Albion back in England after US tour
Friday 22nd July 2011, 11:00AM BST.
Albion returned to England today with boss Roy Hodgson claiming their pre-season preparations are ahead of schedule thanks to their American tour.
The head coach believes the team are more than on track as they gear up for the start of the Premier League campaign three weeks on Sunday.
And the Baggies boss reckons their 12 days in California and Oregon and matches against two Major League Soccer sides have helped his players take a big leap forward in their conditioning for the new season.
Hodgson’s men kick off his first full season in charge at home to champions Manchester United on August 14.
He saidL “We’ve got our eyes on August 14 and I would be a bit disturbed if, with all the hard running and hard work we’ve done, we were in perfect match condition now. But I think we are probably advanced of where we would expect to be at this stage.
“We have been obliged to be advanced because we’ve gone over to America and played top-quality opposition, whereas if we’d been back in England we would have been playing teams from the lower leagues.”
The Baggies flew home to England from Los Angeles today following a final training session of the trip at Portland Timbers’ training ground.
They defeated the MLS side at Jeld-Wen Field on Wednesday to complete the competitive element of their trip on a high note as they triumphed 3-2.
They had previously spent a week training in California, losing to MLS outfit San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 then defeating Ventura County Fusion 4-2.
The players now have a weekend to re-acclimatise before resuming training on Monday.
A youth and reserves side will travel to Rochdale for a friendly on Tuesda,y before the senior players return to action on Wednesday at Southampton for their first friendly of pre-season on English soil.
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Mmmmm emphasis on the fact the season starts in three weeks time. Need to get the keeper situation sorted out sooner rather than later so that he can at least get to know his defence.
Cant wait for the start of the season, still a little wary of having to start with Man U, Chelsea, then the bogey boys.
Re the keeper rumours, Ben Foster would definately be the most obvious choice out of who is available. Hope the deal gets done, i would expect us to have a new keeper in place by next weekend, dont want to leave it much later than that.
As for other positions that need strengthening, for me my only small worry is up front. Lots to choose from but will Bednar, Miller, MAF, and Wood be able to step up to the plate?
A little too early for Wood maybe, Miller just doesnt have the technical ability imo, and although Bednar is a tryer and i like him for his 100% effort, he probably is not a PL striker. MAF needs to go back to being the player he was when he very first joined us on loan and improve hugely on last season.
That leaves Cox and Odemwingie, Cox could be a real surprise this season. Natural finisher, high in confidence, and at 24 is maturing nicely. But could Cox play as a lone striker?
We have been rumoured to be after Shane Long and as much as i think he is a good player he falls into the Simon Cox category for me. The asking price may also be a little inflated!!
Personally i would like us to go for a striker that is similar to Odemwingie (i know its easier said than done) or even a striker who is more of a target man.
Suggestions on a post card marked Dan Ashworth Hawthorns.
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A man was walking his dog in the country when a puff of smoke arrived in front of him and a Genie appeared.
“It’s your lucky day,” said the Genie, I can make any one wish come true just for you!”
The man said, “ Can you get my dog to win Crufts?”
The Genie looked at the dog – the dog had only one eye, three legs, one ear had got fleas and distemper – “ I don’t think even I can help you there”
“Well” said the dog owner, can you ensure West Brom stay in the Premier league this next season?”
The Genie looked perplexed and said to the man “ Lets have another look at that dog!!!!”
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No 2
Jody Craddock was telling people that one when he was a teenager, that joke is a bit like Wolves goal last season, worn out!!!
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No 2, crikey pal that’s older than the hills that joke!
I prefer this one, two kids standing in a garden and a football comes flying over the fence, one goes to the other “I bet I know who the kid that kicked this ball over the fence supports” “who” said the other kid “Wolves” he says “how do you know that” “because it’s going down”!
Boing Boing!!
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2.
cant you go and tell your 40 year old jokes on your own pages?
i believe from what i,m hearing that a certain mr andy johnson from fulham is in the frame(nudge nudge wink wink).
anyway,cant wait as i firmly believe we could be midlands no.1 team next season and having dorrans fit is a real plus.
anyway number 2-hers a funny proper joke for you.
guy walks into the virgin record store and says”what have you got by the doors)?
the girl says”a fire blanket and a bucket of sand)!
now thats funny-so get back to the dark side and lets hope we all have a good season.
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Am I the only baggie who actually thought No 2 was funny ??? I’l be nicking that but naturally changing the teams around…..
Bomber 1 – I agree with your assessments of Miller, Bednar, Wood and MAF but I think you missed out a real option for our front line – I think Tchoi will be high in Roy’s plans for up front this year – but its a huge gamble to go into the season with so I still think we need another striker in to offer real competition for places
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2) Wulfie is walking through the Netto Ghetto when he sees a video entitled “Wolves The Glory Years” in the window display of a charity shop.
He goes in and says to the assistant: “Eh ar kid, ow much for the ‘Wanderers video lioke?”
After wiping the dust from the cover, the assistant replies: “£100.”
