Albion 2 Villa 1
Saturday 30th April 2011, 5:10PM BST.
Youssouf Mulumbu’s winner saw 10-man Albion come from behind to claim a first victory over Villa in 26 years.
Abdoulaye Meite put through his own net in the fourth minute to give Villa a dream start, but they failed to add to their lead despite having the better of the possession and chances.
The Baggies equalised in the 60th minute when Peter Odemwingie was quickest to react to a scramble in the box from James Morrison’s free-kick.
Albion’s hopes of victory seemed to have gone when Paul Scharner was shown a second yellow card two minutes later, but Mulumbu produced a composure finish in the 85th minute to secure the bragging rights.
Head coach Roy Hodgson made three changes from the side which drew 2-2 with Tottenham as Simon Cox, Gonzalo Jara and James Morrison were recalled in place of injured trio Chris Brunt, Jerome Thomas and Steven Reid.
Villa made one change from the team which drew 1-1 with Stoke, as Gabby Agbonlahor replaced Emile Heskey to partner Darren Bent in attack.
The visitors took the lead in the fifth minute when Villa attacked down the Albion right, following some neat link-up play between Agbonlahor and Stewart Downing.
England winger Downing jinked inside and his side-foot cross was intercepted by Meite but he miscued his attempted clearance and shinned the ball past Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson.
Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel made his first significant save of the afternoon in the 19th minute, when Mulumbu struck a curling effort from 30-yards out which the American parried to safety diving at full stretch.
Albion continued to knock the ball around nicely and Cox threaded an inch-perfect pass through to Carlos Vela but, rather than shoot straight at goal, he tried to dink the ball over Friedel from a tight angle and it went over the bar.
Odemwingie thought he had broke clear of the Villa defence when he got on the end of a clever flick from Morrison, but the assistant referee had already raised his flag.
Villa went close with a swift counter-attack just before the interval when the impressive Nigel Reo-Coker spread the play out to the right flank to Downing, who played in Kyle Walker on the overlap.
The right-back got to the line and his delivered a flighted cross in the direction of Bent but Carson got a hand to it first and palmed the ball over the bar.
Albion almost levelled 10 minutes after the break when Morrison curled a dangerous free-kick into the penalty area, which picked out the head of Scharner at the back post, but the Austrian directed his header straight at Friedel.
The Baggies got their equaliser five minutes later when Morrison delivered another free-kick into the penalty area which was met by the head of Olsson and Cox seized on the knockdown.
Cox’s shot was blocked by Scharner but Odemwingie reacted quickest and, in the scramble, smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Albion were reduced to 10 men moments later when Scharner was shown a second yellow card after holding back Stiliyan Petrov, as Villa looked to counter attack having been booked early in the first half for a foul on Reo-Coker.
Ashley Young and Downing both saw shots from distance saved by Carson, but Villa were unable to capitalise on their dominance and were punished five minutes from time.
Cox threaded a clever through-ball for Mulumbu to run on to and, despite Clark’s desperate attempt to get a touch, the midfielder lifted the ball over the outrushing Friedel.
Villa pressed for an equaliser in the remaining minutes, but the Albion defence held firm to claim the three points.
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Congratulations another season of prem football for the baggies, just need a win against the bluenoses tomorrow now.
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Were you watching
Prince William.
Pongo Waring.
Nigel Kennedy.
David Cameron.
Dennis Mortimer.
Your team took a hell of a beating.
You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face with an industrial strength grinder at the moment.
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Fantasic result ! we are premier league next year. great team spirit to come back and with ten men. now.. who we playing next ?
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Congratulations on reaching safety, Baggies. Commiserations on all the other stuff, mind.
No, but seriously, well done, mathematical safety with this amount of the season to go, can’t sniff at that. Insert “but then who’d want to sniff at a West Brom fan anyway?” gag here.
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A great result today. If this had been earlier in the year we would have folded and lost this game, but today we dug in and grabbed a result. Well done Baggies a great team performance.
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Mathematically safety has dropped to 10th. However, like Roy, I believe we are safe. We’ve got 43 points, we’ve got Wolves next and all we need is 2 points and we should get those from our last two matches.
Well played the lads today. I will await MOTD with a smile.
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Lonely.
I know you think we’ve been having a go at you lately but if you watch MOTD tonight (our game will be the two minute one at the end) you will hear every Albion fan in the ground singing a song in praise of the Wolves.
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Boing Boing Brilliant Baggies. This season we have silenced the critics and Jeremy Peace’s bold decision has been vindicated. Bring on the Wolves.
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VILLA WHO?. over priced and under working thats all you can say to the big Club ha ha ha. We had 10 men and played you off the park. Pirez you should play him more often. Boing Boing
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The football of this game will soon be forgotten as there wasn’t much, but the Albion spirit, deggedness and refusal to yield will stay in my memory. Walking back, a young bloke said on his nubile phone, “It was superb”. I interrupted him, “It was crap, but the result was superb”. He corrected his message.
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GREAT RESULT. JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER. THIS TEAM NEVER KNOWS WHEN IT’S BEATEN.
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Where can I watch Blues v Wolves? Typical media again when that is a game of real importance ESPN put on Liverpool v Newcastle which is a meaningless end of season game.
ESPN are worse than Sky and give the Beeb a run for their money in unimaginative scheduling. If there isn’t one of their ‘BIG’ teams involved they don’t want to know.
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At 1-0 I said I’m never going to talk about what might happen ever again at 2-1, the place was rockin!
I know I’m critical but tell me about the support at 0-1, it seemed to me to be quite, I was listening to the Parr’s game and watching in silence but we were both rockin’ in the end.
