Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
Have Albion done the business?
Wednesday 1st September 2010, 9:10AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill analyses the club’s movements over the transfer window and believes it just might have been the Baggies’ best attempts yet.
Now the transfer window has slammed shut and boss Roberto Di Matteo has his 25 man squad, we can now review this summer’s recruitment process.
As each week passed I found the fans I was talking to beginning to panic about our lack of activity, but the last few weeks has seen us sign a number of players.
Players arriving this summer include Pablo Ibanez, Boaz Myhill, Nicky Shorey, Peter Odemwingie, Marc-Antoine Fortune, Somen Tchoyi, Paul Scharner and yesterday’s new recruit Craig Dawson.
We have also completed permanent signings for two of our loan players from last season in Gabriel Tamas and Steven Reid.
It kind of makes you think, what was the panic fellow Albion fans?
I personally think we have had an excellent transfer window and, regardless of how much money has been spent, we have improved the quality of our squad considerably.
Chairman Jeremy Peace, sporting director Dan Ashworth and Di Matteo have successfully completed step one in our plan to survive in the Premier League.
As we staggered home from ensuring promotion last season, the general consensus was that we needed a few key positions filling for our season back in the top flight.
A goalkeeper, a left-back, a defensive midfielder and, possibly most urgent, more firepower up front.
I think we have ticked all the boxes but, more importantly, I have been impressed with the quality of our signings. The blend and balance of the squad now looks right, how long has it been since we have been able to say that?
Myhill, Shorey, Fortune,and Scharner all have experience of the Premier League that experience could prove invaluable.
Tchoyi and Odemwingie are somewhat of an unknown quantity but both bring with them qualities our squad needed.
Di Matteo having played in our top flight for a number of years appreciates that for teams to succeed they need to have a balanced squad that has all the required key ingredients.
In Scharner, Tchoyi, Fortune and Ibanez ,he has added physicality to the squad. At 6ft 4in, 6ft 3in, 6ft 2in and 6ft 4in respectively, it shows that we identified height as an area we needed to improve on.
In any league and any country in the world set pieces are a key part of the game, both defending them and taking them. Hopefully we can now become better at both!
Our only deadline day business was to sign and then loan back Craig Dawson to Rochdale. Craig is an exciting prospect for the future at centre-half and the club want him to continue his footballing education in League One until next season.
When I took a quick peak at his stats for last season I was surprised to learn that he managed to score 10 goals from defence, so maybe we have signed him as a centre forward!
Our old boss Tony Mowbray used to bang on about having a blend of artisans and soldiers within the squad but never really achieved it, yet in just one season and three transfer windows I think Roberto has brought together a group of players that have that blend.
Us baggie fans have to face facts that we are not the biggest club in the world and, while owned by Jeremy Peace and a collection of shareholders, will always have to work within a strict budget.
But I do feel that we have given ourselves every chance of success this season, without placing the club in the type of financial jeopardy that Portsmouth gambled their future on.
All summer I have said that I would wait until the transfer window had closed before offering any sort of assessment on the squad Roberto has assembled.
My feeling is that this has been possibly the most successful transfer window to date. I feel we have added pace, strength, and nous to an already gifted group of players.
Every position has competition so it is now up to Di Matteo and the players to ensure we have a successful season, as Ashworth and Peace have done their job.
So that’s part one complete and I believe, successfully, now on to part two – I hope it goes as well as part one.
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Jarrod,
I couldn’t possibly agree more and it’s good to hear a voice of reason amongst all the lunacy being spouted over the summer by a lot of posters who in the last few weeks have been anonymous or too proud too confess they were wrong (Nick the Greek aside).
There’s another signing that I’m not sure many have picked up on yet, but yesterday we brought young James Hurst back from Portsmouth. He’s the England youth full-back who jumped ship for the glamour and glitz of Pompey when they were throwing money about a couple of years ago.
He was a young lad and hopefully he’s now realised that the grass isn’t always greener. With the likes of he, Dawson, Berahinho, Thorne, Nabil etc, even if they don’t all make it then hopefully we can uncover another Dorrans in the next few years. It’s good we’re not just thinking short-term and it’s a great time to be a Baggie. Lets get behind them and make it count this year.
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Im very happy with our signings, i was abit worried cuz i heard we were going in for marcus bent, but i thought we cant be, nobody would be daft enuff to sign brums 5th choice striker,wud they, aye boing boing
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Morning Jarrod.
I think you’re spot on about the height issue. There were times last season when Olsson seemed to offer our only aerial threat in either box. We are now in a position where Tamas is a bit of a midget at a mere 6’2″. But just as important is that all of these giants are good footballers not just lamp posts.
I said yesterday that we also have a lot of versatility in the squad now. A big help when you’re limited to 25. There was talk of loaning out Cox and Wood. While I can see that this is necessary for them to get match time, surely this can only be with a recall clause as we’ve seen before in the winter, injuries and suspensions can soon take a toll.
Why is it always that when I’m most excited about things there is no football to watch. B****y international breaks.
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I agree that the transfer business has been a success. No marquee signings as such but a steady improvement and bolstering of the squad. No positions are guaranteed, even Dozza will not have an automatic place in a starting eleven.
With three points on the board and the six in the bank for the two games vs wolves, we only need another 31! C’mon you Baggies!
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Content. That was the word I used and I feel that Jarrod, Warren and many others are too, even the ones who were on edge to the point of premature baldness. We can’t win this League any more. But we can compete in it as we showed against Liverpool.
