Memories of Albion’s win at Arsenal will last forever
Tuesday 28th September 2010, 8:59AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill believes there has never been a better time to be a Baggie after the club’s greatest ever Premier League win at Arsenal.
I hope they post this on cloud nine, because I am sure that is where most Albion fans are situated at the moment.
Saturday’s win at Arsenal was a shock, result rather than performance because many of us felt we could put up a good fight, but to win 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium was staggering.
It has certainly made the rest of the Premier League sit up and take notice of our blue and white heroes, so I am sure there will be a few teams a little more worried about facing us.
We need to keep our collective feet on the ground and keep doing what we have been doing so far this season.
Head coach Roberto Di Matteo has helped our club evolve and since his appointment our playing squad has achieved a balance that has allowed us to compete at this level.
What is even more impressive is the strength within the whole squad and not just the first eleven, our League Cup victory against Manchester City last week proved we have players who are busting a gut to make the first team.
The competition for places is hot in every department and, when we have players like Pablo Ibanez who has had to wait for his chance coming in and performing like he did on Saturday, every player knows they have to be on top of their game to keep their place.
This blog may make it sound like everything is rosy in the garden of Baggieland, but if I am being truthful that is how most of us feel.
Yes, I hear many of you saying “lets not get too carried away bomber,” but its hard not too after the run of performances and results we have just had, and there are few more cautious than me!
We have now beaten teams who all have different styles of play. Birminghamare a tough workaholic type of team who give their opponents nothing and have a midfield dominated by aggressive tacklers like Lee Bowyer and Barry Ferguson.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have a team that simply out pass teams, no roughhouse tactics, yes they work hard but they tend to out play their opponents with slick football and movement even the top teams struggle to live with.
Yet we have now beaten both, it proves not only that our preparation for games and Roberto’s ‘horses for courses’ approach is spot on, but also that we have a squad that can adapt and overcome differing types of opponent.
The national media would have you believe that we got lucky on Saturday and that Arsenal were not at the races, so what?
We played some exceptional football going forward and defended like trojans, the truth is we never allowed Arsenal to click into gear until the final 10 minutes.
Since Saturday’s result I have been constantly asked where I think we could possibly finish in the league this season.
Forever Mr Cautious, I have abstained from giving a precise prediction. I believe this squad has great potential, but like all teams I think consistency will prove to be a key ingredient.
I accept that we will have bad days, but I also see us having good days and I always maintained that getting off to a good start would be essential to any success.
I must admit my heart floundered when the fixture list came out, but it could end up being the making of our season.
Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United as our first four away games looked daunting and placed huge pressure on our home form.
With wins against Blues and Sunderland at home the pressure lifted somewhat and that may have been a contributing factor in Saturdays historic win.
Me and Pete ‘Hilltop Baggie’ Danckert spoke at length last week about the great start we had had, and my only reservation was if we could start winning on the road.
I had almost discounted our first four away games but, Pete being Pete, insisted that the team were in good form and we would give Arsenal a game.
Well mate when you are right you are blooming right!
I could go on and on, I could highlight the players who are playing well but I haven’t the time or the column space. I just don’t want this run to end and I hope the players can continue to surprise everyone including us.
It feels so good to be a Baggie at the moment, long may it continue.
Enjoy your week, I know I will enjoy mine, just one look at the Premier League table makes me smile!
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Same again for West Brom
What a strange two weeks it has been since our last game. I haven’t looked over my neighbour’s fence with as much interest since Pamela Anderson moved in next door and regularly used her trampoline, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
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It was a shock but as long as your boys can do the same at old Trafford. I would say well done the baggies. Don’t let be a one off.
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No.1Gooner. Well said and magnanimous of you in defeat. It’s fair to say that Baggies would rather be ‘an Arsenal’ than a Chelsea, simply because of the purity of your football.
I also hope Arsene is your manager until he’s 95, then you won’t want our Roberto. We promise to try to give Man.U. a game too, but Sir Alex won’t take kindly to that. The Potteries will be hoping for an upsurge in production should we manage it! It will be one Hell of a game when you come to The Hawthorns to get your own back.
