FA Cup and FA blunders at Albion
Friday 27th January 2012, 12:35AM GMT.
FA Cup fever is here again and personally I love it, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill, although not all things related to the FA have had me smiling this week.
Let’s get the negative feeling out the way early so we can concentrate on tomorrows FA Cup showdown with Norwich.
I was astounded this week when the FA having taken a second look at the Peter Crouch eye gouging incident, decided no further action is required.
What they did was contact the referee on the day who was Kevin Friend and ask him had he have seen the incident what would his decision have been.
His reply was that he would have given Peter Crouch a yellow card and not a red, which means as the FA cannot issue yellow cards retrospectively nothing more is to be done.
Firstly I would question the decision itself, secondly I would ask what would the booking be for?
If the booking is for attempted eye gouging then surely that’s a red card offence and not just a booking? So what would the booking be for, removing a stray eye lash Jonas had on his cheek?
The fact that both Jonas Olsson and Roy Hodgson have not made a song and dance over the matter has possibly made it easier to sneak under the carpet.
Or maybe the fact the whole world is still discussing Mario Balotelli means it’s easier to ignore, for me it is just another example that the FA and Premier League standard of refereeing is at an all time low. Rant over.
Tomorrow sees us go head to head in round three against Norwich.
One win each so far this season means this game is nicely poised to be an entertaining affair. I hope so anyway and I am one of a rescinding few that still loves the FA Cup.
As a kid I would sit and watch the whole build up to the FA Cup final.
From interviews with players in their hotels to watching the coaches arrive at the famous old ground, I loved every minute of it.
Watching the victors climb the steps to receive the trophy and lift it to rapturous applause it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
It would fill my dreams as a kid that one day I would play in a final for the Albion, score the winning goal and collect the trophy – come on we have all had similar dreams.
Alas my football career never hit those heights, so now my dreams focus on hopefully seeing Albion win the Cup sometime during my lifetime.
What is funny is that if Albion were to get to the final this season it would cost me a small fortune.
Not realising that the FA had moved the Cup Final day to the 5th May I have booked a holiday for that week.
It is due to this summers European Championships and rumours are abound that the kick off may even be 5.15pm due to having a full Premier League fixture list for that day.
Talk about further cheapening the competition.
Having explained all this to my other half I then proceeded to explain that I would have to cancel the holiday or attempt to move it in the unlikely event we did make the final.
Luckily Laura being a season ticket holder understands why this is non-negotiable. However at least if we do get knocked out I can rest easy in the knowledge the holiday is safe!
Hopefully by 5pm tomorrow the holiday is still in danger because that will mean we have beaten Norwich.
Roy has this week spoken of not wanting to risk key players in this cup game.
Who he sees as key players is anyone’s guess but personally I would think his list includes Jonas Olsson, Ben Foster, and Youssouf Mulumbu.
I hope we can field as strong a team as possible but also give opportunities to players like Somen Tchoyi and Craig Dawson who need game time.
Either way I am still looking forward to a game in a competition I still love.
No matter how this competition has been disrespected by clubs, players, fans and even the FA themselves, I still love it.
Up the baggies.
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Hi Jarrod,
as far as the F.A.Cup goes,it has a long and proud tradition,so regardless of how the clubs treat it,the winners will still go down in history on the ‘roll of honour’.
The record books show that Albion have one of the proudest histories of ‘em all,so that’ll do for me.
As for the ‘Crouch’ incident,the Ref’s decision is beyond belief.If a player commits that kind of act,it’s nothing less than a (cowardly) case of assault off the ball,which MUST be a straight red.
Anyway,if the Ref. watched the whole incident,and would have awarded a yellow card for the ‘attack’ on Jonas,moments earlier Crouch took a very clear,theatrical dive in the box,which would warrant another yellow,so-
2 yellows,he would still have been off.
The only conclusion must be that the Ref. doesn’t understand the rules,which is very,very worrying.
Absolutely disgusting.
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Good blog Bomber,
I still love the competition, and wish it was still a major highlight of the season, as in years gone by. I remember being able to name all the past winners in order from the 70′s on. Unfortunately the Champions League and Premier league (big money) has seen the downgrading of the oldest team competition in the world. So back to the Baggies. I have a strong feeling that it is our year for the cup. We have the tradition and a Coach (Roy) who wants to impress. Inside Man needs to appear and give us the strong team I think we will put out.