The only criticism I have is Obemwingie must have been watching Barca v Real the amount of times he through his-self to the floor.
All that said what a great chucking day!
Adéu
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Thanks Michael and Pete Nuts. I hope we beat you but that you stay up as well.
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7. Bully, Mr Lone cant hear you at the moment cus hes got his head in the gas oven and wont come out.
Im not to worried though cus i aint payed the gas bill again. Thought he may have sussed it, cus hes been having a chippy tea for the last fortnight.
Someone should really be keeping an eye on him. I would meself, but im off out with me mates.
Saturday night in Manchester,,, Pub, vodka, more vodka, club, ( not where Lone works) (not in his mood ) Vodka, more vodka. Kebab and a good old punch up at the taxi rank.
Hope we stuff you next week !!
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Gave them a goal start, player more, and the ref might as well have had claret &blue on. But we had Odemwingie and Mulumbu. Great atmosphere second half.Awesome win. come on Wolves, try and stay up.We needs the points next season.
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Fantastic result, about time we put one over the claret and blue. Not a great performance but who cares about that! Mulumbu outstanding yet again, has that guy ever had a bad game in an Albion shirt? Odemwingie was always a threat, Olsson solid, Meite played well and was unlucky with the own goal and Carson also with some important saves.
Job done now let’s finish in style while the rest of them are scrapping it out at the bottom!
Boing Boing!!
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A 6.30 am start most definitely vindicated.
Morrison, cox, odemwingie, and Jonad all immense. Wasn’t impressed with peters theatrics but Agbonlahor and Young have been getting away with it for years so no need to feel too guilty. 2nd goal was excellent, cox did brilliantly and Mulumbu must be some sort of freak to make runs like that so late in the game and with ten men.
And well done Fortune – didn’t look very confident before the goal but held play up and kept the ball well when it mattered.
Up the Baggies, what a win and what a day!
One more thing, love the way the crowd reacts to going a goal down at the moment, must be hugely uplifting for the players as well ad baffling for the ‘big clubs’ supporters (even if it subsided into a tense quiet for a while after)
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15 MR’S Wolf
I’m not that bothered if you do! It may not save you and it makes absolutely no difference to us at all,except it will just end the season off with a beautiful feeling!
Adéu
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The seals put to the sword and we only had 10 men. Brilliantly defiant display from the boy’s. We just wanted it more than they did. Roy should retain his manager of the year crown. He is a genius. Great support too even when we were behind.
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HOUSTON………….the Yo-Yo has fianally landed……..Well done Roy and the lads absolutely fantastic. Roy you have to be manager of the year again.
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Correction….it should be finally
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We had a great street party yesterday here at Perton, we are having another one when we beat you stripeys, so don’t be too sure of yourselves
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To para phrase a former Villa manager, “magnificent, marvellous, wonderful” result. Now on course for 50 points!.
A few observations, people were moaning when the first goal went in, blaming Carson, again? I’m sorry, it wouldn’t have mattered if we had had Cassillas between the sticks, NO ONE would have stopped that o.g.
Second thing, did any one catch the phone in after the game? Villa fans were bleating on about how they had been the better team and not one (as I heard before switching off) said Albion deserved the win. Excuse me, in a three goal game where you don’t score ANY of the three, how can you possibly complain about not getting anything??? All I could think was are you Wolves fans in disguise?
Third (and last you will be glad to know) what was Scharner thinking of throwing his arms around an attackers waist, almost Rugby style, when you are already on a yellow? I hope he learns from this.
Injuries aside (are you reading Lone?), as I posted last week on some thread or another, we now have quality in depth and can face, rather than fold, in such situations.
All in all, job done, safety assured, and lets just push on, and see where we end up. Joint tenth and top of the West Mids Mini League, am I smiling? you betcha! Bring on the Wolves.
the future is defiantly bright, and its Blue and White!
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That’s the big one sorted. Just the tiny one next, to bring the curtain down on the West Midland derbies for this season.
Not bad saying we were without, Brunt, Thomas, Reid and Dorrans (Take note Laughingwolf). If it weren’t for Meite, we’d have lost our non-clean sheet record. Well done with only ten men, that ploy certainly threw Villa. Well played, Carson, Olsson, Cox, Odemwingie. Hope the wide men are fit for the next match. Nice to know “Psycho” Downing, is doing a grand job for us, No wolves you can’t have him for your next manager. Roy, hope you sleep well tonight, I wont come down off cloud nine for a week.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
P.S. Ten the most, five will be.
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TRBH-tried to tell you how to watch the game but the mods blocked it for some reason.$$$$$
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Terrible 1st half, but who care’s about that, the score remain’s Baggies 2 Vile 1, nothing else matter’s,now lets go to the custard bowl next week and make our season complete, we are King’s of the black country and we are King’s of the Midland’s.
If I remember at the start of the season wolves away was going to be the match where they could send us down ha ha ha,how the role’s have reversed.
A very happy baggies fan.
Boing! Boing!
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At last!
Although the Vile should have won (given the loss of 3 of Woy’s starting 11, and the dismissal of a key defensive midfielder) we battled to the end, unlike the dross from Aston.
How ironic that today we were not at our best and won, when on other occasions we have out played AV and lost.
A big Thank You to McAlister for bringing on (passenger) Pires to even up the numbers.
Woy’s use of Fortune gave us the inpetus to go on to win.
What tactical masterstroke has he got in store for Moulinex?
Upward and onward!!