Balance. A word I like and use about life as well as football. I know, you can’t have a life without football. Well, who’d want one?
The team will now balance regardless of who is chosen, then we need the
shooting ‘balanced’ which it isn’t at present as is shown by the snatching of good opportunities. It will come, of that I’m sure.
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at last i think we have the best balanced team weve had for years,plus we have quality back ups..im happy with our signings and rdm now has the tools to to a decent job..i would however have liked a good goal scorer just to be greedy,,i also think the signing of sharner is the best weve made.really looking forward to following the lads this year and watching us at last competing with the big boys…STAYING UP THE DI MATTEO WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,,OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YES…
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Spot on Bomber, we always knew it would be a different transfer window, and as it slammed shut yesterday it was apparent that with the obvious exception of man city, most clubs had been prudent, and whilst we spent in the region of 9 mill, we balanced the books out with greening etc.
I’m pleased with the signings, as already said there seems to be several versatile players who can and probably will cover more than one position, and at last we look to have a game changing bench, which is something we always had in the championship, but never in the prem.
I’m confident for the season and after playing two of the top five in our first three its good not to be in the bottom three. Ther’s a couple of teams below us who i feel will have enough to climb, so as always there wont be any rest, but at least after the performance at anfield there’s a lot more possible away points on our radar now.
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We had to beat Sunderland and we did, just about. They are the worst team away from home in the league and had Cattermole, Gordon and a few others out but we got the points.
Chelsea away was a horror show (still angry at JP laughing when they scored their 5th) and Liverpool (not a glipse of their former selves) who are very average we didn’t threaten at all, a few nice passes but no real threat and this is where the problem lies.
Transfer dealings have been as good as we could hope with our budget but Ibanez will struggle at this level, Scharner already has a get-out clause and was poor for Wigan last season (hence the reason why they released him), Shorey was excellent at Forest but out of his depth at Fulham, Pete I dont know a great deal about looks to have pace but time will tell and Fortune is a good honest footballer but will not hack it at this level as he found the SPL difficult.
The only real glimmer of hope is that Wigan and Westham look woeful and it will catch up with Blackpool, if ever we have a chance it is this seasn, COME ON YOU BAGGIES!
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I knew the pressure on Dorrans would tell this season and so far I have been proved right. He has looked way out of his depth so far and I think when Scharner is fit we need to put him on the bench just to take the pressure off his young shoulders.
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Well the transfer window are now closed until January I am pleased we have made a good effort to bring players in to strengthen the side which was importatant.we must give these lads a chance to prove themselves but the emphasis must be on scoring goals which is a major concern because these can bring us victory and points towards survival.so come on you baggies try and blend together as a team and go out their and show that you can do the buisness.
As all WBA surporters are looking forward to a better attempt this time and with what we have seen so far we all must say that we seem to have given it our best go so far but i am sure we have better performances to come.
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I’ve said more than once that most business would be done near the deadline,if you take into account both the World Cup and players on holiday,Albion seemed in no rush to panic buy early on.What we now have will mean a quality starting XI,plus several players on the bench with experience playing at top level,and many international caps between them.As for the so-called ‘star’ players up for transfer,1)If under contract,clubs would be asking many millions for them,2)Most would be after at least £50,000+ per week salaries,and 3)If they felt Albion were among the relegation favourites,they just wouldn’t have been interested.Realistically,Albion were never going to chase these ‘big names’,and let’s face it,Man. City’s team cost countless millions,but they lost to Sunderland and we didn’t-’nuff said.
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looks like shadrag is having a day at home,aye boing boing
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8and9Smiling, sniggering, sneering, er, whatever. Go away, you aren’t fooling anyone.
YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS because we have shown initiative in the transfer market. Still, school starts this week and you’re out of the Infants into the Juniors hey? Congratulations.
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8 & 9 Smiling Dingle
Did you see the Liverpool game ? Liverpool played poorly, because we imposed ourselves onto them. No chances ?? Handball first half, Tchoyi wearing his shirt around his neck, Mozza just putting it wide (twice from memory)…
Dozza out of his depth… ? We have a stronger & more varied squad. I for one am glad that RDM can mix it up, and rest Dozza. It was always going to be difficult for him, but so far I think he’s rising to the challenge.
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Im very happy with the signings made. Lots of experience and also the power and strength which is needed for Premier League football. The height from set peices has been addressed and i honestly believe this squad of players can keep us up. The only question mark over this group is can we score enough goals at this level but i think with the defensive options we now have we will conceed less goals so i think the one will cancel out the other. Very happy and very optimistic about this season. Well done to JP i have been a critic but i think we have had a good solid window.
Boing Boing
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8 + 9 S… Baggie!!!
What a depressing post. On the basis of your comments I suggest there is clearly NO HOPE and you and all the rest of us Albion fans should go and support ………..your team ……..WWFC.
This bunch of players will acquit themselves well this season and I am looking forward, more than ever before, to the Premiership games.
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i wasent over excited about Fortune coming back,but on sundays showing he will be a great asset this time round,really put himself about,think he will win the fans over,as for Shorey diffrent class great signing,up the table we will go, aye boing boing
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Smiling Baggie
Are you really smiling?
Paul Scharner was offered a new deal at Wigan but decided he wanted to move on. As for some of your other observations, you are either a dingle in a poor disguise or you dont get to many games.
The RBH
I feel the same, just cant wait to see some footy now and i dont mean England!!!
PS Will your place survive now my dad has retired?
Went out for his retirement meal last night never seen him smile so much, eg i was 14 before i knew he even had teeth!!
