Mowbray: I need the final say

Saturday 23rd May 2009, 11:29AM BST.

7303561Tony Mowbray today backed Jeremy Peace’s plans to slash Albion’s playing staff – providing he has the final say on the new 20-man squad.But a disgruntled Mowbray warned of the potential consequences of cutting back and claimed it could prevent the Baggies signing ‘the next Graham Dorrans’.

Mowbray has signed up to Peace’s plans for a 20-man senior squad. But the manager says the figure must not include players he no longer wants.

“I have always said 20 players is fine as long as I like them all and they are here because I want them,” said Mowbray.

“I think we have quality players, but I would suggest we haven’t got 20 players at the moment.

“We have to strive to get 20 real good footballers and there should be no problem.”

A clearly irate Mowbray delivered a response to Peace, who outlined his plans for a ‘leaner and meaner’ squad yesterday.

The manager has agreed to work with 20 senior players. But he is not willing to count unwanted players like Luke Moore and Marek Cech within that number if they are not sold.

“It’s easy to say we’ve got to have 20, but nobody might want the eight that we think we can do without, so they might be here next year. If that happens there will be 28 of them out there running in six weeks’ time.”


  1. 1
    boy from the REAL bl

    20 – to stay,

    GK – Keily, Carson, Daniels

    Def – Robbo, Clement, Olson,Zuvvy & Martis.

    Mid – Mulumbo, Valero, Morrison, Brunt, Greening, Dorrens, Menseguez, Tex & Koren.

    Forwards – Bednar, Miller, Fortune.

    We may not be able to keep Fortune, and possibly not Menseguez – so thats 2 possible spaces for new signings, although i’ve not included the young lads like Worrall and Woods coming through. It may take a while to trim the squad to 20 as several players we would all be happy to see the back of (Moore, Meitie etc…)will not exactly have clubs queing round the corner for their signature!!

    Not sure if JP has a time limit on achieving this number but i don’t see it happening anytime soon.

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  2. 2
    Santa

    Sounds a bit ominous,Mowbray biting back at Peace.I wonder if they are really on the same wavelenght?.If Peace insists on this course of action,against Mowbrays express desire to keep certain personell,or even to get rid of certain players,i just wonder if T.M will get pi55ed off and go.

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  3. 3
    ValerolovesBrom

    I cant really see the point in Mowbray playing
    Mulumbu,Menseguez,or Fortune for sundays match
    at Blackburn if they are not contracted
    with us,this is the perfect time to experiment
    a bit.
    MY ALBION TEAM:
    Carson/
    Zuiverloon/ Donk/ Olsson/ Robinson/
    Brunt/ Koren/ Teixeira/ Greening/ Valero/
    Moore.

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  4. 4
    umbug

    what did he say the club is fashioned on chalton
    then are you all ready for a spell in league 1 with out our club prepared to spend to accumilate thats where we’ll end up?

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  5. 5
    quinton baggie

    Is Peace trying to force TM out? This has obviously upset TM.

    Yes i agree we have to many players, but 20 is a bit on the thin side. 25 Would be my number. With Injuries and sqaud rotation it would be foolish to have any less.

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  6. 6
    lincsbaggie

    Can’t see Bednar staying after the drugs allegations. What if we get a couple of injuries in attack, what will we do then?

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  7. 7
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    ok blackburn lock ya daughters up let the beer flow the blue n white army are on there way aye boing boing lets party floks

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  8. 8
    Cyril Randle

    This one I am with Tony Mowbray all the way. All managers like a big squad to make room for errors in signings. Not for signing bad players, but bad dispositions, drugs, discipline etc. The final 20 MUST be his choice. He works with them intimately, must have complete loyalty, good work ethic, etc. In the present economic climate, most clubs will follow this pattern so the loan system may have to change to all the season long or we could have clubs unable to field a squad!

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  9. 9
    baggies boi

    1. err no mate. 5 defenders ? we play 4 every game. think again…

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  10. 10
    ValeroLovesBrom

    20 players to keep:
    Carson Gk,Kiely Gk,Zuiverloon,Martis,Olsson,
    Robinson,Cech,Donk,Greening,Menseguez,Koren,
    Brunt,Teixeira,Mulumbu,Valero,Dorrans,Moore,
    Miller,Bednar,Fortune.

    10 players to get rid of:
    Hoefkens,Barnett,Clement,Hodgkiss,Pele,Beattie,
    Kim,Simpson,Meite,Morrison.

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  11. 11
    boy from the REAL bl

    No9.

    …exactly my point!

    I’ve trimmed the squad down to the 20 most would want to keep, showing where we would be light. The possible loss of Fortune and/or Menseguez (and possibly Mulumbo) would allow 2 signings (but i haven’t included the upcoming young players) and don’t forget loan signings. I totally agree we would be too light in defence and to a lesser degree attack also.

    My point being 20 is probably not enough for a team supposedly chasing promotion!

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  12. 12
    Stephen The Wolf

    Come on you kids. What’s with all the bickering. All that is going to happen, is that you are going to lose your best players, and probably at this rate, your manager, who is the only one holding any hope for you next season. I’m just wondering who they may line up to replace him cos it looks like peace has something up his sleeve.

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  13. 13
    Big john wolves.

    7.Id— go away on holiday and take your silly season long comments with you,a real no brainer of west bromwich albion.

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  14. 14
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    Calm ya skin down lads.
    This is the E&S spin on a story. It’s the quiet time of year on the playing front so reporters need to stir up a bit of debate. The ‘clearly irate Mowbray’ is just an interpretation. Nothing that is fact suggests a rift, just the Manager stating the obvious.
    If Carson stays then Luke Daniels will probably go onloan with a call back clause. We have young players like Chris Woods coming through, people on here keep asking for them to have a chance, if we keep a 30 odd man squad they never will.
    The large squad is quite a recent thing. When GM took us up we had a very small first team squad and very few injuries. Perhaps some pruning should be considered in our fitness staff.
    Can’t believe anyone saying get rid of Morrison, Clement and Barnett. Morrison has been one of our best players and I suppose we should shoot Clement and Barnett like race horses because they’ve been unfortunate enough to be injured. What price loyalty.

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  15. 15
    Cyril Randle

    The news breaking this morning is that Celtic have put Tony Mowbray as their No.1 contender to replace Gordon Strachan! He’ll consider it in view of the new ‘Twenty Players’ ruling I’m sure, but I hope to God he doesn’t go. Then there’s Paul Robinson asking to go. Driven out by criticism from a group of know-nothings?? It is said, “Beware of what you wish for, you may get it”. This is a worrying time.

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