I said last week that he was ambitious,so I’m not surprised that he’s taken the job.

Although he’s been associated with us for a number of years,you have to take into account that he was born in another part of the country,and really wanted to be a Manager,so loyalty obviously doesn’t carry much weight when he’s given this opportunity.

It’s interesting that Roy doesn’t seem to have a replacement in mind,could that be because he still plans to retire at the end of the season,and a new management team will come in?

I guess we will see in the fullness of time…….

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Good liuck Appy,but something tells me that all is not well within. I dont think he likes Roys style of play, along with other team members, Hey but what do I know. I shall still back the Manager until a time when …. well lets not go there.

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Best of luck ! – Portsmouth doesn’t look like an easy club for your first job as Manager.

I suspect one or two players and members of the coaching staff probably have found Roy’s style a little dull and restrictive compared to what they have been used to under RDM & TM but you can’t argue with his record.

My money would be on Roy taking the England job after Capello if the FA want a safe pair of hands but if he doesn’t get it then I don’t see him retiring just yet.

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The Hoff

I think Roy certainly has one eye on the England job which is probably why there’s been no talk of a renewed contract. To be honest, barring us finishing in the top 10 (which on current form seems a long way off), I can’t see him getting it.

However, I’m not so sure this contract situation’s a bad thing as it gives us a bit more flexibility. If what we’ve seen so far continues, then the our more creative players could be forgiven for looking elsewhere in the summer. At least this way, letting things unfold over the season, it’ll be plain to see for all which is the best route to take- playing to the strengths of our best players and looking for someone willing to do that, or sticking by a successful coach who wants to take us in a different direction and change the personnel- and we can make the decision based on that.

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Further to that, if RH keeps us up comfortably. Would JP even entertain the idea of getting rid of him, when the continuation of his reign here almost guarantees PL football (however negative the football may be), the loss of which would wipe millions of JP’s shares? I can’t help think entertaining football may become less of a priority in this instance.

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Although the Albion have looked after him I don’t blame him for wanting to be his own gaffer. Unlike some I see it as a decent chance, whoever follows Fergie at Man Ure will be on a hiding to nothing whereas if Appy achieves anything at Pompey he will look like a miracle worker.

Best wishes and Good luck Michael Appleton.

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Oh, forgot to say in all that:

Thank you and good luck Michael Appleton. Hope we see you again in the future.

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Good luck Appy, good player, good coach and good bloke.

Will be interesting to see if the likes of Thorne, Mantom, Hurst end up there on loan pretty soon.

Noticed a few comments above are making up stories that Appy and senior players are unhappy with Roy. Remember we did had the same stories with Di Matteo at the end of his time with us. How about rather can making up issues you chill out, get a life and back the club. That’s what we do best!

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According to Greg Halford ‘Pompey are bigger than Wolves’ and Pompey are pursuing our backroom staff.

I think this more than anything else indicates how far ahead Albion are of Wolves as a club………

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13 Max,

I’ve told you before,you can’t have the ‘dream team’ of Megson and McInnes.

(well,at least not until JP finds someone to buy his shares……..:)

By the way,I only mentioned Roy retiring because that’s what his wife wanted him to do before Albion made him an offer.

If the F.A. offered me the England job,I’d DEFINITELY retire.

Can you imagine the grief you’d get?-

and that’s only from John Terry & co………

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I think Wall Heath Baggie is right to stir up a hornets nest and suggest that now is the time for us to plan a new management team. Presumably Michael Aplleton was told that he was not guaranteed to take over from Roy Hodgson should he leave next June . I would think that RH and JP are leaving their options open in view of Roy getting the England job. This is a consequence of making a short term appointment at a time of crisis. In any event RH is reaching a stage in his life when he will want to curtail his activities so surely now is the time to appoint a new coach who will be capable of continuing his good work when and if he goes. The new man might not have to wait long for his opportunity.

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I’m sure Appy would have been with us for many more years if he was content to just ‘fit-in’ with the backroom team,but he only had one game as ‘stand-in’ manager,and must’ve been frustrated that he didn’t get the opportunity to change things in the way he wanted to.

He’s always been fully commited to his football,as we saw on the pitch,so it would be great to see him succeed at Pompey.

Good luck mate.

