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Albion blog: Mowbray to leave?
Tuesday 26th May 2009, 9:20AM BST.
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Albion blogger Jarrod Hill gives his reaction to the possibility that manager Tony Mowbray could leave the club to go to Celtic.
It looks like being an interesting summer in more ways than one. With Celtic parting ways with manager Gordon Strachan this weekend, our own boss Tony Mowbray has been placed at very short odds by the bookmakers to take over.
For supporters of the manager it’s a worrying time, the glamour of managing at Parkhead must be a temptation difficult to turn down. Offers of this type do not come along too often in a person’s life time.
Some fans may find it hard to believe Celtic would be interested in recruiting the services of a manager whose side has just finished bottom of the league. But, as we know, the margin of success and failure has been just three points.
The fact it ended up being three points between us and Hull has only served to infuriate my feelings on this season even further.
Three blumming points, my counsellor tells me I need to let it go, but when I think of the points we have given away this season my blood pressure goes up another notch, OK I am kidding.
But if we had stopped up everyone would be lauding what a successful season it has been and praising Tony Mowbray for succeeding playing an entertaining attack minded brand of football.
The weekend also confirmed that we have been joined in the Championship by Middlesbrough and Newcastle; I must admit both teams should make the league more competitive and both will be under huge pressure to bounce straight back to the Premier League.
The same pressure that will be weighing in Mowbray’s mind against the pressure of winning back the Scottish title for Celtic, a choice he will have to make if offered the hot seat.
I must admit I do worry for our future if Tony sees his future north of the border, but his decision will be based on a number of different factors.
He has a young family and will he want to move his family again? Will his wife want to move back to Scotland?
Mowbray may also be that rare thing in football today, a loyal man. The show of support shown by the Albion fans on Sunday for our manager must have touched him, and he has reiterated his belief that his Hawthorns career is still a work in progress.
Question is, will he still be here to finish it?
Already I have heard of fans placing bets that Strachan and Mowbray will exchange jobs!!
We all now wait to see what happens, personally I can appreciate what a difficult decision Mowbray would have to make.
It may be that Celtic fans do not want a manager who has just finished bottom of the Premier League, or like many of us, can see past that and recognise his future potential.
I was expecting this to be my last blog for at least a couple of weeks, I thought the next one may have been covering the first of our incoming our out going transfers, but I fear it could be covering an outgoing which holds much greater importance for us.
I suppose the next question would be, how do the fans feel about the possibility of losing Mowbray?
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As a life long Celtic fan, I know I am not alone when I say that the big man would be the first choice of many of us. The type of football he had Albion playing, is the way Celtic fans like to see the game played. We realise that you may not want him to go, but we feel that the ties he has from his playing days with us would be a very strong attraction for him.
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knew this was coming when Gorddie quit on sunday. I fully expect TM to take the hoops job which will then leave our club in lots of preoblems we all worshipped him on the last day against blackburn and it will all be in vein. At least we can get some nice attacking football at parkhead:) just dont expect him to take the clown valero with him.
Hoops
Baggies
(L)
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As a season ticket holder at parkhead big mogga is my first choice,the style of football he plays is the celtic way.
It was him who started the now world famous huddle so lets get him back in paradise.I do feel sorry for the WBA fans if he goes but u have a great wee club and im sure u will bounce back next year.
And one more name “Peter Grant” he would swim to oz to get back to celtic,i know that for a fact ,the man is celtic to the core!!
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I really hope TM stays, but this is also where JP must show his desire for him to stay, and get us back up to the PL.If he does decide to go to Parkhead, then he goes with my best wishes and thanks for the attractive football we have enjoyed over the last few seasons.
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To be honest ive wanted Mowbray out for many
months but I ive sat down and thought about the
attacking passing football that Tony has got us
playing,Albion may be down this season but ive
got a feeling that this man `TONY MOWBRAY` could
once again make WESTBROMWICH ALBION FC one of
the all time greats in world football.
IAM STICKING WITH THIS MAN MOWBRAY!
AND HOPE HE STAYS WITH THE ALBION!
he`s building something very special !
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Whatever happens life will go on.
We ahve lost decent managers before and wioll continue to do so when a bigger job comes up.
A lot is made of Mowbrays loyalty and integrity and if the job is offered it will put these things to the test. he is under contract so will JP allow Celtic to talk to him anyway?
