Di Matteo has final say as new boss

Thursday 2nd July 2009, 11:50AM BST.

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Albion begin the Roberto Di Matteo era with the new boss insisting he will have the final say on Hawthorns transfers.

The Baggies have paraded their new head coach alongside sporting director Dan Ashworth, in the first public unveiling of the club’s new continental management structure.

But Italian Di Matteo stressed he would make the final call on transfer matters.

The 39-year-old, who is due to take training for the first time today after meeting his new players yesterday, and Ashworth will have a strong alliance.

He said: “Myself and Dan will work very closely together, and I will make the final decision on any players.”

Di Matteo’s new job title – ‘head coach’ and not ‘manager’ – marks the final stage of chairman Jeremy Peace’s plan to switch the Baggies to a European style structure, with Ashworth overseeing recruitment and Di Matteo focusing on first team matters.

But former academy director Ashworth echoed the new man’s sentiments on transfers.

He said: “I can help with the recruitment process, Roberto might come to me and say he needs a player in a certain position.

“I might have a list of eight right-backs for instance but Roberto might only like two of them.

“He might have two of his own in mind who he has seen while managing Milton Keynes Dons.

“I can help the recruitment process, but the first team coaching staff must have the ultimate ‘sign-off,’ because they are the ones who have to work with the players.”

The new manager is set to welcome his first new signing next week, after confirming he has given the go-ahead for the Baggies to seal the £2million capture of striker Simon Cox from Swindon.

The former Reading man, fresh from a prolific season in League One, is due at Albion next week for a medical.

Di Matteo has also pledged to add some steel to the Baggies style, as they look to make an immediate return to the Premier League.

He said: “I want to play attractive football but that’s not always possible.

“The Championship is a tough, physical league and we have to be ready to stand up to the challenge.

“I don’t want to win a beauty contest. I want to win the Championship.”


  1. 1
    baggie boinger

    i feel with rdm in charge we are looking at a bright and exciting future.

    BOING BOING

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  2. 2
    wbabomber

    Great, why are we waiting until next week to sign one of our targets?

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  3. 3
    Stratford Baggie

    We will have the style of football we want along with the ‘Italian’mentality of defending (which TM could never master).

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  4. 4
    sadbaggieidiot

    “I don’t want to win a beauty contest” Say no more! think you should leave that one for Sandra R from London then!!

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  5. 5
    Baggieconvert

    I get the feeling we’re in for some very interesting times with our new manager, sorry head coach. Although its only a few days, its already apparent he has a firm idea on how he wants our team to perform, which is great. Any player who just “goes through the motions” could, find themselves confronted by a very upset little Italian. Its clear, with his vision, he want’s workers not slackers, I can’t wait for the season to start. BOING BOING STAND ASIDE THE ALBION’S ON ITS WAY

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  6. 6
    BROOKIE

    WHY ARE WE WAITING TILL NEXT WEEK TO SIGN THIS PLAYER ANOTHER CLUB COULD COME IN FOR HIM IN THE MEANTIME COME ON ALBION WAKE UP IT/S HAPPEND BEFOR TO US

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  7. 7
    Fox in a Box

    still think Cox would be a good signing, even if he was chosen before RDM arrival

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  8. 8
    Ellen

    Here’s the song, to the tune of Just One Cornetto:

    Just one Roberto
    Di Matteo
    A super bloke from Italy
    And now…… he’s a proud Baggie
    Just One Roberto
    (Really Loud) Di Matteo

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    worcesterbaggie

    exciting times ahead me thinks ,,you can never say times are boring being a baggie,,can t wait for the season to start now,,WELCOME ROBERTO,,,,WEEM GOING UP THE DI MATTEO WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,OOOOOOOOOOOOOH YES….MOMMA MIA…LOVIN IT..

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  10. 10
    stuart

    I don’t think there will be much doubt that a RDM team will play attractive football. Exchange the dead wood for some solidity in defence and the team will get promoted as a matter of course. Good luck Roberto!!

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  11. 11
    BaggieBird

    I cannot believe that there wasnt a better option than RDM. Paul Ince maybe? Oh well start the signings now lets not wait the early bird catched the worm.

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  12. 12
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    ive just had spag bog for me dinner just to get me into the swing of things aye boing boing waiter garlic bread plz to mop it up

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  13. 13
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    ME N WORCESTER SING THIS SONG ROBERTO IS THE KING ROBERTO IS THE KING ROBERTO IS THE KING ME N WORCESTER SING THIS SONG ROBERTO IS THE KING AYE BOING BOING jodie

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  14. 14
    baggiepaul1

    Let`s hope he does have “final say”. The implication in last night`s paper was that Tomo did not want Moore, Kim or Carson. While most people would agree that Moore was probably part of the Davies deal I find it hard to believe that Mowbray had no input with Kim, after all he is one of many lightweight midfielders and he didn`t have to select Carson who gave him ample opportunity to drop him. Could this be Tomo having another little dig? After all if he wanted to save a bit of face he should try and distance himself from some of his other poor buys.( you all know the names)

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  15. 15
    baglad QUALITY??

    sign him quick..
    Messing about already!!

