West Brom weigh up bid for Stoke’s James Beattie
Thursday 20th May 2010, 12:00PM BST.
Albion are weighing up a bid for Stoke striker James Beattie as they hunt extra firepower for their assault on the Premier League.
The Baggies are keeping close tabs on the 32-year-old former England international and their interest seems likely to result in a concrete move.
Beattie looks certain to leave the Britannia Stadium this summer after a bust-up with Potters boss Tony Pulis and a frustrating season spent largely on the substitutes bench.
And Albion have installed the former Blackburn, Southampton and Everton man near the top of their list of potential targets.
Beattie has a year remaining on his contract but he is likely to be allowed to leave for a knock-down fee, with sources in the Potteries hinting Stoke could even grant him a free transfer.
The Baggies considered moving for Beattie on loan in January to bolster their Championship campaign, but their interest ended when the player picked up an injury.
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo is keen to complete most of his summer transfer business before the start of pre-season training.
The Baggies players report back in the first week of July to begin their preparations for the Premier League season and Di Matteo wants the majority of his squad in place by then.
But the Italian has admitted the impending World Cup in South Africa could slow down the summer transfer market.
He said: “At the moment it’s pretty quiet. There are not many deals happening.
“Probably that’s because we’re in the build-up to a World Cup and it’s still early in the transfer market.
“We’re only in mid-May and there are a lot of people digesting a lot of information – clubs and players.
“The pace will probably pick up next month. We would like to start pre-season with a full squad.
“That’s our aim.”
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Massive fan of Beattie. As long as the price is right I think this would be a good signing. I also think our team will keep him fit for longer too.
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Well reports say West Bromwich Albion are set to sign Stephen Hunt as the player favours West Brom over Wolves and West Ham…
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Is Beattie any better than Bednar?
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If there was one striker I wouldnt want then
its got to be James Beattie,at the age of 32 he`s surely past his best and with no
pace and been injury prone he`d be useless for
the Albion.If Di Matteo wants a striker
then please go out and get Marc-Antoine Fortune,with the additions of Stephen Reid,
Gabriel Tamas,Borja Valero,and maybe Fortune
then our squad would be rocking.
CARSON,JARA,TAMAS,OLSSON,CECH,
MORRISON,VALERO,MULUMBU,BRUNT,DORRANS,FORTUNE.
would keep us up no problemo!!
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I’ve always liked him, and if we did get him, I think it’d be a fantastic buy.
He’s got the experience we need, plus he’s a proven Premier League goalscorer. I’d much rather we brought in Beattie than Hunt, as the striking department is an area we need to strenghten more than out wide, where we can play Thomas, Barnes, Cech, Brunt and Morrison.
In my opinion, that’s why Koren was released. We’ll have a central midfielder lined up to replace him there, and we have plenty more options in midfield, but we need to bring in a keeper, 2 fullbacks, centre back and 2 strikers.
Any news on Callum Davenport anyone??
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beattie is loads better than bednar and is a much better lone front man. hunt would not get in our team ahead of brunt or morrison.
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Quality player who has consistently performed well and scored goals at the top level. Exactly the type of player we should be looking at.
Obviously there would be a few concerns over his wages and personality, but if we can get him on a free or for a £1m or less then it would be a very good signing for us.
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Wigan Baggie – even if Bednar and Beattie are similar quality, then Beattie trumps Bednar in the fact that he’s English, and this season there are quotas for “home-grown” players. That’s been cited as one of the reasons for letting Koren go.
If we sign Beattie, maybe we should expect to see Bednar sold???
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If your prepared to pay over the odds for Hunt, a player who would rather join Wolves then go for it. Wolves wont get involved in a auction for him.
Cmon be real. If its down to the player, Wolves are the obvious option due to club size/ potential etc.
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I suggested Beattie before he went to stoke – and apart from injuries I think he did well there, so i would be happy to see him come in – whether he plays and who he replaces is RDMs job.
Jon boy – what an appropriate name – another hill billy redneck who don’t know his cousin from his sister….. night jon boy !!!
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All the bickering over Kevin Phillips contract and
we are going for a thirty-two year old crock. Sheer paper talk.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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How much would Beattie cost us in wages? I’m guessing he’d want a three year contract. I admit I’ve never been a fan but feel that unless JP could work some magic in his contract, he could become a white elephant.
Still as I always say, I get it wrong so often, what do I know?
