Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Roberto Di Matteo sacked at Albion
Sunday 6th February 2011, 12:30PM GMT.
Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo looks on at the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City - it would prove his last game in charge.
Albion have relieved head coach Roberto Di Matteo of his duties and placed him on gardening leave with immediate effect.
See also: Roberto Di Matteo’s West Brom career – in pictures
Assistant Eddie Newton and fitness coach Ade Mafe have joined him, with first-team coach Michael Appleton in temporary charge until a new manager is found, assisted by reserve team boss Keith Downing.
The Baggies board made their move in the wake of yesterday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, which was their 13th defeat in their last 18 games.
Chairman Jeremy Peace said: “This has been a tough decision but we, as a board, believe it is the right one to give the club the best possible chance of remaining in the Premier League.
“Our poor sequence of results stretches back more than three months and there has been little sign of it coming to an end.
“If this run continues much longer, achieving our goal of retaining our Premier League status will become increasingly difficult. That is why we felt compelled to act now.
“This club’s track record proves we do not take such decisions lightly, with Roberto being only our fourth manager or head coach in almost 11 years.
“We now begin the search to find a new head coach who will fit into our existing set-up and work under our Sporting & Technical Director, Dan Ashworth, with a view to taking the Club forward.
“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Roberto for his efforts over the past 19 months, particularly for his contribution towards last season’s promotion success and our very promising start to the current campaign.
“We wish him and his family well for the future. Roberto embraced the structure in which we wanted him to work and he has been a good colleague.
“However, we are in a results-driven industry and felt we had no choice but to act now.”
Ashworth, along with Peace and the board, will find the new boss but feels the club are in good – albeit temporary – hands with Appleton.
The Sporting & Technical Director said: “Staying in the Premier League is of paramount importance and we feel that with the right appointment, we can still achieve our goal.
“In the meantime, team affairs are in the very capable hands of Michael Appleton.
“He has gained all the coaching badges available, including the UEFA Pro Licence, and knows the club inside out.
“Most importantly, he has earned the full respect of the players and everyone else at the football club.
“I have worked closely with Roberto since June 2009 and I would like to thank him, Eddie and Ade for all their hard work during this period and wish them well for the future.”
The club will make no further comment until a new head coach has been appointed, but Dudley-born former Blackburn, Bolton and Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is likely to be one of the first to be linked to the job.
Allardyce previously spent two years as assistant to Brian Talbot at the Hawthorns, from 1989 to 1991.
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Why have the board done this!!
They have stuck with all the other useless managers in the past weve had the best premier league so far and they sack him.
I for one is gutted, thanks RDM for all your help and sorry.
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Peace out!
He will never support the manager/head coach…
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ABSOLUTELY STUNNED!!
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Now tell me Jeremy Peace hasn’t got our football club at heart.
All the best Roberto, thanks for the good times.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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What a complete joke ,spending money in january would have given us the best possible chance to stay up,No signings = No ambition
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I DIDN’T THINK J.PEACE WAS THAT SERIOUS ABOUT US STAYING IN THE PREMIERSHIP.
Wrong again!!
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I’m gutted, shocked – totally unexpected. We now need an expeienced manager to save us – bring on Big Sam.
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can t say i msurprised but the timing is poor, to expect someone to come in and turn it around that quick is naive at best
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A complete joke of a decision, Jeremy Peace, you have just relegated us
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WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!! Albion have played some great football this season, and im sure would have stayed up with ease. Be carefull what you wish for. Big sam will not play football the Albion way. I know you lot and you wont tolerate that style of play. Bad call by JP. if he had any thoughts of sacking RDM he should of had the guts to do it before the window shut. Now it really is all up in the air. Bad show Albion!
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Disgracefull, im a Wolves fan but i think this is a knee jerk reaction. yes youre having a bad run but its a crazy division this season. i think youve done really well, maybe its because you had such a good start and JP probably thought you would be safely in the top ten by now. best manager youve had in a long time. All the best RDM hope you find a club that will give you the support you deserve.
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Shocked.
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All you JP haters ,unless you haven’t noticed , we are in free fall and have been for 3 months. RDM is a very nice , intelligent man, but I’m 100% with JP on this one and think he’s shown an incredible amount of courage for making a very difficult decision. There’s no room for sentiment in football. All those who said he doesn’t have the club at heart should think again, because by doing this he has given the club it’s best chance of staying up. Only one man for the job IMO, Sam Allardyce.
