Chris Brunt ready to boost the Baggies
Thursday 30th December 2010, 11:28AM GMT.
Chris Brunt is ready to bring the best form of his career to Albion’s aid when they open 2011 against Premier League leaders Manchester United on Saturday.
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo is without several key players for the New Year’s Day clash at The Hawthorns.
But the Baggies are boosted by Brunt’s availability after suspension.
A sequence of two wins in their last 10 games have co-incided with the Baggies running into manpower problems and sucked the team back towards the survival struggle.
Brunt’s return gives Albion something to smile about as they tackle United without the banned Gabriel Tamas and Gonzalo Jara.
“At this level this is probably my best form — and this is the highest level I’ve played at,” said Brunt.
“I’ve been really enjoying it and I’m happy with my contribution so far. I’d like to maybe have a couple more goals to my name but I know from previous seasons goals will come.
“I don’t want to jinx myself but I have been really enjoying my football over the last few months and I think it has shown in the way the team’s played and the contributions I’ve made.”
Albion have responded to their personnel crisis in defence by recalling Gianni Zuiverloon from his loan spell at Ipswich.
The full-back was due to stay until January 4 — but the Baggies have exercised their right to recall him early. Zuiverloon played four games for Roy Keane’s men.
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
glad brunt back for man utd game but its at the back were im worried if utd are on form they could get a sack full just hope they are not KEEP THE FAITH BOING BOING
Report abuse
I don’t think it is a coincidence that when Brunt is missing Albion play poorly.
I also feel that the midfield needs shoring up as since Scharner has gone to centre back we have been losing games. I think PS has to play in defensive, but maybe Jara would be better alongside Mulumbu, as he is getting caught out of position to often at full back.
Olsson is also a big miss for Albion and we are desperate for another striker. Not sure about playing two wingers at this level.
Report abuse
Team for Saturday will presumably be:
Carson;
Zuiverloon, Scharner, Ibanez, Shorey;
Tchoyi, Morrison, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Brunt;
Odemwingie
I’d prefer to see Reid at rightback, though.
Report abuse
No 3 I think its about time Carson was rested and Myhill given a chance. As for Zuiveridiot!! no chance, didn’t you see his disparaging comments about West Brom? I think its safe to say he won’t play for us again.
we were so sloppy in front of goal and mabe a tad unlucky against Bolton but Blackburn we were so complacent. Looks like all the midland clubs are going to have to scrap it out this year.
Report abuse
I watched the Man.U. v Sunderland highlights.
It was 2-0 and could or should have been 8-0.
Let’s hope they are as profligate with us!
It’s time for some bravery and determination plus cutting out the leisurely back passing we’ve gone back to from two years ago.
Blues bust a gut to hold them and the Wulfies showed it ain’t over till it’s over next May.
Report abuse
I know I’m going to get a good kicking, possibly tarred and feathered but I’m fed up with reading all the Private Fraser (we’re doomed) posts.
Anybody that thought this season was going to be a walk in the park must be kidding themselves. A few short weeks ago people were saying we need to give RDM a big contract. It was about the same time that our manager was saying ‘we’ve had a good run but we are bound to have a bad one as well.’ I wonder how many calling for a new contract are now saying that he needs to prove himself.
What Blackburn did to us on Saturday, they’ve been doing to teams in the PL for the last 10 years. It doesn’t mean I blindly accept the way we played, we made mistakes but we are still finding our feet at this level. Dorrans, Jara, Tamas, Tchoyi and Odemwingie are all new to the PL and are adapting as we go along, as are our management team.
I’ve watched the goals a number of times and in my view Carson couldn’t have done anything with any of them, nor could Peter Shilton or Lev Yashin. The first was closer to the forward than it was to him and if he’d come right out would have left an easy chip into an open goal. The other two crosses were too far from him to come out for, nothing to do with him being glued to the line. Having said that, I think it was his fault that the Wolves game was called off. If only he’d made more effort to get the surrounding areas cleared of snow.
I agree with a few like Kev who was critical at the lack of support after we went behind and especially as someone else commented, the groan when Tchoyi couldn’t reach a pass. Not helpful when you want the team to play with confidence.
Fire away.
Report abuse
PS. Yes I know it was Tuesday. Just seeing who’d be the first to spot it.
Report abuse
As long as the lads keep believing wel be ok
the only game we showed nothing was at Wigan
chelsea excepted) Man u not at best is anyone
in this crazy league Sunderland had 32 shots v
Blackpool but still lost and whats up with
Chelsea and Liverpool looked awful v eager
Wolves 3 wins and your dreaming of europe i was after the emirates but ref at Blackpool
halted our momentum and Blackpool how are they
doing so wll?? team of nobodys its illogical
why spend fortunes. Cant see anything other than another loss sat but utd due a loss nani
if fit is the danger. and of cause Berbatov.
Report abuse
It’s easy to start looking at the negatives and worrying,but none of it will make much difference to the situation.I’m sure JP wants us to stay up after such a good start,and RDM has got enough knowledge of the game to see where the weakness’s are,so it’s now up to them to take action.We will be weakened against United,but Olsson returns soon,Jara’s back after one game,and Tamas not long after.From saturday we have the chance to add one or two new faces to the squad,so we have to stay positive.We’ve lost recent games to Villa,Bolton and Blackburn,but in every match we’ve played the better football,had more possession,more shots,and hit the woodwork several times.At some point the opposition must run out of luck,and we will start picking up points again.It’s time to stay strong and keep the faith.
