February 2009 Archives

Come on board for our live banter chat during tomorrow's game. I'll be joined by colleague Rob Tanner and our friends from sister newspaper Liverpool Echo.

Just clink either here or here

A giant cigarette turned up at the training ground today. An Albion player stamped on it and gave it the red card while TV cameras rolled and cameras flashed.

Just another average day at the training ground.

Albion and Sandwell council joined forces today to promote Non-Smoking Day. And that can only mean a photo opportunity. So who better than Jonathan Greening to get involved.

The Albion captain waved a big piece of red card while Chris Hall, the club's broadcasting editor, hauled himself into a cigarette costume. Perfect. The rest was photo heaven.

Sadly, Albion resisted the obvious temptation to bring back the No Smoking Shirt. But, with hindsight, I guess nobody really needs reminding of 1985-86.

Elsewhere, Tony Mowbray got a little tetchy during the press conference. The bane of his frustration - TV pundits again - and what seems to be a weekly defence of his beliefs and philosophies.

I can't say I blame Mowbray for getting agitated. If I gave up chocolate for 40 days during Lent then I'd be the same...

While all of this was going on, Juan Carlos Menseguez, Borja Valero and Kim were all ushered into the manager's office with a smartly dressed woman. An English lesson would you believe.

Interesting times indeed.

Albion are preparing for the Championship according to one tabloid newspaper this morning.

Their two targets? Bailey and Croft. As in the Irish Creme Liquer and a bottle Port. Someone please pass me a drink.

Seriously, I think someone's having a laugh. Whatever next - 'Albion swoop for Johnny Walker' or 'Baggies bag John Smith'. As if Albion would be making any plans for such signings during this stage of a season, not knowing which division they'll be in next season.

I shouldn't be too surprised. The same newspaper managed to turn quotes made by Mowbray talking about the problem of promoted clubs struggling to compete with big Premier League clubs into a Mowbray and Peace 'at war' story, implying it was a dig by the Baggies boss at his employer. Best of all, the newspaper wasn't even at the press conference when Mowbray made these comments. I shudder at my profession sometimes.

The good news elsewhere is that Albion fans from the www.westbrom.com website are edging closer towards their campaign to 'Bring Back the Brummie' atmosphere. Naming themselves the 'Bomber Squad', they had successful talks with Albion staff yesterday (Tuesday). Martin Greenwood, one of the brains behind the scheme, said "They are 100 per cent behind what we are trying to achieve, and have taken everything I threw at them on board, and mirrored this with their own suggestions to, which indicated they are looking at this very pro-actively.

"It looks to me that this campaign is only going to go the one way: Onwards and upwards."

Which is just as well they are dealing with Albion and not Middlesbrough, who have asked their fans to keep the noise down at the Riverside.

Fans in the south-east corner of the Riverside were handed a letter from club safety officer Sue Watson. The letter said: "I am receiving more and more complaints from our own fans also seated in this area about both the persistant standing and the constant banging and noise coming from the back of the stand. Please stop, make as much noise as you like when we score, but this constant noise is driving some fans mad."

For those of you interested in more things Albion don't just settle for my blog. Check out Stuart Hudson's occasional ramblings of the Baggies, football and life in general. You can read it here. I admit I have a vested interest. Not only is he married to my sister, but he also hates Coldplay. Good man.

I took a call at the Albion training ground this morning from the Everton press officer.

And frankly he left me stuck for words.

He wanted me to answer some question about the Baggies, including, among others, to assess Albion's season.

"Are Albion under-achieving or over-achieving?" he asked.

Er...well, yeah...I'm don't..know what, well...

Help.

Back in June I listened to Tony Mowbray explain to myself and a colleague how he wouldn't need to spend much on new players, that Albion played the right kind of football and how they were capable of being away from the relegation zone. He talked himself into trouble in the space of that conversation. Quotes were printed, expectations were levered up.

'Survival', he told us, 'was not deemed as success'.