Hilltop
Me old mucker, yep we always said this transfer window would be different and as ive said above i think we have done as much as we possibly could, now its upto us the fans to sing em on!!
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Warren:
Just to let you know, Saido Berahino joined our wolfie neighbours last month, he’s no longer a baggie!
Never mind, i’m sure we still have a plethora of youth coming through the ranks!
Boing Boing!
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8 smiling-judging by your comments,you are either a VERY negative Albion fan,or more likely a wolf in disguise,taking a lot of interest in Albion’s business,and trying to be clever-either way,highlighting any possible weakness in almost every Albion player means you would be much more at home on the dingle daily diary-please go there and STAY there.
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13 Cyril.
I think 8/9 is Special Educational Needs and needs a couple more years in the Infants to catch up to the requirements of first year Juniors!!!
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13. Jealous? I am an Albion fan, lets not fall into the same old trap of whoever says anything negative is a Wolves fan.
We have scored 1 goal in 3 games, Liverpool are the weakest they have been in about 35 years and Sunderland are extremely poor away from home and were missing key players.
I’m a realist and we have a fighting chance this season because of some of the poorer sides in the division we can do it. If you are going to name call and be silly, may I suggest not posting or reading comments on here as we are all entitled to our opinion Sir.
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Very pleased with all our business over the past weeks – getting the loanees signed up, getting our best players tied into long term contracts and then addressing the area we all knew needed looking at.
I think our defence and holding midfield options look fantastic now with players able to interchange positions with hight, power and muscle all over the place which is great news for Dozza, Mozza, Brunt and our wide players.
Wingie looks a great buy and I’m chuffed to see Fortune back in – so with Miller and bednar we have some good options.
Congrats to JP, DA, RDM and all concerned – whatever happens now I don’t think they could have done much more…. bring it on !!!!
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22 – just jog on shadrag… no one is fooled and you are proving everyone right with more moronic drivel.
As Mad Mick said to Moon face Moxey – “go get bent” !!!!
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‘smiling shadrag’-by the way,this article is about signing players,so how do you feel about Mick spending around 16 mil. on strikers Bodie and Doyle,then having to panic sign someone from Blues reserves to show them how to score?
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Alright Bomber ?
I made a similar comment yesterday that we dont appear to have any “makeweight” players in the squad and more importantly on the bench now.
Something that cannot be said of previous Premiership campaigns.
I dont know why i am bothering with this, but here goes.
8 & 9
no……..cant be arsed.
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22, your wrong mate,dingles in disguise aint entilted to anything xcept a free pie n a pint aye boing boing
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i just been on f/b the latest joke on there is that wolfs have signed marcus bent,some people just go to far dont they,aye boing boing
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22 smiling-protest all you like,but you can’t fool REAL Albion fans-you say you are a fan (as in FANATIC),then you come out with this drivel-I’m sorry but a wolves fans trying to be clever just doesn’t work,it’s not believable.
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Brummy Baggie
Berahinho played for our reserves on Monday. If you search for him and Wolves on a popular search engine, there are many results for gremlins in websites, errors in reporting etc, so I think this was all mischief.
Smiling Baggie
I can only assume that’s a pretty sarcastic username? Sunderland aren’t great away from home but last season they took points at Old Trafford and Villa Park, and they have spent a hell of a lot more than we have in recent years, so they are no mugs.
You write Ibanez, Shorey and Scharner off. Did you have season tickets at Atletico, Forest, Fulham and Wigan last season? Wigan wanted to keep Scharner, he can’t be that bad. If you’re going to be critical, fine, but at least have some substance to your points rather than cynical, blind assumptions about players you’ve probably not seen live more than once.
You say we didn’t create much at Liverpool. Fair enough. But did they create much against us? Did Chelsea from open play for that matter? If we’d have put a decent cross in at Anfield from the eight or nine occasions we had a chance too (before hitting the first man), it might’ve been different.
Teams have spent years in the Prem spending millions in the process, go to the top five and don’t get a sniff. We’re not going to suddenly turn up and carve these teams wide open. Why not judge when we’ve played the teams we’ll be competing directly against?
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Brummy baggie
Saido Berahino is still with us, he scored two goals the weekend for a start lol. Apparently it was a wind up on the internet that reported he had left us for Wolves.
Unfortunately for Wolves fans is that the news of them signing Mr Bent isnt a wind up!!
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wbaforever
Hi mate hope you are well, need to link up mate, are you here for the Spurs game?
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We have certainly got a more balanced squad than the last Premiership campaign ,( Mowbray did not have one defensive minded midfielder for a start) if it will be good enough time will tell but do Wigan, Bolton, Wolves, Blackpool and West Ham for example have any better squads than ours , i think not.
We also have a better Manager this time round who will not be afraid to change things if all does not go well ( unlike Mowbray who to be quite honest buried his head in the sand ).
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19 Brummiey Baggie
Saido Berahino is still a baggie, listed in our under 21′s on our submitted 25 man squad. It was a mistake made a month or two ago by the web programmers who host ours and the dingles site.
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Could everyone just grow up a bit and not slag someone off just because they make a few ‘glass half full’ type of comments.
I know everyone can’t be fair minded like Warren, but everyone is entitled to their opinion and to be honest I don’t think ‘smiling’ he is a wolfie. Bit odd to be called smiling though!
19- Berahino is on the Albion U21 list on the website so I don’t think he has left.
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Thanks Jeremy Peace and Co for a smashing balanced squad. Just wait untill they’ve bedded in.