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What on earth is Jeremy Peace playing at ? Why would you sack a manager just 6 days after the transfer window closes – what on earth is the new man going to do ? JP says he doesn’t take these decisions lightly – 4 managers in three years and RDM is only there for 9 months. And I thought we had it bad over on the dark side !! Condolences my friends.
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LW never thought i would ever agree with you but spot on with your post…..JP hold your head in shame!
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Jeremy please leave the club, you have made one hell of a mistake. It will be your fault if we go down for not backing yet another Manager ! Absolute joke.
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This decision is a sad reflection on the club. The wrong decision at the wrong time and because the Board was not prepared to spend to survive. Short term thinking – Penny Pincher Peace. Peace off!
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Totally Gutted.
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When will this chairman do the decent thing and leave. The club is the continuation of an idea started in 1879, and which has been nurtured and looked after by everyone associated with it since.
Mr Peace must follow RDM out of B71 and allow a progressive board and chairman to take control, one which will appoint a manager to manage and then provide him with the funds to compete in todays Premier league.
Jeremy Peace appears to have no ambition beyond winning the Championship and then one season in the top flight.
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Well, I have been saying for 3 weeks now that Roberto must be fearing for his job as we are in complete freefall and he as not addressed the defensive chaos that happens week in & week out.As you all know I am not Jeremys biggest fan but I back this decision as action must be taken to address our position, but I am saying this as I dont know who is lined up to take over.
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To all the JP pro party can you justify this?.. clubs a laughing stock! And if Sam the punt gets the job then WE’RE DOOMED!!!
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If he was going to sack him why not after the wigan game, did he really think we was going to get something at Man City?? Don’t you dare appoint that dingle Allardyce in fact don’t appoint anyone JUST GO!!!!!This club deserves BETTER than you. If Robson Mowbray and Di matteo were the wrong men IT IS YOUR FAULT PEACE YOU APPOINTED EM!!!!
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Disappointed but not surprised. The writing was on the wall when he didn’t fund him during the window. Peace didn’t want to force RDM’s targets on a new boss. Potentially very short sighted. Thanks for the memories Robbie,Donny away was truly great. The king is dead, long live the king. Smethwick ’til i die!
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I am appalled. What a short sighted, nieve, knee jerk reaction.
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Is it a coincidence that he has sacked a manager as soon as the transfer window has closed, crazy timing, did he expect you to beat man city at there ground! if peace had the best interests of the club he would have sacked RDM before january to give a new manger funds to sign new players, obviously made a very cheap calculated decision!
I’m afraid to say he cares about one thing only and its not ambition.
probably see you in the championship next year!
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YoYo gotta say we were in danger of staying up !
Howevber JPs plan to finish bottom may yet been scuppered by Blackpool who are in faster freefall than us.
I still think we could have acheived relegation with giving Roberto the elbow, we have to play the Dingles twice to start with. Mind you, Sam is just what we need. Sterile, sto-em-at-all-costs hoof ball. It’s what we’re used to.
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Lonewolf,Michael and Filtowolfthanks very much for your comments and honest opinions, with which I wholeheartedly agree.
Smethwick Baggie, I have to disagree with you mate about JP having the best interest of the club at heart. If that was the case he would have given RDM the backing he needed during the transfer window. Only a few months ago people were worried about keeping RDM because of how well he was doing andsome of the bigger clubs coming in for him!!!
RDM can’t be blamed for bad refereeing decisions and injuries to the players,at least 9 first team players out at one point which any club of our size and means would have struggled to cope with.
The players are just sarting to come back now and need a few games to get their match fitness back,I honestly feel that given a little more time RDM would have sorted it out, we will never know now.
This is just how I see it and know a lot may disagree but I think that RDM has been treated abysmally and wish him all the very best for the future.
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Jeremy Piece (no apologies)
You are priceless!
Perhaps if you had released funds
during the transfer window Robbie
would have been able to do something,
what do you expect a new manager to do
in the same situation.
Shame on you!
Best of luck Roberto & thanks for
some of the best football we’ve seen
in years.
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JP you are our weakest link,
sell you share’s and get lost you are not worthy of being associated with our great club, you are making us a laughing stock AGAIN!!!
