Albion ready to block Cech move

Wednesday 22nd July 2009, 10:58AM BST.

ALBION 16 DH 18Albion are set to keep Marek Cech at the Hawthorns despite the player’s agent claiming Dutch side FC Twente want to sign him.

The Baggies will hold the 26-year-old to his contract, after new head coach Roberto Di Matteo identified him as a key member of the squad.

Cech made no secret of his desire to move on after a nightmare debut season at the Hawthorns, with former boss Tony Mowbray willing to let him leave for the right price.

But the Express & Star understands Di Matteo is ready to veto any move and offer Cech a second chance to kick-start his career in England.

Cech’s versatility is an obvious attraction for Di Matteo, who twice fielded him in a wide midfield role during the pre-season trip to the Balkans.

The Italian also sees the Slovakia star as an option for the left-back position, although he still looks likely to pursue a replacement for the departed Paul Robinson.

Cech made just three Premier League starts last season after his £1.4million move from Porto last summer and was a target for former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan last January.

Now his agent Juraj Venglos has claimed new Parkhead chief Tony Mowbray is still keen on being reunited with Cech, who he took to the Hawthorns.

Venglos also claims Twente, managed by former England boss Steve McClaren, are keen.

He said: “I can confirm that Twente would very much like to capture Marek.

“Apart from the Dutch club, Celtic are also maintaining their strong interest. But the problem is that West Brom do not want to release him.

“Di Matteo counts on him as a member of his squad for the upcoming season. I believe that everything will be sorted properly within this week.

“It is also possible that Marek will spend another season at West Brom.”

Cech is likely to figure at Shrewsbury tonight in Albion’s latest pre-season friendly, with summer signing Simon Cox also hoping to return.

The former Swindon hitman faces a late test on his ankle injury.

But midfielder Graham Dorrans will again miss out, but he is closer to a return after training fully yesterday for the first time since breaking his foot at the end of last season.


  1. 1
    Golden Balls

    The same for any club….. If the player wants to leave in the end he will as their heart is never fully there. The way Cech has been treated I thought he would have been first out!

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  2. 2
    DJB_aggie

    I find it ridiculous that our former manager wants to sign Cech when he prefered Robinson who was obviously out of his depth all season!
    He didn’t seem to want to bring Robinson to Celtic yet he wants Cech!? That makes no sense at all to me.
    Hopefully we can keep him as his versatility is useful, playing him on the left wing, Brunt on the right, Morrison in the middle and buying Fox from Coventry with the Greening money sounds good to me.

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  3. 3
    Happy_baggie

    It will be the club – not some agent after his 15% who will decide where Marek plays next season.

    The idea of Mowbray wanting him is laughable – if he wouldn’t play him last season why would he want him now ? And Twente would be a step down – even if they are in europe – with us he has a real chance of being in the prem again next season.

    Just another greedy agent flogging his players through the media.

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  4. 4
    wbabomber

    I cannot believe Cech would even consider signing for Mowbray after what happened last season. I am glad RDM is prepared to give some of the fringe players a fresh start and an opportunity to play for WBA. Another player i believe has the potential to improve under the new manager is KIM.
    But the list of fringe players who faltered last season is huge, Bednar, Beattie, Moore, Kim, Texeira, Cech, Kiely, and the ones who have left.
    Its a positive side of having a new manager, players can emerge from the shadows.

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  5. 5
    Chris

    I’m really please RDM has put his foot down and blocked a potenial move for Cech. I thought he deserved his chance last season…esp with Robinson making his fair amount of blunders. He should be our first choice left back and from what i’v seen he will be the best left back in that league!

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  6. 6
    CovBaggie

    Looks to me like everyone is trying to jump on the Marek cech express…ALL aboard to the Prem,
    Boing Boing. Terry I think Jodie`s seen the light !! well she has stopped bumping into them cupboards.

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  7. 7
    Wbaforever

    If it`s genuine that Mowbray quote “is still keen on being reunited with Cech” that would be so ironic that Alanis Morrisette could put a new verse in her song.

    What i cant understand about this is evidently RDM is blocking such a move…….then why not do the same with Greening

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  8. 8
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    6 Cov and 7 Forever.
    Always good to see the music links making a comeback and Cov, wouldn’t the old CSN hit make a great song for us if Cech stays this season. If only there were enough of us old enough to remember it.
    Interesting though that RDM doesn’t seem to see him as a left back. As many of us said last season, TM seemed to miss a trick not using him in midfield.

