Brunt: West Brom board was right to sack Roberto Di Matteo
Monday 25th April 2011, 11:29AM BST.
Captain Chris Brunt today admitted Roy Hodgson has vindicated Albion’s controversial sacking of Roberto Di Matteo.
The Baggies board shocked fans by sacking Di Matteo in February and replacing him with Hodgson.
But the former Liverpool boss has lost just one of his eight games in charge with Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham taking his side to 40 points.
And Brunt, who celebrated becoming a father for the second time last week by playing in the battling draw, said: “Football is a results business and if you look at the results we’ve had since the manager changed you can’t really argue with it.
“That’s not me having a dig at Robbie. At the start of the season he got his fair share of results.
“But maybe it’s that extra bit of experience that Roy Hodgson’s got that has made a massive difference for us. If we had gone there and tried to outplay Spurs, with the players and the quality they’ve got, they would probably have beaten us.
“But we now have that bit of organisation so we know what we’re doing when we are not in possession, and we know there will be spells when we go to places when we haven’t got the ball.”
Saturday’s point completed a pleasing week for Brunt, whose wife Cathy gave birth to their second son, Zach, last Monday. The couple have another son, three-year-old Charlie.
Brunt said: “It happened on Monday at 6.02pm. Everything went fine and the baby and my missus are both doing well, which is the main thing. He hasn’t slept too much so far so I hope that changes!”
Meanwhile, Brunt paid tribute to Simon Cox, who stepped off the bench to grab the vital equaliser at Spurs. He said: “He has deserved that because he’s worked hard this season. He hasn’t had many games but when he does play he works his socks off and he definitely deserved that goal.
“Naturally he probably is our best finisher and he’s similar to Kevin Phillips in the way he moves and the way he strikes the ball. Kev was on a different level but Coxy has got time on his side.”
* Roy Hodgson was today awaiting news on the calf injury that forced defender Steven Reid off in the first half on Saturday and the thigh problem goalkeeper Scott Carson nursed for much of the game.
UK Sport
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Its this bit that sums it all up;
“But we now have that bit of organisation so we know what we’re doing when we are not in possession, and we know there will be spells when we go to places when we haven’t got the ball.”
I loved RDM but he was the same as Mowbray – `go out and express yourselves lads` without making it clear what theyre roles were when we lost possession. Both neglected the nitty gritty part of the game.
Think we should sing RDM`s name on saturday as a big thank you followed by a song for Woy.
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Well he would say that wouldnt he, as it was player power and a dressing room revolt that got the poor bloke the tin tack in the first place.
The tail wagging the dog is no way for a “football club” ultimately to be run.
You dropped lucky with his replacement this time, and everything in the garden is now rosy. But when it all starts to go the way of the pear again ,( and it will ) Roy had better hide all the knives and keep his back pressed firmly against the wall.
And just for the record; 99% of the Baggy experts on here thought at the time RDM was dumped that it was totally the wrong decision. Or is that just selective memory ?
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Chris,
First of all, congratulations to you and Cathy on the birth of Zach. Hope he has navy blue and white striped eyes.
ALBION board made their decision and made the right one, obviously. All praise to the board for their prompt reaction.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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over the last few months there a few of us been saying Zach brunt as captain aye boing boing
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it doesnt matter if you make the right decision or the wrong decision so long as you can justify your reasons. to not make any decision is the worst of the 3 scenarios (wolves board anyone?)
i didnt think it was right the way rdm was ousted, but jp has been vindicated by bringing roy in and getting us to 40 points,
and well done coxy for sticking at it and with us, youll get plenty more
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Lone Wolf, must be dull on your own site, got to come on here & talk total bullshit, we’re staying up & your going down,one day we may play you again but I think its going to be quite a few years before we see dogheads in the prem again, enjoy the fizzy pop league for the next 10 years or so,
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Lone Wolf
Don`t be bitter lad, I for one hope you get out of the terrible, terrible, terrible mess youre in, but like I say don`t be bitter.
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3.uncle jack, Firstly, do you ever in a million years think the players actually read this drivel ?
Secondly, if you ever ventured down the corrugated cathedral once in a while, you could pass on your good wishes in person. Fat chance.
