Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Swain’s Blog: Fans the true heroes
Monday 18th May 2009, 11:15AM BST.
I thought I’d seen pretty much everything around our region’s football venues but, no, The Hawthorns yesterday inscribed with indelible ink another memory for the rocking chair.
The acclaim, the affection and the pride which poured down from the galleries at the end of the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool was truly moving.
Poor old Alastair Cook, the England opener, laboured away for eight hours and 13 minutes at a perishing Durham to score 160 for his country in the second Test against the West Indies but couldn’t get the members to stir from their seats when he returned to the pavilion after getting out.
Yesterday, Albion got an extraordinary standing ovation for getting relegated.
It was a salute packed with significance, too. Chairman Jeremy Peace has got it in the neck for being too tight with the money and too authoritarian in his control; Tony Mowbray has been criticised for being too naive in his quest to bring back the spirit of ‘total football’ without a Neeskens or a Cruyff to implement it.
But stuff the critics.
Here was the vote from the public – instinctive, emotional and utterly genuine – and it was clear Albion fans like what they are seeing. Sure, they don’t want to get beat quite so often next time they run into the Premier League but they can sense something in the pot is stirring.
The flourish of the team’s football and the honesty of the manager’s leadership are qualities in which they have come to believe and explains why the supporters were able to transform a moment of such disappointment into a renewed statement of unity, faith and optimism.
It certainly should have helped re-charge Mowbray’s batteries even as he stares at the first black stain on his managerial CV. The Albion boss’ team have been lovely but, he will know, lightweight and now comes the gruelling task of ploughing through another Championship kick-and-snarl-fest.
Mowbray is surely too intelligent a coach not to recognise he must adapt and change as he reaches for his dream of fashioning a team that brings style AND success. Albion fans effectively made him ‘un-sackable’ with the warmth of yesterday’s reception and he will feel duty-bound to reward that by dealing with some of his team’s shortfalls in readiness for the second tier’s different challenges.
And is too much to hope the messages of that memorable salute to such a flawed campaign are still resonating in the dressing room today, enough perhaps, to make Marc-Antoine Fortune think again and Roman Bednar question why he didn’t think at all?
Fortune’s form since arriving in January has proved that he can handle the Premier League and will surely lure some offers from the division Albion must now vacate.
Logically, he will be able to snare a better contract from such suitors – but will he find the same satisfaction and affection at other clubs as he has discovered in this brief detachment to the Black Country? Is it possible he will choose the chance to feature in something lasting at The Hawthorns rather than take the route of the wandering mercenary, well rewarded but surely unfulfilled, favoured by the Henri Camaras of this world?
I’m sure Tony Brown would love a fraction of the earnings his successors can now claim. I’m equally sure Bomber would not trade for anything the esteem and devotion which he enjoyed – and will always enjoy – as his forthcoming ‘Walk of Stars’ commemoration was recognised at half-time yesterday. Fortune needs to take a moment to think on that.
As for Bednar, victim of a Sunday tabloid ‘sting’ purchasing drugs from a dealer, there is a strong view within the Hawthorns hierarchy that he has been more foolish than corrupt. But he has placed the club in a mighty difficult position.
His statement speaks of his “sorrow” and “deep regret” at the “embarrassment and negative publicity” his actions have brought to his employers.
That sounds very much like virtually everything our Westminster players have been telling us for the past week and I know which of the two I would prefer to boot out of a job.
But by his own admission, if Bednar has broken the laws of the land and is more likely to face a prosecution than any of our MPs.
Albion’s record in dealing with behaviour which they deem to have been unbecoming of the club has been swift and decisive in the past as Messrs Hughes, Haas and Hoult will testify.
But it says everything about the nature of his team’s exit from the Premier League yesterday that, despite figuring in such dramatic headlines, nobody even mentioned his name as The Hawthorns offered a show of resounding show of support. It was enough to bury both the ugliness of Bednar’s expose and the disappointment of a failed season.
Yep, one for the rocking chair alright.
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I am a Wolves fan of over 50 years standing, but, believe it or not, I am genuinely disappointed that the Baggies are being relegated. The West Midlands is under-represented in the Premiership and we need ALL of our teams to be competing at the top level. I hope that we stay up next season and that WBA will be back where they belong, together with Villa and Brum.
