Albion want double for Robbo

Monday 22nd June 2009, 10:29AM BST.

ALBION 27 DH 6Albion have told Bolton Wanderers they must be double their offer to take Paul Robinson from the Hawthorns.

But the 30-year-old defender’s six-year stay with the Baggies is coming to a close, after the one-time fans favourite’s latest outburst over his future.

Robinson upset supporters by immediately declaring he would like to follow departed manager Tony Mowbray to Celtic – after already publicly stating his desire to stay in the Premier League following the Baggies’ relegation.

While Mowbray is unlikely to follow Robinson’s advice and make a move for him, another former Baggies boss in Bolton’s Gary Megson has had a £500,000 bid swiftly rejected by his former club.

It is the second time in six months that Bolton have been accused of seriously undervaluing a player, having had a January bid for James Morrison also dismissed out of hand by chairman Jeremy Peace.

This all adds up to a renewed battle of wills between old adversaries in Peace and Megson but, despite their animosity, Robinson’s move to Bolton is the most likely outcome.

But Albion want the Trotters to up their offer to closer to the £1million mark, although Megson is well aware that Robinson’s controversial hints about leaving the Hawthorns have left his Baggies future under a cloud.

And the former Watford man is still under contract, so Albion are happy to stand firm over their asking price, but Megson is likely to only up his offer to £750,000.

He is unlikely to go higher for a player he only sees as back-up to Jlloyd Samuel.

But Albion are also keen to play the question of player futures ‘by the book’ and wait to give their new manager a final say on whether or not Robinson should be sold.

That search is now entering the key phase for Peace as he is expected to settle on a final shortlist this week of three from which he will conduct interviews – providing he gets clearance to speak to contenders in a job.

It will not be a problem for St Johnstone’s promotion-winning manager Derek McInnes, whose club will not stand in his way if Peace brings the Albion opportunity to his door.

But it will be more of an issue if the interest in Darren Ferguson firms up.


  1. 1
    Baggie Boy

    Goood riddance to Robinson, the bloke has been trying to leave ever since we signed him, same story at the end of every season – doesn’t he realise that he is one of the reasons we got relagated, now suddenly he is a premiership quality player, he’s what he is – a decent championship defender.

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  2. 2
    Baggieconvert

    Go on JP, make um pay. I know a lot of the fans have lost their love of PR but if JP can’t get what he wants for him, he can always warm the bench and watch real players next season. Boing Boing

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  3. 3
    Wbaforever

    “new managers decision if Robinson is sold”

    Surely Robinsons position is completely untenable
    within the club, fans by nature back whoever wears the shirt, and Robinson has already been forgiven once.
    However the latest outburst, and indeed cheap shot about our players being unhappy that Mowbray was allowed to leave and want to follow him, and all of this whilst he is still in our employ.
    This is the proverbial bridge too far, i cannot imagine ANY Albion fan would be eager to forgive and forget this time.
    Get rid of this prat……at any cost.

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  4. 4
    yorkskennyfoggo

    Here we go no doubt, Robinson will get even more stick and insults. – BUT he has been a good servant to us and put himself on the line for the team. At times he is too honest in his statements for his own good. If we can get £1 mill the fair enough and I for one wish him luck and say thanks Robbo.

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  5. 5
    OnwardsAndUpwards

    Badge kissing, fist pumping, overated, overweight, snail like, hypocritical, bad influence in the dressing room.This man has more flaws than anyone at the club..Id personally give him a free just to get shut of him, and drive him to Bolton myself..Good ridence to bad players.
    Derek Mcinnes or Darren Ferguson for the job JP, anyone else will have the fans despising you even more…

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  6. 6
    Martacus Red

    Let him go & warm a reebok bench, although they might have to extend it a bit to accomandate.

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  7. 7
    Roscoe

    Well said No.3. I completely agree. Besides, for the number of mistakes he makes £1m is a pretty good deal, he’s no good on the ball, he’s too slow, picks wrong passes constantly and often gets caught out of position or flat footed. With the ‘cartel’ of Robbo and TM gone, Marek Cech might now feel a little better about his position within the club and finally, he will rightfully earn his place as our number 1 number 3! Lets see Marek bombing up and down that flank cutting teams up.