Report abuse
So it looks like Carew is our new striker.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
Report abuse
6 TRBH- I just thought I should give you guys some back up.Before the Blackburn game,I met Mallorca Kev in the Sportsman,and during our conversation,he expressed his frustration at the negative silence surrounding him these days in the Brummie.I said I used to sit there,but felt the same way,so changed over to front of the east stand.Even so,despite it being Christmas,I felt this doom laden atmosphere around me on tuesday,even before the kick off.The only positve noise was when we scored,but then back to near silence.Recently,I spoke to two young American guys,and when we moved onto the subject of ‘soccer’,I told them who I supported,and one of them said ‘West Brom? hey,they’re a great team!’.If you compare us to the late 90′s set-up,when Meggo took over,we were bottom of the championship,had no quality in the squad,and deep in debt.I’m inclined to agree with our American friends.People around the world know and admire us.Maybe we should shrug off the recent bad results and see what they see. Just shout out loud how proud we are to be Baggie fans!
Report abuse
10. LOL, yes we can all dream mate. It is more likely to be a championship player or youngster from one of the big 4 on loan.
I am very concerned as we are dangerously close to the bottom 3 now and our form has got progressively worse over the last 10 games.
I have great faith in RDM but our strength in depth is shallow and I hope we have done enough so far to help keep us in this division.
Report abuse
ALBION TEAM MYHILL,REID,IBANEZ,SCHARNER,SHOREY, DORRANS,MULUMBU,MORRISON,BRUNT,TCHOYI, ODEMWINGE OR MILLER, SHIFNAL BAGGIE.
Report abuse
12 Baggie Man- the fact that you laugh at a positive Albion fan,and call me a dreamer must mean either 1)you are YET ANOTHER wolves fan in disguise (surely not LW,he’s got so many names he doesn’t know his real one anymore),or 2)you are one of the doom and gloomers I mentioned above,who are preparing themselves for a miserable future,before it’s even arrived.I would wish you a happy new year but it’s obviously pointless,a bit like you expect the outcome of our games to be.
Report abuse
12) Baggie Man- I’n not sure if your reply was for JtH or me (the post numbers do often change position during the day),but either way there’s still too much negative stuff being said about Albion.As for Carew being mentioned as a possible signing,someone will have to judge how good the guy is if he can’t get into a struggling villa team? I usually wait until an official announcement is made,so until I see it confirmed,it’s often just rumour.
Report abuse
CR78, another 3 or 4 posts please, you’ve started to lift my spirits. I don’t get too high or too low normally, been watching the sods for 66 years, but I was down on Tuesday.
It needed someone to shout a bit at the back, cut out the ‘it’s so easy’ back passes that caused mayhem at times. Many of you are more clued up than I am with modern football, so please, explain how back-side-back-side-back and a whack anywhere by the goalkeeper is better than one of the defenders aiming in the general direction of a forward when the other team keep closing us down. ‘Back-side’ meant the passing style, not someone’s rear end of course, which was where I would have left a boot mark on occasion!
Report abuse
11.THE ROCKET, Wasnt gona post till after 2morrows games ( after i upset everybody after the Blackburn game) but, ive been trying to tell you about the abysmal atmos down the old C/C for ages now ( with no thanks i might add ) Even crossed swords with Wozza about it, and i dont like fencing with him cus he knows his onions. So im glad we agree on something. As for the 2 americans saying the Baggys are a “great team”? Well i wont even go there cus thats just tooo easy for me. Ill take a leaf out TRBHs book and wish u luck against Man u. Think u may need it.
Report abuse
(12)
Man,
I don’t know where you’re coming from, but you are no BAGGY, otherwise you’d have know Tchoyi is already an ALBION player. What’s the problem with being honest, EH, probable Dingle.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
Report abuse
16 Cyril.
I don’t want to go on about it but you’ve hit the nail on the head. I think a lot of the over elaborate passing the ball about at the back was brought about by the crowd reaction to any slight mistake. Players trying to play safe which in turn became counter productive. A positive crowd reaction encourages them to try things. The nervous reaction has the additional effect of making opponents believe they can push up as we aren’t going to hurt them with any adventurous passes.
We’re unlikely to get anything today but I hope the doomsters don’t get on the players backs. Let’s have some more reactions like the one when we unluckily lost to Liverpool two seasons back. I was even more proud than usual to be a Baggies fan trhat day.
Report abuse
My good fellow- I must have been badly misunderstood if you believe we agree on something.Over the last few seasons,Albion have had a few ups and downs(deliberately,to keep each year exciting,edge of the seat stuff),so a few Baggie fans have become a little nervous with recent results,and I’m just helping them re-focus on all the good stuff going our way.It’s very different to the ‘wulf mentality’,because WHEN you win a game(look in your diary,you must be able to find reference to one somewhere),this site gets invaded by loud bragging,and a street party’s held in wulferhampton.But when you inevitably lose the next one,we find around two hundred posts demanding the wolves squad be put up for sale,Mick is run out of town,and someone should kick the company cat.Hopefully,with the West Ham result,it should be quiet on here for a while.But someone should keep an eye on the cat.
Report abuse