West Brom’s Hawthorns hoodoo?
Tuesday 31st January 2012, 8:45AM GMT.
I think my nephew Noah best summed up Saturday’s disappointing loss against Norwich when he said “I watched that game a couple of weeks ago”, writes West Brom blogger Jarrod Hill.
Out of the mouths of babes, his observation as we left the East Stand was spot on and I told him maybe he should start writing the blog. Another game against Norwich that we dominated without creating enough chances to score the goals that would have won us the game. Another game we have lost in the last ten minutes due to not being able to see out games we are drawing, and another game we have lost at home, all adds to the frustration felt around the Hawthorns at the moment.
The first surprise of the day was the team sheet. The first choice back four were all rested and with Jara and Mattock installed as our two fullbacks my pessimism started to emerge. Joe Mattock has never convinced me, however I was prepared to be proven wrong, and I fully understood why Roy decided to rest key players with two tough games coming up this week.
After watching Mattock on Saturday I hope Jeremy Peace realises that Roy needs some reinforcements. We lack cover at left back, and Mattock is no more a Premier League defender than I am. I don’t want to sound reactionary to another home loss and we certainly don’t need any knee jerk decisions to be made. But we have known for ages that Nicky Shorey needs someone who can act as cover and provide competition for his left back slot. One day to go and unless we meet Birmingham’s valuation of Liam Ridgewell at some time during the next few hours we will be looking at struggling through until the end of he season.
The talk of a home hoodoo is providing cover for the real reasons why we are struggling to win games at the Hawthorns. I have read all sorts of theories ranging from the size of the pitch to some blaming the fans.
In my opinion two basic things have hampered us at home. Firstly individual errors, Craig Dawson being the most recent, but he has joined a list including Ben Foster, Chris Brunt, James Morrison, Youssouf Mulumbu and Paul Scharner who have all sloppily gifted visitors’ goals this season. I do have some sympathy for young Dawson as he had played well up until the point he gifted Norwich an undeserved winner. But his sloppy play followed Morrison gifting Norwich a throw in and before that Joe Mattock gifting possession to our opponents for the umpteenth time.
Roy can coach formations, set pieces and team shape all day every day, but if players continue to make individual errors what can he do?
Our other problem at home as I see it is our balance of attack. We go through the same process of play nine times out of ten when attacking. The ball gets moved throughout our back four, it then goes wide, eventually we get Jerome Thomas on the ball and he attacks the box. Although I see JT as our best wide attacker, due to the slowness of getting the ball to him he rarely gets behind his full back and his crosses are met by a defence that has everyone back behind the ball. Coupled with the fact we are still not committing midfielders getting into the box our attacks are too often snuffed out with a clearing header. It all adds up to an attack that is far too predictable, and we need to mix it up.
Opposing teams have simply sat back and soaked up the pressure because it is all being played in front of them. We just don’t get behind defences anywhere near as much as we need to, and we must realise that sometimes an early long ball behind a defence will suit players like Peter Odemwingie, Jerome Thomas and Shane Long. Chris Brunt has so often been the player to deliver defence splitting passes and I concede that we are missing his ability on the ball. But our style of play whilst in possession certainly isn’t helping our creativeness.
As you read this blog the clock will be ticking down on transfer deadline day and although I do not feel as desperate as I have in recent seasons to see people arrive, certain positions do need looking at. Left back we have already mentioned and the injuries to Zoltan Gera and Chris Brunt have robbed us of two wide players.
Morrison has spoken out over the weekend of his own frustration at our perceived lack of ambition. I would hope his own feelings do not reflect those of the rest of the players and his outburst seems ill timed. He was our captain on Saturday and as a senior member of the squad comments such as these should be kept internal.
The majority of fans understand that our club is run on a strict fiscal financial policy, and we only spend what we can afford to. We all have ambition, the fans, the players, the management, but that has to be tempered with a little realisation.
The fact is I do hope the club manage to strengthen the squad today, I will be watching with great interest.
Up the Baggies.
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don’t mention the crowd. i did it earlier but i think i got away with it…
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From what i have heard the only deal possible today is for Liam Ridgewell. Birmingham want £2mill and we have offered just over £1mill.
I was listening to the radio coming into work this morning and i heard that so far the spending in this transfer window is £27mill compared to £220mill last year. A huge difference, obviously the Torres/Carroll transfers were a big chunk, but it does highlight the fact few clubs have money to spend.
