Albion boss has made us believe
Thursday 21st April 2011, 9:10AM BST.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill has been made a believer by boss Roy Hodgson after the club’s rise to almost-certain safety in the Premier League.
Saturday sees two of the Premier League’s entertainers go head-to-head, but I would settle for no entertainment and one or preferably three points to come home with.
Tottenham and Albion have been involved in some rather entertaining games this season and have collectively seen a staggering 195 goals hit the onion bag this season.
Spurs are on the back of a 3-3 derby draw against Arsenal and the stats all point to a goal fest come Saturday but, in this craziest of seasons, who really knows what will happen?
The corresponding fixture at the Hawthorns now feels like it was played in another decade due to how much has happened since.
That day saw a great game and the 1-1 score line could have easily have been 3-2 or 3-3, we probably edged it terms of chances and I remember Gabriel Tamas missing an excellent chance in the closing minutes.
I would settle for a repeat result this weekend, as Tottenham are a very strong team at home and have a host of exciting players, not least the PFA player of the year Gareth Bale.
Reports suggest Bale may miss the game due to an injury picked up on Wednesday night, but we will wait and see.
It got me thinking about our own squad of players and the end of season awards evenings are just around the corner.
A blog for another day, but what it did highlight to me was just how good this squad of players is.
The best I have ever seen as a Baggies fan, it will need some improving this summer and I am sure we will have to ward off interest in some of our better players, but the signs are good.
Youssouf Mulumbu and Jonas Olsson are my two favourite players and I believe capable of playing for a top four side, it’s no coincidence that when these two players have been on the pitch together we have collected the most amount of points.
Nicky Shorey is my seven out of 10 man, Mr Dependable, and what I keep referring to as a proper full back.
Chris Brunt, Graham Dorrans, and JT all have that edge of your seat quality and more importantly have improved this season, although Graham Dorrans has struggled with injury.
I could go on and mention all of the squad but, as I say, that blog is for another day.
It would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention Peter Odemwingie. His signing last summer has proved to be a major factor in our season. He has contributed the goals needed to have a chance of survival, 12 and counting and – in his first Premier League season – that is no mean feat.
One goal behind £35million Andy Carroll tells you all you need to know about our £2million Nigerian International.
Odemwingie may have a few flaws to his game, but he has a desire to score goals, and his pace scares most defenders.
A great signing and sporting director Dan Ashworth must be very happy with how his acquisitions have done this season. As I say, we are by no means the finished article, but the signs are all good.
Staying up this season is so important for the future of our club. Relegation would see the vultures circling for our players, staying up will mean we can shop for players other wise out of reach.
Continual improvement is what I am always banging on about at work, moving forward, getting better, and it’s no different for the club I love and support.
If we can stay up this season and add to this squad of players, we could just be seeing the start of something great at our club.
Something started by Gary Megson and continued by those who have passed through since. I thank Meggo, Bryan Robson, Tony Mowbray and Roberto Di Matteo for all they have done for us.
If we do achieve safety though, I reserve the biggest thanks to the man who will have done more than anybody in the shortest of time available, Mr Roy Hodgson.
It may take a few more games yet before we can breathe a sigh of relief, but when we do, I expect our current boss to receive a deluge of praise.
Hodgson may not have kicked a ball, scored a 30-yarder, or bagged a hat-trick at the Molineux, but he has done more than anyone else to totally turn around our flagging season.
I wouldn’t bet against us on Saturday, either, even with the odds stacked against us.
If he can turn me into a believer, then surely the players were a piece of cake, and I think that has made a big difference.
To achieve something you must be able to believe it can happen and the team are learning to be that strong. But belief is a fragile thing, it can be broken more easily than it can be built.
Avoiding defeat at White Hart Lane would be fantastic, but carrying our momentum into the final four games, two of which are local derbies, is arguably more important.
But I believe in this group of players, in our head coach, and in our club.
Come on you Baggies.
