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Albion blog: The Bright Side of Life
Tuesday 21st April 2009, 9:10AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill has experienced all kinds of emotions as the Baggies have plummeted – now he wants to look on the bright side.
I have mixed emotions at the moment regarding my support of the Baggies, part of me just wants the pain to stop and the season to come to an end, but then I know I will miss attending games and my football free Saturdays feel a little empty.
If you remember my blogs from last summer, I felt like a drug addict going cold turkey and I am dreading it even more so this year, with relegation lingering around us like a bad smell.
Sunday’s game with Manchester City was just another re-run of so many games this season, I could almost just copy and paste something I had written a month ago and it would be appropriate.
Played well but ultimately came away with nothing, other than a few kind remarks from the opposing fans/manager about how pretty our football is to watch and more contentious decisions made by the officials.
Before I go on I would like to say a big congratulations to the Wolves, who this weekend confirmed their promotion to the Premier League.
It will be interesting to see how they approach bridging the gap between the two divisions. But, through gritted teeth and a little green with envy, I wish them well.
If our manager Tony Mowbray could turn back the clock 12 months, I wonder what he would do differently.
When I asked my mate the same question the weekend he answered – “nothing, he is too stubborn and pig headed to accept he had made any mistakes.”
Although I can appreciate his thought process, only next season will tell us if Tony has learnt from the mistakes made this season.
His reluctance to change things this season and drop certain non performing players has gained him the “pig headed” tag.
Yet the majority of fans, me included still believe he is the right man to lead us onwards and upwards.
I think this season has hurt more than other previous relegations due to the expectancy we all felt at the start of the campaign.
My frustration is triggered by my belief that we have been so close to being good enough to survive, some parts of our game are very good, but unfortunately it has been the bad parts that have dictated our results and consequent fate.
During the past month, I had become so frustrated that I made the decision to stop writing the blog and inform the Express and Star they needed to find a replacement for next season.
Yet a brief conversation I had with my uncle John – a fellow baggie supporter – on Saturday has convinced me to stay, if required to continue next season.
The problem was simple, I would be low after a disappointing game, I would then have to relive it and write about it, when at times I just wanted to forget about it.
I will not go into the conversation we had, but the truth is I would miss it and I do not want anyone to feel like I was jumping a sinking ship.
Now is the time for us ALL to come together and stay united, next season will have its ups and downs. Lets face it, it wouldn’t be Albion if it didn’t.
Football is like a drug, the highs, as Wolves fans are experiencing at the moment are fantastic, but the lows can hit like a hammer.
But what is so fantastic about football is the fact there is always hope for the future, the next game, the following season, a cup run, a local derby, etc etc.
The truth is we have a great deal to look forward to and our hopes remain high.
We have a number of young players who are emerging as real talents, our youth sides are winning competitions and plaudits throughout the game.
Even the first-team squad, although requiring more balance, is good enough to ensure another fun filled Championship season that hopefully ends with promotion.
No I am not on drugs before you ask, sometimes it just takes someone else to point it out to you that things are never as bad as they seem.
“The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for” – Allan K Chalmers.
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I always read your blog with interest but never choose to comment – I feel I have no right to comment on another club because I dont have the passion for them or see them every week like I see my club. (I hate non wolves fans talking to me about my team)
Well Im here to say thanks for your kind words. I for one have hoped you would stay up (only because Wolves always looked like going up) nothing beats a derby!
I hope you can still stay up but sadly looking unlikely. Maybe we can stay up and play you the following year. The premiership needs a “black country” derby, after all its the biggest derby in English football!
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Cheers Bomber, on behalf of Wolfies everywhere, I thank you.
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Hi Jarrod as a lifelong fanatical Wolves supporter i am obviously on cloud nine at present.However i also long for West midlands Football to compete with those southern softies and would dearly love to see Wolves Albion Villa and Blues playing regular Derbies in the Premiersip.With regard to TM I have had my doubts about MM with his stubborn pig headed attitude towards certain players.Will he be the man for the Prem? Time will tell.Lets just hope Wolves can consilidate and Albion can bounce straight back.Enjoy the Summer.
