Albion Blog – The Battle at Bramall
Friday 28th August 2009, 9:07AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill expects his trip to Sheffield United to pay rich dividends for the Baggies in the Championship.
If nothing else, Wednesday night’s game against Rotherham in the Carling Cup was value for money. Seven goals for £10, that’s £1.43 a goal. My ticket for Sheffield United tomorrow cost £26 and to get the same return we need to see 18 goals, so hang onto your hats!
Head Roberto Di Matteo chose to rest many of his first-team regulars and give a number of fringe players a run out, which included the returning Roman Bednar. On that evidence he is going to need a few more games before we see him get back to his best, although his dummy for the first goal was pure instinct.
Graham Dorrans was easily the best player on the park and capped an excellent performance with a superb goal, but he was the only one amongst the fringe players to enhance his chance of a first team return.
Leon Barnett and Abdoulaye Meite were unconvincing at the back and it is easy to see why Di Matteo has focused on strengthening our squad in that department.
Craig Beattie continued to be deployed at left midfield and, although he never really looked comfortable, I must give the lad some credit for giving 100 per cent effort and his second goal was a cracker.
Now he is on his way to Swansea and I do wish the lad well, but if we are building a squad capable of getting promotion and staying in the Premier League players like Beattie do need to be moved on.
Reuben Reid had more to prove than many being quickly thrown into action against his former employers, yet he was another who fluffed his lines. Rotherham fans seemed to be a little bemused as to why we are playing him out wide. To be honest he looks to be an out and out striker, so I will reserve judgement on him until I have seen him play that role.
The League Two side did play well and a number of their players impressed me, but we continued our knack under Di Matteo of not playing well but still winning.
The late introduction of Youssouf Mulumbu turned the game in our favour and we can now look forward to the next round of the draw.
It was good to see Simon Cox get off the mark with his first goal in an Albion shirt and Chris Wood, the creator of the winning goal, played well again after climbing off the bench.
So onto tomorrow’s game and possibly one of our toughest away fixtures of the season at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United are a very experienced Championship team and very strong at home, well organised and they play at a high tempo, so the first 25 minutes of the game will be a key part of the game.
We will need to match them for effort, before being allowed to play our football. Their fans create a good atmosphere at the Lane, but if we can keep them quiet it will work in our favour.
My best guess is that Roberto will choose to go with five in midfield as he did at Nottingham Forest.
I expect to see Dorrans added to our midfield to make the five, but I am unsure as to who I would like to see play the lone role up front. Bednar would be my choice if he was match fit, but as we witnessed on Wednesday he won’t be ready for a few weeks yet.
I don’t think any of our other strikers are comfortable playing that role, although I expect Chris Wood to mature into the archetypal target man. Luke Moore will probably get the nod, although his preference is to play on the shoulder of the last defender, so he will need to sacrifice his natural instinct for the good of the team.
It was good to see Chris Brunt sign a new deal this week for a number of reasons. Firstly, he is a good player who is gradually getting better and better with each passing season.
Secondly, it sends out a positive message to the rest of the squad. It may just be an indicator that players who have remained at the club from the Mowbray era are starting to buy into Roberto Di Matteo’s vision for the future, either that or he just loves the songs we sing about him!
I am travelling up to Sheffield tomorrow with none other than Pete ‘Hilltop Baggie’ Danckert and wbaforever. You couldn’t get three more opinionated Albion fans if you tried and I just hope we get there without either one of them throwing me out of the car!
Anyway I will plan for the trip with a few beers and some footy questions, here’s a little taster: -
How many players in England’s 2006 World Cup squad had previously captained their country and who are they?
First person with the correct answer can find me tomorrow and I will buy them a beer.
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must admit not sure I’m a fan of 5 in midfield under RDM…..thought we looked much better with 4-4-2 at Peterboro. Not sure Moore can play that role nor does it get the best out of him. Massive game for us – would take a point now
Was it 4 eng captains in the squad? I’ll stab at Beckham, Sol Campbell, Gerrard and Owen
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beevower
I totally agree, and i would prefer us to go with 4-4-2, i just think he will go with five in midfield due to Sheffields up and at em style. Well done with the answer, spot on!!
