February 2008 Archives

Ever wondered why Tony Mowbray is so calm during matches?

Well wonder no more.

You've seen it before. The players are out on the pitch, the coaching staff have emerged out of the tunnel, the mascots have had their picture taken with the captains, the referee has tossed the coin, the teams swap ends...but still no Mowbray.

Just as the game is about to kick-off, out comes the Baggies boss.

There's no ranting and raving at his players - just the occasional comment to a fourth official.

It seems the Baggies boss listens to a spot of Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin before games, just to help him unwind.

Mind you there's none of that for the players, as Mowbray explains.

"I sit and listen to Frank, a bit of Dean...it's soothing music really.

"The players don't hear it and it's not the serene mood I want them in. But it helps relax my mind."

With Uriah Rennie set to take charge this Saturday, Mowbray may need to listen to Sinatra's entire back catalogue.

*We all know that Stuart Pearce likes to listen to the Stranglers and that Martin O'Neill is partial to a bit of Jethro Tull.

Can anyone think of any appropriate songs for other managers?

SEVEN points separate Stoke from fourth-placed Albion in the Championship, with 12 points between the leaders and ninth-placed Burnley.

But Tony Mowbray and co may be thankful, or maybe not, that the race for the Premier League is more open than the somewhat memorably-titled Romanian Divizia C, Seria a VIII-a from 1983-4.

Muresul Deva won the League and promotion to Romania's second tier with 38 points (2 points for a win) but behind was a photo-finish to the bitter end.

After 30 games just THREE points separated second-placed UMT Timisoara (31 points) from Minerul Aninoasa, who finished last in 16th spot.

Between them were NINE teams equal on points - those who finished between seventh and 15th.

The full League table - with details of a closely fought Moroccan League from 1966 - is on http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/even.html

And you thought the Championship was competitive...

Richard Chaplow (Preston North End): 2
Stoke City: 0

Perhaps Chappy's best-ever Albion contribution?

Paul Robinson and Ishmael Miller popped down to St Michael's School in Rowley Regis today as part of Albion's hugely successful community scheme.

While some of the girls made a fuss over Miller's scarf (it looked expensive, in fairness to him), Robbo had a quiet word with one of the boys as he made his way from the classroom.

Turns out the lad was completely star-struck by the Albion No3, who happens to be his hero. His reward? He'll get it on Saturday, in the shape of Robbo's boots.

Robbo may be an unwelcome prospect for the Championship's right-wingers, but he's a bit of a soft touch when it comes to the people who really matter - the fans.

Good on ya Paul.

1. Roman Bednar wasn't taken off for the good of his health...actually he was. Speaking to Roman after the game, he claimed he was still feeling groggy following a recent bug

2. Albion were wearing white socks at home, losing cheap goals and failing at the other end. All we needed was Diomansy Kamara to come on and get himself sent off. Yesterday had the feel of last year. Is can't surely have been the same club which beat Coventry 5-0 last week.

3. Korean media Kyang Hyang and Seoul Sports must have been fed up. Perhaps Do-heon Kim will play next week.

4. Stoke, Bristol City and Watford are all due to play each other. It's not the end of the world (just yet), despite what many may have been saying on phone-ins after the game.

Let's clear up some confusion.

The Championship Play Off final is currently pencilled in for Saturday, May 24.

We're told it's because the Football League wanted to give England international players an extra two days in preparation for the European Championships (No, I can't think of many, if any, England players down in the Championship either).

But the League are now expected to switch the Championship decider back to the traditional Bank Holiday Monday slot. This should be confirmed late next week.

If so, you do the maths regarding Luke Moore's 93-day loan deal...

Well rest assured, although Moore's deal effectively ends before the Monday date, the League will extend any loans which fall just short as a result of the Championship decider being put back two days.

Let's hope Albion don't need them anyway.

It's not often you see hardened, experienced footballers turned into gibbering star-struck wrecks but I've seen one man manage it during my seven years covering Albion.

When the Baggies went to Villamoura for their pre-season tour of Portugal in 2005, they were visited by Paul Gascoigne, who was then managing Algarve United and had popped by to see his former England team-mate Bryan Robson.

Several Albion first-teamers - some household names among them - turned into starry-eyed kids as they watched the iconic ex-footballer stroll past them in the grounds of their hotel.

The Birmingham Mail photographer was swiftly beckoned over and, one by one, they lined up just to have their picture taken with Gazza, despite their very own manager being a former England captain.

He had that aura about him.

