Albion Blog: Back with the Baggies
Tuesday 28th July 2009, 9:10AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill mulled over plenty of positives after returning to pound the beat with the Baggies blogging faithful at Walsall.
Now there has been time to reflect, Saturday at Walsall was all about blowing the rust off and getting ready for the forthcoming season.
It was business as usual by meeting up for a beer or two before the game and chewing the fat. It was nice to see Sir Terry, Nicole, Colin, Nedball, Pete ‘Hilltop Baggie’ Danckert, myself and a number of other regular bloggers starting as we mean to go on – in the pub discussing all things Albion.
We discussed the Jonathan Greening situation, areas of the squad that needed attention and current fringe players who could play a bigger part this season.
Our skipper’s proposed move to Fulham split opinion amongst us. Some argued that we couldn’t replace what he brings to our team for that amount of money and should hold onto him at all costs.
Personally I feel that if Greening wants to move on he has gone about it the right way and £4million is a fair price, for a 30-year-old player who will have no re-sale value at the end of a three-year contract.
I am also of the somewhat minority opinion – as I found out on Saturday – that our midfield could cope without him.
We have an abundant amount of options in midfield, so I am of the opinion that Borja Valero or the impressive Youssouf Mulumbu could operate in the same role.
I know many fans berated Valero last season and rightfully so but, with a season acclimatising to the English game and the fact he struggled to play with Greening due to the similarities between them, he could come good.
Mulumbu also looks like he could operate in that holding role, he offers more protection to the back four and his range of neat passing has also impressed me.
Areas of the squad that could use the funds also split opinion. Most of us agreed that both full back positions need strengthening with only Marek Cech and Gianni Zuiverloon as first teamers, with my feeling also that we require another striker.
The match itself at Walsall took 45 minutes to eventually come to life. But what it did manage to do was highlight that our squad has a number of players who remained on the fringes last season under Mowbray, that could have a real impact on this season under Di Matteo.
None more so than Felipe Texeira. He came off the bench on Saturday to completely change the game. His directness and movement caused the previously unruffled Walsall defence untold problems and led to both goals.
The first was well taken by another player who we hope can become reinvigorated by the new gaffer, Luke Moore.
You can actually see a difference in him. For want of a more Shakespearean description, he looks ‘up for it.’
His performance over shadowed my first view of our summer signing Simon Cox, there was no lack of effort but nothing seemed to come off for him, but to be honest in the first half he was feeding of scraps.
Players who also looked good on Saturday included Robert Koren, Zuiverloon, Jonas Olsson, Mulumbu and surprisingly Abdoulaye Meite.
He came off the bench and looked for the first time since arriving at the club fit and strong. He won every challenge, every header and we all know that the Championship demands its defenders to be physical.
We still wait to see who stays and who goes but the fact is we do have strength in depth. Not by Premier League standards, but by Championship standards.
I still think we will see more player movement before the end of August, with my money on players leaving to be James Morrison and Greening. I would prefer to keep both, but my message to Albion fans would be not to panic if they do leave.
Anyway, have a good week and I will see you all back at the shrine on Saturday. Chievo are in town and with our new manager it should have a bit of an Italian feel to the occasion.
Cheeky fruity red anyone?
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Actually a fair blog unlike the one done last season on the mighty Wolves. That one thinks he knows better than Mick.
Please, please E&S don’t let him undermine our club this year. Get someone else!
Good luck this year Baggy Boys.
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Good to meet a few of you on Saturday eventually, especially you Bomber, George Clooney’s body double himself Sir Terry, and the man mountain that is Hilltop Baggie!
Did anyone spot our newest Baggie recruit LaughingWolf there on Saturday though?
Tex was very good on Sat, as was Zuvi, Cech looked a bit lost at times, as did Barnett, but I think we could see the bones of Di Matteo’s 1st choice team coming together.
The most surprising thing for me to come out of this pre season is the fact that we were all pretty certain that Moore and Beattie would be gone come August, yet now it looks like they may well be our 1st choice strike partnership??? Who’d have thought that?
Love to Shadrag xx
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Much has been said and written about Luke Moore. My comment about him is quite bluntly this. I don’t know what sort of money he earns but I ‘m sure it’s at least 10K a week and I think it’s about time he started doing something to justify it. Talk about taking the p
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Hi Jarrod,
I was at a wedding Saturday so it’s interesting to read your thoughts on the performance, particularly those of Meite, Moore and Teixeira.
Meite must have it in him somewhere, Newcastle and Liverpool looked at him before he moved to Bolton. I suppose, like Moore, the question remains in his temperament. If Di Matteo can get them wanting to play, then it could be like 2 inspired summer signings.
We all know about Teixeira’s ability, I still worry about that balance though. I remember losing at Barnsley in Feb 2008, we started the game with Greening, Koren, Teixeira and Brunt (possible starters for day 1) in the midfield and looked distinctly lightweight. I hope Di Matteo realises this now and not in October. Mulumbu can help give us some solidity, and yes, Valero can still be a revelation if we give him a chance and some freedom in midfield.
This could be a good year, fingers crossed. COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!
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Kim has been sold to Suwon Bluewings in Korea for £360k!
No great loss at all IMO. Thanks for scoring that header at QPR to seal the Championship Kim, best of luck!!
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weev sold kim for 360,000 yuan,sorry pounds,aye boing boing grasshoper
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hi jarrod great to see you all agen and to say hello to ned,pity jodie couldent have joined us,which watering hole we going to on sat aye boing boing pint a bitter plz cock
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Its nice to see the cheeky fruity boys are still meeting in the Blue Oyster bar before the game.
Do Chievo play in pink?
Suits you Sir!
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Bomber
I am back in blighty on Friday for a few days, and want to go to the game.
