Jonas Olsson ready for Albion’s run
Wednesday 23rd March 2011, 11:30AM GMT.
Jonas Olsson believes his Albion team-mates are ready for the April crunch heading their way which will make or break their Premier League survival.
Olsson admits that the Baggies have scanned next month’s fixture list in company with the Hawthorns faithful fretting that a run of games which includes matches against Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham spells big trouble for his side.
But the Sweden international, buoyed by the team’s progress under new head coach Roy Hodgson, believes the team will not flinch as they confront their most demanding month.
The defender said: “It’s a fair point that it’s not a great fixture list and counts against us – but I don’t agree with it.
“The first factor is we’ve been doing well against the big teams and we’ve had some good results as we proved again on Saturday – we’ve just taken four points off Arsenal which is not easy.
“I think the second factor is that this season there are 10 teams fighting against relegation and quite a few fighting for the League or Champions League or to get into Europe.
“It doesn’t matter who you play now, it will be difficult every week. I think who you play and when you play them is more irrelevant this season than ever because there simply won’t be any easy games.
“If you play Chelsea at home, Liverpool at home then yes, they are difficult. But it’s just as hard if you’re playing Stoke or Blackpool or West Ham. Every team will have a difficult game ahead of them.
“We’re no different but that applies to all.”
Olsson was speaking before returning to Sweden for his nation’s next European Championships qualifier against Moldova on Tuesday, after being given the all clear following an injury scare against the Gunners.
He confirmed: “I had an orthopaedic heel in my boot to raise the heel. I had been playing with that, but one of them broke in the first-half.
“As soon as I’d replaced it at half-time it was a lot better. I trained yesterday and everything was fine.
“I’m just a bit nervous about the heel because I remembered how long I had been out for before that.”
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Looks like a bit of attempted media mischief making regarding James Morrison’s playing for Scotland. As we have two other injured players travelling for games it shows the ‘non story’ up for what it is.
PS. E&S, have you thought about giving Matt Jarvis his own page?
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1. One post before you mention us… and you say we are besotted..
It’s not often you have a Midlands player in the England squad, we would wait for ever for your bunch…
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1 TRBH-
It’s going away from this story,but to pick up on your themes of ‘the media’ and ‘favouritism’-
I occasionally watch a few minutes of Sky Sport’s ‘Sunday Supplement’,where four national football journalists discuss current premiership topics,but I usually get disgusted by the fact that 75% gets focused on London clubs,and the other 25% on Manchester and Liverpool.
So I was very surprised to switch on last Sunday,and after talking about Man U.,they said ‘how about the relegation issue?’.
Immediately,one guy said ‘well one thing I’m certain of is that West Ham will escape’(why was I not surprised?).
But what really caught my attention was something said by Neil Custis of The Sun.
While talking about wolves chances of survival, he said,and I quote-
‘One of the most passionate atmospheres I’ve ever experienced has been at the Black Country derby between Wolves and West Brom.
But because it’s out in the Black Country,you sort of forget it,because it’s a lost area of football to a lot of us’.
Breathtaking.
And as we’re located on route between Manchester and London,exactly how have they managed to lose us?
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2 Chris-
I’m guessing that TRBH is having a sarcastic dig at the E&S coverage of their stories featuring Jarvis-not the wolves fans comments.
He didn’t even mention wolves directly-not getting paranoid,are you?
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CR78.
I don’t know if you listen to Talksport but on the Alan Brazil Breakfast Show they have a ‘sports journalist’ on every morning to discuss football.
I find that every morning I’m amazed at their breathtaking lack of any original thought or insight. The likes of Neil Custis and Rob Shepherd remind me very much of the football fan you talk to down the pub, the one that knows everything from the TV because he never goes to any games , sadly like him they also sound as though they’re the worse for drink although I’m sure they’re not at that time in the morning. The only decent one they have on is Henry Winter but he writes for one of the posh papers.
PS. I was referring to the E&S coverage not the Wolves fans reaction. There are 6 separate threads so far.
PPS. Chris. I presume you’ve forgotten Scott Carson.