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Maybe we should play towards the Brummie Road in the first half! As for transfers, we will never get better quality players while that Dickens character is in charge,it’s not about us not doing business in January, we missed out in the summer too!
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The only position where I think we need long term cover is at left back. In fact “cover” is the wrong word as if we did sign Ridgewell, I would put him straight in the side in place of Shorey who has often looked past his best this season. The fact that Roy is looking at wide players is a reflection of the injuries that we have & although we clearly need more impetus going forward at the moment I’m not sure that signing someone just to cover the remainder of the season is what we should be doing or what JP would want us to do.
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Great blogg as usual Jarrod how right is young Noah a few of the fans sitting by me where going on about how dirty Grant Holt was and howls of get the card out ref but i couldent help thinking to myself i wish he played up front for us imagine Shane feeding off him…
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Bomber.
Smashing blog, my sentiments exactly on our attacking play, so one-paced. Also for our first present, who was supposed to be marking their goal scorer at the far post?, that should be basic defending. Glad we have Jeremy Peace holding our reigns otherwise we would be another Portsmouth if some of our fans were in charge. Our players DO get paid every month, no matter what Mozzer says in the heat of the moment. Their are quite a few clubs who would give their eye teeth to be in our position. Look at the positives, you fans know it makes sense.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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TAN
Funny you should mention Holt. My dad has been saying since the summer that what we miss is a target man. MAF is kind of, and its interesting that he has been brought in from the cold.
The Hoff
I agree totally. However the loan market seems to have drawn a blank.
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Ridgewell fee agreed, discussing personal terms.
Also heard we are awaiting an answer from a PL club re a loan deal.
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it would be good to see a couple of new signings today, Here we are again leave everything to the last minute, we should have had this sorted well before 11-00 clock tonight Westbrom needed to strengthen the team due to all injuries we have been suffering with.So come on jp & rh work together on this problem because we need to fight for another season in the premeirship and we need enough ponts to stay up.
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Would love a winger and/or a target man, even if only on loan. Until I hear more, I’m going continue my wishful thinking that K.Jones might fancy playing regular football for us ’til the end of the season :)
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In regards to the norwich game it was very disappointing to say the least, but its gone now. It was an opportunity for certain players to stake a claim for first team which in my view didn’t take. The negative vibes towards roy I don’t get with fans. All entitled to opinions so I won’t critisise but I personally am 100% behind roy. We would all love to be able to splash millions but it just isn’t possible for us to throw silly amounts of cash at potential signings. But if ridgwell signs its valuable cover in defence, and just maybe a surprise or two may happen. You never no.
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Great blog Jarrod, I agree with everything you’ve written.
Fingers crossed.
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Hi Jarrod,
as you say,the comments from Jimmy were not helpful yesterday,but I’ve seen him interviewed a number of times,and although he’s fairly quietly spoken,he can be a bit mischievious,and often drops out something to create a bit of a stir.
And like others,I found ‘Beevower’s’ post yesterday to be excellent.
I think Jimmy did say that we have the quality in the present squad to move forward,so whatever happens today,I’m sure we’ll be OK at the end of the season.
As for additions,we do have to be careful-
some people may be saying that we need a new target man,but-
remember that we were going to pay a new club record salary to John Carew?
Any what’s happened to him,by the way…..?
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7 Bomber must agree with your dad i thank Holt would be a great asset for us and many other clubs as you say MAF is a sort of target man but more of a hold the ball up type of player and on his day theres no one better as he proved at stoke but imo Holt is a type of take no prisoners player knows where the net is and he can cross a ball to as we found out to our cost …
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If we sign Ridgewell his flexibility to play LB or CB provides us with good options. I have two Blue noses in my sales office and they both reckon he has played well this season and 2mill is cheap. However he is much more comfortable defending than he is going forward.
Also if he does sign, our average height since the days of The Mowbray Midgets is on the increase again.
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Can’t argue with any of that, I think the home form problem is quite simple really and you’ve already mentioned it we are simply too slow at getting the ball forward at home. Cast your mind back to the Wolves match we won that by hitting an early ball every time for Long to chase after and he ran them ragged by stretching their defence and bringing others into play, which is how we play away. Obviously visiting teams may sit deeper when at the Hawthorns but they will attack at some point and then is the time for the early ball. Oh and your bang on about Mattock!