—————————
Sung to: Bad moon Rising.
Don’t go out tonight
Saftey Is in sight
ALBION are on the rise.
—————————
Smiling baggie, Laughing wolf !. Seems familiar to me. We believe you sad-man Insane.
(19)
BB,
Saido Berahino Is the best signing wolves have made this year. Guess who was the worst.
Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Haa, Sorry , it just tickles me. HA,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Haa. He’ll
be shoving himself in front of Doyler and
fletcher. If my side split I’ll sue Mick for
personal injury.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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First time poster – so please be gentle!
Happy with the summer business on the whole. I thought we were very close to a decent prem side last time around but lacked a cutting edge and gave too many silly goals away.
This side, as already mentioned is more balanced and we have added quality to a few previously weak areas so I’m feeling positive about our chances this season.
My only concern is whether or not we’ll score enough goals. Who knows though, with Fortune’s ability to hold the ball up for Saint Peter etc, we may have found a solution.
Keep up the excellent work Bomber. Have seen you and Hill Top at a few functions and next time, I might even say Hi. Hope the grammar is acceptable Cyril!!
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19. Saido is still a Baggie.
Wolves said that he appeared on their website because of a mistake by their website people. SOunds more like wishful thinking to me.
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Bomber
Yes mate, only working in the UK (currently) so i should be there for the Spurs game.
Incidendly Smiling…….err Baggie ?
I will respond.
The worst Liverpool team in 35 years are STILL going to finish in the top 6.
Dorrans is out of his depth !!
That is probably the single most banal comment it has been my misfortune to read.
To quote the wonderfully talented writing of Ben Elton and delivered by the equally wonderfully talented comedy acting of Rowan Atkinson.
Yours is the worst disguise since a Giraffe wearing dark glasses tried to get into a polar bears only golf club.
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Marco Polo
Welcome to the madness!!
Please do say hello next time we are friendlier than we look!!
I would say be adventurous, but that would be a little silly given your name.
Re the where the goals will come from this season i agree it is my only slight concern. However as Wolves and Birmingham showed last season if you can keep it tight you need fewer goals to get results. Plus Fortune scored 5 in half a season last time so hopefully with more experience and hitting the ground running he can match or better his ratio. Saint Peter is another reason to be hopefull, his signing now makes a 4-4-2 formation look workable if we need to.
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Sometimes there are true Albion supporters that come on here and vent if they’re feeling negative.
That’s completely acceptable as let’s face it, surely it’s here for that reason and it would be boring if we all said the same thing.
However, Smelly Dingle is not one of these. He’s stiring trouble from the dark side for sure.
There’s just too many posts from him that aren’t angry, passionate or frustrated outbursts. They’re more well thought out!
Warren, I’m glad you mentioned James Hurst.
I was gutted when he left and I’m glad he’s back.
Doesn’t appear to be much mention of this move.
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This has got to be the best Albion squad for the last 10 years. Anyone moaning about lack of proven goal scorer,just remember the days under bobby gould and the like. the club has moved so far forward just be glad to be a baggie fan and enjoy the ride.
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YEP!!
It only takes a second to score a goal, and NOW we will be able to defend our lead in games.
We only need our players to really beieve in themselves.
Keep it tight and GO for Spurs in a big way.
Come on you Baggies.
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Marco Polo, welcome to East Bromwich Albion,
(well come on, that’s the direction he knows best, The Hawthorns is definitely on the East side of West Brom) and he was the original Merchant of Venice. I promise I will never moan about spelling or grammar if you are:
1: A Baggie 2.Not a spy from Moulinex.
Sir Terence has become a good friend and he couldn’t care less about spelling. Fair enough, I do get to cuddle his missus on occasion but so would you if you had the chance.
35.Rose. If you truly know ‘Smiling’ to be a Baggie, then I’ll apologise for calling him
Loffin’ Fowl, but I remain unconvinced for now. I like people to sign their names being very old-fashioned, but sometimes a pseudonym has to be enough. I admire Wulfies who say their piece and sign it ‘Wulfie’. Spies are just childish . One other detail. I don’t think I could bother going to the match if I were that depressed about the team. My glass must be at least half full all the time.
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Has anybody else stated that there’s been no mention of James Hurst re-signing for us and then immediately read the article that tells us that James Hurst has re-signed for us?
No, On my own then.
I’ll get me coat.
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35 Baggie Rose(shadrag)-you would have a better chance of being disguised if you stopped calling yourself ‘Baggie this’ and ‘Baggie that’….doh!I’ve told you before,it’s not natural for a wolves fan to try being clever,you need brains for that.
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and to number 19. saido berahino is still a baggie. i messaged him on facebook and he said it is a typing error.
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(37)
Marco Polo,
Welcome aboard “MATE”, Haul the “MAINSUL” and off we go. No “RIGGING” your post. Only go to matches on the “MAINLAND”. You can sing A “SHANTY” anytime. Remember all “PLANKS” come from the custard-bowl or you will be walking one. No talking “PARROT” fashon.
Always keep an even “KEEL”. Know your “RUDDER”
from your rock. Always have a “WHALE” of a time. I think this en”COMPASSES” our rules!
unless Some of our “LUBBERS” know better. Above all know your “INDIA” from your “AMERICA”.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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45.Matt. I’ve read it too and I know we were gutted when he left us for Pompey, but it will have done him the world of good seeing different coaches, facilities, Prem players.
About 100 years ago I was learning to be a design-draughtsman. Sensible firms actively encouraged young men to go elsewhere for a spell to learn new tricks.