Let's hope he sorts himself out.

"We haven't had a hurricane for 23 years," said a local.

"You'll be fine in Aruba, it's the rest of Caribbean you have to watch," said the travel agent some 10 months earlier as my bride-in-waiting and I booked our honeymoon.

September 2, 2007. I'm watching Villa beat Chelsea 2-0 on Fox Sports in front of what looks like a full Villa Park. Worse still, not only am I sharing my honeymoon with O'Neill and co but the sun's out in Birmingham.

We're in Aruba. My new, beautiful wife is getting our little girl dressed. We're hoping we'll be able to leave the hotel at some point tonight. Just to survey the damage, if nothing else.

Someone called Hurricane Felix has been lashing our five-star complex, shaking us, blowing us and threatening to soak our room. Villa win 2-0. Knight and Agbonlahor.

The winds die down, the sun comes out. On with the honeymoon. Thankfully no damage. Apart from the Villa win.

Yet, it remains the strangest place I've watched a football match of any sort.

Albion match? A bizarre venue, next to the coast in Denmark when Albion entertained FC Midtjylland in what was effectively an international friendly fixture, played out on a pitch which would have made Dartmouth Park proud. The press box was inside an area cordoned off by a piece of rope. The directors' box was even worse. Jeremy Peace didn't seem to mind though. He was probably too busy wondering why Jason Roberts was being played as a right-sided midfielder.

Not my inspiration, I admit. I've just logged onto WBAFansonline, where fans have been busy telling their stories.

I take off my hat to the fan who mentioned Bloxwich. Try Walsall Wood my friend...dear oh dear.

For the other 'strange venues', check out the thread about strangest places you've followed Albion games from on

http://fansonline.net/westbromwichalbion/mb/index.php

Cardiff City couldn't accomodate Albion this week for a Championship fixture due to their involvement in the Welsh Cup.

The initial game was, of course, called off as both clubs were involved in Saturday's FA Cup fifth round.

But it got me thinking - the FA Cup, the Welsh Cup? How many cups in different countries are Cardiff allowed to enter?

While we're at it, should they be allowed to enter the Premier League if they win promotion?

Their supporters continually mock supporters of English clubs. So let's test their patriotism - if Cardiff win promotion then send them into the League of Wales, rather than the English Premier League.

Then we'll soon see how anti-English they really are...

Draconian? Perhaps, but I reckon they won't wish to miss out on all those several million Bank of England notes circulating in the Premier League.

I was sat in the foyer of Albion's training ground when I started to get a little bit paranoid.

Giggles from two rather senior members of Albion's backroom staff.

Perhaps I'd walked under a seagull. Were my flies undone? No.

Did I have odd shoes on. No. But we're getting closer.

And then I saw it.

A bright pink blazer jacket, khaki trousers, bright green shoes, a Paisley patterned cardigan and Harry Potter style glasses. Sobering it wasn't.

Welcome to the unveiling of Albion's latest signing. Also present was his interpreter, who had clearly woken up to find a power cut and picked up what he could from the back of the wardrobe.

Do-heon Kim - the correct and only way to write his name - was presented before a handful of English press and several more TV crews from Korea.

It was surrealism at its best.

Our colourfully-dressed friend had been drafted in as Kim's ears and mouth, although there was no need for him to apologise for his short-lived knowledge of English - we were hardly likely to heckle back in Korean.

Questions were asked, answers were translated and we found out a little more about the Baggies' newest player, his ambitions, his views of England and how Albion will be perceived in downtown Seoul.

Mind you not all went swimmingly. One of Kim's answers, from a question asked by me as it happens, drew guffaws from the Korean press.

Naturally I joined in - laughing out loud and nudging my colleague just to show I was in on the gag as if I'd suddenly developed a grasp of colloquial Korean. Again, I checked my shoes, just to be sure.

And then a female journalist asked a question about Kim's wife - the interpreter mistakenly thinking she was asking whether Kim was single or not...

Let's not even go there.

It was that kind of press conference.

Kim, welcome to England.

Roman Bednar, Albion's club joker is normally found applying Ralgex to the underwear of his team-mates and bringing joy and his own brand of merriment to the training ground. If I ever lose a winning Lotto ticket, I want Roman to be the man to tell me how much I would have won.

But that broad eastern European accent and deep voice worries me there may be something more sinister.

Somewhere, lurking in him, is surely a Bond villain.

