January 2009 Archives

We'll be blogging live from all of our games. So feel free to chip in with your thoughts while you listen to the radio or watch Soccer Saturday.

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In the meantime, check out Leon Barnett. Like you've never seen him before.

THE can of worms has been opened.

In Friday's Birmingham Mail you'll read Tony Mowbray's comments about what he regards as a massive problem within football for smaller Premier League clubs.

You know how it is - newly-promoted club plays Big Four club and the referee wanders around being pally with the household names.

It'll be 'Frank this', or 'Cristiano that' or 'how are you Fernando'? That kind of nonsense.

We've heard the anecdotal remarks for so long, but nobody, certainly nobody in Mowbray's position, has really had the guts to speak out.

Until now it's remained a relatively taboo subject.

So good on Tony for coming out with it. He didn't name names. He doesn't need to. We see it every week in the Premier League.

But it was another story that reached me - not from Mowbray, but somebody else, I should add - which just about summed up the self-importance of the Premier League's officials.

A couple of years ago a string of top flight referees attended a Football function, which included some of soccer's most senior figures, including players, ex-players, managers and dignitaries.

As the main speeches got under way there was a respectful hush around the hall...apart from on one table.

While football's great and good from the modern and past eras looked around and tutted, the table of referees carried on being lairy, loud and generally obnoxious. This was, apparently, their show. Wine does that to some people.

The men in black, including one Rob Styles, were apparently so loud that a prominent football manager felt the need to leave his own table, wander over and tell them to, for want of a better phrase, 'shut up'.

The officials were lucky - Sir Alex Ferguson refrained from giving them the full hairdryer treatment.

And it just goes to show that these people need bringing down a peg or two.

Nobody attends football matches to watch a referee. No one has any desire to talk about the referee after the game. Yet they dominate phone-ins, message boards and pub discussions. It shouldn't be like that.

These men can ruin games, careers and effectively ruin the entertainment for the fans.

Let's hope Tony Mowbray's voice is heard.

It's time referees - some, not all - were taken to task.

More to the point, let's hope one of football's biggest taboos is finally picked apart.

Albion's new signing was down the training ground.

But don't get too excited about seeing him this Saturday. Mulumbu is very much an 'underbelly' (as copyrighted by Tony Mowbray) signing who you will find in the pecking order alongside the Dorrans and Worralls of this world, rather than the immediate first-team next to the Morrisons or Korens.

What's the point in that you yell? Well he's an investment for the future. It's a low fee, of around £250k, he's played for France under-21, represented Congo and was being kept out by Makélélé and Jérémy Clément at Paris Saint-Germain. He's got potential, he's a decent tackler, athletic and was highly rated by Paul Le Guen, who simply had no place for him in his squad.

And besides, the much-needed and much-wanted first-team defensive midfielder may be yet to come. Tony Mowbray wants more in before Monday's tea-time deadline and, if all goes to plan, one will be an anchor man. Whether that will be Obodo or someone else remains to be seen but there were several names being discussed at today's board meeting.

Other good news includes Paul Robinson's card being rescinded. Robbo may not be every fan's cup of tea but Albion need every player they can get during this injury crisis.

And, let's be honest, it goes some way to making up for Tuesday night's refereeing injustices.

Rob Styles.

Now I'm sure I've heard his name somewhere before.

Ah yes. I checked out the previous Albion games he'd covered

And it's not pretty. But, to give him his due, he's been fairly consistent.

Take Albion's FA Cup defeat to Spurs in 2005.

The Hampshire official awarded Spurs a controversial penalty when Stephen Kelly collided with Russell Hoult, who was forced off through concussion.

Here's what I said in the Birmingham Mail's match report:

IT might be Valentine's Day today - but there were certainly plenty of broken hearts heading up the M1 on Saturday night.

So, too, do players occasionally. But where was Mr Styles?

And then there was his next match. A defeat to Villa just after New Year in 2006.

Steve Watson conceded a penalty after Styles allowed Villa to deliver a quickly-taken free kick in the build up to the foul.

