Albion blog: Cost of the draw
Tuesday 27th January 2009, 9:11AM GMT.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill laments another game added to the schedule ahead of the visit of Manchester United.
The cost of the late equaliser on Saturday could be worse than the simple fact it has added another game to our fixture list we could do without.
I am sure all fans will join me in keeping everything crossed in the hope that our skipper Jonathan Greening will not be out for to long.
It was no coincidence that, once he had departed the field, our shape and rhythm was lost. My blog on Friday discussed the merits of resting key players for the game and the ever mounting injury situation worried me it could derail our momentum for survival.
The game itself was cracking and I enjoyed it thoroughly – if not the result. I thought Burnley deserved a replay, but after an hour’s play it looked unlikely with us pushing for the third and probable killer goal.
Albion striker Roman Bednar worked his socks off but we could have still been playing now and he wouldn’t have scored, it was just one of those days.
I also thought his strike partner Jay Simpson was outstanding, he looks to be getting better with each game and the returning midfielder Filipe Teixeira was a constant threat to Burnley.
I must also mention defender Paul Robinson, he was snapping into tackles like the mad dog we have come to love. He has been getting a bit of stick lately, but when he plays well he gets the crowd going!
Onto the Manchester United game, I can’t wait, I love night games and it’s the one thing I really miss about the Championship. The fact it’s arguably the best team in the world coming to town just makes it even better. Mind you most of them haven’t got far to come have they?
I wonder what the game plan is. How do you stop Manchester United?
Lets face it, we don’t have the type of players to attempt bullying them out of the game and the league leaders have not conceded a goal for 10 league games. Sorry if I am not filling anyone with confidence, but nobody expects us to get anything from the game so lets go for it.
I think all the Greening doubters will see what he brings to our team in the next few weeks while he is missing, and it will be interesting to see what plans manager Tony Mowbray has to cope without him.
The injury situation has highlighted the need for more signings in the next four days, so something tells me it’s going to be a last day frenzy for many clubs.
My team for United would be: -
Carson, Robinson, Donk, Pele, Zuiverloon, Brunt, Valero, Koren, Texeira, Simpson, Fortune.
With injuries the team kind of picked itself – for once.
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I see in the transfer rumours that Fulham are lining up a £2.5 mill??????????? offer for Robert Koren. Surely they don’t think because we mugged them off with the Kamara deal that we owe them one. Come back with double that and we’ll still tell you where to stick it.
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Agree with team Jarrod, but id play Cech instead of Brunt. Feel Brunt’s crosses etc will be wasted without a big target man in the box!
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dont take this the wrong way,but r u saying that we r nothing with out Jonathan greening?????
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mmm when i saw draw i wondered if you meant arsenal away if we were to beat burnley,i think this year with that in mind we should play some reserves and some players who moan about never playing and if they win let them play at the emirates,i agree jg out is a blow and the loan window ends sat night we need 2 players desperatley..forecast for tonight 0-3 but hopefully not and hopefully utd will play thier strongest team,i am looking forward to the test but you never know !!!
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Good time to be playing United, they have 12 players out injured. Wont be easy but its a good time to play them if there is one!
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….understandable blog Jarrod, however I am a firm believer that every dog has his day, we might just have a few hungry dogs on the bench who are filling in for places tonight, most natably the oppurtunity that Valero, Cech, Bednar have. Given Bednar’s fantastic efforts the past few weeks I really do think he deserves a starting role tongiht, Fortune on at half time if things go awry. Lest we forget Man Utd have a LOT of injuries as well and as much as i use the term ‘weakened line up’ when i refer to the Red Devils loosely, this is still a valid point. We have beaten them before and have a colourful history with them which is well documented. Forget Man Utd, its all eyes on us!
DOING THE RED’S OVER THE MOWBRAY WAY OH YES OH YES OH YESSS
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You’re right. It is no coincidence that when Jonno went off we looked disorientated. Perhaps all the idiots who get on his back, and call him “Captain Sideways” will realise how important he is to us while he is out.
Have to disgaree with you on Robinson. Could you tell me the last time he actually cut out a cross, or got tight enough to his man in important situations !?!?
Yes we love his wholeheartedness and the occasional meaty tackle, but his basic defending has not been good enough for months !
Agree with tonight’s team, although it wasn’t a difficult one to predict.
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hey! wheres my post! it took me 20 mins to do that!!
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ahh there it is :-)
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Talking about Robbo bomber after the game on sat i decided to sit in the ground for 5 minutes before we left and there were a few baggies having a go at robbo by the tunnel, don’t get me wrong he probably could of stopped the cross for the goal but robbo is the one player who gives 100% every time he takes to the pitch. I also agree with your views on bednar, I can’t for the life of me see why Mr Mowbray didn’t go with the same strike force that gave the Middlesbrough back line such a torrid time. I agree also with your team pick although I would consider giving young Dorrans a start due to the fact he is more defensive minded than Brunt and Robbo will need all the help he can get with the world player of the year running at him all night, Pele has been a calming influence on Donk since he came on half wat through the Brough game. All in all a very good blog as usual bomber.