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Good blog Jarrod, eloquent as usual, but I do disagree with you about the hoo doo, and I am embarrassed to admit it, for I am not a child, I am not religious, and I don’t believe in luck as such, so you could call me sceptical and not easily lead. But, some times in life you just have to accept that things happen that no one can give a logical, rational explanation for, such has our home form v away form. How many times have we heard “he hasn’t scored for 2 years” only to have them pop up and do it (Wigan, Everton game) or a commentator put the curse on a game by saying its in the bag etc, only for the team with it in the bag, suddenly throw it away, or the years we have lost to Stoke, why? they are no better than us, and I know I have seen at least half a dozen games where they were decidedly poorer, yet still bagged the points. Like I said, I cant give a rational explanation, wish I could, but there’s defiantly something in it, and sooner or later (please let it be sooner) its got to give. Just hope when it does our away form does not desert us at the same time. That would be a kick in the nads!
p.s. 11am and only 12 posts, I hope the threatened boycott hasn’t begun.
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Broadly agree with your assessment, Jarrod. I’ve little doubt Ridgewell will sign and whilst not being that keen, I recognise he’s better than we have already.
I do want to comment on this however:
“The majority of fans understand that our club is run on a strict fiscal financial policy.” An interesting word, ‘understand’, isn’t it? We ‘know’ how Mr Peace runs the club, I ‘understand’ the soundness of not plunging Albion into huge debt, but I do ‘question’ the conservative culture surrounding the club.
Before getting a history lesson, I’ve attended the Hawthorns since 1977, so I know about men such as Milichip, Silk and the odd-one-out, Thompson. Peace hasn’t broken the mould I know. I’m not seeking to turn the Hawthorns into a chicken farm or a Russian oilfield, but it would be nice to feel that the club I support had ‘get-up-and-go’ rather than the smell of a funeral parlour.
No doubt some will accuse me of disloyality or unrealistic expectations – I believe neither is true. In the 21st century, whether I like it or not, football is more than the goings on on the pitch and that means widening the club’s appeal.
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CR78
He’s at West Ham, but I’m not sure how much game time he’s getting. I think we definitely dodged a bullet there!!!
On the general subject of Jimmy, there’s been a lot of discussion on what he said, nobody’s yet pointed out the huge contradiction in what he said:
“We have a lot of top-half players”; and
“If we sign anybody we’ll most probably not have heard of them”.
Yes but Jimmy, nobody had heard of arguably our two most effective (top half) players when we signed them- Olsson and Mulumbu.
TAN
I always have doubts when a lower-division players comes into the Premier League and does well for a few months. Is it a flash in the pan, like DJ Campbell? I always got the impression Holt was a bit of a carthorse, has he got more to his game? We’ll see in the next 12 months I guess…..
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One thing I learned a long time ago, listen to what kids say. It’s honest, perceptive and not ‘coloured by life’. Spot on young Noah.
Let’s also hope that the kids who made mistakes have the strength to learn from them.
We all do it, theirs are witnessed by many, ours we try to keep secret.
3.Terry. Remember the Dickens character ‘Christmas Past’ mate? 3rd Division, tiny crowds, no hope? At least we have a ‘Christmas Future’. Things could be better, yes, but they could be a damn sight worse too.
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Where is inside man? This should be his busiest posting day of the year!!
Had a dream last night that Ridgewell, Moses, Zaha, Gardner, Andy Johnson and Jordan Rhodes all climbed out of an A-Team style van at the Hawthorns to sign on the dotted line!!
Question – If you were allowed one realistic signing apart from Ridgewell who would you go for?
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B90- Moussa Dembele. Can play out wide and upfront, great feet, take pressure off Odemwingie and Long.
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Today’s the day the inside man really comes into his own. Any news?!
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19) Warren, not sure I agree with you about Campbell, he broke his foot in October, and has been struggling to get back to full fitness since. Some of you may recall I was a big advocate for signing him back in the summer, one because he had proven he could score in the Prem, and two, he fitted in with our realistic player pricing.
Bit like Odem this season, he has stuttered, yet we know what they are both capable of, I wouldn’t right either one of them off just yet.