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Shocked for sure, but have to say that although i was a great admirer of R.D.M. it does show that we mean business this year. Only time will tell if it was the right decision and to be fair im not going to voice an opinion until its over, mainly because im lost for words. It will be the biggest decision this club has made in many a year, and if we stay up then maybe another local team may have wished they had made tha same move. One things for sure, its never dull at our club. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed. Hope weve gotit right.
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Unjustified. Shocking. Disgraceful. Am appalled.
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I’m disgusted with the Albion. This is not how I expect our club to be run. Its the wrong decision at the wrong time. It’s knee jerk desperation. RDM could easily have kept us up. If we sign someone like Sam Allardyse we will be the laughing stock of football. I will not watch the Albion under a manager like him. I’d like to give my thanks to RDM.
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This is shocking, I don’t want big Sam cus I don’t wish to see negative defensive football.
JP we have been crying out for defenders all season not one defender purchased, loaned in the jan window. We need a decent right back and left back again not a sniff.
Shocking good luck RDM…
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Peace out. We should all ensure peace hears how dissapointing this decision is at the westgam game. I for one will be branding a banner ” Peace out”!!!!
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ABSOLUTELY STUNNED!!!!
RDM has lost his job purely because we have been wronged by officials all season with some incredible decisions against us. If we had been able to play Blackpool (a) with all 11 players and not been a goal down after 10 mins to a wrong penalty decision, if Stoke hadn’t been given two outrageous pens late on at the Hawthorns, if Gary Neville had been sent off and a pen awarded against Man U (h) had we correctly got a pen instead of a free kick v Blackburn (a)……i could go on….these decions have cost us several points, but they have cost RDM much more. Disgraceful! The Premiership is bent!
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no 13 i agree with your comments. the folks on here calling for peaces head would have been calling for his head and rdms head aswell.di matteos tatics was starting to be questionable cox in midfield fortune out of position, vela also.
how many pens we conceded this season and we have been needing to score at least 2 goals a game to get any kind of result.
and talking about the transfer window i heard coming out of the ground tues night that rdm didnt want any signings that was recomended to him and god dont we need them , if you read the clubs statement he has hinted as much . for me peace as made the right call but maybe could of done it sooner
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Mr.STEVE BULL MBE has all his coaching badges! Give him a bell, you never know ?. I know you wouldnt like a Wolves fan in charge, but hang on,,,,,, Aint big Sam a wolves fan ? This could end up messy.
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Welcome to the dark side
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…and please not big Sam!!!!
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I couldn’t believe this when I first seen it on sky sports news… It seems like a daft decision by your board. Our board stuck by Mick in a worse run than that and even when fans where calling for his head, which wasn’t the case for you guys… It’s almost as shocking as Newcastle getting rid of Houghton; who I’d probably put money on being your next manager. Hope we both stay up! Bring on derby day :)
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Bad timing wanted Robbie to suceed nice man
it all went wrong that awful night in Blackpool ref M Olivers poor decision Olssens
injury, like under Mowbray greatly admired for
our style of play. We need a messiah cant see
any name being head coach maybe give Appleton
the job or McInnes. Hopefully players will
respond by fullest commitment Early in season
we were flying the momentums gone thats why
Robbies gone. JPs the owner hes not leaving yet despite JP haters
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I thought nothing would surprise me in our game nowadays, how wrong i was.
I am absolutely STUNNED at at this turn of events.
Lone Wolf and Filton brilliant posts that will have a huge percentage of our followers in agreement with you.
I dont know where to start with this.
Before the sacking of a manager, there is usually a longish period of unrest, mostly among the fans, this is a genuine bolt out of the blue.
I will neither condemn or condone JP`s decision at this time. I do feel that relegation was almost a foregone conclusion, whilst aware there are still many points to play for, with our defensive frailties, it was becoming increasingly difficult to imagine how we were able to amass sufficent points, the complete lack of confidence is palpable.
Our absolute need to tighten up, is sure to lead us to a more defensive type of manager, and Sam Allardyce fits that bill perfectly, however as Lone Wolf points out, will we be happy with watching a more attritional game.
The worst case scenario.
We get to watch dull football, but still get relegated.
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please not big sam,dont have the type of players for his way of playing…im sure the chairman is lookin beyond him,
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big sam seen at the hawthorns half hour ago
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UNDER DI MATTEO WE WERE “SLEEPWALKING” TOWARDS RELEGATION…FACT!!!
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I have spent a long time off this site but I just had to see peoples comments on this and react myself!
SHOCKED!!!!!
