West Bromwich Albion forced into Pablo Ibanez wait
Saturday 29th May 2010, 11:29AM BST.
West Bromwich Albion might have to wait until Tuesday to announce Pablo Ibanez as their third summer signing – but his free transfer remains on track.
The 28-year-old Spain international spent yesterday at the Baggies’ training ground discussing personal terms and undergoing his medical. And there are clear signs that the Atletico Madrid centre-back, who is known simply as Pablo, is ready to commit himself to Albion.
But sporting director Dan Ashworth and head coach Roberto Di Matteo still face an anxious weekend as they await final confirmation that the 6ft 3in stopper has sealed his move.
And the Bank Holiday shut-down could delay confirmation of the signing until Tuesday or beyond. Negotiations were set back when flight delays prevented Pablo from arriving in England until Thursday evening – two days later than originally scheduled.
He underwent routine medical tests and scans yesterday but Albion’s hopes that the results would be received by the close of business yesterday were dashed.
If and when Pablo’s move is confirmed, Albion’s next priority will be to add extra firepower to the team that won promotion back to the Premier League.
The Baggies have lodged an interest in Stoke forward James Beattie, who is keen to leave the Britannia Stadium this summer after falling out of favour with manager Tony Pulis.
But there are several potential stumbling blocks to any deal, not least the Potters’ public insistence that they want a sizeable transfer fee for the 32-year-old despite his contract having just a year left to run.
The former England man’s wages could also be an issue.
He is believed to be on at least £35,000 per week in the Potteries and, although the Baggies are willing to raise their wage ceiling this summer, some compromise would still be required.
Meanwhile, record signing Borja Valero appears increasingly likely leave this summer with several Spanish clubs reportedly interested.
Champions League qualifiers Valencia are the highest-profile side to have expressed a firm interest and the 25-year-old is keen on that move.
“At the moment, I only know that they are interested in me,” he said. “I hope to reach an agreement because I want to stay in Spain.”
By Albion reporter Steve Madeley
UK Sport
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Like the look of Ivanez. Not too keen on the Beattie interest. Glad to see Balero on his way if a deal can be struck. He will never settle over Here. I would Like Rangers MILLER at the HAWTHORNES. Our scouting dep’t will come up with the goods.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Ten years of JEREMY PEACE:
Is the fellow with the book ( See picture ) asking JEREMY for another sandwich, is his name
” Oliver “.
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With Jeremy Peace in charge at the Albion then
everybody knows that any sort of transfer
deal takes time,so hopefully by the end
of next week it will be all done and dusted.
Iam sure Pablo Ibanez knows that Westbromwich
Albion play good football and will be
happy to sign for us to play in the Premier league.Two managers have already taken the
baggies to the top and some how failed but we
now have a manager in Roberto Di Matteo who
seems to know that you must have a mixture
of defensive abilitys and some kind of goal
threat to survive in the Prem.
If Albion do pull this transfer off then our
remaining targets should be a goalkeeper,
right winger,and striker.
CARSON gk,? gk.
S.REID,ZUIVERLOON,TAMAS,MEITE,OLSSON,IBANEZ,
MATTOCK,CECH.
BARNES,? winger,JARA,MORRISON,MULUMBU,DORRANS,
BRUNT,THOMAS.
COX,MILLER,BEDNAR,srriker?.
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think ibanez would be a good signing as the defence is the area that needs most attention,would still need a right back as reid would be better suited in midfield and finally need to spend big on a striker.would play 4-2-3-1 next season..team to be CARSON CECH OLLSON IBANEZ TAMAS in defence, REID MULUMBU holding midfield,BRUNT DORRANS MORRISON midfield, BEDNAR striker what do the rest of you think….also think KEBE who plays for reading is worth looking at
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Ibanez hope to see you at the Hawthornes.
Beattie too risky would argue with his own granny.
You’ve said it volero. ADIOS, look-a-like old timer.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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4 WBA4life.
You’d play Tamas at RB before Jara? Assuming we sign Ibanez who I’m betting you haven’t seen play.
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the lads are doing good but reinforcements are required central deffence and midfield general some one the likes of jesus(greening),we all need some one up front who can hold the ball in play to bring other in to play but not beatie no thanks
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WBA4LIFE
I dont think Stephen Reid could play centre
midfeild every week due to all his injury
problems,his best position would
be right back where the lime light wouldnt be
so much on him and he`ll beable to do less
running.
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8 DLB.
I think once Reid had regained his fitness towards the end of the season he probably covered more ground than anyone except Mulumbu. He was constantly getting into the opposition box as well as overlapping. I don’t know where you get the idea he won’t be able to run.
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What impressed me about Reid was his timing of a tackle. He wasn’t quick into it but he was accurate. He’s versatile, as is Jara, good things to have in the 25 man squad system when injuries occur. Sir Bobby Moore wasn’t very quick except in his reading of the game and perfect timing. Billy Wright wasn’t big enough to be a centre half, yet he was superb there. Timing. He’d got it too.
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10 Cyril, Billy Wright wasent so superb when he came up agenst Puskas aye boing boing
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I THINK BEATTIE WOULD BE A GOOD SHOUT FOR US
HE IS PROVEN KEPT STOKE UP,WE CAN USE HIM TO OUR ADVANTAGE WITH COX BEING AN UNKNOWEN ENTITY MILLER MMMM BEDNAR WILL CHIP IN ,WE DEFINATLY NEED A GK SORIENSEN FROM STOKE WOULDNT BE A BAD SIGNING ID STILL LIKE FREDARRICHI OR CAMP ,WE AIT TO FAR NOW WITH A DEICENT SQUAD GET IBANEZ ON BOARD SHIPP OUT ZOOVAFOOL MOORE VALERO MATTOCK MERTE NEED AT LEAST ONE IF NOT 2 STRIKERS AND THEN ITS SHOW TIME…..
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WBA4LIFE
I feel confident of staying up this season
more than any other due to the quality of
players we have,I`d even say Albion could
survive with the squad Roberto Di Matteo has
at the moment.Our strongest 18 would be:
CARSON gk, S.REID rb, TAMAS cb, OLSSON cb,
CECH lb, MORRISON lw, MULUMBU cm, DORRANS cm,
BARNES rw, BRUNT st, MILLER st.
subs:
KIELY gk, IBANEZ cb, ZUIVERLOON rb/rw,
JARA cm/rb, THOMAS lw/rw, COX st/cm,
BEDNAR st.
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Sir Terence, I was driving to see my youngest today and I thought, I’ll bet a quid someone brings up the 50s Hungary team about Billy. They did. You, yer bad lad. First, they had probably the finest set of players in the world at that time. Second, they played in a way no one had ever seen here before. We did man-to-man marking and it was rigid. They were so fluid our lot didn’t know whether they were marking dust most of the time. I saw the 6-3 defeat. Forget who won on the day. It was like having eye shields removed. The Magical Magyars had the right players to use a system that shook the football world mate! We were spellbound! Nobody talked about anything else for weeks. Well, at least in Aldershot where I was playing at soldiers.
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You can always rely on me Cyril aye boing boing
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