In a story headlined Unhappy Watson in swipe at the ref, Watson said: "...The big complaint from the lads is that the referee stopped us taking two quick free-kicks from the corner of the pitch that basically would have been crosses - so we find it hard to believe he allowed them to take one from 20 yards out."

He didn't stop there.

Next up was Albion's victory over Leeds United, during Nigel Pearson's temporary stewardship, in September 2006.

My match report read: Albion also had to work hard for their win. Rob Styles is surely the worst official to have blighted a Championship game for many a year. Funnily enough, he was dreadful when he refereed Albion's game against Villa last season too.

Fouls were awarded for no reason, cards were dished out for little more than tackles and bewildering decisions, nearly all in Leeds' favour, were made with alarming regularity.

And finally he also refereed Albion's defeat to Everton this season. I made no reference to him during the game - I obviously grew bored of laying into him - but my mark and comment for him read:

REF WATCH...5. R Styles (Hampshire): A wretched performance. No change there, then.

Still, he was correct to send-off Cosmin Contra when the Romanian handled the ball on the line to prevent a Liverpool goal in the 5-0 win back in December 2004.

Three words I've never before linked together.

Albion's skipper has, believe it or not, never before been injured.

Definitely not in his Baggies career and, according to him, not once during his 14-year career.

That takes some doing.

Jono has split opinion this season.

He has lacked consistency and the energy of last season and, to some degree, has had less influence on games.

But Greening will be missed. The 30-year-old never shirks responsibility. If a defender needs an 'out' then Jono is there, willing to take the ball and carry it onwards. He never hides,

His critics accuse him of playing too many square balls. On the contrary, maintaining possession of the ball is imperative at top flight level.

Others claim he isn't a natural captain. But that misses the point. Jono is a popular, charismatic member of Albion's dressing room. He may not have the bombastic chest thumping approach of previous skippers like Robinson or Gregan, or bite the legs of opponents like McInnes used to, but Greening brings subtlety, calm and stability to the midfield.

To ask him to do those other things wouldn't work. And Albion didn't half miss him when he went off on Saturday.

My one stand-out Jono moment - apart from the numerous gaffes, comments and jokes - was his post-match interview after Albion's defeat to Derby in the Play Off Final.

While some of his team-mates had openly expressed a desire to leave, or skirted around the subject and, in one or two cases, simply lied through their teeth, Jono seemed to take umbrage at the suggestion that he would go. He's happy and settled. He's never once expressed a desire to move on. Loyatly should never be understated.

He made the right choice. I don't think any player has improved more under Tony Mowbray's leadership. And when you see hear the Albion boss and his fellow team-mates talk about how much they will miss Jono then you know they are not bluffing or merely churning out a quote for the press.

So what next for Albion's midfield? Well it opens the door for Borja Valero to be given a bigger role and maybe Robert Koren, who will be watched by the Slovenian national coach against Manchester United tonight, being moved back into the centre. Koren, by the way, isn't going anywhere. Roy Hodgson is no doubt well read about Koren - he knows him from his days in Norway - but Albion won't be letting him go to Fulham or any other team.

The Baggies are still looking at Youssouf Mulumbu, although he hasn't arrived for a trial (yet) as he's been telling people. PSG had not, at the time of writing this, agreed to anything.

Then there's Christian Obodo, a major name on Albion's list. Udinese seem unwilling to loan him out at the moment so that one is looking less likely. Shame as his pedigree is impressive.

Albion are talking to a number of clubs regarding a midfielder so things may yet happen on that score.

It's going to be a busy few days.

A Monday morning before a Tuesday game can only mean one thing.

The baps come out.

Bacon, sausage and egg breakfast baps. They spoil us at Albion.

And it was a busy one at this morning's pre-match press conference.

Faces you rarely see, TV companies who don't often make the effort, radio journalists who only deal in the big clubs.

This was, after all, Manchester United in the Premier League and not an FA Cup replay at Peterborough United.

But, perhaps surprising of all, was Tony Mowbray throwing away his books about Vince Lombardi and reaching for Chinese philosophy. Sun Tzu to be exact. This never happened when Bryan Robson was manager (although Bryan did do a mean Japanese impression, but that's another story...).