I know we have had a really bad run of results but there is no excuse for this. I can understand RDM’s position as head coach being considered & questdioned by the board. We have leaked goals all over the place and whats more concerning is the inabilty to keep a clean sheet… just 1 all season and looking incapable of getting another one for the rest of the campaign.
Even Mowbray managed to keep the odd clean sheet.
But this where the board’s decision does not stand… if you compare RDM’s season to Mowbray’s or any of other of our recent managers in the premiership, his record is actually better! No previous manager has done any better than RDM has.
JP you have just contradicted yourself by saying its a results business but if you actually look at the results it doesn’t add up. You put up with Mowbray & gave him a full season in which we spent half of it rooted to the bottom! If u look at the facts… It took Mowbray until the end of April to reach the same amount of points we have already earned under RDM in early Feb.
Sorry JP but your argument does not justify this action. You are right it is a results driven business but if you wanna talk results…. if you were in any other position in football other than the chairman you would have been sacked long ago my friend because you have not achieved or fulfilled the clubs goals so what makes you different from Roberto?? Its only because you have the power at the club that we have to put up with you.
Di Matteo did not deserve this. He should have been given at least until after the next 2 crucial home games. If we had lost both of them then fair enough I could understand. But this is no more than a knee jerk reaction. Everyone criticised Newcastle’s sacking of Chris Hughton but this is no better. I cant help but think this influenced the board’s decision as a fellow promoted team to act in the same way.
The next 2 games now look daunting with no manager or leadership. I think we had time to turn things around, RDM could have kept us up. But now instead of feeling just a little concerned, I have little hope at all. Expect a backlash next weekend!
WRONG DECISION
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It’s a stroke of luck,just booked my flight back in time for my interview a week on Monday.If it’s between me and big Sam I think you’ll be better off with me.
I sure I could count on most of the support,even Baggi and Mark.
We aren’t getting all the story on this I’m sure and probably never will.
To say I’m shocked is an understatement but strangely not surprised and I wouldn’t be surprised again if Appleton got the job if we won the next two games.
After getting us into the Prem in his first season then up to 6th a couple of months ago IMO it’s a mistake but we’re stuck with it now and all we can do is make it a hell of a positive atmosphere for the team from now till the end of the season the end of the season.
Good luck RDM and thanks for some great times.
Adeu
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Although i think RDM was a decent bloke we were in free fall. 3 big games against the bottom three coming up and with RDM in charge im sure we would have entertained but we would have maybe got 2 draws. A fresh face to lift the players, tighten up the defense and maybe we turn the corner.
As my old man said, he was shocked but if someone comes in and we only concede one goal a game its a massive improvement.
I posted yesterday saying i would have sacked him and brought someone in short term with a big stay up bonus. I think i need to check my lottery numbers…
Id give Derek Mcinees a call unless his phone is switched off as you cant answer when your on an easy jet flight from scotland to brum.
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madness! Great football to watch. If Sam Allardyce gets the job I wont watch them until he goes.
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Awful, awful decision.
What self respecting manager would want to work with Peace now? He cannot keep any relationship beyond half a season.
The timing of this is atrocious. Had we failed to beat Blackpool, Wigan, West Ham and Wolves the position may have been clearer. That isn’t the case though and how any new manager picks the team up and gets them through such important games now is beyond me.
Why doesn’t Peace give Ashworth the job and have done with it?
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Awful decision. I like RDM, he is definitely a good manager. He got a lot out of your squad.
big Sam would be a coup if you could get him.
Lets just hope its after we take 6 points off the baggies.
Charlie
ATLANTA WOLVES
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First reaction was amazement – but having now thought about it I think JP had to do something, and I’m sure RDM knew what was coming.
We have said that the team is good enough to stay up, but needs some confidence… and thats the managers job.
If RDM had gone before the transfer window it may have unsettled some players and other clubs would have moved in for them – this way the new manager has a good set of players and enough games left to make us safe.
Thanks Robbie for some great memories – what chance O’Neil or Big Sam ??
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Nice one Peace.In my humble opinion you got us relegated last time by refusing a 2 year contract for KP. Even if he had only been coming on from the bench, he would have scored enough goals to have kept us up. Time to do the honourable thing Peace and fall on your sword but perhaps before doing so, you could come out and tell us how much money was made available to the scapegoat, RDM , during the Transfer window. Not much would be my guess. Good luck RDM. You deserve much better.
