I'd love to talk but...
TO be honest there's not much more that I can add to my match report.
But one thing does rile me. Footballers with attitude.
The local media is there for the fans. Not the official website - they can spin things into whatever they want to. That's not a criticism of my colleagues in the Albion press room. It's their job to put a positive slant when things are as grim as they are. You won't for example see comments where a player or manager is critical of the chairman, for instance, or another club.
The local press is there to give relatively unbiased comment on Albion. Whether you agree with it or not is your choice. However when we ask players for a comment then we are doing so because (A) it's our job to ask and because (B) we, as a medium between club and readers, feel fans are owed an explanation come win, lose or draw, without spin or waffle. Especially if the team keeps losing in the same manner.
Footballers earn four or five figure sums per week, they train for two hours a day, then they take to the pitch for two hours on match days. They are treated like Gods when things are going well. Yet some are unaccountable when things aren't going as well. The manager speaks to the press afterwards whether he wants to or not. And rightly so.
Some players would rather skip the two minutes of slightly awkward questions, presumably in case it eats into their busy post-match social schedule. Or, to put it another way, they cannot be bothered to speak to you. The people who pay to watch defeats. The people who pay to be ridiculed at work every morning after the previous Saturday or Tuesday evening. Surely they should be duty-bound to speak? Right or wrong? The local press aren't there to court headlines or back page headlines. Our readers are predominantly fans who want to know why this is happening or why that isn't happening. They deserve more respect. We're not asking for War and Peace (no pun intended Mr Chairman) but just a couple of minutes.
One player, a young yet very high-profile international who should know better, brushed a colleague and myself away with a look of disdain I would normally reserve for a trek through a path of horse muck.
He couldn't be bothered. Apparently he was upset at the result. Really? So were 23,000 others.
Supporters are getting sick of watching week after week of poor results and mistakes. If a person made errors in their place of work they get disciplined.
Yet some footballers - not all, I should add - puff their chest out, curl their lips and stink the place out with their 'nothing to do with me Guv' arrogance. Like I say, not all are like this.
You won't find a better ambassador than Jonathan Greening for instance. A true statesman as any captain should be. Jonas Olsson also has time for people. As does Roman Bednar generally, Paul Robinson nearly always has time for you (even when he's had a blazing row with his own fans), James Morrison, Robert Koren (a true gent with an amazing grasp of English and 'Footballese') and one or two others. The rest? Forget it. Sure, some don't speak English well enough and are uncomfortable speaking out. That's fair enough. Yet some are beneath such chores.
There have been others in the past who can't wait to speak and believe they owe it to the punters. Derek McInnes would bark or snarl at you if you phrased a question incorrectly. But it was his duty to explain himself. Sean Gregan pulled me up for giving him 'sixes' every week. Yet he spoke when asked. Bob Taylor, Andy Johnson and The Horse were all willing. Even Lee Hughes was brave enough - at a time when keeping a low profile was definitely in his best interests. I could name a few who had no guts or desire to do so.
In any case, I'm doing one of those live chats on Thursday lunchtime. Click here if you fancy it.
See you tomorrow perhaps.
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Chris Lepkowski - Mail man Chris Lepkowski’s view of what’s going on at West Bromwich Albion FC.
Chris - when are you (and other journos) - going to do a critical evaluation on Mowbray's management and Peace's approach to survival in this league? We're relegated now so the post-mortem can begin. If we'd been watching Robson's team this season rather than Mowbray then the fans and journos would be rioting. as it is, Mowbray is getting a "pass". Why?
To be fair, we were relegated back in August with our failure to prepare sensibly for a tough season in terms of personnel and the types of personnel to be brought in. Coming out with gibberish like "magic dust" - He's either extremely naieve or just an idiot. Compared to the other promoted clubs, our preparation for this season was frankly negligent.