I can just see it now. Jon Greening being stretched across the treatment table with a red laser beam edging nearer towards him or Leon Barnett being thrown into a bath of crocodiles. Worse still, Zoltan Gera being forced to watch Stoke City - The Long Ball Years.

You have been warned.

I was wrong about the FA Cup draw. Good.

Welcome to leafy Walsall Wood for the live draw of the FA Cup quarter finals.

And what a weekend it was.

Anyway, we don't do pomp and ceremony - or, for that matter, patronising comments, or pointless interviews with random guests - over here in the West Midlands.

My balls are ready and waiting.

The home teams will be drawn by the wife. And the away teams will be drawn by...well, also by the wife (who's somewhat bemused and possibly irritated by all of this, I must add).

No messing around here. Using the FA's official ball numbers (WBA are no7) this is what happened in our draw (and not a frozen/microwaved ball in sight).

Portsmouth v Cardiff City
Manchester United v Barnsley
Bristol Rovers v Sheffield United/Middlesbrough
Chelsea v ALBION

You have been warned.

1. When Albion reached the 2002 FA Cup quarter-finals they played the 'Astle commentary' (from the '68 Cup Final) before every cup tie along the way - 'Sky Blues - Shooting to win' (Coventry's '87 Cup Final song) didn't have the same effect.

2. What is about Albion and Coventry when it comes to dismissals? Yesterday was the fourth successive fixture where a player has seen red during the game (five sending-offs in four games).

3. Scoring a goal is not all its cracked up to be at Albion. Kevin Phillips often gets subbed during the second half of games, despite sometimes being on two goals. Both Roman Bednar and Zoltan Gera scored with their last touches of the game yesterday.

4. Iain Dowie might be gone but Cov fans still sang his name as Albion rattled in the goals. Mind you, by that point most Coventry supporters were already on their way home.

5. The Ricoh Arena boasts a huge underground casino (with thanks to my Coventry-supporting ex-uni mate for getting me in), with a large bar as the centre-point in the room. Somebody ought to tell them that having three members of staff on a matchday isn't good for business - even if it is the only place to get a drink before the game.

6. Albion might have scored five but surely the hero of the day was exile Luke Steele. Currently on loan at Barnsley, the keeper produced the game of his life. His days at Albion remain numbered - what better way to put yourself in the shop window than a performance like that at Anfield.

7. When is the penny going to drop with the Liverpudlians? It's not your owners who cost you games. Try Senor Benitez. With his rotation system and policy of buying lots of ordinary players over fewer better players, Liverpool were always going to struggle this season.

Anyone who claims the FA Cup has run its course only needed to see the interest at today's press conference down at Albion's training ground.

There are normally four 'written' press and two radio stations present for run-of-the-mill Championship games. Sandwiches go untouched, there's enough soup to go round and the tea and coffee urns normally have dregs left at the bottom.

Not today.

Albion's FA Cup fifth round trip to Coventry brought several TV stations, a host of national newspaper journalists (prompting one to quip - 'at last, I know where the Albion training ground is') and BBC Radio Five Live.

You'll be able to read what Tony Mowbray and Dean Kiely (the allocated player) had to say in Friday's Birmingham Mail and on Birminghammail.net

Michal Danek will have to wait - the fact Kiely was up before the press indicated he was going to play. This was confirmed by Mowbray. Do-Heon Kim was also knocking around. He'll probably play.

Elsewhere, I couldn't help keeping one eye on the situation at Bramall Lane.

Interesting that Kevin Blackwell should be appointed. The ex-Luton and Leeds boss was No2 to Neil Warnock at the time of the 'Battle of Bramall Lane'.

I remember then Albion boss Gary Megson telling me that, a few days later, he was contacted by one member of United's coaching staff, who went onto apologise and say how thoroughly troubled he was by the United team's and Warnock's conduct.

Not longer after Blackwell left.

Go figure.

Do-Heon Kim should finally get the go-ahead to begin his Albion career after completing his loan move from Korea.

So what's he like?

Here's a taster...

One last thing - Sherjill MacDonald? No, I can't believe it either.

Prediction for the day.

Albion to have their toughest Hawthorns' game of the season tonight.

Albion fans, I predict tomorrow will be better.

Tune into Birminghammail.net around midday on Monday or check out the Birmingham Mail.

You won't be sorry...

1. No electricity in the WOODEN main stand. In the press room things aren't much better - no tea, unless we unplug our laptops from charge. Our computers don't charge but we drink our tea. We want a compromise but told the surge in electricity will bring South Yorkshire to a darkened halt.

