June 2009 Archives

FOR Albion, see West Ham United.

The Baggies' decision to appoint Roberto Di Matteo may have prompted surprise but scratch beneath the surface if you can. It's no shock, really.

You only have to look at the West Ham model to see what Jeremy Peace had in mind. Gianfranco Zola's success at Upton Park has no doubt been part of the inspiration behind Albion's move.

A young Italian, with little experience of managing, working at a club where he will work alongside a sporting and technical director...sounds familiar, just like West Ham (and exactly why Alan Curbishley was never a consideration). Di Matteo isn't even a manager - he's a head coach.

If it works as well as it has in east London then it'll be an inspired decision.

And you can't blame Peace for taking the gamble.

Di Matteo, born in Switzerland to Italian parents, may lack the experience of a Dave Jones, the fans' adulation of a Derek McInnes or the coaching know-how of an Alan Irvine.

But he will stick Albion back on the radar. Let us not forget that this is a man who managed to transform the loathsome MK Dons into a semi-fashionable club.

And Albion's decision to overlook other candidates may not be a bad thing. Dave Jones never really convinced anyone that his heart was set on leaving Cardiff. McInnes, like Di Matteo, remains inexperienced. A bad season would have tarnished the image of McInnes, who remains a hero. His time may yet come sometime in the future. Darren Ferguson was too expensive and Adie Boothroyd would have triggered a deluge of season ticket books being returned - if you go with the reaction to a story about his possible interest in the job.

Irvine was highly spoken of but didn't convince Albion, which left Di Matteo, although we must not necessarily assume that he was the last man standing.

He impressed during his interview. He 'blew our socks off' was how one source put it. Those close to the MK Dons club claim he's thoughtful and his sides like to attack. He seems to be an attacking 4-5-1 man, whose teams include a holding midfielder and a couple of wide men. Now where have we seen that recently? It's not necessarily all about passing, attacking play. Unlike Tony Mowbray he appreciates the times where games need to be killed off, rather than opened out.

Fans won't see a ranter on the touchline. When the MK Dons were involved in their play-off semi-final shoot out defeat to Scunthorpe, the 39-year-old was calm, controlled. There were few outbursts of emotion.

The very name itself - that of a man who became a hero at Chelsea, won 34 Italian caps, trophies in Italy and scored in two English FA Cup finals - ensures a spot of kudos for Albion. He was forced to retire at 31 due to a leg injury and turned his attention to coaching.

As recently as three weeks ago he was shortlisted for a job at Swiss club and Europa League qualifiers Basel, only to be denied because he had yet to acquire the remaining coaching badge needed for European competition, which he's currently working towards.

It is a step into the unknown for Albion. It's a gamble which could backfire and, if it does, then inevitable questions will be asked of the chairman for his decision to appoint Di Matteo.

But those are for another day and may never even get asked.

He's inexperienced, no doubt, but then so was Roy Keane when he took Sunderland up. And Di Matteo already has the players at Albion to work towards a similar goal.

His first task will be to restore a winning mentality.

Signing players and convincing some of the current squad to stay might just have got a little easier given the personality involved. And you suspect his contacts book won't be too bad either.

Think about this before you pass judgement - it's not necessarily a bad appointment.
Albion's profile is back on the rise and without a ball being kicked.

YOU know that feeling of trepidation you get when you walk back into your house after a holiday?

That heavy feeling about the bills you'll find on the doormat, hoping there have been no unwelcome visitors in the house while you've been away.

(If you have teenage kids - which I don't - probably wondering if the house is actually standing in the first place).

Well it's not that bad.

So what do we know?

Tony Mowbray has apparently left for Celtic.

He claims matters were 'strained' with Jeremy Peace over squad number and transfer policies. We knew that long before he left - I suspect Peace's take may be different and the truth will fall somewhere between. It generally does. If your team are 20th out of 20 then you'd hardly expect any manager or chairman to be walking around the building hand-in-hand...

But I do know that Peace and Mowbray have spoken this week. Those discussions, more of an 'exit' meeting if you like, were very amicable and there was a genuine warmth. So much for any fall-out. Mowbray's name isn't as tarnished among the Albion board as others would make out.

Mowbray's sorry for the fans. Of course he is. (You can read what our senior sports writer Colin Tattum has to say here)

Albion are saying little about his replacement. Fair enough. Diplomacy and acting with a spot of dignity isn't always a bad thing.

Boring and frustrating for yourselves, infuriariting for us in the media.

And what of those replacing him?

The same favourites are those who were looking good before I left. Irvine, McInnes, Ferguson.

Basically not much has changed.

Work did manage follow me to Malta and the resort of Bugibba.

Scattered among the many shops, bars and restaurants was one called 'Baggies'. I've no idea whether it was a store or pub or otherwise - it was boarded up and shut for business.
Not a good sign...

But then the 'Yam Yam' store (I kid you not - it was some kind of mini-convenience shop) was doing roaring trade when I popped in. There were also lot of Scots in the region.

Omens, signs from above and speculation? What to make of it all?

In any case, knowing what I do after a week off, I reckon the next Albion manager's accent may have a tinge of Scottish to it...

