Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
It’s back to business for the Baggies
Tuesday 15th November 2011, 9:10AM GMT.
West Brom blogger Jarrod Hill looks forward to the return of Premier League football after the international break with a winnable game against Bolton at the Hawthorns.
Did anyone miss me? I must begin with an apology to you all, I have been so busy for the last three weeks I have struggled to even get half an hour to write a blog.
The international break coincided with a manic time at work and, although things are still hectic, I have managed to get some time to write about some interesting things happening at the Hawthorns.
Firstly, good luck to Michael Appleton. Injury cruelly denied him of fulfilling his playing potential, so let’s hope his managerial career has more luck.
The club have been grooming him for a number of years towards becoming our head coach and Portsmouth have recognised his potential and jumped in.
Portsmouth are a club familiar to strange goings on in recent years and I hope their fans remain patient enough to allow Michael to develop into the role.
Never have the words ‘in at the deep end’ been more apt. But, again, good luck and thank you for your years of service.
Maybe we will get Portsmouth in the FA Cup. It does have a habit of happening, doesn’t it? Or will it be Middlesbrough?
Talking of managers, past and present, I see we are looking to have talks with Roy Hodgson regarding his contract.
Personally, I see football manager’s contracts as being as much use as an Italian overdraft facility.
Even when they are under contract, all it ensures is that the club will receive compensation and that is usually a pittance.
Short term contracts are becoming the norm and, with Roy still harbouring international aspirations. I can see him being offered something short and tasty, and I don’t mean Kylie Minogue.
As we get nearer to Christmas, I see the transfer rumour mill has begun to churn out various names linked to us.
I was interested to read Dan Ashworth’s comments relating to the forth coming transfer window and, although he wouldn’t rule anything out, he believed we would be looking at loans rather than permanent transfers.
We have been linked to a number of stars from Major League Soccer and the timing does fit, in relation to their close season. But the question I would ask is what do we need in terms of personnel?
Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long are both struggling with injuries, so many would argue a striker should be top of Roy’s list sent to Santa.
I still think we need a right back and maybe another centre back for cover. That could all change due to injuries, but let’s hope not.
Next up is Bolton and I cannot wait for this weekend’s game to come around and, with two home games on the bounce, let’s hope for a decent result to get us moving up the table again.
Bolton have had a poor start to the season by their standards but their 5-0 win last time out against Stoke reminded us all what a dangerous team they can be.
It is games like Bolton at home which offer a more realistic chance of getting points and that’s not to say I think we should be winning these games by right.
They just offer us a better fighting chance than Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal.
We have had some tough fixtures early doors and I am sure the boys will be targeting games like Saturday as key games for gathering enough points to remain in the Premier League.
But we must also remember is that there is rarely an easy game in the Premier League.
Up the Baggies.
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Mornin’Bomber.
I thought you were another one of the droves deserting these pages due to bias of certain members of staff and the chore of wading through the dross of complete morons from the other side of the tracks.
Is it my memory failing or is this the first stop, start early season there has been?
Ditto your comments on Appy but can’t see your thinking on personnel.
Billy was brought as a right back,Reid seems comfortable there and I think Hurst wouldn’t let us down as cover,I’m more worried about the left back position.
As for cover in central defence we have Olsson Mcauley,Dawson,Tamas with Reid and Scharner as stop gap cover,OK Tamas is found wanting at times but in his defence he had played very well at times but to bring in somebody as cover is IMO.is probably one too many in this area.
I know he’s not everybody’s cup of tea but I think Johnson from Fulham would suit as cover up front.
Wish I could get back for the 2 home games on the trot,when it drops like that it’s ideal for a flying visit but sadly not possible at the moment,if got a little work on at the moment and the money will come in handy for my senior citizens season ticket next season,hope to see you in Vine over Christmas.
Adéu
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Bomber.
Is it my ageing eyes or is that a slightly enlarged photo of your good self?
Adéu
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Looking forward to getting back down the Hawthorns and getting behind the team, can’t belive the amount of negative nonsense that people have been droning on about on here over the last week or two.
We need to get at Boltons back 4 this Saturday. Apart from Cahill they are poor at the back, especially the fullbacks. I would start Tchoyi on the right to have a go at skinning Robbo, I think if Thomas as much as looks at Robbo he will crumple on the floor in a heap!!
Sounds like a good crowd this Saturday as well so should be a good atmosphere to drown out the miserable gets that bleat on on these message boards!!
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Hi Jarrod,
I’m sure many of the regulars missed you last week,but the International break seems to put everyone in a state of limbo,so with no league games to focus on,we start to aimlessly ‘ramble’-although with some of us it probably sounds similar to what we usually say.
Talking of the International break,it can sometimes annoy us having one,but on this occasion it may have actually helped us out.