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Martin,i was there, along with my son, whose flight back to afghanistan had been delayed 24 hours. A quick trip down to brize norton and we both attended a tribute to tony mowbray and our club. Dissapointed, of course, but the future is there for us all too see. This is a work in progress and probably the only way we will realistically get a chance of becoming an established premiership team. There will be no sugar daddies to bankroll us, there will be no big big money signings, we are who we are and yesterday showed just how proud we are to be just that. I can see no other manager who would give us this hope, to play the game as we want to see it, sure there will casulties amongst the playing staff, i just hope that the players who are key to this progression realise theres more to the game than just being a big money substitute in an ever money orientated game. I was genuinly moved yesterday when at 2-0 the crowd stood and gave one of the loudest lords my shepherds to be heard at our ground, the humour of the boing boing at the disallowed goal, and the real belief that although were down we are most certainly not out. Proud to be a baggie
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id like to thank you all albion and wolves fans alike who voted for me in there 1,000s for me to have my name appear on the broad sreet walk of stars,unfortunately bomber beat me by 1 vote,wish i hadent voted for him now,think i,ll try hollywood instead,aye boing boing im a star super star
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Well said Hill Top i agree with all your words 100% Would just like to say to all on here,we will be back never worry with TM we trust Albion till i die
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Jarrod.
Well done. One of your best blogs yet.
We’re down, at least we know where we stand, so where to next?
First Roman. I haven’t read any of the articles but I have a feeling that TM will handle the situation in the correct manor. He doesn’t rant and rave but he’s nobody’s fool. My feeling is that if RB genuinely regrets what he’s done then give him a chance to repay his stupidity.
I suppose that some of our better players will want to go, it’s the way of the world these days. Hope Mulumbu stays, looks like the player we’ve been missing all season. Fortune and Menseguez I think will be harder to retain because there is no holding clause in their loans but fingers crossed. I suppose the vultures will be circling for Morrison, Olssen, Koren, Zuivy and one or two others but I feel confident that if they do go it will only be at an inflated price. Thank God for JP. As for releasing players, again I have every faith in TM’s judgement.
This leaves the back room staff.
Two questions here, Peter Grant and Dan Harris.
After the arrival of Peter Grant it was very difficult to spot any improvement in the organisation of the team, especially the defence, where we were poor and got even worse. The last few weeks have shown some improvement, so the jury is out and perhaps a little confused.
Dan Harris is a different kettle of fish. He came from the Blues, where many fans blamed the amount of injuries for their relegation. Injuries have probably played a major part in our relegation this season. Last season we had injuries, yet we had players coming back earlier than expected. This season they seem to be out for longer than expected. If this man isn’t incompetent then he must have an albatross round his neck and walk under ladders for a hobby.
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1. Paignton Di – I would like to join my fellow Wolves’ fan in wishing the Baggies a swift return to the Premiership. I too have supported Wolves for over fifty years and well remember battles of old with Albion. We belong in the Premiership together, for our own sakes and for the sake of West Midlands football.
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Only realised when I saw HillTop’s mail that this was from Martin Swain not Jarrod. Apologies to both although I suppose Jarrod should take it as a compliment that I mistook a professional journalists work for one of his.
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PROUD TO BE A BAGGIE ,GREAT MANAGER ,GREAT TEAM GREAT SUPPORTERS.REMEMBER TODAY IS ASTLE DAY, THE DAY WE WON THE CUP.18-5-1968
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no matter what players leave i have faith in mowbray signing a few more bargains to replace them and save some money for some top players if we come back up. i think all of the work over the past 7 years is starting to come to goods.wasn’t there yesterday but remember the megson days and the atmosphere seems to be back.we played brilliant and i can’twait till next season. keep king mowbray
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The crowd were fantastic on Sunday. They took cheering failure to a new high.
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it was a show of support for WEST BROMWICH ALBION FC,not a show of support for Mr Scrooge. Mowbray isnt “un-sackable” he has been given another chance, god help him if we aint in the top 2 or close by xmas.
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10.
Don’t be so modest. I’m sure your ‘you’ve let us down again’ was louder.
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11. No good being in the top 2 christmas its end of april time that we need to be in the top 2.
