The terms and conditions revolution will come one day
- Peter Rhodes
Albion blog: The Bare Bones
Friday 23rd January 2009, 9:15AM GMT.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill cooks up a list of targets for manager Tony Mowbray to digest as day 23 of the transfer window dawns.
So, Burnley in the FA Cup at the Hawthorns, which is quickly followed by the mouth watering encounter with the current World Champions, Premier League and Champions League winners Manchester United.
At a time when we await new signings to aid our push for survival, injuries are making our squad look a little thin. Albion manager Tony Mowbray has a real dilemma regarding team selection, does he rest players for our league game or vice versa?
Our priority is league survival so I expect to see a few key players rested in the cup, but in certain positions Mowbray’s hands are somewhat tied. In central defence for instance, we only have Ryan Donk and Pele fit and available.
I hope he decides to give some players who need game time a run out such as Filipe Texeira, Graham Dorrans, Kim Do-Heon and goalkeeper Dean Kiely for example.
That in mind, my team for the Burnley game would be: -
Kiely, Hoefkens, Pele, Donk, Cech, Texeira, Kim, Valero, Dorrans, Bednar, Moore.
Such a team would protect us from injury or suspension to key players and give an overdue rest to players such as goalkeeper Scott Carson, skipper Jonathan Greening and Robert Koren.
I was also hoping to see at least one new face this week- and I am not counting David Grof, the young Hibernian keeper on trial.
We have eight days left of the transfer window and our current injury situation has highlighted our need for squad investment. We are still without the midfield enforcer we have been craving for the past two seasons.
So for you all to shoot down or agree with (I am not holding my breath) I have constructed my own personal wish list. Let’s begin with the positions I would be looking at – a holding midfielder, winger, and a versatile defender.
So my wish list would look something like this: -
Holding midfielder – Udinese’s Christian Obodo, Wigan’s Michael Brown or West Ham’s Hayden Mullins.
Winger – Wigan’s former Baggie Jason Koumas, Tottenham’s David Bentley or Liverpool’s Ryan Babel.
Defender – Portsmouth’s Hernann Hreidarsson or West Ham’s Calum Davenport.
I haven’t thrown in Koumas just to be controversial, he isn’t getting many games at Wigan and I genuinely rate him as a player. Bentley and Babel may seem a little adventurous, but both have slipped down the pecking order at their respective clubs.
Just a simple list I cooked up, using the boundaries of players having Premier League experience and possibly being available (exception being Obodo).
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I think Mowbray will play his full strength team in the cup and the reserve squad against Man U. (He will see that has another game we will get nothing out of)
Looks like we will sign Lee Croft (Right Winger) from Norwich.
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I whole-heartedly agree mate, I’d love to see the old Greco-Welsh playmaker back at The Hawthorns.
It would add a great buzz to the club as a whole to have our old wonder boy back in the frame.
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we must play our strongest team possible in the cup we are just starting to put a few results together we got to keep the momentum going,korens also just starting to show abit of form lets just keep it going, aye boing boing astle is the king
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Are you sure this is Bomber writing this? Where’s all the doom and gloom, plus snipes at Hoefkens?! ;-)
I agree, some players should be rested for the visit of Burnley, and I think Burnley will be thinking the same thing.
Targets – 100% agree we need a winger and central midfield enforcer. I know we’re short on centre backs atm, but that will be short term and the only reason we should be looking to strengthen the defence is if someone comes in that will make the defence stronger in the long term, not short term cover.
CM – Obodo has been mentioned a few times, as was Hamann, but he’s now injured so off the radar. Brian Stock is continually linked with us too. Hayden Mullins is a good shout, keeps it simple. Wins the ball and moves it on.
LW / RW – Bentley and Babel would not come to the Albion for financial reasons. Koumas…..been there and done it, I liked watching Koumas on the ball, but I don’t think he’d actually help our cause any more. I know a lot of people would think this an odd choice, but I rate Glenn Little who is well down the register at Pompey. Works hard, tracks back, 6ft odd and good on the ball.
Another odd choice I know, but despite his detestable nature could El Hadji Diouf do a job????
The other one I’d be interested in, but it’d probably be one for the Summer would be Chris Eagles from Saturday’s opposition.
Let’s make it another good atmosphere tomorrow, no excuses with there being no real fans in the Smethwick this time!!
GOING DOWN THE BRUMMIE ROAD….TO GET SOME PEACE AND QUIET!! ;-)
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Bomber
Let me be among the first to take a pot shot.
Jason Koumas….i like his abilities with possesion of the ball, without the ball……hmm, plus, been there done that.
Bentley and Babel……….fanciful, Tex and Morro have been equaly effective for us as the two of them have been for their clubs, if fact more so than Bentley for Spurs.