My other shout was Danny Graham, if you remember, has we were lead to believe that he was going to be half the price of Shane Long at 3.5 mill (although that did turn out to be false). That said (and don’t get me wrong I like Long and think he was a decent signing) Long has scored 7 goals in all competitions to Graham’s 9, so not a bad shout I am sure you will agree.
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21) B90, if you wanted to be nasty you could say Henessey, because you know without him Wolves will go down, that’s if you wanted to be nasty of course!
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Warren – Agree with Dembele, he is class.
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23
He’s probably busy helping to tie up the Ridgewell deal!
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21) B90, actually, now I have had time to think about it, Foster would be a good start!
If reports are to be believed (and why not?) he’s really got up his parent clubs (Blue) noses by encouraging us to go for Ridgewell.
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B90
I like Victor Moses, and if Wigan go down i would love us to go get him.
As for inside mans absence, maybe he is very busy wink wink?!
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WONOH
I remember us discussing Campbell in the summer. On the subject of knowing what he and PO are capable of, I’d still say PO’s CV is in a different stratosphere. I could be wrong about Campbell, if we sign him I hope I am, but much of his CV consists of non-league football and modest scoring records in the football league (about 23 in 100 with Brentford, Blues and Leicester). Only one season in PL with Blackpool counters that. Jury’s still out for me….
LMS
Where have you been? Good to have you back….
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Not on here yet but Sky are saying Zamora’s going to QPR and then Fulham are going to try and land Odemwingie. Quite worrying considering the only forwards we’ve been linked to (Davies, Pogrebnyak???, Maynard) are already talking to other clubs as we speak so we won’t have a replacement lined up and considering Odemwingie’s been out of the team of late and took some uncalled for stick he may want to leave.
Be very suprised though if Dan and JP allowed him to leave without replacing him.
Warren
Just been very busy at work mate.
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Reports coming in are that we have agreed a fee to sell PO to Fulham. If this deal goes through please tell me we have a replacement lined up?????
Only last week the club told us he wouldnt be sold.
Hope its only a rumour.
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30) Warren, fair points, accepted
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30 Warren,
I haven’t been listening to the transfer activity so far,probably because I glanced at the TV on and off for a few hours last Jan. deadline and nothing really happened.
Reading JT’s post,he mentions that with Fortune back in favour,and the quality of Shane Long and P.O. on the bench at the weekend,he believes we’re pretty strong in that area.
With JT and Brunty having problems,you do feel that the smart money is on one more addition-namely,a wide midfielder!
We’ll know exactly what’s happening soon enough.
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It looks like in the time it’s taken me to type a post,there’s been some Albion activity going on.
Maybe I should quickly post a dozen more times!
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bomber
Hodgson just said in his press conference that no enquiry has been made and he’s not for sale…
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Bomber
I’ve got talksport on at work and their reporter in midlands said its not true and roy has quickly denied it.
The only way I could see it is if maybe a johnson was part of the deal maybe???
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Bomber/LMS
Roy’s dismissed those reports
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PO not for sale, Roy has just been interviewed. Told myself i wouldnt get caught up in this madness today but i have.
Currently receiveing about three text messages a minute, things going off in a minute.
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The club are talking to a few clubs, but other than ridgewell no real progress is being made. If deals are going to be done it won’t be until last minute. I’ll post anything if anything happens that isn’t reported first.
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Bomber
Are they to do with the Albion or did you text ‘FLIRT’ to 81336?
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Inside Man
Cheers Dan, keep plugging away, we’re all behind you.
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CR78
If we were close to signing Huzsti, perhaps we’ll have a look at available wide men.
I agree with JT though, think sometimes us supporters get caught up in talk of fantasy signings (Ridgewell) and lose sense of where we’re at, which is IMO still a fairly good place even if we don’t sign anybody else, unlike previous years where signings have perhaps been critical.
On a different note, what else could you possibly be watching at 3pm in the afternoon? Surely not Loose Women?
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I don’t know if this is now old news,but Sky have just announced that the Ridgewell deal has finally been completed and rubber stamped.
So who’s next?
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peter odemwingie left training this
morning -fulham ..
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Three out & one in at the moment
Now that seems a familiar story,go on JP another 6 hours to go, now go and prove me wrong !!!!
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Well done ALBION, Ridgewell Is a much needed addition to our squad, giving us more height in defence. Certainly cranks up our squad a touch. He will be ready for the NETTO-GHETTO match.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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I’m now waiting for apologies from the doubters to Jeremy Peace. Wonder who will be first.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Warren
Just thought i would let you know the next big transfer.