PPS. I sometimes comment on Wolves threads, I try to be sensible when I’ve a point to make and I have no problem when Wulfies come over here except when they’re being stupid or pretending to be a Baggie.
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Cantello
Exactly what I was going to Post, 6 out of 8 articles on Jarvis, I think one of those was from the ghost of the Polish hermit that used to live in the tent by the Fox Hotel island.
Good luck to the lad but a little over the top by the E&S.
Adeu
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3. The Rocket. I agree with both your good self and Neil Custis.
Firstly, Custis is correct in saying Wolves/Albion derbys are some of the most passionate games around. I have been to Man u v city, Liverpool v Man u and a few other “big derbys” ( never been Celtic/Rangers ) And if im honest, ours knocks em into a cocked hat.
It is breathtaking they seem to skip over ours and concentrate on the London ones and the ones mentioned above.
This is why its important for us both to remain in the premier league and show them the real meaning of big derby games.
Heres hoping our brace will be fought in the top flight for many years to come.
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7 lonely-
you should try getting to the Celtic/Rangers bash(literally).
If you can’t watch the game,they could always do with a few bouncers to help out up there.
And yes,we DO both need to stay up,if only to irritate the ‘fashionable’ clubs.
And the prem. would be a lot more boring with one or both of us missing.
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By the way,with the internationals coming up,I saw an headline today in the E&S that said-
‘Injury scare for Bendtner’.
Apparently,when he laid on the ‘cross’ for Arsenal’s equaliser at the weekend,he almost broke his elbow controlling the ball.
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7-Lone wolf
You going soft?
You’ve been telling us all season we ain’t gotta chance.
Or has reality kicked in.
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No wonder the Wales players are feeling they can beat England, when we have a low life captain and fifth choice winger in the squad. This is how far we have sunk. My advice Jarvis, don’t take your missis with that John Terry about.
Hope ALL our internationals come home free from injury or we will be missing half a squad, never mind a couple of players like wolves.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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I’ve long given up on the media giving us any chance of stopping up – I saw something on Sky looking at the teams fighting relegation, and the graphic showed the bottom 5 clubs (up to us) – totally ignoring the three clubs above us on the same points… and of course west ham will be safe – probably finish 13th one said !!!
However I quite like us being unfdashionable – it makes us more “real” if that makes sense.
If we do stay up I’m sure we will be faves to go down next season – with QPR finishing mid table.
All together now… “Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner….”
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Perhaps No 2 Chris is right and I am besotted with Wolves fans although I’m not sure Shadrag qualifies as the other Wulfies all hate him.
Anyway, on the ‘Villa’s plight shows spirit at Wolves’ thread.
Laughing Wolf comes up with one of his classics at No 16.
‘Lots of unrest at Villa and Albion.’ Please explain the unrest at Albion Shadrag.
Goes on, Blues have done well to win the League Cup but are struggling badly.’ The irony of the fact that Blues are a point behind Wolves with a game in hand apparently never penetrates his black and orange addled brain.
It won’t surprise any of the connoissuers of Shadrag’s ramblings that he then goes on about Wolves terrible injury problems, apparently they are unique in this.
PS. Chris. Just to show I’m fair, there’s a very good post at No 9 from Ye Olde South Bank on there as well.
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Even better news. He’s earned the respect of his fellow England stars by beating them at table tennis.
You’ve really made the grade.
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear.
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Wolves fan in peace! Jack what do you mean by fifth choice winger? Matt Jarvis has been the best English winger in The Premier League this season hands-down. I do agree about his Mrs though!
I think Albion will be ok but with your run-in it will go to the wire with Blackburn, Blackpool, Wigan being the three and the 4 midlands club’s will be fine.
If we look at it in a more positive light, we should be discussing who will finish top-dogs from the Midlands 4? I’d say Wolves, Blues, Albion, Villa.
