Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
Albion blog: The Nearly Men
Tuesday 3rd March 2009, 9:10AM GMT.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill laments another case of so near, yet so far away for the Baggies as they face another thankless task – the visit of Arsenal.
I am guessing you have just clicked on to this blog and thought, what a strange title?
Well let me explain, it is basically the way I feel about our season so far. We nearly recruited a strong enough squad to be able to survive in the Premier League, we consistently nearly get results, so consequently we will look back on this season and say we nearly had a good enough team.
I hope I have to eat humble pie, with a number of players nearing full fitness – like Jonathan Greening and Jonas Olsson – hopefully we can turn our season around and get enough positive results to stay up but as much, as I hope it happens, my head tells me it just isn’t going to happen!
Saturday’s match at Everton is the perfect example, we nearly scored on a number of occasions, we were the better team for large parts of the game and a number of players played very well.
James Morrison, Robert Koren, Greening and Luke Moore – two of them unfortunately being substitutes – all did well, yet we still returned home with nothing but the sympathetic words of our opposing manager David Moyes.
I keep kidding myself or keeping the faith or staying loyal or whatever that we are still just two good results away from being back in the pack fighting for survival, but will we ever get them?
Well now we play Arsenal and, although they themselves are having a relatively bleak period, they remain a Premier League force.
Unfortunately for us, the teams the Gunners have struggled with this season are the ‘in your face’ teams, who give you little time on the ball, have players who can tackle and defend for their lives.
They are probably looking at us as the perfect opponents to get their season back on track. Yet looking at the game more positively, they themselves could represent opponents who could suit our own game and give us the opportunity to play our football.
I am really looking forward to the game, as many regular readers know I love night games and I still regard Arsenal as one of the best teams to watch in the top flight.
My team to face Arsenal would be: -
Albion: Carson, Zuiverloon, Donk, Pele or Olsson if fit, Robinson, Morrison, Koren, Greening, Cech, Fortune, Moore.
I haven’t completely given up on us and I will sing my heart out to the last, I just hope the players still believe and have the same stomach for a fight.
Although the football and more accurately our results have put me on a bit of a downer, I would like to point out all things are relative.
Pete ‘Hilltop Baggie’ Danckert, a regular blogger who stands in for me when my pessimism becomes too much and you all need a break, put things into perspective this week.
His son is in the army and returns to action later this week, but he will be at the Arsenal game but then returns to his duties overseas. I would like to wish all of our lads and lasses serving abroad my best wishes and pray for their safe return.
I just hope we can send him on his way with a win – and for once for us not to be the nearly men.
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i just clicked on to this blog and i thought what a strange title,aye boing boing brunt
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Hi bomber!
I won 2 tickets last night so I’ll be making the trek up from Cardiff for the first time in longer than I care to remember!
Do you lot meet up for a beer first – if so, where? It’d be good (in most cases!) to put some faces to names.
I was at the opening game at the Emirates – another which qualifies as a “nearly” match – and remember leaving the ground thinking we’ll be alright if Kim plays as he did and Cech gets a game on the left instead of the right wing where he played that day.
Can’t see much wrong with your team selection – but we all know that Marek won’t get a game and Brunt/Tex will.
5/1 home win tonight – and after watching the 2005 game on ESPN Classic last night that’s gotta be worth a tenner ;)
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olssen is out,i see youv missed brunt out jarrod,i thought he had a great game on saturday,aye boing boing chrisy brunt brunt brunt
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I cant see where the albions next win is coming from, this has been a huge learning curve for Mowbray who has failed to adapt to the prem. You simply do not have enough quality or enough players who have prem experience. I see some fans have called for Mowbray to be sacked, which is crazy, he is a young manager who will learn from his mistakes, although he seems to lack any sort of personality he does have a good football brain. The whole club needs looking at with the boardroom trouble etc and inevitably players will leave come the season end and a few years of rebuilding maybe needed for the good of the club.
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Morning Jarrod, hope your well mate.
I watched the first half of the Albion game at the weekend and there is no doubt you play some good football. Certainly miles ahead of where we are at the moment.
Unfortunately, like us, your defending is a bit of a mess and you need a Premiership striker who knows where the net is. Basics? Sorry, I know I really am stating the bleedin’ obvious.
Anyway, Arsenal haven’t scored a goal for about 9 years, so there has to be hope you can get something.
Best of luck for tonight.
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We’ll go down now without a doubt along with Hull and Stoke. I agree with your starting XI. Drop Meite when ollson’s back! I know TM likes him cos he adds some prem experience but you wouldn’t have thought it watching him play the last few matches. For me Morrison’s better on right wing and Koren better in the middle as it showed against everton compared to when he switched them against fulham. I’ve said for a long time if TM’s not willing to drop Robbo play Cech left side of midfield over Brunt cos he’s had a very poor season. At least give him a chance! Luke Moore’s got his critics but I thought he did really well last saturday, and with a bit more luck he could’ve scored a couple. Tonights his big opportunity to prove himself and win over some of the fans! Prediction: 2-1 Albion. Moore and mozza!
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It’s looking like the outcome at the end of this season could be one where Wolves and Albion are in the same division come August but the championship and as a Wolves fan I never thought back in December that would be the outcome. I caught both games that have been televised involving the Albion in the last week or so and although the Fulham game you were poor I thought against Everton you played much better. I know i’m stating the obvious but I can see the end of this season being very disappointing for both of us. So here’s hoping both teams prove us wrong and infact we meet in the Prem. Here’s hoping both teams beat the Cockney’s tonight.
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Hi SuperMaths,
Me and a few lads will be in the Sportsman from about 4:30pm if you want to join us. All are welcome.