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Blimey JtH 48, that was almost poetic! I’d never make a sailor. 55 minutes after joining a boat, even on a calm sea, I’m seasick. That is, unless I’m driving it. Why’s that Jack?
They said on QI that a ‘boat’ is a submarine, the rest are ‘ships’.
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numba 2 r u mad? Bent is our 4th choice & wow get a game, if bent was at the albion he’d be ur numba one star striker, FACT!!!
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agree to a degree with most posters our club
has done marvelous with funds available This
season we will have a good deal more of experience to help us survive The shortage of
cash in the Championship prevents Moores removal and his high wages. I think consolidation is our aim this time and go for
Europe next season We see Blues and Stoke have been active we have more affordable aims.
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WEVE MADE SOME GOOD SIGNINGS AND HAVE PLENTY MORE PACE NOW WHICH COULD BE VITAL ALTHOUGH FORTUNE HOLDS THE BALL UP WELL I CANT SEE HIM SCORING 10 THIS SEASON SO WE NEED BRUNT AND DORRANS TO SCORE A FEW THIS SEASON GONNA BE CLOSE BUT THINK WE CAN FINISH HIGHER THAN BLACKPOOL WIGAN W HAM AND DINGLES BOING BOING
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ok a great squad, but still doesnt explain why we didnt score against lpool, they were bad, i hate the old cliche we played brilliantly……. but we lost! so therefore we can only judge in 9 or 10 games time, what ever happened to train hard -fight easy, so come on albion , get a grip
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Very pleased with the business done in the summer and up till the end of the transfer window. We don’t appear to have over spent on any of the signings, some Premiership experience, mixed with some young talent for the future.
Athough a couple of them are an unknown quantity, it would seem that Dan Ashworth has done his homework so things are looking promising.
Very pleased with our performance, if not the result in the Liverpool game. Roy Hodgson said so himself, if we play like that every game, we’ll take points off a lot of teams. We’ve played 3 games now, 2 of them against teams nobody gave us a chance against, so another way to look at it is that we have maximum points from the winable games.
One thing that really impressed me at the Sunderland game was how sharp we looked, a marked difference from last season. I certainly think we have a squad capable of competing and surviving this season, we now need to translate that on to the football pitch.
Smiling Baggie, none of us are saying the job is done but to come out with those comments makes me wonder if you actually watched any of the games. Out of the 3 games we’ve played, the only poor game we played was the first one against Chelsea and lets face it, we’re not the only team who’ll get a hiding from them this season. Yes we have only scored 1 goal, but we’ve played 2 sides who’ve reached the Champions League final in the last 5 seasons – judge us at the end of the season, not the end of August!
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WOW Smiling Baggie isn’t very smily :( but I happen to agree with 35 – Baggie Rose
I dont think smiling is a dingle and we should lay off a bit… everyone is entitled to their opinion. It is getting to a ridiculous stage now when no-one can come on here and say anything negative without gettin bombarded usually by the same people who are all friends, have the same opinions and comment more than most.
Giving the impression that 95% of Albion fans think the same but Im sure a lot of fans have similar concerns.
A lot of people will vouch I am one of the most optimistic posters going but its not going to be plain sailing with our new ‘Amazingly balanced’ new team. Lets just give it a few more weeks and see where we are ay?? Before we judge how well or not we can compete in this league (this time)
geeees no wonder Marco Polo asked us to be gentle!
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Personally, I’m chuffed with the squad we have at the moment. It is definately the best group of players at the Albion since the Three Degrees were wearing three blue stripes.
I couldn’t agree more Jarrod.
Every post that has mentioned about the balance and the quality being enhanced is spot on.
I recon Winge will shine. Tchoti will scare every right back in the land and Shorey will secure LB with some hard fought performances. Once settled Pablo will become a rock, Fortune will do a job up front and Scharner will play a major role this season.
We should survive this season and survive well.
We have 3 points and we’ve played Chelsea and Liverpool away. This year I recon we could beat one of the big 4.
COME ON YOU BAGGIES
BOING BOING
ps Smiling Baggie. I hope you don’t follow me on holiay coz that black cloud over your head could ruin it for me.
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We’ve bought in a great mixture of pace, power, experience, skill and all without breaking the bank.
I’m very happy with our business in this transfer window.
Time will tell if it is enough to keep us up, but I honestly think that bringing players in with the quality and experience that we have done, mixed with some wild cards such as Tchoyi and Odemwingie, who could well end up being superstars.
We all know that we have a very tough start to the season, but once these early fixtures are out of the way, we can really kick on in October – January and get as close to mid table as possible (hopefully).
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46 CR78.
Well spotted. I remember now that LW has used Rose before.
What threw me was that he doesn’t usually think to leave a gap between his posts under different names. This time he did leave a pause while he changed into his woman’s clothing. I’ll leave it there as it’s not a pleasant thought.
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56 Danno.
A while ago I became a bit paranoid about these puerile idiots posing as Baggie fans and ruining a brilliant forum site. I may even have accused a couple of genuine posters for which I apologised. I am much more careful now as I’ve always believed in free speech.
If Smiling Baggie is one of us I’ll do as it says on the Keltruck gates and buy a season ticket at the Mol and attend every game. He makes all the same points that Laughing Wolf does on the odd occasion he uses his own name.
He’s used Baggie Rose before to defend himself. Funny that Baggie Rose has never commented on anything else on here.