Stop giving Mowbray an easy ride - his comments after the Arsenal game were unacceptable. We've defended like that for 3 seasons, what happened this seasons is nothing new - its just the opposition is better and we're being punished. You don't need a season managing in the league to learn that - most right thinking fans could have told you that last May. His comments could have come last season or the season before. The personnel have changed, but the flaws in tactics remain. That is the Manager's fault, plain and simple.
Due to arrogance or negligence the basic failures in our play have not been addressed and with Mowbray im afraid they will never be addressed. We're not learning, we're not improving because the guy doesnt know what's wrong. Look at what he brought in in January - where was the centre half and defensive midfielder everyone knows we were crying out for? Whats the point in bringing in another lightweight winger in? More money wasted by a manager who's attitude to transfer money is profligate. i wont even mention Valero. We're worse equipped this season than any previous Premiership seasons - and we'll finish dead last as a result.
As for Peace, the key question needs to be how have teams like Hull and Stoke been able to outspend a team (and in relation to Mowbray, spend it better than we have spent) who are in their 3rd shot at the Premier League?
Mark my words, this "it'll be alright on the night", "there's not much wrong with the way we play" approach will see us next season where teams like Charlton and Soton (supposed templates for running the Albion as we've been told in the past) are now - bottom 3 in the Championship. Gera and Phillips' goals last season hid a multitude of defensive sins. We won't be able to hide them next season. Its too late to save this season but if nothing changes in the summer then there's only one way the Albion are getting out of the championship next season - the trapdoor.
Exactly what Mr Jones said, I just can't bring myself around to watching the remaining games this season. I'm expecting a lot more of the same. Both Hull and Stoke ground out results last night and I wouldn't be surprised to see one or even both of them stop up with us staying rooted to the bottom.
We have no bottle and are unable to keep a clean sheet; we don't even look close to matching the determination of either of the other promoted teams to do what is necessary to stop in this division.
Mowbray's side has been set up to attack; we do not have the personnel to play any other way, a mistake of Mr Mowbray. The midfield he has put together do not have a tackle between them, Mr Valero was purchased by Mowbray even though we didn’t have the players to compliment him in our side. The chap hasn’t become a bad player overnight and I put it down to Mowbray trying to fit square pegs into round holes, why blow £5 million on a luxury we could ill afford.
I've never seen such an unbalanced Albion squad with such an inability to do perform the simplest job. We have a defence that consists of two players (Robbo & Olsson) who can actually clear a ball, the rest are "artistic" wastes of space who should be ashamed of their shortcomings as defenders, but I doubt it as they pick up another pay packet.
Answers are needed from Peace, Mowbray and like you mentioned, these “professional” sportsmen who can not do the basic schoolboy tasks they are given to the required standard.
David,
I'm not sure whether you followed my stuff but I've mentioned several times that they tried to sign a defensive midfielder. As it happens the one they signed was injured 48 hours before he would have played. I see your point - the fact they hadn't signed one deemed ready for the Premier League - but Mowbray has wanted one since the day he came to the club. That's a fact. That they haven't is more down to clubs not agreeing fees.
Mowbray's not getting a pass from myself. I'm not really sure where you get this idea from that he's got some kind of immunity from criticism. He hasn't. I've been critical of him, just as I've praised him when I've seen fit. Others have too. Again, you'll see this throughout comments, match reports or blogs Ive done on him in the past. And, despite your understandable pessimism, fact is they are still not down. Yes they probably will be but they still have a chance.
I agree Albion are too lightweight and rely too much on a style of football which can only really be executed by the very best players (or certainly players of a better quality).
Albion are still scoring goals. the problem is defensively. And clearly if defenders need coaching on such basic things as clearing the ball out of the penalty area, positioning and how/when to track runners then perhaps it's more a case that the players are simply not up to the task, rather than ignoring or failing to execute advice from training drills. If players need telling and showing that many times then they are not good enough. And yes, that means the manager has failed in that respect, as the defenders were (with the exception of Robinson) his signings. But then, I'm only repeating what I've said before...