So here we are. Albion are bottom and have been for a while. Okay, only four points from survival, but in the last two games they've given the impression of trying free-wheel up a fairly steep slope. They look flat and have mislaid the 'Premier League guide to survival'. Mowbray was downbeat when I saw him this morning and his recent demeanour has hardly been of the tub-thumping variety. If I'm noticing that, if fans are getting that impression...then what are the players seeing?

We all know Albion have the lowest wage bill and Mowbray now accepts that he got it wrong in terms of signings - experienced heads were needed and money is actually quite helpful in the Premier League.

This isn't a bad thing. It means he's learning. He is after all, the Premier League's least experienced manager and still young.

The signings have been a mixed bag. Olsson, Morrison, Teixeira and Miller look bargains considering the amount paid for them. But then there's Borja Valero. Four point seven million isn't a lot when it comes to football spending but for a club like Albion it's money they can't afford to waste. Dare I say another £1million would have brought in that defensive midfielder Albion were wanting for most of the season? Borja, as talented as he is, is simply the right player at the wrong club. Possibly even in the wrong country. He looks too light-weight and lately his passing has become, how can I put this, almost Chaplow-esque. He is not the impact player who can make a difference in a struggling side.

So are Albion under-achieving or punching above their weight? They're not far from Stoke, who have invested more on wages for new players, but Hull, even with their recent poor form, have given themselves a platform for survival. Yet Albion are several points better off than Fulham were at this stage last season. And, let's be honest, wage bills do tend to be reflected by League tables. If someone had told you Albion would be four points from safety during the last week of February you'd have probably taken it.

So what of Mowbray? I was told by radio reporters on Sunday that the calls for his head were intensifying. That's never a good sign.

It's my view that change would not help anyone at this stage. Sometimes you need change but not now. For instance Gary Megson's time was most definitely up and had been for months before he left. Only a Jermain Defoe miss at West Ham, when they were 3-0 up, kept him in a job for another 12 months or so. He was that close so many times. Worst of all, he knew it and it was reflected by his demeanour.
Bryan Robson too was always treading a fine line, especially during his final weeks.
Mowbray isn't at that stage by any stretch of the imagination.

And he wouldn't be the first manager to have tried and failed to have kept Albion up. You can only achieve what you can on limited resources. Until Jeremy Peace is able to attract major investment then that's how it'll be - the Albion chairman has already shown that it's the only way the club can move forward. While his name is above the door at the Hawthorns, then Albion will be run on a prudent basis. Any manager will have to like and lump that.

Unlike his two immediate predecessors, Mowbray has a long-term plan for Albion. His signings, as young and raw as some of them are, all have potential. Some will get better. Some will peak at Championship level, with this campaign being the high point of their climb, others will go on to be successful, most probably at other clubs. Mowbray was half-right in saying he needed a few experienced heads around the club. To keep Albion up, yes. But not for the long-term. Robson, for instance, brought in too many quality players who were on the wane or way past their best. In some cases they simply came for a final pay day. The under-current of bitterness and cynicism among Robson's squad of 2006-07 was frightening. Mowbray's greatest achievement in many ways was filleting that squad and rebuilding it into one which took the club up as title winners in what is regarded by footballing folk as the hardest division to win promotion from. Just ask Mssrs McLeish or McCarthy.

That's history. What's for tomorrow?

Mowbray is building a core team which will be supplemented with each window. Players are being watched for next season and beyond. He will make mistakes in the transfer window. He will find bargains. His style of football will continue to prompt debate.

It may look bleak at the moment but it was Mowbray who got the club into this division. The spontaneous and systematic firing of managers over a two-year cycle never helped any club. If he takes them down he deserves a chance to get them back up.

And besides it's a long-held tradition at the Birmingham Mail that football managers depart when the respective reporter for that club is off. I was on annual leave when Megson made his exit and on paternity leave when Robson left.

Looking at my diary right now, I don't seem to have any weeks booked off until June. Nor is the wife pregnant.

So, on that basis, it looks like you're stuck with Mowbray - whether you like it or not.

