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New boss to hit the ground running
Tuesday 30th June 2009, 10:32AM BST.
New Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo will start work with the task of banishing the relegation blues and trauma of predecessor Tony Mowbray’s walk-out.
The 39-year-old former Italy star will meet with the players for the first time in the morning, when they return for pre-season training.
Di Matteo will attend the inevitable round of media duties, but only after he has gathered his new squad together to address them for the first time after pipping Preston’s Alan Irvine to the post.
It is the impact Albion’s board expect him to have with the men Mowbray left behind that played such a key role in the former Chelsea man landing the job despite only one year in English football management at MK Dons.
Di Matteo clinched the post with a performance at his interview which left senior Albion officials – including chairman Jeremy Peace – hugely impressed by his charisma and plans for the future.
They believe he can have the same impact on a dressing room showing the scars of a traumatic few months at the Hawthorns.
Represented by Sven Goran Eriksson’s agent Athole Still, Di Matteo has a contacts book which will give him access to the highest levels of the game.
He will also be looked upon to help reverse the disappointment of Mowbray’s exit, which has cast fresh doubts on the futures of players.
Already Marc-Antoine Fortune has been lost and James Morrison, Chris Brunt and captain Jonathan Greening are the subject of transfer speculation.
Paul Robinson wants a move back into the Premier League, with Bolton having already had a £500,000 offer rejected, while striker Roman Bednar awaits the mercy of an FA hearing over drug-buying reports in a Sunday newspaper.
On top of those issues, Di Matteo will also be asked for an immediate input into three potential purchases.
He should know about Simon Cox, the Swindon striker for whom Albion have had a £2million bid accepted and who is due at the club on Thursday for talks on personal terms.
That meeting will go ahead only if Di Matteo ratifies the deal.
Youssouf Mulumbu and Juan Carlos Menseguez will also be the subject of interest.
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Well i cant say he was my first choice as manager but he certainly wasn’t my last choice. Didnt see many of MK Dons games on tv last year so i dont know how they play but im guessing that him being italian tha he will play fairly attractive football. Good luck to the man, lets all get behind him form the word go.
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The one thing i have said through all of this is that whoever comes in has to hit the ground running – there can be little time to bed in, and it seems that RDM was the candidate that grapsed that better than the rest.
It is so unexpected that I can’t really evaluate him – but he comes with all the right credentials so I’m happy !!
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big gamble but comes cheap which will pls JP.
Not to Impressed me thinks!
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it’s similar when QPR had their italian manager.
Great hopes cause he’s Italian.
look how that turned out.
One thinks we could have doone alot better..
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I think if I were named Athole Still I might consider a name change to say, er, Athole Mover, or, well, you try. I’ve heard nothing about Greening moving on anywhere. Maybe the others will think twice now. If he decides he wants to keep Robbo, we must ALL swallow, cuss gently and MOVE ON. Players come and go. If this bloke needs him in the team, then he’s a Baggie and is supported while he’s with us.
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Well that was a bit of a surprise although not a bad appointment, he should be able to convince those who are of interest to other clubs (Morrison, Greening, Brunt) to stay for another season with the prospect of Premiership football next season again.
All in all though I think this could be a good move on the Albion boards behalh (still would have like to see Irvine though.
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I would have preferred a slightly older manager with more experience such as Alan Irvine, David Jones or Paul Simpson but it is now up to De Matteo to prove me wrong. However, if he successful, how long will he stay before he is tempted by another club. That has been an ongoing problem for the Albion. We need stability and I hope that the new manager will give us success both in the short and long term. To achieve that aim we need a manager who will remain loyal. Is that also the aim of the new manager?
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Hope he will make us proud and happy baggies, loved TM but he tried and failed for that reason we needed a fresh start.Can’t wait for the new season.
Dematteo will inherit the best footie fans in the world.
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why did irvine turn it down only one answer meddling penny pinching peace he has already seen off three managers it cant be all their faults the chairman should GO NOW and let the club move forward instead of backwards
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9.
You are so right.
the only way forward is to get JP out.
Or we will be in the same position next year.
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9 and 10
What same position next year? Solvent, financially stable and competing in and around teams that have ten times as much debt as us?
What do you two propose? Forcing Peace out, and getting someone in who will risk the long-term future of the club by accumulating debt (because there is no money just sitting there)?
Actually, you’re winning me around, I was much happier when we had no training ground, no sporting academy, no youth academy, a club shop down some stairs in the Halfords Lane and sold our best players for next to nothing.
BRING BACK TREVOR SUMMERS OR TONY HALE!! Those were the good old days.
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I believe you have stolen a march on your Championship rivals with this appointment. The man exudes quality and can only be an asset to you. His track record as a player is extremely high and although his managerial experience is short his record stands up to close scrutiny. Your alleged players seeking a way out of the club could be persuaded to give it a go under his guidance.
