It’s the best test yet for Albion boss
Friday 26th November 2010, 9:10AM GMT.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill believes now we will see what head coach Roberto Di Matteo is really made of after the most testing period of his reign.
I hope you are all well my Baggie brethren and that the cold weather, along with our boys recent run of results, is not getting you down too much.
Last week’s depressing game against our bogey side confirmed that at some time in the past someone passed a curse over us that we will never beat Stoke.
We had more shots, more corners and 64 per cent of the possession, but still lost by three goals.
Technically we were beat by an inept refereeing performance from Chris Foy, but also from our inability to turn possession into goalscoring opportunities.
When we did create chances they went to waste and we must begin finding the net again as we do not seem capable of keeping clean sheets.
We have demonstrated already this season that we can score goals against anyone in this division, but we do need to add more resilience in games when we are finding it hard to break the opposition down.
If we cannot win a game we need to ensure we do not lose it, with last Saturday’s game proving that what decides a game’s result is what you do as a team in each box.
One thing I have noticed in recent games is when we have delivered balls into the box our midfield are not filling the 18 yard area as much as we were at the beginning of the season.
Maybe our head coach Roberto Di Matteo has asked for a more cautious approach. preferring to concentrate on being defensively strong.
But I would ask the question, is that our real strength or is it in our attacking prowess?
The truth is our recent form may not be as bad as the results suggest, we were the better team against both Blackpool and Stoke, on another day with a different referee we could have won both or at least not lost them.
Wigan away was a game neither team deserved three points from and I feel that lady luck has deserted us lately.
I hope our luck returns tomorrow, as Everton are a tough team to beat at Goodison Park. Although they have had a poor start to the season, they have players who will ensure they finish out of trouble.
We will probably learn more about Di Matteo at this point in time than at any other time previously.
Since his arrival we have continually won games and this is the first time we have experienced a winless run under his reign.
We will now see what he is truly made of and more importantly what the squad is made of, as the pressure for results intensifies.
The Premier League has become completely unpredictable this season and every week we witness another shock result.
It has become almost impossible to predict results and the table is separated by fewer points at this stage of the season than ever before.
A couple of wins and we would be clear of danger, whereas a couple of losses and its squeaky bum time.
In short we need points, we need to regain some confidence and we need a little more luck than we have had.
Starting with tomorrow’s game, fingers crossed.
Up the Baggies!
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Morning Jarrod,
I think you sum the situation up nicely. I also think the key is to not get too despondent, which RDM seem to be good at. We’ve not suddenly become a bad side, and unlike in previous seasons perhaps, there isn’t a fundamental issue with the quality or the balance of the playing staff. We just need to get back to basics and grind some points out.
I mentioned this the other day and I think it was misinterpreted, but this will be the first midweek off for a month for the international players. I don’t think we’ve played with the same energy in the last month as the previous month, I wonder if that’s a reason (and perhaps also for our midfielders not bombing on so much?). If so, maybe we can get back to pressing the opposition high up the pitch which I think was key to our early season performances.
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I agree that we haven’t become a bad side, and we certainly haven’t had much luck over the last few matches. However, I also wonder if RDM has fallen into the trap of sticking with the same formation and the same team, apart from injuries & suspensions, regardless of the opposition and the form of the players. Things change over the course of a season and what worked at the beginning may well work again later, but may be in need of some freshening up at the moment. I would just like to see a little more consideration given to some of the alternatives (players and formations) if things aren’t quite going to plan at any particular time. The last few games seem to be a missed opportunity as I feel we could have been a little more adventurous in our intent, whereas Saturday would genuinely be a good point away from home against a team who would appear to be in a false position.
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This may sound strange but I’m hoping that injuries force RDM’s hand tomorrow and he picks Tchoyi and Dorrans in place of Brunt (only if he’s still injured) and Morrisson. Tchoyi, when he’s started or come off the bench has frightened the life out of every team we’ve played and against Stoke he looked the only one likley to score. Morrisson I feel hasn’t been at his best since his injury and playing just off Odemwingie he really needs to be threading more through balls and supporting him in the box – Dorrans does this expertly and if RDM says he’s nearly back to his best I say give him a shot as I just don’t think Cox is quite good enough to play that role in the Prem
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Hi Bomber – Agree with your blogg and the three comments posted on here so far.
I think RDM has changed things around well when needed – he played two wide wingers against stoke and if we had the midfield to get in the box we may have had some success with it – Dorrens is the obvious choice. Tchoi looks good and adds the height we miss when brunt is out so that seems a decent swap.
I was suprised to hear the stat on MOTD last week that we haven’t conceeded a headed goal all season – a tribute to RDM & staff who have made us much more resiliant and also shows that pablo is filling in nicely for jonas.
I do think we are missing some drive on the pitch and Jonas is great at this – someone needs to take this role on – i thought sharner may do it but doesn’t – maybe Reid could do it.
Other than that we aint much different from the team that outplayed Arsenal.
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p.s – I see you resisted the chance to tell the wolves how they are one of many teams worse than us – very professional & I hope their blogger takes note.
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Happy
You and Bomber are bigger men than I- I couldn’t resist and wrote a reminder to Tim that Blackpool were one of “three teams worse than them”, but unsurprisingly this was blocked!!
I see this week they’re one of the best teams in the country for getting the ball into dangerous areas- must be the invention of Mancienne, Henry, Ward and Foley……
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Guys, apologies for the digresion from subject, but you MUST pop on to the dark sides blog to read the post by LW.