I can think of two main benefits from not playing at the weekend-
1) It’s given some of our injured players a bit more time to recover,and
2) With us losing our last couple of games,and Bolton hitting five past Stoke,they would have been on a confidence ‘high’ at the weekend,with us still feeling down,but with the extended break everyone’s had time to re-adjust and re-focus their attitude.
I see that we not only have two home games coming up,but next month we play newcomers QPR,followed by Wigan and Blackburn.
You have to give respect to every club you face,but looking at our squad,and the opposition,these must also be seen as games we can take points from.
But as for now-let’s just hope we can get back to winning ways at the weekend-
and that Bolton give us an early Xmas present!!
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Morning Kev
That picture was taken five years and two and a half stone ago!! (Unfortunately put on not off)
I was in the Vine and had had a few.
Not a big fan of that picture in all honesty but it does remind me of Tezza falling down the steps, comedy drunken gold.
Re the personnel, i kind of agree with you. When you look at the squad we do have cover in most positions, but the reason i mentioned cb was Jonas Olsson. I do fear that we do not have another left footed central defender who could replace him. Many have mentioned Liam Ridgwell as a possibkle candidate, not sure myself.
Billy Jones has given us utility cover due to being able to play left or right, and im still a fan of Nicky Shorey. Reid will always give 100% but he struggles against pace.
Re Andy Johnson, im with you on that one, dont think Fulham will let him go though due to their amount of games.
Give me a shout at chrimbo and we will meet up, work will hopefully have subsided by then and i wont look as stressed and worn out as Carlos Tevez`s agent.
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No.3B90. Droning on and negative by others? How about your “I think if Thomas as much as looks at Robbo he will crumple on the floor in a heap!!”. THAT’S Positive is it?
Kev, none of those are bomber, bain’t handsome enough. Any news of our two centre forwards? It’s been quiet on that front.
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CR78
Hi mate. Have you heard anything re Odemwingie and Longs injuries?
Re an early xmas present, i remember being about nine when one of my mates had pestered his mom and dad two days before christmas if he could open just one present early with his grandparents who were going away that day abroad for christmas.
With his nan and grandad there his parents eventually relented and said ok just one but none of the larger presents.
So he and his younger brother excitedly picked over various sized and shaped pressies until deciding on one. He ripped it open as only a nine year old boy can do to reveal an atari game!! His little brother who was about seven said, “but mom we havent got an Atari”? and that same time the rest of us were all looking at the larger box shaped present next to it.
Looking back it was hilarious how his parents attempted to convince him and his brother he wasnt definately getting an Atari. Maybe they should be consulted by Carlos Tevez agaents about how to get him another club?
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well bless my soul!
after making a pact with myself that i’ll never bother looking at this site again, after viewing the debacle last night on the Ben Foster article, i break my promise and…look!…everyone’s talking about FOOTBALL!! incredible! well done folks (so far)
jarrod, i agree we have no ‘right’ to expect points from Bolton, Wigan, Blacburn etc. but looking at our fixture list for the coming 4 or 5 weeks i can see no reason why we can’t put another 10 points on the board before Christmas, taking us past beyond 20 points at the half-way mark
come on Baggies!
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7 Bomber,
I haven’t heard anything recently about Pete & Shane,I was hoping ‘Inside Man’ could give us the latest.
As long (‘scuse the pun) as they’ve still got a head and legs,and a good medical team,I’m sure things will soon be fine.
Not bothered about their arms and hands,they’re only useful on the pitch for ‘keepers,Maradona,and Thierry Henry.
As for the early Xmas prezzies,I remember when I was very young that the family would go to a local social club at Christmas,and inside the front door was a large tree with many parcels in seasonal paper hanging from it.
I recall one year screaming blue murder that I should have one of these presents,and eventually,to shut me up,they took one off the tree and gave it to me.
I couldn’t wait to unwrap it,but when I did,I was the proud owner of a 3”x 2” piece of softwood,the only thing I got out of it was a splinter.
Thankfully,I did get better presents on Xmas day,but nobody thought about buying me a chisel………….
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Cantello.
I new I was on the right track,that piece of wood hadn’t been cut of you know who’s plank had it?
Adéu
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Agree with the sensible posts on here,
(9)
Cantello,
You forgot Berra the “Grabber” of wolves. LoLs.
Watched the England match, some good performances from youngsters brought in and what a brilliant one from Joleon Lescott, My man of the match. Bye-bye Rooney, Terry and the like, they have’t performed for months. The only reason they are rated is because of the media. Come on the young guns, England are in safe hands.
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6- just trying to say I think that given his past problems with injury Thomas would be far more suited to playing against a winger that isn’t going to kick him in the air… That isn’t negative.
Plus I think Tchyoi is a better player than Thomas anyway, far more end product. That isn’t negative either, maybe it would be if I was comparing him to players from other teams, but saying I think we have a better player of our own isn’t.
Agree with the Andy Johnson comments, he would be perfect for us and we were supposedly interested in the summer.
