Albion believe for Michael Appleton

Tuesday 29th March 2011, 11:29AM BST.

Albion believe for Michael Appleton

Albion assistant boss Michael Appleton has claimed the Baggies have got their belief back as they gear up for the crucial last eight games of their survival fight.

Roy Hodgson’s right-hand man believes the Baggies have regained their momentum with a five-match unbeaten run since the departure of former boss Roberto Di Matteo.

New head coach Hodgson is preparing Albion to take on his former club, Liverpool, at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

And Appleton, who has been confirmed as Hodgson’s assistant for the rest of the season, believes they will approach the final part of their Premier League campaign with confidence restored after they won one and drew four of their last five matches.

The Albion No 2 said: “Momentum in sport is massive. They use the phrase in rugby league a lot and, being a Salford lad, I am a big rugby league fan.

“The most famous side for doing it is St Helens, and when they get one try they tend to get two or three and they work in short periods when they really get after a team. It works the same in football.

“When you start picking up points you tend to get that belief back in the side and there is definitely a belief back in the squad that we can get out of trouble and we can stay in the Premier League.

“It doesn’t matter who we play, whether it’s Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea or Tottenham or any other team that comes up against us.

“We genuinely believe there is enough ability to keep us in the Premier League and now it’s up to us to make sure we put in the same kind of performances that we have in the last five games.

“Hopefully that will be enough for us.”


  1. 1
    Cyril Randle

    We have momentum, Wolves likewise, so the derby game could and should be a winner. Now it’s to be televised we can all watch the best
    local derby in the land. Let’s show the World a real match! May the better team win. Come on you Baggies!

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  2. 2
    JACK the HAT.

    Well said Appy, The vibes emanating from our club are very positive. We certainly have the talent and Strength to see this job done. Take Morrison for example.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  3. 3
    CARLY G

    We need to believe we can win when we go ahead!
    A few times this season the score has over shadowed the great performance of the lads.
    Exiting weeks ahead..come on Albion!!!

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    astleistheking

    The next 3 games are hard on us so lets not get too carried away with our 5 game unbeaten record.

    I think it will be the wolves game to decide it.

    Can’t wait for Liverpool though!

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    JACK the HAT.

    Ish,
    You say you’re not thinking about your long term future, yet you bring it up. Now are you covering your back as Q.P.R. are ten points clear of the play-off’s and look like being promoted. Albion could go down. Where I come from it’s known as edging your bets. All the best with your new club, son.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    1973 Baggie

    Glad the best derby in the country is on TV, at last! Be a massive game.

    Not the first time our football has been compared to rugby as we play the 2nd most long-ball now, only behind Stoke but marginally infront of Blackburn.

    Lets use the England rugby team as our mentors and carry on bulldozing our way to safety.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    3 Carly G.
    ‘Exiting.’ Hope that was a typing slip not a Freudian slip.

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    CARLY G

    I’m feeling that JTH. No disrespect to the lad & if he goes all the best to him? Big,strong & lazy though! I think he was/is happy to sit on the bench & get his dough! No first touch,no control & no goals. Not for “The Baggies” me is thinking?

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    1973 Baggie

    I forgot to add that it should be like a proper rugby match on that muddy ploughed field they play on. No wonder the top teams couldn’t play any proper football on it, it’s a real leveller and means they have a chance even against footballing teams like us. Add the fact that it’s as narrow as the laws allow and it makes the game a lottery.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    JACK the HAT.

    Nice of Steven Gerrard ” Liverpool Capt’” to state ” The players let down Roy Hodgson during his failure filled six months as manager “. Who led the army against Roy?. Maybe Steve will let us know, one day.

    Wrexham boss states the F.A. have hit them with a transfer embargo until their debts have diminished. Well done F.A. Now when are you going to bring Manchester United and other big hitters to book?.

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    JACK the HAT.