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Dindane would rather play in the dessert than play
in a Custard-Bowl with “hoofers”.
(9)
Jon-boy,
That’s the way keep consoling yourself, you’ve
got from now till August and then you face the
music.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Have to agree with the Hat,after the debacle over K.P his age and wages, why on earth do we want a 32yr old.On the other hand,he would be a good addition to the squad,and very similar to Kev.and a few yrs younger.On a free it would be even better,just his wages to pay,simples,no problem.Injuries apart.
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Jonboy,
You bid 5m in jan for hunt!
As for potential and size? I’d say its very similar to us!
I dont know, you give these dingles a year in the worst prem in years and suddenly they are the New Man Utd !
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(12)
Bully Hoo,
That’s what gets me, Kevin Phillips couldn’t get
a two year contract because of his age. I’d
rather wait and see how Miller shapes up to be
honest. What about Miller from Rangers. Then we could have a strike partnership called Miller and
Miller. That would throw the opposition.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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I don’t think its a case of Bednar being better than Beattie or the reverse. If you look at any striker in the Premier league they have one thing in common and thats missing games through injury. It’s a rough and tough league and you need to have three or four strikers to survive. Beattie does have extensive premier experience and he would benefit the squad. As for Jon Boy if you were Stephen Hunt who would you want to play for – Mad Mick or the best manager we have had for years. Nuff said.
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bejames beattie wud be a snitch at 2million he’s quality holds the ball up better and does well wiv his head, hunt wud be a no go 4 me as theres enough quality there in midfield that we already have, we need a decent centre half 2 play alongside tamas as olsson will get found out in the prem, if the reports r true that steven reid is going 2 celtic then go there and play in a boring league, we av always got JARA
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Beattie is 2 years younger than KP was when he left – and don’t forget we offered KP a year extension plus an extra yr based on making just 19 appearances… which he turned down to sit on Blues bench on more money !!
If we offer Beattie a year or 2 contract based on appearances then that sounds ok to me.
As for Hunt – looks like the dingles are getting their excuses in early in case he comes here – but do we need him ??
JtH 16 – if we get Kenny miller would he be Miller lite ??
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4. Jara and Tamas aside who are untried at Premiership level, that is the first 11 that finished bottom 2 seasons ago. No thank you. We need quality.
James Beattie, fell out with Pulis because he had organised a night on the lash in London when he was ordered to do extra training. We have enough bad reputations in Bednar, Tamas, Mattock, Jerome Thomas and possibly Davenport, we dont want another one.
I heard a horrible rumour that we are prepared to match Hulls contract of 32k a week for Hunt and the Dingles have offered 20k.
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Hunt is Doyles cousin and wants to join wolves not Sandwell town. The only way he will join the third team in brum is if you pay over the odds.
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wolves fan in peace! well done on getting back up in the prem! gonna be a crackin season!
i think Hunt would be a decent signing for either one of us but i have to say if u were a player would u go for a team thats shown they are interested in your or a team thats only just put forward an interest… plus we have Doyler to tap him up ;) lol!
as for Beattie… still think he has a season left in him and again would be a good signing for west brom or us to be honest! got the knowledge of the prem and can still score goals i think – id snap there hands off if i were mccarthy/matteo!
bring on the best games in the league next season!!
UTW
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17 bobby boy…
Is this is the mad mick that kept us up, and 15th place to boot? Whats albions record like for staying in the top flight? Record low number of points wasn’t it?
As for ‘best manager in years’, I thought that was mowbray, or Megson, lets see if he can keep you scruffy lot up before you start makin promises your manager can’t keep…
Worst prem in years? wasn’t that the year you achieved 4th (oooohh!!) from bottom with a record low number of points?
Lets see if this post makes it past the olbion mods, doubt it tho!
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9 jonboy,
there goes that paranoia complex about being the bigger club again!! :-)
…if it may you feel happy mate, you are of course the biggest club, who wouldn’t wanna sign for the mighty all conquering Wolves? Quite right too!
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No.4 DLB. You can’t call Fortune a ‘striker’ as he rarely scores a goal. He’s a ‘forward’ in old parlance, an inside left or inside right of the 40s and 50s. They fetched, carried and created but didn’t score many goals. If you had one that did score goals, he was worth a, a, a, a, FORTUNE, only he isn’t.
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23,btd, change the record you said same thing on earlier post to wish i replyed but you daint,looks like i won agen aye boing boing
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Jon Boy grow up
Bigger Club,Potential !!!