Sixty years a Baggies fan(but not for much longer methinks).
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will any big name manager want to work as head coach under Ashworth?
allardyce not the answer as i’ll be picking the ball out of my back garden 200 miles from the hawthorns.
want a gamble on a manager doing very well and playing great football tempt gus poyet away from brighton.
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Totally shocked by the decision – out of the blue. I think Peace obviously has something up his sleeve. I just hope Big Sam doesn’t get the job. What about Martin O’Neill?
We desperately need an experienced Prem Manager now to keep us up!
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Surprised & disappointed are just 2 words that sum up my current feelings.With RDM at the helm,WBA played some of the most attractive footie that the Hawthorns as ever since the Johnny Giles era,that had seen lifted them back into the Prem.
RDM I wish you well.Perhaps some day you could replace Clipboard down at the Golden Palace?
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Pease God,not big Sam.
Question:Why is Ashworth so untouchable as he chooses the players?Is he related to Peace?
Get both out now.
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53 Happy.
Spot on sir. Nice to read a sensible , thought out comment. Of course he had to go. Sad but reality.
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If Big Sam comes in, it will end up the same as 20+ years ago when
Booby Gould was brought in to save us. relegation and then mid table obscurity.Peace has to have someone already lined up or else its sheer lunacy to have sacked RDM at this point.
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the board should have backed him, maybe he asked for more , and this got their goat, i just dont know, but please please god , NO big sam, if it happens we will be a big SHAM
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PEACE OUT
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mancbaggie – great to watch?? who exactly have you been watching these last few months?
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The reason rdm got put on gardening leave is because he told jp the truth about hes tight arse and jp didnt like it and thats from some1 that works at the albion training ground. We all need to stand up and let mr peace know what we think of him!
Apparently there is a protest soon, to let JP know what we all think of him.
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Peace is the smiling assasin, watch him!!!!!!!
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O’Neil would want loads of cash if he came to us so I don’t think it will be him. Certainly no guy who is already at a club as JP doesn’t pay compensation. Please not Strachan or Houghton.
So it looks like Big Sam or Hodgson.
Start taking the pills guys.
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Despite the fact i think this is a ridiculous decision by Peace, i think it’s fairly obvious that the next man is already lined up. Peace didn’t need to do this, there was no pressure to axe him from the fans, we were’nt expected to get anything from the Man City game, so the sacking was nothing to do with that game. With a MASSIVE game against West Ham coming up next, it would be suicidal madness to sack your manger before such a vital game unless you already had a replacement lined up.
….surely i’m right in thinking this? I hope so because if not, then Peace has just made the biggest mistake at the worst possible time!
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Get Martyn Jol in NOW !!!!!
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I think either Ian Dowie or Carlton Palmer would be a good choice. Mr Peace please ignore all of these moaners, i for one think you’re doing a great job.
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I suspect there is much more to this than is apparent at the moment. The last 18 months or so have been the best times at Albion for a number of years – not just because of what we have achieved but how we have done it. I think most people thought RDM was here for the long haul and we were still in the early stages of something very exciting. But the last few games have seen some curious team selections and kamizake formations. It’s almost as if Robbie has lost the plot & I think that is why JP has acted. Despite what he has said, I don’t think it is just about the poor results but more about the way we have approached the games. Relegation battles require fight, determination, desire and organisation rather than pretty, technical football and it looks very much like RDM has refused to concede this and has paid the price as a result.
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Lets get a few things straight.1/ The board made the decision to relieve Roberto of his duties,2/ It was not a knee jerk reaction. We have been on the slide for at least three months.3/ Most would give their eye teeth to manage the squad of players ALBION have.4/ It was not losing to Manchester City that cost Roberto his position at ALBION, it was it was the way ALBION performed. 5/ All those calling for the head of Peace, would have done so at the seasons end if relegated, accusing him of not changing the head coach. 6/ Peace along with the board have done, in their view, what is best for our club. Whether we agree with that decision or not.6/ Do fans honestly think the “head coach” posision will be given anyone, without first making a short list. 7/ As long as it isn’t Warnock and his like, I will be able to sleep at night. My opinion of course.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Di Matteo has done a great job and if he could have seen us through the next few games would no doubt have taken us to better time but his demeneure for a while was of a coach who was losing beleive. Tough call but a fresh face with renewed energy & faith may do it to reignite the players and keep us up. If we go down again it will be an almighty struggle to bounce back. Tough call Peace but Mowbray & Matteo were inspired signings in the first place. Lets hope you can do it again.