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Good luck Appy, you have been a total asset to the Albion, and I wish you all the best for the future.
If we do need to appoint a replacement, my choice would be Nigel Pearson, who I feel given the right backing and set up has the potential to be a top, top manager.
He impressed me with his very short tenure in charge, given that he took over a team that, under Robo, had struggled to 19 wins, 38 draws, and 24 losses, to 3 wins and a draw out of four games played, no mean feat with the same players.
Obviously not being privy to why we never appointed him after that, perhaps he didn’t want it, or J.P. never offered it, I feel he would make a fantastic understudy for Roy.

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13 Max McFly,
As usual I agree with you. We’ve missed the good old days of having three managers a season. Let’s get back to the golden decade that was the 90′s.

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As we seem to be on the verge of installing a new manager:p can I ask for Brendan Rogers from Swansea please!!!???

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How I see it is: Appleton knows he can coach,
now he wants to see if he can manage. Working on a shoestring budget in a lower division with what was once a huge club, all of a sudden it’s Christmas! If I were in his shoes,
I’d be there quicker than a flash.
What he leaves behind is a football club. You cannot get more volatile than that.
Good luck M.A.

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25 Robin Brittain?-

I’ve never replied to you before,but I had noticed that your posts are usually very negative and critical towards Albion.

Apart from that,the only person to ever call me ‘Cantello grumpy’ is ‘shirley clacka’,but your spelling and style are more like ‘laughingwolf’.

As these two are the only ones to regularly come over here ‘in disguise’,and claiming to be genuine Albion fans,could they be one and the same?

So who exactly are you?

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28 TRBH

Max Mcfly as a certain ring to it and i may change it to my ‘Nomme de Guerre’. I even got the ‘ Back to the Future’ reference or did you mean the Hornet bit ??? .
On a serious note , Hodgson looks to me at times like a bloke who would rather be anywhere but West Bromwich. His contract ends in May 2012 so he does not fear the sack and it begs the question , is he really that committed ??, performances so far suggest that total apathy as set in .

CANTELLO

I always thought Robin was a positive sort of bloke and i have a feeling that the grumpy post a’int him, but as these conspiracy theories often get me in trouble , i will leave it at that.

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35 Cyril,

I remember we were rubbish that season,which is obviously why we were relegated,and Don Howe wasn’t one of our better managers,but the point I made in my post is that several players this season have given the ball away cheaply on the pitch,and made many basic schoolboy errors.

If someone slices his shot at the corner flag,or fails to spot the opposition centre forward running unmarked into a scoring position,can they look across at the manager and shout-

‘that was your fault!’?

I’ve known many people who instinctively look for someone else to blame when they fail to do their job properly,so I like to see a person stand up and accept personal responsibilty when they get it wrong.

And sadly I see very few footballers do that.

Even when they’re obviously at fault.

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inside man

can i assume that Hodgson is less than happy with his two main summer signings then? neither Robbie Keane nor Nigel Reo Coker have even kicked a ball for us yet mate

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Time for him to move on he needs further
experience at a lower level I was concerned
he might have took over after RDM I recall
his poor assessment in the West Ham game 3-0
up and he replaced injured Mulumbu with
lightweight Morrison and gave Scott Parker
freedom of the Hawthorns we were lucky to get
a point woeful assessment of what was needed.
I hope he proves me wrong. I agree Roy’s need
to stop leaking goals resulted in less attractive style he obviously sees getting the
ball up to the front two quicker.

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i agree with whb

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43) Yes but be fair Lone, the Wolves Manager, Fans, Team or Board don’t see eye to eye down at the Reds Row, which is why they spend the majority of the time running around like schizophrenic headless chickens, never knowing if the fans will support them from one week to the next! No wonder Mick calls them (amongst other things!) Numpties! (I did note this week after your one win “roll” he thinks they are wonderful again, which coincidentally, so do the fans?) umm??

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43 Lonely.
That rope’s wobbling again perhaps you need one of those balancing poles. Just don’t look down into the abbyss.

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Max McFly, your ‘shooting from the hip’ nom de gurre. Love it! Hail Bully.
Wallheath, the stable, somewhat negative approach to all things Baggies.
At 45 comment. You’re a Doc Martin fan.

