Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Shane Long tipped to give Baggies a boost
Tuesday 7th February 2012, 10:59AM GMT.
West Brom’s Gareth McAuley today claimed Shane Long can give the Baggies a mental edge if he returns for Sunday’s Black Country derby.
The Ireland international terrorised Wolves in Albion’s 2-0 Hawthorns win in October as he started his Baggies career in red-hot form.
He has been laid low by a back injury and illness in recent weeks but hopes to return for Sunday’s televised clash at Molineux.
And McAuley believes his presence could play on the minds of Mick McCarthy’s side.
“Longy started the season fantastically and we probably do miss his presence because he’s got a reputation,” said McAuley.
“I know from playing against him that he never gives people any peace.
“That can get in the minds of the opposition when they think he’s going to chase everything down and run the channels all day.
“That’s what he’s good at so he’s a different type of prospect to the players we’ve got playing at the moment.
“Chris Brunt is an important player and has been for a number of years for the club and it will be like a new signing when we’ve got him back. They are different options for us when they’re available.”
Long is confident of being fit for the Molineux match after sitting out Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Swansea.
But McAuley does not believe the Baggies will rush him back unless he is fully fit. “It’s important but there are a lot of games to go and we need to be patient with Shane,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get him back sooner or later, fit and able to play and to carry the battle.”
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Long and Fortune up front is the only way we’ll outscore anybody while we keep chucking goals away
(how come nobody’s accused Long of skiving since he’s signed his PL contract…won’t be long i bet…)
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It would be great to see Long back with Osaze coming off the bench.
Team
Foster,
Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell,
Tchoyi, Andrews, Mulumbu, Shorey,
Long,
Fortune.
BOING~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Gareth McAuley is doing a lot of tipping recently. Could he be looking for an alternative job as a restaurant critic? Sorry, that was so weak I’ll try to cover it up with a COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!!!!
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Puffy Power!!! get him in straight away on Sunday as he will be raring to go.
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Big Hoo-Ha after wolves had a lucky win against ten men at Q.P.R., after Sunday it will be back to Boo-Baa. They wont miss Ding-Dung as Henry the clogger will be back.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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JTH were you on the pop last night???
Tchoyi has never performed when he has started, shorey simply isnt a midfield player, Scharner gives stability, aerial cover and simple use of the ball – wasnt our football more conbtrolled when he came on saturday – i think so
would you really have andrews instead of scharner??
foster
Reid McAuley Olsson Ridgewell
morrison mulumbu scharner thomas (fit??)
Long
Fortune
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My opinion of the team.
Foster
Reid
McCauley
Olsson
Ridgewell
Morrison
Mulumbu
Andrews
Thomas
Odemwingie
Long
Sub
Fulop
Jones
Scharner
Tchoyi
Fortune
Cox
Dorrans
That’s what I expect it to be even if I dont think its the correct selection.
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I see that the Daily Telegraph is carrying a story that Roy Hodgson’s job may be under threat if we lose on Sunday. I would think and hope that this is highly unlikely in view of what he has done for us but there is a section of the press and some fans even on this site who seem determined to undermine him at the slightest opportunity. Whether or not Shane Long lights the spark remains to be seen but I think all the players owe a huge debt to the manager for keeping us in the Premier League. It’s time that the players with Odemwingie and Dorrans in particular producing what they are capable of.
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Seeing as everyone’s picking their team, here’s mine:
Foster
Reid
Olsson
McAuley
Ridgewell
Morrison
Andrews
Mulumbu
Scharner
Thomas
Long
Subs:
Fulop
Jones
Dorrans
Odemwingie
Fortune
Boing Boing
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Diffrence is when Long plays he runs his heart out for the team which is more than can be said for a certain saint …
as for andrews dont want ex dingle in our team …
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JTH, I will be eagerly scouting the boards on Sunday afternoon. I hope you are as gracious in defeat as you are indignant after a bad display by your lot.
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It is the dingles we are playing this weekend? Okay, let’s play the 2nd string;
Cyril
JTH
TRBH
CR
1954 Baggie
Bomber
Ken in Mallorca
Warren
Sherlock
Insider Man
Beevoer.
