Chris Brunt: We got carried away
Monday 28th February 2011, 11:29AM GMT.
Albion head into their crucial clash at Stoke tonight with captain Chris Brunt admitting they got carried away with their early-season success.
The Baggies will begin the Britannia Stadium match in the Premier League drop zone for the first time since their 6-0 defeat at Chelsea on the opening day of the season.
They responded to that setback with a series of impressive results that took them to the heights of fourth place in the top flight.
But Brunt today became the first senior player to admit those unexpected successes, including the historic 3-2 victory at Arsenal, might have cost the squad its focus.
“Maybe we got a bit too far ahead of ourselves,” said the winger. “If you asked anyone — players, fans or the media — at the start of the season what was in store for Albion I don’t think anyone would have said anything other than a relegation fight.
“But we did so well that maybe we did start to look too far ahead on the back of some of those games, not just with the wins but also with some of the performances in the games we didn’t win.
“But what has happened in the last couple of months has been a real reminder to people you cannot afford to do that because the Premier League is such a harsh environment that punishes you if you get ahead of yourself.”
The Baggies dropped to second-from-bottom during the weekend courtesy of big wins for rivals Wolves and West Ham and they now have 11 matches to save their Premier League lives, starting in the Potteries tonight.
Albion have a dismal record at Stoke and will expect to face an aerial bombardment from the Potters.
Brunt said: “Stoke put a lot of balls into the box and it’s a tactic that works for them because they finished in mid-table last season and could do it again this season.
“It will be a big test for us with our defensive record but, if we can continue the defensive improvement we showed against Wolves, there’s no reason why we can’t get a result.”
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Not being funny.. but if Stoke put 11 road cones out we’d do well to get a draw
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We as a club do not need fans like this.We need positive thinking and intelligent thoughts what good is this comment doing we all need to get behind the boys it’s not to late to save our season.
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no excuses and if wed on’t pull something out the bag we will be a laughing stock again in this league!!
Again where has all the money gone!!
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You say what u like Chris.
Too many suspensions and defensive injuries rocked the boat.
We know things have been going on behind the scenes.
Basicaly not wearing the shirt with pride and determination.Player revolt?
Getting the manager the sack.
At the end of the day the players earn good money and the fans deserve 100% commitment.
This team showed us early season what it was capable of,then clocked off early.
Let the fans down and put us in another dogfight.
As a group you need to put things right as a repayment, starting tonight.
BAGGIESBAGGIESBAGGIES
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It’s probably been evident in the last 2 months that Chris Brunt got carried away personally as well as the team, the work ethic that complemented his natural ability in those first few months, seemed to evaporate. Hopefully this admission won’t come too late in our season.
Has anybody seen the referee for tonight? Michael Oliver. I groaned in despair when I found out but then considered, he knew what the Albion fans thought of him after the Blackpool game, the defacing of his Wikipedia page would’ve told him that. Will this young lad want to risk being associated with a vendetta against a team so early in his top-flight career?
Perhaps this will work in our favour, as Pulis’s mind games did before the fixture at our place. Or perhaps I’m looking for crumbs of comfort in what has been the most soul-destroying weekend of football.
We’ve got to beat them sometime. Come on you Baggies!!
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Is there a manager with a worst away record over the last two seasons that Roy? He needs to put this right with us or we will finish bottom.
If we do go down I only think we would lose Brunt, Mulumbu and Dorrans we would keep the core of our squad together and come back up but this time JP has got to spend money and not share it out among the Directors.
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2…Get a grip. you think players look at this get real.. all the positive thinking in the world from fans dont win games . so you keep faith with your positive thoughts, but I’ll leave it up to the 11 blokes kicking the bag of wind about.
oh and I was at the the old stoke ground (was it called the victoria or something) and yes they do need fans like me I say it as it is we are not playing well and cant defend. if im wrong about that let me know.
we will on our form be relagated take the blue and white specs off mate
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4 you’ve got that spot on! we have to put the pretty stuff on hold tonight & mash it up!!!
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I’m really surprised at so many negative comments. 11 matches to play is nearly a third of the season left. O you of little faith. For pity’s sake give RH a bit of credit. I’m sure he knows what’s wrong and at least someone is now trying to change things. If RDM was still there we’d still be sailing blindly towards the abyss. I think there will be plenty of twists and turns before it’s all over. Cheer up and don’t write us off just yet.