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Right then ! Im back on the thread and i aint very happy. 1, because uve won ( again ) and 2, there is no hot water for a shave and Mrs Lones done one and left me cold pie an chips from that bloody chippy again.
Cant even say you were lucky today, getting the winner with 10 ? It vexes me, but well done i surpose.
Mind you, even we beat Villa, and they had a manager to organise em when we did it.
See you had another one sent off. Roy can take the club out of the muck, but he cant take the muck out of the club eh.
Id love to stay and chat but im off to work, and woe betide anyone that tries to get in with a stripey shirt.
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Is this the best Albion team in recent history if not ever. Your thoughts please.
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Well done to the Baggies.
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26 years of hurt. West Bromwich Albion 2 Arrogant Villa 1. I feel 3 stones lighter now I’ve got that 26 year old monkey off my back. On a par with winning something? You betcha!
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TRBH,
another star to mention.
Tom Hanks
If you’re reading Tom, your team tokka a hell of a beating!
P.S Well Done Boys! Been a brilliant season! The Players, the fans and the manager(s) have been excellent!
Boing Boing! Y.B
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It has been a long time coming. Not pretty, but at this stage who cares…I was 26 years since we last beat the seals. Ground was rocking at 2-1, the noise was incredible. Hello to the guys we met at the Vine, my trip back to Norfolk (which I do for every home game), was a very swift and pleasant one.
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Another Saturday, another Albion game live on the tv here in the US and once again, even more so in fact, I came away smiling from ear to ear.
This is probably due to the fact that being in my late 30′s and going to school in a part of the Midlands dominated by villa fans (despite being born in West Bromwich) I’ve endured nothing but heart break whenever we’ve played Villa that was always compounded by my Villa school ‘friends’. Indeed, one of my fondest memories is when when we beat Villa 3-1 at the Albion in 19 eighty something and big Cyrille and Gary Thompson scored all three of our goals in the last six minutes on an allotment of a pitch.
Anyway, back to the present. It wasn’t pretty today but considering the players we were missing and the fact we were one nil down early and then reduced to 10 men with 30 minutes to go, we were outstanding. This team just doesn’t know when it’s beaten and I credit most of that to Hodgson.
Since Hodgson took over, we’ve played 9, won 4, drawn 4, lost 1. Goals for 17, goals against 14. Points 16. Average points per game 1.77. To put that into perspectives, 1.77 points per game would give us 62 for the season, all other things being equal, which would put us in the top 4. Now I’m not naive enough to say we should be in the top 4 but since Roy took over we’re showing top 6 or 7 form which is exactly what he did at Fulham last season.
The point being, JP recognised that the Liverpool experience didn’t make Roy a bad manager, in fact, as English managers go, I challenge anyone to find a better candidate than Roy Hodgson at the moment. Hodgson really is as good as advertised and I can’t wait for him to spend a summer working with Dan Ashworth.
The club has never been in better shape on or off the pitch. Well done everyone.
One final point, the fans as always, we’re brilliant today. I may have been 3,000 miles away and watching it on tv, but the atmosphere made it feel like I was in the stands at times. Fantastic.
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26 yrs ov hurt over thank you albion
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The other THE was involuntary, there’s still some vino left in my right arm.
Adéu again!
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12.TRBH. It will definitely be on computer, you can put your money on that! The links are improving all the time, even our rusty, coppered iron telephone wires can operate at 1Mb bandwidth and produce a watchable picture.
Looks passably posh, our area, but the phone lines are Neanderthal. I could print you two links but I don’t want to upset the forum mods.
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Woooooooooooooooooweeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!
Anyone still trying to work out if the bottom clubs can average 2.5 points per game,and if we COULD lose the last three games by an average of 2 goals to 7 each time-
STOP being a saddo,and chuck the calculator away-it ain’t gonna happen.
Believe me,it’s time to party !!!!!
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@14 The Real Bully
I think you may have to send out the reserves if you really want us to stay up!
Okay, a few more puerile gags…
The reaction to the news that West Brom are mathematically safe was met with a muted reaction as none of the fans knew what mathematics was.
However, the fans are overjoyed that the Baggies are up rather than relegated, because at least some of them can spell ‘up’.
Bad news, though: Peter Odemwingie has confirmed that he will be looking to join a bigger, more glamorous club, and is already considering an offer from Crawley Town.
Manager Roy Hodgson is hoping that Wolves stay up. “Not because I like them,” he says, “but at least I can pronounce their name.”
Meanwhile, Jez Moxey has confirmed that Big Sam will be at the club next season. “Correct,” he confirmed. “Big Sam Vokes will be at the club next season, as we’ll need players with Championship experience.”
And Mick McCarthy has confirmed that if Wolves go down, he will have to sell all of Wolves’ big-earning, marquee names coveted by other clubs. So the squad will stay exactly the same.
Thanks, I’m here all week.
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I don’t want to open up the debate again,but anyone like myself,who started watching the Baggies as a young lad in the 60′s,will remember Albion v. Villa as THE big local derby at the time,so this game is always special to us.
If you add the fact that,living in Smethwick,most fans around here are either Albion or Villa,the result is very sweet indeed.
My next door neighbour always used to puff out his chest,and like many villa fans I know,look down on us,believing they are one of the ‘elite’ clubs.
He’s now locked the doors,turned off the lights,and hidden under the bed.
I’m luuuuuuuvin’ it!
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Three key players missing including the captain, a man sent off when I’m sure if Dowd realised he had already booked him Scharner would’ve been given a final warning and we even score Villa’s goal for them.