However, I'm also of the view that players and the board must carry some accountability.
Chris
Sorry - i'm not buying it about Mowbray. Read the Sunday Times match report on the Everton game for a proper critique of Mowbray. He can bang on all you want about style if youre doing well, but the objective (which i think Mowbray has lost sight of) is that you need to win first, worry about style later.
And i'm not falling for Mowbray's idea that he would have got the right person in if available (after the horse has bolted). A defensive midfielder has been lacking for 2.5 seasons, not just this one. Mowbray is on record as saying last season "we dont play with a defensive midfielders, thats not how we play". This is not a new problem - he's failed to address it over 3 years. Have we learned anything over 3 seasons? No, its the same mistakes, the same casual approach to defending despite changes in personnel. And Meite? Anyone could have told you that he was an accident waiting to happen in terms of defensive ability and attitude. Maybe that bloke at Bolton actually knows what he's doing in football management - even if he is a bit 'short' with the press?
If your main target is a defensive midfielder in the window then you get one in who can play, even if theyre not first choice - not some kid from france whos not going to get a game and another lightweight winger we dont need! Why did we play with effectively 5 wingers in midfield positions against Newcastle? The only defensive midfielder at the club (remember his display against Cov in the cup?) Pele is left is sitting on the bench. Surely if we plans to play with a holding player then one who is half decent is a better bet in that position than someone like Valero who can't actually tackle?
He's had 2.5 seasons to sort out the same defensive errors as we committed in his first game: 3-3 at home to QPR. He's done nothing and now we're getting exposed horribly by better teams. So predictable last summer. What does Mowbray know now that anyone with half a brain cell counldnt see back then? Arguably the team is weaker now than it was in May.
When Mowbrays gone he'll be remembered for being naieve, a soft touch and wasting a hell of a lot of hard-earned money on players that will never be recouped.
If you seriously think the Albion have a chance of staying up this season, youre the only one. The attitiude of the few people left at the end on Tuesday was apathy. They know we're down - with a whimper, not a bang. This team doesnt have any spine, any spirit or any leadership.
Yes, Peace has got a lot to answer for. But if it was your money, would you trust Mowbray to spend it? If so i know a man in Nigeria who might have a scheme you'd be interested in investing in...
Sadly, we dont even have a chance of avoiding finishing rock bottom. Stick a fork in us, we're done. And it was all so predictable back in the Summer - thats the tragedy of it.
Dave
Mulumbu would have played at Fulham had he not got injured. Take on board what you mean about Meite and I happen to think you're spot on
However, regardless of the one quote you've picked out, I could point to many more where he's insisted on the importance of a defensive midfielder. He's identified them in every window - that is a fact - including four targets in the last one (Mulumbu being one). Once he's done that it's down to the club to address the terms and transfer fees. Yes, perhaps he should have played Pele at Fulham...again Coventry is a great example to use, but you could easily pick out seven or eight games where Pele was poor or, at best, average.
The manager simply hasn't brought enough quality into the squad.
When the chips are down, some people just love to put the boot in. It's easy in hindsight to criticise Mowbray's signings. Fair enough, some haven't been good. Meite was expected to be experienced and solid, turns out he's neither. Donk has had a baptism of fire, he has the potential to be a good player but his confidence has been wrecked this season. Valero is a good player but perhaps a bit of a luxury. The defensive midfielder debate rages on but I always wonder, why? Would having some anchorman in midfield have stopped any of the five goals we've conceded in the last two matches? No. What we actually lack is experience and leadership at the back. That's where the money should have been spent in the summer, on strong centre backs who will organise and make sure set pieces are dealt with. We got one in Olsson but we need more. As I said though, it's easy to say that in hindsight.