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Totally agree with you about Greening, Bomber. By no means the best or most talented player in our squad, but certainly the most important. We haven’t had to play without him for any period of time under TM and I suspect there will be a great deal of adjustment to be made to our play to compensate for his absence. Without the injuries, I would fancy us for something tonight but I just can’t see our makeshift defence holding out for 90 minutes against them
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Just heard Greening’s out for between 6 and 8 weeksnow that is a major blow for me, obviously not everybody will agree but we will miss him.
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Well Jarrod in answer to your question How do stop Man U??? Don’t let them in through the front door otherwise there gonna make mince meat of you!!!!!!
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i agree the injury list could well be the thing that tips us over the edge. I may welk b wrong but i dont hold too much hope in the transfer market going on past experience
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Morning J,
Spot on with the blog mate but a couple of changes to your team i would pick,Hoff at centre half as i think Donk wont make it and Dorrans for Tex for his energy and maybe better defending.
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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the BBC Sports web site has just announced that Greening will be out for 4 to 6 weeks with knee ligament damage. That is an unfortunate and much un needed blow for you. Short of placing snipers at strategic places around the ground I’m not sure what you’re gonna do to stop the Man Ure !
Forgot to say morning to all my Baggie buddies..Terry, Nedball Worcester, Sutton Hoo (if that’s still your handle), Bomber, happy (if you’re still around) and Forever…. and anyone else Ive missed !!
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morning worcester me ole pal does one fancy a sherbut or 2 tonite aye boing boing john smiths plz
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Jarrod have you started early for tonight, the robbo we know and love???? he gets stick because he is a liability, twice early on the ball came over from eagles, once is went past everyone, the second patterson connnected and they hit the bar. Add to this that joey gudjonson got the better of him in the second half resulting in the equaliser. He has no positioning, no ability to man mark at corners and toooooooooo many crosses come over from his side. If you also throw into the mix his reaction to the crowd for the second time in a month and the fact marek cech was faultless in his 2 game run and created 2 goals. The question is why is he in the team?
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hi jarrod,they may not of conceded a goal for 10 league games but away from home they have failed to score more than one goal(prem)this season so there not so prolific as they where,so lets go out and have a go,aye boing boing donk
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this is the perfect time to give dorrans some extra premiership experience
according to greening dorrans is very much like him but gets himself into more tackles
maybe he’s a possible answer to the defensive midfielder needed
GIVE DORRANS A GAME
every time he comes on we get a goal
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Jarrod i too really enjoyed the match,Burnley are a really good team and out passed us at times.What do you think about Eagles i thought he was outstanding like to see him signed.Before our huge injury list it was acknowledged we need more prem quality/experience what now?I Understand we cant afford the likes of Bullard but when you see ones like Mullins go on the cheap this is what we ought to be pursuing.Look at the quality of Simpson,and he cant even make it into Arsenals 22.We surely need 3/4 of that ilk to have a chance of surviving.Come J.P. go that extra mile and back T.M.
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Greening will be a huge loss, i must admit i am worried about our injury situation. Losing key players while playing in cup games is disappointing. We desperately need to sign some more players before the window closes.
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“The robbo we know and love”
is that the robbo who has:
-no positioning sense
-no ability to mark
-inable to stop crosses
-doesnt get tight enough
-who incites fans for the 2nd time in a month
-and wanted to leave us for wigan
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Maybe the idiots who get on Greening’s back and tag him “Captain sideways” etc will now realise how important he is to us, and what a good player he is, while he is out.
I agree with the team. Tex has to play, as he has the ability to make something happen out the ordinary.
Disagree with you about Robinson. When was the last time he actually stopped a cross coming in, or got tight to his marker in important situations ?? Yes, we love his wholeheartedness and the ocassional meaty tackle but his basic defending has been poor for months !
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Anorther great blog Jarrod,totally agree we should go for it big style like you said no body expects us to get anything out of this game.3up front,simmo,costa beds all firing away with a shoot on sight policy (we wished).lets all crank up the volume tonight and raise the roof off our hallowed hawthorns and be come the “12th man”. come on you bagiessssss,remember weve done it before & well do it again…THE CLUB IS IN SAFE HANDS WITH JP&MOGGA…YOUVE SEEN THE LIGHT NOW KEEP THE FAITH…
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Robinson was tackling well when he was in the right half. The equaliser came on one of the many occasions when Robinson was out of position. Mowbray has to give Cech a decent run in the team.
Meanwhile, Fulham are supposed to be bidding £2.5million for Koren. Are they having a laugh?
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Home win for the BAGGIES tonight,COME ON YOU BAGGIES.
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where tezza??
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If Donks fit I’d play him and Pele centre halfs with Zuvi right mid in front of Hoff to give the extra athleticism and endeavour we are going to need. Dorrans on left mid and Koren & Valero centre mid. Fortune and Jay up front. We know Robbo will play so no point mentioning Cech.That leaves Brunt and bedna to come off the bench later.
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oops, i’ve posted the same thing twice thinking my 1st one wasn’t recognised !!!