Well played Albion, thats real character to come from behind and with 10 men against a club who we haven’t beaten for 26 years. Of course we are told we were lucky and Villa spurned thier chances blah blah blah. I wonder how long we will ride our ‘luck’ hey? Tactically brilliant and stoical defending despite what Villas reserve manager says.
I notice on the dark side that a lot of Wolves ‘fans’ are talking up violence if we send them down. These idiots should be banned, end of.
I’m so proud of the Baggies at the moment. We are 11th in the greed league with one of the smallest budgets if not the smallest and we entertain to boot. Hodgson, Peace and Ashworth are heros make no doubt. We should be eternally grateful to them.
Boing Boing
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Dear Mrs Lone.
They say behind every great man is a great woman. I’m sure it’s having a caring, genteel lady like yourself that has made Lonely into the well rounded individual he’s turned into.
All the best on your loving relationship.
Bully.
PS. Please apologise to him for me suggesting he needed an air pump to inflate his wife, obviously untrue.
PPS. That goes for saying he drove a Skoda Fabia as well, when in Manchester I will look out for his silver Ferarri with the go-faster orange and black stripes.
PPPS. Just include all of the hurtful things I’ve said in the past, we all love him really.
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Quote of the season on Setanta Ireland after Mulumbu scored the winner. “I don’t know how he was able to do that run, he must have two lungs or something”
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Excellent result for us and it’s the first time I’ve seen us beat the Vile. I always knew we would score reagrdless but didn’t see the win coming.
It looks like Roy Hodgsons faith in Simon Cox is paying off as he really is starting to play some really good clever build up football. Goals will hopefully flow for him eventually but he IMO is an unsung hero. Naturally Mulumbo is gold to us and deserves another pay rise to keep him here.
For us to beat the Villa with our star players out is immense and cannot wait for next Sunday. For some reason I can’t see areason why we can’t end the season on 50 points.
Goodluck Blues today!
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Great Result yesterday, since the arrival of Roy the team never knows when its beaten. We now can’t go go down due to the fact teams below us have to play each other so lets hope Mr Peace has started to make plans to splash the cash and make us an established Prem team. Boing Boing from a happy Baggy.
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Dingles, Watch that ***Super~Kev***.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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13 Kev-
The support sounded great to me most of the time,and the Brummie was probably first to make the most noise,but the own goal did knock everyone back for a few minutes.
It didn’t take long to get back on track though.
Peter O. did go down a bit too easy a couple of times,but it was very windy here,and he’s a lightweight,so that’s what I blame.
A few weeks ago,he looked a broken man,very much lacking in confidence,but now he’s flying like a kite.
He seems to enjoy standing inbetween up to four defenders,and spinning round ’til everybody feels giddy.
At the end of the season,he may need a couple of sessions with you to calm him down (tranquillo).
And by the way,Scott Carson had an excellent game.I’m just waiting to see how much praise he gets.
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I’ve said it before but I must try harder not to post straight after a match.
Adéu
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Good point, Cyril, number 10.
Poor football from both teams, particularly first half.
But in five years of Prem football that’s the first time I can remember us
playing badly and winning. Can anyone else recall a worse performance resulting in three points?
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YYEEEESSSS!!! I’m not afraid to say I had tears in my eyes at the end. Strangely I didn’t think we played that well, we seemed to stand off Villa in the first half and make it easy for them, but St.Peter’s equaliser seemed to energise the players.
As a 29-year-old Albion fan who grew up in Hamstead surrounded by Villa fans who made my playground days a misery, yesterday was a very special day!!!
TRBH- I updated my status on a popular social networking site yesterday with more or less exactly what you’ve written in post 2 (it’s a good job Max now accepts that we’re two different people), throw in Ian Bell, Floella Benjamin, Nigel Kennedy and middle-class inhabitants of Sutton Coldfield who drive Range Rovers. It’s certainly been a long time coming.
CR78- Welcome back, hope you had a good trip.
Michael/PeteNuts- Full credit to you both
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TRBH
Damn, you’d got Nigel Kennedy. Too many beers last night must have hampered my eyesight.
Oh, there’s lipstick-wearing Ritchie Neville from successful 90′s pop group Five and Judge John Deed (Martin Shaw)…….
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Mirror image league, just for fun!
Albion up two, Villa down four, Blues up one, Wolves down four.
7) Everton 52
8) Albion 50
9) Bolton 47
10) Fulham 46
11) Newcastle 45
12) Stoke 45
13) Villa 44
14) Sunderland 44
15) Blackburn 43
16) Blues 41
17) Wolves 41
—————–
18) Blackpool 39
19) West Ham 36
20) Wigan 36*
*West Ham result, late kick off, not counted
For the first time Bolton and Everton are dragged into it as the Baggies on course to climb higher and higher!
Given that the local competition is floundering or fallen away all together, time for a new mini league, me thinks, just to make it interesting till end of the season. Current league standings-
10) Stoke 43
11) Albion 43
12) Newcastle 41
Let’s see how far we can climb, at a extra £800,000 for every step up, worth the effort! (Every three places moved up you get a free Odemwingie or nearly 14 Mulumbu’s!) Stoke rivals for obvious reasons, and Newcastle our old sparring partners from last season, and sets us up nicely for the final game of the seasons at St James!
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Lone, earlier on this season (and since) you have felt fit to point out my “terrible moniker” as you call it even though I did i explain it, but, just to make things crystal, and to show our “never say die attitude” and that our team knows the meaning of what it is to fight, fight, then fight some more, take a look at this table, where you will see Albion have gained 26 points after being in losing positions this season – more than any other Premier League team! I have pointed out on several occasions on here to the Wolves fans who have tried to make capital about our lamentable “clean sheet” record, it does not matter! obviously!!!, but one thing that can be said, we are never boring!