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  9. 9
    jodiebaggie

    I am also puzzled by this block for Cech but not for JG
    why not do the same cos we need em both.
    Hi Terry missin ya loads boing boing.

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  10. 10
    danobaggs

    Why on earth would Ceck wanna go 2 Celtic, Mowbray never had faith him, and never played him. And as a result Cech wanted out, just months into his Albion career. How has Mowbray got the nerve? Would Cech trust him again after that? Would he go 2 Celtic, knowin Mowbray would prob just keep him on the bench constantly.

    If he ios goin anywhere it will be that FC twente. But like his agent said “its possible he will stay”

    I think if he stays he will be first choice this season, and will play a big part. He will get his chance 2 prove himself and deservedly so, he was always better than Robinson.

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  11. 11
    Albion Fan 17

    Good he’s good …

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  12. 12
    Cyril Randle

    Greening has been promised that if a Prem club come in ‘with the right bid’, then he can go. That’s honourable and we supporters can live with it. Fulham though, are trying it on. All that stuff about £3.25m for ‘a Championship player near the end of his career’ is just a smoke screen, one to unsettle the player and two to keep the price down. Jonno is of quite thin build and won’t go overweight easily so he could play Prem for at least 4 years, maybe 5 even. Their whole posture is arrogant. Tapping up, (illegal), derisory offer with a make-weight player that hasn’t arrived in their squad and followed by insults about the player’s age, etc. I would think too that Cech would have to be barmy to join Mowbray after the boredom he suffered. Maybe faults on both sides there but a clean slate gives him the chance to show he could have been a great asset. Delighted to see Dorrans nearly back too. That kid will go to the top! Ray Barlow had the same sort of ‘presence’ on the pitch, magnetic, skilful and a huge ability.

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  13. 13
    H.wednesburybaggie

    JP MUST BE LAUGHING HIS HEAD OFF AT THIS ONE,AFTER giving them abloody nose theyve come back for more? bet he asks for 6m+ and gets it.i would like cech to stay but every player has his price as they say..

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  14. 14
    sid

    cech must stay, now he has achance to prove himself under new manager, as for greening move been blocked, no way let him go, the money we get, we buy younger stronger midfielder or two, sell miete as well, the boy went on strike at bolton, but we brought him, he is an absoulute crap defender, against bolton , arsenal and nearly every game we played he was awful, im not saying i dont like the bloke, but he is rubbish, anyone else agree???

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  15. 15
    Cyril Randle

    Well sid, Meite looked good on the ball as I vaguely remember seeing him in a Baggies shirt, but he still hasn’t met the rest of the squad although he knows all the nurses by first name! He’s also got his own sponsor as Albion haven’t managed it yet. It’s called Ass Pro !

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  16. 16
    Nedball

    14 – He’s not a crap defender, he’s just never fit and made a few more mistakes than I was expecting (that could be said about the majority of the team last season though).

    I can’t wait for Saturday!!

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  17. 17
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    Hi jodie missed you too sweetheart more than you,l ever know,aye boing boing wheres me string vest

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  18. 18
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    14 sid.
    Got to agree with Cyril and Ned. How can you judge him on such limited pitch time, he must have seen more of Clemmo than any other defender last season. Can’t be that bad, he’s played at a high level.
    Two things will hopefully bring a change in Meite’s fortunes. One is that the new management team will introduce more organised defending. The other is that Ade Mafe will do a better job of keeping our players match fit.

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  19. 19
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    hi ned will be going saturday not got me tickets yet fetch im in the morning,aye boing boing barmy army

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  20. 20
    Nedball

    19 – Where you going for a beer before the match bud?

    We went to the Village Hotel last year, but won’t be making that mistake again this time around.

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  21. 21
    H.wednesburybaggie

    19&20. you could try the saddlers club decent pint nice atmosphere…

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  22. 22
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    hi ned,i might take 21s advice but only be having a pint cuz going to perry barr dogs on the nite,aye boing boing trap 6

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  23. 23
    Nedball

    21 – Cheers H, I might just do that then.

    Cheers buddy

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