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2,they meet at the vine pub in roebuck road,get there early and theres plenty parking its right off the motorway bout 15 mins walk to the ground,but i must warn you to beware of the steps on the way out as they are very steep and slippery,aye boing boing ooooopsssssssssss
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Cheers Bomber – will be leaving Cardiff about 4 so should get to ground around 630 if you’re still in there?
Look forward to it!
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A wave of optimism has suddenly come over me & I’m predicting a win tonight to get our season going again. The reintroduction of Greening made a big difference on Saturday & here’s hoping that will carry through to tonight.
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2 – SuperMaths, we’ll be in the Hawthorns pub by the ground from about 6.
9 – Tezza, don’t get telling everyone about the parking down there. It’ll be much harder for the people having to get over there from work in Dinglehampton and can’t leave work til 5:15 (loving the finishing 15 minutes early…thanks Gaffer).
Parking by the Vine in the Nedball way…..in style of course!! Aye boing boing Fiesta!!
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Arsenal are a bit of a wounded lion at the moment, not firing on all cylinders. This has got to be an opportunity to gain 3 points for the Braggies.
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soz ned,just tryin to help fellow baggie out,im just duin a bercun n negg n tom sarnie on crusty bread anybody like one,aye boing boing get your orders in
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sorry lads i just bin down by the vine and they have put all double yella lines down so you cant park there aye boing boing wheres the bus stop
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10 super,if your late just fone the police up tell um your a arsenal fan and they will delay the k/o till 8-15 and that will give us half hour longer in pub,aye boing boing gu on then ned i,ll have another one
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14 – I’d love one, but no tomato, just ketchup please kidder.
Where you off for a beer tonight bud? It looks like I’m the only one who ever drinks in the Hawthorns from these boards.
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Laughingwolf
I dont go along with this “ALBION DONT HAVE MUCH
PREM EXPERIENCE TWODDLE”
Carson,Meite,Robinson,Greening,Morrison,Moore,
HOW MUCH MORE EXPERIENCE DO YOU WANT!
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Nedball, You should try the cricket club before and after the game good atmosphere and cheap too
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laughingwolf
good to see you got rid of that mug whowas posting under your name, its always good to see an outsaider view, as for boardroom trouble, i wouldnt say its any crisis point really? I don’t necessarily believe that we havent adapted per se but i do however believe that we don’t have all players capable of playing on the level TM demands.
I have been winding up a gunners fan today at work about us beating them, but in all honesty that was 2005 and we have maybe 2 players left from that squad, i’d be laughing more manically than The Joker should we get something out of this game but I certainly don’t think we will get hammered tonight.
As for the team selection I would definetly keep Barnett and Meite apart for a while, they must be lacking in cofidence immensely right now and after the 2nd Everton goal on Saturday Meite looked like he was about to cry. I hear Jay Simps is out of the match due to contractual agreements which will be a dent but I am confident that bednar will take a few charges at the defence provided he gets a start.
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19 – have you gotta be a member?
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Interesting blog Jarrod. Strange that it’s become the ‘where shall we go for a beer’ post. I’d just like to echo what you say about Hilltop Baggies’ son and all our other lads and lasses on duty overseas.
Can’t see Albion getting anything tonight but there are enough winnable games to make anything possible. That game at Blackburn on the last day still looks intriguing. It couldn’t happen again – could it?
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Nedball, No mate just go in
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23 – Lovely. Cheers bud, I’ll give it a try
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Still think Arsenal will do us.Eternal pessimist me when it comes to the Baggies this season.If i keep thinking like that they are bound to win.We need a change of personel somewhere in the club,draw you own conclusions to that.Now i hope TOMO proves me wrong.But with every match that goes by its getting more difficult.
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Afternoon all.
I think if we put the right team out tonight and get at Arsenal from the off we can get a victory.
My team would be. Carson, Hoffkins, Donk, Pele, Robbo, Mozza, Koren, Greening, Cech, Fortune, Moore.
Luke Moore really does need to step up to the plate now and prove that he should have had his chance earlier on in the season.
Ill be in the Sportsman from 4.30 with my younger bro for anyone that fancies a few pints!!
Prediction – 2-1 Albion!!
One final point – We need as fans to get right behind the lads tonight and be that 12th man, no moaning if we aint scored after 20 mins and no negativity at all. Its still possible we can get out of this but to do that we all need to be pulling in the same direction. Everyone has their opinions and football wouldnt be football if everyone thought the same and agreed with eachother – but for 90 minutes tonight lets all get behind the gaffa and ALL the players and get the 3 points which will really put pressure on those who play tomorrow!!
Come on you Baggies
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Ill be in there at 4.30ish and im easy to spot, ive got bomber written all over me!!!
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MY ALBION 11:
Carson-
Zuiverloon-Meite-Donk-Robinson-
Morrison-Valero-Greening-Koren-
Fortune-Moore.
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Come on TM, now Captain is back it’s time to admit defeat and drop Valero to the bench. Greening and Rokko in the middle with Morrison and Tex or Cech on the flanks. I’m not too bothered about the back 4 cuz until the big man is back I think we will leak goals anyway. Lets get stuck into em from the off and not give them time or space ortherwise it could be embarrasing. Even the Vile will be cheering us on tonight!
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27,nedball as got nedball on his back but can never find him,aye boing boing were are ya,
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19,why aint you told us before,aye boing boing lbw
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W.B.Arrrrrrrggghhh…. SPLAT!!!
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Amo il West Bromwich, ma a questi giocatori, dopo la partita di oggi con l’Arsenal, dico che ormai non so più come insultarvi.
State umiliando la NOstra maglia!
Forza West bromwich, Forza Baggies till I Die
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33, i totaly agree mate,aye boing boing donk
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