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I think you are spot on boy from the REAL black country. It would only be an IDIOT to sack your manager just before this vital match. I bet someone is in place in the next couple of days.
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I can’t believe a lot of what im reading on here about JP. Did i like Dimatteo? yes, Did we have a fantastic start to the season? yes, are we in freefall with what looks like little end to the poor results?, yes!
Instead of Peace hating take a step back and put things into prespective, we can’t defend, we keep playing the same formation regardless of results, we have lost i think 10 out of the last 13, is this all the managers fault? no but he has to carry the can. JP has made a big call and there are some very good proven managers out there at the moment who could keep this squad of players in the division. The players have to take some responsibilty for this descision, they simply haven’t performed for 3 months now. JP has made a bold move, time will tell if it’s the correct one. We have 14 games or so to save our season and to all the football snobs out there who like pretty pretty football it’s time to fight for our Premiership lives if we want to retain our status. Would i want to watch Stoke every week? no but they survive!
The call has been made let’s just get behind whoever gets the nod and play our part trying to help save us from relegation!
Come on Baggies, we can do it!
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As a Wolves fan this is great news with RDM we were nowhere near Albion in quality of football your board must be mad. We would welcome him.See you in the championship.
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Very strange to make this decision with two very decisive games coming up! I could understand if you were bottom like us Wolves but being honest I would have at least waited until the Wolves game was out of the way in two weeks time. Maybe there’s been a heated exchange of words. I have to say though the Baggies were extremely poor against Man City.
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66 – Hodgson is a great shout….. I would be well pleased if that happened – and we all know he loves albion players !!!
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Feel sorry for Roberto, i thought he was doing a good job for you. Time will tell if Peace has made a mistake. My gut feeling tells me he has.
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Well dont know what to say, im 50/50 on this 1. BIG SAM! hope not,but it looks like it could be, he must have someone lined up to do this. Maybe appleton? but it will have to be someone with experience me thinks. Sad boing boing!!!
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Thanks Roberto, were all utterly disappointed down here in malta. We wish you all the very best for the future. You certainly did not deserve the sack. I think the one to be sacked is the one who sacked you!
Shocking!!
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I am a Wolves fan as that is my home town and as such would not normally intrude to make childish snipes as most people on both sides seem to do. However the timing of this seems utter madness, chopping and changing managers never breeds success. There must be more to it than meets the eye maybe it is because RDM looks like Parker of Thunderbirds fame. Sam for the job? He is a Wolves fan so would be on a hiding to nothing should he not provide instant success. I hope both clubs stop up but in reality at least one will go probably both, but at least neither will be bankrupted.
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cant believe some of the baggies fans on here asking for Big Sam, that would be the end of the flowing football that we keep seeing from your team. do you really want to watch long ball week in week out. cant see the players youve got at the club looking forward to playing for him.
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im not suprised we are in free fall and there dont seem no fight in the team , yes we play great stuff but when we have to pull our sleeves up its not happening to many players
not giving it all, especily the defence
the wolves result yesterday bought it home
you can win if you got a team spirit. we dont have that. Its going to be hard to find a replacment with the present team and no spending in the transfer window.
JP should go too his policy is not working we will end up like walsall loosing fans
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Embarassing, all the clubs near the bottom of the Premier League must be laughing at us. Coming up we have two crucial home games against West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers and what do the clowns who run our football club do? Sack the manager. Does anyone have the telephone number for the chuckle brothers?
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Don’t keep spouting off, do something about it, i for one won’t be going to another match till JP has gone.As for you lot your all talk no action..
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I said it all along the RDM is not good enough to manage a team at this level, if you look at the others managers who came from being player in the late 90′s early 2000 they have all failed at this level, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Gareth Southgate……………… they do not have enough management experience to succeed, they need to start off at lower clubs and work their way up, your board is to blame for hiring him in the first place he was doomed to fail!!!
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Peace lovers got your wish, which direction do we go now, hopefully not SAM, hughton,southgate, curbishley, what now, im gutted and distraught, dont trust any of em!!!! what was the big rush to sack RDM, he was doing alright
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ABSOLUTE DISGRACE !!!! What the hell are you playing at Peace?????
Where do we go from here? back down to the championship thats what will happen.
