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Koren throws Albion future in doubt
Tuesday 3rd November 2009, 11:40AM GMT.
Albion midfielder Robert Koren has thrown his future at the club into doubt by claiming to have asked the Baggies about the chance of a move in January.
The Slovenia captain has revealed in an interview in his homeland that he might have to leave the Hawthorns to get regular football in his preferred central midfield role.
Koren, who was among the stars of the club’s Championship triumph two years ago, has fallen down the pecking order this season with Youssouf Mulumbu, Graham Dorrans and even Gonzalo Jara selected ahead of him.
The 29-year-old has started just one Championship game in a central position this season, scoring in the home win against Ipswich.
Now, in an interview ahead of Slovenia’s crucial World Cup qualifying play-off against Russia, Koren has called his future into question but denied any rift with head coach Roberto Di Matteo.
The player said: ”I never got a chance in the centre, but always in a wing position. This was from the outset of the season after the arrival of new coach. Even in friendly matches, I never got the opportunity in the middle.”
Koren also admitted his agent has contacted Albion officials to ask about the possibility of a January departure.
The player added he would be willing to move abroad to get regular action, although he would favour staying in England, after spending three years with the Baggies.
Such comments are likely to grab the attention of Premier League clubs, after Koren was linked during the summer with a move back to the top flight.
The former Lillestrom midfielder played down talk of a summer exit and reaffirmed his commitment to the Baggies in an interview with the Express & Star during the club’s pre-season tour of Slovenia.
But a lack of first-team action in the first three months of the season has left the midfielder frustrated, with the emergence of Dorrans as a key figure further adding to his problems.
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Should it be “has thrown”
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Just paper talk – muck raking, of course.
However, if there was the smallest hint of truth behind it then I’d be disappointed as I personally think Koren is class, and I’d be very sad to see him go because we didn’t utilise him in his best position which, to be fair to his supposed comments, currently we’re not.
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let him go, on the odd occasion this season when he has been called on, seemed to be sulking with no real effort. Thanks and goodbye rocco. Maybe time to team up with that snake TM.
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Robert Koren should be playing in his prefered posistion of cental midfield, in this division he would score more goals than the two players who are there at the moment,i know you cant play all 3 of them together so my choice would be mulumbu and koren.
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4. Koren instead of Dorrens? come on when was the last time Rocco put in a decent tackle.
Dorrens in the middle everytime for me, but would be sad to see him go.
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So Mick, number 4, where would you play Dorrans?
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Will this be another one of the stories in the foreign press that has got lost in translation?
I’d be sorry to see RK go but I can see his point. He’s a class player in what is undoubtedly our strongest position. Still it’s great to have these sort of problems.
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I can understand Koren’s frustrations as he’s been one of our best players for the last 2 and a half seasons, but I don’t think he can complain (and to be fair he hasn’t) about being left out for Dozza and Mulumbu so far this season.
At the start of this season I think the majority would have laughed at the possibility of a central midfield without Koren and Greening, but we have had 2 guys playing out of their skins in there this season.
Koren is a class act and I really do rate him. He will get his chance eventually and he needs to make the most of it, like Cox did on Saturday and like Dorrans has done, so that RDM can’t drop him.
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Sad sad news. How long will dorrans stick around anyway once the prem comes a-knockin? Not long I bet! Koren is a to pro and still one of the best players on the books. Its a shame that all our best players are midfielders. I agree with MIck he would have scored more goals than the other 2, given time in the middle. THe other 2 are top notch no doubt but Koren is too. tried and tested and Mowbs will snap him up on the cheap now.
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I’d be interested to see how Dorrans did on the wing (either, really) with Koren in the middle. It must be hard for the manager to justify changing the “Dorrans in the middle” success story though.
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No.1.
Maybe it should read ‘Koren puts’….??
As an international, he needs to play so that he can play in the World Cup if his country gets there.
Would be very sad to see him go.
Presume RDM needs him as cover and pressure on Dorrans as well as to replace him if he is injured or loses form.
We need strength in depth so he has to stay!!