Yes, Mowbray has been naive, and it looks like it's going to cost us, although with TEN matches left to play there's hope for survival yet, if form can be turned around. There's no way he deserves to be fired for this though, because that's just no way to earn long term success. Chopping and changing managers all the time gets us nowhere. Stability is key. We have a bright young manager who is respected by everyone in the game for his philosophies, but who has had to learn some harsh lessons this season. He's intelligent - he'll learn them. I guess if he doesn't, then that's the time to consider a change. Believing we'll go the same way as Charlton and Southampton is just over the top, Albion are run better than those two. Charlton's demise has been the product of instability, Southampton's by debt. Neither need apply at The Hawthorns. Could the board have done more to help us? I don't know that, I don't know what the finances of the club are. I do know we've spent more this season than in any other season in the clubs history. Peace doesn't risk the money, on the one hand that keeps us solvent, ready to bounce straight back should we go down, but on the other we are unable to pay the wages required for the quality that could give us a better chance of staying up.
David Jones, I suggest that if you want to see a certain Bolton manager's style of play, you make your way up the M6 on a Saturday.
In response to Dan Nash's comment, if you read my post i made little reference to the style of play. Personally i like good football, but i also appreciate good defending. Its a balance, not a choice between the two. There's no point having a beautiful looking car if it doesnt have an engine.
Perhaps you were one of those people who've been banging on at the Hawthorns for the past few seasons that the only way to stay up is by playing "good football"? Suddenly those people dont sound quite as vocal now. The way to stay up is winning matches - and you start that by keeping clean sheets and then building from there.
By the way, have you ever wondered why the opposition managers are so complimentary about Mowbray? Because they've got the points from the game. Because we havent challenged them physically. Allardyce and Pulis dont get plaudits, they get points. Tell me where it says in the League rulebook that teams get points for "artistic impression"? The best managers get the best out of what theyve got - Mowbray is an abject failure in this respect (consider this season and his first season at the club).
And Valero is 'a bit of a luxury'? Yes, youre right - i'd say a player who's only telling contribution in 8 months (despite being an alsmost ever present) is one assist is a luxury. He's physically weak, no pace and utterly unsuited to this league. We paid way over the odds for him and frankly another right midfielder (he is incapable of playing centre mid, whatever Mowbray thinks) was not a priority. Valero encapsulates our naieve and culpable failure to prepare for any meaningful impression on this league this season and the blame lies firmly at the door of the Manager.
If you sign players whose qualities are unsuited to the league, with no experience, fail to fill the gaps created by significant departures (Gera/Phillips) and wallpaper over the glaring cracks of previous seasons, why on earth is anyone suprised that we're doing as poorly as we are? Its not hindsight - i said we'd finish bottom in August and its looking exactly that way.
David - I know football well enough to realise that success can be achieved through playing with plenty of style or with very little. There's nothing wrong with Mowbray's approach to the game, of course he wants results but only if they come in an entertaining fashion, and that doesn't mean he wants us to win every game with pulsating 4-3 victories, it just means he doesn't want us to put ten men behind the ball and hope for a winner from a set piece. I applaud him for that. Last season was the best I've ever known as an Albion fan because of the style in which we won the Championship. I understand what you say about the defence. It hasn't been good enough, poor concentration and a lack of leadership have likely been the reason for us getting relegated. To say Mowbray hasn't got the best out of what he's got is harsh though, it's more a case of what he's got not being good enough. Partly his fault because he's the man who brought in the players who haven't performed in defence but once their on the pitch, these players need to take pride in their job and give everything, Mowbray can't do that for them.
I'm tired of people 'banging on' about how Mowbray should have taken us up in his first season. They need to realise that we had a split dressing room, and no amount of talent can quell that. The injury to Curtis Davies that made him miss the final months of the season also made it spectacularly clear just how much he was relied upon in defence back then. When Mowbray was allowed to build his own team the following summer, he did a fantastic job. If we're relegated then I'm hugely confident that he'll bring us back up and do a better job of building a Premier League squad now that he's learned what is required. I have great faith in Mowbray to do our club the power of good long-term.