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Lukey boy
Yes lol
Seriously, he is also the same Robbo who,
Had the most assists last season
Stayed with us
did more than anyone else at the club to persuade KP to stay
gives 100%.
Im not his biggest fan, but i appreciated his whole hearted effort on Saturday.
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On another topic, the French paper L’Equipe said yesterday that we’ve got a PSG defensive midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu on trial this week. He hasn’t played that much for them this season but they’ve apparently offered him a three year deal (he’s out of contract in the summer), so they must rate him. It’s a position we’re pretty lightweight in, so could be a good signing if it came off.
I think he’s a Congo international by the way, if anyone’s interested…
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Tonight??
Play someone – Zuiverloon or Robbo or ?? in front of the back four. Use Czech at RB.??
We do need the team to be really up for it tonight.
The middfield lacks balls!
We will greatly miss Jonno.
I enjoy night matches as well. Usually a great atmosphere.
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21.
Meant Czech at LB
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Additional games and Injuries. Not a great combination. Great Blog, with which i whole heartedly agree. I can’t see a big influx of players though, but i would have to hope we don’t cash in on Koren with the current injury situation. Even if we got a stupid amount of money we don’t have enough cover.
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“did more than anyone else at the club to persuade KP to stay
gives 100%” – that worked well then
At the end of the season go out and buy the dvd, or better still when you have a spare afternoon watch the highlights on baggies world of the last 3 season. Then watch how many goals robbinson is accountable for, i can tell you know that nobody is more than him. In the pascal zuibervolar season robbo cost us more points than him. That is saying something.
Oh how i miss dave gilbert
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Robbo Out
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Always interesting to read Jarrod and you never make ‘no-brain derogatory points’ about our players. Lukeyboy, I despair with your comments at times. Our boss believes, as I do, that Robbo is a good defender, yet you, with no real footballing exerience, know much better and quite obviously ought to be in charge of the club, buying, selling and tactics. You ARE entitled to an opinion, but why is it always negative player-bashing? Cut the bloke a bit of slack, you might see then he needs your support, not criticism all the time. Greening will be missed big time unless someone steps into the breach. Have we got such a player spare? Maybe young Dorrans? Incidentally, how many goalies can you name who would have got even near to that point-blank header Carson fetched out on Saturday? Yet if there is the slightest bit of blame for a goal, he gets it, both barrels. Let’s hope he’s on top form tonight, the injury list at Man.U. isn’t half as restricting as ours. Their reserves would walk into any other first eleven.
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First of all, I hold little hope for tonight.
If we get a point against an under strength United, I’ll be extremely happy, but I think their reserves will be better than ours.
I can’t understand the Robbo baiting on here, and also hope Jesus gets himself fit much sooner than the 6 weeks it’s been forecast as.
Come on Valero, time to prove you’re the better player out of you and Greening.
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Jarrod Hill
You cant play Brunt,Valero,and Teixeira in the
same team against a team like Man Utd as we would get absolutly murded,you need
4 midfeilders who will work their socks off.
MY ALBION 11:
Carson,Zuiverloon,Donk,Pele,Robinson,
Teixeira,Koren,Dorrans,Cech,Simpson,Fortune.
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Spot on again as normal.
I think its such a pity that we have so many players out for tonights game. With the way Fortune, Simpson and Bedner have been playing, and the superb performance of Tex on saturday i honestly feel that with a full strength team we could have taken something off United with all their players out. Alas it’s not to be. It worries the hell out of me know that we have Pele at the heart of our defence, a player who was never really good enough at championship level last season.
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And yet Pele got the job done at Middlesboro and was not at fault for either of the Burnley goals. I’m not worried about Pele tonight.
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Cyril randle,
My post are not always negative at all. I am not someone who joined on the mowbray out bangwagon or someone who chooses to bemoan mr peace. In some situations i choose to be negative such as with robbo and robert koren playing on the right (although greatly improved in recent weeks) and my list of robbos faults were justified. My list was structured and true on robbos faults. Anyone around me or i speak to a the ground or the vine seems to agree with this so maybe you are the one who is short sighted.
Firstly you dont have to have experience in football to see what is working and what isnt. In any environment if you have an individual who is not performing and one who has shown he can you give the other guy a chance.
Obviously in your line of work persistent mistakes are rewarded.
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POSTED A COMMENT @11:37 wheres it gone???
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Lukey boy
Having met Cyril Randle i would just like to say he has been to more games than most and has been a fan since god was a boy!!
I think you will find he is retired lol!!
Anyway, i do agree that Robbo has been disappointing this season but i did actually think he played very well last season and also played well Saturday, just my opinion.
I tend to be to focused on berating the Hoff to bash Robbo lol!!
Anyway, im finishing work at 4.30pm and getting the tram upto the Sportsman, then to the Vine, then to the match, last time i was this excited over a game i was on the coach to Loftus Road!!
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43. Luke. Thanks for proving my point though. Criticism stings doesn’t it and you can answer me back, but Robbo can’t answer you back ! More later if you like.
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scott carson,more like frank carson,we need a keeper and five defenders, and one holding midfielder cos this is bo+ll+cks
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