Blackpool rocks for in-form Albion
Friday 29th October 2010, 9:05AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill believes it’s a good time for a trip to the seaside as the Baggies go to Blackpool revelling in their recent successes.
Another week rolls by and Albion have chalked up another two impressive wins.
Fulham at home and then Leicester City away in the League Cup, winning is a habit everyone loves and the boys seem to have been bitten by the bug.
Head coach Roberto Di Matteo made 11 changes to the team that beat Fulham on Saturday to take on Leicester for a place in the quarter finals but, unlike many other sides, our reserves continue to win and entertain the fans.
As we head into a busy schedule of games and injuries start to pile up it is reassuring to know that our fringe players are still firing on all cylinders in a bid to force their way into the first team.
In my opinion, the League Cup doesn’t begin to get interesting until the quarter-finals, so I will be tuned in to hear who we draw out of the hat on Saturday.
Roberto will now have a decision to make, does he stick with the fringe players who have got us this far in the quarter-final, or does the glamour of a trip to Wembley turn his head and he plays a stronger team?
A tricky decision to make and one that will surely be influenced by who the opposition will are. Personally my only preference is a home tie, as I fancy our chances against anyone at home at the moment.
However, many Albion fans fear that a cup run could hinder our league form, I do not concur with that and see every competition as an opportunity.
The lads look hungry for game time and hungry for success be it the league or cup, first team or reserves, home or away. Me, I say long may it continue.
Anyway onto our next game, Blackpool have had a similar start to the season as ourselves and have caused a few shocks.
Monday night’s game will represent another challenge and I just hope we can continue our unbeaten run.
Let’s face it if we can continue to win at home and draw away, we would all be worrying whether our passports are in date rather than fretting over relegation.
Roberto has a few injuries to key players to check on before naming his side, but I am sure whoever is lucky enough to get a shirt the lads will give it their all.
I am expecting a high scoring game with at least three goals and, as I correctly predicted, Marc-Antoine Fortune found the net last week, so I thought I would give you another tip!
Blackpool, under the guidance of Ian Holloway, have decided to attack teams and play football, but I am hoping that philosophy will play into our hands and the pace of our counter attacks could yield a goal or two.
Well that’s the idea although, in truth, I would be happy with anything other than a loss.
UK Sport
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
Saddlers Blog
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Morning mate, always good to read your blogs at the moment, i really cant believe my mate has almost turned into a positive thinking fan !!!
Monday nights game for me probably poses one of our biggest challenges this season, primarily because we ought to get something from it, where as the likes of manure,arsenal etc were expecred to turn us over. Like you a point wouldnt be a bad result but i’m going for a 3-1 victory on my bet. Incidently had 3-1/4-1 cox 1st goalat leicester !!!! ( that is till ste took my small change for a beer and i was too tight to break a note open. Gutted or what !!)
Report abuse
Personally I would stick with the team that have got us to the quarter finals as the teams who are in the big four will only field the reserve team anyway so I think we can more than match Man Utd or Arsenal at this stage.
Report abuse
It would be wrong for RDM to pick a different team to the one that’s done so well to get to the QFs in the League Cup. I suspect it would really, really annoy the likes of Cox, Pablo, Zuiverloon, Cech, Reid and Myhill. There’s probably scope to replace Meite without upsetting the team too much.
I wonder if this line-up will also start in the FA Cup?
And next year, when we’re in the Europa League, will it be the same system of one team for the league and one team for the cups? Seems to work quite well…
Report abuse
I agree that there will probably be a few goals on Monday night as both sides like to go for it. Both games against them last season were cracking matches & I can’t see it being any different this time. Only wish it was a Saturday game so I could be there rather than having to watch it on the box.
Report abuse
Monday night raw at the rocks. when is everyone going up? Saturday Morning? I am going with a 1-0 in oir favour. I feel that Blackpool have a strong presence about them.
As for the Europa League comment. haha. thats made my day.
Report abuse
I don’t think Jarrod that you can call the team which played at Leicester the ” reserves ” as they are all members of a 25 man squad and on current form all seem capable of representing the club in any competition. This is the ideal situation and providing we can keep all of the players involved content, augurs well for the future. Not only are we currently one of the most successful teams in the Premier but we also have one of the strongest squads to continue our success.
Report abuse
If I remember right, same fixture last year around this time (or latter) weren’t Blackpool unbeaten at home? wasn’t we the first team to win there? I could be wrong.
Anyone seen on the dark side they now reckon there is a national press conspiracy against them, because…… Jarvis never got enough mentions for the Man U game!, as I pointed out, trying coming from behind at Man U, or winning away at Arsenal, and then hearing how it was all about THEIR poor performance, now that’s a conspiracy theory.
Report abuse
Hi Bomber,
I believe we can put Blackpool on the big “Dipper”. Build from the back by playing our passing game. I like Blackpool, it’s a compact club with a likeable manager. It’s getting hard to name the team as we have such depth. Whoever plays will do the business. It will be a high scoring game. Bring the bacon home lads.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
Report abuse
Ian Holloway is a favourite of mine, doesn’t seem to blame the world when things don’t go to plan, expects nothing and gives it everything, laughs at life too. His players obviously respect him as do ours with Roberto. That will make for a game and a half.