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I believe Mowbray has built one of the strongest sides the club has ever seen. He does a superb job and strengthens the side consistently despite given no financial help from Peace. He’s stuck to his philosophies and had a long term plan that is working (despite relegation) – we’ve scored more goals and won more games than ever in the top flight.
Please stay Tony Mowbray!!!
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His statement of last week comes to mind, “the players owe it to the fans to stay and attempt to get this club back up”.
Well Tony whats good for the goose!!
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I shall be far more disappointed if TM goes than I was with relegation. He would be silly to turn it down if offered it. Wages increase, fan base increase, stadium increase, European football, titles, (however easy compared to England). But here too he has great loyalty from the fans and there is a job to be done. We have a good club too.
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NO WAY do i want mowbray to leave the hawthorns
we have played some of the bestfootball ive seen for years and trust me ive seen some rubbish over the years
how in the right mind people want him to go is beyond me ?
yes the celtic job is huge but when you are playing in a league that only 2 teams EVER win whats the point
quote tm from the other week (players here need to get this club back in the premier league they owe it to the club and the fans) so im hoping he does exactly the same and stays.
to only finish in the end 3 points from safety is frustrating i agree but the team really did start to gel the last 6 or so games of the season and IF we keep our squad and the chairman keeps his nose out (please me peace) then im sure we can bounce back
going back up the mowbray way ?
i really do hope so
keeping the faith
boing boing
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Personally, i hope he stays. He still has a job to finish, it’s not like when he was up north and took Hibs as far as he could.
If he does go, i would like to wish him all the best and thank him for sticking to his principles even when we were down.
It would be a big void to fill though, and if it’s going to happen it would need to happen quickly. A sucessor would need to time to assess the squad make key decisions on players both in and out.
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Well all the clowns who have been phoning Franksie all season with their “Mowbray out” garbage just may get their wish… and I expect plenty of them will follow 5 above and finally realise just what a great manager we have.
For the sake of club and the principles of great football for which we are now known and we all enjoy I just hope he can find the stength to turn this chance down.
Come on McGhee – take the job !!!!!
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Where have these Celtic fans come out from?Suggest they check the BBC 606 board I dont think you will find so many Celtic fans in favour of TM going there as manager.
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Not gloating, i wanted you lot to stay up! Peace is the real problem and has held you back from establishing yourselves in the prem. Mowbray will probably go to Celtic, Champions league football is a huge attraction. If i was a baggies fan, i’d be worried who would take over to be honest, with Peace there who would want to?
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who could blame him with ebenezor peace running the show good luck to him
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Stay with us Tony, You will have us playing in the Champions League in a few years time!!!!!!lol
Boing Boing
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A thoroughly decent man much respected throughout the game as been told by his chairman that he must cut his playing staff to 20 players when there are many more games in the championship than the premier!!!
Tony, you have been very tolerant where as Megson and Robson told him what to do.
I think Celtic looks very appealing in the current circumstances !!!
THREE RELEGATIONS, THREE DIFFERENT MANAGERS, THE SAME CHAIRMAN
WHERE IS THE PROBLEM ?
PEACE OUT, PEACE OUT, PEACE OUT.
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3 Scott Mckay.
Thanks for your patronising praise of our ‘wee club.’ Yes in the best and most competetive league system in the world (I don’t just refer to the Prem but the other three divisions as well,) we’re not one of the big boys.
Let’s have a look at the ‘mighty Celtic.’
You enjoy big crowds. This is because you win most games by bullying clubs with miniscule resources and with Rangers you share all of the trophies up there. Would those crowds be there in a proper league where you weren’t gauranteed to win anything most years?
You appear in the Champions League every year, before your inevitable first round exit, again because of your weak little league. If you got your wish to play in the Prem, you’d never win a trophy again or indeed play in Europe, beware what you wish for.
Carry on supporting your massive team in your wee league and good luck.
PS. How is Frank McCourt doing?
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Like the vast majority of WBA fan’s, I dont want Tony to leave our club, but this is football and if the opportunity comes along to manage a club the size of Celtic and with the potential of future European football, only a total numpty would believe that he would not want to have a crack at it. I dont think the club would stand in his way and that would leave us sniffing around for a replacement. Two names to throw into the mix, Martinez from Swansea or O’Driscoll from Donny. Both have acheived great things with limited budgets and equally important, they both like their teams to try to play footbgall…you heard it here first. I thank you…
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It will be terrible if he left now as i believe he has a lot left to achieve at our club. It is inevitable that he will leave at some stage and i believe when he has got us established in the premier one of the big clubs will come calling and it will be too good an offer to turn down. I think he will acieve great things as a manager over the next 15 years i just hope the first 5 years are with us………………..PLEASE STAY
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Another problam to consider if Mobes goes to Celtic,who goes with him,player wise? Olsson, Loon,Koren,etc.etc.Will Robbo go with him now he has been given permision to leave.I know a lot of us have criticised Robbo this season but he was more than a favourite of Mobes,I just wonder if it isn’t all ready cut and dried that they both are going north of the border!It just seems to me to have been a very quick decision to let Robinson walk away,and now this Mowbray/Celtic link.