I am still pleased as punch that Dozza Mozza and Mulumbu played in the middle last week, and we were able to dominate the game for long periods. I said at the beginning of the season that it took RDM until Christmas (after being named coach) to field three in the middle before sticking with it, and it has taken Roy the same amount of time. I think Roy would have preferred Gera, but I prefer Dorrans, and I hope he can settle down with us after his injuries and off field problems…. I feeel an on form Dozza is key to our expectations of pushing further on!
Lifting the FA Cup would be great achievment, and a wonderful vindication for Roy.
I am already humming Abide With Me, as I am typeing. Oh, to achieve our past glories. Now I sound like a Dingle!
It’s the hope that keeps us going, or whatever the idiot said.
Au Revoir
PS I am not going to comment on the FA, and as Kev says, I’ll agree with everyone on that issue.
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Who are our friends down the road playing? Oh it’s the FA Cup and they’re not in it.
Boing Boing
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It is indeed a shame that the F.A. Cup is being bounced around for spurious reasons. As a boy I also had the same dream as you Jarrod, and the Cup was always the pinnacle, and ultimately the fitting finale to the season. Now it would seem to becoming a annoyance for some clubs and the F.A. has they concentrate on the money generator that is The Champions League.
On the subject of the F.A., I lost faith in them many moons ago, how can you have respect for a organisation who obviously see name calling as a far more heinous offence than potentially blinding someone??? the mind boggles, have they never heard the saying “sticks and stones”? Just think, if Crouch had called Jonas a Swedish whatever, they would have took action, England player or not, (has some have suggested the reason for the inaction is, think John Terry?) whether the ref saw (or heard) it or not, possibly maim some one, not interested!
Still, will be in BRE tomorrow, hope its a good game decided by the best team on the day winning, not by a controversial decision by the ref.
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Bon Dia Bomber
Reading your childhood memories has disturbed my failing memory but I don’t think the ones from Cup final day will ever fade.
I can’t remember the day but I have an old picture taken by a local newspaper at the time of the team coach coming down the high st in 1954, in the picture my Dad is holding me up as the coach is passing.
During my school days I’d watch it at home with him,my brother and some of his mates from the Yew Tree Labour club and Mom would do the sarnies.
In later years it was my job to get the provision in for me and some mates to assemble at alternative houses each year.
I can still smell the unsliced small batch loaves from Spooners bakery spread with tub butter,ham,sharp cheese and corned dog were on the menu with baby beets,colmans mustard,picalily and a choice of spanish onion or spanish onion in a dish of malt vinegar,my own favourite was ham, cheese and onion combined and the might have been a few bottles of Newcastle brown available,is anybody free on May the 5th?
Adéu
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The FA Cup’s demise started when Man Utd decided not to enter a few years back. I am not attending tomorrow because to be honest my interest in Football in general is at an all time low. The reasons ? the poor standard of refereeing,Tevez on 250k a week refusing to play , Racisim on and off the pitch, Redknapp being charged with fraud when he is earning a mint, the general behaviour of players on and off the pitch Ballotelli for instance. The list could go on but the game for me at the moment is in a right mess and to be honest whatever league we may be in next season i am seriously thinking of not renewing and i have been a season ticket holder since 1971 apart from one season. It would be interesting to know what other bloggers think.
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As much as I agree with your comments, what’s done is done. For the now its fa cup weekend, decent game hopefully and all about being in the draw. Good chance to give some players game time. Enjoy the game all boing boing
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Morning everyone. Two more names being linked to us are Szabolcs Huszti a Hungarian left winger and Pavel Pogrebynak a Russian striker. Both currently playing in the Bundesliga.
The same article i got this info from says that Rodrgiuez from Porto has turned down the opportunity to come to us.
Four days to go tick tock tick tock…….
However i must add, this is probably the least stressed i have felt since transfer windows have been introduced.
But if i we were in the bottom three with only two wins in twenty games id be cacking it……..
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Sorry lads,the sarnies have got to be right,it was small tins not batches.
Adéu
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I have all the same memories of watching the final as a kid – and I remember how much more excited I was when we went to watch us in a cup game (as opposed to now when attendances are halved).