Only kidding, theres nowt wrong with folks that never actually go the games, and only ever voice cyber opinions, and yours jack are all credible. Especially the one where you advocated bringing back Lee Hughes to play again for you.
See you at the Molineux in a couple of weeks. Got too go, a pigs just crashed into my chimney stack.
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Lone
Mate you are wise enough to work out the headline to this thread is simply journalistic license.
And an emphatic YES, you do have selective memory, however not on this occasion.
I would not agree with 99% (there you go exagerating again, much the same with your teams abillities) but a fair number, like myself, were underwhealmed by Roy`s appointment.
I am delighted to have been so wrong.
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(2)
Erm,
I’ve forgot which one you are now. Of course we dropped lucky. Y’know where you’re going to drop, when we pay you a visit, don’t you. Nice to see your club persevering to get relegated. Just think of the massive debt you will incur with the new stadium. I remember Sheffield Wednesday doing the same thing, many moons ago. All the best, against the “Saggar Makers Bottom Knockers” Tuesday night. Although it’s a waste of words, as you’re going down anyway. Suppose the “Mugs” will be too hot for you. Catch you again Whatsit.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Lone – a folorn try to find some negative in the baggie camp…. and destined to fail my friend. Yes you have selective memory because i recall much suprise from the faithful along with a few dissenting comments – but the majority of fans knew something had to happen.
As for Albion fans and knives out – I believe every sharpened object from knives to whittled sticks has been lifed across the midlands and taken to wolvo where the “fans” are waiting for Mick, Moxey & Morgan !!
Sir Terry 4 – thats what makes this site so addictive – pure class mate. (Lone please take note).
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2, lone when your in the championship will you still comment on here,telling us where we going wrong,we do look forward to your advice aye boing boing
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stoke need one more win to be safe,which will come tomorrow nite,then they will be looking forward to the cup final and will be gifting blackpool 3 points on saturday,bad news if your a dingle aye boing boing
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(1)
Wekker,
Roy pal, Roy.
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6. Baggy forever, Oh dear oh dear ! I hope what ever league we all play in, i dont think i will ever resort to that type of reply.
7,gresty road, Point taken. Ive been posting me tripe on here all season and i hope they havent come over as bitter, cus they wernt ment to. And i really aint.
9, WBAforever, Respec. You get the gag. Iknow you do. Just keeping the blood flowing. All the best.
10, Uncle jack, The only fellow was only invented cus Lone wolf was banned for a while. Someone with no SOH pressed the abuse button. I know who it was, and so do you.
( sorry, i mean so does he )
11,Happy Baggie, Again, Respec. Mcarthy and Moxey yes ! But Mr Morgan No. ( hes building us a new super stadium you know ) Our future success will be built on solid rock, unlike your temporary “day in the sunshine” sand.
12 Sir Tel. Of course i will, its the law. What else we gona do eh. Makes me laugh anyroad.
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All Alone.
You’re rattled! defiantly rattled.
Adéu
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Just an observation Lone wolf. – ” a pigs just chrashed into my chimmney stack”. Should be a pig has or a pig’s just chrahed into my chimmney stack’. Now a question – why do you keep pigs on your roof?
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Lone Wolf, stop clutching at straws sonny Jim. I’d like your insight as to how you think it will “go the shape of the pear”? Would that be if Roy retires and we go for McCarthorse?
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Does anyone realise that anyone below Bolton in 8th could get relegated. Okay, it’s very unlikely that Newcastle would lose their last 4 games and the bottom 3 win theirs, but it just shows how close it is. We need, at this moment, another 6 points, but if we win on Saturday and the bottom three lose then we are theoretically safe. Wigan have Everton and West Ham have Man City (I wouldn’t like to predict those results). Wolves have Blues and we have Villa. Next week is going to be very interesting.
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(8)
Odd Fellow,
Must be horrible, to be that bitter and twisted. Just because ALBION are now entrenched in Roy’s institution. We are well on our way to another spell in the Premiership.
I can understand your petulance, while you wait for the inevitable. You have drastically changed since you were last on here.
