Kanu remember him?
It was the mother of all phone calls. There I was asking a contact about Albion's next shirt sponsors when he dropped it into the conversation casually.
Albion...Kanu. Both in the same sentence.
This clearly couldn't be true.
The rest, of course, you know. He arrived, he stepped over the ball many times, dropped his shoulder, flicked the ball, scored nine goals, missed one sitter and lifted a ball boy up, twice.
Kanu should have been so much more for Albion. To this day it still beggars belief that Bryan Robson opted for Kevin Campbell as a lone striker when he had Kanu sat next to him on the bench and a more mobile, albeit troubled, Nathan Ellington.
It was madness.
Kanu was never prolific for Albion. Nine goals in 50-odd games is a fairly poor return. But that misses the point. The Nigerian, of somewhat dubious age, was a footballer who got fans off their seats. There are few better manipulators of the ball in the world, let alone the Premier League. His vision was incredible, his ability on the ball had to be seen to be believed. He also had incredible strength and power in his shot. As a bloke he was a gentleman, working away with his charity when he wasn't playing or training. He was quietly spoken and a consummate professional, who trained long after others had left for the day.
Sadly he lacked pace and wasn't cut out for Albion's more direct style. And his age? Well, nobody really knows. But he certainly wasn't born on August 1, 1976.
He remains the most celebrated Albion player in modern history. There can't be many Albion players who have won the European Cup, the Premier League, the FA Cup, the African Nations Cup and an Olympic Gold medal. All of that with a dodgy heart to boot.
You can't help wondering how Kanu would have prospered in a Tony Mowbray side...
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Chris Lepkowski - Mail man Chris Lepkowski’s view of what’s going on at West Bromwich Albion FC.
Chris
I was thinking this the other day. A Kanu under Mowbray..now that is a thought. Under Megson and Robson we never played to his strengths. He has great control of the football, though he is 6ft 4 he is better on the floor then in the air. Kanu off Ishmael Miller, threading through balls to him...Miller running on to them with his pace. Sounds great. Sounds like something we could with now. The problem with Robson was he stayed too loyal to Campbell who did a trmenedous job in keeping us up in 04-05.
Kanu in a Mowbray team?
Nope, can't see it. If Mowbray thought 'Super
Kev' was too old for a 2 year contract.......
I mean, sure Kanu's 32 if you read his paperwork
but we all know he's older than a conker tree.
Mowbray knows the score! Agree though, we never
played to his strengths when he was here.
When the kids come through "they" say that if you're good enough you're old enough, and the reverse also applies - just because Kanu is old enough to be Methuselah's Dad doesn't mean he should be ignored. He won't come back though, so it's all moot.
Wardy, I think you'll find SKP was offered a two year deal, albeit with certain clauses. However for whatever reason he thought he'd get more time on the pitch with Blues (and a better wage?).
As for Kanu, most probably the best footballer I've ever had the pleasure of watching in an Albion shirt. My old man's seen Statham, Astle, Regis et al and still marveled at just how good Kanu's close control and ball retention was. In a Mowbray side, with Miller's pace playing off him, he'd be a joy.
Al, thanks for comments. Mowbray has an appreciation of 'footballers' who are confident enough to express themselves and be creative.
Kanu hardly fits the profile of a 'Mowbray player' - he's several years too old for starters - but there's no doubt that had the two ever worked together then I believe the player would have flourished and being given the freedom to produce his best football.