Now all you have to do is find me in Sheffield tomorrow!!
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I know you’ll be in The Howard before kick off Bomber!!
I wouldn’t be against 5 in midfield at the right time with a fully fit Bednar but not Moore. Fully agree with you on the Beattie front btw – have always had a similar view about him as yourself.
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*BREAKING NEWS* mulumbu has signed a two year deal and a further year in clubs option
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bomber
‘We will need to match them for effort’
nu uh
THEY will need to match us ;-)
im highly optomistic about the match, i always cringe when we play them though, very good side.
COMMMMMMME ON YOU BAGGIEESSSSS!!
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i,ll go for 4,campbell,owen,becks,gerrard,aye boing boing pint a john smiths plz
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Jarrod, just check out the fish and chip shop on the RH far corner if you face their ground front on. Nephew Richard, (now living in Florida but heart still with Baggies) and I used to make a beeline straight to there. If it’s the same owners you’ll have fish and chips to drool over. Always a queue though. Look for him there beevower. Wish I could be there, but no long drives now, so I shall be listening to the Real Bomber on the radio.
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Bomber
Not entirely sure what you mean by opinionated,
most people i meet say i am shy and retiring, and i need to come out of my shell, but if that`s your opinion of me you opinionated b****** then hey ho.
Anyhow i digress.
Tomorrow, i can also envisage a five man midfield, and not nessarsarily by design.
Wood limped off the other night, do we know the extent of his injury ? Bednar not fully match fit, a place on the bench looks nailed on.
Which leaves RDM with the options of Moore with Cox or Reid along side him, and i suppose Thomas could play that role, but another whose fitness is in question.
So i am guessing RDM will take the cautious option of 5 with a view to change if the need arises.
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There seems to be a lot of concern at the moment about our inability to score goals, which, based on the two home league games that I’ve attended, seems to be unwarranted. Against both Newcastle and Ipswich we easily created the majority of the chances and could have run out more emphatic winners against both. With Morrison and Miller still to come into the team (although I think it may be next season before Ish gets back to full fitness) and the new boys starting to gel, we can only get better in that department, which should be too good for the majority of the division. I’d prefer to see Moore over Woods – Luke’s got more pace, which should trouble Chris Morgan more that an inexperienced target man. Also, Luke’s got his deadly weapon – his chest!!! I suppose it says a lot when, as a striker, your greatest asset is your ability to chest the ball! Not too many goals get scored with the chest – can anyone recall a chested goal for the Baggies (one for the road Jarrod).
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Not a regular poster – but have to say Bomber, love the blog.
I’m going up on the coaches with my daughter tomorrow for the first time, so I don’t care if we play 10 across midfield as long as we see a win !!!
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TonyC,
The heres hoping they get the win for you guys!
enjoy.
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Just read the “Albion ban the players signing” at the training ground..
how stupid…. who cares if people make a profit from selling them on ebay if they signed everything put in front of them the autographs would not be worth anything.
I often go to the training ground to get shirts/ball/posters signed for raffle prizes etc for the kids football team as it is much easier than going to the ground and leaving to the incompetent people at the club..
I understand that it is the club and not the players that have decided this..but surley they would not expect the players just to drive past a 10 year old holding up an autograph book
sometimes this club makes me so angry
Bomber I am going for 4 along with sir Terry a single Vodka will do me !!!
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mulumbu signed 2 year contract,aye boing boing its looking good
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I agree with you Jarrod, think he’ll play 5 but don’t think it works with Luke Moore.
We were woeful at Forest and have looked significantly better since. With Luke Moore as your lone striker, I think you’re effectively allowing 75% of the game to take place in your own half, which is a very dangerous ploy when you’ve got a Megson back 9, never mind ours at the moment!!
I hope we don’t get punsihed for it tomorrow. We’ve got a great squad for this league, lets go and have a go at them, nothing to fear!!
COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!
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Now that Craig Beattie has gone we really do need
another striker before the transfer window shuts,
Albion must have one of the worst strike- forces
of the entire division.
I can see us struggling tomorrow if Chris Brunt
and Chris Wood are ruled out through injury,
RDM should give Lateef Elford-Alliyu a chance
up front with Luke Moore.