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43 Lonely-

interesting that you say the next few games will be important to the Baggies future-

I’ve just had a look at the wolves’ up-coming fixtures-

oh dear!

It seems that after this week’s tricky trip to Everton,you have an easy run-

over the following 6 weeks you’ve got-

Chelsea at home,plus Man.U.,Arsenal,Spurs,and-Chelsea(again)-all away.

Put it this way-

I don’t think you’ll have to wait until the last 3 minutes of THIS season to see if wolves are safe.

I think,if you do make a fight of it,you can stretch things until maybe March before the final nail’s driven in………….

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49 TRBH

Those in authority the answer would be NO. Players yes , particularly Olsson and Mulumbu because imo they always give 100% even when their form is a little off , indeed if all our players mirrored their attitude we would not have any problems. I have been very impressed with Long as well and i hope he gets back to playing very soon.
The last Manager who had my total backing was Megson ( no surprises there Cantello ?) and i have the distinct feeling if Mcinnes does well at Bristol, he could well be our next manager. Somebody on these boards also mentioned Nigel Pearson , which i thought was an excellent shout , although he appears to be returning to Leicester.

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50 Cyril and Max.
I chuckled at that, BTW I love Doc Martin (guilty pleasure.)

On a serious note, do you really need to have played or coached at pro football to appoint a manager. Lets probe a little deeper. Do we think many footballers are particularly cranially well endowed? I think the answer is no. Most coaches/managers are ex-players, see answer to question one.

This man who knows nothing about football has given us a succession of managers that have got us into and now kept us in the PL. How many clubs that have spent millions more than us would die to be able to say that?

This man who knows nothing about football has given us a talented squad of players for what is by today’s standards peanuts.

Hail the inept, unqualified idiot that is Dan Ashworth.

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37 The Real Bully
Thank you for your support in reassuring Cantello Rocket that I am genuine. I can assure Cantello Rocket that I have no connection with Laughing Wolf or any other Wolves fan. I have supported the Albion all my life my first hero being Ronnie Allen so that will give you some idea of the timescale. As for being negative or critical of the club I have in the past hopefully made some positive contributions to this site which have been acknowledged by yourself Bully and others. This site is always full of constructive comments from real Albion fans but I do think that we over react to the regular excursions into this site by Wulfies. I think we maybe should look at the bigger picture and realise that there are things more important than the traditional rivalry. That rivalry was white hot many years ago when the two clubs competed at the top of the league and the issue was not who would survive. Lets set our sights on cementing our place in the premier league and looking at the higher end of the table rather than a constant struggle for survival. I may be being negative but I cannot see much evidence of that this season with the initial impetus of Roy Hodgson’s arrival being dissipated by a lack of desire to attract some real quality to the club and injuries to some of our best players.
Finally I am sorry if Rocket did not add Grumpy to his prefix but someone else did just after the Villa game. Hopefully Rocket you will now accept that I am a genuine supporter just like you but one who probably goes back goes back further than you do. This is my real problem. I can remember the great times and find it difficult to accept second best although I know the football world has changed.

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Wall Heath

Jose Mourinho has not played football at any great level, he wasn’t a bad coach though?? Similarly Arsene Wenger’s CV before entering management paled into insignificance compared to his peers. Took further, none of us must know diddly squat in comparison to any of them given we’re merely observers from the outside, in which case all our opinions are invalid.

In Ashworth’s defence, he’s seemingly been responsible for some excellent buys and if anything probably smooths the link between the manager and the seemingly disagreeable JP. Both have also overseen our most successful period in a long time, so they can’t be that poisonous surely??

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Wall Heath

To address your post 59, my understanding is Ashworth doesn’t give orders to anybody, he answers to JP and communicates with RH on what RH wants and what JP tells him. I could be wrong though.

If anything, he’s probably more knowledgable about football than JP, which might be beneficial when it comes to boardroom decisions??

Moore- was he not offered as part of Davies deal?
Valero- Mowbray picked out in friendly vs Mallorca?

The two you mention above- Mulumbu and Olsson- he must’ve had some input into?? Jara, Tamas, Shorey, Cech, Tchoyi, Odemwingie….not all world beaters, but not all bad signings either??