I’m astounded that the final is to be played on a league day – I now fully expect the competition to be sold off and renamed The Go Compare Cup for next season with the fat opera bloke singing the national anthem on the pitch before the game.
Had this txt to me yesterday…..
No income tax, no VAT
No points last week from Man City
Futures grim, he’s looking pale
Harry Redknapp’s off to jail…………
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Wall Heath Baggie
What do i think?
Well as you know i like to have a gripe and all the things you point out are only too true. But what keeps me attending games even through the dark days is my addiction to all things Albion, and i think that same addiction will keep you attending too.
That and the pre match gathering at the waterhole obviously!!!
Probably be in the Sportsman tomorrow if anyone is going.
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Happy Baggie
Very funny del boy, proper belly chuckling in my office. The sales office enjoyed too, thanks.
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Max.
We’re never going to stop change and my thought’s are as your’s, the changes are not to our liking but I will just follow my old man, who saw a few changes in his time but it was only his failing health that stopped him going to his beloved Hawthorns in the end.
His last match when if he told me once that I should have brought a coat he told me 100 times on the coach going down to Wembley for the play off with Derby and every time I told him “it’s on the rack Dad”.
So I know it’s in your blood the same as mine and we just can’t do anything to change that,not that we want too,so I’m happy to say your stuck with it for life and when you’re making your decision, try to have a little sympathy for others who live with or close to you and think if you didn’t have the Baggies or me too vent your quick fire temper at what would their lives be like?
Adéu
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Happy (10)
With reference to Redknapp I hope not, that would make our Roy next in line for England.
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My first real memory of an F.A Cup final was when Man Utd beat Everton 1-0 with Norman Whiteside scoring. Think it was 1985?
Since then I have always enjoyed watching the final, and normally make a day of it in the pub. My mom always goes on about going to Wembley in 68 when the King won it for us,and how Handsworth and West Bromwich was celebrating for days after.
Semi-finals are achievable as we have proved before but the bigger teams are now beginning to swith back on to it so lets see!
Albion til I die!
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Morning Jarrod….long time no speak. I agree with you entirely and am astounded that Crouch was not banned retrospectively for what what was a blatant act of violence. There was no cause for Crouch to have his hands anywhere near Olssons face. Unfortunately this has become symptomtaic of the standard of refereeing of late. They really do have to be made more accountable for their actions…….and yes I do accept they have a hard job……but not performing is no excuse……I wonder what would happen if I used some lame excuse with my Boss ?
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Jarrod,
The first football match I saw was ALBION v Preston in the 1954 cup final when Len Millard lifted the trophy, He used to live in Bank Street, Roseville, Coseley. Saw the ALBION v Everton, The King Astle final. Had many good freezing cup days over the years. LOVE IT.
Sorry, I was under the impression that, as the referee didn’t see Crouch’s assault on Jonas the F.A. viewed the tape and passed judgement. How can you ask a non-witness to give his/her point of view. Can we all go to court and say what ought to happen although we have seen sod all?. Close one eye for a moment, that is how Jonas could have ended up after that cowardly attack.
Regarding the fourth round of the cup, we have enough in our squad to deal with Norwich, but it wont be easy.
(3,8)
Rush, Bomber,
wolves are no longer in the cup, Mick states they can now concentrate on relegation.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~~JtH.
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Sorry, should have said on T.V.(1954 final).
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Perhaps the clubs outside of the now big 5 should start a petition to have the 4th remaining Champions League spot go to the FA Cup winner? That would certainly bring back the magic of the cup.
I see we’re in for Hustzi…didn’t we try to get him a few years back when we first got Gera?
Any news Inside Man?
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Morning Jarrod.
An excellent summing up of the Crouch assault on Olsson (worthy of a professinal journalist)and the referee’s ridiculous assessment to avoid making a decision. Well done also for your restraint in merely attacking the standard of PL referees when the temptation must have been to call them cheats.
While I can be dismissed as being biased if I’m complaining about decisions affecting my own club why would I be biased about our greatest rivals. Wolves have been on the wrong end of as many major miscarriages as us and yet rarely do either of us benefit from these type of decisions.
On the FA cup I think it’s now official that the Final has been hidden away at tea time. How long before it’s relegated to a Tuesday night. It’s an old saying that’s never been more true than now. The people in control of our football ‘know the price of everything but understand the value of nothing.