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Jeff, I was correcting bad grammar. The first print said “Koren has threw”
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I’ve always liked Bobby Koren but he has to look at the reasons he’s not playing, get his head down and earn his place… he hasn’t done that so far this season and, in fairness, he played centrally against Swansea and did nothing apart from stand in and around the box moaning…
I’m a tad disappointed because I rate the bloke but the outburst is quite disrespectful to the gaffer and players like Dorrans and Mulumbu who have outfought him for the right to play…
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You can understand Koren’s situation being captain of his country but not able to command a first team place with his club. I think RDM has decided that he needs physical strength and agression in midfield and those are not Koren’s strongest points although he is a classy player. With added competition from Jara who seems to have the lot wherever he plays plus the re-emergance of Texeira it is difficult to see where he will play. He’ been a fine player for the club and whatever he decides I am sure he will have everones best wishes for the future.
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far too wasteful in posession, not a strong tackler. I think he has justifiably fell behind players of better quality. i wouldn’t be too disappointed if he left
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Great shame if Koren goes, especially when yesterday it was reported how many Premier League clubs are monitoring Dorrans, and you just know TM will be back in for him, well thats if he’s still manager of Celtic come the end of the season.
Koren for me is a excellent player, the model professional, he’ll have no problem finding a Premier League club.
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Just having a glance at the Wolves site. Not having a go at them but this is an extract from one of the posts.
‘I think we can get 4 points next 3 games as some people have already said, we should attack them mercilessly without leaving the back door open.’
Their next two games are Arsenal and Chelsea.
He’d fit in well with some of our own that occupy that land where the sky is green and the grass is red. At first I thought it might be Sir Terry on a wind-up mission but it’s from one of their regular posters.
I now agree with all the ‘Sack Mick’ brigade, get this bloke in instead, if England haven’t poached him first. If only the rest of us realised how simple our great game is.
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9.Mike “but Koren is too. tried and tested and Mowbs will snap him up on the cheap now”. You are joking of course. You’re forgetting JP decides the price. He doesn’t do ‘fire sales’ thank Heaven.
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Why is it that players only objective seems to be “to get in our world cup squad i need to be playing regular 1st team football”. Surely the main objective is to be loyal to the club who pay you,I.E in this case, West Bromich Albion.I do understand what Koren is saying,but if he plays well enough to keep his place in the WBA side then he will get his rewards with his National side.But he does need that chance to shine in our team,in the centre of midfield,difficult decision on the managers part.
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Why is it that players only objective seems to be “to get in our world cup squad i need to be playing regular 1st team football”. Surely the main objective is to be loyal to the club who pay you,I.E in this case, West Bromich Albion.I do understand what Koren is saying,but if he plays well enough to keep his place in the WBA side then he will get his rewards with his National side.But he does need that chance to shine in our team,in the centre of midfield,and it’s a difficult decision on the RDM’s part.
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I say let him go. Hopefully Mr Peace will do some of his classic wheeling and dealing and get an overly inflated price for Koren in January, which we can then use the cash to splash out on a goal scoring forward. Mr Beckford of Leeds anyone?
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wud be a shame if he went because he has served us well and could ov easily left in the summer, hope he will stay and perhaps play dorrans on the wing with koren in the middle could work, only rdm knowz, i lyk koren hes a different class to most other midfielders and if he does leave there will be no shortage of prem clubs come after him, but lets think if prem clubs come for dorrans and he leaves and koren goes our midfield will start to crumble , lets see what happens in january,, keep the faith boys boingboing forever
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Cry baby Roko…just because your not in the side..moan moan moan, not as good as Dorrans, Mulumbu or Jara in the middle and cant lace Marek, Chris or Jerome out wide.
You have the ability, just not the attitude, how many tackles you won this season, about as many saves as Scott had to make on Saturday…NONE!
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Gotta agree totally with Mike at No.9……he has been a fantastic player for our club and I’ve no doubts Dorrans is already being tracked by the big boys and with JP at the elm we know only too well that when a big enough offer drops on his door mat….it will be accepted….and Roko will be gone………….we’ll see but I hope he stays as I’m a big fan of his……
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Hope he doesn’t go! Koren is a class act, he scored double figures last time in this division!
I think he should at least be given a fair run before its too late and he packs his bags.
Wasn’t Mulumbu out satday?? He could’ve been given a go then sureley?
Its no coincidence he scored in his only start in that position against Ipswich. I remember that goal, it was a really good move. Him & Mulumbu were instrumental in everything that day.