2. Heaven 17 over the PA before the kick-off. Temptation? I have one to leave Barnsley as soon as possible.

3. Playing see-saw with my laptop on the six-inch wide flip desks. Dean Kiely would be proud of my reaction times. My bosses will be proud they're not paying out for a new HP.

4. I'm supposed to be sat behind somebody called Benny Hill. I keep a look out for Syd James, Leonard Rossiter and Tommy Cooper. Not even a short bald-headed bloke to slap on the head. Certainly no women dressed in underwear. This isn't my day.

5. I look around, listen to the music, notice the lack of electricity, the general demeanour of Barnsley folk.

Fire up the Quattro and get me back into 2008.

Alassane N'Dour's arrival at Walsall got me thinking back to his spell at Albion when he spent most of the season playing for the reserve team.

But it's the memory of his fellow African Sekou Berthe which conjurs up one of the most memorable outbursts I've seen from a manager and his No2.

Big Berthe was called into the Albion side for the game at Gillingham, where the press box was situated just behind the dug-out.

With Albion hanging onto a lead, Berthe took the ball under his control in Albion's penalty area, stepped over it, dropped his shoulder and dribbled his way out.

Gary Megson's face turned purple, expletives followed. Assistant boss Frank Burrows threw his flat cap onto the ground in disgust.

Defenders didn't do that back then.

And poor Big Berthe hardly ever played for the club again...

Popped down to the training ground today to speak to Ishmael Miller and noticed two young autograph hunters waiting by the electric gates in their dad's car.

A dark estate drove up the car park drive and approached the gates, prompting the kids to leap out of the vehicle, ready to pounce, pens at the ready.

Not this time.

The two boys groaned and retreated back to their own car, not recognising the older grey-haired at the wheel of the approaching vehicle.

It was none other than Albion legend Bobby Hope.

Bet their dad was gutted.

Albion fans tuning into one of the main satellite channels might have been surprised to see a shivering reporter stood outside St Andrew's during yesterday's transfer window commenting: "There's not much going on in the Midlands today..."

Whatever.

Let's see what happened over at B71.

19.21 - Just finishing off dinner, the washing up's nearly done...what's this? Michal Danek signs on loan from Viktoria Plzen. One down, how many more to go?

19.42 - Really not sure this is working - a whole EastEnders episode based around Dot Branning sat in front of a tape recorder? Where's Roxy? Tanya, are you there? Save us please.

Hang on, what's this...a big welcome to Ishmael Miller. For £900,000, plus £500,000 of add-ons. Dick Turpin is alive and well. Where's ex-cop Jack Branning when you need him?

22.54 - Okay, I'm starting to flag. Waterloo Road has come and gone. I'm seriously considering watching the Shameless I missed from a few days ago. SCATTER! Think about my mates in the pub - I'd like to think they're having a pint for me. A sign of life, a flurry of activity, Graham Dorrans signs for Albion from Livingston but won't be joining till next season. So why tell us now? Oh yes, I can see why. Note, Graham, not Graeme.

Not long to go.

23.51 - I'm hoping the fax machine at Albion's training ground isn't broken as it could seriously hamper my sleep pattern. There's still some deals left surely. Where's Kim the Korean? I've heard whispers of Neil Clement going out on loan, Newcastle looking at David Worrall (yes, really). The silence is unnerving. I'm wondering whether the beat-the-deadline slogan will get an airing.

Jermain Defoe's off to Portsmouth and did a fine impression of an arrogant footballer struggling to construct a sentence as he got into his car. Wish the reporter had kicked him - go and pass a medical now then Jermain. We get told about some other signings around the country, as if they're important. Why do Brazilians like Middlesbrough so much? The satelitie channel, including its most animated presenter, seem devastated at the lack of activity in Newcastle. Nobody's told King Kev about this window lark have they?
Back home, I'm beginning to lose hope and the will to live. A text. He's signed. Do-Heon Kim, as opposed to Kim Do-Heon or Kim Do-Hyeon, has signed on loan from a club called Seongnam Ilhaw Chunma, which is somewhat understandable - who'd want to play for a club called that?

Is it safe to go yet? I'm told it is. I'm not sure. I'll give it till 1am, remembering Nigel Quashie's signing as we travelled through London in the early hours, coming back from Charlton two years back.

Take a look at the signings around the country. One catches my eye, Hal Robson-Kanu, from Reading to Southend. With a name like that he must be one hell of a player. A hybrid footballer of world class proportions.

Time for bed.

Here's to August 31 2008. See you then.