Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
Why Tottenham are not unbeatable
Friday 10th September 2010, 9:05AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill believes the Baggies can use the example of Wolves last season and get something out of the game against Tottenham.
Tomorrow sees us get back to some proper football, now we have got the ridiculously timed internationals out of the way, and I cannot wait.
Tottenham visit us in superb form and on the back of their best season yet in the Premier League.
I must admit they have a number of players I am looking forward to seeing live including Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who I rate highly.
The fact is Spurs have a fantastic squad and are riding high on the confidence gained from their qualification for this seasons Champions League.
But, as much as I admire our North London opponents, unbeatable they are not. Wolves showed last season that they don’t like it when you get into them.
Although they rode their luck down at White Hart Lane, at Molineux Spurs failed to match Wolves work rate and our near neighbours deserved to get the better of them and win the game 1-0.
In fact Tottenham only managed to win seven of their 19 away games last season and for a team that finished fourth in the league that may surprise a few people.
It goes without saying I hope they continue to struggle while on the road!
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo has a number of selection choices to make for tomorrows game, predominantly in midfield and attack.
The undeserved 1-0 reverse at Anfield doesn’t reflect how well we played defensively and I would keep the back five unchanged.
James Morrison’s red card rules him out of the next three games and RDM must decide whether to give new signing Paul Scharner his debut.
Di Matteo has publicly stated his desire to play Scharner as a midfielder, and a partnership of him and Youssouf Mulumbu should provide the defence with plenty of protection.
Out wide left I would like to see Chris Brunt while Jerome Thomas continues to recover from injury, maybe ‘Saint’ Peter Odemwingie wide right, with Marc-Antoine Fortune operating as a lone front man with Graham Dorrans in the supporting role.
But I would be tempted to go with a 4-4-2 formation against Spurs, as much as I believe 4-5-1 is the formation that suits us best.
The reason is simple, if our cockney opponents have a weakness it is pace at the heart of their defence and I would like to see Odemwingie playing on the shoulder of the last man.
Michael Dawson is injured which probably means boss Harry Redknapp will probably hand William Gallas his debut and, while he has vast experience, he would struggle for pace against our Nigerian pace ace.
It would also be interesting to see how Fortune and Saint Peter play together, it would be a brave decision if RDM were to go two up front as we have effectively adopted 4-5-1 as our formation since the turn of the year and maybe its an option we could change to if needed.
While I do not see this game as a must win by any stretch of the imagination I certainly class it in the category marked ‘win would be fantastic, draw possible.’
Yes my categories are a little strange!
Games that follow on from international breaks can often throw up some strange performances and results.
I hope our international players have returned in good health and feeling fit, fatigue will play a part and our players sitting on bench could well have a big say on how the game goes.
On a different note I would like to offer my congratulations to my old mucker and partner in crime Pete ‘Hilltop Baggie ‘Danckert.
His better half has eventually been worn down and agreed to become his wife!
It has only taken 145 proposals and an engagement ring that has cost more than most people’s homes, but finally Chris has said yes.
My ‘popping the question’ advice of taking her to the Golden Lion – two for one on Tuesdays – and allowing her to have a pudding as well obviously worked wonders.
Congrats to a wonderful couple.
Up the Baggies!
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Nice impartial blog and a good evaluation of my team Spurs. The question is though, can the Baggies play in the faces of the opposition? My view of WBA is that they always play nice passing attractive football, a bit like Spurs.
I expect a really good game of football and really looking forward to seeing Van Der Vaart, hopefully in the number 10 role behind Crouchy or Pav.
Good Luck Baggies, not for tomorrow but for the rest of the season.
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Balanced view, one thing slightly wrong is the assumption that Spurs dont have pace in the centre of defence. Ledley King has pace to spare and if he isnt playing Bassong is similar re speed. Granted Gallas is a plodder but he is replacing Dawson – also a bit of a plodder.
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Nice article and good luck tomorrow. I recon this one will be quite open and full of chances both ends. COYS
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I’d be a bit disappointed to see negative tactics used in the game… having said that, I remember the whole ‘parking the bus’ complaint from Morinho when we took points from Chelsea a few years back and thinking ‘well if that’s what it takes’!
At the same time, I think West Brom play some really good football, and it’s really nice to see them back in the Premiership – they definitely play the sort of football that we Spurs fans like to see, and you guys have a great young manager in Di Matteo. Definitely hoping to see you stay up this time, and personally I’d much rather see you guys stay up than the likes of Bolton.
Should be a fine example of ‘the beautiful game’, although I’d like to think that we have the strength in depth to overcome, especially with the additional penetration offered by VdV!
Good luck guys!!
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Fear not Baggie Boys, Scharner was purchased for his experience at the back when things get tough and he certainly has experience of playing against Spurs when things get tough. He was in central defence for Wigan when they lost 9-1. Crumbs of comfort ? Defoe won’t be playing and your man scored Wigan’s goal.
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Morning Bomber.
Would that be the game when Robbie Keane took all the Spurs players on a bender in Dublin before the match ?
My old mobile got broken and i lost all my numbers, Pete`s being one of them.
So i cant ring him up and offer congratulations.
So if you are reading this Pete……err…….congratulations, and are we having the stag do in Vegas ?
Getting on to Saturday, i think Spurs have made a quantum leap since we last met, and now have some genuine stellar performers.
Time will tell, but i beleive we also have moved forward.