There’s no need to say “Only joking” as I Know different.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Don’t get involved in a slanging match on this site. It wastes space and is dull to read. Think of how Albion play at our best: We don’t look over our shoulder or worry about anyone else. Just concentrate on our own game.
The ‘game,’ this time, is a revealing remark from the club captain. It was arguably the toughest decision of any Prem’ chairman this season, to make a change after the closure of the January transfer window. It now looks set to pay off handsomely. RDM set out his teams to play wonderful football, but did not have any plan B when the going got tough.
But Roy has done what Roberto COULD have done with the players available who had long-term Premier League exprience: Reid (Blackburn) and Shorey (Reading and Villa) in a new back four, with the equally experienced Meite, who had been bought in by Tony Mowbray from Bolton. Sharner (ex-Wigan) anchored in front of them, rather than wandering haplessly around the pitch. It hasn’t been rocket science, just commonsense. Many fans on this site were urging such things (minus Meite – a real shock) several months ago. So congratulations to both our manager for using his own experience so effectively and the chairman for his decision, which most of us did not agree with at the time.
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Lone Wolf bye bye Mr Bitter we’ll never play you again! I can hear it ringing around the cutard bowl now in little under two weeks time! It’s all set up for us to relegate you….. how painfull!
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8, Lone wolf, FoR ure iNfOmatIOn, yes wE do ReaD these pAgeS. Us ALboiN PLAyERS NoW av rEeding aNd rIting lesSons aT SANdwElL COLLaGE. bUt MOsT OF us dOnt evEr geT 2 tHe clAsseS CUs we caNt rEad the dirEctIon siGvns to The actUal klasRooms. buT i AinT wooryEd cUs me aGent sayS IF we Stay uP hE WILl GET me and a gOOD FEW of US TRAnSFUrs to PrOpA CLUbS. pEta odUmwIngIe is aLRreaDY off TO itALY aND YOUNG doZza toO LiverPOUL. sCOtT SAYs HES stayIN THOuGH.
BEt yoU feEl daFt noW eh, Lone wolf.
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(8)
Odd Fellow,
So what you are saying is, when fans write in their condolence, Get well or any other posts, nobody reads them as they are all tripe. Tell that to all the wolves fans, who wrote in With feeling, when Matt Murry had to leave the game through injury, that’s only one e.g. I was one of quite a few BAGGIES who wrote in for Matt, So my answer to you is below.
So sad you are that bitter and twisted.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Did you hear the news , there’s good rockin’ tonight?
The whole thing changes yet again.
Elokobi back for Wolves against the Baggy Boys and a chance to improve their goal difference which (yes, I have to say) needs a little attention.
Hold on to you hat Jack, there’s a storm a brewing.
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Having a few days holiday in sunny south Devon,and finding it hard to get a net connection,but it seems things are continuing as normal,
i.e. The Baggies are slapping the faces of ‘Champion’s League’ clubs on their own patch,and wolves fans are getting sulky and stroppy,despite giving Fulham a ‘football lesson’……what?……it didn’t go to plan?….really?…..oh dear.Never mind.
Lonely-
still sounding a bit desperate mate,you say you feel sorry for RDM,funny that,because so many wolves fans have now praised Albion for making the change,they wished the same thing had happened to Mick at the Mol.
And saying we’ve struck lucky with Roy?
To be honest,I lost count how many of your guys laughed at us for appointing the ‘Liverpool loser’ at the time.Ooooops!
I suppose we’re lucky to have reached mid-table,and chalked up great results recently against most of the ‘top’ clubs that were gonna batter us?
Anyway,the suns still so bright,I can’t see the monitor properly,so I hope I’ve typed something that makes sense………just off to get another ice cold lager………..
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(24)
Mangel-Wurzel,
You bet There’s a storm brewing. Can see what you mean, Instead of a draw, you’re going to be whupped. Now lets see where our goals are coming from…..
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
P.S. don’t shovel too much, because it’s going to hit the wolves “FAN”s.
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23 – thats funny !!!!
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(15)
Odd Fellow or whoever you are,
I know now, you have truly cracked up. If someone had indeed pressed the abuse button, how come you are still posting under your original nom de guerre!, whichever that is. Gotcha.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Tut tut lonely, sounding like a bit like a green eyed monster there my friend!