Should just about do it. I’ll have me boots in case anyone gets tired!!! (Apologies to those not included but I thought that we would go easy on them).
Seriously, I am not bothered who we play as long as we win although I would play Scharner in the centre of midfield!
Come on you Baggies!
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I see Hodgson has been quoted again saying he wants to put Odemwingie and Long together which will again mean 4-4-2.
I don’t normally complain but his stubborness is really beginning to grate on me now and for the first time this season I’m starting to worry. I just wish he would go 4-5-1 and have us really play to our strengths rather than just being ‘hard to beat’…which at the moment we aren’t.
Lose on Sunday and potentially we’re going to be in major trouble as after that it’s Sunderland who are flying then Chelsea and Utd.
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Go on then, I’ll pick a team as well:
Foster
Ridgewell
McAuled
Olsson
Jones
Mulumbu
Scharner
Thomas
Morrison
Dorrans
Fortune
I’d be surprised if we don’t go with both Mulumbu & Scharner as holding midfielders for this game & Ridgewell must be a nailed on certainty for left back given how poor Shorey has been this season. Roy could opt for Andrews in place of Dorrans although his lack of match practice may count against him. Similarly, a fully fit Long would be the obvious choice up front on his own but Fortune has done the business recently so should keep his place for the moment. Reid may also get the nod over Jones for the timebeing but the lad has gone very well when he has played so I expect him to feature heavily over the remainder of the season.
Anyway, I suppose we will have to wait until Inside Man gives us the official team on Friday before we know who has guessed right.
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jack
why don’t you ask mick if you can pick the wolves team?
you’re clearly more interested in them than us.
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12, steve
love it mate, somebody’s picked a sensible team at last
though of course if i play rubbish they’ll all be shouting for your head monday morning.
don’t say i didn’t warn ya
POOLE OUT!
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(6)
Stone Cross,
Why shouldn’t Tchoyi be given a chance to prove you wrong. We are short of a left wide men and I believe Shorey could give us strength we need as a wide man. Cox was given a go on the right, remember. Oh and being as you asked, yep, one scotch.
(11)
Odd Fellow,
Thanks for “YOUR” Hoo-Ha. Exactly what I was on about @ (5). See you after Sunday.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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My team for the dingles…
Whoever
Roy
Thinks
Is
Best
For
The Job
Cos He’s
A Better
Manger
Than-Me
Subs
Foot long with meatballs and cheese.
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(15)
Sherlock,
Wouldn’t dream of doing Laughingwolf out of a job mate.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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When is it going to be clear to Roy or anyone else (after many attempts) Odewinge and Long just do not play well together. Ode has had his chance over the last few weeks with Fortune so now give Long a chance. Ode should come off the bench. Plus full backs should be Jones and Ridgeway with Andrews, SAharmer and Mulumbu in midfield.
Team : FOSTER JONES RIDGEWAY ANDREWS McCAULLY OLLOSSON SHARNER MULUMBU MORRISON FORTUNE LONG
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18 happy
best one yet mate, though SC Baggie has other ideas
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jack
hadn’t thought of that, sorry
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10. Sorry Tan, I agree with your point on Odemwingie but I’m not with you on Andrews, give the guy a chance he’s not even played yet!
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My opinion against wolves;
formation 4-2-3-1;
Long
Thomas, Mozza, Odemwingie
Mulumbu, Scharner
Ridgewell, McAuley, Ollson, Reid
Foster
Subs;
Andrews, Allan, Fortune, Dorrans, Cox, Jones, Tchoyi
Bring Allan & Andrews on the 76th min & Dorrans on 84th :)
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Can’t beleive that fans are putting Andrews in there team for Sunday he’s not better than the lot we have got .confussed.com on this one please say why you have chosen this lad thanks
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12.Steve. Better put me on the bench mate, my confidence has taken a battering. That team looks like the MAS almost in full. At least we’d all take the blame for any goals we let in.