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It certainly is a great time to be a baggie – and fans of the so called big four will never know the joy of winning games against the odds…. its soooooo sweet.
Its right that we remained cautious, but having listened to RDM after the arsenal game I’m sure that the players will be kept firmly on the ground.
Bolton will give us another challenge – they are playing much better football this season under Coyle than before and that may suit us – but they still have enough players who can give you a kick….
On that note, there is a lot of debate on here about the reception Robbo should get.
Personally i will give him a clap at the start and then hope he spends all game on his backside – whatever people think, he gave us some great times and I think we should remember that – even just for a minute.
p.s – “Birminghamare”… freudian slip ??
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Hi Cyril,
Hope you are well, how about you start the predictions off by guessing where we will finish this season??
And maybe a guess as to how many goals St Peter will get this season?
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its bin a lung time comin but by god it was worth the wait,i aint got my voice back yet,aye boing boing
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on the coach on way back we was voting for man of the match,but i thought it would be unfair to single out any one player,in my book they all got ten out of ten,even ole Scott is looking like hes full of confidence and getting back to his best,8 goals in 3 games and i was crying out for a striker,aye boing boing
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I went to the game.It was a freebie and i was expecting a rout.It turned out the opposite.Unfair of the press and the pundits saying the gooners were poor.The baggies were excellent,they looked comfortable in possesion and attacked continually.The defence looked suspect at times but then you were playing a top team at their place and at times you looked like the home team.I actually enjoyed the game and was genuinely pleased for you.If you can maintain the level of confidence you are playing with at the moment i can see prem survival at a canter.
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It was just….fantastic. I hope my boss doesn’t check my internet cookies this week because if he does he’ll just see re-run after re-run of the highlights of the weekend!!
Man of the match was that fat bloke in the white hat who wouldn’t sit down, he was everywhere.
Just read a few quotes from Robbo this week about him spending the best years of his life, he moved for security etc. I personally don’t dislike him, but perhaps it was a bit distasteful how he left. I’ll give him a clap for the years of commitment he gave on the pitch, just hope he doesn’t cripple anyone!!
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Bomber,
I’ve stated before, my feet are on the ground but my head is still in cloud nine. Arsenal were without three players that might have been their first choice. ALBION were without one. So all in all a brilliantly deserved result. This rates alongside the 1954
cup final in my mind, it’s a colossal result for our club. No wonder the GUNNERS were deflated after the game, as ALBION outplayed them for most of the dynamic encounter. Like you say, Roberto has the strength and depth
in the squad to add something else to the mix if needs be. Ibanez is now coming into his own,so is Tchoyi. Making ALBION a formidable unit.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Amazing to be a Baggie at the moment and im sure we are all secretly thinking when is the bubble going to burst? After all as Albion Fans we have had lots of up’s and downs over the previous decade and never really been able to compete at this level. I do honestly believe with the signings we have made there is a number of massive differences which now exist in our fantastic playing squad. I think players like Steven Reid, Paul Scharner and Peter Odemwingie have brought a mental strength and belief which didn’t exist in our playing staff before. We have also purchase players with physical presence rather than a midfield under TM which couldn’t tackle! Our ball retention is better than it has ever been and credit to RDM and the coaching staff for working at this. RDM has us drilled defensively and we now know how to defend set peices. We also now have a coach who can change his playing staff to cope with the opposition not just be stubborn as TM was and play one way his way. Im so happy to be a Baggie I do have two big worries without sounding negative, If St Peter gets injured I believe we haven’t got a replacememnt for the job he does for us he is unbelievable what a player! The other thing i fear that RDM will be poached from us if a big premier job comes up, i just hope he feels he is young enough to stick with us for a number of years to gain his experience and not jump at the first bigger job that comes his way. Robbie I love you man! Thank you for making us all so proud it feels great!
Feet on the ground for Saturday Bolton will be a tough, tough test and although a win would be a great result i feel a draw wouldn’t be the end of the world either.
