Albion sign Watson for rest of season

Monday 22nd February 2010, 2:00PM GMT.

Albion sign Watson for rest of season

Albion have boosted their squad by signing Wigan midfielder Ben Watson on loan for the rest of the season.

The 24-year-old will be available to make his debut in Saturday’s Championship clash with Derby at the Hawthorns, but is cup-tied for Wednesday night’s FA Cup fifth-round replay with Reading.

Baggies head coach Roberto Di Matteo said: “Having lost Gonzalo Jara for the remainder of the season to injury, we have been looking to strengthen the central midfield area and we are very pleased that he has joined us.

“Ben is very good technically and is a competitive player who knows the Championship very well. He has played many times at this level and knows what is required, which should help him to hit the ground running.”

The Latics have a 24-hour recall clause that will come into effect after the Hawthorns clash with Coventry on March 24.

Watson spent the first half of the season on loan at QPR, making 16 appearances and scoring twice.

The midfielder is a product of the Crystal Palace youth system, making his Eagles debut at the age of 17 and making 169 appearances for the South London outfit, scoring 18 times.

He cost Wigan £2million 11 months ago after they beat Middlesbrough to his signature, but has made just seven starts for the Latics.


  1. 1
    Happy_baggie

    I like this !!!!!! Ben Watson is a great player and was on the radar of plenty of top clubs when he was t Palace.

    I’m suprised he has been unable to get a regular place at wigan but maybe he has had injuries ???

    Anyway – he perfectly fits the bill for what we need… well done to RDM and the team – wonder if his mate Koumas will travel with him ?

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  2. 2
    slippy

    thank god its him and not koumas, good signing knows this division and very competitive just what we need not impressed with nouble though gave mattock no help at all and boy didnt he need it we need bedner to go on another scoring spree as the goals are starting to dry up i would go 442 against reading and give someone out the midfield a rest . have we used up all our loanees yet ?

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  3. 3
    baggie boy 2

    YES I HAVE SEEN WATSON PLAY AGAINST THE ALBION BEFORE AND IS A VERY COMPETATIVE SORT OF PLAYER NEVER SAY DIE ATTITUDE I THINK HE WILL DO VERY WELL FOR US , YES WELL PLEASED

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  4. 4
    wbabomber

    Glad we have signed someone, and a player I rated last season, but can he play right back?

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  5. 5
    Albion Til I DIE!

    At last a decent signing with experience.We only need an experienced striker now and we should be o.k.Plus get Texi back because he is miles better than Nouble and Slory.They have nothing about them and seem no better than S.MacDonald who we let go.

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    • Happy_baggie

      Can’t understand why we would let Tex go and then try to get Koumas – both play a similar role and Tex is a decent player – and already on the payroll !!

      More to this than meets the eye ???

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      • JACK the HAT.

        H B [post 5+1]

        I agree Happy,Teixeira does track back and
        more often than not wins the ball back,He
        can also do wide right,Which would allow
        Brunt back on wide left.Like yourself I
        wonder what the problem is.

        ~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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      • The Real Bully Hoo.

        Happy.
        Was it not just a case that when we loaned Tex out, no one could foresee the injury problems and fixture build up we’d have. Tex wasn’t getting a game at the time and it was ideal to give him some games to get him match fit.

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  6. 6
    1954 baggie

    Is this the same guy we were interested in 18
    months ago anyway if the backroon staff rate him he should fit in nicely also good we beat
    Toon to him. Is that it? can we loan a left back? someone with a bit of pace mind you the
    guy that tormented Mattock had to go off with
    hamstring problems Joe faces McAnuff wednesday
    who looked terrific v Liverpool but was strangely quiet the last time they met. Surely
    RDM will give Dorrans a rest Wedneday.Will JT be back if not Barnes now theres a name Peter
    big rons era.

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  7. 7
    Robin Brittain

    An astute signing by RDM , strong and abrasive which will enable Graham Dorrans to play further up the pitch. On the occasions I have seen him play for Palace against us he has always been dominant in midfield. Great news with Morrison and Barnes playing for an hour today. It must have seemed an eternity for James since he last played and how wev’e missed him.

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  8. 8
    Happy_baggie

    When I first saw the headline I thought it was STEVE Watson come back – Phew !!!

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  9. 9
    DorransLovesBrom

    GOOD SIGNING THIS BEN WATSON &
    GLAD WE DIDNT GET JASON KOUMAS,
    MET HIM IN MERRY HILL ONE DAY AND THE GUY
    HAD ONE HELL OF A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER.

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  10. 10
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    Did anyone have a big smile and say well done lad like i did when they saw Pintado`s tackle on savage,im sure another warm welcome awaits savage and hendrie on saturday.aye boing boing

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    • The Real Bully Hoo.

      Terry.
      Agree about thiis, ‘those that live by the sword’ can’t complain when they get a bit back can they?
      On the same subject, did you see the the retaliation from the Derby players and not one of them even got a yellow card. Yet JT twice puts a hand in the face to shove someone away, in one case when he’s been fouled, and gets red. not excusing JT’s actions, just pointing out the ridiculous swings in refereeing standards. No wonder players get fed up.

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  11. 11
    DorransLovesBrom

    The Real Bully Hoo
    I was a big fan of Koumas up to that point
    but his attidude towards other people is
    terrible and really put me off him for life.
    “ALRIGHT JASE CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH PLEASE”
    NO!

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  12. 12
    N1 Wolf

    Cracking signing for you he’s a quality player and will end up a good Prem midfielder, I imagine there will be a permanant deal should you go up. On another note looks like our very own Shadrag has a baggie cousin posting as never never…..looks like everyone has to have one!!!

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