Albion blog: The Waiting Game

Friday 15th May 2009, 9:58AM BST.

ALBION 42 SL 09Albion blogger Jarrod Hill faces an anxious wait to see if he still supports a Premier League club after the weekend.

Although we have no game tomorrow, I imagine most Baggies fans will be glued to either a TV or radio in the desperate hope that results go our way.

We could then live to fight another day, and by another day I mean Sunday.

I have a feeling that Newcastle will beat Fulham and it will all be over come 5pm Saturday.

I can’t actually make the game on Sunday due to family reasons, so the thought of us still having something to play for and me having to listen to the game on the radio scares the granny out of me.

So assuming we still have something to play for, how do we tackle a Liverpool team that have only lost two games all season?

Well if Manchester United have already secured the title, we can always hope their manager Rafa Benitez plays the kids as they will have nothing to compete for, but they will also have nothing to rest the players for.

I really do hope our season is still alive come Sunday lunch time as the atmosphere at the game could be some what flat. Anyway lets talk team selection, the recent success with 4-5-1 will surely continue and assuming the players fighting to be fit are fit come Sunday here is my pick.

Dean Kiely in goal had an excellent game last week and deserves to keep his shirt. Left-back could be a problem position, with Paul Robinson and Marek Cech both struggling, I am guessing which ever one declares himself fit will get the nod.

Jonas Olsson and Shelton Martis have provided some real hope that we have finally found a central partnership that looks good enough.

Both provide a threat to the opposition on set pieces as well and I feel it only a matter of time before Martis scores, hopefully this season. Gianni Zuiverloon at right-back completes the back line.

If I jump straight to attack because it’s a simple choice, Marc Antoine Fortune has played well from day one. As I have said previously, if only he had been with us at the start of the season.

The midfield choice is more difficult to make, but I would go for players on recent form.

Graham Dorrans, Jonathan Greening, Chris Brunt, Borja Valero and Juan Carlos Menseguez with the latter pushing on in support of Fortune.

My last choice would be for Jay Simpson to have absolutely nothing to do with the game.

I would urge our manager Tony Mowbray to leave him out, I would much prefer to see young Chris Wood play a part than the cockney brat.

So there’s my team for Sunday, I just hope we still have something to play for.

It will mean I will be skulking around with a wire hanging from my ear and a look on my face that suggests nobody talks to me, the same look I will have come Monday morning if the inevitable has been confirmed.


  1. 1
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    Hi Jarrod.
    Interesting you mentioning Shelton Martis scoring. I may be wrong, and it wouldn’t be the first time but I get the impression that he may be much better than he realises. Back in the seventies we had Ally Robertson and Ally Brown, everyone thought that they both had the potential to be good players yet neither of them realised this potential immediately. They were both quiet lads who didn’t seem to push themselves forward. I think Martis may be the same and if he gains confidence next season, may well be our centre half for quite a few years.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Dublin Wolves

    Well with the title race virtually over I hope results go your way this weekend and you still have a chance.

    Would hate for it to go to the last weekend with everything pretty much decided and over.

    Lets not forget, even if Newcastle win, a win for yourselves and a loss for Sunderland would still keep them in reaching distance.

    Middlesborough and Hull are gone for sure (dropping like a stone) so a win and its all to play for I think.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Lonewolf

    Despite all of the negative comments from a selective few baggies fans I for one wish them all the best in their efforts to stay in the premier league. Regular Balck country derby games in the highest standard would be a tremendous prospect. The West Midlands is a football hotbed and deserves to have a large contingent of teams in the premiership. Good Luck with the survival fight.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    SuperMaths

    I think it’s fair to say that one of the relegation places will be decided on Saturday – but I’m going for ‘Boro to definitely be down.

    I can’t see Newcastle beating Fulham, my prediction is a draw there, but that would still leave us needing at least a point from Liverpool and then a 13-goal swing on the final day.

    Ideally, I’d prefer Hull to pick up more points that Newcastle this weekend; then us to get 3 against Liverpool, and then us to win at Blackburn along with a Hull defeat against Man U – causing the goal differences to swing on the same day too.

    Odds on that? Long I’m guessing! But that’s not to say it won’t happen!

    I agree completely with the team selection although I think Mulumbu might get a full game in place of either Dorrans or Valero.

    Keep believing Baggies!!

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Nedball

    Good things come to those who wait………hopefully!!

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Mystic Meg (S.Maths)

    I see Dorrans is out so my prediction of Mulumbu getting a game may come true…..

    Mystic Meg

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Cyril Randle

    Tough luck Jarrod. I shouldn’t be there either as it is my eldest daughter’s birthday, party at our house, but they all know better! I got demobbed on Wednesday 15th September 1954, arrived home about 5pm from Aldershot, cup of tea, sandwich, kissed baby daughter, (same one as above), kissed missus, waved bye-bye and shot off to The Hawthorns to watch the match. I think it was Everton, 2-0 down after 10 minutes but we won 4-2. That’s from memory so if….etc. You could park your motor bike against the Brummie wall then and it was still there when you came out, no locks, no nuffin.
    I should add, I shouldn’t have been demobbed until the Thursday actually but the RSM knew I wanted to see the match. A real bloke he was.

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    THE REAL DUDLEY WOLF

    C’mon you Baggies, lets see you stuff L’pool, Keep the ball, You know it makes sense, and who knows…….BELIEVE…… 1-0……
    Do it for our MICK.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    ValeroLovesBrom

    It wont be all over on saturday with Sunderland
    playing on the monday.
    MY ALBION TEAM:
    Kiely,
    Zuiverloon,Martis,Olsson,Hoefkens,
    Brunt,Mulumbu,Valero,Greening,Koren,
    Fortune.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    1954 Baggie

    Excellent Jarrod all we need is a ginormus slice
    of luck say a red card for Gerard and a pool own goal early on. I might have more belief if we had
    a few cloggers in the side we definately cant
    outskill em. I wonder if TM studied the video
    of Boros 2-0 win against them ? That was ONLY their second defeat all season which just shows
    the task before us. I would hope we have a go
    and at least score for once. We all know were in this position thro failure to get points our
    performances deserved.

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Read the full story here Read the full story here

Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

LIVE traffic updates

Road, rail and airport - latest Road, rail and airport - latest

Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.