Max.
As you’re free on Saturday, any chance you could do my shift for me. There’s a pint in it?
Happy.
I’m singing it already. Brilliant.
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Kevs making me hungry and Wall Heath Baggie is making me sad, not a good combination for my food eating disorder, and by disorder i mean i eat too much.
Kev sounds to me like you love sandwich making as much as i do. I have a new favourite at the moment, doesnt sound great but its a boster. Hot roast pork, pigs pudding,stuffing and mayo. My personal favourite is ramsays pigs pudding, give it a try.
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SUPER KEV IN MALLORCA
We have had our differnces recently but you are correct about the poor devils who would have to put up with me , lord knows i a’int the easiest person to live with at the best of times.
You bought a genuine tear to my eye with the story about your Dad because it was only ill health that stopped my late Father from attending the Hawthorns . You are right mate ir is in our blood and nowt you can do about it.
Love and Peace
Max.
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the Premier League generates more money than the FA Cup, therefore it is more important. that’s not the way i like it, and i’m sure it’s not the way any of you like it, but it’s the way it is
wall heath
i empathise emphatically. everything’s changing, and not much of it for the better. but, as Bomber and Kev point out, Albion is in my blood now. my dad put it there and let no man take it away
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20 TRBH
Not overly sure i have got the guts to do your job and i mean that with the utmost respect. I look forward to having a pint with you sometime.
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6,Wall Heath Baggie.
Totally agree with every thing that you say about the game,I hate the game but I love my club and that will never die.The only consistent thing about our current team is the inconsistency and that will keep us in the premier league so I will jump on my soap box and shout “Lets go for the cup”.The great team of the sixties and early seventies were also inconsistent in the league but the magic of those cup campaigns will live with me forever so lets go for it.
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We all remember the magnificent sight of John Wile playing against Ipswich with his head swathed in bloody bangages and we knew what it meant to him and the team – sad to think that if that game was played this weekend Wile would probably be “rested” !!
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20,Bully, as i aint got no footie to watch this weekend, ill stand in for ya.
I mean, how hard can it be to ask… “do you want fries with that” ?
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i hope we field a decent team would love a good cup run and with so mant prem teams going out of it could be anybodys year not only that we are all on a high after last week so lets keep the momentum going give one or two fringe players ago like Odumwingie …
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Cyril
Even you must be tiring of his futile attempts at antagonistic humour by now mate?
Adéu
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Lone Wolf,
Talking of McDonalds, I hear Steve Morgan has come up with a football franchise. He serves up cheap run of the mill football at over inflated prices to the masses of Wolverhampton, and calls it McCarthy’s. The masses are not taking to his fast food football, so he may have to throw in a pie and a pint to make them return for more drivel. He does have to try and fill his big new resturant after all.
You can at least enjoy your weekend off.
Au Revoir
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this is the first season for a while that i would welcome a cup run. theres enough in the squad to see the league job through, and for once the prospect of thrilling cup ties is very exciting rather than a distraction, cant wait for tommorrow
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Kev.
If we sign the two East Europeans I’ll leave you to write the songs for them.
Max.
I agree with your reasons and could probably add a few more of my own so why do we keep going? Cause we do, despite everything I can’t imagine not going up the Albion.
Lonely.
You don’t know how close that is to the truth these days. I’ll do a swap, which branch of Mothercare is it again?
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30 LT.
They also serve up promises of big signings, calling it the Whopper along with the Really Thick Mick Shake.
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A sad story. It’s 1953/4 season, I’m in the Royal Engineers in Aldershot, work my t*ts off to impress the O.C. and he’s impressed, so I get 36 hour and 48 hour passes just by smiling at him. I get to the Hawthorns at half time on a 36 and full game on a 48, so I see much of the League and Cup. Also I ran the Squadron Cricket and Football teams, so guess where the O.C. thought the sun shone from? The footie team, top of the League, scoring for fun, everybody Cyril’s mate, except ONE. We just didn’t hit it off, but he was a good player so I picked him. We had ONE ticket for the Baggies v Preston allocated to our Regiment. The O.C. had it for our team.
I was going to Wembley for the Cup Final as everybody in the squad promised it to me (at a price), if they won the raffle. Except One!