ADDICTION: used in many contexts to describe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive physical dependence or psychological dependence.

Now I've got nothing against chocolate. I eat a Creme Egg in two swipes and I definitely wouldn't kick a Wispa out of my fridge.

But I certainly couldn't eat three in the time it takes you to listen to Kraftwerk's Autobahn (about 26 minutes).

Even two four-finger Kit-Kats in the space of half an hour is a bit much - not least when you're eyeing up the third one that's lying in front of you.

All of this makes you wonder how Tony Mowbray isn't more like John 'I'll never be one of those sad ex-footballers who works in the media (FourFourTwo, 1999)' Hartson?

Speaking of stomachs, I wouldn't be surprised to see some of Albion's so-called under-belly promoted to somewhere near the first-team.

Mowbray was waxing lyrical about Mulumbu - apparently nicknamed Makelele or Ukelele by his team-mates, he couldn't remember which - and Menseguez, who has good feet, although no mention about the texture, which is a slight worry.

The two impressed out in Spain, which is good news. I suspect we'll be seeing a little bit more of the duo.

Marek Cech to start on Sunday? It could yet happen. Mrs Robinson still hasn't given birth.

Finally, consider this, since clicking onto this page, Mowbray will have demolished the top layer of a Milk Tray.

Frightening.

It was a game of 'count the footballer' down the training ground today (Tuesday).

I didn't get much beyond three. Apart from a few youth-teamers sat around a computer in the media room.

The first-team are still out doing double training sessions in Spain, being put through the mill.

Rightly so.

Jared Hodgkiss was spotted down at the training ground today. A loan move looming perhaps?

Ishmael Miller rolled up for his rehab.

And Paul Robinson came out for a chat. You can read more about why he hasn't travelled to Spain in Wednesday's Birmingham Mail (and website) and why he may even struggle to make Sunday's game at Fulham.

Elsewhere, Albion fan Martin Greenwood is meeting club officials next week about his 'Bring Back the Brummie' campaign - to create a singing section in the Hawthorns' traditional home end - which you can read more about here at westbrom.com

It's going well. He tells me that he's had 30 definites, with a further dozen expressing a wish to join him if talks go to plan.

The vibes coming from the club today were certainly positive.

Before I forget...a big thanks to you all who came on board for last Thursday's Live Chat. Should be another one in a fortnight's time.

Watch this space.

One last thing, isn't it about time the club gave a name to their training ground?

Any suggestions?

LET's be honest, Saturday was hopeless wasn't it?

We all saw it.

And so did Tony Mowbray.

It's refreshing that the Albion boss is able to spot the failings of his decisions and tries to put them right.

Putting them right is another matter altogether.

Mowbray accepts he made a mistake on Saturday, probably with his team formation, as well as his central defensive partnership (although how many would have picked Donk and Pele over Barnett and Meite without the benefit of hindsight?).

As he said today - although he didn't have to - imagine the feel-good factor had Albion won and climbed the table.

Imagine if Portsmouth had held on for a couple of minutes or if John Terry had found the back of the net with that sitter against Hull.

Such margins make or break managers.

With all these sackings going on you'd be forgiven for wondering whether fans are running out of patience with Mowbray.

Not so.

Far be it for me to suggest Tony Mowbray is under any kind of pressure from above - he's not - but it's prompted debate on phone-ins, our letters' page and forums.

And a poll on wbafansonline shows that support is still very much on Mowbray's side.

As of the last time of checking there were 418 saying 'yes' the Baggies should stick with Mowbray and just 79 saying 'no'. The rest unsure.

Unless you're a bookmaker that is. One of them had Mowbray at 12-1 to be the next manager to be sacked. In comparison, Gary Megson was 24-1. Gareth Southgate, working for the Premier League's most tolerant chairman, was 8-1 favourite. Work that one out?

Perhaps they should stick to horses.

Speaking of which, I spoke to the Horse earlier on today (Can you see what I did there?) about his meeting at Albion's Supporters Club this Thursday (7.30pm).