I am about to transfer from my desk in my office, to my drivers seat in my car, and from there who knows, maybe the settee at home!!
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Streetly
I make it Allan and Ridgewell in and Bednar out…….
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43 Warren,
3 p.m. in the afternoon is the only time I’m NOT watching loose women……..
ouch!…who was that?
‘Oh,sorry dear,I was only joking on the net,honest…….’
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45 woody-
your story about P.O. is completely wrong mate,you’re barking up the wrong tree…….
best leaf it alone……….
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Jack the Hat.
Apologies for what?
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Don’t know what is going on but E&D have blocked off all wolves post boards. I thought E&D had locked Inside Man in the toilet without his mobile-p, so that he wouldn’t beat them to the draw with ALBIONS transfer news.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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50, Warren
Jara & Mattock on loan at Brighton
Allan has only played a handful of games in his professional career so I have not included him in our first team squad !!!
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Just signed Liam Ridgewell, if this is going forward then go and sign Stacy North and Arthur Albiston back, its sideways at best or back a few steps in my opinion.. come on Albion we can do better than that, would the Villa really have sold him to the Enemy Blues if he was any good … i think not !
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52, Rocket. Dont give up the day job.(no pun intended)
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48, Jack the Hat
Please read 46,
I think Jeremy is directing things from his new pad in Jamaica.
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Keith Andrews could be our next one in, discussions underway
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57 Lone WOLF,
and I thought it would have you HOWLING with laughter…….
(Lonely,I can make ‘em even worse than THAT if you don’t shut up…….)
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Foster, Tamas, McCauley, Olsson, Shorey, Cox, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Morrison, Odemwingie, Fortune. Team for tomorrow. I may not be able to be back on here again. If I am it will only be to break some interesting news.
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(53)
Bangkok,
As Tan would say, “If yo Dow Know ar bay tellin ya.
(58)
Streetly,
He con be on Mars, Chip, eez,s dewin a bostin job, ay ee. Obviously befower ee went eez tode um weer t put their feet, ay ee.
Looks like Inside Man Is going to be very busy until after 23:00 Hrs.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Cheers Inside Man. It really is good to have your input although I will admit to being a teeny weensy bit surprised the club don’t insist on vetting your comments first. I think they may realise that this site is a somewhat unique and keeps us in close contact with the club. Keep ‘em coming young man, (I can say that as everyone is younger than I am). Oh, and DON’T tell anyone who you are. Now THAT is an order!
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(58)
Streetly,
Bostin tewls bay thay Chip, these moovin talk boxiz. Yo con spake from onnyweer cor ya?. Bar wen youm at thu fut o them theer Welsh maentins.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Vav Persie caught Cuellar with his elbow. The F.A. can’t act in retrospect because the referee saw the incident, Now explain to me regarding the Crouch/Olsson incident why the F.A. asked the referee (Friend) for his opinion when he never saw the incident and couldn’t act on their own accord to see justice done. The F.A. are not fit for purpose.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Jarrod.
Due to the amount of time spent at work and the ensuing tiredness I’ve missed the boat on this one a bit but had to comment on a really good blog. I don’t agree 100% it would be strange if I did but a brilliant and fair summing up.
Grant Holt. I seem to remember pre season we were being linked with him and many on here being extremely underwhelmed.
11 tumpa.
Nothing sensational in your very good post except ‘all entitled to opinion,’ wise words and I will try to learn and digest, no promises though.
13 Rocket.
There were a number of excellent posts like Beevower’s on that thread but what made me smile was the number of people that had total faith in James Morrison’s financial acumen. I think I’d rather trust Shadrag to invest my money than a footballer.
19 Warren.
And James Morrison was hardly a household name either.
41 Warren.
You shouldn’t have revealed that number, don’t forget Cyril’s on here.
46 Streetly.
As you were saying, 3 in 3 out that balances the wage bill nicely. Just what a well run club should be doing.
56 Cyril.
I think you ought to get your nephew to post a disclaimer on your behalf.
PS Jarrod.
I think I know who Inside Man is, not personally but the position he holds and I think Cyril is right that the club obviously don’t mind or it would have been stopped. I’ve aslo wated time replying on a thread that is now probably history, never mind it’s kept me out of mischief for a bit.
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