Gareth McAuley has joy after debut
Monday 26th September 2011, 11:02AM BST.
West Brom defender Gareth McAuley today spoke of his joy at making a long-awaited Premier League debut – and revealed how a pre-season illness ‘wiped him out.’
The Northern Ireland captain has set his sights on an extended run in the team, after a man of the match display in his maiden top-flight game on Saturday.
The 31-year-old said: “It was a nice experience. It’s taken a long time and I have often dreamed of it. It’s been tough getting here but I enjoyed every minute of it.”
McAuley joined in the summer on a free transfer from Ipswich but his pre-season was wrecked by a mystery stomach bug.
He said: “It completely wiped me out and I had no strength for anything. I worked hard over the summer to hit the ground running and try to challenge for a place in the team,.
“It was disappointing and probably knocked me a bit, confidence-wise and mentally.”
McAuley will face fresh competition for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland from Gabriel Tamas, who is back from suspension and boosted by a surprise return to the international stage.
Tamas and former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu were banned by Romania, following an alleged late-night drinking episode.
But coach Victor Piturca has reportedly included the pair in a provisional squad for forthcoming internationals.
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He looked really good despite the game and a cleansheet is like a lottery win these days. He’s a NO nonsense player and I think he is just what we need.
Sorry Gabby maybe you will start considering Italy again?!
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Your the one shining light Gmac to an otherewise gloomy start to the season,cant see Tamas getting back in,but you never know with this bloke in charge.
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he looked very good.composed,hard working and good in the air.though i must admit,when i saw him warming up before kick off,i thought we had re-signed a taller martin albrechtsen!looks very similar.
defensivley we looked very solid saturday.boring,but nice to keep a clean sheet.
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A good performance from this lad was the only highlight of the game, overall a disappointing performance where we really should be getting 3 points in these games, PO looks disinterested and I think his agent has performed a miracle in getting him his new contract and unfortunately Long does not look the player he did in his first 2 games! overrated i’m afraid, wheres the spark gone!!
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if you look closely at pic 8 of the albion game you can see me.
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I wouldnt say Odemwingie looked disinterested,
people forget that the bloke has missed a lot
of football over pre-season and is still finding his feet.
I personally hope Jeremy Peace bites the bullet soon and gets rid of Hodgson as he simply
isnt the right man for the Albion at this moment in time.
Derek McInnes should be brought with the
promise of entertaining football.
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We all knew our gaffer was a defensive coach but I can’t help feel that we’re losing our attacking flair rapidly. Thomas is scared to take his man on (for fear of being caught out of position perhaps)and am getting concerned that Long is fast becoming a target man for Olsson’s long balls.
Need to get the attack/defend balance right quickly. 4-5-1 was working so well – maybe it’s time to accept that’s the formation that suits our players.
Am sure Hodgson is the man and will get it right.
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I thought he played well actually. Good in the air, played it simple and kept the ball. He looks a little one paced but i think his positional sense made up for that. A good solid debut imo. As for PO not look interested i wouldn’t say that at all, he was played out of position first half wide right and never got the ball. The whole team with the formation just didn’t work first half. Second half we looked a lot like our old selves. Got have won it, could have lost it but for a great double save from Foster and the lady linesman doing us a favour first half. A food point and something to build on. Reminded me of Roy’s first couple of games in charge. Back to basics, grind out a few drews then build the confidence. We’ll be fine there will be 3 worse teams than us. Gera to come back and lots of others still to reach their peak form yet.
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Just one more thing, where has all the Hodgson must go brigade come from? He steered us to our best ever Premier League finish and now he isn’t the right man for the job? Have a word please people! Manager of the year two years ago. Got us to 11th when we looked dead and buried, 6 games gone 4 points. Far too early to make any kind of judgements give the bloke a chance!
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Some continuity in the back four if Gareth McAuley can get the games in. Tamas being back next week however probably halts that trend from ever gaining momentum.