Totally nothing to do with the story above just an interesting point on the Bedner story . 12k a week (although 18k in the sunday rag) yet 5k for next season in the fizzy pop league. thats one decent clause in the contracts put in by Mr Peace
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Open the coffers Mr Peace and stop this constant yo-yoing of the Baggies (we’ll probably never play Wolves again). That said, I agree with the above messeges re all our teams being in the Premiership, think of all the derbys we could be playing.
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Great article Mr Swain you transferred into words the mood of the best crowd in football. One factor perhaps you didn’t mention was the level of performance in which the team more than matched the lands second best. I would like think Mr Swain that you use your journalisic influence to ensure that we keep both Fortune and Mesenguez . Fortune is good and the Argentinian can be special. No excuses Mr Peace we want them both at the Albion next season.
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Bottom since November 9th – worthy of applause in my book!
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I can’t help but feel that you are actually saying that you were the worst team in the Prem and thats ok?
It appears that you are happy with what most clubs would recognise as a disastrous season?
I really couldn’t imagine any other club being truely grateful at the end of a season that ended in relegation??
Smalltime.
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Its been said many times this last few months that
failure should not be rewarded obviously not by the Hawthorns crowd. The side were magnificient
true there were still the old failings but as a
yardstick showed TMs remark were only a couple of
players short of a good team. Trouble is loyalty
is no longer fashionable players will leave.
On a positive note we have miller to come back
and i expect to see a few of our talented
youngsters to emerge we havent said that for some
time. Cant wait.
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Re: 17
No one was happy yesterday, nor do the supporters of WBA shy away from the reality of our sesson, however, we live in the real world; recognising honesty, effort and commitment.
Talking in terms of “worse team” or “stats don’t lie” doesn’t suggest a rounded appraisal of WBA. I go to the Hawthorns by choice and I live in Wolverhampton; how long before those currently praising Mick and his boys will be seeking to bury them?
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17.
Like I said, get those ‘you’ve let us down again’ banners ready for around Christmas and start gargling. Would it really have been better to have booed our team off.
We’re proud of what’s been achieved at our club without the help of the odd sugar daddy or two, or indeed being 3 or 4 hundred million pounds in debt. If that’s smalltime then we’re guilty and can only hope to be a bigtime club that have managed two seasons in the Prem with fans ready to turn on them at the first setback. Although that’s unfair as you do have a lot of genuine fans, just as we have our share of ones like you.
I suppose that’s why there were so few at the Chorley game, although this swells to around twenty five thousand in retrospect, it seems that every one of your supporters was there.
PROUD TO BE A BAGGIE.
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17.
Its called seeing the bigger picture. An appreciation to Tony Mowbray and what he is trying to build at the club long-term. As most of your lot spent this last season calling for MM’s head one week , calling himgod the next week, no one onour boards would expect you to understand.
Smallmind.
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10, 16, 17: you just don’t get it, do you? We were re-stating our love for the club we will support through good and bad. As opposed to jeering even when we’re winning games, booing individual players and calling for the manager to be sacked even when we’re in the promotion places.
I’m glad you don’t get what happened yesterday, because it just confirms what we have always known about the difference between the two sets of fans.
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We may be a championship team again (at least for 1 season) but at least we have premiership support.!!!
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17. No sorry Sandwell, you are clearly missing the point. We Albion fans support the club through good times and bad, you clearly do not like this fact. We know the odds are always going to be against us in staying in the Greed league without a rich benefactor. We also look at what has happened over the last nine years which has been a roller coaster of success and failure, but entertaining none the less. Proud to be a Baggie and always will be.
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It was good to see the crowds reaction at the end of the game,and even though weve moaned about the team and manager all season it just showed how we realy felt and the pride we have in West Brom as a team,ime hoping we keep the loanee players, bar Simpson who isnt good enough.Also thanks to the Wolves fans above for the kind words.
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16- i seem to remember your lot doing similar after a 0-6 home defeat to southampton?
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Great article. You have reflected the spirit of the true Baggies fans.
I was brought up on the the Albion passing style of play by watching players such as Bobby Hope and Johnny Giles. It was wonderful on Sunday to see that true Albion fans still believe in that tradition. An attractive style of football makes us what we are. Success in the Megson years was to be admired, but could not be fully enjoyed because it was not the “Albion Way.” Tony Mowbray understands what the Club is all about and the fans response on Sunday was a resounding endorsement of his principles. Give him time and he will build something really special.