Regarding the holding midfield player, i fear we have missed the boat with Quashie going to the Wolves.
In the cricket club after the game ?
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morning Bomber – I agree with your starting line up for the cup – altho beattie for the injured moore I guess.
as for your midfield enforcers – are you being serious with Mullins and Brown?! I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and put it down to a large Thursday night session as neither are anywhere good enough for the Premiership. As for Obodo I have no comment as never seen him play. What about a loan for Song of Arsenal?
Altho Bentley and Babel are non starters I have mentioned Koumas to mates myself in the past few weeks – he is class for sure – all about a manager getting his head right and with TM already knowing him well I wouldn’t be against that gamble
TM has said we won’t go for a centre back so he must be confident that Meite and Olsson will be back in the next week…..
Wallop – I disagree with your call on playing a weakend team against United – we are at home for god sake and it’s as good a time to play United as any. Tough game yes but certainly not a dead cert loss…
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i believe cup apart we only have 3 games in febuary plenty time for the players to rest,aye boing boing donk
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I’d take Koumas back too – for significantly less than we sold him for – but I doubt he’d come.
Do we really need a winger though?
I guess we’re a little short down the right but we’ve got plenty of on the left – Tex, Brunt, Dorrans, Kim, Greening, etc etc.
Dare I say, our squad’s a little unbalanced in that respect?
Obodo left Udi didn’t he? Espanyol if I’m not mistaken.
Hayden Mullins? I have to admit I know nothing about him – he’s one of those players that you just don’t remember.
But I’m with you with Davenport.
What about Hyppia too?
Or Beevers from Sheff Weds?
It looks like we’re after Brian Stock again, and Lee Croft (who’s another I know nothing about!).
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6. I hope I’m wrong mate, but I have found it disappointing when we have gone away and played the reserves against the big boys. I just hope we don’t do that at home.
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6. Beevower
We can’t have another player from Arsenal on loan – only 1 per premiership club – so Song is a non-starter.
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Hi Wbaforever,
Im at the game and i will try to make the cricket club but not sure yet.
One thing did strike me when compiling my fantasy shopping list, if you stick to the boundaries of the players having Prem experience and possibly available. How difficult it was to identify potential players, it made me realise why we often go into Europe to find our talent.
Oh and Nedball
Hoefkens turns slower than the titanic, has the positional sense of a Lemming and is about as useful as secured loan from the national icelandic bank!!
Yep its me, i was just laying off him as he played well last week.
As for the Lee Croft rumour, i really rated him when he was at Man City and would have liked to see him come to us at the time he went to Norwich. Does anyone know what his form has been like lately??
The only Norwich fan i knew married his donkey and now lives in a secure unit.
Hi Bob if you are now allowed computer access.
Mind you if you are your probably surfing donkey monthly.
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Having player targets is one thing, affording them is another.
The moneybags clubs are ruining our game, highly inflated prices for players of low quality and our clubs and fans alike are suffering because of it.
I know it is a fact of life, but I look forward to the day when we can get back to a level playing field and all the moneybags have gone home, when all the get rich quick players decide to go elsewhere and once again our own british young talent is able to blossom.
I’ll wake up in a minute.
Good luck against Burnley….see you at Wembley
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9 wallop i have to mate what a waste of money the trips to man u,liverpool,chelsea where,man u have failed to score more than one goal in a game on there away travels in the prem this season and with rooney out we must be in with a shout on our current home form,aye boing boing donk
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There’s NEVER a good time to play United, but this has got to be one of the best times to get a positive result. Let’s face facts, a draw would be a fantastic result!!
With Neville, Brown, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evra, Anderson, Rooney etc all out injured, we can possibly get something out of it by attacking them….and keeping Berbatov, Tevez, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes etc quiet!! ha ha!
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Babel and Bentley comments made me laugh, you guys discussing bringing lee hughes back is more realistic. You should beat burnley after their game in the week. My brother in law supports borough and went last sat, he said he has no doubt borough will go down unless something drastic happens. You should of rested carson after his first couple of mistakes,,he is costing you too many points, kiely should be recalled.
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11 – Much more like it!! Thanks Bomber.
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God, there is some serious rubbish written on the actual blog and the comments that follow every single week !!!
Talking about an Udinese player i’m guessing you’ve never seen play, and people reading a rumour in the people and that becomes gospel !!! Braindead
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If all were fit and avaliable.
Rodger Johnson- cardiff
Freddy Bodde- Swansea
Chris Eagles-Burnley
Craig Mackail Smith- Peterborough
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i missed out joe ledley
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matt82, ive never met you before but as were making assumptions from rumours i guess in life you are a muppet who lives in the back bedroom of your mom and dads
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15 – You know absolutely nothing about what you’re talking about Shadrag.