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If TM should leave the Albion then I am afraid that the blame will lie firmly with a certain Jeremy Peace.
If the chairman allows this to happen through his sheer penny pinching then surley we the fans should have our anger heard
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I haven’t found a single post on here that agrees that Mowbray should go, it shows that vast majority love him and want him 2 stay!
The only reason Celtic are big is cuz in that poor sub standard league they call SPL there is only Celtic & Rangers that are bigger than a league one club in English football who else are they gonna support?? Their “support” also contains a big chunk of Scottish glory hunters that are not even from Glasgow. I also think attractive football will take longer 2 drub into the team as the whole league style is slow & dull.
Attractive football belongs at the Albion where our history holds the same theory and beliefs Mowbray has. Tony Stay, stay, stay we need 2 complete our mission. I just wanna give him a big hug and say “Tony ur needed here” The board should be doing all they can 2 keep him.
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Plus, why would he wanna go up there anyway with all that rain! :D
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On a positive note, when it was suggested recently that Celtic (and Rangers) could play in england in a “prem 2″ division, TM was less than enthusiastic saying that just having large crowds didn’t make you a “big club”. He “suggested” that in his mind Albion were just a big a club as they play higher quality football EVERY week.
On the Robbo situation… its always hard for fans when a players wants to leave – but his performances over the 6 years will ensure he remains a legend to me – he owes us nothing and dederves to leave with our gratitude.
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I find the Robbo situation a bit strange, as if we had stayed up i would be happy to let him go and thank him for his fantastic service and effort. But as we are down, ironically, i would very much like to keep him as i think he is an excellent championship player but i would have to conseed (and i’m very much pro-robinson)he has been a bit of a liability in the prem. I honestly can’t see any prem sides wanting him (even GM)except possibly one of the promoted sides perhaps.
Either way i would wish him all the best.
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Concerning TM’s possible departure, i really hope he stays with us and sees the job through, but i somehow doubt it! One way or another he’ll be gone eventually such is the way of football.
Replacements? would only consider Dave Jones or Martinez.
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If TM goes then I will be asking Mr Peace for a refund on my season ticket.
Attack! Attack! Attack! is the only way to play..
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I HOPE MOWBRAY GOES HE IS USELESS A FORMER CEN TRAL DEFENDER WHO CANT COACH A DECENT DEFENCE EVEN IN THE CAMPIONSHIP
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My heart tells me that he’ll stay as he hasn’t finished off the job he came here to do.
My head tells me that he’s still a footballer, so he’s got no real loyalty to us and will go.
We’ll just have to wait and see whether Celtic even approach us for him though won’t we?
As mentioned in earlier posts, Martinez would be my 1st pick as a replacement, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jim Magilton come to The Hawthorns on TM’s reccomendation.
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Streetly Baggie could not agree more, have been saying this for a month or so. How much does Peace want the Prem I wonder, I think he has other motives & that is taking full control & then selling for a huge profit. The Baggies means nothing to him. We will see over the summer whether he wants Prem by who goes & who stays, if TM goes then that will be making a statement of his intentions. Robbo can go but agree with 26, Champ is his division.
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Having been around the Hawthorns for what seems like 100 years, I MUST point out that a manager can never ‘finish the job’ he started. Look at Sir Alex., how many times has he started his retirement? No one ever wants success to end so he keeps going just as TM would stay as long as progress is being made. I don’t consider we stopped making progress with relegation, it’s just a hiccup. Far more worrying to me is the 20 players edict from JP.
A little too light for any club in my view. Every position needs cover so 22 is essential and maybe one or two more. I do hope this decision is negotiable or THAT could see TM disillusioned. It is expected, and from the itchy-bottoms, demanded, that we go straight back up next season. Money is being spent on the ground again. Let’s not stifle the manager.
Oh, and I will never join the ‘JP out’ brigade. Just take a glance at Southampton.
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