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17 – Maybe cuz ur lot arent greatful for anythin! U just moan. What happened satday was a set of the best fans 2 ever support a sports team show true passion and unity. Somethin u never see fans of a relegated team doin & somethin u dingles dont have a clue about. I could not stand the way the ref, the media were so biassed in Liverpools favour. The way Gerrard was a disgrace in the game but even there fans acknowledged & applauded our fans for an atmosphere that they would find pressed 2 beat if they had won premiership. And fair play 2 them. Premiership has lost out now, we was a breath of fresh air. Enjoy watchin likes of Stoke, Bolton, Birmingham & u lot scrap with dross football next year. We believe in our football. We are making progress. We will be back! BOING BOING!!
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It’s good to see that real football fans can see the difference between applauding a relegation, and supoorting your team through think and thin.
Of course we were all disppointed to be relegated, but we showed a togetherness, a spirit and a determination to come back up by staying and applauding our team for their efforts.
We’ll learn from our mistakes and come back stronger.
CAN’T WAIT FOR BLACKPOOL SATURDAY!!
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20. Not bitter and twisted at all are you, still you can keep mentioning the banner and chorley all you want, but you had the coffin and halifax.
As for the difference between the fans well it’s easy, Wolves fans are the PRIDE of the Midlands, steptoe’s are the SHAME of the Midlands, hopefully your small tin pot club will never darken the premier league again. SOTA.
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30.. and I suppose your daddy is bigger than my daddy you utter moron!!!!
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30 – “pride of the midlands” ??? You lot are so fickle you aint even the pride of wolverhampton.
There is a reason why all other teams despise you – look in the mirror.
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26 – surely that’s an apples with bananas comparison. We applauded the players off after the Southampton drubbing because our team of misfits/free tranfers had been massively over-achieving all season and it was just one of those games. As I said, you’ve been bottom since November 9th.
In all fairness, I think your reaction at the last home game was highly commendable and appreciate that supporting a team is a life-long committment (or curse – as I have all too often said to myself when driving 160 miles back from the Mol.) Contrast that with Boro at the weekend and the massive empty spaces when they still have a chance of staying up – I think that says it all about supporting a team through thick and thin.
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30.
I think if you read my post again then your own, you will see who is bitter and twisted. I acknowledge that Wolves have some genuine fans and we have our share of dodgy ones. Whereas once again you resort to name calling, abuse and nah nah na nah nah type of debate. I wasn’t just having a go at Wolves but pointing out how unusual this reaction was in modern day football. I could have used Derby and Boro’ fans as the comparison but I was replying to two of your fans that were attempting to take the proverbial out of our fans reaction. People who give it need to be able to take it.
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shame our support aint as good mick out premier league relegation 09/10
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Being at the Hawthorns on Sunday the crowd was and always will be first class.
Looking back it’s probably been one of the most frustrating seasons i’ve witnessed because it’s probably the best team we’ve had in the Premiership, however i believe in Tony Mowbrays philosophy and i’m sure we’ll be back in the promised land next year. Proud to be a Baggie
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36 – I’m sure Dean Kiely will agree with your comments about the fans after you booed him at the Colchester match. Short memories
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I hope to see you guys up there next season.
As much as i had hoped baggies would survives the drop,i am also hoping that Wolves, Villa and Brum will stay up so that it will be a cracker when the Black Country derby comes to town;)
Good luck!
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Being a realist and a Wolves fan it almost (only almost) brought a tear to an old mans face seeing how supporters should behave towards their own team.
Attending most games at our holy grail has been an experience – seeing some apopleptic supporters showering abuse at the management when we were lapping the field and witnessing the euphoria at the trophy presentation against Doncaster.
Although not present at the Hawthorns last Sunday, but witnessing on TV and also via Radio WM it would have been almost impossible to a neutral who had won the league and who had been relegated if they had closed their eyes, such was the heralded support received for Tony Mowbray and his players. I for one salute the Albion supporters because they too have been through thick and thin. And yes they taunt us with the ‘Youve let us down again’ banners, I for one only hope that in the future we can hold our heads high in adversity as good as the Baggies.
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39 – you’re fooling no one. As someone famously once said “Pity the fool”
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