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  8. 8
    SuperMaths

    Double the money????

    I’d sell him for HALF!!!!

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  9. 9
    baggypeak

    Yesterday’s man. Join the long list of parasites collecting splinters at the Reebok. Bring on the kids!

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  10. 10
    BOING BOING

    To Slow for the Premier, got found out to many times.. Take the money and run Peace, Probably quicker than Robinson…

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  11. 11
    themowbrayway

    PR would do better keeping things to himself, he ought to have more consideration for fans who have supported him through thick and thin. Having said that, some fans turn too quickly from idolising someone to sheer and utter hate. PR has given us good service over the years and became a much better footballer than I thought he was.

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  12. 12
    Darren Guest

    When Cech played last season we were a better unit look at the wins against Man City and Spurs
    Robbo’s a good lad but to slow for to be of any use and gets caught out of position to many times
    Never understand why Mobray buys these players and doesn’t give them a chance (i;e Cech,Moore
    Martis,Beatie etc)
    Darren Ferguson for manager he is going places it may as well be us that goes places with him

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  13. 13
    James

    I am a wolves fan coming in peace. I am not one of these local rival haters and to be honest I fell sorry for any team wheen they have a player going to the press stating how much they want to leave a club every summer, eventhough he has been paid well and given total support when he has played absolutey terrible. I think you’d be better off getting rid a.s.a.p and sort yourself out with a young and hungry lad from one of the lower leagues. It worked for us!!

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  14. 14
    baggie boy 2

    HALF MILLION £ FOR ROBINSON MORE LIKE ANN ROBINSON OR SMOKEY ROBINSON LAST SEASON TAKE THE MONEY !!!!

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  15. 15
    flabaggie

    A pie and a pint for everybody at the club is a fair deal for robbo.

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  16. 16
    bugsy.

    take the money hes more like ann robinson or smokey robinson this season.

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  17. 17
    Kingswinford Baggie

    I agree, sell Robinson for as much as we can get for him. And as for Mowbray, he won’t be missed as much as some people think. He made a lot of mistakes last season but wasn’t prepared to accept the blame. He was also on a learning curve but wasn’t prepared to learn from his mistakes! In fact, he showed poor judgement and was nieve tactically on far too many occasions. We can do better and no one is indispensible anyway.
    Regarding the new manager it should be between Derek McInnes, Alan Irvine or Paul Simpson and I would personally go for Paul Simpson who has experienced both the highs and the lows of football management which is an important lesson to be learnt in order to have a good working relationship with the Chairman of any football club and Jeremy Peace is a good chairman whose heart is in WBA FC.

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  18. 18
    Nedball

    12 – I’m sure Robbo played against Man City at home last season?????

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  19. 19
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    18 Ned.
    I think you’ll find you’re wrong. Marek Cech played in every game we won last season. He also scored the winning goal in the 1968 Cup Final and the one that won us promotion at Oldham

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  20. 20
    SoldierBaggy

    I agree wiv No.7 Cech a much better play and now will have chance to impress we played better last season when he was playing, need to keep olsson tho ,get rid of PR asap and why cant we find a sponsor?

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  21. 21
    AMS

    I’d be more worried for Bolton than us since if the limit to their ambition at left back is a 30 yr old has been for 1/2M. Realistically Robbo would have a choice of which bench to warm. His departure would have been of greater benefit to us last year but better late than never. Passion and commitment (which he did show when he played for us) do not necessary gloss over a lack of pace, first touch and self control. If he goes back to the prem then I fear someone may get seriously injured.
    Totally agree that following his comments on Talksport his position in the Albion first team is completely untenable. JP and co should waste as little time as possible on speeding his departure. I would not be surprised if come August Robbo is still around JP will accept 750k for him.

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  22. 22
    CantelloRocket 78

    He obviously just wants to get away because he sees himself as much too good to be at the Hawthorns.The fact that world class Bolton are the only interested club sums it up.A legend in his own mind,not worth a lot by everybody else.