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WARREN

The chosen one and Wenger are good examples , although Wenger played lower league football in France i believe. However most Managers have played pro football at some stage , no doubt you will name a raft of them who have not LOL.
Mowbray never wanted Moore or Carson and i know this to be true because Tony told me himself , i will not bore you with the details.Which begs the question how many more decision’s does Danny make that the Manager is unaware of ?.

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61 Warren.
There’s been a bit of a love in going on lately between Stephen Ward and the Wolves fans but as day follows night the first bad game he has will be greeted by the faithful like vultures on a dying zebra. Especially if the one game winning streak comes to an end.

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PS Max.
According to the ‘Transfer Rumours’ Chelsea are taking an interest in that Spanish flop.

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Appy was my type of player, as was mcinnes. & the 2 of them are gaining fantastic experience in the championship. If it works out we may see them in charge here 1 day. And I wouldn’t moan at that both love the albion. But for now ill keep getting behind roy, improvement needed but we will be fine. Boing boing

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I do not know who to answer first , so i will conclude with these thoughts . If anyone really believes that the Manager reports to Ashworth who then speaks to Jez and Dan does not put his fourpenneth in are naive at best.
I suggest some of you have a long hard look at Hodgson and then tell me he is a happy man. He was at the end of last season but since the transfer window closed all as not been well , lack of signings ?, interference from above ?.
If Ashworth is just a communication tool between Hodgson and Peace, why not save a wage, Roy could then report directly , to many cooks can spoil the broth.
I hope that the faith some have in Peace and Ashworth is well placed but i have a horrible feeling if the truth about how the Albion are really run came out , some would be sorely disappointed.

58 ROBIN BRITTAIN

Top post mate .

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64 and 65 Max and Bully.
Couldnt help but notice the times of your posts.
Hope you did them while observing two minutes silence.
LEST WE FORGET.

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67 and 68 TRBH

It must be wonderful always being right. If you look at what i wrote instead of putting your own angle on it , i stated Mowbray did not want Moore or Carson , on that matter he turned out to be right , i was not saying he was a good manager or not.
As for Valero , well he was a great signing for us was he not , no assists , no goals and when we were relegated he could not wait to get back to Spain , quoting he was homesick.I presume is dislike of England will disappear when he goes to moneybags Chelsea ?.

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On another note, well done to the club for sending another player off to international duty with a satchel full of Gold Label.

That’s Mulumbu, Tamas, Odemwingie and Jara who’ve annoyed their international bosses in the past 12 months.

Great news for us, we won’t lose any players to international friendlies/tournaments and any injuries picked up in them. Next target: Olsson.

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74 LONE

I lost a Cousin in the Falklands mate , so i observed the two minute silence and was not on here talking my usual rubbish but thanks for asking.

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78,Warren
Do you think that all those players have upset Roy as well ?
Tamas & Jara are out in the cold,Oddy has been on the bench this season and Mulumbo was not in the five man midfield against Arsenal.Food for thought as a few have stated that there have been some rumblings in the dressing room.
I blame Ashworth,he scouted all of them.

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76 Max.
I don’t think I always claim to be right but I am guilty of putting my angle on what you say because I can’t think of any other way of commenting.

Before you say that though have a look at your own post at 72. Is that not putting an angle on something that you don’t know for a fact? It reads like an episode of Dallas with JP as the domineering Jock, Dan Ashworth as the evil JR and Roy as poor little put upon Bobby.

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baggieinmanc.
Thanks for the most sensible post of the week.
I sit and read in disbelieve and despair some times,we’ll have the bingo callers back before long,you know,4:4:2.4:5:1.4:4:2.5:3+half:1+half.
I can only offer a partial defence of mar mate Max,I know for a fact that he is running low on his medication.
Adéu

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Anybody interested, there is an excellent thought provoking blog by Tim Spiers on the Wolves site. I’ve often poked fun at Tim but this is good work.

How would people feel if this was proposed at our ground? It would be difficult to do but perhaps we need something like this to make the powers that be sit up and take notice of us. They are fond of saying they don’t really need our money but let’s see Sky sell the PL if games had no atmosphere.