RDM was the man who was taking us forward along with Aide and Eddie but all that has gone now.
Jeremy I have always backed you whatever but at this point you are a complete IDIOT!
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i can’t believe people are shocked about this,if we had carried on as we were we would certainly have gone down. we need a fresh approach to have any hope of staying up & i would like to see martin o’neil at the hawthorns if it’s possible.a lot of posters on here seem to blame the blackpool game for the decline of our season, but i dont see how a game that was played months ago should have such an impact on our players.
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You know when West Brom have a good manager when us Wolves fans don’t take the mick out of him, like we did with Ardiles, Talbot etc. Di Matteo is a very good coach working at a club with, it appears, very little resources (Wolves would kill for an Odemwingie, though Mick would probably have him at left back by now), and yet he had Albion looking very cultured and forward-looking this season. In previous seasons you’ve been little more than cannon fodder, yet this year you’ve arguably merited more points than you’ve got (Liverpool away, for example).
Perhaps Peace got spoiled by games like Arsenal away, but he has to ask himself the question – what were his expectations this season? Surely, they should have been to finish 17th or higher, like ours were this and last season. Did he not know you’d go on a bad run at some point?
Di Matteo should’ve been judged on his performance at the end of the season, not now. He is going places, and will not be out of work for long – if Albion do go down at the end of the season, then the blame will lie squarely with your chairman and nobody else.
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13 smethwick bgy. Totally agree – RDM was just Mowbray with a better squad – still unable to organise a defence. We have let in more goals than any other PL side & anyone who still thought we were safe & doing ok needs to take a long hard look at the table – 1 game off bottom !! I Do admit the timings not great but if they have a new man lined up then all might not be lost. Not Allardyce for me …. Curbishley a possibility……?
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I dont like the baggies, but to be fair you have played well this season, to have a run of bad results,your board gets the jitters and sacks RDM ? sounds like peace had some one lined up!
the way its going we will see you again next year…………………in the championship.
UTW
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Play nice passing, attractive football and gain many admirers, get beaten every week and get relegated or play negative football and quite possibly stay up.
Discuss
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PEACE GO NOW!!! The sacking of Roberto is an absolute disgrace. You are the reason why we will never establish ourselves in the Premier League.
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As an outsider looking in I had been impressed by what Di Matteo had done at Albion. A bit harsh, I thought you were doing ok this season.
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Should have happened 3 months ago, after the Ipswich game. Only won 2 since then, Newcastle (who sacked Hughton the day after) and we were fortunate against Blackpool. Letting in at least 2 goals a game for 9 matches, players seemingly not caring – JP couldn’t let it go on as we would certainly have been relegated. I fancy Mcinnes and/or Dave Jones, but would accept Big Sam JUST to the end of the season, to use his Premiership experience to get us out of this mess.
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I said it before with Peace in the boardroom there will be no peace in the boardroom !!very clever man switches the blame after no signs in the window.
Martin Jol gets my vote, cant see it though, more likely to be inexperienced and very very cheap. Derek McInnes
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I am absolutely gobsmacked, if peace had this on his mind why do it now he should have done at christmas. I liked RDM i wish him well were ever he goes but we need to tighten up at the back and get some much needed confidence back
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I believe it was a brave decision from the chairman and perhaps their are things behind the scenes that we are not aware of.
The team started really well but the defense continues to be the major problem for a while with robertos reign and Tony Mobray,its great playing attacking football but for us to stop the yo-yo we need to have a more organised defense.
Whoever takes the job on is going to find it difficult to stay up i hope we can but i fear the worse maybe Micheal Appleton can get a response from the players and stop the rot.
We all need to get behind the future coach come on baggies!!!
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This was absolutely the right thing to do and is not a knee jerk reaction to the Man City result as some people are suggesting. JP looks at the situation over a period of time and the facts speak for themselves as follows:
Since November 1 2010, played 18, won 3, drawn 2, lost 13. Goals for 18, goals against 35 (or 2 goals conceeded per game on average). Two of those games were cup games so in reality we’ve taken 11 points from a possible 48 in the league which is the worst form of anyone else in the Premiership by some way.
Having watched the games against Fulham, Blackburn and Man City recently there was absolutely no passion, no desire, no pride, no nothing and this is the sole responsibility of the manager. Furthermore, even David Platt said yesterday “we knew we could push our full backs on and create a numerical advantage in their half because of the way West Brom play, they did the same at their place earlier in the season”. Translation: we’re the most predictale team in the division (and we’re punchless). There was no plan B and there was no thought to changing our style to confuse the opposition. This is disappointing given that RDM is an intelligent individual but the facts are the facts.