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Top Blog Jarrod..very sensible and I think covers how most of us feel. Yes of course it’s disspointing to be relegated but without being relegated you cant have the high of being promoted (lets face it we are never going to win the Premier League)and to be honest the pain of relegation hopefully followed by promotion in my book far outways just existing in the Premier League.
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anybody want 2 cheap adult tickets sunderland game,east stand,boing boing
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Jarrod.
So glad you’ve decided to continue. Apart from the fact that your blogs are consistantly interesting, you keep a good sense of balance with people. I would never have the patience with some of the comments you get. Keep up the good work, perhaps a blog on the two tier Prem or the Euro Super League that are being touted. Would it be bad because it would take money out of our game or would it be good for the same reason?
Not unusual to see three Wulfies commenting first on our site, what is unusual is that it’s three sensible ones. 1 Wolves AY I. If this is a sample of your work, I for one would have no objections to seeing more of your comments.
While we’re on the subject of Wolves, did anyone else hear Steve Bull on Talksport yesterday? Asked if he thought Wolves could survive, he replied, ‘if we spend 50 to 70 million on 5 or 6 players.’ No pressure there then Mr Morgan.
On the same subject. I think one of the commentators on MOTD2 summed it up when he commented. ‘City paid about the same for Nigel De Jong as the Albion did for their entire team, and he’s nowhere near being their most expensive player.’
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Very nice to see some kind comments from the
Wolves fans. I can only echo their comments as
i would love to see a black country derby in the premiership.
As for sunday, another disappointing match,
and once again some poor defending from ouselves. I still feel TM is the right man for
the job but we will know more next season.
I think that TM may do better on a lower budget
as i look at players like Olsson , Koren and
Dorrans who cost very little but have been
superb value. Lets all hope we can bounce back
next season.
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Bomber, hello mate.
I agree, our (barring a strange set of results)
pending failed campaign is harder to take given that survival expectations were higher than that of previous seasons.
The Mowbury out brigade appear to be gathering number, but despite some obvious flaws, i still see him as the man to take us forward.
The club, certainly on the playing side from top to bottom is in a far healthier state that before his arrival.
I would also like to extend my congratulations to Wolves on their success, good luck to em, i cant be doing with spite.
They deserve their place in the top flight, and hopefully we can join them next term.
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Cheers Bomber, thanks for your good wishes. Let’s hope we can stay up and you can join us next season (though the fat lady hasn’t sung yet she must, unfortunately, be starting to).
This is the 1st time I’ve been on any of the posts since the partying on Saturday night !! I’ve been trying to take in the enormity of it all. Promotion itself is humbling enough but the camaraderie that was shown on Saturday amongst the Wolves fans was incredible – I’m sure you felt the same last season amongst the Baggies fans. Perfect strangers greeting each other like long lost relatives. Some Wulfies I spoke to in the ground were amazed at the number of times we had travelled up to see the Wolves this season from Bristol – to be honest I’d never really thought about it before. Then I saw on the pitch at the end of the game a flag that said Shetland Wolves, and I read in the match programme of people coming over from Canada, the USA and from all over Europe to watch the Wolves and it put so many things in perspective – it’s what football does to people and my ‘short trip’ from Bristol is really insignificant compared to what some put themselves through. It must be the same for you guys as well.
Anyway, thanks for your blogs again this season Bomber and I look forward to reading them again next season.
Quick message to Malvern….pity you weren’t there on Saturday my friend, it was one hell of a party !!
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Bomber, we all need you to continue. We all relive every game whether its good or bad, so need your bloggs to act as a platform for this. It sort of stitches the week together, often reflecting on disappointment, then the hope and expectation as the weekend approaches. Even though its usually late or even the next day when I get to read them,they sort of underpin the week in a strange and probably sad sort of way. I should get out more.
In terms of Mowbray I’ve found it hard to accept the total waste of money on several players this season and his seaming inability to change a game or recognise who’s playing well and who’s not. But I do hope we keep him. His style has been good and with 2 wembley appearances and a championship he clearly knows how to get us back there. Its been an interesting first 2 seasons for my girls.