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  16. 16
    Happy-baggie

    One thing the appointment of RDM brings is EXCITMENT. If Irvine had got it I would have been happy – but not excited…

    I like the sound of him and his approach to football and I think we baggies will be in for a treat this season.

    As for the dingles on here still trying to put a dampner on things – naff off. We are all happy baggies now so buzz off and watch Moxey waste even more money on players from the championship.

    Tezza – I had a spag bog too – but it was about an hour after me spag bol !!!

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  17. 17
    baggie birder

    “Going to put some steel into the team” music to my ears.

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  18. 18
    baggie birder

    15 With the choice of players you have made so far i wouldn’t get too excited pal.I can see nothing of the experience and quality you will need to finish anything but bottom.

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  19. 19
    WackyBaggie

    im a new poster on ere so i got lot to say.whichever manager is succesful at the albion will always jump ship,always have.that will include rdm.have seen plenty ppl knocking j peace on ere and i think hes done a tremendous job.rdm has got to get rid of all the dead wood players asap,that include ismael miller,big donkey,hes never gonna make it.i wish all the the best to rdm,will be intresting to see how organised he can make us.woould have preferred curbishley as long as he still had the drive.just a few of my opinions anyway.boing boing,come on u baggies

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  20. 20
    Rising Sun Baggie

    chairman has come up trumps again,how can you say he has not got the Albion at heart. TM was good RDM this could be the start of something big. Lets get behind him and the team he picks. all non triers and want aways cheerio. Will the Dingles get 20 points ? We’ll see

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  21. 21
    EASY

    Roberto Di Matteo
    Roberto Di Matteo
    Walking along
    Singing a song
    Walking in Baggies Wonderland
    Theres only one Di Matteo
    Altogether………..

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  22. 22
    Happy-baggie

    Wakey 19 – having a lot to say is fine, but please try and let it make sense.

    2 days after joing you are waiting for the manager to leave – you say Miller is a donkey yet he scored in the prem and was looking great till his injury.

    You say you waited a long time to post – I think you should have waited just a little longer… for a decent idea – or maybe you should just go back to the ding pages where you belong.

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    Santa

    “I’m not here to win a beauty contest”,I like it,”I’m here to win the Championship” sounds good to me,go for it RDM 1-0,1-0, or even 4-3 or 3-0 it doesn’t matter to me,as long as we win.If we play defensive and nick a 1-0 who cares,it’s 3 points.Great!!

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  24. 24
    Warren (Albion)

    To the tune ‘D-I-S-C-O’

    D-I-Matt-e-o, D-I-Matt-e-o

    The one thing I do worry about is Di Matteo will spend a month watching his players train, will be wowed by the good footwork of the likes of Kim, Teixeira, Valero. He’ll then start the first game with such players, and it will take 2 months for him to realise what it took us a while to realise, which is that they are arguably too lightweight to adapt to the English game, certainly in the same team, by which point we’ll be playing catch up.

    Hopefully not though, can’t wait for the new season. COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!!

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  25. 25
    jodiebaggie

    I will be wearing my Italian leather stiletto’s
    to every baggie match this new season, so don’t get treading on me feet sir terry boing boing.

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  26. 26
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    25,its just got even hotter in the city aye boing boing phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

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  27. 27
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    my sung to the tune of w r albion, here goes

    WE R ALBION
    SAY WE R ALBION
    WE R ALBION
    SAY WE R ALBION
    AYE BOING BOING WE R ALBION

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  28. 28
    Ellen

    Great news, Michael Appleton promoted to First Team Coach!

    Great start Roberto!

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  29. 29
    baggieitalia

    I think every woman should wear Italian leather stiletto’s next season.
    boing boing going up the Di Matteo way.
    By the way some of them songs are rubbish.

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  30. 30
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    16,yes happy but i had mine from lidal aye boing boing cheap cheap

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  31. 31
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    28,ellen,mine and yours are the best sungs so far,aye boing boing lalalalalala

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  32. 32
    Fox in a Box

    Cox having medical

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  33. 33
    dudleybaggie

    Great news we got our new manager Jeremy Peace! with help from new coach Di Matteo some things never change down the baggies

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  34. 34
    Clapham Wolf

    Big risk – you never know it might pay off. At least he’s better looking than Melton.

    In the space of ten years you go from playing at scoring for Chelse in a cup final to coaching a side away to Scunthorpe.

    It’s a funny old game.

    Report abuse

  35. 35
    wackybaggie

    happy baggie -22
    u avin a laugh son,miller missed about four 1 on 1s with the keeper and failed to pass the ball at the right time on numerous occasions.got no vision.and u say he was looking great lol. decent championship player.definately not a premiership player.im only speaking the truth even if it hurts m8.if u want to lie to urself then thats fine.