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We will not go down this season, even if it is only because the teams at the bottom are not that great. I think that the only legitimate criticism of Roy Hodgson is his tendancy to play 4-4-2. This system works best when you have:
- a ‘big hold-up man – little fast man’ combination up front.
- a couple of fast wingers that also track back and do their share of getting a foot in.
We do not have enough talent to play this system:
- we don’t have a true ‘big-little’ combination. Probably the closest we’ve got to it is Fortune-Odemwingie.
- Roy has coached our wingers into tracking back, a chronic failure last season. Our only true winger is however Jerome Thomas who is quite visibly double-marked by the opposition as one of our principal creative threats.
Roy has however had to suffer from a number of situations which we did not have to face last year:
- the loss of the two players that we have that are closest to a ‘playmaker’. We have looked at our best in the two games that Zoltan Gera was back – before another injury that ended his season.
Chris Brunt is not liked by some fans as he doesn’t look ‘passionate’ enough but the fact remains that he was our top player for assists last year and was well on track to repeat this until his first serious injury since he joined the Baggies. Without these two we lack the creativity to unlock defences at home.
- a chronic dose of ‘second-seasonitis’ from Peter Odemwingie. Peter is the ultimate confidence player and even last season had a dip in form in the middle when he couldn’t seem to do anything right. This season however he has yet to get going.
- the loss of Shane Long to a series of niggling injuries. In the first few games of the season he really looked the part. While he is more consistent than PO and puts in more consistent effort, he has not been at full strenght for quite a while.
These are things about which Roy can do very little except wait for the injuries to end or the form to come back.
Nevertheless, we are one of the best teams in the division away from home which is saving our bacon at the moment. There are sound reasons for this. The defensive solidity that Roy has drilled into us enables us to hold out (we have yet to be thrashed this season, unlike last year, except maybe Swansea away & L’pool at home) and the pace that we have in the side can use the breaks and counter-attacks that we get.
In the end, the second season target for a side like us is staying up, which I still expect us to do. We are in my opinion better than Wolves, Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan. In my opinion I think QPR might be in trouble from too many changes. WE will stay up!
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Sherlock
Great point- that Long, he’s always injured, mustn’t be bothered now he’s got his big contract.
Steve Poole
That’s a great shout, unfortunately Inside Man revealed that line-up earlier in the week.
My only qualms are that Cyril’s not as agile as he used to be in net; TRBH’s a screw so could find himself getting dragged out of position looking after people; CR78 might spend the first half hour trying to work out if any of our players are actually members of the opposition; Bomber’s convinced we’ll lose anyway and Kev only plays when the sun is out.
Happy Baggie
Great post, I particularly liked the subs although I’ve spent the last 10 minutes trying to think of a joke about us being toasted/the subs being toasted/in a pickle…….I never did quite get there.
On a serious note and as a general point, I think it’s easy for us to get sucked into who should play, who shouldn’t play, who’s rubbish, who’s not.
Ultimately the squad and players we’ve got have been good enough to win games they haven’t recently and whichever team we pick on Sunday is good enough to win the game, no question. But if we’re timid, passive, languid and generous then we probably won’t.
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IMO Jimmy Morrison and Paul Scharner can be the brains and braun for us.
The attack is a strange one and although Pete is well below par I think he is the man to socre for us! Long can run all day and score but Pete can put that killer blow in (when he wants) plus he has scored both times he’s played against them.
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Sherlock……………I take it back you are right leave it to Roy.
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Our problem at home is simple,we have too much possession and not enough clear goal scoring opportunities ,reverting to 4-5-1 is our best way out Ridgewell for Shorey at the back,Long up front with Tchoyi just behind and Odemwingie on the right of Scharner Mulumbu and Thomas
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Congratulations Zoltan on winning the “Hungary 2011 Four Four two Goal of the year” award. Still remember when your goal stuffed wolves down their end when we beat them four times in one season.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Good solid result at Fulham, appauling result against one of the poorest away teams in the league on Saturday and a blockbuster of a Black Country derby toplay on Sunday.
We need to pick it up against Wolves. Whoever gets that confidence boost should be able to pull away.
