47
    Andy Tossed

    The Baggies were ninth and sliding when he was sacked, so how do you figure “To sack him so early on, with Albion still well-placed”.

    We were within a goal of promotion which makes “as the motive behind getting rid of Robson was to improve Albion’s chances of promotion then that very decision looks laughable” sound almost half as daft as “the decision [sacking Robson] itself was, at best, questionable”.

    You are a fool Toft. And your bias is almost as blatant as your foolishness.

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  48. 48
    Lord Baggie

    A very poor article by a journalist so out of touch with the Albion it’s not true.

    As for the Inbred fans – I wouldn’t crow. Even with a sugar daddy you never managed more than a single Premiership season.

    The fact that you call a “success” a season in which you failed to make the playoff final and lost FOUR times to your superior rivals says it all.

    Don’t suppose you have to worry about any Premiership clubs coming after your players.

    Oh, and your new sugar daddy supports….Liverpool! At least you won’t ever put him in an embarrassing position by actually playing his favourite team!!

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  49. 49
    Terry - Stafford

    Think you’ve got it wrong Andy Toft. I was a fan of Robson but as a manager his teams were over cautious, negative. We have the right man in Mowbray. Love his style of play and great to see the Albion tradition of playing football being upheld. I think fans should get off the back of Peace too. We were nowhere in the eighties and nineties. Following on from Thompson, we are now financially sound and still going places and lets not forget he made the right decision to get rid of Robson and has appointed a very good manager.

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  50. 50
    Jackiechimp

    I don’t think any regular at the Hawthorns beleives we have a divine right to be in the Prem. We’re all aware that the squad needs shaping and the “superstars” who couldn’t keep us up or get us up need to move on. This has been a transition season for us as will next. Give Mowbray more time. I think he is a promising manager. If we don’t get Prem football, I for one aint that bothered. Who really wants to play in a league where scraping to avoid relegation is a success, and only a couple of teams have a real chance of achieving something. Good luck to Derby though, over the season they stayed the course and deserved it.

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  51. 51
    adie baker

    Sandwell town got what they deserved this season….nowt !
    Arrogant in the main and a lack of respect for opposition. underachieving overrated players, overpaid and little desire etc etc.
    Reminds me of the wolves in the past. Its now time for melton mowbray to clear out and rebuild for the long term future just like the wolves did.
    30 million for club investment (not transfers)is superb news for the wolves, even without it they are heading in the right direction.Its hard to admit but deep down the albion know the wolves are a bigger club, with more fans,an academy, more honours and tradition, a better stadium and a team thats being built for the future.

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  52. 52
    rugby baggie

    the three teams that went up were all backed by their chairman with finacial clout in january,jeremy peace didnt think that the albion team needed anymore than three players,thats why were playing in the fizzy pop league next season .

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  53. 53
    derby rams

    Bad luck to albion. I wouldn’t necessarily agree that you deserved to win on the day, as bywater barely had a save to make. We looked comfortable at the back, and to be fair i think we dominated the midfield, with Oakley and the mighty Seth Johnson!! Gera was non exsistent and Koumas was well marshalled and became largely ineffective. But even forgetting any misplaced injustice you may feel on the day, we finished third, and by a proverbial mile!!! Therefore, justice was done!! The most consistent 3 teams in the division this season are the ones that will be playing in the premiership next season. If it’s any consolation, all season we’ve heard how you’ve got the best team in the championship, well as it stands you still have!! One final comment. Walking down Wembley way before the game, there were a lot of very arrogant (not confident) Baggies fans, who thought a win was a formality, not giving us a prayer. Perhaps it pays to be more humble and respectful of your opponents, especially ones that finished 8 points better off than you over the course of the season.

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  54. 54
    rather be a dingle

    Totally agree with derby rams, Derby played to their strengths and Albion didnt create much at all but they (Players, Manager and Fans) still arrogantly believe that the best team lost on the day.

    As a Wolves fan I could point to the play off first leg and say “the best team lost on the day” but the fact is Wolves conceeded 3 sloppy goals in the first leg and so deserved to lose.

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  55. 55
    Ethan

    I don’t care how many players want to leave.. I just want Koumas to stay, as you won’t find a better player than him who is growing in strength as every season goes by. You can find a striker like Kamara anywhere, with pace, and the ability to take on players, however, i don’t beleive with the budget Albion will have next season, they will be able to find a player with such a creative mind as Koumas

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  56. 56
    DOHR

    What a poor, uninformed, biased, unprofesional article.

    Where is the logic in saying that it’s laughable if the decision to sack Robson was to improve Albions promotion chances?
    We were 9th when he left, and then finished 4th Isn’t that an improvement?

