Billy Jones: Keep my West Brom rival Steven Reid
West Brom defender Billy Jones today urged the Baggies to sign up his right-back rival Steven Reid for another season.
Jones is keen for Hawthorns officials to activate a one-year option to keep the experienced Reid, who has suffered an injury-blighted season.
Reid’s contract expires in the summer and injury lay-offs mean he is unlikely to play enough matches to trigger an automatic option, leaving Albion to decide whether to keep him.
But, despite the 32-year-old making just 10 appearances this season, Jones wants him to stay.
“He’s a massive member of the squad,” said Jones, who has deputised in Reid’s absence. “He’s a big team player and a very important part of the dressing room.
“He’s well respected by all the lads. He’s a great character and I think they are all hoping that the club take up the option and he will sign again.
“He’s proven this year and last year that, when he plays, he plays consistently well so I can’t see why the club wouldn’t want to take up the option.
“He’s a proven Premier League player and he’s got that vital experience. He’s a great leader and a great communicator.”
The Baggies have begun a hunt for right-back reinforcements as worries about Reid’s fitness problems persist, with Leeds youngster Sam Byram among those watched by scouts.
West Brom attempted to sign Fulham’s Chris Baird in January while Newcastle’s Danny Simpson has also been the subject of enquiries.
But Jones, who could also find his spot threatened by any new right-back, insists he would welcome the competition. “Whenever a new player comes in who plays your position, it’s a new challenge,” he said.
“Even if we don’t even sign a right-back this year there’s going to be competition. The club are looking to improve the squad.
"I haven’t seen loads and loads of stories, and I imagine there’s stories not just about right-backs, but also midfielders, strikers and others, and you expect that.
“Albion want to move forward as a club, and to move forward you’ve got to sign new players.”
Comments for: "Billy Jones: Keep my West Brom rival Steven Reid"
boogie
wether we sign reidy up or not ( i personally think we should with a part time coaching role as well ) he's got more respect in the dressing room and throughout the game than a certain pete .
why is it some players who are totally professional , dedicated to themselves and the game and give 100% have unfair injuries , yet pete's of this world who don't give toss never do .
Mboy
Billy was our best player against Stoke, in my opinion! As we seem to be looking for a right back, it looks like the end of the road for Steven Reid, unfortunately.
Adam h
Mboy
I think they were looking for someone to replace billy jones to be honest. He had been a little bit hit and miss over the last 2 years but seems to be playing much better recently. I agree he was our best player against Stoke.
Woodman Corner Alone (memories)
Billy Jones, great quotes and i agree entirely.
You would be my first choice 'but' i would ask for more awareness of defensive duties, a harder profile (not dirty), and ongoing consistency.
If you could apply these tweaks, you will have landed.
The Pride and the Passion
Jack ♣ Hat.
Taking Billy the Kid's point of view, maybe Steven could be kept on as a versatile player plus coaching badges, being has he is good at man management. I know we can't do the same for everyone, but if this works he could be good for a job as a head coach in future as the potential is there.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~J♣H.
Adam h
Mr hat
I agree, if anyone in our team looks like a future head coach then reidy is the man.
If he could stay fit there would be no doubt he would be our captain.
Brierleyhillbaggie
Spot on jack he is truly premiership quality. Very rarely gets the run around either. Just wish he was 28 again. Sadly he does suffer with injuries. But I would love to see him in coaching role off some kind maybe the under twenty one group teaching them where they should be at every given moment drumming into them what is needed and he seems a nice guy to show them how to get on in life so they don't loose track off what's normal
The Real Bully Hoo.
Sign of a great team spirit when a player is praising another player that's in competition for his position.
astleistheking
Billy is getting better by the week IMO. His wing play and overlaps are exceptional, he's putting his foot in more too which is the main attribute he needs. Will be gutted if Reidy does go as he is a quality and intelligent player.
Baggieboy Roy.
Hope the BAGGIES KEEP Steven Reid next season. We need his experience not just on the pitch but around the squad where he could be used to help the up and coming youngsters learn their trade. Still think that we need to sign an experienced Premiership standard right back in the future, as I would like to see Billy Jones pushed forward into a right sided wide position. He is quick, has the ability to beat a player and put over a decent cross! What do you think?
COYB. Boing! Boing!!
The Real Bully Hoo.
BBRoy.
Just a thought but I wonder if we'd signed exactly the same bloke but we'd been told he was a Brazilian from Benfica instead of Preston, if he'd cost 3 mill instead of free and his name had been Jejonesio instead of Billy Jones, would people still be questioning his all round ability?
CantelloRocket 78
Bully,
ahhhh........now yer talkin'-
Jejonesio, what a player!!
I remember him well, will we ever forget his performances at the 1972 Texaco World Cup Finals?
That guy could put so much 'bend' on the ball, he'd have to face his own 'keeper when he took a free kick.
He could 'weave' his way around the opposition so well, they'd all end up bunched in the centre circle, hence his nickname 'El Canino', Portuguese for 'The Sheepdog'.
He was player of the tournament, ahead of his team mates
Ovalteenio, Pelay, Mayday, and Amyowokay?
Those were the days...........
( well it's a game free wikend an' I'm bored..........:)
Boing boing Barry
Back the berg
baggieboy
BBB here here BACK THE BERG
The Real Bully Hoo.
Great slogan.
StratfordBaggieBoy
I like Steven Reid and I hope we can keep him at the club in some coaching capacity as I think he is a good role model for the younger lads.
AndyH
Afternoon all,
i like Reid! think most of us do and his experiance would be good to have around again next season and the one after imo. Along with a coaching role he'd be geat to have round the club as a player and an example to others (young and old). Am i right in thinking he can also play/has played in midfield before now?? We could keep him as a back up to Yacob and Mulumbu as we know he's got a good engine - reads the game well and can tackle well. Even of we are looking for another right back he ticks a box as a good squad player to have around, the old fashioned steady eddie if you will.
Regards
AndyH
Kev in Mallorca
Andy
Plus he wouldn't be unhappy spending at lot of his time on the bench so wouldn't be causing any internal problems, unlike some!
Adeu
Cyril Randle
Billy, you would be my 1st choice right back. A Rolls Royce engine in a young hard frame, the ability to get into the opposition box from a wing run, you don't 'freeze' in dangerous areas, you are quick and brave with lots of natural ability.
Then add to that, you want to learn, learn, learn. Don't knock yourself, you could have it all !
On another topic, Rio-arrow-mouth-Ferdinand, with the help of a Scottish Kerniggut, has played a thoroughly mean and dirty trick on Roy Hodgson. I'm sure Roy will have made his decision on this big-head's England future. Can you imagine a player like Gareth McAuley being do arrogant and petty ?
The Real Bully Hoo.
Cyril.
I agree about Billy Jones. As I said in my reply to Baggie Boy Roy, sometimes it's all about perception in much the same way as players that come through the youth system are less appreciated by fans than big money buys.
Jack ♣ Hat.
Cyril,
Rio Cheerio has a new publicity stunt as a "Chatty man" with Al Jazeera. Roy will leave him to stew in his own juice mate.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~J♣H.
The Real Bully Hoo.
Like it Jack. LOL.