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Gareth McAuley salutes Shane Long
Tuesday 18th October 2011, 11:35AM BST.
West Brom defender Gareth McAuley today saluted Shane Long for leading the Baggies’ defending from the front.
Long has become an overnight hit with Hawthorns fans with three goals and a string of impressive performances since he signed from Reading in the summer.
And McAuley has now revealed that the Republic of Ireland international is just as popular with his defenders.
The Northern Ireland said: “I’ve played against Long a few times over the years and he gets around and wins his headers.
“He’s a pest, in a good way for us, and creates opportunities for other players and gets his own share of goals. He is a great outlet.”
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And well done Gareth McAuley and Billy Jones.
We’ve had a lot of people, not just the blind cynics, who were ultra sceptical of the signings of those two. Both were exceptional on Sunday.
Also, going back to the original point of the article. Shane Long’s best game in an Albion shirt I think.
Now what were people saying about not buying the right players in the transfer market….???
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Does anybody else look at the picture above and think ‘that’s a great block by Paul Holmes, but why is he wearing this season’s kit’?
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Yes, well done indeed. I for one questioned the McAuley “purchase” though I don’t think I fall into the ‘blind cynicism’ category, Warren.
I’m still concerned that Gareth appears to be running in quick sand but his performances to date have been exceptional. He’s a throwback to the old traditional centre half and, thankfully, a far cry from Mowbray’s ideals of ‘soft feet’.
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TB
To be honest mate I think almost all of us had some healthy scepticism and none of us were sure. However it wasn’t aimed at the more constructive posters like yourself, I mean those who littered these pages with abuse towards Ashworth and Peace on 1st September for us not getting another centre-back. Would things have been dramatically different if we had?? Sometimes we should probably trust those in charge.
It’s a long road yet of course, but 3 clean sheets in 8, the defensive ‘crisis’ some were speculatng about doesn’t seem to have materialised yet.
It’d be nice to read a few well dones when things seem to work out to balance out the ‘Sack everybody’ brigade posts when it’s not looking so rosy.
Re: McAuley being slow- I agree to an extent, although when your back two lines are as deep as they seem to be under Roy, I don’t think it matters too much as he’ll never be massively susceptible to balls over the top into space. For example Craddock, he might be pushing 50, but when Super Mick was parking the bus, his lack of pace was never truly exposed and he ended up player of the season.
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Hi Warren,
Yes, he’s fitted in nicely to Roy’s somewhat deeper system. I don’t think he’s been overstretched with some of the strikers he’s faced at the Hawthorns and bigger tests are to come. But it’s great to see a centre back that takes ownership whenever a ball comes into the box and he anticipates as opposed to reacts.
In spite of Wolves winning 5-6 corners just before half time, it wasn’t an edge of your seat moment as in years gone by. I can’t remember McAuley or Olsson losing a header in the first 80 mins of Sunday’s game.
Looking forward to the two of them taking down the Vile this weekend…
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TB and Warren.
Pace wise I’m sure Gareth might struggle against Torres or some of the PL speed merchants but having said that remember Paddy Mulligan, know-how goes a long way in football and anyway at least we haven’t spent £5 mill on a CH that seems to be running in concrete boots.
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TB
I completely agree, not since the days of Big Dave and Gilchrist have you felt so comfortable when we were facing a cross.
A few people have speculated about the consequences if Olsson gets a knock. As terrible loss as it would be, at least we know we wouldn’t be completely vulnerable in the air if it happened.
TRBH
I wish I could remember Paddy Mulligan!!
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TRBH – Oh, mate, I knew that Johnson was the poorer half of the Dann-Johnson axis, but I didn’t know how poor. Didn’t win a header all game, missed a sitter, looked like he was running in tar, and should have been sent off. Add to that the fact he argues with the fans week in, week out and I’d say he was a fine signing by our dingle friends!
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Warren.
You probably don’t as that would mean you’d be nearly as old as me. But Paddy ran as if he was wearing a pair of wellies yet rarely got taken to the cleaners by fast or tricky wingers. He wasn’t a dirty player by 70′s standards he did it by positioning and pure nous.
When Johnny Giles returned he brought in Jimmy Nicholl (who ran as if he was wearing Paddy’s wellies inside his own)and I hoped he’d do a similar job. He didn’t and in the process proved what a great footballer Paddy was. He’ll not get many mentions in Albion legends but perhaps he should.
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F.I.F.A. should do something about players (Pretending to be defenders) from doing rugby holding in penalty areas. They are gaining unfair advantage, even though Referees supposed to be watching the situation. They encircle a striker with their arms and when the striker moves they complain he ran into them. Lets have football back.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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