My 11: Carson,Cummings,Martis,Olsson,Mattock,
Thomas,Koren,Mulumbu,Dorrans,
Elford-Alliyu,Moore.
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12,its says first with the answer,we,ll have half each,no doubt theres a trick there somwhere aye boing boing googleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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12 agree with you bout autograghs,how pathetic,cost ya more in petrol collecting them than what they worth,aye boing boing
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Thanks tonyc, hope we win for you both!!
cant remember anyone scoring with their chest but i do remember an Albion bum scoring against Man U (no i dont mean Coldicott). Bernt Haas!!!
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Valero
Elford-Alliyu is not a bad shout, but i think Cox would get the nod first.
You also mention Thomas, has he recovered form illness ?
I also see you prefer Mattock to Cech ?
On to your apraisal that we have one of the worst strike forces in the division, i do find that somewhat baffling when we have scored 13 goals in 6 competitive matches and Tim Krul saved a certain couple and Richard Wright saved an absolute goal glut.
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could u see dean kiely or neil clement driving past a 6 year old with an autograph book wat the club has done is wrong and disrespectful i went 3 weeks ago and got some autographs and there was a few there i dont see wat a scribble on some paper is making a big fuss about
4-5-1 1-0 WILL DO ME
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18, id better not mention dichio aye boing boing plonker
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Valero, wbaforever
Has anybody seen Elford-Alliyu play? Do we know what type of striker he is? From his pics, he doesn’t look like a target man.
I’d be astonished if he got the nod next to Moore for any game given he won’t play Cox and Moore, let alone for an away game at Sheff U!!
Re: strike force. I’d argue most teams in this division would take Cox, Moore, Bednar, Miller and Wood. You’ve gotta remember Beattie was getting in Sheff U and Palace’s first teams….
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i asked scott carson to sign my shirt last week,he dropped the pen,aye boing boing ooopppppppppppppppppppppssssss
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The clubs decision re the signing of autographs is just another example of bad PR. Who ever decides on our PR wants sacking, the bus tour debacle and now this.
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This business about the autographs is so petty and possibly damaging it beggars belief.
Much is made about role models for impressionable young minds, these fans have chose not to give in to peer pressure and become part of the Man Utd shirt wearing brigade, imagine their dissapointment at being snubbed by their hero`s.
They may choose to become Black Country Mancs.
We dont have so many fans that some beauracratic spokesman, (who is clearly camping out on the edge of reality) can treat us with such arrogant disdain.
Sorry Bomber, is that me being opinionated ?
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Wbaforever
I dont even think Thomas is ill its more like he`s
done his hamstring again as you could see him
pull up from sitting in the East stand,sounds like
Albion have brought a crock!!!
But dont want to admit it…
HOW MANY GOALS HAVE THE STRIKERS SCORED IN
THE LEAGUE?
Luke Moore 2
I cant believe Albion fans arnt crying out for
Jeremy Peace to buy a striker!
BLOODY WAKE UP BAGGIE FANS!
The transfer window shuts in a few days and
Albion will be going with
Roman Bednar-Not even fully match fit and wont
be for another 3 months.
Simon Cox-May come good in a couple of years
but not ready for Championship football yet.
Chris Wood-17 year old kid with bags of ability
but unfair to keep throwing him in at such an
early age.
I CALL ALL ALBION FANS TO PHONE TOM DROSS
TONIGHT AND DEMAND JEREMY PEACE BUYS THIS
STRIKER WE SO BADLY NEED!
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Warren (Albion)
Ive seen him in the reserves and he`s a god dam
sight better than what we have at the moment,
BIG,STRONG,QUICK,with good movment!
Jeremy Peace keeps banging on about how good
the Acadamy is so lets give Elford-Alliyu a
chance.
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Can I thank all Albion and Wolves fans who have sent best wishes to my Aunt (Nancy Reeve) who was mugged last week at Trinity Metro Station. I am using this Blog since My Aunt is an ardent Baggies fan who attended both the 1953 and 1968 FA Cup Final’s with my Uncle and her late husband Bill. She listens to all our matches on the local Radio Station and telephones us on our return from the matches to discuss the game. She is recovering from the ordeal well and will be listening to the match tomorrow, so lets hope the lads can win this match for my Aunt since it will cheer up no end. Thanks.