    …1973 are you schizo or what?.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  12. 12
    1973 Baggie

    I also forgot to mention that I know about the ‘amount of times’ we play the long ball,because I study these things.I spend hours and hours reading all the facts and figures about other clubs as well.
    I could tell you exactly how long the wolves pitch is,in yards or metres,if you like.
    I was going to tell you exactly how many blades of grass there are at molineux,but when I went to count them,I couldn’t find any.

    Anyway,I am a bit of a negative nerd,but at least I can be happy knowing we are much better than wolves.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    1973 Baggie

    11 JtH-

    There’s nothing wrong with ’1973 Baggie’.

    He had a conversation with himself,and they decided everything was OK.

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  14. 14
    1973 Baggie

    Is there a doctor in the house,I can hear voices somewhere.

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  15. 15
    Cyril Randle

    11.Jack. I think ‘schizoid’ might be more apt. Either way he intends to support whichever team stays up and doubly ‘happy’ if we both do. 7TRBH. If my mate Sir Terence is to be believed, the chance to show Carly the difference between ‘excited’ and ‘exited’ would be a dream come true! Is a Freudian Slip something girls wear?

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  16. 16
    JACK the HAT.

    (12)
    1973,
    Righto, I’m all ears. How big is their grass verge then.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  17. 17
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    15 Max Randle.
    I really miss Sir Terry’s little throwaway lines. Please do your best to tempt him back. I know why he doesn’t bother as I’ve had many posts disappear if they’re slightly anti-Wolves, even when they’re fairly tame as mine tend to be.
    PS. I’m 1973 Spartacus.

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  18. 18
    Baggie 1973

    16 Jack-

    did you say something?

    I couldn’t hear because of all these voices.

    Anyway,all I know is that I’M SPARTACUS!!!

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    1954 baggie

    Re Miller doubt if he will ever fulfil the
    promise we all saw, poor fist touch lack of goals his best game was at Bristol Rovers in cup game on a muddy pitch. Championship level
    ok. Disappointing like Luke Moore We could get
    something from next game about time we scored
    v them. Chelsea harder opponents expect Torres
    to open his account it always seems to happen
    to us hope Dorrans soon fit and our holding pair stay fit!! then we have a chance.

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    Warren

    Cyril

    As long as you don’t become too excited that you can’t exit. That’s when accidents happen.

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    41 COACHES TO SUNDERLAND

    Regarding Miller,he is at best a championship player and thats being kind,you can rest assured as soon as qpr are promoted he will be sent back.

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    Shropshirebaggie

    1973 Baggie, you need to get out more!!

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    costa blanca baggie

    A BLACK COUNTRY DERBY SHOWN LIVE ON SKY???? It´ll be snowed off!

    Report abuse

  24. 24
    42 COACHES TO SUNDERLAND

    23 it would be in there best intrest if it was,save the humilation.

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  25. 25
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    Perhaps Ishmael Miller won’t be a top quality PL player, I’m no expert and haven’t really seen enough of him due to serious injuries that aren’t his fault. But why do people seem to take such pleasure from writing the lad off before he’s had a real chance to show what he can do?

    I’ll leave a space below for all the ‘smart’ answers that will no doubt follow.

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    JACK the HAT.

    (25)
    Bully,
    Ish is playing the field and burning the candle at both ends, because of his actions he can’t be loyal to two clubs. Haven’t heard anyone say they hate him, just stating how they see him. In fact, his best form was when he was partnered with super Kev, he scored nine goals during that time.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  27. 27
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    One for his fan club members only. Shadrag’s at it again Post 6 on the ‘Wolves can live without Doyle’ thread.

    I know members of the GHFC on here are accused of wearing blue and white glasses but after his latest post I’d really like to have Laughing Wolf drug tested for Prozac.

    Strange really that when he’s supporting Albion as 1973 Baggie, he’s always so depressing.