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I’ve read the two ‘no comments’ articles above this. One point to make: ‘Roy works with us on the training ground’. Er, does this tell us something or am I reading bewteen too many lines ? Regarding tonight, ‘He that expecteth nothing shall not be disappointed’. A point would make me so happy I’d feed my daughter’s dog my steak!
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(7)
Real,
You could Have fooled me with your nom de guerre. I felt our defence showed a marked improvement against wolves and goals will come as we wont play against a chock full defence until we play them again.
(5)
Warren,
Premier referees leave a lot to be desired. I’ve a good idea. How about them having a Rugby Union Referees course. I don’t know whether you watch the Six Nations tournament?. The referees are obeyed impeccably, in return, players are treated as men. the referee calls over an offender and tells him his judgement, no-one else approaches them, no manager on the touch line hopping up and down shouting expletives. Referees aren’t afraid of their losing their jobs. Some of these players make Goliath look like a baby in arms, Some of the Referees make David look like an Ogre. These referees are as straight as a die and I’ve never heard a crowd have a go at them, no, not once. Yes, a Rugby Union Referees Course would do our referees the world of good.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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I think I need to visit an asylum I actually feel we may get something from Stoke tonight…..my god they are coming to take me away …. a sneaky 2-2 perhaps would take a draw at this very moment
2.. Albion thru and thru, I have just read the actual stuff brunty is saying you mention positive thinking.. “Maybe we got a bit too far ahead of ourselves,” said the winger. “If you asked anyone — players, fans or the media — at the start of the season what was in store for Albion I don’t think anyone would have said anything other than a relegation fight.
Thats a player being positive for you, he at the start of the season thought he would be in a relagation fight!!!!
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Need to get stuck in tonight, no nonsense, no back-heels and fancy flicks, fight for every ball from start to finish and put this ridiculous hoodoo to bed once and for all.
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I see a lot of statements, comments from players saying whats gone wrong and what needs to be done, but what I dont see is action on the field and following the weekend results and the way other teams in the relegation battle are responding with action, spirt, determination, and fight, well I do not feel positive at all. Lets have less of what we need or should do and show some action on the pitch. I used to look forward to games l now get nervous watching or listening. Good luck to the lads tonight but as I cant get there l’lI be hiding behing the settee.
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COME ON STOKE!! Do us Wolves a favour!!
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11 JTH..Nope its me….dont think you can judge our defence on the attack (or lack of it) of wolves, they where toothless(no pun intended). I know we have goals in the team, we have for many season had goals in our teams ,but earlier in the season if we miss hit a shot it would go in but that bit of lady luck seems to have deserted us at the moment
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10 Cyril totaly agree mate, i will be singing delilah when i come out the ground if we get a point,dont waste the steak on the dog mate i,l have it, aye boing boing
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on another note, the decision not to charge rooney is IMO a disgrace and tells you all you need to know about clattenburg and the premier league aye boing boing
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Cyril
I’d do anything to your daughter’s dog for three points!!
JtH
I do watch the 6-Nations and know what you mean about the respect the refs get. It is noticeable though that in most cases (Ireland-Scotland at the weekend may be an exception), the referee is 100% spot on with his decisions, perhaps it’s this above all else that commands that respect. It seems so different in football.
I just hope Mr Oliver’s not influenced by the crowd later on. I think against Stoke more than almost any other team, you want the infringement decisions to go your way or else we could be defending a bombardment.
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Do you really think that most of the negative comments on this page are really from West Brom fans?
As for lady luck – you make your own luck. Yes, games can be changed if a penalty isn’t given or a player is sent off but when it doesn’t happen you have to put it in the past and get one with the game and try even harder. Not getting penalties does not change missed chances or dodgy defending.
On a day when all players in West Brom shirts are doing the best that they can do, we know we can beat anyone. If we lose tonight it will be down to sloppy defending or poor finishing not lady luck – we can win this game, we need to believe it and the players need to believe it.
