May 2008 Archives

Sometimes I despair at my profession.

On Tuesday this week I spent half an hour with Tony Mowbray discussing all manner of issues, among them the situation regarding the out-of-contract trio of Kevin Phillips, Zoltan Gera and Martin Albrechtsen.

Mowbray also spoke about it at his BRMB forum later that evening.

At no point was he disparaging about any of the players, angry, disappointed or in any way animated. He simply wants to know if they are staying or going as, understandably, it will affect his transfer plans for this summer.

I, and a colleague from another newspaper, wrote this in the manner it was intended.

Today I see a story in a national newspaper claiming Mowbray has 'slammed' Phillips for 'hawking himself around'.

Complete rubbish.

Mowbray hasn't slammed anyone. I know this because I was with Mowbray when he said it. And then I heard him repeat it in front of several hundred people. He was calm, collected and understands that all three players are within their rights to look for better deals.

At no point did Mowbray 'slam' anyone.

It's absolute and utter garbage, from someone who is trying to spin a story into something it isn't.

Is it any wonder my profession has such a dreadful reputation. During the same meeting with Mowbray a list of about eight or nine players who have been mentioned in the media were put to him, some simply because they were once linked with Albion or used to play for the club. Mowbray, as I suspected he would, knocked every single one back. Not one was a target.

Do yourselves a favour - if you want to know what's going on at Albion, or any of our clubs for that matter, stick to the Birmingham Mail.

I'd like to think our readers prefer fact, not sensationalism.

Had a lunchtime meeting with Fabio Capello's mate today. Or Tony Mowbray if you prefer.

Went down to the training ground to find out the latest regarding transfers and other issues, but also got chatting about Mowbray's decision to shadow the England boss as part of his Pro Licence course.

It seems the two men hit it off when they were sat next to each other during a recent League Managers Association dinner. But Mowbray's appreciation for Capello is nothing new.

About 10 months ago I spoke to the Baggies' boss about his top five managers in European football at that time. In no particular order he picked out Wenger (I bet he was first choice), Ferguson, Ramos (who was at Sevilla at the time), Mourinho and Capello.

It takes some doing to impress the Albion boss. He doesn't really get over-animated about anything. Probably not even chocolate.

Yet it's clear that Capello has made a huge impression on Mowbray.

As for Albion matters, things are still in progress, but it's clear Mowbray is in no rush or panic to bring in new players.

In the meantime, add Danny Shittu and M'Bami to the list of names you can cross off, in addition to the ones I mentioned in my last blog.

Pre-season tours? Almost done. It's down to one of two venues.

Russian Billionnaires, youngters from Barcelona, Paul McShane, Seyi Olofinjana, Reading's Sonko, throw in a few Africans, some German called Bender...All coming to Albion.

So we're told.

I love this time of year don't you?

Take McShane for instance. Not really rated by Mowbray as a centre-half, allowed to leave for Sunderland for a fairly low fee, has a pretty poor time of it at the Stadium of Light and is now available for transfer having failed to make an impact.

He's linked with Albion? What? There's more chance of Ted Bovis joining Albion than Paul McShane.

You'd think people would do their homework first wouldn't you?

None of the above will be coming to Albion anytime soon from what I'm told by people inside the four walls that matter.

Wolves midfielder Olofinjana, however, was considered about a year ago by Albion and is rated quite highly by certain individuals at the club. But that is as far as the interest goes. He may have been more of an option had the Baggies not won promotion. There are certainly no plans to pursue him at this stage.

Enough of this, I'm off to write my 'Dichio set for Albion return' story....

So, sorry I've not been here for a while.

Actually, I've been a busy man.

I've been chasing around trying to track down the Russian Billionnaire who, we're told, is about to invest into Albion and bring over several youngsters from Barcelona.

And just when I thought life couldn't get any more surreal, I had David Pleat's commentary to help me by during a European Cup Final, held in Moscow, between two English clubs, managed by a Scot and an Israeli...

Oh, hang about. Luke Steele's gone to Barnsley.

Great.

Otherwise it's all quiet on the West Brom front.

Word reaches me that a number of Albion websites have been politely asked to pull leaked photos of the new home and away shirts for 2008/09.

Makes you wonder what the big secret is, not least as I had a sneaky look myself and couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

In case you're wondering...yes, Albion will be wearing blue and white stripes next year. Just for a change.

The away shirt? Well, that would be telling...

Oh, what the hell, it's yellow.

It seems my comments about Stoke didn't go down too well in the Potteries.

Too bad.

But, first, let's have a history lesson before we move onto football.

I seem to recall hearing a succession of calls to Five Live and Talksport last summer from Potters fans demanding the departure of Tony Pulis. 'Too negative', 'long ball', 'tactically naive', were among the more tolerant calls.

And now, it seems, he can do no wrong.

So is he a good manager or isn't he? Or are memories set to 'short' over in Staffordshire?

My comments weren't designed to stoke-up (no pun...) any animosity. Far from it. Despite some of the hateful and venomous comments I've received - few, it seems, have tried to make any constructive points without the need to hurl abuse - I stand by my comments that Tony Mowbray, following by Phil Brown and Gary Johnson (and even Neil Warnock) all deserved more credit than Tony Pulis.