You can’t keep posting comments on here saying my mate said this, Alan Hansen said that, Carl Hoefkens didn’t say this etc.
Get your own opinion by watching football matches yourself!!
Also, Middlesbrough, has but one ‘O’ in it’s spelling, surely you’d know that though being so wise, so are you talking about your brother in law supporting Peterborough, or Nuneaton Borough?
P.S. I still love you xx
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haha i literally fell off my seat…….
are you being serious with those transfer targets?
oh, and if bentley ever did come to albion, i would burn my season ticket, he is a disgrace to football.
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my mrs brother waited an hour after the spurs game to collect signatures, bentley just walked past everyone thinking hes the big I am and never signed one.
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21. neddy, I know that babel or bentley would not go to albion! What is wrong with saying his opinion was that middlesbrough will go down? Scott carson has made numerous mistakes, fact. Feeling a bit sensitive today saying I shouldn’t post!
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Lukey Boy
Speaking of muppets, have you read your pathetic list of transfer targets !?!?
You clearly know nothing about the game if you think those Championship and League 1 players will help our fight for survival !
You are one of the clowns that thinks this blog is gospel, when it’s a load of rubbish week in week out !
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matt82
I will be in the sportsman tomorrow before the game with hilltopbaggie. You are more than welcome to join us to discuss your above comments.
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Sorry I meant that for Laughing Wolf!
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You put that team down for tomorrow, but surely you know that Mogga doesn’t play weakened sides in the FA Cup, never has never will.
If we can’t put out the same side for Saturday, then Tuesday, there’s something badly wrong !
Brown and Mullins are fair shouts, but the wingers are crazy suggestions
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24 – Yes, my nipples are tingling!!
I agree that Babel and Bentley would not go to the Albion, in fact if you read my post from earlier I also say it. (Post #4)
I doubt that you have actually watched Scott Carson in person. So, again, doubt that you’ve seen how well he performs throughout 90 minutes, as the only thing that is ever highlighted is when he does make mistakes.
I also think, as I posted to you, that you often make comments saying that someone else told you this, my mate said blah blah blah and I think you should start making up your own mind on things. Give it a try, you might actually start making sense.
In the words of a beautiful song I’d like to dedicate to you Shadrag:
‘Have I told you lately, that I love you?’ xx
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First of all, the team suggested for tomorrow in the blog is just not going to happen. Instead of “its just an opinion” you should actually put a realistic team on otherwise your comments wont be taken seriously. If you have seen the Albion over the last 3 years+ you will know that Greening WILL play and that Mowbray will put out his strongest side.
As for transfer targets – what a load of rubbish most of these are ! Brown and Mullins are not bad shouts to be fair. Bentley, Babel, Croft etc . . no thanks!!
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Matt82 – It’s an opportunity for people to give their views on a topic that Bomber chooses.
No-one thinks it’s gospel, and quite regularly the discussion is pure speculation, as it is in this case.
Bomber is an Albion fan who posts what’s on his mond, he is not a journalist who is paid to report the truth. Calm down kidder!!
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Nedball
I appreciate that they are his opinions, but surely there needs to be some realism attached to them ! That team for tomorrow isn’t going to happen.
They are top athletes. Of course they can play Saturday, Tuesday and Saturday with our strongest team ! We did it most of the last 2 seasons in the coca cola !
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matt82
with fairness to you, you have to appreciate that this league is a much more intense game than CCC, as much as I love that league.
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32 – I can see what you’re saying in that post and I can agree to some extent, but I can also see the point in resting players, and utilising a squad of players instead of the same 11 players week in / week out and running them into the ground.
I’d play as close to my strongest team possible tomorrow. Fortune and Simpson to start as they need time together on the pitch, the defence is picking itself (maybe Cech instead of Robbo though) due to injuries, and in midfield I’d play Dorrans, Tex, Greening and Koren
If we get the job done, we can bring players off to rest them early can’t we?
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Ned
I love the analogy that journalists are paid to tell the truth.
Matt
You are clearly a Baggies fan, who shares the highs, but mainly lows with the rest of us.
Jarrod is also a fan, who dedicates a lot of his time compiling these blogs, unpaid he does it for his love of all things Albion.
He never expects everyone to agree with his opinions, but to express your own opinion calling people braindead, muppets and the like is a little ungracious.
To be honest mate, if i thought the blog was quote serious rubish and the comments that follow every single week, and it wound me up to that degree, then i simply wouldn`t read it.
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Nedball:
my comments regarding carl hoefkens was a story on these pages when he run the club down. I gave a bit of stick about phillips and gera but albion fans do about wolves. If you dont like banter and other peoples opinion dont come on a football discussion forum where we exchange opinions on midlands football. My own opinion is albion will be relegated with 3 games left to play. You know my opinions on your sponsor etc!