Brillant Albion, just brilliant, keep it up!
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We all know it’s early days and we should keep our feet firmly on the ground but the word is spreading,I’m getting phone calls from Spanish,Germans,Dutch,Scottish who live on the island.It’s a great feel good factor.
Some of the Dingles are wandering(OH! there’s an appropriate statement)how we seem to have found the right blend,it’s down to a great team at the club from top to bottom which seem to have geld together very well.I’m sure all those who doubted certain individuals are very happy to be eating their words,that’s not an angry knock,just a happy one.
I plan to be hoarse at 5-45 on Saturday.
Adeu
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Well done Baggies a cracking result not only for you but for Midlands football!
Isn’t it a sad indictment though of the modern game that we should have to cherish these moments, the Baggies should be going to places like this and turning the Arsenal over on a regular basis just like it was in the seventies and eighties!
It is so very sad to say that it is unlikely that anybody outside of the top 6 will ever get a chance to win the league again!!
Rant over….well done and good luck (except for when you play us of course!!)
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It’s just 3 points guys……..oh no, it’s so much more than that!
For sure an away win at Blackpool, Wigan or Wolves is more important to our survival campaign but this win is huge. This was no fluke win against 10 men after a dodgy sending off or bad refereeing decision – we out passed and out footballed the best footballing team in the country – in their own back yard. 3-0 up and missed a penalty – that doesn’t happen through luck alone.
Have I seen bigger or more emotional wins…..yes (Bradford away, Swansea at home playoff, Wolves 3-2 Bradley…..) but not many – Saturday is the reason I have been following the Albion home and away for over 27 years. My dad and granddad have seen plenty of away wins like that back in 50’s, 60’s and 70’s – but my generation of Albion fans haven’t. As Happy said – these few and far between days are soooo sweet.
Even though all Albion fans are walking around with a warm glow and chest puffed out right now most of us are aware that keeping our feet on the ground is crucial – nothing is achieved after 6 games. 10 pts in the bag….30 to go. Offer me 17th place right now – I’ll snap your hand off.
Can’t think of many better times to have been a Baggie than right now……
Bring on Bolton
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Taking everything into consideration with Arsenal scoring 16 goals in their 3 home games this season and probably being one of the best football teams in world football, this is one of the best Albion performances I have ever seen in the 44 years I have been watching Albion play.I for one though will still be happy with 17th place this season.A fantastic week with 3 superb performances against three very different teams and to be fair it will be very difficult to keep that kind of performance up so please dont get to carried away as it will put too much pressure on Roberto and the players.
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One of the major plus factors this season, is the strength in depth. Our second string contains players who are the equal of those in the first team. This promotes competition for places and also gives us excellent backup when the Premiership CLOGGERS come calling and we sustain some injuries. Would worry if Odemwingie got injured tho’ and we can’t rely on him for all our goals this season anyway, so others will have to step up to the mark.
I have been very impressed with Steven Reid playing in Midfield.
Is it me , or does Paul Scharner think of himself as an attacking midfielder and get forward too much but slow to regain his defensive duties. Just what is his role?
Robbo.
Welcome back.
Hope you lose!!!
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HB
Just checked what i sent in to the E+S and it defo didnt say Birminghamare,i wish i could take credit for that one but alas whoever edited the blog takes that award.
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hi all first and foremost a great blog jarrod, i often read but sporadically post comments. the weekends result has finally sunk in and words cant describe how we as baggies fans feel. i wanted to point out my age of 25, and that vitally i missed out on the glory days of the late 70′s under big ron.(luckily i can relive them on dvd) my first game was against swansea in the playoffs of 93′ and in all my years as a baggie i have never been so happy, confident, optomistic etc. when i was in primary school lads my age supported villa, man u and liverpool. last weekend proved that all those years ago i made the right choice. going back to my point about the late 70′s maybe history is repeating itself. and those glory days are coming back??? whatever the rest of the season brings i will never forget my dads face when we went 3-0 up or the feeling in my body at full time. So a big thank you to everyone who made the result possible and for making my dreams come true as a supporter.