Looking forward to the game, hoping for a win, but would be content with a point.
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Albion are not has good as wolves were the season they went up, so i daught it.
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7 Matt
That is probably the single most thought provoking, astute, detailed, post ever written.
It would impossible to argue with such wisdom and conviction.
However, some may dowt it.
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Oh well…Was very good reading untill Matt or pratt at number 7….posted at 11.03 no school today young man
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6) Nothing to do with Spurs going on a Christmas jolly. Wolves were under the cosh but defended brilliantly!
We have Spurs the following Saturday and I reckon that they will get revenge. With both our games, Wolves and Albion could pick up points but on the same token we have to be on top of our games our we will get defeated!
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My team
jara
Shorey
Olson
Tamas
Brunt and thomas as wide men
Scharner and Mulumb – centre mid
odemwingie playing behind Fortune
*dorrans prob wont be playing for personal reason.
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Should be an open game as both teams play football. Do ALBION fans realize out of all our players listed on ALBION web site twenty six are 6’0″ or over, I repeat TWENTY SIX of our players listed are 6’0″ or over, amazing.
does this qualify for Guiness book of records?.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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since when did Cockneys come from North London? dear me.
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7. (Matt)
You really think so? But didn’t Wolves prove the season they went up that without Kightly they were nothing (the run in the middle of the season when he was injured and you couldn’t buy a point, never mind a win – and everyone was screaming for MM to be sacked – the example in point).
Were it not for everyone else in the running choosing to match your losing streak at the time then a run of form like that would have doomed you to the play offs at best.
I don’t see how that was better than the Albion are now, to be honest mate.
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An Albion fan on WM last night reckons Tamas
will be missing tomorrow due to injury,
I dont always pay much attention to rumours but
this guy seemed to know what he was on about
with him actually going up to the training
ground.
Also we have Morrison,and maybe Dorrans missing which will make it even more difficult
for us.
______________________________________________
MY ALBION TEAM:
_______________
CARSON
JARA TAMAS OLSSON SHOREY
BRUNT MULUMBU DORRANS SCHARNER THOMAS
ODEMWINGIE.
SUBS:MYHILL,IBANEZ,S.REID,BARNES,BEDNAR,
FORUNE,TCHOYI.
______________________________________________
CARSON
JARA IBANEZ OLSSON SHOREY
TCHOYI MULUMBU BRUNT SCHARNER THOMAS
ODEMWINGIE.
SUBS:MYHILL,ZUIVERLOON,S.REID,COX,BEDNAR,
BARNES,FORTUNE.
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Unfortunately for you guys Albions squad were not as strong as Wolves last season and we did the double over them and didnt conceed against them.
Spurs on great form? They just lost at home to bottom of the table Wigan? They have a number of players out and lots playted in the week for their countries so best time to play them.
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Albion 0 – 2 Spurs
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#7 Matt
What’s a daught??
Oh yes I remember a thick Wolf!!
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MATT
I think you mean DOUBT , sunshine.
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11, Tamas and Dorrans both out tomorrow,Pablo in for Tamas, ref is howard web :-( aye boing boing
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I’m a spurs fan and I’m a bit wary of playing west brim imade the Christmas trip there couple years back when unfortunately we were terrible and lost! But I suspect a spurs win ‘saint peter’ pace will be out shone by the pace of the king and Benoit assou ekotto is nippy enough! I just believe this game will be won in the midfield!! And with bale Lennon hudd and modric it will be tough for you also with van der vaart and dos santos ready to come on I’ll be watching in the pub expecting a good game west brim prove to be tough opposition on the day!
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BrummieRob
Fair play mate, i was just getting in my retaliation first.
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16 LAUGHING WOLF
I think you mean CONCEDE, me old china.
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Id say that the Albion Squad is on par with the wolves squad that got promoted.You cannot take anything away from Wolves achievements last season, and the double we did over Spurs.Albion will be lucky to get away with a draw if Spurs play their best team,but with champions league games coming up who knows.
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Jarrod.
Get them to change that picture of you at the top. It makes you look like the bloke off the One Show.
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PS.
Where did all these Spurs fans come from, is your column synicated to North London?
Not that I’m complaining as it’s good to get some sensible feedback from opposition fans for a change.
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But No 7 Matt is right what he says. If were so poor and your so good, then you should beat spurs too. Well, we will know tomorrow about 5ish. Anyway, im off to fulham in the morn. should be a good un. Come on me babbies.
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I like that you all went to school and can hold your own in a spelling bee. Who’d have thunk it? The Spurs injuries are pretty irrelevant when we have 2 complete teams. Can’t see us losing to 2 lower Prem teams in a row, but good luck anyway.
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Albion have always had a decent record against
Spurs at home which is why Iam going for a
2-1 win to us.
———————————————-
ALBION 2
SPURS 1
FULHAM 3
WOLVES 1
BIRMINGHAM 1
LIVERPOOL 1
STOKE 1
VILLA 0
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(27)
Lonelywolf,
Spurs won’t be three sheets to the wind tomorrow. By the way, watch out for a guy named GERA if he plays. You remember him at the Custard Bowl, Wolves 0 ALBION 1 ( Scorer
GERA). You know, the time we whupped you four times in the same season. It will never happen again. I think GREENING played in the same match. Have a nice day.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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7 Matt,
What an articulate post.
I’m so glad we share the same name!
Is 28 a real Spurs fan or a spy???
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