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Di Matteo’s selection worries grow
Monday 8th February 2010, 10:32AM GMT.
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo is wrestling with mounting selection worries as his Albion team prepared for their third game in seven days.
The Baggies will take on Scunthorpe at the Hawthorns tomorrow night looking to record their fourth straight Championship victory and keep second spot.
But Di Matteo has seen Jerome Thomas, Marek Cech and Ishmael Miller ruled out for at least a fortnight through injury and suspension.
Thomas will start a four-match ban tomorrow after collecting his second red card of the season at Plymouth on Saturday while Cech (hamstring) and Miller (ankle) are also ruled out for the immediate future.
The head coach said: “They are not long-term injuries. But Marek Cech will be out for a two weeks and Ishmael a bit longer than that.”
Replacing Thomas will be Di Matteo’s biggest challenge, with no obvious deputy available in his squad.
The Italian could recall Robert Koren, who was rested on Saturday, in his less favoured wide role or switch Chris Brunt to the left and field Gianni Zuiverloon ahead of Gonzalo Jara on the right. New signing Andy Slory is the only natural replacement but the Dutchman remains short of full fitness.
However, Di Matteo will have Jara, Koren and Jonas Olsson ‘fresh’ for tomorrow after his decision to rest the trio paid off on Saturday with a 1-0 win at Home Park.
The Baggies boss said: “It’s really difficult for players to play three times in six days and it was about the fifth or sixth game in 15 days.
“We have another game on Tuesday, so we needed to rest some players and utilise the squad otherwise we will run out of fuel before the end of the season.
Saturday’s victory for Albion kept them ahead of third-placed Nottingham Forest and on the heels of leaders Newcastle with all three winning at the weekend.
But Di Matteo is refusing to write off the chasing pack.
He said: “There are still plenty of points to play for. It looks like the top three at the moment, but I don’t think it is as simple as it looks now.
“I think the other teams still have something to say.”
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What’s the latest on Morrison. Last I heard is that he was targetting the Ipswich match which was weeks ago. Good move for Nouble. Think he has pace. Just hope he can get on the same wavelength as his new team mates quickly. Clearly from what I’ve seen the lad has potential.
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We can cope with the loss of J.T by playing Chris Brunt on the left and Slory on the right(both their preferred position).This will benefit Bednar and playing Brunt on the left will also help Mattock out in defence.
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…#Oh we do like to play beside the seaside#…Time to re-locate, me thinks. I´m predicting a 2-0 win for our guys tomorrow evening, both goals from our new loan signing. Then the local Scunny headline would simply read, “Double Nouble Trouble”.
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Blimey, Costa Blanca, all that ‘fresh hair’ has gone to your head!
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Hi Cyril
Have you ever been able to watch any of the championship match’s on the net ? I have noticed that, even before you try to complete the survey’s, that the pop up window shows “Stream will follow”, but it never does.
I am at a loss to understand why they are protecting championship matches, yet, top premiership matches are free to watch.
The match is listed again for tonight but I doubt if it will be there again
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I`d put Nouble straight in at left-midfeild
to replace Jerome Thomas.
CARSON,ZUIVERLOON,TAMAS,OLSSON,JARA,
BRUNT,MULUMBU,KOREN,NOUBLE,DORRANS,BEDNAR.
SUBS:KIELY,MEITE,MATTOCK,THORNE,
COX,SLORY,MOORE.
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Yea when will we see James Morrison again. I think Nouble is a good replacement and possibly the most exciting loan since Richardson. However why we did not ensure Best was wearing blue and white instead of Black and white should be looked at. Again we were all mouth and no trousers in the transfer window. Very Dissapointing. Still we have the squad we have now. And in our favour we have yet to put a run together like Forest or Newcastle but its starting to click a little better at the moment since the Forest game, so maybe its our turn for a 18 match or more unbeaten league run. I predict a 2-0 win tonight but the goals as usual could come from anywhere. Keep the faith
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To be fair I dont think Leon Best would bring anything to the club. I dont really rate him. We have brought in cover in the form of Tamas and Slory. Tamas looks very good lately.
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Well you were correct 2-0 but I think Leon Best was a gamble that Newcastle have taken. Didn’t work for them tonight though.
Also with Carroll having some personal off the field issues I just wonder that this may be the time where the pressure starts to get to the Geordies.
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