Points Gained when Losing League Table
Win Draw Points
when when Gained
Losing Drawing
1)West Bromwich Albion (11)6 8 26
2)Tottenham Hotspur (5) 6 5 23
3)Chelsea (2) 5 4 19
4)Everton (7) 2 11 17
5)Wigan Athletic (18) 2 7 13
6)Fulham (9) 1 9 12
7)Wolverhampton Wndrs (19) 3 2 11
8)Stoke City (10) 3 2 11
9)Arsenal (3) 2 3 9
10)Manchester United (1) 2 3 9
11)Birmingham City (16) 1 5 8
12)West Ham United (20) 1 5 8
13)Bolton Wanderers (8) 1 5 8
14)Sunderland (13) 1 5 8
15)Aston Villa (14) 1 4 7
16)Liverpool(6) 1 3 6
17)Newcastle United (12) 1 3 6
18)Blackpool (17) 1 3 6
19)Manchester City (4) 1 1 4
20)Blackburn Rovers (15) 0 2 2
lets all sing together, “one half, we only need one half”
Do you get it now? Never Say Die!
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40 Petenuts-
thanks for the congratulations,a nice gesture.
Nevertheless,you really DO need to buy a new joke book.
Even The Krankies rejected that one when they saw it on the shelf of Poundland.
And when you say you’re here all week-
should we be happy about the news,or see it as a threat?
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Well done the Baggies, now is the testing time for our Chairman. He dismissed Robbie and let us not forget he put plenty of points on the board by Christmas. So did Jeremy fear that another relegation would turn the fans really vitriolic against him, has he plans that we do not know to sell whilst still in the Prem & therefore the gamble to bring Roy has paid off. Whatever, now Roy has given us the platform to become established Jeremy must respond immediately with real cash because if he does not then we will have 2nd season syndrome & have no fears Mr Hodgson would no doubt go to a club with ambition and finance or, yes, now is the time Jeremy moves on & he sells to someone who can provide the finances to establish us in the Prem. If Stoke can do it so can we with Roy but it needs the support of a Chairman who really is committed to Prem football and is now ready to splash some cash in support of Roy. Well done Roy and the Players.
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43. Bully, I dont forgive you for the “air pump” gag, but when ever in Manchester you can buy me a couple of Bacardi breezers and we will call it quits. Lone says your a good bloke, so thats alright by me.
Im from Manchester originally, so it doesnt hurt me as much as Lone, But as a total Wolves fan now it does hurt. But well played to both lone and you for keeping it funny. ( and this really is mrs Lone by the way )
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53 WONOH.
I’ve previously congratulated you on your accurate statistics and research but I think I have to tell you what your best friends are obviously neglecting to. Your mirror image league is rubbish, even if it is just for fun.
Having said that you’ve redeemed yourself with your brilliant last paragraph.
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35 NY Baggie
Great report (as ever)and analysis of what Roy has done in the short time he’s been here and I’m sure like you what he can do in the summer transfer period to come. I just hope others who knock JP and DA realise what a great move it was to persued Roy Hodgeson out of semi retirement to take on a club more likely to be relegated than survive and hopefully to keep him here for at least another year (other clubs will be checking on his availability). Well done Roy…the lads…and JP /DA.
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48 CR78.
Agree with what you say. The own goal did knock the stuffing out of us for a few seconds I think because it was such a weird goal. As someone else said, a few morons even tried to blame Scott Carson for it (why am I still surprised?) But this soon changed to getting behind the team and unlike the Chelsea game I didn’t seem to be in such a minority.
I think our form is even beginning to convince some of the faint hearts that getting behind the team actually helps.
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Baggie in Exile and Cyril.
Thanks anyway but from what Kev has said it doesn’t look as though I missed a lot.
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On the subject of Fortune. I’m not trying to say he’s great or anything but there were some around me getting on his back as soon as he came on. He’s hardly played this season and not at all lately. It took him a while to find his touch because of this but these footballing ‘experts’ never see any of this. Could be a future for them on MOTD possibly.
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hope the muscle bound lazy lump of lard that is Agbonlahor felt a tiny bit embarrassed by his arrogant and petulant taunting of the BRE
so why does a player get a yellow card for taking his shirt off and yet Agbonlahor can run the length of the BRE making gestures and inciting the crowd and nothing happens?
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Bakes, this is the best Albion team I can remember in my lifetime. I never had the pleasure of watching the likes of Astle, Hope, Bomber, Big Cyrille, Cunningham et al. But compared to the dark days when I went to my first game in the late 1980′s, this side is on another planet! The club is being run in the right way and we play football the right way.
Plus, how great was it watching us stroking the ball round the pitch at Old Trafford and having United on the rack, seeing Wenger with a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp when we put them to the sword. We are now showing no respect to the so called ‘big boys’ when in the past we would have folded and been sent packing with a heavy defeat.
Such happy days being a Baggie at the moment!!
Boing Boing!!
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Just wanted to add also, Wolves – the Manager, the players and the fans have been talking all season about doing this and doing that. Just a thought for you as I know some of their fans will be reading this, perhaps try getting behind your team and the players playing instead of trying to wind up other teams/supporters, then perhaps you wouldn’t be in such a mess.
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40 Pete Nuts
love your post, very funny , clever and well written. Well done!
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(28)
Pigmore,
Roy pal, Roy.
(29)
Odd Fellow,
I thought you were going to say “they’ve banned me from the Newbridge. Never mind, you’ll be even less happy, when you lose your next match.