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Valero
I would like to see Elford given a chance, but it`s very spurious to say he is better than what we have when we have only seen him in the stiffs,
and contradictory when you speak of Woods…..Elford is of similar age ?
Regarding the strike force and your reference of Moore 2 goals, come on mate, you know it isn`t that Black and White, i will re-itterate 6 competitive games and at the moment they are relative strangers, it`s not a boil-in-the-bag curry it wil take time.
In the meantime we are scoring and we are creating. A new striker, well yes please, the more options the better, but at present we are joint top, so despite your fears we`re not doing too badly are we ?
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Valero – you can’t be serious so you must be a dingle.
However, I might phone Tom Ross about Terry trying to claim my pint I won from Bomber……I’ve seen it all now!!
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“I HAD A DREAM…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“ALBION BAG TAMAS AND NUGENT IN 5M DOUBLE SWOOP”
“THEN I WOKE UP…
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28-
It was an appalling attack, truly sickening. I hope your Aunt recovers physically and mentally, glad to hear she’s well enough to listen to the game.
If they find the culprit, they should be left to rot, what an utter coward.
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30,soz mate i daint see that,seems baggiboy daint eithertook me ages to look that up on google as well,never mind i,ll by my own,see ya in the pub aye boing boing
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Opinionated, who do you think you are ? meak, mild and gentle me son. I’m fancying a few surprises tommorrow, not certain that we will play 4-5-1, i think he used the cupgameto look at a few options and provided woods isnt too badly injured you might just see him start with woods and moore, equally, he could give bang bang the start and replace him after 60 mins or so. Dorrans gets my shout every time mate, and i think with koren and mulumbo we have the makings of a very strong midfield again. I alawys get this feeling going to bramhall lane that its going to be a very eventful day, must be something to do with that infamous game…………. Bring it on
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London Baggie
I also hope your Aunt recovers well, and if they find the culprit they will probably send him on a holiday to sort himself out, as it would be against his ‘human rights’ to punish him!!
Let’s hope we get a result against the Blades to cheer her up!
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Team has got to be this:
Carson ,
Cummings , Martis , Olsson , Mattock ,
Dorrans , Valero , Koren , Mulumbu , Thomas ,
Moore .
Subs: Kiely , Meite , Cech , Bednar ,
Cox , Reid , Elford-Alliyu .
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One of the biggest tests tomorrow well see how
good we really are we were a bit fortunate at
Forest so lets not expect to much. However we
battered toon and Ipswich and should have had more
goals for our efforts. In a way Im sorry about
Beattie always gave 100% but JP needed to cut wage
bill and theres little prospect of moving on the
deadnecks Meitie Valero and Barnett who identifies
new recruits ?? close on £11ml wasted. I agree
Reid should be played as a striker.
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When I read posts like 28, my blood boils! Nancy must be approaching my age I would think so the total scumbag who mugged her needs dangling upside down by his toenails for a week, Monty Python fashion. Give her my best wishes ‘London’. One good point out of evil is the uniting of decent Wulfies and Baggies. Tribalism forgotten at important times hey?
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London Baggie, I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for a Baggies win for the first time ever in the hope that it cheers your Aunt up and helps speed her recovery.
Good luck WBA against the Blades!
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39 SteveB.
Well said. Incidents like this put the ‘hate’ some football fans declare for others.
London.
Can I add my best wishes to your Aunt for her recovery. I have the misfortune to have to work with the scum that commit these sort of offences (don’t call them animals, animals don’t do things like this.) Unfortunately although most people would echo Cyril’s sentiments in post 38, the reality is that Stratford is closer to the truth in post 35. My own feelings? as I’ve yet to witness any genuine signs of remorse, I’d go with Cyril’s suspension idea but I’d substitute the neck for the toenails.
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40RBH. Too quick mate, by the neck. In ‘Life of Brian’ they are only turned the right way up once a year and I’d allow the suffering families to throw darts at ‘em. Anyone capable of mugging old ladies will never show remorse. Good point today though so Nancy will be happy with that. Could have been three with slightly more experienced defenders. Good broadcast on Beacon with Bomber Brown adding the bits.
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