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B90.12. OK, point acceopted, it’s just that I like Thomas and on form, (which he hasn’t quite been), he has to play. Tchoyi I like too, but he hasn’t hit the heights yet either. So, with a misfiring and injured St.Peter, a crocked Long, we need something positive to happen, FROM THE PLAYERS. They’re good enough, now show it!
As it’s only a friendly, (Ha,Ha, with our Jonas in it), I shall have somewhat divided loyalties tonight. Us to win, but Jonas to play a blinder.
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Back in Christmas 1938, I asked Mom if I could have an encyclopaedia. She said, “You’ll walk to school like all the other kids”.
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10 Kev,
I got the bucket of paste the year after,and the moustache when I was nine.
Adeu.
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It sounds like there are a lot of confident fans out there and that will only help on saturday we can help the boys on!
Personally I would drop Thomas as he’s been quite poor as late and probably go with
Foster
Ried Mcauley Olsson Jones
Dorrens Cox Mulumbo Brunt
Gera
Tchoiy
Notice my sly strategy of Cox behind Gera for an alternating attack. I Think Roy would like that!
Albion til I die!
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16 ASTLE
Ya must be dizzy blood , terrible team selection.
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14. Gosh Cyril, I day now yo was tharold!!!
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Just looking for a good midfield performance (whatever the system or personell). Any points would be good, so we can get some momentum going. More than one goal would be a bonus as well!
COYB
Au Revoir
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Re team selection if Odemwinge’s fit he will play
otherwise why not MAF with Tchoyi they can take a few knocks I would leave JT out try Gera out wide
hopefully Scharner will be fit would accept 1-0 win
just to get us back on track and another game nearer to Shane’s return i welcome Bolton a side
we do ok against, pity about there 5-0 win it could
have easily been seven.
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18.Jeff. Ooh Kroist ar aer kid.
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Said before Arsenal game Odemwingie was out for about 3 weeks. But Roy has already said on Albion website about injuries and I know nothing different. If I was picking the team I’d probably go with the same side we had v Arsenal.
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22.InsideMan. Promise you’ll make sure they all turn up then and a cold shower to wake ‘em up before K.O.
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Hi Jarrod.
I think Saturday’s game will be massively significant. We’ve had basically two sides of the fence in recent weeks.
Those that say ‘After two derby wins nobody was complaining so why complain after two defeats aginst so called big teams which we would expect to lose.’
Then the others saying ‘it’s not the results but the fact that performances haven’t been good.’
What’s the answer? The answer is I don’t know. At the risk of getting splinters in my backside I was pleased with the derby wins but they were against two teams playing poorly. The disappointing thing about the Liverpool and Arsenal games was that the team looked so disjointed and lacklustre.
What’s the reason. Is it the dreaded formation that the players we have can’t fit into? Or is it just that a lot of our players are simply off form? The defence has actually functioned well but the midfield looks a shadow of its former self (I hate the use of hindsight but I can honestly say when I saw the line-up at Arsenal I virtually adopted the ‘abandon hope all yea who enter’ banner.) Unbelievable that we had no midfield tackler TM would have been purring over a defeat achieved in this manner.
To lose both our main strikers together is unlucky (or an act of God If you try to find a way to excuse Hutton’s tackle.) If PO is fit for Saturday it will be interesting to see if we revert to last season’s formation and how it performs.
My own view is that Roy is getting the players to embrace a different system. As Cyril has said it is very ugly to watch at the moment but if it comes off it could put an end to those frustrating games where we’ve played the opposition off the park only to lose by the odd goal.
Anyway whatever happens I’ll be there on Saturday cheering them on. I won’t groan when things don’t come off and I won’t leave before the end whatever the result (can’t believe the ones that regularly leave with five minutes to go, would they do this if we were 1-0 up in the Cup Final at Wembley?) And at the end as long as the players have given 100% I’ll stay to clap them off. I’m not boasting, just supporting.
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24 – TRBH – I’m on the same page as you mate. it’s all about change, patience and players needing to adapt. I think if you look at most established premiership teams, there’s an element of inconsistency about their performances – such is the entertaining nature of the league and it’s popularity. We are very much part of that now and I feel that if we are to move forward successfully, we can’t stay one dimensional. We have to be able to play different systems, with intelligence and respect for the opposition. I agree that we’ll need a strong midfield tackler in there throughout most games… but other players will need to step up to that all over the pitch too. My hope, is that whilst it’s not as pretty in the short term, the outcome will be a more effective, well balanced team that will still entertain us – without the emotional roller coaster of being the ‘yoyo’ team.
And yes Bomber, we did miss you… and you need to get your priorities right – 1=Baggies!…. never mind all that work nonsense :-)
I’ll be there on Sat with my 2 boys and the father in Law – 30 quid for 4 east stand tickets – happy with that! Let’s hope it’s worth getting out the armchair for! I’ll be cheering regardless..
Come on you Baggies!
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