Who will replace Tony Mowbray? (if we're to assume he leaves...)
I'm just offering a little insight. You decide who you want. The next Albion manager may be on this list. Some may not even make the starting grid.

THE RUNNERS AND RIDERS

DARREN FERGUSON
FOR: Ambitious, two successive promotions, attractive football and well connected in the game (with a little thanks to his father...). Perhaps the one candidate who ticks all boxes in terms of suitability. A promising young manager.
AGAINST: Is on a good number at Peterborough, who are already looking for top flight football. An ex-Manchester United (Robson) and former Wolves team-mate (Venus) have been involved with Albion. Would they recommend Albion to him? If he was successful in getting the job his shelf life at club may be short-lived if he does well. He's already carving out a reputation for himself as a potential top manager.

DEREK McINNES.
FOR: Is fondly remembered by Albion, remains highly thought-of by Jeremy Peace and has just tasted success with St Johnstone. Would give Albion a huge lift. His name carries a lot of weight with the right people at the club. A leader, a character, a winner and a great diplomat. Everyone at Albion seems to speak highly of him.
AGAINST: Relative inexperience is only question mark. Inevitable risk of his playing achievements being overshadowed if he fails to succeed as a manager at B71.

DAVE JONES:
FOR: Admired by club's hierarchy. Was close to getting the job in 2006 but was persuaded to remain at Cardiff, citing their ambitious plans. Has perhaps reached end of his shelf life in Wales. Has vast experience of top flight and Championship football.
AGAINST: Cardiff's lack of progress and success goes against him. His Wolves connections will merely add to any pressures. Would he work with a Sporting and Technical Director?

STEVE COPPELL
FOR: More than 25 years experience as manager. His sides play good football and would seemingly be comfortable working alongside Albion's technical director having worked for one at Reading. Out of work so compensation wouldn't be an issue.
AGAINST: Is he as fully motivated and charged as some of the younger candidates? As dour as they come. And not the greatest man-manager.

ALAN IRVINE
FOR: Has made a decent transition from coach to manager. Has worked to a budget and styled a well-drilled, organised football team. Worked with David Moyes for many years and certainly one for the future. Will figure on Albion's list.
AGAINST: Not the most high-profile name associated with Albion. Lacks pedigree and experience.

GARY JOHNSON
FOR: Has fashioned decent passing sides over the years and achieved success on a budget. Almost took Bristol City into top flight last year.
AGAINST: City haven't made the same progress this season. Again, his name doesn't carry the same weight as some of Albion's other candidates

ALAN CURBISHLEY
FOR: Has vast know-how and may be back in the market for another crack at management. His experience and standing in the game would raise the club's profile.
AGAINST: Didn't enjoy working for a technical director at West Ham. His brand of football also won him few friends at Upton Park and is the fire still burning within?

ROBERTO DI MATTEO.
FOR: Young, ambitious and has managed to make MK Dons semi-likeable. Okay, maybe that's stretching it. Would appear to fit Peace's ideal profile of a manager.
AGAINST: Still a relative rookie and has no experience of Championship level or above as a manager. Has a decent relationship with MK Dons hierarchy. If Albion are to appoint a relative rookie then Di Matteo falls behind McInnes and Irvine surely?

SEAN O'DRISCOLL
FOR: The Wolverhampton-born manager has taken two lower-league sides to promotion and his Doncaster side upset many of the more established clubs last year.
AGAINST: Would be walking into a high-pressure job at The Hawthorns and may lack the kudos of some other candidates.

PAUL INCE
FOR: Decent lower-league record at MK Dons after reasonable start at Macclesfield and his name still carries a lot of weight in the game.
AGAINST: That spell at Ewood Park. Training methods and man-management were hugely criticised by players.

ADIE BOOTHROYD
FOR: A bizarre favourite among many bookmakers although he has a major ally in Dan Ashworth (Albion's Sporting and Technical Director) on the club's board. Still lives locally. Seems re-energised following his low-key final few months at Watford.
AGAINST: Style of football wouldn't be appreciated by Albion fans and he didn't leave his Baggies' academy post on the best of terms, to put it mildly. Unlikely to be considered unless previous tensions have eased.

OVERSEAS MARKET
FOR: Albion's tiered structure, with Dan Ashworth as Sporting and Technical Director, lends itself to a foreign coach. West Ham have proven that it can work as have Reading, to some degree. It would mean Albion replacing Mowbray with, effectively a 'head coach'. Don't rule this option out - it has been discussed in the past.
AGAINST: Overseas coaches are a risk at the best of times. Even some of the reasonably successful names in world football (Scolari, Ramos) have struggled in English football.

Enjoy the next few days of speculation. I'm off on annual leave. But remember to check out the Birmingham Mail for all the latest news on Albion's managerial saga. See you soon.

ALL of this business between Celtic and Albion is, let's be honest, all a little tedious.

It got me thinking to the last (surviving) Albion boss to quit B71 for another club. Ossie Ardiles.

Who could forget?

There was none of the carefully worded blandness from Albion or the cloak-and-dagger stealth tactics of Celtic.

It was open warfare. And it was all marvellously undignified.