Like someone said, maybe all 3 should be tested, with Koren/Mulumbu center and Dorrans on the wing.
Koren has never been a player that puts in tackles and puts himself about.
I remember he wanted to be captain, but it was given Carson instead. Could never understand a goalkeeper being captain…. let alone one that doesn’t communicate and is often short on confidence.
Hopefuly this is just rubbish paper-talk!
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Real Bully Hoo – It’s irrelevant what’s on the Wolves’ pages. Maybe distracting. We have to aspire to be there too, hopefully next year, and have a proper derby once again. It would have been this year, but for last year’s mismanagement.
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17. It would be more than we got last season mate. They got a point at stoke after they dominated 2 games v us last season
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12. baggiepaul1
Fair enough. Didn’t see that one.
Usual bad grammar from the e&s.
I think they must let the work experience kids write their copy!!!!
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23.
No need for this Steve.
He has done really well for us and I for one respect him and thank him!!
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23. Koren is a superb playmaker when playing in his natural position. RDM plays him out of position (if at all!) Koren is quality and has been good for us and still could be. He is captain of his National team so wants regular football (who can blame him) there is no Boo Hoo about it. As Ellen said, he will have no problem finding a premier club at great cost to us.
On another note JP, how about looking after the supporters and sorting us out a supporters club venue. You should never have demolished the old one!
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29 dorset regarding supporters club,any members will be able to use the millichip suite starting with the home game with bristol city,tho i must warn you there is a dress code no footie tops or trainers,aye boing boing boring
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Wasn’t Mulumbu out satday?? He could’ve been given a go then sureley? Dano. You mean we might have won 10-0 ? I’m a Koren fan too, but just what does RdiM have to do to make us ALL happy?
Roko hasn’t been quite as influential since he was trotting back and forth for the new baby, but he’ll come good again. I hope he stays, we’ll need him if we get up to play the Wulfies in the Land Of Funny Colours.
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26 – Shadrag’s shenanigans???
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26 Shadrag.
No need for you to come on, as usual trying to defend the Wolves by attacking the Albion. Actually we’ve aspired to spend twice as long in the PL but that’s beside the point.
The post I was referring to could just as easily have appeared on this side as on yours. What I was getting at was the unrealistic expectations of some fans and how simple a game football is when it’s played on these pages and unlike a real manager these Fantasy Football managers don’t have to answer when their plans go t**s up.
Don’t worry about sending an apology. I know how unpopular you are over on your own side, so feel free to carry on posting on here in whatever identity you feel comfortable in.
Best wishes RBH.
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Hello everyone, I am new to posting but have been reading this site for some time. I am baggies fan but occasionally watch Blues, Wolves and very occasionally Villa if the albion are away. I know its not often people watch their rivals but I love football and I want to support all the midlands clubs, if they are not playing the albion I want them to win. Saturdays performance was very positive and lets hope this can be the start of a run and not another patch of inconsistency. The only reason I can not see us getting promoted is strength in depth as we have found out recently with a few minor injuries, this depends on who Robbie brings in on loan.
31. I agree that we need to keep him and I also agree that I think Wolves will stay up but I also think Birmingham will too (just).
17. They have Arsenal and Chelsea so not likely but to be fair they come back from 2-0 v Stoke on Sat and they have birmingham at home after so I suppose 4 points would be a great return. I fancy us to get 3 points off the foxes.
Bottom line, we should be supporting midlands clubs to do well. I love the banter etc but it does go too far sometimes. I think Wolves and probably Birmingham will survive so if we can get up it will be great for midlands football because at the moment its northern and london teams dominating.
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One post and already I’m a Bill Thomas fan! When we play Villa, Blues, Wulfies, a 10-0 win would just about make me happy, but otherwise, I like them to win against whoever else thay play. Same with Scotland, Ireland and Wales, English first and then British. Simples. Squeak!
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31 – Cyrille, I wasnt complaining about the result at all or saying it would have been better if we started Koren.
Of course I am thrilled with 5-0 u couldn’t ask for more! And so far I’ve backed RDM all the way even in the bad spell.
Just thought if there was ever a time for Koren to get a chance (in his favoured position) it would have been saturday when Mulumbu was out. I hope he gets his chance thats all
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35, how many different names have you got shadrag??
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