Boing Boing!
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Lonely.
I know you’re Manchester not Liverpool but karm dewn karm dewn.
I saw a story at the weekend that if QPR go up they will get rid of Warnock and get a footballing manager in.
When Wolves go down they will sack Mick.
See where I’m going? A marriage made in heaven, or hell depending if you’re a football fan or not. A team that’s always played the long ball clogging game and the man who is the supreme exponent ‘of if it moves kick it hoofball.’
All may not be lost down the Moulinex, just don’t let Morgan put a roof on your new Superstore sorry stadium.
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Best piece from the dark side today isn’t from a fan but the players. Doyle has revealed that the players believe they can win all five of their remaining matches.
Technically I suppose they can but 5 out of 5 when so far they’ve managed 7 out of 33? I bet you won’t be rushing down Paddy Power’s will you Kevin?
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19 medway,dont come to the end of season party mate cuz we will still have a game left and mite not be safe aye boing boing
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23)Gees, never realised our players were so illiterate! still could be worse, I mean how would you feel if your supported a team of million pound “legends in their own lunchtimes” super stars with better everything and from oh such an enormous club who were actually having their nose rubbed into the ground week in week out by a team of players like that, from such a little tiny club, can you imagine the humiliation?, can you really?? that must be crushing!
I would feel ashamed, very ashamed!
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LONE WOLF THINK YA NAME SAYS IT ALL,I THINK YOU LOT ARE A LITTLE
PEEVED THAT ALL YOUR BOARD DO IS KEEP A MANAGER WHO HAS NOT GOT A CLUE,.A BOARD THAT GAVE HIM 18 MILLION TO SPEND ON 2 PLAYERS THAT CARNT EVEN PLAY TOGETHER,AND ARE INJURY PRONE.
YOU JUST COME HERE AS YOU JUST WISHED YOU HAD A CHAIRMAN AND A BOARD THAT CAN RUN A FOOTBALL CLUB ,YOU DOO REALISE YOU WOLFIES WILL BE DOWN BY THE TIME WE FREQUENT THE CUSTARD BOWEL ,…KEEP GOING ROY N THE GANG SEE HOW MAY POINTS WE CAN END ON….
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33 Sir Terry
It was an observation on how close it is at the bottom. I believe that we will be safe as I can’t see the bottom 4 winning all of their last games, but mathematically Newcastle could be relegated and they are in 9th position. As I said, if the results go our way then we will be safe on Sunday, if not then we have to wait another week.
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Medway.
Are you Max in disguise?
Only joking and that goes for you if you’re reading as well Max.
I know what you mean about counting chickens and we don’t want to be like our neighbours when we hunted down their eleven point lead and they had to cancel their celebration parties and rearrange holidays booked for play offs.
Having said that I think it’s a similar situation to previous relegation seasons when it was mathematically possible we could stay up but deep down we knew we were doomed.
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37 – TRBH
It was that I was looking at the table last night and realised how tight it was. I can’t remember it ever being this tight before. I believe we are safe as I just can’t see the bottom 4 getting 6 points from their last games. As I’ve stated, the games coming up are going to be real 6 pointers for a lot of the bottom teams.
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32)TRBH
Ta for the tip. Been down Paddy Power and put me ten shillings on Kevin Doyles insider info.
I’m such a naughty boy, whilst I was there I couldn’t resist a gamble on which Wulfie will score the winner come the Sunday showdown.
Went for Berra (well if Hindmarch can do it)but only if you play that goalie.
Pat a cake, pat a cake…..oooops !
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Farmer.
You should come to our end of season cocktail party and buy us all a drink with your winnings although I suppose you only got short odds on such a cert.
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(21)
Throstle,
You’re not trying to put the mockers on my enjoyment ,are you.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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I have to tell you all I haven’t posted all these nasty pathetic comments it is someone else using my nom de guerre.
I also thought that Di Matteo got a very raw deal irrespective of Cris Brunts comments.
By the way my post to myself just shows I am so excited I have cracked up!!!!
Boing~~~~Boing~~~~JtH.
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