    Report abuse

  28. 28
    Cyril Randle

    17TRBH. My guess is Sir Terence is now a coach. Or even 42 of them. Warren20. I know about getting excited and forgetting to exit but it was a few thousand years ago. To the real 1973, nice sense of humour mate. The bloke pretending to be you is an idiot.
    Ishmael Miller may or may not be Prem class, but he deserves a chance to try. There were glimpses he would make it before his clash with the then England goalie. Which club he plays for gets his ‘loyalty’. I can live with that. The days of Bomber Brown, Ronnie Allen, Steve Bull, are no more.

    Report abuse

  29. 29
    CantelloRocket 78

    27 TRBH-

    It’s all a matter of love and hate.

    With ‘Shadrag’,it’s such an extreme,obsessive passion for Wolves,that he sees the opposite,the Baggies,with pure hatred.
    It’s been fueled by the fact that we’ve had the upper hand over them for so many years.

    Which is why he can’t stop himself from coming over here almost everyday with put-downs.

    Report abuse

  30. 30
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    26 Jack.
    I didn’t include you in that but if you look again there are a couple of others.. With regard to your original post, do you really blame him? He knows he could end up with us, with QPR or elsewhere. Would you burn your bridges in his position? He’s probably been asked a question and he’s answered it as diplomatically as he can.

    Report abuse

  31. 31
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    29 CR78.
    I know that but the post I mentioned is still hilarious.

    Report abuse

  32. 32
    42 COACHES TO SUNDERLAND

    i wonder if Matt Jarvis came on for england last night.

    Report abuse

  33. 33
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    28 Cyril.
    Now you mention it, I don’t know why it hadn’t registered. I’ve never met Sir Terry (perhaps if there’s an end of season do I might be able to make it this time) but I always imagine him as being a sort of grown up Jimmy Clitheroe.

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  34. 34
    JACK the HAT.

    John Lalley ( wolves blogger ), Mentioned in his blog yesterday, that losing Doyle was a body-blow to wolves. I replied with ” More like a Mike Tyson go to sleep uppercut “. The loss of his work-rate could be instumental in wolves being relegated.
    Now surprise, surprise, the body-blow part in his blog has been deleted and my post has also disappeared.
    My query guys is, is this a classic, if not I’d like a post on here relating your experience.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

    Report abuse

  35. 35
    CantelloRocket 78

    33 TRBH-

    I always had a vague image of how I saw Sir Tel,but now it’s difficult not to think of him as a six foot juvenile comedian,with a school cap and a squeaky voice.

    I’ve never met him or his ‘better half’,but I’m now wondering if she’s a kind of tall Janette Krankie?

    Report abuse

  36. 36
    Happy_baggie

    Jack – take it as a compliment mate – they don’t like it up em !!!

    Report abuse

  37. 37
    Cyril Randle

    33.TRBH. Clitheroe is close, as Sir Terence might point out.
    35.CR78. Nothing like The Master mate. 6ft he ain’t, average height, permanent smile on a cheeky face. As for Andrea, she’s medium and cuddly and HANDS OFF for you lot. I’m waiting my pass to trespass.

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  38. 38
    CantelloRocket 78

    37 Cyril-

    For some reason,I’ve stopped trying to form a mental picture of Sir Tel,and my attention is now firmly fixed on ‘Andrea’.

    Medium and cuddly,you say? Hmmmm………….

    Report abuse

  39. 39
    Cyril Randle

    CR78.I like talking to her, but the best bits are when you arrive and leave. Cuddles ! Oh, and it’s LADY Andrea mate.

    Report abuse

  40. 40
    JACK the HAT.

    Sorry lads, I’ve had to come this far back to the nearest reply board.

    Put Scharner on The beer swilling cart horse. He kept him quiet when Newcastle came to the HAWTHORNS. Carol’s England goal looked as if it was in slow motion. Mark him tight and he’s got no fight. Show them how to do it Scharn’.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  41. 41
    CantelloRocket 78

    39 Cyril-

    I’m glad you reminded me that we’re talking about the aristocracy.

    I’m just a commoner,I know my place in life,I don’t want to get above my station.

    So if I’m ever in the same room as Sir Tel and Lady Andrea,I’ll be standing quietly in the corner,admiring from a suitable distance.

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