I watched it in the NCO’s NAAFI on a 9 inch black and white. (You may remember I’ve mentioned we beat Newcastle 7-3 that season on their pitch). Geordies! Hmmmph!
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Kev.29. Once a mate, always a mate with me.
I don’t necessarily agree with anything you or Sir Terence say, but I’ll fight to the death your right to say it. It’s called democracy, however crude it may be.
Max, we are all peed off with the corruption, the filthy lucre greed and sheer stupidity of the F.A and big clubs, but hope may be in sight. The new ruling that clubs must get their books balanced is upon us. YOUR club doesn’t play that game, so why kick them? If you cannot afford it, my sympathies are with you totally. But if you can, why punish yourself? Get your bottie up the Hawthorns and wedged in a thin seat, earplugs rammed home until 2.59pm, then you can hear the ref whistle, “Go Man Go”. For an hour and half the world and its worries may be forgotten.
Forgot to say: Well done Jarrod, nice blog mate. What kept ya?
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13) Kev, did he also tell you to take it off indoors, or “you wont feel the benefit” when you go out?
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Afternoon Gents,
Good piece of work again Bomber.
I agree with everyone about the merits of a cup run. You’d cherish winning the FA Cup until the day you died, who remembers finishing 15th?
There will only be 6-10 top flight teams left in the last 16, as good a chance as for a few years?
Wall Heath
Tax evasion and racism- I dare say these aren’t particularly new to the game. Perhaps we didn’t have the levels of surveillance and investigation we have within the media we have today.
I generally agree with the point you’re alluding to though, there are some really sick parts of the game. Darlington on the verge of going bust when a month’s wage for Carlos Tevez would keep them in business.
Anyone who loves English football can see we need a re-distribution of wealth (standardised wage cap?) and a re-remphasis on the importance of this fantastic cup competition. Trouble is everybody’s too scared to upset the money men. It might come to shipping them off and starting again before it all changes.
As for being in the blood, similar story to those above, dear lost relatives brainwashing you!! Still, wouldn’t swap it for the world.
Come on you Baggies!!!!
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TRBH – Pie and a pint – now known in Wolvo as a Unhappy Meal !!
I hear Mick has just signed the latest Irish starlet – Fillet O’ Fish….
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Firstly the Peter Crouch incident. It is mystifying as to why the FA have taken no action. In some ways I would have had more respect for Crouch if he had tried to thump Olsen instead of the girlish assault he tried to make. I suspect that neither his manager or team mates will be very pleased with the actions of a player who is one of the very worst to pull on an England shirt.
Cup competitions in most parts of Europe and the rest of the world are secondary to the league and with the number of foreign players and managers in our league it’s no surprise that the prestige of the FA Cup has diminished. Clubs will value their status in the Premier over all things I am afraid.
As for me one of the great days in my football life was seeing our beloved Jeff score that winner in 1968.It was a magical day out.
A young lad called Graham Lovett played in that game only to have his career ruined by two serious motor accidents . I think if he had been able to carry on playing he would have become one of our all time greats. Does anyone know what happened to him ? .
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29 Kev,
Let’s face it,this is getting way past ‘attempted humour’,don’t you think?
When Peter O. Made a bad pass against Norwich,he turned in my direction,and looked horrified,I thought he was going to burst into tears.
Last season,he had sessions with a psychologist,because his mental state appears very fragile.
Let’s just remember something-
P.O. Joined us after receiving racist abuse in Russia,and maybe it’s worth mentioning that he grew up there with a Russian mother,and a Nigerian father.
Do any of us know what his life was like there?
Now we seem to have people here who want to persistently criticise him,and drive him away from the Hawthorns.
It makes me embarrassed to be an Albion fan.
Some of these people need to hang their heads in shame.
And start acting like adults.
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34) Sapper Cyril, so next time I need to make withdrawal, and cant be bothered with all that pesky paper work, your the man to see, eh?
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Cyril.
I ain’t asking you to banish him to Siberia, I just saying I think he’s very childish at times.
Robin Brittain
Graham Lovett was one of my favourite players and one that my old man said reminded him of Duncan Edwards,enough said I think.
I think he lives in Sedgley and I seem to remember something about him working for Holdens Brewery.