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He may not have scored hatrick at the moll,but i bet PO does,aye boing boing
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An excellent blog Jarrod and I concur with your views about Roy Hodgson who having been subjected to some torment at Liverpool is as good and as strong as ever. He must be strong physically and emotionally.
Contrast the situation at Villa Park where Gerard Houlier has again been hospitalized and it may be that he was unable to withstand similar abuse to that which Roy Hodgson received at Liverpool. Stress is a dangerous condition and sometimes we fans and the media forget that we are abusing a human being.
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I’m going to be naughty Jarrod. I hope Bale plays but isn’t at his best because he’s carrying a slight, niggling injury. Not sporting? May I remind everyone about our ‘non-penalty’ against Man.U. In other words, I couldn’t give a monkey’s as long as we get a point or three.
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Always read the messages on here but dont really comment. What a fantastic blog Jarrod. I agree with everything. When struggling under Roberto i always beleived that we have a fantastic squad and i still beleive we do. I beleive our squad is far superior than wolves and have said it all season. I have said since the first game we will finish 14th and for me, that would be a great seaosn. I am going down the lane on saturday and as you say, to avoid defeat would be a great result. But i am just looking forward to this “Bonus” game and seeing two footballing teams play attacking football. Something special is happening down at the albion and i beleive the future is bright.
Come on you Baggies
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Hi Jarrod.
The end of your blog brought back what PO said the other day about RH telling the players to keep the goal difference in mind against Chelsea. I think this realistic attitude gives us a much better chance of getting something on Saturday. I know it’s a long shot but like the Chelsea game I feel more confident than I have in games at Spurs for many years.
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Jarrod,
No-one can refute this blog. Can’t add to it apart from saying well done to our fantastic supporters, also, We’ll be in the Premiership next season.
(3)
Cyril,
Like you I hope Bale plays, or we will have Laughingwolf on here moaning about “Their (Spurs)best player missing” and all the other tripe that goes with it, including “Wolves are a bigger club than all and sundry”.
Hope I haven’t upset Chris Dingle, no I’m not on about the alternative name for X-mas.
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Sorry,
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Jarrod,
As ever a thoughful blog and I agree with the majority of what you say. I am still nervous and will remain so until we are mathematically safe. Spurs play an open game and that could suit us. I would take a point but hopefully we can bag all three. If we do stay up RH should get manager of the year again.
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Yet again,we have to thank Chairman Peace for a shrewd bit of business.
Why? Well,earlier in the year,we were employing a team manager (RDM),and apparently the services were also required of a psychologist,who gave several members of the squad sessions on how to regain their confidence.
With Roy taking over team matters,we now only need one person to do the job of two.
I’m fascinated by the way Mr.Hodgson conducts his ‘talks’.
When he’s interviewed by the media,he quickly brushes away any negative questions,but he also stays cautious with the fans,not wanting to give any false hopes,and saying that he doesn’t have a magic wand.
But what’s interesting is that according to Peter,he’s told the team that goal difference can decide if we finish 10th,11th,or 12th.
This is clever,because a positive thinker knows that people tend to act in line with what they believe,so the players will be looking at getting into the top half,rather than worrying about the trap door below them.
On the other hand,down the road,Mick said he was ‘comfortable’ with being in the bottom three,so sure enough,the players have responded accordingly.
Maybe it’s time he had a re-think.
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Like everyone before me, there’s little here I can disagree with you on Jarrod.
What I think comes over is this idea of Hodgson bringing self-belief to the players and supporters. When I threw my toys out the pram over RDM’s sacking, part of my tantrum was down to my fear that Roy couldn’t leave his experiences of the Kop behind and be in a position to steady the ship.
I’ve seen over eight managers come and go at the Albion, but I’m struck by the professionalism that seems to have come with the arrival of Roy. For the first time since the late 1970s and early 1980s, I feel Albion are the real deal. So let’s finish the season in style, you Baggie boys!
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Again can’t disagree with any thing there but I would argue about the result on Saturday being less important than others.If we beat Spurs, it’s a big if I know and the bottom three loose, I don’t think you’ll remember going to bed on Saturday night.