Let me know where you`re having a pint beforehand.
Oh, and what about a ticket, can i pay on the day ?
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I don’t think its a great loss if Morrison and Greening move on. We have plenty of midfielders. Is there any news on Mensequez? Would have been nice if we kept him.
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Welcome back Bomber – you’ve been sorely missed!
I’m with you on Greening – he’s 30 and £4m is cracking money for an aging Championship midfielder – especially considering we have several ready-made replacements for him.
“Thank you for your services Mr Greening, you may leave now”
Also Moore is looking (through the eyes of the many textbased reports!) useful and 33/1 on him being top scorer looks a steal (a quarter odds on him being in the top 4 also a bargain!).
A special mention to Newcastle: They look in complete disarray! If we think a 2-2 draw with Walsall is poor just take a look at our opening day opponents losing 6-1 to Leyton Orient!
How I’m gonna cry if they spank us now!
Anyone joined the championship fantasy league on the petrol-sponsored website?
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Is there any reason why no posts are actually being displayed at all?! I’ve put a few posts on here and they’re disappearing without a trace, just like the Wulfies chances of buying quality players and staying up next season!
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another great blog jarrord
im with you on the greening saga 4m + is a good deal not sure about the return of kamara if what you hear is true ?
we deffo are in need of full backs i agree and im hopinng if bednar gets his chance again he comes back and proves a point it would of been nice to see mensegez return from argentina any idea whats happened to that deal ?
all in all what ive seen so far the squad is looking fit and sharp looking forward to saturday back at the shrine
so were is everyone meeting up for a beer we can put the world to rights
boing boing
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Same here Nedball,quite a few of my posts recently have not been displayed.Why?As for Greening yeah, i think we have had his best days.£4ml. good deal.
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11- Not yet, but does anybody fancy setting up a mini-league on the Championship fantasy football?!!
Would add to the banter throughout the season!!
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N0 3..Smethwick Baggie re the question as to Luke Moore’s salary?
Just to say in the ‘Greed League’ it was around £23.000 per week, but now back in the ‘Fizzy Pop’ it will obviously have been reduced as laid down in all the players contracts.
These state that relegation automatically means a reduction.
What this percentage amounts to I have no idea but no doubt many fans will consider to still be a fair wage?!
“COME ON YOU BAGGIES”
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9wba bomber,how am ya mate,not sure where they going for pint before the game but i know you can pay on the gate,aye boing boing 15 quid shud be 5 at most.
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Nice to see your blog back Jarrod and an interesting blog it is too,I agree with 4 million for Greening and he should be allowed to go for that price,ime also hoping that,Moore and Meite start to shine under Dimatteo.Looking forward to your blogs throughout the season,for some friendly banter and moans….
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Thanks Tezza, i am fine.
I guess it`s the Vine or the Cricket club, just let me know.
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Di Matteo has to have a clean slate. Being more direct is a must from now on. I see we have sold Kim and Jonno will be gone soon. Robbo has gone along with Mowbray. Cechs future is unclear. Moores attitude and Bednars behaviour has certainly been challenging.He has a difficult job to do and if we finish in the top6 I will be very pleased. Last season was s shambles in all aspects from boardroom to the team. Peace will always see us through financially but our players need to stand up and be counted.
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12. Ned- I wouldnt say too much mate. Valero, Carson, Mulumbu, Simpson, Moore. The only success was Olsson and Fortune. I think the wolves will struggle but they are fortunate they have got Hull, Pompey, Burnley, Blues, Wigan who are considerably worse than last season, they also have more pace and youth in their side. I hope Roberto does it but top 6 would be a good season.
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20
Just how many aliases have you got ? you tedious pleb
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There’s basically five weeks to go before the end of August or what is now becoming more commonly known as transfer deadline day.
I fully expect plenty more comings and goings between now and then. I don’t expect Greening or Morrison to still be with us, however, I do expect us to sign a left back, another striker and one or two midfielders. RDM is about to start stamping his authority on the club and he’ll want to bring in some of his own players.
Up to now, Cox and Mulumbu cannot be described as his players although he was happy for them to come in. I’m sure there’s plenty going on behind the scenes and i think the squad will look a bit different 5 weeks from now.
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21 – You’re Shadrag in his rather poor guise as a Baggie aren’t you Shadrag?!
God bless you Shadrag / Bluenwhitewhatever, I love both of you!! xxxxxx
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Hi all, i will probably be in the Sportsman at 12.30 ish Saturday, wbaforever, ill get you a ticket mate when i go and get mine.
I see Kim has gone, to be fair he never really had the physicality to succeed in England.
Hope to see you on Saturday.
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MITE JOIN U BOMBER
IM IN DESI`S FIRST THOUGH
BOING BOING
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“I know many fans berated Valero last season and rightfully so but, with a season acclimatising to the English game and the fact he struggled to play with Greening due to the similarities between them, he could come good”
- have been saying exactly this myself since our relegation was more or less confirmed. Always felt the Greening/Valero pairing in midfield was a poormans version of the Gerrard/Lampard situation for England. I think a season in the muck N bullets Championship without Greening would hugely benefit Valero…although i wont hold my breath!!
£4M for Greening is a great deal, and i definately think we should take it, although i’d rather keep him, every player has their price and he’s 30 yrs old having spent his best years with us – surely a no-brainer?
On players in: I still think we need a big ugly no-nonsense centre-back to compliment Olsen as we have very little in that area with Clem out for a while longer yet. Barnett and Martis both show promise but are still too unreliable as both have great steady games then go and make a silly mistake to completely ruin a solid display. And being young, bang goes their confidence!
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Unfortunately I have to rely on the internet to pick up news and we get Sky Sports at certain times but I just heard we are interested in Marlon King, is that true? I hope not!!!
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