Dan - i admire your optimism, but i fear its misplaced.
Winning the Championship was a great achievement, but lets not kid ourselves that it was a walk in the park. The amount of times we shot ourselves in both feet and nearly threw it away was frightening - remember Blackpool away until the last 10 mins? Remember Soton at home?
Phillips' sheer volume of goals and Gera's ability to score at the right time masked a lot of defensive errors that i can't see us overcoming next time. Fact is, the squad is weaker than in May and we really havent progressed in any area (except the keeper) since then.
Mowbray's showed his stubbornness and inflexibility last season in failing to sort us out defensively in the 2008 window - no replacement for Kiely who was costing us points, no commanding, experienced centre half to steady the ship. I know he comes out with these Sun Tzu quotes and "Philosopher Coach" nonsense but i'm not buying it. I think he's trying to be too clever for his own good and the players look utterly baffled sometimes (Newcastle at home? Stoke away?). The old adage for footballers is keep it simple stupid.
Combined with an overall "feeling sorry for ourselves" atmosphere that you get following relegation, the basic flaws in our approach that i've mentioned already only lead me to believe that we'll struggle in the first division next season and will be unable to compete.
In finishing, i must correct one of your previous comments. Charlton are where they are after sticking with the guy (Pardew - another supposedly bright young manager)who took them down, not because they chopped and changed managers. Sticking with the right manager is definitely the way to go - but this guy has been in charge 3 years, spent a fortune, failed to deal with the fundamental problems of our play and has failed to take the club forward (we've never finished bottom of the Prem before. Are you trying to suggest that you shouldn't ever change the manager? That we should have kept Ron Saunders, Gould, Buckley, Smith, Little or Robson at the club longer than we did? We chopped and changed managers for 20 years because they were rubbish managers, terrible appointments - it was symptoimatic of our decline, not the cause. Ferguson and Wenger have been in charge for 10+ years beacuase theyre good - should Sammy Lee have been given 10 years at Bolton? Should McClaren have had 10 years with England?
Its a results based business and Mowbray should be judged on the results over the past 3 years. In the full reckoning, he's come up woefully short.
"Its a results based business and Mowbray should be judged on the results over the past 3 years. In the full reckoning, he's come up woefully short."
Mowbray may have "come up woefully short" this season (although personally I think "woefuly" is being too harsh) but that is nothing like a full reckoning.
The results over the last three seasons look like this:
Season 1 - Overhauled a didvided and cynical squad and took them to the play-offs final.
Season 2 - Won the Championship playing really attractive football.
Season 3 - Going very badly, with only an outside chance of survival
So, 2 seasons when he couldn't have been expected to do any better and 1 where he failed. So in the "full reckoning" he's succeeded more than he's failed.
Anyway, as Chris says, WBA are operating under different financial restraints to other clubs. You might not like it but can you argue its wrong? Just take a look at the other teams who have been promoted and see how they have done:
2002: Manchester City, Us, Birmingham
2003: Portsmouth, Leicester, Wolves
2004: Norwich, Us, Palace
2005: Sunderland, Wigan, West Ham
2006: Reading, Sheffield Utd, Watford
2007: Sunderland, Birmingham, Derby
2008: Us, Stoke, Hull
In my opinion there isn't a club in there that has done better with the money they have.
Chris,
I loved the piece above but cannot help but think you are writing as a man who was embarrased rather than as a journalist there.
I understand it must be annoying when players do not want to talk to you but they are human to and if they are upset the last thing they want to do is go over it. As you mention the manager is there to talk to the press.. what more do you want.
I do not imagine for one minute that if I was to phone you for a chat one minute after deadline you would want to tlak about the paper and what you just put in.
The next day you might but not that day.
As I said, I can understand you are embarrased, but do not criticise players for feeling defeat just as badly as the fans you talk about serving so honourably.