On the contrary, I don’t think 95% of Albion fans agree with me which is why I try to put the alternative POV. It’s all to easy to get carried away by the mob mentality, we’ve lost a game let’s pick on the scapegoat. A good lynching won’t solve our problems but will make us feel better.
I’m guessing that I’m one of the ‘same people that are all friends.’ I’ve never met anyone else that posts on here. I often agree with you but I’ve had a go at you when I disagree. It’s nothing personal. I don’t make personal attacks on people, just the points they make. Posters on here often make personal attacks on players or club officials but then become all soft and vulnerable when anyone challenges them. To me that’s a bit cowardly. If I make a point, I’m happy for people to have a go at it and I’ll defend it or agree that I’m wrong. Isn’t that what a debating site is all about?
I have a running duel going on with Streetly Baggie. We rarely agree but he gives as good as he gets and I totally respect him for that.
I love having verbal battles with Wulfies on here, the ones with the bottle to use their proper names that is. I’m sure if I met BillytheFish in the pub we’d have a drink, take the p**s out of each other’s teams and leave on good terms. I never tell Wulfies to stay on their own site as I enjoy the repartee.
PS Marco Polo. Welcome on your debut. Hope we hear more from you whether we agree or not.
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56 danobaggs-I find it interesting that you defend both ‘smiling’ and ‘rose’,you also punctuate some of your comments the same way as them (him).So you are either a genuine Baggie defending a wolf (badddd judgement),or you are shadrag using at least 3 different names and spending all your time on the Albion site,which would make you very sad indeed.If that is the case,I suggest you get yourself a life.
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61 CR78.
If you’re right and this is LW pretending to be Danno to defend his two previous aliases we should be concerned. The ‘man’ has serious mental health issues and should be receiving treatment.
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RBH, CR 78:
I am not a Wolves fan, have only ever been to Molineaux to watch West Brom and even have a couple of WBA shares, so you are both completely up the wrong tree.
I do not agree with Smiling’s comments and think Dorrans in particular will do well. However, I disagreed with the type of verbal attacks on him/her.
How long we keep Dorrans for is another matter- quoted in the Times (Scotland edition) yesterday as looking to move to a bigger club- “I want to play at the best clubs I can and get as many Scotland caps as I can. I’m 23, I am still learning and I have along way to go. I will keep working away and hopefully I can get to the next stage.”
I am very happy with our squad, but that doesn’t mean you can’t rate players from other teams highly. For example, I happen to think that Steven Fletcher even at 6 million is a super buy for Wolves.
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63 Rosie-you really should go seek some help.How many true Albion fans would only call us West Brom and WBA,followed by a comment that Dorrans wants to go to a bigger club (which immediately rules out wolves)?You then finish by praising a wolves player who can’t get fit and can’t score.I said you weren’t very clever,but I can’t really argue with a multiple personality case.Please get medical advice before it’s too late.
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Danobaggs, Rosie
I can see what you’re both saying, but you’ve got to appreciate that scepticism of people’s motives is human nature, particularly on a message board where people don’t know each other and there’s a history of mischievous posting from other team’s supporters.
The problem for Smiling Baggie is he appears from nowhere, posts something negative and provocative then disappears. Despite suspicions, I tried to respond to the points he raised constructively. Smiling has chosen not to engage since then, so in some respects, is contributing to the suspicion himself.
There are negative posters on here, the likes of Streetly and Woodman, who I often disagree with, but the fact they repeatedly post and in some cases try and include some substance in their posting means that most of the regulars respond to them as other Baggies. If Smiling backs his points up and continues to post, he’ll probably find the same happens to him.
P.S. I can only echo Bully’s sentiments- I’ve never knowingly met anybody on this board. I side with the likes of TRBH, Bomber, Cyril, Happy, Kev, Ned etc because I agree with their outlook on our club in most cases, not as part of any conspiracy against negative posters.
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OMG
No 63, we are dealing with someone who needs help.
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63 Shadrag.
I refer you to my post at 62. Now go back to the raffia work and let one of the other patients have a go on the computer.
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56 DANNOBAGS
I agree totally with you, if people post their views on here and are not 100% pro Albion and Peace then they get a right going over, i myself have been on the end of it and although i have softened my views somewhat on certain matters, there are certain people on here who state that they respect others views but in fact then do just the opposite. I doubt if these people will recognise themselves however.
Personally the debate about if someone is Albion or not is getting a bit tiresome.
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Lovin the fact that anythig other than glowing praise is perceived to be from a wolf – evidence enough that those Albion rose tinted glasses are (almost) standard issue!
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OK we’ve signed some good players but look at who got away. I can’t belive we missed out on Marcus Bent or failed to pay £10m to sign players with long term injury records like Hunt and Fletcher. Honestly gutted at missing out on such quality.
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68 Wall Heath.
I may have fallen into your cunning trap but I suspect I may be the person that doesn’t respect others views.
Unfortunately this is what LW and his band of misfits have reduced us to. I think a while ago you were posting as Nick the Greek. The fact that your posts were very negative and under a name not seen on here before rang the Wulfie alarm bells with a few of us. I always apologise if I upset anyone as I think I did with you. I did the same the other day with Streetly when a bad joke by me was taken seriously.
I honestly don’t set out to offend anyone. The likes of whorwba???? that come on I have a pop at but he would expect and accept that, it’s the rough and tumble of a site like this. The ones who pretend to be Baggies I call idiots and I don’t apologise for that. As this demonstrates they’re ruining the debate on here between real fans.
If I disagree with someone I put it on here. I don’t resort to abuse apart from the spies as Cyril calls then and on the odd occasion I wrongly accuse someone like you.