And so it led to the inevitable quip. 'Tony, will your wall be 26,000 miles wide?'

Where's John Trewick when you need him? Still, I bet Bomber would still bend it into the top corner...

Anyway, several years in journalism have told me that there are just three stories that you, the readers, are really interested in.

Team news ahead of a game is one. Not good is the answer.

'Is there any money to spend' is another. 'NO', is becoming my rather blunt answer. Sorry.

And 'so...who are we signing?' is the final one? (There is a fourth, but it's occasional - who the next manager is).

Few people are interested in departures. They are, if truth be told, yesterday's chip paper. Kanu was box office when he signed for Albion. He was barely mentioned when he left.

Injuries? There are many. Ryan Donk may be brought back despite feeling his groin. I did offer to bring my boots but Tony Mowbray declined, laughed and muttered something rude.

Suit yourself. I shall not offer again.

And so onto transfer matters. Youssouf Mulumbu is the latest name.

Yes, he's being looked at and is a target. But so are other defensive midfielders.

However, he has not come for trial as yet. There was no sign of him at the training ground (I was there from morning to lunchtime) and Paris St Germain have not given permission for him to do so.

That may, of course, change. One thing is certain - the final week of the window will be interesting.

I'VE lost count of the number of times I've heard Tony Mowbray state how much of a difference Albion's support can make to his side's fortunes.

Hell, it's that important that he even mentioned it at the lunchtime press conference earlier today.

Atmospheres - Russ Abbott even penned a song about them.

So it's no surprise that a group of Albion fans are campaigning to 'Bring Back the Brummie' and make Albion's traditional home end the place it used to be.

Fans Martin Greenwood, Mark Abel and the club's matchday drummer Andy Goulcher, are lobbying supporters on www.westbrom.com to inject what they believe is some much needed life into the Birmingham Road End.

Their plan is to send a letter to Jeremy Peace with suggestions on how the atmosphere can be improved.

Ideally they want to recreate the presence of the Albion 'Ultras' during the early part of this decade - a venture which Peace was heavily involved in before his time was taken up by the small matter of becoming chairman.

If you'd like to lend your support or feel you can contribute then click here and away you go.

Last winter I had an acute moment of madness.

I decided to go on a TV game show.

Deal or No Deal was out. It takes, so I'm told, three weeks to film and they weren't looking anyway.

Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire was a waste of my phone call. I never heard back.

3-2-1 apparently ended in 1987. And, besides, I don't particularly need a Betamax video. Or a Mini Metro.

Countdown is great. But I struggle on Conundrums and there's always the risk of bumping into Gyles Brandreth (and pull-over) popping up on Dictionary Corner. The fact he hasn't appeared on it for 20 years is irrelevant. It's still one risk too many

So I went for the less lucrative but - some may say - more enjoyable Weakest Link.

To cut a long story short you'll see me on Wednesday. Unless the Prime Minister quits, the Queen drops dead or Auntie's finest head for the picket line. In which case my agony will be delayed.

And Yes, she gave me loads.

What has this to do with Albion? Nothing. But if I didn't mention it my editor may wonder why.

And besides, I met a charming Glaswegian called Bruce during the filming of the show.

Bruce, a fellow contestant, is a big Celtic fan, who knows Craig Beattie and Peter Grant.

Beats had apparently asked Bruce's daughter out for a date when he was at school with her - Craig claimed to not remember this when I dragged him over the coals about it - and my new pal is also on good terms with the man who has played in more Old Firm derbies than any other Celtic or Rangers man. Peter Grant, a man who recently conducted a four (yes, FOUR) hour interview with a journalist, is one of football's nice guys and would talk Anne Robinson under the table.

Anyway, I digress. That bit you see at the beginning of the show when people are sat in the Green Room talking to each other - Bruce and I were, in fact, debating the merits of Craig Beattie. Two days later Albion's Scottish striker joined Palace on loan.

Bruce will be holding a 'guess how many questions I answered correctly?' quiz in his local pub on Wednesday, with all proceeds going to charity. The programme will be screened on their big screens.

Me? I shall be squirming.

What I do know is that, last Saturday, Marc-Antoine Fortune became the first player since Imre Varadi to score on his top flight debut for Albion.