Wonder what else you brag about
Seem PREMATURE to me
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Beattie is exactly what we need. He’s a proven Premiership striker and he should be partnering KP at the Baggies right now. Lets not make the same mistake twice. Apparently Hunt wants to sign for us for less money so we can all see who the proffesionals recon is better value for staying up; and Jon Boy, I think you’ll find Albion are the 3rd most successfull midlands side behind Forest and Villa. I can almost smell your inadequacy growing back.
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Well I think Beattie is the type of striker we’ve lacked for years.
Not sure about Hunt; I think he’ll want to avoid another relegation struggle so there’s only one choice really…
Lowest points total: Derby.
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terry, I did reply but the albion luvvin mods daint let it through…
replyed? agen? sandwell education was it?
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23 btd,yes its the same mick that you all wanted sacked after 3 games,and will do again next season when your bottom n down by christmas,TOP 4 IN THE RDM WAY IN STYLE OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
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Can you imagine Hunt running down the wing at the custard looks up to cross the ball not a gold shirt in sight as there all still in there own penalty box behind the bus,he`s running down the wing at the shrine looks up he see`s a sea of blue n white shirts pileing forward ready to bang the ball in the net,i think i know wot he wud prefer,be afraid dings be very afraid cuz we coming to send you down aye boing boing IN THE NET THE ALBION WAY IN STYLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OHHHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
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Beattie is a quality proven Premiership player who would be an excellent addition. His goals kept Stoke up when he joined. A better player than Bednar and miles better than Fortune who couldn’t hit a cows behind with a banjo.
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Re The Silly Billys: What is that stench? Oh yes, it’s despairation! Delusion and despairation! If Hunt wants to join you he will, don’t get annoyed because because it doesn’t seem to be happening, you’re only making yourselves look petty and stupid. Billy Sharp: You missed out 2 words “married to”, e.g Hunt is “married to” Doyles cousin! I know I’d be desperate to work with my cousins husband! Wouldn’t you? . . . Billy The Fish: Our record for staying in the top flight is the same as yours, (once), only we’ve been there more often and built our team without the backing of a sugar daddy, any money spent on players and their wages is budgeted for, Peace will see to that. Record low number of points? I think not, as BaggieBob pointed out that’s Derby! Best manager in years? YES! Because we’ve improved our manager each time, Megson was functional and effective, ( a template you’ve obviously copied), but didn’t deliver the entertaining football we craved, even if you’re happy with it. Robson, although he achieved “The Great Escape”,( one of the most exciting Premier league seasons ever), was the worst manager of recent years, but was connected. Mowbray gave us the entertainment most football fans crave if we’re honest, but with no defence, and now we have RDM, a manager who appears to mesh together the best qualities of all of them. So YES THE BEST MANAGER IN YEARS! Oh yeah and i think you’ll find if you remove your golden blinkers that this has been widely accepted, by punters and pundits alike, as The Worst Premiership Ever! Now that I’ve shown each of your points to be works of fiction. or indeed Dingle delusion, why don’t you go back home and ask mommy to tuck you in as i can only assume you are a child, or an uneducated fool. . . Boing Boing, bye bye! Come and hear the Smethwick sing!
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GUY S YOU HARP ON ABOUT KP,BLAME MOWBRAY HE DIDNT WANT HIM ,PLUSS KP PICKS GAMES TO PLAY IN AND THATS NOT ON ANYWAY back to beatie he is a finisher 32?aint to bad a fit regular playing beatie will do what kp did for us in the championship.,with miller n bednar beatie will be at home and if we got barns fit and got the player we now have then beatie will be fine,i would still go for jason roberts too hes another option to use in the prem,get lee camp now too.
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COCKA-DOODLE-DOO MORNING JON BOY aye boing boing
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34 Great post mate. Not sure about Beatie or Hunt but we have no say in it anyway so lets sit back and wait. Boing Boing
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28. 3rd most succesful team in the midlands. You are some joker. If you had said in 3rd in Birmingham you may have been right.
Recently on talksport there was a debate on who was bigger West Ham or Wolves. Both presenters said Wolves and the poll was close. I heard they are doing another one this week. Its Between West Brom and Walsall and is expected to be close again.
A couple of years and we will have 40,000 at the Mol every week. Maybe if you merge with Birmingham you might get the same.