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  23. 23
    Wbaforever

    Nice one Bully

    Yes mate people place high stock in Marek Cech,
    great going forward, but dereliction of duty defending.
    I remember Kiely being heavily critisized by some of our fans, and probably the same fans calling for his re-instatement following some below par performances from Carson.

    I will not say Cech is the long term solution, but Robinsons antics have alienated me from him,and i do try not to give to knee jerk reactions, but he has done it once to many i`m afraid.

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  24. 24
    KB

    1/2 a mill sell him now, Get rid of the bad apples before they spread,Are you back ray or still in Italy ?

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  25. 25
    Happy_baggie

    Its a pity things have gone sour between the fans and Robinson as he has been with us 6 seasons, been involved in 2 promotions, played in some great games (vs Wolves for instance) and generally has been a great servant to the club.

    There seems to be a trend now of players leaving and taking a swipe – KP comes to mind, but all PR has said is that he wants to play in a higher league, and at his age can we blame him ??

    I wish him well – but just hope he now goes quickly and quietly.

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  26. 26
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    HI DE HI FOLKS i am pleased to tell you that you are now talking to the abberiswiff sand castle building champion2009 aye boing boing wers me spade

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  27. 27
    Nedball

    19 – Thanks Bully, I’m glad you’re here to put me right.

    I actually thought that Marek Cech was ‘the Stig’ until last night too!!

    I’ve always liked Robbo because of his commitment and full blooded performances, but he’s gone far too far with his comments this post season.

    I’m used to him saying something when we do get relegated, but I’m just so bored of it now I want it to end and for him to move on before he becomes a hate figure at the Hawthorns.

    Thanks for the effort Robbo, but I don’t think you’ll be missed as much as you think you will.

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  28. 28
    Garth Pearce

    Steady on with the non-stop criticism of Robbo. He has played to the best of his ability for us during the last six years. But so many footballers never seem to see the bigger picture. The truth is that he has too many flaws in his game to be consistent in the Prem’. Four seasons at the top have proved that to us all, tough as it is to admit. He should be more realistic in his demands – and think before he speaks. I am sorry that he wants out. But, for all that, he’s a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and has played his part in Albion’s incredible non-stop roller coaster of the 21st Century. Don’t forget the absolute dross we saw at left back throughout the 1990′s. Do you remember another Paul? Paul Edwards. He’s just one of a long list of deadbeats before we signed Neil Clement. God forbid we never have to go back to those days.

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  29. 29
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    23 Forever.
    I forgot to add that Robbo was also the hunter that killed Bambi’s mother.
    To be honest, I agree that he’s made it impossible for himself to stay (perhaps that’s what he was trying to do.) It just gets to me that all of these Championship managers write off his ability. If he was that bad why would two PL managers be interested in him, Paul Hart wanted him before the Portsmouth situation became confused. How many PL clubs are fighting over Cech? I’m not having a go at Cech but at the people who only see what they want, as you say the same ones championing Cech now will be calling for his head if he has a poor start.
    What Robbo has said, if he actually said it, was wrong. But doesn’t alter the fact that he’s given our club five years of unstinting service on the pitch, something I won’t forget. As I’ve said before, if only some others had committed half of the blood, sweat and tears that he has, we would still be in the Prem. Too often he’s been criticised for the faults of others, mainly because he takes responsibility, does the nasty bits that others shirk out of and as you’ve said, can be too honest for his own good. I’ll shut up now but will just add, that if he comes back to The Hawthorns with another team, I’ll still acknowledge him. Even if I’m on my own.

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  30. 30
    Cyril Randle

    If Clem returns to full fitness we will have an experienced left-back-cum-centre-back available who is HAPPY at the Hawthorns. What a difference he could have made last season. What a situation when the only club to want Robbo is managed by Meggo. JP must be secretly delighted to think he can play a hand against him. Any bets as to the winner ?