If only she'd asked me that...

MIDDLESBROUGH, home or away, is always a great occasion in Albion's season.

Only because you can guarantee there will be a laugh or two along the way, courtesy of Jonathan Greening.

With James Morrison injured, Albion's skipper assumed the 'Let's talk about my old club' duties at today's press conferences.

He didn't disappoint.

Jono is no stranger to controversy whenever he speaks. So much so, that he often doesn't realise it.

He could be telling a joke only to find he's offending a whole nation. This is a man, let us not forget, who asked whether the sun in Portugal was different to the one in England and who once drove his car home with dead mice attached to his aerial. Ask Andy Johnson...

Before Albion's home game against Middlesbrough, during their last Premier League season, he was asked about Steve McClaren's credentials.

Without the slightest trace of malice, Jono proceeded to discredit McClaren and shake his head when asked what the more senior Boro players thought of the England-manager-in-waiting. The tabloid reporters had found their winning Lottery ticket. You can imagine the headlines.

Today Jono was dressed as a lumberjack. But without his usual captain's armband.

He was wearing the kind of checked shirt not seen since the horrors of Line Dancing were introduced to the mainstream arena during the early 1990s. And I bet this shirt was not from the Primark sale.

But it was another item of clothing which caused uproar.

Want to know why Jono has hardly 'scored' lately?

Well, it was his 30th a week or so ago.

And his birthday was pants. Literally.

The only one of Albion's squad to buy him a present was room-mate Paul Robinson.

Over to you Jono...

"It was a pair of white briefs with my name and a number eight," he explained.

"They were clean at least. I thought about wearing them in bed with my wife but if I did I thought she would jump out and run downstairs

"I have worn them but I didn't get any action with them."

Squad-numbered underpants - a natural birth control accessory if ever there was one.

Meanwhile, all isn't as it seems with Albion's last signing.

Marc-Antoine Fortune's name lends itself brilliantly to headline writers wanting to exclaim Albion's latest 'mis-fortune' or 'good fortune'. But radio and TV broadcasters will have to think again.

An accent above the 'e' in Fortune means it's pronounced as 'Fortune-aye' not the usual way.

While we're on the subject of Albion's new arrival, you might have seen today's satellite TV reports claiming that Tony Mowbray turned to Fortune after missing out on Makukula. That is incorrect.

In fact, having spoken to the Baggies boss only last week about his targets, it was clear that Fortune was his first choice. Once Albion agreed a deal with Nancy, they stepped back from the Makukula pursuit.

Don't expect much more to happen this week but the club still want to bring in another one or two players. Possibly another striker, with a defensive midfielder also very high on the agenda.

Many years ago I was given some advice by a wise man.

He told me to beware of football agents.

Consider it logged.

These days I only talk to agents who I consider friends, who I know personally, have dealt with before (and trust) or I know to be honest. Not many, in other words.

And if I do speak to any then I still make sure that their version of events is backed up by other sources at Albion.

Which is why you won't find pages of speculation linking Albion with this player or that in the Birmingham Mail. I see no point in idle speculation.

So I can only congratulate Pavel Zika for leaking a story of Tottenham's alleged interest in Roman Bednar.

I simply cannot ignore it.

"We know of the Tottenham interest, of course, but there are also other Premier League clubs who want Roman," he said.

"I cannot be more specific now.

"In terms of scoring, Bednar has joined players like (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Frank) Lampard or (Steven) Gerrard, who have scored only a few more goals than him.

"And, as there is always interest in skilful scorers, Bednar's move from West Brom during this transfer window is not ruled out."

So what do you reckon?

These quotes were apparently made to a Czech news agency and, I can only assume, lost in translation.

Perhaps Spurs are interested - Harry Redknapp may well have been too busy name-checking Middlesbrough wingers to remember mentioning Roman.

Somehow, I'm not sure sure.

Albion's response has been swift.

Bednar will not be leaving Albion.

However if Spurs (or any other club) comes in with an offer that would fit a player of Ronaldo, Lampard, Gerrard or even Bednar's billing then I'm sure Jeremy Peace's door will be open.