JP has not acted out of haste, he’s acted in the best interests of West Bromwich Albion football club. Do you honestly believe the value of JP’s investment is maximized when we’re in the Championship? Don’t be ridiculous.
We were only going one way under Robbie and that was down. Making the change now gives us a chance of being competitive and beating the drop. Players nearly always seem to repsond to a change in manager as they have to prove themselves and we have some critical must win games on the horizon. Perhaps the players will be prepard to fight for their lives under the new head coach because they certainly weren’t doing it for Robbie.
I would like to thank Robbie for what he has done for the club but ultimately he was in a situation that he just couldn’t turn around. He will no doubt learn from the experience but in the interests of our club, this was the right thing to do and now gives us a fighting chance of staying in the Premiership.
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dave jones anyboby?
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Ohh nooo…….. what have we gone and done! How can you blame RDM for this….i really enjoyed watching us rip apart teams this season..it was our poor defending that has put us where we are..surely that is obvious!! did peace really expect a result against the money bags city? i didnt! oh well i love my baggies and i hope they know what they r doing….personally timing is everything in this world and i feel this one is poorly timed ..lets just hope that our beloved team reacts positively to this rash decision and performs to the standard that us fans expect….
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Like most people it seems I dont agree with sacking Di Matteo. Time for Peace to go I think.
Ive started a Facebook page to try and show how much we dissagree with this decision.
Please search Facebook for “The get Jeremy Peace to resign as Albion chairman”, ‘like’ the page and pass it on to other loyal Baggies. We need to group together so our voices will be heard.
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Peace out,he got to go, how can you sack a manager who you havent backed. Always the same, he has fallen out with every manager we have had(sorry head coach) took away managers power with that move too!
Where is all the money?
So many players sold, Davies, Kusack ,earnshaw,ellington,Kamara,Greening, Koumas Mcshane, the list goes on. 5 premiership years out of 9. And all the money that comes with it! where is it all? cos we dont spend it on players thats for sure. Get him out!
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101 NY Baggie
Spot on… and the facts you give speak volumes. He was devide of any new idea’s and some of the players also need to look at themselves for lack lustre performances.
It may be to late but change had to be made to give us any chance under RDM we had none.
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RDM has done well but 13 defeats in 18 is not acceptable.
Apparently, the board were concerned he wasn’t carrying out enough homework on our opponents. If that’s the case, then I’m not surprised they’ve taken this decision.
Don’t know who’s in the frame but rumours are rife Hodgson’s being lined up…
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Absolutely gutted, RDM has gone. He was the most innovative, intelligent and gorgeous manager we have had in a long time and Peace has dismissed him. I cannot get my head round it, I really can’t. I hope Peace knows what he’s doing and has someone lined up because the timing of this stinks. Please don’t let it be Big Sam. I like to watch football not hufball. I think i’d like to see Roy Hodgeson. He appears to have all the right qualities for me {except he aint gorgeous].
I’d like to thank RDM for everything he has done for our beloved WBA and wish him every success for the future.
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got every chance of being Mcinnes! as we all know, peace aint gonna be willing to give the likes of O’neil the money we know he will want and IMO Big Sam is a no go aswell, we aint got the players to play the long ball all game!
There is more chance of him going for someone like Mcinnes, as he will be cheap!
Good luck RDM for the future!
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The bottom-line is the Chairman (Board) did not add man-power to the team in January. How does the Chairman expect to complete at top level? What exactly is the Chairman’s plan? How is a replace Chairman? Invest in WBA stock? The Chairman should be replaced.
Roberto Di Matteo is a class act.
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62. One touch, attacking football from a progressive team playing cultured football as good as the Giles days. The defence & keeper have let us down. As some posters have said ‘tippy tappy’ football aint gonna keep us up, if thats the case you can stuff the premiership. Greatest league in the world….?
92. Play negative and stay in the premiership or play attractive football and go down? Why would you want to pay your money every week in the prem, watching crap football, just so we can stay up every season.. discuss.
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Bottom-line the Chairman/Board did not add man-power to the team. It’s their fault, not the coach.
You cannot squeeze water of a rock.
The Chairman goes.
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