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14. I honestly think half the Albion fans would hate Jarvo to get the winner for ENGLAND tomorrow just because he is a Wolves player. There is nobody even close to the England squad at Albion at the moment but if you ever did have a player who played for England I’d back him all the way. I can’t see Jerome Thomas, Giles Barnes, Simon Cox etc even getting the chance to play Table Tennis with the England boys never mind Football! Just be pleased for him, he is there on merit as he has been the best English winger for the whole season.
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Couldn’t agree more ref the derby, absolute unbelieveable sky didn’t show it..
By the way Jack your pathetic attempts to wind up really are getting boring now…
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16 Golden Wolf-
I can only speak from a personal point of view,but if Jarvis did get the winner for England,I would be pleased for him,because he’s a young player with ability,and no one should deny the right to be recognised if you have talent.
I believe many Albion fans are fair-minded,but what angers some of us this side are the aggressive,arrogant,and abusive posts that some of your guys keep putting on here.
So in reply,we point out some of wolves ‘shortcomings’,which I’m sure angers them.
Just a word of warning-over the years,many West Midlands players have been given the odd game for England,but most of them have had to join one of the ‘fashionable’ clubs to become a permanent fixture.
So after Jarvis has spent time talking to the England squad,don’t be surprised if a transfer request appears in the near future.
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14 TRBH-
You almost had me singing there.
So should we now call him-
‘Ziggy on the wing?’.
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18. Like all of the Wolves squad, they are down to earth and love being at the club. Jarvis signed a 5 year deal in September and unlike Graham Dorrans (who has flopped at this level) he didn’t demand 3 contracts in a year with the threat of leaving for West Ham.
If we did get an offer for Jarvis it would only be tempting for him to go to a club in Europe who offer huge money. What would concern me is Chelsea are having a recruitment drive on the best young players. If you have seen what he has done to Evra, Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge, Clichy etc this season with ability to play on both flanks we would be talking a huge transfer fee. Wolves are building a great squad of young players, team spirit is unbelievable, new stadium, 17 internationals on duty this week…we are a club on the up.
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16, 20 Golden Wolf.
Or perhaps you should be called Golden Black Spectacles.
I put in a post before that one, one that seems to have got lost saying that there are now 7 threads about Matt Jarvis’ England call-up. The attack wasn’t aimed at Jarvis himself but at the feeble content, hence as CR78 picked up on the David Bowie allusion.
When Steve Bull scored twice for England against Scotland I cheered him. If England had 11 Wolves players in the team and Scotland 11 Albion players I’d still be cheering England. Try not to take every post so personally.
To emphasise CR78′s point at 18. Andy Carroll was an England fringe player for Newcastle a few weeks ago. As a Liverpool player the media have now decided he’s a shoe-in. What a massive improvement in a player’s ability in such a short time.
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21. Andy Carroll has been highly regarded as a future England NO.9 for sometime and he played in the last game. If somebody offered 35mil for Jarvis I am sure we would sell too!
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20 golden wolf-
I tried to be fair and friendly,but you still can’t resist gushing about wolves,and having a dig at a few Albion players.Pity.
So when you proudly say ‘we have a great squad,loads of internationals,unbelieveable team spirit,etc.,etc.,I thought I’d better have a look to see where you are in the ‘top three’.Er,it seems I’m looking at the wrong end.
If Jarvis fails to make an impression,no one will be interested,but if he does show genuine ability,remember what you said here.
Clubs like Chelsea,Man.City,etc. spend millions like it’s a bit of loose change,and they usually get what they want.Plus they can offer European football.
But then again,Jarvis has still got to prove himself to be more than a big fish in a small pond.
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23. You mean a small fish in a big pond? If he doesn’t make an impression for England and comes back to Wolves we are all still right behind him. If he makes a huge impression and gets interest from Man City, Chelsea etc then we have to agree a huge fee, he will have to want to move and the fans would understand and we would strengthen the squad with the money. I would prefer to keep him but it’s a no-lose situation for us.
We have also had the majority of our squad injured for long-periods this season and now they are starting to return we have made up 9 points on you in 2 months and we gifted you an equaliser at your place with a mistake.
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23 CR78.