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Baggieinmanc/Shropshire

I agree in essence with what you’re both saying, but I don’t think anybody has said sack the manager (WHB suggestion aside) or that Roy will become England manager (just that perhaps it’s a reason he’s not yet committed his long-term future if in his own mind it’s a target of his…unlikely as it may be). I’m sure we’ll all be there against Bolton getting behind the team.

Streetly

Absolutely, get Ashworth out!!

On a serious note, it’s a possibility. In the cases of Mulumbu and Odemwingie, if we’re honest, both are top-half Prem players, so in a way if both had flawless characters, both probably would be playing for top-8 clubs.

I guess a club like ours has to take the odd risk with character e.g. with Odemwingie’s ‘injury’ record and Tamas’s reputation as a bad boy.

Inside Man seemed to suggest last week that Mulumbu being dropped was due to him not carrying out specific instructions. Odemwingie can have a lazy streak that I imagine would infuriate Roy. He dropped PO in favour of Fortune when he first came in, presumably on the basis of workrate. It worked then, PO came back in a rich vein of form, let’s hope dropping Mulumbu and Tchoyi is more a case of positive man-management rather than being indicative of a deeper problem.

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if you needed a ‘flawless character’ to play for a top 8 team, half the top 8 wouldn’t be able to put a team out Warren!

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Max.
I just thought I’d try and stop you going any deeper with that hole your digin’ for yourself, you’ll soon be slaggin’ Aussie rules off.
Tranquilo son,I can tell your lashing out willy nilly,you left the Super off.
Are you sure you want me to cross you off my list off patients? It’ gunna play havoc with my £250,000 a year.
Adéu

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55) TRBH, We will have to disagree on this one my friend, any manager who can get three wins and a draw out of four games with a team that was going no where can wear a pink tu tu and sling backs for interviews has far as I’m concerned!

63) Kev, I was merely stating my choice of Pearson “if” we needed to appoint an assistant, along with every one else’s two pen’orth, I don’t expect him to return anytime soon, there may well be problems between Pearson and JP, during his tenure, has there been any managers at the Hawthorns he hasn’t riled at some point? but, I have always thought of JP has being a pragmatist, the same as with all successful, hard nosed businessman, so if he felt he was the right guy for the job I’m sure it would be offered.

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WONOH

He was also an intrinsic part of the coaching staff under Robson that led us to play the most uninspiring, apathetic brand of football we’d played for many a year.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy, but if we’re honest, that team with Davies, Kamara, Koumas, Greening, Phillips etc should’ve been winning 3 out of every 4 games in that division. Also his managerial achievements since? Taking Leicester up when they were favourites to go up, going down with So’ton and guiding Hull to mid-table?

I’d say he’s some way short of being a leading candidate yet. That’s just a personal opinion, but I think sometimes we let 2-weeks as caretaker cloud our judgement. From memory John Trewick was a good caretaker, he got sacked by Hereford last season…..

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98) Warren, that is a very fair point about him being part of the Robson regime, however, this can only lead to two conclusions. Firstly, either he was not such a big part player when Robo had the reigns has we believed, or, Robo had totally lost the plot, and the players capable of winning were there all along, but just wouldn’t do it under Robo.

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warren, sorry if it seems i was being picky there, but first you told me that mulumbu and odemwingie would be good enough for the top 8 if they had flawless characters, and then that you don’t need a flawless character to play in the top 8, and then my head began to hurt.

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Rocket.
I’m probably the most layed back bloke in the world and what little aggression I have comes out on here, I’m sure Max is the same and I think/hope that we understand each other and our spats are strictly tongue in cheek. Anyway after years of going to the Robin I’m on nodding terms with Mike Hamblett and can therefore vouch for Max (although he may have to hand his chainsaw in at the cloakroom.)

If you’re definitely going let me know during the week and we can arrange to carry a rolled up copy of the Times and wear a red carnation or something. Looking forward to seeing you although I’m nervous now that you won’t think the Hamsters are as good as I’ve built them up. Robert Cray did say about him ‘Slim is one of my children’ so not a bad bloke to have a testimonial from.

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cantello78, is that what you said last season, about wwfc down before the tinsel?

and warren, greg halford joining a bigger club than wwfc, confirms that albion are bigger than wwfc???, for god sake grow up.

the biggest club ever in the history of football is the one and only caledonian thistle. END OF.

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