(40)
Petenuts,
All Dingles can spell “Down” and they know what it means.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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(41)
Cantello,
To the cocky Villa fans, my answer was, That was a smashing goal Ronnie Allen scored at the
“Brummie”, when ALBION sent you down. It was like sticking a pin in a balloon.
Boing~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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50No.74Bus Are you quite sure you support Albion? Just asking, no offence, only it was the No.90 that went to Wolvo.
30.Bakes. Couldn’t argue with the best in RECENT history, but our best ever would be in the top 4, make NO mistake about that.
I have seen mentioned there will be trouble next Sunday. Please show some dignity. It’s a football match, not a war. I didn’t see any trouble yesterday with the Villa. That’s the proper way for adults to behave.
I watched the second half of the Blues/Wolves match. The pitch looked good, yet the ball was in the sky all the time, well nearly. When the Wulfies got it down on the floor, they looked useful.
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I can’t be bothered to read all the posts, but just wanted to say isn’t Simon Cox maturing rapidly? He made two great passes today, one resulting in Mulumbu’s goal. And yet he seems to get ignored by the fans?
Likewise I think Meite is a rock, prone to the odd slip. I’d put our resurgence down largely to Hodgson’s fath in Meite: stronger and more organised defense as a result rather than the cavalier Tamas.
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Well done JP
DA
RDM and His team
Roy,MA and KD
The whole squad and backroom team
All supporters for a tremendous season
Gotta be safe now still 3 games to go
Well ahead of that Premier Established club down the road
The future’s bright
BAGGIESBAGGIESBAGGIES
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fantastico
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game very good. surprising to come back from 10 men
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Fantastic bottle and pure grit. Let’s make a real go of it now Mr. Peace and get properly established in the league and go toe to toe with the Vile every year. The battles with our Staffordshire friends has been a nice distraction while we have been outside the top flight or struggling to stay in it. But it’s time to think bigger again and challenge the old enemy in Claret and Blue. Time to let them know that we mean business!
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Here’s a quotation from a Vile supporter from another messageboard
“The sooner we find another number 2 the better!”
…thought the club has nothing but number 2s?
May I thank the two Vile supporters who decided before the match to take the michael out of me because I have cerebral palsy; very mature of you. Sadly, you left before the end thereby preventing me from demonstrating that I can count – two goals, two fingers, enough said.
Poor first half display, but I predicted 2-1 and haven’t stopped smiling since. What a cracking run by Mulumbu and deft pass from Cox! Bring on the coach station next week!
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Well done on beating the vile enjoy your moment and bragging rights, fair play to you nuff said from me.
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48 CR78
I agree Carson did play well hiss handling was safe and he looked confident. In addition after his laughable own goal Meite got his head together and along with Jonas was a rock especially when we went down to 10 men. For me the Villa game is always the biggest, it must be an age thing!!!!!!!!!
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@55 Cantelloetc
I think you know as well as I do that there were some zingers in there, you’re just in a huff because I did a corking “your mum” joke against you the other day.
@61 Smethwick
Thanks very much (unless you were being sarcastic, in which case, I stick my tongue out at you).
@62 Jack
I know what down means. It’s the feeling I get whenever your wretched name boingboings into view. Can’t the good people at Microsoft somehow make you vanish…?
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56 Forever Albion.
If you are a Baggie and I’m not talking to Shadrag again. Your not a glass half full kind of bloke are you? More of a ‘somebodies pinched me glass and the beers gone all over me foot’ type.
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57 Mrs Lone.
I’m deeply touched by the honour you have bestowed on me.
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TRBH.
This is why my posts are aggressive at times what good can come from abuse,NADA. WONOH even heard blame attributed to Carson for the 1st goal, mindless absolutely mindless.
I forget who it was recently who criticised me for calling people Moaning Morons,what else can I call them?
It’s good to hear that the support was there at 0-1, I thought by PO’s reaction he was asking for more support.
Mate I wouldn’t take much notice of my after match posts,the vino tinto was flowing.
If you look closely I said that the crowd seemed quiet {quite),in the Bronze Bar they had the commentary from the Parrs game on,our game had the sound turned off and PO threw(through) himself to the floor too often.
As JTH said that’s the big one out the way I’m sure you being an older fan would agree, What a wonderful feeling, It’s similar to how I felt when I came out of the Odeon New st after seeing Little Feet arguably the best concert I’ve ever seen.
Adéu
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23 Kent Wilf-
Street parties usually commemorate a rare,and very high profile event,so on average we only get one about once every 20-plus years.
With that in mind,it’s not surprising you plan to have one next time wolves beat the Baggies.
Maybe it will coincide with William becoming King,but until then,you may as well put the bunting in storage.
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41 cr78 i started supporting the Albion in 68 [glory seeker]. I was in my twenties and had hair when we last beat them so this victory was so sweet.In the sixties seventies it was always the big one.Well done Baggies for putting the icing on the cake on whats proved to be a fantastic and memorable season
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one down side to the result brumierobwilf will be gloating in our failure to keep a clean sheet? we dont begrudge him that do we ?
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Historically, it was always Villa as our derby team. It’s strange, but I seem to remember that the Albion – Villa match was always the bigger draw than Villa – Birmingham or Albion – Wolves. It was when Villa and us were in different divisions for so long that the situation evolved into the derbies we have today. Wolves have taken over from Villa in our derbies and Blues for us in Villa’s. So to any of us oldies, it will always be the Villa games that excite us.
I’ve been over on the dark side and I must say that in my opinion most of the posters are very vitriol. They can’t seem to take any criticism and their responses to non Wolvws posters, and to some Wolves ones I might add, is very biting.