Pinching Rolf Harris’ catch phrase.
‘Can you tell what it is yet?’
My guess is the latest incarnation of our old friend.
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24 golden wolf-
No,I believe I got it right.Or rather a fish that MIGHT be big,in a small pond.
And your last paragraph contains exactly the words that I’ve seen used many times by ‘laughingstockwolf’.
So you must either be him,or his twin brother separated at birth.
p.s.-good idea about molineux becoming a ‘big pond’.As a keen angler,I would find the place a lot more useful,dug up and filled with fish.
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25 TRBH-
I had my suspicions,but when I’ve challenged him in the past with my replies,he either goes away,or at some point slips up when he gets agitated.
So I then spotted some very old,familiar rubbish being churned out by him,which confirmed those suspicions.
Thinking about him the other day,I had another mental picture.
Imagine a sad loner,living next door to a happy family.
He resents their happiness,and feels insecure and inadequate.
So he studies everything they do,then on a daily basis,he runs up to the dividing garden fence,and shouts abuse at them.
But in order to stay anonymous,he throws a coat over his head,believing it works like Harry Potter’s ‘invisiblity’ cloak.
It’s quite sad really.
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Golden shower 20 – just to adress a couple of your more stupid statements (it was a hard pick)..
“Like all of the Wolves squad, they are down to earth and love being at the club”…. how do you know ?? How do you know all these peoples characters, and how do you know they love the club ?? Just because you love your club rarely means players feel the same – lets see how much they love wolves if you go down eh ??
Next…
“Jarvis signed a 5 year deal in September and unlike Graham Dorrans (who has flopped at this level) he didn’t demand 3 contracts in a year with the threat of leaving for West Ham”… firstly lets see how jarvis feels about his contract if you ever get an offer for him. secondly, Dorrens didn’t demand 3 new contracts, or even 1 – the club rewarded him for a great seson last year and also moved to stave off interest from elsewhere.
If one of your players ever interested a rival club lets see if Morgan puts his hand in his pocket – an lets see if they stay.
Love you shadrag.x
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Oh and as for Dorrens “failing” at this level… firstly he has been injured, then suffered a family bereavment and then stuggled to get back into the side under RDM.
He has been in a squad which has been above you all season – so if he’s failed how would you rate your squad of bottom three “stars” ??
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26. The Rocket, I knew we had more than footie in common. Belive it or not, i too am a keen angler. Whats you favoured discipline, Match, pleasure, river, Carp ?
I am honestly interested to know.
And i promise i wont use it as future gag material.
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30 lonely-
So I’m supposed to trust you,right?-OK,because we HAVE been friends for the last two and half minutes.
Well,I just pleasure fish a few times a year these days,but I spent 30 years as a fairly serious match angler.
I was a member of several clubs,including,at one time,Broadwaters and District in Kidderminster,who used to be one of THE top clubs in the Midlands.
I’ve also fished quite a few ‘open’ matches,often against top National and International guys.
And I don’t want to brag,but I lost count a long time ago how many contests I’ve won.But me Missus don’t like seeing the trophies,so I’ve got most of ‘em in boxes and hidden away in the loft.
Anyway,I decided to jack it in,and just enjoy a relaxing session when I feel like it.
So how about you?
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So it’s ” Back to the Future “. There was a fish pond in the ground before the Custard bowl was built. There are still lots of small fry in there. The yellow and black ones are still feed off the BOTTOM of the Premier pool.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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3/3
Rocket, Cheers for your reply. I was genuinely interested. And well impressed i am too !
I always lacked the discipline necessary to cut it at match angeling, but i do understand the time and skill needed to have even a modicum of sucsess in that field.
Me, Specimen carp angling.
Cheshire is on me doorstep, and there are enough meres in that county to keep one interested for to lifetimes.
I try to go for the real biggies at least once a year in france. Even took Mrs Lone last year. And im still having sleepless nights because of it. God did she moan !
Going again in june but this time just with the lads. And you will be glad to hear that where i go there is no internet access.haha.
Anyway mucker, tight lines in the future.
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