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I’m not going to suggest a line up as it seems to annoy a few people, but we have had two great league seasons which have occured whilst getting to the quarter and semi finals of the FA cup, so i think TM will continue to give this a high priority whilst looking realistically at the league games we can get get something from.
36 – when did we start exchanging opions or anything else with you ?? Yes we love to have banter – we just dislike you !
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36. I’m sorry but you’re the first to get upset if someone opposes your views. You seem to think you have a great knowledge of WBA and your opinions are well founded. From what I’ve read you know very little about my club. You don’t understand how Albion operate and ridicule them even though they have consistently out performed your team over the last 10 years.
Your comment about Carl Hoefkens is not accurate, he has never run the club down, he made comments about the area.
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I think its only right for the players who
performed so well against P`boro to keep their
place.
Carson/
Hoefkens/Donk/Pele/Robinson/
Teixeira/Greening/Koren/Kim/
Bednar/Simpson.
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36 – Dearest Shadrag, banter is all well and good, but I’m awaiting some from you as opposed to the drivel you put on here. I’m also still awaiting your evidence on this ‘quote’ from Carl Hoefkens.
We do talk about football on here, but you always come back to the same old rubbish about the Wolves being great, Albion being crap and the fact that we haven’t got a corporate logo on our chests.
If that’s the extent of your ‘wit’ and ‘banter’ then I really am not impressed.
Thanks for your prediction by the way, I can’t wait to ram it down your throat when we stay up, but until then I’m going to stop replying to your endless twitter, as you really are boring me.
Much love to you xx
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if i was T.M. i would try to sign a striker called BAFE GOMIS from st etienne he would would keep us up this season for sure,and that position would be covered for the start of next season,he is good,dont forget simpson will be back at arsenal.as for koumas NO WAY but CHRIS EAGLES is a good shout though, i have no idea about a holding midfielder, but i would bring back the BEAST between the sticks
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team for sat,same as valerolovesbrum….by the way was laughingwolf laughing at the end of last season?
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Nedball/Happybogie- You infact have just summed up yourself.
You dont like it that us wolves fans say Carson makes alot of mistakes? He has made very costly errors and cost you loads of points? he may have made some good saves but if he costs you 3 points at the end he aint good enough!
As for saying I have heard borough are not good enough to stay up, how has that offended you? You sir are a cretin.
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Can’t see much wrong with 39′s team selection – unless TM decides to give Cech the start.
42 – yes laughingwolf WAS still laughing at the end of the season, but that because wolves won the premier league, the champions league, all the domestic cups and had two wins against us scoring 15 goals to nil…..
Obviously that only happened in his mind – but he believes it so it seems wrong to tell him the truth.
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43 – we never said we don’t like wolves fans saying things – we just said we don’t like you.
p.s – “you sir”…. ??? is that your posh investors voice ?
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Happy, I’ve given up on him now, it may be due to me being a cretin, or as I would like to put it, I just have no time for the busy little bugger.
I see he can’t grasp what I’m actually saying to him either, so there’s just no point trying to make a point to the King of Ding-a-lings.
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yeah i cant wait for us to beat the dingles, again mind you twenty or so years is a long time isn’t it?
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Ned – I rarely bother with him now – not since the Woolworths portfolio he set up for me didn’t go to plan….. but its still fun to torment him occassionally.
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Boys shadrags had you all today
Matt82 chill out and stick to giving the grief to shoes
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Can’t believe his ‘wish list’ does not include Wolves players. Kites in your team with foley and SEB and you WOULD stay up.
We’ll score more against borough than you did..bet bon it. (unless he saves our key players and plays our cleaning ladies. In that event we’ll only win 1 – 0 with Hilda getting the winner with an overhead kick. I hope Doris doesn’t get sent off again cos Mowbary was watching her least week and Mick expects a big bid ….she’s certainly better than any of your centre backs and she’s very tough. Ate a linesman the other week – and didn’t bother extracting him from his car first. Trouble was that his flag got caught in her teeth – as well as sump and gear box. Tell Mowbary she’s yours for £3 million….
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35 – Forever, good point well made!! ha ha!
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Loffin’ Fowl showing his ‘brilliance’ on here again, ” You should of rested carson “. For the six-thousandth-seven-hundred-and ninety-fifth time, you should not say ‘of’ as a vowel when you mean ‘have’. Also Carson should have a capital ‘C’ even if you don’t like him. How can we believe Loffin’ is a moneyman when he expounds such drivel? Oh, sorry. Easily. It’s the money geniuses who’ve put us in the soft smelly stuff right now is it not?
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