It looks certain that we will be in the prem next season, I am careful not to do a Wolves and jump the gun (what a season that was when we forced Wolves to cancel their celebratory holidays because we overturned their 11 point gap), but … we’m staying up, we’m staying up.
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73 TRBH-
talking of ‘the laughing one’,I spotted this in his post on the wolves blog-
‘Whether we stay up or not many of our fans feel a change is needed to progress but I am not so sure, I think Mick needs a huge wake up call regarding players who are not good enough (Ward, Elokobi, Vokes, Berra, Hennessey etc)and these players along with a few fringe players need to be moved on and replaced with QUALITY.’
I may have this wrong,but he seems to be saying that he doesn’t agree with making changes,but Mick should have a completely different outlook,and half the playing squad should be kicked out?
Am I missing something here?
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We need to make a good old offer to Peter Ode boy, heard he earns 15,000 a week, we should make it 35,000 or 40,000 a week, dont want no Tottenham snatching him from us, never liked that old Harry anyway.
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All Laughing Wolf fans, don’t worry. Shadrag has resurfaced on the Wolves match thread post no 56 and he’s in fine form. The list of excuses for why they couldn’t beat 10 man Blues was almost endless although the ref was apparently the main culprit, obviously biased against them despite the Gardner sending off and the penalty.
His other gem was that Roger Johnson didn’t like it when the Wolves fans gave him some stick. Good job then that there were only 1,900 of them not the 4,200 Shadrag told us would be there.
Oh and he’s also slagging off Mick again. Could this be the Manager he told us would make them a mid-table side as we slid out of the league because of his experience?
He finishes off (just before picking his team to beat us of course) by replying to a QPR fan who had sent a friendly post. I know you’ll find it hard to believe but Shadrag lays into him by telling him they have some shocking players and are certain relegation candidates.
Is that the sound of glass I hear breaking in someone’s glass house??????
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78 Petenuts-
Actually,the mods. appeared to have taken off your post the other day about you having a ‘romantic interlude’ with my Mum recently.
It was probably to save your embarrassment,because I pointed out that she will soon be eighty-nine years old.
Oops!(I can see your red face from here).
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Next !!!
we’re Sandwell Town and we’re sending you down,walking in a Hodgson wonderland
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TRBH
Feat not feet and that was sober!
Adéu
Mods.
Don’t know what you did with the 1st one if you find it ignore this one.
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87.Moore. I believe many of Villa players are on that sort of wage, yet their spirit seemed wanting to me. There’ll be more than a few of them looking for new clubs when Villa have their clear out. We could have bought John Carew too at those sort of wages and, er, has he actually scored for Stoke ? Just the one.
You may be sure JP will pay him whatever we can afford to keep him. After that, the vultures will circle regardless, so it will all depend on whether he WANTS to stay with us. If St.Peter is sensible, he’ll stay where he is regarded very highly.
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86 CR78.
Not sure if you’re replying to my post that’s now at 88 but if it is it adds more to the man’s lack of any self awareness.
The players you’ve named are some of the ‘internationals’ that he cited as the reason they would finish higher than us.
Hang on what’s that beeping sound? Oh it’s okay it’s just Shadrag reversing again.
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81 Kev.
As usual I disagree with very little that you say football wise BUT… best concert… mmm Don’t know about that one. Stones any of a few, Led Zeppelin Birmingham Town Hall 1969, The Nice, Ten Years After or The Faces around the same time, Black Sabbath at Henry’s Blues House, John Mayall, Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee, Bette Midler at the London Palladium, Meat Loaf at Wembley Arena when he still had his voice I could go on and on and on.
That’s the great thing about music and football though, we all see and hear things differently. Still can’t decide on the best concert but I think the Crystal Palace game the year we pipped Wolves will take some beating. Mainly because of where we came from, the wilderness years before, the injuries to Appleton and Roberts and then Wolves gazumping us on Kevin Cooper from Wimbledon before the deadline.
I think some of the games this season have run it close though.
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26 years of hurt is over. All hoodoos have been put ot bed. For me the Albion v Villa Derby is the big one and always will be.
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God did i smile or did i smile. So happy!
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No 79, over 50 years a supporter so I have seen the greats and top flight football now want to see us established as a Prem side and this can only be done with financial support from the or a Chairman for Roy otherwise this squad no matter what they have acheived this season cannot push up the table as Stoke or Fulham.
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94 TRBH-
After you mentioned Shadrag at post 79,it reminded me of what he said a few days back,and I still don’t understand why he doesn’t agree with a change at wolves,but wants to make big changes anyway??? Confused.
In view of our injuries and suspensions,we should bombard him with posts this week saying how many players are missing,because he loves to bang on about injured players.
Well,wolves injuries that is.I’m sure he couldn’t care less about ours.
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94 TRBH-
I grew up with three much older Brothers,so the records at the family home were mainly 50′s rock ‘n’ roll.
That being the case,when I saw Ten Years After playing ‘I’m Goin’ Home’ in the Woodstock movie,it blew me away,so I became a big fan of theirs,and blues-rock in general.
Saw quite a few gigs,but watching Rory Gallagher do a blistering 3 hour set in Brum,when he was obviously very ill,always sticks in my mind.
p.s.- if Kev was so impressed with what he saw,I hope he gave Little Feat a big hand.
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97 Forever Albion-
I think we all know that new players have to be added for next season,but I trust the Chairman with his judgement.
I seem to recall that he gave both TM and RDM money to spend,and we did bring in around ten permanent signings last Summer.