BAGGIESSSSSSSSS!!!!
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Just read Robinson’s article and i agree totally with him about Phillips and Gera, those two going was the beginning of the end for Mowbray.
I think that after 10 games or so the Premiership starts to take shape and the teams at the bottom are the one’s that will stay there or thereabouts.
Thinking about where we will finish is a dangerous game as Football is notorious for biting you on the derrier when you least expect it. I know i am a pint half empty person amd for this i can only apologise.
Overjoyed with this start however , RDM and the players much take great credit for this.
Yes Warren, Jez and Dan as well, starting to take a liking to this humble pie !!!LOL.
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17 , one or two typing errors in there, must be altitude sickness looking at the League Table !!!.
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19 :) spelling never my strong point but your spot on about the altitude sickness
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I’m with the Odemwingie, Scharner mindset.
No way, never, is seventeeth place good enough.
Old Chinese proverb:
He who looks down falls out of the tree.
He who looks up reaches the top.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH
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7, i wudent have the nerve,aye boing boing
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Typing error’s in 18 not 17, going for a lie down , this is all too much for me to take.
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B71 BAGGIE
I was trying to bring attention to my typing error’s not your’s, i can only apologise.
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Not since we won at 5-3 at Old Trafford in 1978 ish have i experienced such a game. It was simply awesome.
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I love this ‘cloud 9′ feeling and have been bold and brash to anyone within 30 yards of me since Saturday.
The difference between the new squad and previous ones is balance and adaptability. Just from the Arsenal game you can see the difference.
We have players that can soak up pressure and counter quickly (3rd goal) but also can squeeze high lines and be tenancious all over the park (2nd goal)
On top of that we have a goalscorer in St Peter who in just a few weeks, has shown he can play on the shoulder of the defenders, come deep and run at players but also has the nous to score poacher goals such as the Blues goal and his movement for the 3rd goal Saturday hasnt been seen since SKP left us.
We have a mix of youthful pace and experienced heads that is gonna keep us safe and more.
My predictions 11th although have my eye on that Champions League spot!!
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mate no worries lets forgive ouselves on this occasion we’re sitting pretty…is everybody happ? U BET YOUR LIFE WE ARE!!!
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Just lost one of my lengthier epistles for posting. I pressed ‘submit’, got an advert. and SWORE ! BADLY !
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Can’t do that lot again. I never forecast Bomber but will 10th and 18 goals be OK ?
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well we will go 2nd on saturday and i cant see anybody moving us,so 2nd or 1st for me aye boing boing
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7 i bet you thought you got 40 quid for going with a friend like you do at wolfs aye boing boing
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Great stuff Jarrod.
Most Teams know that to win at Arsenal, you need to score 3 goals.
However, Few Teams going to Arsenal, have the courage to try.
We did, what reward, and now what a beautiful feeling it creates; more pride than a bunch of lions.
BTW, typing error in the Arsenal keeper’s name; E&S spelled him as “A Laim ‘Un”
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Hi mate, always going to be a great blog to write wasn’t it !!!!!
Having savoured the glourious Giles/Atkinson era, then the not so good late eighties and nineties, Saturdays result felt just like those glosious old days. I can’t get into the mindset of expecting to beat almost anybody yet (No not even me !!), but it does look good, not just at the moment but with the strength in depth, it looks good long term. I refuse to start worrying just yet about losing any body to a bigger club, not because we wont, but because we have a structure at the club that will see us good for many a day yet. I’m just savouring what we have at the moment and taking it for what it is. A dam good start, but early days. Having said that i did back us to beat Blues 3-1, and as i posted on face book on saturday morning i had a cheeky fiver at 14-1 on a baggies win. So with that in mind i have had a little bet on a top ten finish, and i’m predicting 2-0 to the baggies on saturday. Asyou know i was a big fan of Robbo and he’ll get a clap from me.
Sorry this post is late, but as you know loads of work at the mo (like you), looking forward to the game, see you in the sportsman about 12.30.
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4-45,thinking Spanish.
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