Spurs chairman Sir Alan Sugar, back in the days when he was just Alan, made no secret of his desire to bring Ossie to White Hart Lane.

His Albion counterpart was a good old-fashioned Black Country bloke called Trevor Summers.

He wasn't a stockbroker, not in the slightest bit posh by all accounts, but he was very, very robust. If you lived in West Bromwich and needed a shed then he was your man.

And, step aside Apprentice wannabes, he took on Sugar. Head on.

I can only envy my predecessors who were drip-fed quotes by the steaming Summers about 'Exocet' missiles being despatched down the M1 to 'blow up' Amstrad computers.

These days it's the same old problem for Albion but how times were different back then.

What on earth did Sir Alan make of it all?

To hell with class, grace and decorum. Albion v Spurs in 1993 - now that was a proper saga.

*AWAY from the fun and games, our friends at Boing FC have their IFA semi-final this Saturday against Newcastle (at NUFC's training ground)

The Albion fans beat Sheffield United (2-1), Torquay United (2-0) and Millwall 2-1 to reach the last four.

The winners of our semi final meet Preston North End who are current League Champions 09, North West Cup winners 09 & Worldnet 08 winners.

The final will be played at Leeds university (Boddington Halls) on the Friday 24th July, which is also the weekend of Worldnet 09.

Good luck lads.

One of the joys of foreign players is when they speak to newspapers back in their homeland and those comments are then translated back into English.

We've had some corkers over the years.

Tomasz Kuszczak got done quite badly a few years ago when some quotes he made in Poland were obviously put through 'Google' by an English-based news agency and came out the other end with the keeper attacking Bryan Robson and Jeremy Peace. In fact he'd done neither.

Likewise we've had Carl Hoefkens supposedly criticising the town of West Bromwich (which he maintains he didn't), Diomansy Kamara wanting to 'play for the President' (whatever that meant) and, most shocking of all, Martin Albrechtsen calling himself a 'Premiership footballer'.

You might have seen the quotes about Jonas Olsson wanting to leave.

When I heard about them I was surprised. It wasn't the impression I got speaking to him recently when he said he wished to stay. And, from my dealings with him this season, I believe he's honest and, when necessary, isn't shy in making his feelings known.

It transpires that Olsson has become the latest to have been stitched up by dodgy translation.

He insists that he didn't make the comments. And, for what it's worth, I believe him. Not least as he explained that some of the words he used in Swedish have multiple meanings - which resulted in the wrong translation and incorrect context.

To find out what he really said, check out Friday's Birmingham Mail.

I'M starting to get bored of this.

So what's the story so far?

David Moyes prefers Everton to Celtic. Understandable.

Owen Coyle is confusing us all. He says he doesn't want the job but, actually, he's not saying that. His bosses are adamant he doesn't. But, try as I might, I cannot find a statement of rejection anywhere in his quotes. Right job, wrong time perhaps?

Gordon Strachan fancies Mark McGhee. Somebody has to I guess.

Charlie Nicholas, star of the 1980s, isn't keen on Roberto Martinez but rather likes Moyes. Fair enough. I quite like Alicia Silverstone but it doesn't mean it's going to happen.

Tommy Docherty, a random bastion of the 1970s, is rather keen on Roberto Martinez. Malcolm Allison and Lawrie McMenemy were, presumably, unavailable for comment. Pat Nevin likes him too.

Does Martinez want the job? Apparently so, but what of Wigan?

Lisbon Lion Billy McNeill doesn't know who should get the job. Not helpful in the slightest.

Tony Adams managed to out-shock shock-jock Mike Parry by declaring live on talkSPORT that he was close to getting the job. A Celtic official hastily rushed out a denial, as if he'd just been asked out by the ugly girl at the school disco and heard her bragging about the conquest to her spotty mates.

Frank Rijkaard is being way too Dutch with his decision making, while Slaven Bilic is keeping a low profile. Both men seem too cool for the SPL and trips to Motherwell.

Roy Keane is probably ruing the day he set foot in Ipswich. Craig Levein doesn't have green-and-white-blood. Like that matters.

And Glenn Hoddle, last seen driving around Wolverhampton looking confused, has suddenly put his name forward thinking it'll help. David O'Leary's inevitable job application is no doubt in the bin - rightly so (that one's for my colleague Bill...)

But what of Tony Mowbray?

Lou 'more faces than Big Ben' Macari has decided he likes the Albion boss after all after slagging him off recently and you can read what Mogga's former team-mate Malky Mackay thinks in tomorrow's Birmingham Mail. John Hartson likes Mowbray too. A man of many friends, our Tony.

The Albion boss is awaiting baby No3 while Jeremy Peace, holding a pitched fork and wearing a hard hat, is waiting. And waiting. I'm sure he has no doubt turned his mobile phone off and possibly even forgotten to return any calls which start with 0141 numbers.

All of which makes me hope that sooner or later Celtic put us out of our misery.

Come on gents. The sun's out, the cricket has started (and I'm no fan of cricket) and a beer garden has kindly requested my company following a long season of football.

Someone, somewhere, please make a bleedin' decision.

(with special thanks to Gareth Barry for giving us all something else to talk about)