Come on you Baggies – Gi ‘em ‘ell
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(16)
Real,
I think the dingles sneaked all the luck in the Premiership over their last two games. Us without MULUMBU and Blackpool without Adam, and that was for starters. Coupled with all the luck in China second half against us and playing Blackpool who had ten men. I think they’ve used up their quota for this season. I’ve been called all sorts by some of them for not giving them credit against a depleted side. Now, credit were it’s due, Well done Blues.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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im not suprised by the negativety from fans were only human( well some of us)We all know were the wheels came off the plonker whose in charge tonight also RDMs poor subs, favourites etc didnt help.Didnt help poor return from home games with the 3 Ws and Man u
it could have been oh so different we havent been hammered( except 1st game)in any game even at Eastlands we had chances so it aint been all bad. Stoke away is the last game we’d want on a poor run followed by a most difficult run of games we’ll soon find out if
our guys can battle, do we have enough mentally tough? but in the most strange season
ever weve seen suprising results.
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16 The REAL Baggie Boy
Totally agree, it’s ridiculous to suggest our defending has improved based on the Wulfs game, they posed no attacking threat at all. The only thing we seemed to do differently was to defend alot deeper and believe me if that tactic continues we have no hope!
However, let’s see what tonight brings, I’ve got a funny feeling we’ll get something. Typical Baggie me, eh!
Always living in hope!
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PS
Expect some surprises re team selection!
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19. Excuses already about the referee, it’s fans like you that get on my nerves! We are where we are because we are the 2nd poorest team in the division, the league tables doesn’t lie. Everybody has good and bad decisions for and against them.
I will be there and I will not be worried about the referee I’ll be worried about us defending balls into our box and catching them on the break, looking at our run-in this is a must win as it is one of the easiest games left on our fixtures.
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I really don’t know what to expect as Roy has had time to get his ideas to the lads, hopefully that will come to fruit tonight.
I really hate Stoke as the fans are horrible and the players are physical so I hope we are ready to battle tonight(that being the fans too getting behind the team).
Even if we do lose keep the faith as there are 10 more games after this. Look how negative the dingles have been all season. 1 point away from home would be a result and lift us out and 3 would knock us up to 16th so look through a half full glass.
Albion til I die!
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19 Warren.
Your last para. Your talking about this bloke having a bit of backbone and moral courage. I saw him ref our game against Blackpool, I saw him ref the Reading v Blackpool game amongst others. He is a homer and your peeing into the wind big style.
Him being the ref was the final nail in the coffin for tonight’s game. Thanks for nothing again Premier League or whoever appoints these clowns with whistles and flags.
I really don’t feel good about tonight, it’s as if a bandwagon is rolling against us for the last three months. Why couldn’t we have played a tired Blackpool team this weekend without their best player and their best striker having a rush of blood?
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JtH – I hear what you are saying and have said similar for years but believe the issue in general is with the players not the referees. I’m no rugby union fan but there is no reason why we shouldn’t have the same relationship between the referee and players in football as with rugby. It has to come from the PLAYERS first though and until they are punished for showing a complete lack of respect towards referees nothing will change. FIFA, UEFA, Prem Lge, the FA all have to get behind it – however as Sir Terry says – the verdict with Mr Rooney today shows all what we already knew about the authorities. Disgrace to be let off – had that been Joey Barton I guarantee he wouldn’t have been.
Take a hard line – only skippers can talk to the referee – and I mean talk not shout using disgusting language. any player talking back at a referee when not asked to gets a yellow card – simple as. To start with there will be plenty of red cards – but suspensions will mean managers have to clamp down on lack of discipline. At the present time managers will encourage the players to get in the referees faces in an attempt to influence their decisions as there is minimal penalty for doing so.
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Chris-
I’ve already said what I think of your interviews,and it doesn’t improve-
1) you tell us that in your opinion,at the start of the season,ALL the fans,and ALL the players believed we were in for a relegation fight-well done for telling everyone how negative we all were,before a ball was even kicked,and
2) YET again you deflect the blame-suggesting at the end of your interview that the problem lies in the defence.
Well how about the role of midfielders these days-don’t you have to track back and help the defence,and on other occasions,playing with one striker,shouldn’t you be attacking and contribute a few more goals?
I’m sorry but you always seem to mention other players,or the whole team that’s having problems,and as the Captain you have to learn to TAKE RESPONSIBILTY,and BLAME YOURSELF when you’re playing badly.
Please stop talking to the press every day,and focus your efforts on inspiring the team and improving your own form.
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6 1973 laughingstock-
On the previous Albion thread you repeated the SAME rubbish you’ve been saying for months YET AGAIN.How stupid are you?
On the wolves site,before the local derby,OTHER wolves fans told you to shut your mouth,because you were an embarrassment to THEM.
Need I say more? What a plonker.
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