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39,
Graham Lovett worked at the Express & Star for many years in the advertising dept I think.He then went to live in Spain and the last time I saw him was at the 68 cup reunion dinner in 2008 when he had emigrated to Thailand but spends alot of time over here.His cup final shirt used to be hanging on a wall in the King Arthur pub on the Park Hall estate in Walsall where Alan Ashman used to drink his pint of mild and read his newspaper.
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Graham Lovett rose to some prominence within the advertising function of this very newspaper.
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27 lonely,
Don’t be so sad,mucker-
as a wolves fan,you may not have a game to watch this weekend,but look on the bright side-
It’s the first time in months they won’t end up losin’.
There,I bet you feel better already,don’t you?
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As i aint got no game to go tomorrow i might kill two birds with one stone. I was gona nip down and see me mum in Wednesbury, so i might go and watch the game at the old C/C. ( do i need inoculations ? )
Is it sold out? (whom i kiddin)
Seriously,
1/How do i buy tickets with no supporter No, and 2/where is the best place to sit ?
I said SIT.
It would be interesting going and not being escorted there by 500 of the west midlands finest.
Jokes aside, football fan and any help with 1 and 2 would be appreiciated.
Be kind if you can be botherd at all.
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39 Robin,
I don’t know what Graham Lovett’s doing now,but a few months ago there was a program on Sky Sports called ‘The Time Of Our Lives’,and one episode had Jeff Stelling interviewing Albion stars from 1968-
Graham Williams,John ‘yorky’ Kaye,and Graham Lovett.
It was a fascinating show,and Graham talked about those serious injuries.
I still have it on my DVD recorder,and I could make copies on DVD discs,but it may be against the law,and as my mate here,TRBH,is a Lawman,he may lock me up and jangle keys in my face everyday,so I have to keep it to myself.
It’s a shame,but what can I do-my hands are tied.
Well they would be…………………:)
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46) Lone, just ring up you dont need a number, sit by me if you like, as if its like Cardiff game virtually had the row to myself, I ve got 96 and 97, row V, BRE.
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Lone Wolf,
Please go tomorow, and try to meet up with the regulars on here in the Sportsmen. Joking aside, I find you a witty charming person (not in the gay way, but there is nothing wrong with that anyway).
When I was a lad I used to go with my friend and his father to Villa, and enjoyed Andy Gray and Brian Little firing them in. Most of my buddies were Wolves fans, and I used to go and stand on the South Bank. A lot of people could not believe a fanatic Baggie like me, could do that. In fact my Wolves buddy went with me to the cup games, and got our tickets through wwfc for the West Brom vs QPR semi. I returned the favour and went to the Wolves vs Tottenham Semi at Hillsborough. So, in a round about way I am saying it is possible to enjoy, and even support your neighbours. Good luck, it will not change you, and you may enjoy it.
Au Revoir
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If this turns up twice, delete a copy please.
Lone really IS a Baggyboy underneath that dark yellow shirt. Problem is, will he bring the Shameless weather with him from Manchester?
Kev, Sir Tez was noted for his one-liners but has become a bit serious lately. It costs a small fortune to go to every away match as well as home ones and we have been victims of a few boring matches, have we not? Sufficient to lose form maybe, but class always comes to the fore in the end. Be gentle with him darling! I’ll bet you kiss the old donkey that’s feeling the strain.
41.WONOH, not an expert in withdrawals mate. My 4 kids would back me on that.
43.Streetly. I have seen an assortment of pictures and such in the King Arthur where all good Baggies who now reside in Walsall accumulate. You should hear the racket in there on match days. It’s a great atmosphere,
friendly people and they don’t put the prices up for occasional visitors like me. I’ll keep an eye out for you. (I was friends once with Crouch).
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Last time I spoke to Graham Lovett he was with Graham Williams before the cup semi-final which we won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Always reminded me of Duncan Edwards, flatly refused to be knocked off the ball. He would have played for England for many a year.
Off beam, had a sojourn at Pistyll Rhaeadr, Wales today. The waterfall is fantastic. Went through the village of “Knockin”, smashing little shop there but the missus wouldn’t let me go in for some reason. Snow on the hills and Snowdrops everywhere, it is beautiful in the valleys. Oh and my dog enjoyed it too.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Cantello 40) spot on mate – nothing futher to add. We seem to have an increasing number of supporters that find it easier to critisise rhather then support and encourage. They have their right to this but I cannot see how this can benefit any individual.