Personally I’m delighted it’s on the TV as I should have to be content with a hit and miss computer match otherwise. I like the idealism Rebecca shows but if we should get to Wembley,
you can be certain that our strongest possible team would be put on the pitch. No one rembers who lost. C’est la vie !
Report abuse
the team that played tuesday wud beat blackpool aye boing boing
Report abuse
on another note im staying over the nite at blackpool got to spare seats in car if anybody intrested,aye boing boing
Report abuse
I agree with 10 we are much stronger this term
should be comfortable Like most fans very suprised at pools form it may be raw enthusiasm thats helped them apart from Adam and Campbell never heard of the rest. Unlike
previous Albion sides this team is made of sterner stuff odds are 3-0 25-1 4-0 66-1 a win will take us back to champions lg place WOW.
Report abuse
All the lads who have played a part in the Carling cup run so far, will be very motivated to do well and keep the run going as it’s giving them game time in front of reasonable attendances (as opposed to reserve crowds)and of course, they are quite fresh-legged in most cases as few have spent any prolonged time in prem matches. Changing the side would de-moralise them a little, and those coming in from the “1st team” would not see the game(s) as much a priority as the league (unless we make the semis or final of course!!). They would’nt come out and say this or intentionally think it either, but at a sub-conscious level, i think we would get a slightly lower par performance. Stick with the “reserves” – they’ve earned the right!
Report abuse
NO.11. Oh god yes ! im intrestad. What time can you pick me up pal ? I aint eva been in a beige Austin Allegro before. Two spare seats you say,,,,,,, can i bring mrs Lone wolf too ? if she can come, can we stop off at the offie on the way cus she likes a bit of a drink like. Its gona be great tel,( can i call you Tel ? ) We can go on the pi/beer all day long. ill get you a maccy Ds for tea Tel. Its gona be great!!! P.S. dont let me forget me tablets, cus i can turn right nasty without um. And ill give you a fiver for petrol Tel. ( can i call u Tel ? )
Report abuse
still being censored!
Report abuse
Well at long last the wall blocking me getting into blogs like this has been lifted in China. I have watched nearly every game from 10,000 miles away for the past 15 years and remain a loyal fan. This year has seen the Baggies play the attacking flowing football we have done for many years, but the difference is belief and passion. The heads do not fall like they did the last time in the Premiership when we let in a goal we now know we go and score. My only concerns are we tend to get carried away when playing teams we are expected to beat and then all the supporters feel let down. I am hoping this does not occur this season although i saw evidence against Bolton that at home when we were banking on that as a 3 pointer we failed to impress .. Blackpool is the biggest test i believe so far this season as its the first real game we have been expected to win .. Lets hope they perform as they have been and we come away with a 2-1 win which i am predicting. Ref the League Cup the team should stay the same and keep everyone focused on the fact we have a great squad for the first time in years ..
Report abuse
Hi Jarrod.
Just a thought but this weekends games seem to perfectly encapsulate the difference between our fans and our brethren up the road.
We’re going to Blackpool. They’re a newly promoted team, not spent much on the squad and we did the double over them last year albeit that they played very well. We’re riding high in the league, in the quarter finals of the LC and on a decent unbeaten run.
Oue neighbours are playing Man City. An established PL team that have a squad of multi million pound top international stars. Wolves are stranded bottom equal in the PL. They have one win in the PL and two in the LC over Div 1 opposition, one after extra time and penalties the other after extra time against ten men.
While most Baggies are talking about treating Blackpool with the respect they deserve and not taking them for granted. Over on the dark side it seems that rolling over Man City will be a formality for the mighty Wolves.
As someone said. If our starts were reversed, their fans would be all over this site like a rash. On their site, barely a mocking post from us. Our lack of triumphalism must really get to them. Our fans are sheer class.
Report abuse
14 Lonely.
You forgot to mention that Mrs Lone Wolf doesn’t even take up a seat as she can stay in her box in the boot, along with her air pump.
Report abuse
Went on the official Wolves web site the other day. Don’t ask, it was for research purposes.
The site that greeted me was very disturbing. A giant pair of Y fronts. They are called Lucky Pants but are a horrible diarrhoea colour. I wonder why????????
Report abuse
NO.,16.TRBH, Cant keep off other folks sites can ye ? Just stand up and say it loud, my name is TRBH and i want to be a wolf ! you will feel beter for it. ha ha. Its a good job your club shack dont sell the equivalent of our lucky pants cus the wearer would look a member of the Auschwitz swiming team.
( i know, i know, bad taste ) UP THE WOLVES.
Report abuse
20,ME. I bet if FRANK SKINNER is still alive, he uses that gag. Anybody know how WOLVES av got on ?????
Report abuse
20 Lonely.
Hang on. I’m not the one asking Sir Terry for a lift to Blackpool.
Am I being thick because I don’t actually get the Auschwitz joke. Unless it refers to the waistlines of of our respective fans?
BTW. Good result and from the bit I’ve seen on MOTD, well worth it. Still begs the question though, as with us at Arsenal and Man Ure, why was it all about Man City must have problems? Why can’t Albion or Wolves have actually deserved to win?
Good news though. If our four + Stoke can stay up. And if Cov can get up. Perhaps the Midlands will start being treated with a bit more respect (or as John Wayne would say ‘that’ll be the day.’)
Report abuse
I see wolves are changing the giant shirt they hand around the “Bank” to a giant pair of mucky coloured “Y” fronts.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
Report abuse