Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Albion boss challenges strikers
Friday 12th December 2008, 12:25PM GMT.
Tony Mowbray has challenged Albion’s strikers to keep his proposed January signings on the sidelines by grasping a spot in the Baggies team.
Mowbray believes Roman Bednar, Luke Moore or even Craig Beattie could claim a starting place by impressing in the next four matches.
While the Baggies boss still plans to sign strikers on loan in the forthcoming transfer window, he insists he would be happy to leave them on the bench.
Either Bednar or Moore will win a recall to the starting line-up at Sunderland, after Miller’s season was ended by a cruciate knee ligament injury.
He said: “There are opportunities there, whether they play five minutes or 85 minutes, so it’s really down to them. I haven’t got any agendas with who I pick and I didn’t have with Ishmael Miller.
“It was Ishmael who thrust himself forward in my mind with work in training that suggested he deserved a start.
“Roman’s ratio of goals to games was probably higher than Ishmael’s last year. Yet I make decisions based on what I see in training every day and that will carry on.
“When we bring loan players in, they will get an opportunity but if I think Luke Moore, Roman Bednar or Craig Beattie are looking sharper in training they will get the nod.
“It’s competition you are trying to create. We will still look to improve the options in that area of the pitch.
“If somebody comes in and scores four or five in the next few games, I would suggest the new loan signing will come in and sit on the bench while this guy continues to score goals.
“Luke has generally found himself on the fringes of things because last year anybody who played seemed to score. I’m sure he hasn’t played as much as he would have liked.
“At this moment he is competing with Roman for a starting place in the days we play one up front. If we play two up front he has got Roman and Craig to compete with.
“January is just around the corner and we will be looking to change our options up front. We will wait and see but if there is an opportunity for Luke hopefully he will grab it.”
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I personally think that Luke Moore is a very talented footballer, but obviously Mowbray has something against him. Some of the other players said that he is one of the sharpest in training so why the hell is he not starting?! It really does rattle me how we buy a £3mil striker yet he hasn’t started a league game for us this season. Even if Moore’s work rate isn’t up to scratch, i’d rather have him up top than Roman ‘Ain’t Got A Clue, Little Sulker, Likes To Throw His Dummy Out The Pram’ Bednar.
Come on Mowbray, start this guy, he obviously has the talent, just let him use it.
:)
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we didnt buy him he came in px in the davies deal,he looks sharp and with confidence he could be the answer,he was in the england under 21 squad,no body mentions this lad at leicester who keeps banging them in,also lloyd dyer seems to be doing well he was very quick when we had him also will arsenal let us have a champions league striker i doubt it!!!
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“I would suggest the new loan signing will come in and sit on the bench…” Mowbray seems to struggle with the concept of a team at the bottom bringing players in to improve performance.
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I just don,t understand the bloke sometimes,will it be the same as Moore,sign players and then never give them a chance?.
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3 & 4 – if you read the piece, Mowbray is saying that IF Bednar, Moore or Beattie should happen to take this opportunity to hit top form then they would not automatically be dropped in favour of any new comers.
What did you expect him to say – that they will be out whatever they do ?? Only a fool would burn his bridges like that.
He has said that he will be bringing new players in – but that they will be fighting for a start along with everyone else – and quite right.
Its only managers like MM who publicly state if a player has no chance of making the first team.
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” If somebody comes in and scores four or five in the next few games”??? Now that´s what I call optimism. Four or five for the rest of the season more like. Not that I´m a pessimist. C´mon Luke. Show us what ya got.
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TM’s not saying new signings are gonna go straight on the bench, he is saying that if millers replacements come in and seize their opportunity, they will keep their place – and quite right too! He is trying to give encouragement to them whilst waving the regular starting place “carrot” in front of them….i leave the donkey punchline to one of our wolfie friends!
For the life of me, i can’t really see Luke Moore grasping his chance, but football has always had strange quirks, so i wouldn’t be all that surprised if in 2 games from now we’re all posting on here about what a difference he’s made and why didn’t TM start him sooner in the season, that said i definately won’t be holding my breath!!
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2 Mark
There was no part ex involved. He came in for 3 million.
There is a massive difference to Training, reserve games and playing in the first team.
Anyone will tell you that you find something extra if you are selected for the starting eleven an given a run of games. So many players and managers talk about getting match fit but some players are never given the chance.
Lets support all of those guys out on the pitch.
If we slag them off, it can only make things worse.
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