Re tomorrow – I really think that this tie gives us a good opportunity to progress and come the time of the draw, the last 16 will probably only include 8-10 Premier League teams. I hope Roy picks a team to progress but I do feel that he may ‘rest’ Olsson, Mulumbu and Long but I would otherwise play the best team available.
Re Crouch – why are we surpised? Tamas gets a 3 game ban for what happened at Norwich yet the clowns at the FA allow Lescott to get away with a worse offence on Kabul and not punishing Crouch encourages all to have a go at removing someone’s eye! An they run our game…..
Come on you baggies.
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Pleased to see the correspondence re Graham Lovett, one of my most favourite players. I was going to mention him when the subject of booing was being discussed. When he was making his return from his first accident he was booed when his name was announced – unbelievable! Anyway, he went on to win everybody over, and was certainly a huge loss to us and England. I reckon he had a shot as hard as Bomber, a tackle as strong as Kaye, and distribution nearly as good as Hope. Next time booing is discussed I’ll mention Ian Collard, who also was a decent player.
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Re Crouch. Opposition managers would have noticed how important Jonas is to our performances. It is my opinion that Crouch’s intention was to make Jonas swing his right elbow, however lightly, to shrug Crouch off. At which point Crouch would hurl himself to the floor, clutching his face and rolling about as though he was at death’s door. Red card for Olsson. It is my belief that there was a darker agent behind Crouch’s actions, but who that might be I don’t know. My crystal ball keeps projecting the letters P and T, but that means nothing to me.
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40, cantello
psychology is a massive part of modern day sport (not to suggest it hasn’t always played a part) but every Premier League club has its own Sports Psychologist. he/she ‘does the rounds’ on a regular basis. whether odemwingie requested the extra help of that professional person at the time you mention, or it was built up by the press, i know as much or as little as you do. whichever way, it seemed to work
as for the racism he had to endure in russia…are you telling me that a couple of dozen middle class teenagers at the back of the Brummie are likely to ‘drive him away from the hawthorns’ after that lot?
whilst i find the booing and jeering of players – any players – objectionable on matchdays, and would never do it myself, i’m afraid i can’t agree with your defence of odemwingie. he seems to have lost a lot of his game in a very short time and i don’t think we’ll see many more goals from him. his ability is unquestionable but his attiitude is not. goes without saying, of course, that ill’ be more than happy if he proves me wrong
warren
statistic after statistic after dull, mind-numbing, brain-hating statistic regarding odemwingie, and just about everything else for that matter, seems to curry favour with some. not i!
and if you EVER EVER EVER mention that one again, the one about long missing his penalty (which he did not) and odemwingie scoring his (which he did not) they’d be on the same goals (which they are not) i propmise to rip my own head off and bowl it down the street. you’re clearly a well educated fellow but you compound my long held belief that ‘educated’ and ‘clever’ are two very, very different attributes. though i might be wrong and you’re just as thick as me
anyway, my prediction;
baggies 3 norwich 0 (odemwingie, 3, 17, 82)
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I very much doubt whether this one will get through, adding to the fact the modertator is embarrassingly drunk in that wine-bar across the road in Queen st (good old mr C)
But here goes..
MON, it would be a pleasure to sit next to you at the game tomoz. Got the No.0871271978*(left the last digit out in case im breaking the law)
49, Lonely,(Bro), Thank you very much for your kind words. I do honestly try.
Ill have to play it by ear tmoz cus i dont know where the sportsman is; and if i did, what would i do, hold a banner up saying LONE WOLF ? (Dont think so, i wanna see the sun rise again ).If you made YOUR self noticed i could home in. But as a Dingle, i would make sure i had yours and your mates wallets away before i made me self known.
Try me hardist, and hope to meet you both at the game. X.
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Spot on tumpa
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55.sherlock. Gawd ‘elp us mate, I found your post almost agreeable. I say almost because you shoot from the hip, both barrels and occasionally with a marginally erratic aim.
I promise to try stay on the right side of you. I think.
We had a saying at Walsall Tech that high qualifications didn’t always mean ‘EDUCATION’.