My main bugbear is people having a go at the way the club is run. When this happens I invite the critics to suggest what they would do to right this but rarely get any replies. Is this wrong? Someone says ‘we should get rid of the Chairman’ or ‘where has the money gone? I ask how? or point out where the money has gone. These are facts. What is wrong with that? I don’t pretend to be an expert on team selection, tactics or players abilities which are all open to interpretation.
Anyway I’ve made my point. I didn’t come on to have a row with you but to genuinely ask, could you or anyone else (apart from Laughing Wolf) tell me how I’ve offended you or them. As I say, I don’t set out to upset people and I will seriously address the fact that I don’t respect others views if this is the case.
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TRBH
Don’t let the self-doubt creep in. This board would be a much duller website without your opinions.
An opinion isn’t an offence, a prejudice isn’t always negative and derogatory. The human race wouldn’t have got very far without making assumptions based on previous experience and that’s all people have done here after the recent Wulf invasion.
I for one, applaud your passion and have never known you become personal or disrespectful toward another poster beyond banter.
Wall Heath
I understand what you’re saying but as Cyril often says if you post on here, you’re there to be shot at. I can tell you over time that there’ll be as many Bully-bashing posts as there will be from his allies like myself, same goes for everyone. If you think someone has over-stepped the line then perhaps you should name and shame (before we all blame ourselves!!) as I don’t think any of us condone personal insults.
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The Real Bully Hoo
You make me sound like Baldrick with a cunning plan, if only i was so clever.
My blog was not directed at you personally but was a general observation , there are people who blog on here who do not respect others views.
In the past i have disagreed with quite a lot of your views and probably will in the future and do feel that once or twice you have read more into my words than i have written .
However you have certainly not upset or offended me and i look forward to debating with you and others in the future.
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65 – Warren fair enough, I can understand why u may be sceptical of Smiling. If that is the case and there are only a few posts come up now and again which are always negative I can understand why would think they may be a dingle. Lateley I have not posted on this site as much so I might have missed people like this… and who knows if I had visited more often I may be sceptical myself.
But on the occassions I come on here, it seems to me its not just with Smiling, its anybody who posts something negative or anti JP gets jumped on by the usual posters that frequent these blogs more than most and seemingly have their own group. I didnt even agree with Smiling, I just stuck up for their rigt to an opinion so there is no excuse for 61 – C Rocket
Yes it was the real me by the way and no I am not a Wolves fan… I have been a regular poster on here for a long time (not just someone posting one off snipes at Albion) and I am rarely negative….
Even TRBH will vouch for that, so there is no reason to suspect me as a dingle whatsoever. And I was quite offended to be called one. I am against pretty much everything they stand for. I have blue & white in my blood!!
So whilst there might be a few Shadrags around who have issues and even stoop so low as to pose as someone else… accusing innocent Baggies who have a difference of opinion and being completley PARANOID is stooping to the same levels of this Shadrag person / other wolfies and shows they themselves have a few ‘issues’ of their own!
PLEAS EXPRESS & STAR Bring in some kind of membership so nobody can pose as anybody else and has to keep their name. Thats the only way to solve this.
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A club can do two things, 1/ Spend millions they haven’t got and go bust. 2/ Spend hundreds of millions and win the league. The club who spend what they haven’t got end up in the backwaters. The club who throw hundreds of millions at it can’t recoup these expenses even if they win umpteen league titles, hence hollow victories. Oh there’s another option, 3/ Build slowly and surely untill they reach a level they can operate at. We ALBION fans know which train we’re on.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Why is everyone so upset at Wulfies infaltrating this site? The only reason they would spend most of thier time on here stirring is because they’re trying to get thier digs in before the Albion start to shine.
Tchoyi cutting in from the left, dancing between line and defence then curling a wonder goal into the top right hand corner.
Dorrans jinking between helpless midfielders then laying the ball off to Brunt who strikes a superb 30 yarder into the top left hand corner. Then Winge running onto a perfectly executed long ball from Ibanez, leaving two defenders for dead and chipping majestically over an on coming Keeper exposed by a precision move and inadequate defencive play.
And that will just be the first half at the Custard Bowl.
Wouldn’t you be scared? I know I would.
I welcome the Wulfies posting on here, it adds a bit of spice (and they’re always wrong).
Boing Boing
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71 TRBH,
Fair play to you as I posted on here as Long Long Long a few months ago and your good self and Warren took my view point of whatever was being discussed and guessed I was a spy in disguise.
I posted back protesting I was a genuine baggie and to be fair to you and Warren, you were both humble with your response and apology.
I can understand Wall Heath / Nick’s opinion but I also understand how easy it is to get the spies wrong – Smile / Rose is definitely a spy though!
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Thank you all for your input.
Danno.
I can only echo yours and others call for some sort of registration to stop the subterfuge posts that are ruining the site. If Smiling Baggie was a real fan, I’d be aguing with him but not attacking him.
During this close season the ‘Shadrags’ have been like midges in a Scottish Highland summer. Myriad and just as annoying. As 76 BIM says, the site would be much poorer without the Wulfies, whether they be sensible, p**s taking or just having a go but the false name users are a different matter.
The reason CR78 was so suspicious of your post is that we’ve had two prime offenders, Laughing Wolf and Whorwbaanyway???? that have a habit of posting under genuine Baggie names, Shropshire Baggie is one that comes to mind as well as the made up ones, Smiling Baggie, Baggie Rose, Doubting Baggie etc.