    Report abuse

  36. 36
    baggiealfie

    Thank you, CLAPTRAP WIFF for your comment, I am sure they will be treated suitably.

    Report abuse

  37. 37
    Fox in a Box

    TM quote on trying to get Fortune to Celtic rather than going to Hull

    “I don’t think it’s any secret that the English Premier League clubs get £30-35million each year off their television deals and the Scottish clubs don’t.

    “But what I do know is we have a huge pulling power from the support and the history and tradition of this club.

    “Believe it or not, there’s a lot of footballers who play for the love of the game as well as the money that goes with it.

    “To play for a club fighting for championships, hoping to compete in the Champions League is a much bigger draw than taking the money sometimes and going and fighting against relegation and playing in a league when there are only really four teams who can ever compete to win that league.”

    loving the last sentence,lol. is it me?????

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  38. 38
    Cyril Randle

    What ARE you lot drinking? I’ll bet it wasn’t in the Vine. Or on it, Lol. I can’t remember looking forward to a season so much for a long time. We haven’t beaten Newcastle for years and they used to be one of our ‘rabbits’ years and years back. The games though were absolutely breath-taking. Back in 195? we took our Mom to her one and only match, against Newcastle. It was an absolute beauty of a game and she understood why we were so keen ever after. I think it was 3-3. A win to start RDM would be nice. Last point. Now the dust has settled, it’s nice to see the rolling pages all about Baggies and Wolves, Celtic being just a bad smell in the background. Oh, and Incey could go back to MK Dons. Phew! That was close!

    Report abuse

  39. 39
    danobaggs

    Im finally actually looking forward 2 the new season now after all that drama with that last mangager… what was his name? I am excited and cant think of many other managers that were on the list that would bring as much optimism and excitment.

    Hope he does get the final say on transfers & all the other things a manager, sorry (head coach) should have the final say on. Wonder if the 20 man squad or whatever it was, rule applies 2 RDM??? Peace just for once try 2 get on with the man in charge, dont drive him away.

    A win on the first game against Newcastle on telly would be the perfect way 2 kick start the season and start a buzz around the club.

    Here we go, here we go. Gotta get that BOING BOING POW!!!

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  40. 40
    danobaggs

    We should all wear Di Matteo masks & wave Italian flags on the first day. See what Mowbray thinks 2 that :)

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  41. 41
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    32,how long have you had this problem,aye boing oing ouch

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  42. 42
    Baggie Gray

    I only hope Mr. Peace doesn’t fall out with our new manager like he has with all the others before him. Lets all keep our fingers crossed we get off to a flying start, and the dingles down the road get relegated by Christmas.
    Best of luck Roberto. BOING BOING

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  43. 43
    sid

    9 – you can never say times are boring being a baggie,,THAT COMMENT MADE ME CRY WITH LAFTER, M8 IM NOT TAKIN THE P, BUT I CAN REMEMBER THE DOUR DAYS, RON WYLIE, A FAN DIED PLAYING THE TRUMPET IN THE BRUMMIE END ON A RAINY WED NIGHT , LATE SEVENTIES,TALBOT,THE MISERABLE BLOKE FROM VILLA,BURKINSHAW,LITTLE BLOKE WHO WENT TO GRIMSBY, DENNIS SMITH, A FEW TO MENTION, M8 IM 43 NOW, SOMETIMES THERE WAS NO LIGHT TILL MEGSON CAME, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU MY FRIEND RDM, MIGHT JUST DO IT , GOD BLESS, IF YOU WANT BORING TIMES M8 IVE SOME TALES TO TELL, LONG LIVE THE ALBION

    Report abuse

  44. 44
    dorset baggie

    19 you are wrong about Miller (OK his injury was self inflicted chasing a ball he could never get and diving over James!) but he will be a massive asset. As for our new director of football…. I’ll give him 10 league games before I make a decision. I pray JP has got it right.

    Albion til I die.

    Report abuse

  45. 45
    Nedball

    Morning boys n girls, I hope everyone’s feeling the love again this morning?

    Looks like Mulumbu’s gonna sign next week, but Menseguez is gonna stay in Argentina……good job we’ve got Texy already signed up aint it?!

    Report abuse

  46. 46
    Fox in a Box

    Malaysian consortium looking around Newcastle, last thing we need would be one of our main rivals getting a sugar daddy with our track record on splashing the cash?

    Report abuse

  47. 47
    Fox in a Box

    looks like Robbo is off for 750,000

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  48. 48
    SteveB

    Hmmm, maybe that was a little ambiguous…

    I just think Newcastle are such a shambles at the moment that they are in real danger of not taking the championship seriously and maybe doing a Leeds.

    Report abuse

  49. 49
    Fox in a Box

    48) fingers crossed

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  50. 50
    jodiebaggie

    RMD you concentrate on winnning the championship and let us baggie babes concentrate on the beauty contest.

    Report abuse

  51. 51
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    50,and im sure you would win it jodie,aye boing boing i love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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