“That’s a bit steep innit mar mate?, asks, “ow come its so dear?”
“Well,” the assistant replies, “it’s £1 for the tape and £99 for the Betamax player.”
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No1, personally I would sell Bednar and Miller as they are not for us anymore, maybe thats unfair giving that they have not had the chance but I just can’t imagine them cutting it now in the Premiership.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but Fortune has got experience that could help us in games where we need to hold up time as he’s pretty strong.
IMO we need a knock on striker for Osaze(better than fortune) can’t think who? although someone mentioned Bendtnar the other day.
Cox is a pacy player and is happy to wait and come on as an impact player. Although I’m sure he will flourish this season I don’t think it’s fair to pin over 25% hope on him to score goals.
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With P.O, Cox and Tchoi as real possibilities for a start up front and the potential of Wood and MAF to do a job from the bench I’m not sure we need to be spending big on another striker – I still think a loan deal for Carlton Cole (paying his high wages for a season) may suit us better at this stage than outlaying 5 million plus for a new name.
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Great Black Country humour. Laughin like a drain.
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No.2 minesapint.
Hilarious joke mate. We could do with a few laugh’s on this site as we can be right miserable on here at times.
Just look at No.7′s attempt at a joke.
I’m embarrassed to call myself an Albion fan at times.
G DAY.
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Baggie in Australia – leave it out shadrag – you’ve been using this one for a week now dropping your little anti albion rubbish here and there like some crazed backwards womble and no one is buying it – for your own sake mate… get help.
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11) Come on then, lets hear one from Down Under.
Why do pigeons fly upside down in Australia?
Because there’s nothing worth ****ting on.
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2 Watch out for the tumbleweed!
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Cracking American tour for ALBION. Pitted against decent opposition, in the first two weeks of the pre-season. new boys getting to know their new team-mates. New squad youngsters mixing and training with our top players. No injury problems worth mentioning. Well done the powers that be for organizing this tour for our boys.
Beats a week in Ireland without any games.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
P.S. Steve Madeley, that’s how to report on ALBION.
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HB
I agree re Tchoyi, and a number of times last season i stated i thought he looked more like a striker than a midfielder, still think we will need another striker even with Cox Odem and Tchoyi.
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(11)
Billy Bong,
Welcome aboard, Can you send us some “‘Rue” BOING~~BOING, mate, Not Dingo dung. Sorry Dingle. Much obliged, Cobber.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Bomber – toally agree, we need a bit more competition but with those three I think the pressure to spend big is reduced and a good loan move would be just as good – I think Cox will just get better and better….
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not many teams have strike options as good as albion at the moment, we have 3 prem strikers and 3 championship strikers, i think thats more then a good enough base to build from. However if we could get a deal swapping any of bednar, miller or fortune in a deal to get someone more suited, ie bednar for carlton cole ? i wouldn’t have a problem with that !! even fortune and bednar ! lol
AS for the US tour sounds like the lads had a good team building session, as you said JTH good bonding, get the fitness up, get to have a few games without the pressure of desperately needing the points.
Roll on next season !!
Good luck baggy boys !!
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Happy
I often agree with your thinking but your think on Cole is way off the mark IMO.
What affect would your suggestion of paying his overinflated West Ham wages have our excellent team spirit?
He also comes over as a Darren Moore type ie plays when he fancies it and his dramatic appealing to refs is another off putting trait plus I personally don’t rate his ability.
Adéu
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Ola Kev – I agree wages could be a problem to the dressing room but then I’m sure Vela was on more than most of our lads – but I’m sure a deal could be brokered….. I think he would work well with P.o – a proper little N large duo, but it’s just one option.
Gotta say I don’t remember Big Dave picking and choosing his games…. I may have the old rose tinted specs on but I don’t recall too many times he was missing (but I’m sure the statos amongst us will clarify).
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Kev
Have you been on the vino tinto? Don’t you mean Luke Moore and not Darren Moore?
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Kev
Surely you meant Luke Moore and not our beloved Big Dave??
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Happy, Warren and especially Big Dave.
Sorry lads! But it is Friday afternoon and I’ve only had a couple, glasses not bottles.
Adéu
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Great interview from Dan Ashworth about his working relationship with RH. He is gushing in his praise for how much RH helps him in his job. Nice to hear that there is no division in the management ranks.
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7Wonoh. Good gag mate. However, Betamax was mid-late 70s aer kid so unless it made films of the 50s when The Wulfies had a REAL team, then it would have been ‘The Glory Years of the 4th Division’ probably. They did make a demo film of how to chuck terrace concrete early 80s but the camera man didn’t survive the onslaught.
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26 Cyril-
that demo film of the Bhatti Brothers,Bully,and the brick throwers has recently been discovered.
It’s now been released on DVD.
Titled: ‘wolves-the gory years’.
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(27)
Cantello,
What about the Dingles fighting their own police after we had “WHUPPED” them, yet again.
The finale shows the Dingles Spitting at Sir Jack.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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