Laughing Wolf posts are fairly easy to spot as he is always something Baggie and the text follows a certain pattern, he’s only just got Paul Robinson out of his system (I’d love us to re-sign Robbo just to wind him up.) Cyril unmasked Whorwbaetc by spotting that he has a habit of putting ‘methinks’ when using his own or an assumed name.
Wall Heath.
It was meant as a joke in that if you were meaning me I was admitting my guilt. Cunning more in line with Blackadder than Baldrick.
I attack people’s views not them
The problem we have on here with genuine Baggies fans is that some come on here and to paraphrase them all, say ‘Let’s get rid of this Chairman.’ I think Myself, Warren , Cyril etc are quite entitled as we have many times, to ask the question, how? No answer has ever been forthcoming except a vague, ‘we need to get someone in with some money.’ Again the question I ask is, who? and how? The best answer I’ve had to this one has been, ‘how should I know that’s not my job.’ We then get, ‘Peace ought to gamble a bit more and spend more money.’ Again I point out that Wigan can gamble because they have a multi millionaire Chairman that can bail them out if it goes wrong. Even Wolves have this luxury although they’ve spent no more than us for the last couple of years. Portsmouth, Leeds, Forest etc do not seem to have registered in these people’s minds. The other point that comes up is ‘why don’t we blow all of the parachute money on one big roll of the dice?’ Because that’s what it is ‘parachute money’ provided to stop clubs doing a Leeds or a Portsmouth. JP is made out to be a villain, sitting in his Hawthorns Castle counting his money. It would be so easy for him to follow these demands, go out and spend all of the money we don’t have yet and be an instant hero like Peter Ridsdale was at Leeds for a couple of seasons. Or worse still do a Portsmouth and sell up to some unknown foreigner. None of these posters ever give him any credit for giving our club it’s pride back. I go back nearly fifty years as a supporter and from 1970 to 2000 I was laughed at for being a Baggie for at least 20 of those thirty years.
I do get angry at those type of posts and I try to direct the anger at the post not the poster. But when it’s the same people asking the same question while always neglecting to provide any answers themselves it is difficult. Warren has every right to feel more peeved about it than me as he often takes the trouble to explain the finances in black and white and where they can be checked, only to have the same question asked two days later.
I look forward to continuing to disagree on friendly terms.
Matt M.
While you’ve been a b****y nuisance by posting under a false name, I have every respect for you in coming clean over it. If memory serves you were by no means one of the worst offenders. Thank you.
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PS. Sorry for going on.
And on.
And on.
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THE REAL BULLY HOO
My comment about Baldrick was also a joke but it appears it may have got lost in translation.
As for the Peace debate, i agree totally that the Club is much better run than it was but i still think he could have spent more than he has without bankrupting us .
An awful lot of money as gone into the Albion coffers under his reign ( the sales of Kamara, Koumas, Davies , Ellington and the pole in goal for instance).
I grant you that things are better than they were but surely we cannot keep being satisfied with the pint half full and need to look forward and not back.
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Wall Heath
I can’t add much to what Bully’s put above. But for the ‘Where’s the money gone?’ question, I’d say the answer lies on the ‘Wages and salaries’ line of the P&L of every set of accounts we produce.
£31m last time we were in the Prem, probably around £40m this time. Our entire turnover last time in the Prem was £47m. That leaves about £7m from the super-duper Sky bonus we get for this year, we’ve already spent just under £10m on transfer fees, so we’re already into the realms of ‘Other income’ to cover every single other expense the club has. It’s not as easy as “we’ve gone up, so lets spend £50m”.
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Wall Heath.
I know what you mean but doesn’t it depend on whether you’re looking forward to Man City or to Portsmouth?
And again I’m sure Warren could give you chapter and verse but all of the money both in and out of the club has been accounted for. If it wasn’t the Fraud Squad would probably be taking an interest.
A lot of that money in the coffers is down to JP’s business acumen and stubborn nature when dealing with other clubs. In the past we would have probably settled for half the amount we got for those mentioned as well as others like Greening.
There are two things that you still ignore.
1) Wages. These have to be not just paid but budgeted for over the length of the contracts. As fans we have the option to bail out on the club whenever we want (as some do when we leave the PL.) Mr Peace doesn’t enjoy this option.
2)During this Chairman’s reign there has been a complete overhaul of the training and medical facilities and the ground has been greatly improved to turn it into a PL ground. We’ve received no money from the local council or a sugar daddy. It’s all from money generated by the club.
Despite the increase, our season ticket prices are still very reasonable, ask the Blues fans.
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I am not a spy and I do think some of CR78 and RBH’s remarks are insulting. I admit I may have been naive about Smiling as he hasn’t come back and apologise for that.
The club isn’t quite as well off as you think if you look through last year’s accounts, but JP has done a super job. The only thing I wasn’t happy with was paying the sweetener of £100 per share. This money could have been spent on the team, but we have spent quite a lot anyway.
Can’t believe Dorrans hasn’t made the Scotland team for tonight’s game and Barry Robson has.
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83 Rose.
If I’ve wrongly accused you please accept my sincere apologies.
You must understand myself and others having doubts when I can only remember you posting twice, both times to defend Laughing Wolf in his more laughable guises.
I believe Dorrans may have a slight groin injury which would explain his omission.
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Accepted- we are on the same side after all.
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Right folkes, there’s a simple solution to this problem of supporter or not. support of a team means to back a team. If you aren’t backing the team i.e. Being negative one is not backing the team, therefore isn’t a supporter. SIMPLES.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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