It’s also worth remembering that clubs like West Ham,Blackburn,Blues and Wolves have all spent more than us,but we’re looking down the table at them as they struggle,so just ‘splashing the cash’ doesn’t guarantee success.
Keep the faith,I’m sure all will be well.
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Cantello.
Are you sure you’re not Mr Pastry’s secret son?I’d look into it with corny stuff like that.
Adéu
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STILL SMILING :D
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101 Kev-
It is very early in the morning/week,hopefully the creative juices will improve when I wake up.
By the way,do they call Mr.Pastry’s little lad Short (crust) Pastry?
They will get better,they can’t get any worse…….
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97 Forever.
I was just trying to make the point that we are where we are because of JP’s astute running of the club. Despite the often ridiculous criticism he receives on here.
IE.
He should sell the club to a non existent billionaire or some spiv with a flash car and no money.
He should take a gamble and put us in debt ‘just a few million more’ like some mug punter down Corals putting his electricity money on the ‘cert’ in the last race
He should never let a hint of a smile pass his lips when we’re losing.
He shouldn’t take a salary for running the club but should do it for love and invest all of his own money as well.
He should never take a holiday during the season or during the transfer window.
While I understand what you mean, I’ve supported the club for 50 years so I’ve seen the greats in the top flight. I also remember seeing the not quite so greats in the wilderness years. As a Baggie I also want to see us established but not at ANY risk.
What I know is that during Mr Peace’s time as Chairman we have watched a very good standard of football. There hasn’t been a seaon where we haven’t punched above our weight and that’s some achievement.
We own our own ground which while not the biggest is an excellent facility compared to some others.
We have state of the art training facilities and a top Academy.
We have last years Manager of the Year.
We have a squad of players that will draw many covetous glances from other PL managers.
The season ticket prices are among the cheapest in the division and have just been frozen.
What bothers me is that we’ve achieved all of this and yet people still see fit to advise the Chairman on how the club should be run.
Can anyone else see where I’m coming from. If you can’t take a look at West Ham, bigger ground, bigger admission prices, bigger wage bill, bigger debts, much, much, much bigger debts and on their way to the Championship and possible bankruptcy.
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Probably the best Concert I saw was at Birmingham Town Hall back in 1949 I think. A little chubby Hungarian playing Brahms’ Violin Concerto. Bostin’ it was. Half a Crown t’ goo in. Lorra money then.
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104.TRBH. That’s one of the best explanations of West Bromwich Albion and its raison d’etre
I’ve ever read. TAKE A BOW my friend.
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99 CR78.
I bet we’ve rubbed shoulders many times at concerts without knowing it.
I remember Rory with great affection. A real bluesman. I liked him best with Taste although my wife preferred the later stuff (please no puns that it’s all a matter of Taste.)
It was a great time for music back then, I fondly remember the Crysalis concerts at the Town Hall when I saw TYA, Jethro Tull and Stone the Crows (Maggie Bell and Les Harvey) on the same bill all for 7/- 6d 37.5 pence in new money.
David Bowie third on a bill of five acts behind Iron Butterfly (I know, who?) and Dada (the forerunners of Vinegar Joe with Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer backed by an 8 piece band.)
This was around the time the Baggies were winning Cups, getting to finals and scoring loads in the league. Is it any wonder they seemed like great times?
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107 TRBH-
You certainly know your music,I’m familiar with Iron Butterfly and Dada,but didn’t see them live.
The first time I saw TYA was at the Town Hall,probably around ’72-73,and my mate had the idea of running to the front stage for the start of the gig.
I ended up standing a couple of inches from one of the speakers,and several times during the night I thought my head was going to explode.
I remember it was a Friday night,and I couldn’t hear a word anyone was saying until late on Sunday.
Why do we always look back fondly at things that were pretty crazy at the time?
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Even though i though Alvin Lee was a top axeman, for me Ted Nugent is, was, and alwalys will be THE rock god.
The biggest dissapointment.
The reforming of the wonderful Boston, the upcoming tour, the opportuninty to see for the first time since 1978, the utter virtuosity of Tom Scholz, the tightness of the bass and drums and the brilliant vocals of Brad Delp.
Tragicaly, just before the tour, Brad decided to take his own life.
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Forever Albion
Perhaps not but Stoke and Fulham are over £300m in debt between them. The Greed League dictates we need to follow suit to compete, but without a benefactor we can only do it our way, which is to spend within our means.
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CR78 & Forever.
Great talking music as I don’t seem to be always trying to berate people (yes I know I do it.)
On the speakers bit, I remember seeing Curved Air and being in about the 3rd row in line with the speakers. I’d been in the same position many times with loud bands but none of them compared to Darryl Way when he hit the high notes on his violin. The pain was excruciating and I still think he’s at least partly to blame along with Henry Hopes press shop for the tinnitus I now enjoy.
Like you said, the stupid things we did when young, I should imagine if Curved Air were around today H&S would issue ear plugs on the way in.
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105 Cyril.
Makes my 7/-6d for three bands twenty years later look even more of a bargain.
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111 TRBH-
Curved Air ARE back together,there’s video clips of them on YouTube playing gigs down south quite recently,but I’m not sure how many original members are still with them.
One thing I do know is that the mention of Sonja Kristina has always had a strange effect on my body,parts of me start to move uncontrollably,and my heartbeat goes dangerously high.
And I should really be listening to the music……..
p.s.- I don’t believe this,but my eldest Brother,Dennis,was a skilled toolmaker at Hopes back in the early 60′s,and I used to go in their Social Club regularly when I was a lad.
Are you sure we’re not related in some way?
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