We had several lecturers who were as high as the moon with qualifications but also addressed their students from the lofty seat they’d put there. You might be lucky and see them with a good telescope still yakking away, although the College has been razed to the floor! They won’t have noticed.
54.Bromham. You don’t post often enough mate. Spot on assumption re Crouch is how I saw it too.
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56) Lone, okey dokey, no problem at all, dont worry were all pussy cats really. I should be easy to spot, my nose is glowing like Rudolphs due to a cold, so take plenty of vitamin C before you take your seat.
50) Cyril, I see, two types of sapper, one that builds things, and the other blows them up again, I was looking for the latter.
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p.s., will try Sportsman if I can get time, besides glowing nose, will be wearing a trilby and carrying a club, easy enough to spot.
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55 Sherlock,
I guessed when I said what I said about P.O. that there might be a mixed reponse,because it’s one of those issues that can divide opinion,but as this is the place for people to put their point of view,there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I may be wrong about this,but from reading your previous posts,I get the impression that you’re a guy with a no-nonsense approach,and like a bit of discipline being used in matters.
You might think I’m more ‘liberal minded’,and want to wrap a protective blanket around someone like Pete,but in truth I’m not a modern ‘P.C.’ type of guy.
I said awhile ago that I’d like to see a tough,commited Captain driving us on,who would kick his teammates backsides if they didn’t give ‘their all’,and the reason my favourite player was Len Cantello is that he had plenty of attacking flair,and could look very stylish moving forward,but he was often used in defence,and his full blooded,fearless challenges would strike fear into present day strikers.
No,I wasn’t really trying to justify everything that P.O. does,it was more a case of having a back-handed swipe at people who choose an ‘hate figure’ on here,and use every opportunity to ‘have a dig’ at that person day after day after day.
The main point is that these so-called ‘experts’-
KNOW exactly what he earns
KNOW that he doesn’t want to play for us
KNOW that he isn’t trying,and
KNOW that he would’ve left in the Summer if any kind of offer came in.
In truth,they probably know Jack ****,and I’m losing patience with ‘em.
But not you.
Without creepin’,I honestly admire your straight-forward manner,and if I was Lennie Cantello in the late 70′s team,you could be his midfield partner,Bryan Robson.
(That’s as the player,I hasten to add,not as manager).
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Sorry Jarrod but don’t cancel your holiday on the back of a failed cup run. Romantic as it is let’s get another season in the Prem under our belt.
Lone Wolf. Everyone needs friend’s but you are taking the wee wee with this love in with your so called rivals.
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62 ‘bangkok wolf’
( aka dingle in toyland)-
as wolves are already knocked out,you may as well join lonely at the Hawthorns.
As you use an Albion name,it’s only right that you find out where we play,don’t you think?
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55, Sherlock
If that prediction comes in minutes included shall we go halves on lottery later
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Sherlock
I’m pleased to hear someone reads my posts, if the statistics bore you to tears, there’s always the page down button on the right.
CR78 makes a point about hate figures, I agree with him and I suppose I’m just trying to encourage support.
For how it’s perceived, I’m not particularly educated, I don’t profess to be, I’ve just got decent grammar which probably gives a false impression (am far less articulate in person). The other day I got called a nerd on here. Nothing could be further from the truth, I prefer ladies and lagers to libraries. But the Albion does strange things to us all.
If it makes you feel better, I’ll never mention the Odemwingie/Long stat again, as long as you promise to get behind PO whilst he’s in an Albion shirt, can’s say fairer than that?
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59WONOH. I did learn to build bridges on my 15 days Z reserve in 1955 at Ripon. I hated it! It peed down for the 3 days and nights and we got drowned. The river had swollen to twice its normal width too. Aldershot was a relative breeze as I was an HQ Draft Clerk Corporal. It was easy to stay polished and scrubbed to Aldershot levels as you never dared not to. Some great mates too, (other than one who went to MY Cup Final and did nothing but moan after). The football was something else. Usually very good pitches, excellent facilities and NO DIRTY PLAY. Lads were so happy playing football as a change from Army. I noticed a kid named Fotheringham has joined Wolves. I wonder if he is the grandson of Fotheringham who played for Arsenal and I played against in the Army ? I shall try follow that up.
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