Jack.
I’ll try on here instead,I’ve been trying to contact you all day but they won’t print it.
Did you see the two posts from the Chuckle Bros early this morning on the Vela might play site?
Their not there now the mods wipe them off.
Adéu
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Just like Fulham have a statue of Michael Jackson , we could have one of Jeremy Peace on the centre circle and then all the usual suspects on here could pay homage to it at half time ,because everything he does is paved with gold , indeed i would not be surprised if he was not to be the next Pope just after winning the Nobel Peace Prize ( Peace geddit !!!!).
Happy Easter y’all .
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12 Fireman Max-
You wouldn’t be taking the Peace would you?
Enjoy Easter,you happy Bunny.
p.s.- The Pope WORKS for JP.
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Max
Have you been on somebody else’s couch?
Adéu
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12 Max.
You’ve never forgiven JP for ruining your ideal team strip by having that red and white stripe across it have you. I know you’d have loved it to be all black. I can imagine you singing ‘I see a red shirt and I want it painted black, no colours any more I want them to turn black, I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes, I have to turn my head until my darkness goes.’
If the usual suspects get our statue of JP to genuflect to then in fairness I think we should have statues of Dot Cotton, Eeyore, Kurt Cobain and Charlie Brown on the corner flags for you. The team could run out to Radiohead’s Karma Police or any Leonard Cohen track. If we should stay up perhaps we could have a minutes silence at the end of the game before we all shuffle quietly away.
Have a happy Easter Max, I’m sure the rising again bit has put a damper on your celebration but never mind.
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12 Max. Cheers mate. I was outside the Vatican a week ago, looked up and wondered who that bloke in the fancy dress was, standing next to Jeremy Peace. Now I know. It was The Pope.
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For the third time.
(11)
Kev,
Received and understood. Mysterious disappearances again.
Think it’s the bank holidays as post aren’t getting through. I’ve had quite a few failures on this and the dark side, Hopefully better later on.
Oh, I’ve had some come through, so our Mods are back in action.
Adéu.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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You’ve all got it wrong, Mick’s the Pope. How do I know?. Mr. Morgan has just bought him a new Bullet proof vehicle.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Jack
I know I said my posts had disappeared that’s normal but that wasn’t my point, at about 4-30am your time on Thursday, me being an early riser I was reading the Vela may play site and there were 2 posts, 1 from All alone the other from Who R WBA Anyway,they were both saying we couldn’t afford him, we only sign bargain basement players,we’ve got a penny pinching Chairmam and generally taking the “p” out of our inability to sign any players which would cost us millions, there wasn’t anything offensive which would be a reason to take them off it was just hilarious you and the others would have had a absolute ball comparing players, Cantello would’ve had to have the day of work with the material at his disposal.
About 15mins later they had gone,it was obvious a moderator from the dark side knowing what fun we would’ve had who took it off,even he or she was embarrassed, I’m still chuckling now.
Adéu
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18 JtH-
Mick should be fine,because the E&S headline says that Wolves are gonna give Fulham a footballing lesson.
Not sure what Mark Hughes and the Fulham players will think about that news,but I somehow doubt they’ll agree with it.
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(19)
Kev,
I was sure I’d read those posts before they were taken out, but your time has thrown a spanner in those works. Don’t know if there’s any of the our stripes brigade can throw some light on this quandary, maybe I’ve read something like it on another string. Anyway, they’re trying to big themselves up. By the way have you told them yet, Osaze will be playing at theirs.
Adéu.
(20)
Cantello,
Well that lot have just given Fulham a “Bosting” pre-match team talk.
Mick’s also relying on luck, Shamrocks in socks comes to mind.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Great article. For the first time I ever I can actually say I’m enjoying this relegation battle. So proud of the team.
19 – What is just as funny is how they keep on saying “Its in our own hand” read the blog how mad mick has vowed to beat the drop, even he has started saying its in their hands to avoid relegation. But how is it??? They are bottom! They could win every game from now till the end of the season & still finish bottom. Pure comedy :)
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