    I would suggest that the vast majority of Albion fans were pleased to see the back of Robson.

    Clearly there is a lack of harmony at the club at the moment and Mowbray needs to sort that out in the summer.

    Judge him when he has his own team. We wont be far away again next season.

    Report abuse

  57. 57
    Cal Baggie

    Lets be Honist We will never be as big as the wolves. our fans were a joke at wembley

    Report abuse

  58. 58
    Happy Wanderer.

    Totally agree with Cal Baggie, Albion fans to arrogant & it has finally come to haunt them.

    Report abuse

  59. 59
    rob hindmarsh

    enjoyed the party in west brom monday night , bid thanks to kevin phillips for putting 60 million over the bar .

    Report abuse

  60. 60
    True Baggie

    How stupid are you Dingles?? How can you slag off the Baggies when we have wiped the floor with you this season. Regardless of what any of you say we were at Wembley because we were better that you – Fact.You can be unlucky to lose once but 4 out of 5 times speaks for itself. Whatever you say about us being bad only makes you look even worse because we have proved beyond doubt that we are better than you. So give up with the sour grapes.As for the Villa fan you would be better occupied contemplating Birminghams 1st team. ie the one named after the city – Birmingham City FC.

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  61. 61
    raywolf

    The Albion team and all their fans plus most of the media thought all they had to do was turn up.That was the BIG mistake.
    Mobray will never smile as he has nothing to smile about. MM = Miserable Mobray

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  62. 62
    beast

    Derby rams, you were murdered, the biggest 50M robbery since the Brinksmat.Every player behind the ball afet 15 mins you only scored because Mc Shane overhit a cross.You kicked us off the park.If the Baggies had won three nill that would have been right. But at the end of the day who really cares pro football is a con designed to cost us all a lot of cash.Good luck in the prem but I fear you are doomed(toatally outplayed by a side relegated last year)As for Robson he is obviously a clown . Great articlle tofty.

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  63. 63
    Ethan

    YOU ARE NO aLBION FAN CONCEDING TO THE WOLVES LIKE THAT

    Report abuse

  64. 64
    Sedgley Baggie

    At the end of the day we’ll get to beat the Wolves again like we did 4 times out of the 5 times we played them this season, so its not all bad news!

    Report abuse

  65. 65
    Andrew Worthington

    There is no shortage of passion at either of these two old famous clubs but the actual football they played against one another was awful. It was classic “bang it into the box” and smash anyone that remotely held onto the ball. It might be good rivalry but the standard of football was no better than kick and rush.

    Report abuse

  66. 66
    besty

    the only beating the boggies will be doing his getting beat week in week out,next season so don’t bother renewing your season tickets and as for keep banging on about winning 4 out of 5 against us that means nowt not a sausage so boing twang sob sob .

    Report abuse

  67. 67
    Bobby

    So…true baggie reckons birmingham are the midlands top team…well see next season ye? :)

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  68. 68
    wulf9

    just a quickie regarding whos the best team……….?

    the sandwell town lot keep saying they were far superior errrrrrrr
    did the league table lie or were the points the same

    yes the boing scored more goals and won more of the derbys but one word my tesco headed gypnacks

    CONSISTENCY (dont know if you thickits understand that word) why win a game 4 then lose the next game 1-0 you stay with your has and never beens

    all hail mick youth is the key cya next season tescos

    ps all hail pork pie head mowbray and well done veno knew you would do a job down the poorthorns

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  69. 69
    Mark

    I think J Peace has alot to answer to now that the season has finished so flat.
    Robbo had us 4 points from the top, where did Mogga leave us!
    What now for Peace, does he stand by his man or what!
    Personally I doubt Peace is the man to lead Albion, he simply has not got the resources or capability.
    Bring back Robbo, get shot of Peace.

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  70. 70
    Palf

    Robson was a shocking manager!!! He should have been sacked last summer if not earlier. Why does this so called ‘news’paper allow rival fans to write about our team?
    PS wolves are pants and we will take our traditional 6 points off you again next year. You lot must be desperate if you’re happy about having McCarthy in charge!?!

    The future’s bright, it’s blue & white!

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  71. 71
    sillyrocket

    Is Scotty living on the planet Zog? Third rate stadium! compared to yours? Fans never singing? your lot were quieter than the banned Millwall fans, and that was in the PLAY-OFF SEMI!!
    And you should have had ten points deducted for that shameful and embarrassing pitch invasion at your hovel. Didn’t want to celebrate your success, just your jealousy. How sad!

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