West Birmingham Albion. Has a ring to it.
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I am not happy with this, once again JP attempting to do things the cheap way, Beattie was useless last season and very disruptive. Hunt is injured until october so wouldnt pass a medical anyway. Only Olsson and Dorrans are good enough for this level, Brunt at times, Jara lacks pace, Tamas I hope will make it. If JP thinks that Reid, Hunt and Beattie will keep us up we will not be outside the bottom 2 all season.
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38,the only time you will have 40,000 is when you play us and we take 20,000,you cudent even sell out agenst us in the play offs or FA cup remember,aye boing boing
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38,yow had asda built nxt door to make believe the shoppers wuz guin to the match mek it look like yow wuz gettin a good crowd aye boing boing
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Terry – the only time they has 40,000 was when bon jovi played there.
The dingle self delusion is actually scary – I’m sure south Korean dictators have a similar complex.
As for 39 – shadrag you really need help mate – I’m sure the E&S coyuld give you the name of a decent cheap psychologist to help you with this.
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38 Wolf in Herts
What is it with this Wolves superiority complex?
If Wolves were so much bigger than Albion then wouldn’t you have higher record attendances?; a better head-to-head record?; have spent longer in the top flight?; have been considered our main rivals before 1990?
Wolves are undoubtedly a big club, and so you should be, with half of the Black Country, South Staffs and Shropshire as a catchment area. Perhaps it riles them that they’re barey superior to a town smaller than Walsall.
If you’re using Adrian Durham’s opinion to support your argument, then the rest of the Prem are really in trouble aren’t they? Do you think he might’ve said that to provoke a response from some disgruntled West Ham fans?
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39 Shadrag
Spot on. We should be channeling all our resources in trying to lure the likes of George Elokobi and Sam Vokes from that superclub up the road instead.
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42 Happy.
It will have to be on the NHS. He’s still trying to get the saltwater out of his carburettor.
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Happy, i hope there players aint reading these post,else they mite start thinking they can actualy beat us,aye boing boing
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38,stay out of the sun,its rays are effecting you aye boing boing
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25 Cyril Randle
Emile Heskey doesnt score many goals but he`ll
still be in the starting 11 for the world cup as he brings other players into the game
like Marc-Antoine Fortune did for the
the Albion and Celtic.If Roberto Di Matteo
is planning on playing 1 striker up front next
season then we need someone with pace which
James Beattie hasnt got.
Wolves fans rave on about how good
Kevin Kettle is but having only scored 8 or 9
goals in a full prem season I`d want more for
the 6M they paid for him.Once Tony Mowbray
brought Fortune into the team Albion looked
a real threat and Iam sure we could have stayed up if we have had Fortune from the start of that campaign,Chris Brunt also looked
better for it as Fortune done all his running
which Beattie wouldnt beable to do.
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billythefish
There`s two things about Albion fans and thats
you never see a scruffy baggie and every single Albion fan is down to earth which is
one of the things that made me start supporting them ,if you want
to see scruffy then just compare our 2 managers with Di Matteo`s `Armani Suits and
Mad Micks awful tracksuits.
`Billythefish` must be like his namesake!!
“Hello my name is `Billythefish and Iam going
to sit right behind you.
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(22)
CJW,
Doyle tapping up Hunt.
” Dear cousin, come and play for us at Low-Hill-City. We have a formation called “Park the Bus” which basically means two banks of four and a sweeper. No need to go running about you just have to stand there and hoof the ball into row Zed or if I manage to get it I could score a goal if it’s a blue moon. Never mind the HOWLS of derision, it makes you wonder what fans want for their money. The strip is dowdy yellow with black shorts,which helps you to sneek off the pitch at full-time after we’ve lost,
especially when we play that footballing team from up the road in West Bromwich the ALBION. Hope to see you here, unless ARSENAL give me a bell first”.
From your cousin Doyler.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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DLB 48. You are in fact agreeing with me. Heskey is a ‘forward’ in the way I described and so is Fortune. Stan Matthews never scored many goals but were he available today, the scramble to sign him would be obscene. Some are ‘playmakers’ and make the chances for others who have quick feet. There’s one hell of a difference between a fast forward and a quick-footed goal scorer. A goal scorer’s assets are, balance, positional instinct, a pair of quick feet and bravery. Young Cox has all four, but is unproven at the top level. If he makes it, we shall have a goal scorer. Fortune could be the man to bring him on.
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