So I expect us to see the good times return next season with style. I can honestly say I’d rather we went down and continued to play with style than watch Stoke, Bolton, Blackburn.
Sorry though, can’t wish Wolves good luck. I hope they go down with the least points total ever. I have close Wolves mates, the banters good, but after this season I owe them!
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Despite the result, Sunday was one of the most enjoyable matches I’ve been to this season & judging by the reaction at the end of the game, I suspect most Bagiies fans who were there would say the same. There’s more to the game than just winning at any cost.
I’m confident about next season, even without any major signings, but an experienced keeper (I’m sure Carson will leave)& a proper replacement for Phillips (as Moore & Simpson haven’t done the job)will make things even better.
Dare I suggest that most of those shouting for TM’s head on here, were not within 50 miles of Manchester on Sunday & probably don’t remember the bad old days prior to Megson & Mowbray ?
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We must stick with TM, ok he has his “pig headedness” (is that a word?)but under the financial constraints that the club puts on not only TM but every manager that comes to the club.
It has taken Wolves 5 years to get back to the Premier League and in my opinion thats down to changing Manager.
I am sure TM has a vision for the club and if it means taking a step backwards by being relegated to then take 2 steps forward by builing a better team for the next time then so be it.
TM has to take on board our failings this season but he cannot be soley acountable the way the club is run weather you think it is right or wrong must take some of the blame.
what would you do ….
come to Albion for 10k a week or (no disrespect intended) go to stoke for 35k a week. until the club caves in to player pressure we will never compete. On the other hand at 10k a week we will always have a football team to watch
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Bomber, I would like to say that I’m very glad that you’ve decided to continue the blogging, so many thanks go to your uncle.
You give an honest and frank opinion and it’s clear to see that you share the joy and the pain just as much as I do.
I personally want this season to end, I’m fed up with football at the minute and it’s difficult to watch my beloved Albion not getting the results that we need and mainly deserve. (But I am looking forward to Saturday)
I still believe that TM is the right man for the job and if he were given the same resources as other managers in this league we’d be completely fine. Just imagine what JP and TM could do with all of the money that Middlesbrough; Newcastle; Stoke; Hull and Blackburn have, never mind anyone in the top half of the league!!
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Oh yes, well done Wulfies. You DO deserve the promotion, so best of luck for next season!!
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Numkber 5 Terry, yes pal how much you want?????
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I’m really looking forward to next season now. For a start it looks like I’ll be able to afford a season ticket for the first time in a few years, secondly as a female friend put it – “you’ll get to play the football you like AND win a lot more games next season, won’t you? So stop moaning!”
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On a positive note how about juan carlos mensequez scoring a brace for the reserves against chelsea with carvalho, balletti and mancienne playing at the back.
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Jarrod,
Glad you have decide to continue as you do try to give a balanced view. I too can’t wait for the season to end it has benn a nightmare. My concern is that TM seems to think that there is only one way to play the game and I think it may cost him if he does not learn to me a bit more adaptable. In short this eason we have not been good enough to out pass the good sides and not had the power to out battle the others. I do remember the pre Megson days but TM spen 22 Million in the summer and should have done more with it.
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Jarrod,
Good to see that you’ve finally come over to the “dark side” – being positive :-)
First up, my congrats to the Wolves. Enjoy the ride, you’ve earned the right, and let no-one take that away from you.
I hope we can join you there next year.
Next, remember that our manager’s name is Mowbray, not MIDAS – not every player he chooses will turn to gold (or black).
Before you criticise him, review the purchasing success rate of other manager’s, and, understand that with our resources, the pool of “talent” where he fishes, probably houses a few more risks for him to navigate.
Third, apart from a few mistakes where it really counts, overall, Sunday’s game was a pretty good performance. I’m heartened that a team that has been at the bottom for almost 6 months, still has the capability & confidence to try to play some “Football”.
Finally, my take is that the CLUB needs to have the Vision, and I sincerely hope that within that Vision, is One Tony Mowbray.