We need 15 points to be safe, maybe less. As we seem to throw every game at home away I guess we need to find the majority of those points away. Bolton, Wigan, Everton and Wolves are our best bets. We might get one more result but I think its safe to say we won’t get anything from United, City and Liverpool. This still leaves us needing one result at home for safety.
Come on Baggies we really do need this one.
Boing Boing
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Wolves players bigging up their lucky win against Q.P.R.s ten men, They will look really stupid if they lose on Sunday.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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I think Jack is secretly in love with the Wolves.
A bit like the girl you fancied at school.
Always running her down in front of your mates but can never shut up about her.
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There’s a lot at stake on Sunday. If we win, we’re miles in front of Wolves, if they win, they’re nibbling at our heels. Our away form must worry them and if we can frustrate them early on, their crowd will get restless. Nearly all games show a pattern 20 minutes in. Clive the Hairdresser always said this and he was right more often than not.
Long and Fortuné to start if Long is FULLY fit. Then Pete to come on with 20 minutes left, running at a tired defence. Why Long? No nerves that I’ve seen as yet. Remember his penalty? As good as I’ve seen. Let’s have Mulumbu and Scharner together because Mulumbu has looked a shadow of himself recently. Morrison roaming midfield, shooting from anywhere, any distance. I’d be annoyed if I were Tamas, dropped after a very good performance at Fulham. On form, he’s an International and it showed. JT always first on my team sheet. Jonas as Captain. I think Shorey should play too, mainly because he knows how we play away. Foster and McAuley are fixtures now. Both teams, I would wish for 11 v 11 for the whole match. No vicious stuff, just a good, old fashioned Black Country derby. May the better team win, us I hope.
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12 Steve,
I see in your team,you’ve got me left outside,sorry left side cental defence,in for Jonas.
If he’s not playin’,can I have his headband,so my flowin’ blondisssh locks don’t hit Bully in the face?
By the way,I see you’ve got no one on the bench-
my neighbours are both football fans,one side of me is a Scottish guy named Hughie,the other side is a Polish guy who moved in recently,a nice chap by the name of Arris.
They’re both very keen to play,so-
can Pole Arris and Hugh Boatt be the subs??
(What…………….?????)
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28 Warren,
yoh med me loff out loud,cheeky monkey.
By the way,you live in Madchester,and you only post when Lone Wolf isn’t here-
are you hidin’ somethin’ from us?
(‘Warren the Wulf’ has actually got a nice ring to it……….)
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35 ‘Bangkok Baggie’
(or Dingle in Toyland?)-
Actually,wolves do remind ME of the girl I fancied at school-
she always thought she was big,around the bottom…………..
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If we are going down the route of signing x wolves players at least sign decent ones unlike the rubbish we got from villa.
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(35)
Bangkok,
Forgot to mention, wolves are playing their BOGIE team Sunday.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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40 ‘Ernest Brown’
it’s funny how I notice you pop up quietly at ‘certain’ times to have a ‘dig’ at things about the Baggies.
Tell me-
is the ‘Brown’ because of your ‘tan’,
or just that you talk out your backside?
Just asking,because there’s only ONE person who’s been rubbishing Andrews before he’s even played for us……….
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42, cantello
such a keen detective eye sir!
you wanna borrow my name?
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Hope the Scharner kids T-shirts get a good airing Sunday. Try banning them F.A.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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43 Sherlock,
I think you deserve to keep it yourself,you often spot more than me.
I just notice these things,and bring it to other’s attention.
It’s what I’m not paid to do……….
(I could be ‘Watson’,but I think that’s the name of a local magazine……)
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Firstly, I clearly wish the absolute worst of luck on your team for Sunday – aside from serious injuries of course. However, from Monday you can have a share of the best of British as I hope you and the Wolves stay up for another season in the PL.
It would be great for the region (even though I live in Bognor Regis) for there to be quite a few teams in the top flight for the forseeable future. Nice for the North West to reduced by 3!!
Should be a good game and although I don’t like to guess a scoreline on these sites, am hoping for a repeat of last seasons corresponding fixture.
WE ARE WOLVES!!!
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