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  31. 31
    dudleybaggie

    let robbo go albion have had the best years out of him anyway. a million in todays transfer market is nothing, pay up gary!
    Trouble is Marek Cech might not want to stay we have messed him around to much

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  32. 32
    boy from the REAL bl

    Have to agree with most on here, there are ways and means of engineering a move away from a club, with agents, contacts in the media etc… a carefully worded statement at the right time can make your intentions clear without looking like a complete mercenary or whatever – Robbo’s outburst just shows a complete lack of respect (or even total utter contempt)for the fans who have supported him. Good riddance is what i say, we only want players who want to play for the club, but at the same time he only goes on OUR terms.

    This whole situation is all the more laughable as he clearly is dilluded thinking he is a prem player! I’m not even sure GM thinks he is either, he just wants to exploit a situation where he could land a useful squad player on the cheap because the player has gone public on his desire to leave. GM wont pay much more than 500K, so dont be at all surprised if he’s still here come august stuck in the stiffs and making a grovelling apology to the fans!!

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  33. 33
    medwaybaggie

    I believe that a lot of players are waiting to see who the new manager is likely to be and hope that it will be a fresh start. One problem about running your maouth off in public is that you are likely to alienate people. Paul Robinson has done that and it’s hard to see us fans forgiving hom for that. He may have served us well, but it seems that his heart is no longer in it.

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  34. 34
    BoingBoing666

    id be sorry to see Robbo leave but I think he has done all he can for us, time to give Cech a go b4 he ups an packs his bags, Robbo ain;t gonna get gonna any better should we get promoted this season. he has done well for us. let him finish in the prem if he wants to.

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  35. 35
    ValeroLovesBrom

    The bloke has had one good season for Albion
    and thats it,he`s completly overated,fat,slow,
    and to bloody small to be classed as a defender.
    BRING ON MAREK CECH!!YOUR`E TIME HAS COME!.
    Cant wait to see next seasons back 4 `should be
    pretty dam good.

    Gianni Zuiverloon
    Jonas Olsson
    Neil Clement
    Marek Cech.

    IRVINE FOR THE NEW ALBION MANAGER!

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  36. 36
    yoo

    marek is a definitely better player than robbo. that was very strange mistake of TM didnt let him play. that is the reason why the baggies didnt survive. robbo allowed many many goals and prepared one ? cech played couple of times and prepared some. everywhere he played he won a league – slovakia – inter bratislava, czech republic – sparta prague, portugal – porto fc. he is an international and champions league player and he deserves much better competition than UK championship.

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  37. 37
    Wbaforever

    Morning KB, i`m still in Italy mate, so maybe that should read.

    Buon giorno KB i`m still in Italy mate.

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  38. 38
    KB

    Hola my multilingual amigo is that spelt right? anyway still no news on new manager let you know as soon as we hear anything tara a bit

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  39. 39
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    35 VLB.
    I think you will find that you have 3 extremely left sided players in that defence, Zoovy is going to get very lonely.

    36 yoo.
    I think Marek agreed with you that he deserved much better.

    37. Forever.
    You lucky b****r!!!!

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  40. 40
    Wbaforever

    KB. Your Spanish is perfect mate, mind you it should be, you spend more time there than the entire Barcelona team.

    Bully. Not really mate, i am working out here working, but there are compensations. The evening cafe culture is good and provide some nice sights, and the food!!!!

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  41. 41
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    40 Forever.
    I also am working today. In Winson Green. I repeat, you lucky b****r!!!!!

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  42. 42
    Wbaforever

    Bully.

    Good point, well made.

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  43. 43
    david

    ROBINSON IS JUST A THUG IN SHORTS – HE HAS BEEN TRIPE FOR THREE YEARS NOW – GIVE HIM AWAY TO ANYONE STUPID ENOUGH TO TAKE HIM.

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  44. 44
    Bomber Braun

    Smokey, Sugar Ray,even the marmalade is worth more than this overated very mediocre full back…….When you’ve seen Derek Statham play then I’m afraid everything else needs to measure up and aside from the fact that the distance between the top of Robbo’s head and his eyebrows tells me all I need to know…absolute neanderthal….and if Peace gets £1m for him then expect the fraud squad at the Shrine any day….

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