When we lift our heads above the first team to really see what is going on, I see that our Club HAS come a very long way over these recent few years.
Long may our slow March onwards continue …
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3 comments.
1. Glad the run of blogs will continue under Bomber 2. Congrats to the Wolves. A good portion of my closest friends are on cloud nine right now and I am interested to see how they approach the season next year. 3. The Mowbray thing has me torn. The highs from last year have drifted from recent memory, but the obvious and stubborn resistance to change this year has me wondering if he is capable of change. He stated in one article that he had learned so much this season. Then why do we persist with one lone striker up front? Why did we take off both Morrison and Dorrans on Sunday, when they were clearly the main attacking threat? Why does Valero continue to get a game. Is it to justify the fee paid for him? I am torn, anyway, good blog again. Thanks
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High expectation was the killer. Realism only kicked in halfway through the Season. The gap between the Champ. and Prem. in terms of finances and quality, is unbelievably wide, and getting wider by the year. If we are lucky enough to bounce back again, I dread to think what the average wage and transfer fee will have reached in that time. Without a major benefactor, I can see nothing but yo-yoing, until I’m in my box!
I still think ToMo is the man for the job. It will be interesting to see how much his principles and beliefs need to be bent and re-jigged to accomodate success. (I see he’s already alluding to compromising on the strict wage structure at the Club).
It’s going to be a long and interesting journey.
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15 boing, tenner each.
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As previosly said Tony Mowbray won us the Championship,so despite this season’s failings he’s earned the right to have a second chance to repeat a second promotion.
To Wolves supporters, hearty congratulation. Any team that stays at the top of the table for months on end has to be acknowledged as being the best team in the Dvision.
It WILL be difficult for you next season but if Steve Morgan backs Mick McCarthy, as reported, with a realistic transfer budget, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t cement a palace in the Premiership.
Oh yes for Albion suporters, and no doubt yourselves (!) try to ensure our ‘favourite’ opposition Stoke City, endure another struggling season.
If they’d been relegated along with us, (although they’re not yet mathematically safe) one things for sure.
We’d still have found difficulties beating them in the Championship!
“Come on you Baggies”
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Thanks for the great blog Bomber. I haven’t posted a message for months now as it’s been a depressing time and although I always enjoy reading the messages sometimes writing your own can be harder. I’d never really thought having to relive it each week – sometimes it’s the last thing you want to think about so it is great news you are carrying on.
I’m really torn about TM,as many have said;his pig headedness is frustrating to say the least but what we really need is continuity and the signs from the youth team are good.
Whatever happens I’m Albion till I die, renewed my season ticket a few weeks ago and will always do so as players and managers will come and go but it’s West Bromwich Albion that I love and that will never change.
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Bomber…just re-read your blog and bl**dy hell it’s just struck me what you and Nathan (on the Dark Side) have to endure doing these blogs. Mate I take my hat off to you and hope that you really do continue because I do look forward to reading what both of you have to say. I may not agree with it but respect what you say.
On the point (again missed) about TM being pig-headed and not changing things – very similar to us with MM and the the likes of Stephen Ward and Andy Keogh – I seem to remember that at least at the Derby and QPR games they were singing Keogh’s praises and considering Wardy is not repeat not a full back he really has done the business most of the time.
You gotta stick with the man you know – love him or hate him. If after the 1st 10 games or so next season it’s still the same, then maybe you have to think about looking elsewhere.
Whatever happens my friend I wish you and the Baggies well and hope we can both meet up in the Prem season after next for a real game of footie !!
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yes ok £20.00 then, let me know
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26 boing, ok mate see you outside macs at bout 1-15,i will be with me daughter,i got another 2 if anybody wants um boing
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Baggies fans its nice to see that we can put a side our bitter rivalry and slating each other. Just hope things can change that we can stay up and yourselves get back up here aswell as I miss the local derbys what an atmosphere hey!!! Oh well but hey come on pick yourselves up dust yourselves on and get back to the top of that table…. All the best!
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cheers mate
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JAROD 5 SIMPLE WORDS:KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK:and the same goes out to DANKSY as well…
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