He'll be chatting about his recent battle with cancer and, of course, the Great Escape.

Geoff's a good bloke with plenty of stories - some of which I'd love to relay here but wouldn't be allowed to. If you get a chance go and join him in the East Stand. All proceeds from the night going to Testicular Cancer Research.

Finally, before I forget - I'll be doing a live Internet chat about all things Albion for an hour from 1pm this Thursday. Click here for more information.

Unlike recently, I'll try not to 'pass' too many times....

Fear not. Tune into your local radio station, switch onto Jeff Stelling or even point your channel at the dodgiest satelite this side of Dubai.

But, most importantly, while you do all of this don't remember to join us on our live Sports Argus blog.

Join in the banter and fun from 2.30pm - if only so you can make fun of the other fans when their teams are losing.

Just click here and away you go.

THERE was a commotion as they watched the TV screen.

It was that good. It might have been an outrageous bit of skill or a wonder goal. I can't remember.

Tony Mowbray popped his head around the door to see what the fuss was about as his coaching staff watched the football match.

It was, in fact, a DVD which a contact had passed onto him, featuring an overseas midfielder.

The coaches had got to it first.

Mowbray decided he needed a better look. He took the DVD home, watched it. Watched it again. Went back to it and watched it again. Further inquiries were made, more questions were asked.

And Filipe Teixeira signed within a week or two.

So this is why people should not worry unduly when Tony Mowbray admits that he hadn't watched Juan Carlos Menseguez in the flesh. (By the way, he's unlikely to play much part this weekend due to logistical reasoning - he only joined on Monday, Albion played on the Tuesday, players had a day off on Wednesday and trained on a reduced pitch today due to the weather. Thursday being the day when Mowbray starts work on tactics, team shape and formations. Plus he's not played since mid-December.)

I digress.

One caller on a radio phone-in suggested that the Albion boss must be desperate to sign a player on the basis of a film?

But that misses the point.

He wouldn't be the first to sign a player based on a video.

I somehow doubt Arsene Wenger spent a week travelling to Russia and back to watch Arshavin. And I'd put good money on the likes of Ronaldo and, say, Nani or Anderson, being a result of United's excellent scouting network, rather than Sir Alex Ferguson spending long periods travelling around the world.

Players do get scouted through the aid of a video recording. The best of it is you can rewind the excellent pass or the bit where the player makes a run to link-up play. Menseguez came from a recommendation from one of the club's trusted South American contacts.

It's the way clubs operate these days. Albion are not trying to split the atom.

Football management is becoming a 24 hour job. Mowbray and his scouts spend enough time driving up and down motorways watching English-based players.

Should Mowbray have abandoned his team and their preparations for the next match by jetting over to Argentina to watch some one who may or may not be worth signing?

I think not.

Imagine the outcry if he'd gone and done that....

And so there it was.

All transfer dealings over until the summer.

The two signings you already knew about but what else came close?

Well by all accounts the pursuit of Christian Obodo ran into one hurdle too many on the morning of deadline day.

Albion asked about at least two other defensive midfielders, that I know of, during the course of the day.

Neither worked out (as you might now have guessed by now).

Will Mulumbu and Menseguez help Albion to survival? Or indeed Simpson and Fortune, who we mustn't forget about?

We shall see. I always said that Albion would not only be judged by what happens on the field but also by the level of backing afforded to Tony Mowbray in the transfer market.

It was always clear that Albion wouldn't be spending much, if any, money.

The loan deals are a gamble.

Whether this has been a successful January will be deemed by what happens between now and the end of May.

In the meantime, I'm off to re-create the Michelin look for tonight's trip to Turf Moor.

Burnley have turned their nose up at the snow, and sniffed at the ice. Their pitch remained covered in snow on a ground that's protected by undersoil heating - so there's no issue that it might have frozen over.

They're not even bothering with a pitch inspection.

Tony Mowbray must find a way of finding some fit players for tonight's game, which will no doubt go the full distance and include extra-time. Which just goes to show that there's always somebody worse off...