He has been guilty of writing some of the most unbelievable claptrap drivel, on both sides of the divide.
However, todays offering utterly eclipses any tripe that has eminated previously from his keyboard.
Not only has he picked his team, he has given an exact time that Doyle should be substituted by Blake.
You could not make it up.
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Forever – great spot……
Having read it he is obviously deluded – any fan knows that the 63rd minute is the best time to make a substitution….. I would also try to win a corner in the 8th minute, ensure that the goalkeeper holds the ball for 10 seconds in the 33rd minute and that the players leave the pitch at half time in either alphabetical or size order (tallest to shortest).
The 2nd half must always have a small dog on the pitch somewhere between the 58th and the 72nd minutes….. but the ref must not spot him.
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Forever and Happy.
You’ve missed the one that their fans pray for. Steven Ward to be hit by a meteorite in the 3rd minute.
I thought you’d found the funniest thing on their pages but while going over for a look I saw the ad for Wolves underwear. Priceless.
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anyone else noticed on the news page about Wolves launching underwear range?
I could make the old joke about, bras, cups and support, but nah, too easy!
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2) I get what you mean about what worked at the beginning of the season may not necessarily work at the end, but what I see as a bigger worry is whats happened to plan B? at the start of the season it didnt seem to matter when we went one behind, as we always had an alternative that worked to our advantage and led to most of our victories, ultimately in the second half, it seems to have deserted RDM in recent matches, hence the losing streak. At this rate I will have to change my Monica! Still think Tcyhoi is the key we are looking for.
in RDM we trust, still.
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9 TRBH- I suppose there’s nothing wrong with launching a new range of clothes,but to bring out a selection of skimpy underwear on the same day the media announce we are about to have the coldest spell of weather for nearly 20 years,possibly hitting -10c……doh!!!!
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Great blog, better than some of the rubbish churned out on the dark side. Well put together Bomber.
Tchoyi, Dorrans, Reid in, the latter two beef up midfield, the former links up with Osaze. Hope Everton can’t handle us for toffee.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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11,Terrible moniker, Dont change it son, cus ive worked out an anagram of your terrible moniker is ” one fades when lonely ” (forgive me the extra s ) Hows your non de plume comp comming on ? Not too well i see. You must have less mates on hear than me, and everyone hates me. Only kidding. We should pass each other 2moz. You going north on the m6 to lpool, and me going south to Wolves. If you see a silver 911 with a wolves scarf hanging out the window be sure to wave now. Keep in touch WONOH. UP THE WOLVES
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number 10. not as easy as saha walking through your defence and scoring for fun? lol
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Happy
You know that i respect your opinions, however i must say that i couldn`t disagree with you more.
You state that every fan knows that the 63rd minute is the best time for a substitution.
Well sir, you stand accused of modernist hip-hop type thinking, for which i have no time.
Before the advent of neuvo fans, the perfect time for a substitution was 62 minutes, regardless of the performance of the substitutee.
I am very dissapointed that you have fallen into the 63 minute brigade.
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14 lone wolf- if you own a push car,sorry porsche car,you could sell it and buy a whole new squad for wolves.And I’m sure there would be enough money left to pay for your new flat pack stadium kit from Ikea.
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16 Forever.
I’m with you on this one. In the years of uncertainty that followed the cessation of our players running out to ‘Stars and Stripes Forever’ the introduction of the 62nd minute substitute was the only thing that kept us going for a while. It was essential in the days of one sub.
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14 Lonely.
I’m no expert but I didn’t know Skoda did a 911 model.
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(14)
So you never left the building ( Instead used my nom de guerre ). Before you say it, I’m not at the match today, and will follow it on radio, is that O.K.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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What game were you at? I didnt see us create much at all. A few good balls into the box by barnes in the 1st half and a bread and butter header in the 2nd.
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14) You still alive than? where you been? I thought you may have slit your wrists the way your, erhem, team is performing.
By the way, I know you are hard of thinking so I am typing this more slowly, these are still pages for talking about football, try it, you might like it!
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forever – with due respect to your old time 62nd minute substitution – its a bit old hat now. Most teams have cottened onto it and the element of suprise the 63rd minute brings is like a 12th man.
It may have worked in “your day” but its a different game now.
Glad to see you still seem to respect the little 2nd half dog though….
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20 Jack, I have re-entered the building just as soon as i was sure your blood presure had returned to normal. I didnt want blood on me hands. Yes its o.k. by me that you didnt go the game again today. We too have “fans” that never go but still like to feel part of it by listening on radio and posting on hear with there two penneth. Nothing wrong with that Jack, and you certainly dont need to explain your absence to the likes of me. Virtual fans are impotent ! ( and no, i havent spelt important wrong ) UP THE WOLVES
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19. Bully, At last i agree with you on something, You are certainly, definitely, without any shadow of a doubt,,,, no expert!
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WELL SAID JARROD ,we will turn the corner rdm has the nack of of riding any storm but the main thing is he never panicks and above all he keeps his shape and tweeks it and come out ok and after todays exelent result has answerd all the questions that have been asked here we aint far away from a great season we have shipped out them i feel didnot buy into rdm and still wanted the toemow approach and was not willing for change, now the team is now getting there and i feel the spitit is now back to full power and ready to go again
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25 Lonely.
You’re spot on. Unlike others I don’t claim to be an expert on anything. Hope you got back up the Motorway in your little silver car. It must be Fabialous.
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15) Saha who????????????? how daft do you feel now?
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