Don't get me wrong, Pulis has done a very good job - but the others more so, for all kinds of reasons.

From Albion's point of view, Mowbray rebuilt a side that was decimated by last season's Play Off defeat. Few clubs bounce back from such adversity - effectively losing the spine of the side and many more key players - yet Albion did. And he did so in style. Bristol, Hull and Palace have also had outstanding campaigns, for their own reasons.

The Stoke fans will need to get used to hearing pundits and observers being critical or dismissive of their club's chances next season - like Albion, they're a promoted club and, like it or not, they will be tipped to go down. No amount of spirit, clenched fists, bulging veins or strikers running down channels in pursuit of long balls will change that.

As someone who has covered Albion for many years, I should know - I watched Gary Megson's energetic and robust side pound away at Premier League defences, with little joy, back in 2002/03. There is only so far a direct style of football will get you in the top flight. Bolton have managed it for years, but take a look at their squads over the years. Stoke will not have Nolan, Speed, Davies, Anelka, Okocha, Djorkaeff, etc to call upon. I hear Stoke are now planning to reduce the size of the pitch. Good luck to them - they'll need it.

If I'm wrong about all of this, then I'll be back next year and will happily admit so...

Thought I'd clear up some of the reports claiming Zoltan Gera is about to sign for Everton.

That's simply not the case. Yes, there is an interest in Gera, but, as of last night, there hadn't even been any talks between the Hungarian and the Toffees. David Moyes likes him and his name has been mentioned as a target. But that's as far as it's gone.

Everton are merely one of several clubs interested in him. Wigan and Bolton are keen, with Middlesbrough also sniffing (Boro incidentally were the last side to actually test Albion's resolve, back in January last year).

Speaking to people close to Zoltan I detect that he has not yet decided on his future - and yes Albion is still an option - although he does want it to be resolved sooner, rather than later. So do Albion.

Applying common sense you would have to assume Gera will leave Albion. He's 29 and the next contract will be the most important of his career. Despite Albion's best intentions and Tony Mowbray's desire to keep him, it's likely that Gera will go to the club who offer him the best package and this is where Albion will probably miss out. They will simply be priced out of the market.

But, to reiterate the original point - Gera hasn't signed for anyone just yet.

Word reaches me that Warley MP John Spellar tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons.

A total of 11 MPs, including Speller, signed the Parliamentary deed.

"This House congratulates West Bromwich Albion Football Club on being promoted to the Premiership and pays tribute to the team and the manager, Tony Mowbray, not only on winning the title, but for doing so by playing open, attacking, entertaining football."

Last week, down the training ground, I saw a particularly magnificent piece of silver.

And no, it had nothing to do with the contents of Jeremy Peace's wallet.

It was the Championship trophy.

The same one previously held aloft by Bobby Charlton, Alan Hansen, Emlyn Hughes, Danny Blanchflower and a long list of other footballing legends. And Dennis Mortimer. (Actually it's the same prize but for a different competition, but you know where I'm coming from...)

Albion will be allowing fans to have their picture taken with the Championship trophy (between May 19 and 30).

I can assure you it's certainly one for the photo album.

It's just a shame the club are charging fans £10 for this - haven't the punters spent enough throughout the season?

Still, it's an opportunity to do something no Albion fan has managed for 88 years.

Speaking of Albion, something else has been puzzling me.

For some time now Albion have been referring the club shop as the Megastore ('Mega' in what sense? Who knows?) and the ticket office as the box office.

Why?

I had to laugh when I read Albion keeper Dean Kiely was back with Ireland after announcing his 'retirement' from international duty five years ago.

Sorry? Retired from representing your country? Selected as one of the best in your field for your country, and you don't want to play anymore?

How can anyone NOT want to represent their country.

Having been born in England, of Polish parents, I would have savoured every moment of representing either country had I been good enough, whether at football or, say, synchronised fence painting.

Paul Scholes, Alan Shearer, Jamie Carragher and many more have gone down this route. They should hang their heads in shame.

If your country - be it England, Ireland or Azerbaijan - want you, then it should be considered an honour and a privilege to represent that nation. I don't buy this excuse about players wanting to extend domestic careers or spend more time with families. Or, in the shameful Carragher's case, because a manager prefers someone else in your position and you don't like it. Get over it.

Footballers, hardly nine-to-five workaholics, retire aged 35-40. So the 'spending more time with family' doesn't do it for me. Some never go near a football pitch again. At best they will have 50 years to spend with their loved ones. Most working folk get a third of that time. And without the wealth.

Wearing the national shirt should be one of the proudest moments of any footballer's career. Never a chore.

Some people don't know how lucky they are.

*By the way, for those people wondering whether Leon Beenhakker's comments might have been lost in translation... well they weren't. In fact, the comments lost a little impact (if that's at all possible) when translated from Polish into English due to the context in which certain words that he'd used can be applied in Polish.

Even so it still makes you wonder how somebody with such an impressive footballing CV and pedigree can make such incorrect assumptions about another football team's style of play. Why interfere?

His comments ensure that there will be few Albion fans cheering on the Poles when they kick off their Euro 2008 campaign.