I think an astute appointment
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9 lyebaggyboy
Alan Irvine didn’t turn the job down. HE WAS NEVER OFFERED IT!! Get off Peace’s back and get behind the team and the new manager. This could be a very inspired appointment! Welcome Roberto!!
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11 Spot on Warren. The club is a million miles better than it was before Peace. Yes we would all like to spend more but not at the expense of the Clubs future
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Lovin’it, lovin’ it,Di Matteo, what an inspired appointment,Managers have to start somewhere,forget that he has little management experience,he has bucket loads of it in other ways.His contacts are world wide,he probably knows people T.M can only dream about knowing.I’m sure we will see some young italians coming over,but not too many i hope ,as i would like him to give OUR youngun’s a fair go.Anyway,wlcome to the Hawthorns Roberto,you will get used to the faggots an pays i’m sure.O’h and don’t forget the scratchings,and the Grorty dick on bonfire night.
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Nos. 9 and 10. Why don’t you switch to supporting The Wulfies? They’re going to have a really tough time next year and will need some REAL PROFESSIONAL WHINGERS. What utter tripe you post! We shall get the truth regarding Irvine in due course. Maybe the bloke wanted to be LOYAL to PNE and just said ‘Thanks JP, but no thanks’ A hard and difficult concept for all of us after the way TM treated us. There did not have to be animosity or ‘a snub’ which some reports are claiming. Business West Brom fashion is conducted with respect to all concerned. The compensation will be paid, the salaries will be paid, the proper channels explored. We are that sort of club. HONOURABLE, with supporters to match mostly, (except one or two).
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This could be an inspired appointment aka Ardiles
Big Ron they didnt have much experience starting
with the lower leagues. Roberto will have very many contacts and being italian ? will insist on
flair his former club knew were the net was lets
hope he will sort out our defence. Its true he will find JP DIFFICULT and if successful will
leave for a bigger club its the way of the world sadly. JP wants out so maybe a wealthy
backer will come in then we can hope for more
consistency and stay up after all we do know
of the too many points lost last season just a few more and we,d be looking foreward to seeing
the top clubs instead of Plymouth and Scunthorpe at least were solvent.
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11 and 13
Spot on comments!
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Well if JP would have given TM a few more pennies we wouldn’t be in this position..
Can’t believe you are happy with failure…
I want more than this…
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19- We all want success mate, but some of you lot fail to realise/acknowledge that there are no more pennies!!!
At 30th June 2008, we had a net debt of £8.9m, so unless you, I or JP has £20m they’d like to donate to the club, then we’d have to take out loans in order to finance those extra pennies……extra pennies in addition to the £21m we already spent, that don’t guarantee success.
Most Premier League clubs have an astronomical debt and a wages:turnover ratio of over 90% (in some cases over 100%). Until that changes (which is has to as it’s unsustainable), then clubs who don’t have a sugar daddy won’t be able to compete. Sad but true.
JP’s doing the best job he can with the resources we have, get off his back.
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Mowbray was excellent but we are where we are. It isn’t JP’s fault. We have to look forward and with Di Matteo I’m now really excited to see what he does with the side. Who he brings in (and sells). Can’t wait. Great news
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It’s not about failur at the moment it’s about building a club that can compete with the bigger clubs in the Premiership without going into debt and I think JP is going about it the right way, We all want success but it doesn’t come over night and the way the Albion is being run I think we will being seeing happier years ahead (I certainly hope so as it’s a long way back to Plymouth after a loss).
Welcome to the Albion Roberto.
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More like JP turn Irvine down
big supprised, but im very excited with this choice. im hoping for an italian job back to the premier league come on u baggies!!!!!!
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Well this wasnt what I was expecting at all,but his record at mk Dons was ok considering what he had money and player wise.We all need to get behind him now and give him our full support and lets hope he gets some of that Italian flair in the team…
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19. TM had enough pennies. Beattie, Pele, Meite, Velero etc… etc…
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11. Warren (Albion)
Spot on mate!! Up the Baggies and well done JP!!!
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Oh come on Baglad mate. It’s not PENNIES, it’s MILLIONS of pounds. Enough money was spent to do better than Stoke did but the number of clangers ran into many dozens for goals against. Then the number of misses up front ran into dozens too. On paper we were a far better team than Stoke, but we didn’t cut it. Many of us stayed loyal to TM in spite of what we saw because we thought he’d stay and get it right eventually. He didn’t so now we can openly discuss the reasons. Loyalty demands loyalty. We didn’t get it. Honesty Rules OK ?
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Baglad Quality – Are you really a dingle having a laugh??
me thinks so!
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Cyril: If RDM needs a team il play 4 free! :)
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