After watching the game on Saturday I just sensed the players are stuck in a rut that needs just that little bit of good fortune to get out of.
Firing blanks at home does not help but regardless of the bigging up coming out of the Hawthorns; I do think the side are suffering a confidence low at the moment.
Repeating last seasons effort at Sunderland would be just the tonic but I think we need a decent slice of lady luck to get us up and running.
Tough game but if the front two get any sort of breakthrough I think we could win well again against what is still a bunch of strangers getting used to each other at Sunderland.
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we are 3 points off 10th position which is 1 place higher than we finished last year. Are we really going to start talking about managers leaving and how rubbish we are. People make me laugh sometimes
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yes, McAuley’s performance was the highlight of an afternoon that kept swithching from boredom to frustration. Good to see somebody fighting for a place in the first 11
anyone on here calling for Hodgson’s head needs to go and have a nice little lie down in a dark room, as does anyone who looks through the pictures trying to spot Clacka
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A well deserved man of the match award, Gareth. Our centre backs were solid. Fulham are a good time served Premiership side and they have some cracking players.
(4)
jj,
Your specs need steam cleaning.
(5)
Clap trap,
Is that you with your mouth open and tripe coming out of it?.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Romsley
I absolutely agree with your posts.
A lot of criticism on here for PO, but we’ve got to play to the lad’s strengths. The same to a lesser extent with JT. Both spent much of last year picking up the ball on or around the edge of our opponent’s penalty area and caused havoc by running at people. We can’t expect them to have the same impact when they’re receiving different service in different areas.
A confidence-boosting win could make all the difference….
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(12)
Sherlock,
So does anyone, who imagines anybody, would look for clap trap.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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JT and PO will come good,both are top quality players.just both are better suited to 4-5-1.we are building from the back at last.we will come good.
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15, jack
i would suggest we go and have a lie down together then, but in light of all the accusations flying around here lately, perhaps i’d better not
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been and had a lie down,still think hes got to go and quick to give next bloke a chance.
was it because PO had been playing out of position he missed a sitter.
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jtprat wheres all your mates today,even Cyril agrees with me now,we are useles and yes i would rather watch stoke every week.
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jtp seems you Warren,cr,sherlok are on your own,even Cyril disagrees with you,and trbh hasent even bothered posting.
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Hi Warren
I must admit the formation i found a little strange first half and didn’t really work. As for JT i do find it strange that he doesn’t try to beat a man anymore? Does anyone think he has been told by RH not to beat a man because he will be out of position? As for PO i think although he missed a one on one the signs were good. When he bags a hat trick against the Dingles we’ll all be happy!
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Warren.
Your support of JT is admirable, but I’m sure it will be proved misplaced.
Adéu
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Good words Romsley.
PO is still getting match fit as is G Dorrans.
This team needs time to gel.
Lets give them and the manager a decent amount of time for goodness sake.
The change the manager brigade are completely BARKING!!
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Cracka, I larery aglee with even myserf for velly rong as rife becomes borling as watching Wurfies praying hoofbarr. Now be good rittle yerrow-corouled Wurfie and wait fol invasion when we praying you at our beroved glound next months.
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(17)
Sherlock,
Sorry, I’m not that way inclined. I,d have thought you would have clicked on to me using “Rope a dopey Dingle”.
(20)
Clap trap,
Thanks for Proving yourself a Dingle. Only Dingles Use that nom de guerre when posting to me and you have used it twice for emphasis. My bait is brilliant It’s called “Rope a dopey Dingle”. Sorry my match report never made it through.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Clacka, just get lost son. Odemwingie ,issed a chance and had a couple of poor games by his standards so he ain’t interested? Have a word with yourself. He’s better up top as lone striker with quality backing him up. When he went up there second half he ran fulham ragged. You are just so obviously a Wolves fan on the wind upo.
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Clacka, there’s only one reason TRBH isn’t posting, it’s the same reason that Sir Terry doesn’t bother, you and people like you are driving them away with none stop drivel!
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