September 2009 Archives

You're travelling back from an away match, the club's broadcast journalist is interviewing the manager on the team bus...what could possibly go wrong?

Ex-Albion midfielder Micky Mellon shows remarkable composure and calmness during this interview as manager of Fleetwood Town.

Be patient with this clip, which you can watch here - it takes about three minutes to warm up.

Full marks to the interviewer for his persistence, although Health & Safety would have a field day.

Roberto Di Matteo will have the dubious honour of joining legendary boss Vic Buckingham and the not-so-legendary Brian Little in Albion's hall-of-fame if he avoids defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Albion sides managed by Buckingham (1953-54) and Little (99-2000) went unbeaten in their opening nine League games of the season.

Buckingham's side - featuring players like Ronnie Allen, Ray Barlow and Len Millard - were to finish the season as FA Cup winners and League runners-up, after winning seven and drawing two of those nine matches

Little's men - including Micky Evans, Jason van Blerk and James Quinn - drew seven times and won twice. They stayed up with a final day win against Charlton thanks to chairman Paul Thompson's springtime decision to sack the ex-Villa boss and replace him with Gary Megson when all seemed lost.

That's some contrast.

Di Matteo could equal those records if Albion avoid defeat to Palace. Surely Neil Warnock won't ruin it...?

Live WBA webchat time on www.birminghammail.net/live, Thursday - 10am-11am.

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THINK back to some of Albion's great individual displays of this decade.

Jason Roberts ripping apart Sunderland's defence in a 2002 FA Cup game springs to mind, as does a stunning Tomasz Kuszczak performance at Anfield on New Years Eve 2005

The maverick Jason Koumas left Nottingham Forest spinning during a 3-0 win somewhere in Albion's second promotion under Gary Megson, I also recall.

But you'd have to go some way to finding a better display than Youssouf Mulumbu's at Middlesbrough.

From first to last whistle, the Congo international was destroyer-in-chief against Boro's midfield. Every 50-50 was won, he contributed up front and in defence.

Albion moved to his rhythm and pace. He dictated the team's performance with an individual display which combined skill, grace but also the kind of competitive streak this Baggies midfield has been lacking since Derek McInnes left the club. As an all-round display, you'll struggle to find a better one.

In terms of monies spent he's probably the best signing of the season so far - with Graham Dorrans not far behind.

Meanwhile, strange times at Albion's pre-match press conference today (Monday).

Roberto Di Matteo did, of course, get his first taste as a 'manager' against Arsenal - albeit in the cosmetic role of leading out the Chelsea team out before the 2002 FA Cup Final, not long after he'd been forced to retire through injury.

Arsene Wenger has won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and endless plaudits for all sorts of reasons (and the odd critic).

So what does Di Matteo envy most about the Frenchman's record? Read all in Tuesday's Birmingham Mail but suffice to say it was perhaps the most leftfield answer to a question - 'What do you think of Wenger?' - I've heard for a while.

And, while you're at it, have a quick look at the top of the Premier League, the Championship and the custodian of the top footballing job in England. Spot the link?

Forza Italia - whatever that means....

Back in April 1948...

Clement Attlee was Prime Minister, King George VI was keeping the throne warm for Elizabeth and the NHS was still a bright, new and exciting project.

Military forces, under direction of the Soviet-controlled government in East Germany, set-up a land blockade of West Berlin - no doubt the sign of things to come.

Harry S Truman was President of the US and the World Health Organisation was set up.

Arsenal and Manchester United were top of the League - some things don't change - and Charlton were FA Cup holders, so some things do

And Doncaster Rovers were making their last League visit to the Hawthorns.

"Every flipping time it's you...every flipping time it's you."

Only, without wishing to mis-quote Steve Bruce, the word wasn't 'flipping', although it did start with an F.

Those were the words of the then Blues manager about a certain reporter, who covers the Daily Mirror in the Midlands, after the tabloid writer had upset him, yet again.

It seems this particular journalist has got the bit between his teeth about Albion's decision to welcome Roman Bednar back into the club following his three month ban.

He is so upset by Bednar's return that he compared his plight to that of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi. Call me a bit picky but I don't recall Bednar being found guilty for the death of 270 people.

His latest rant has a dig at the 'local press' - I'm assuming he means me - for apparently not giving Bednar a hard time, this being his second rant in under a week against the Czech international striker.

Personally, I didn't give Bednar a hard time because I felt he'd been stupid - but had served his ban so, by my reckoning, was free to resume his career. And when we did get round to interviewing Bednar, myself and two colleagues did ask awkward questions of him. Bednar answered them. My job is to inform our readers of Albion news - rather than stitch footballers up and spin their words into dramatic headlines.

This tabloid reporter wouldn't know any of this as he wasn't wasn't there when we conducted the interview.

But we shouldn't be too surprised. This is the same journalist who has fallen out with, or upset, Martin O'Neill, Milan Mandaric, Karren Brady, Tony Mowbray, Billy Davies, Alex McLeish among others. His is an impressive roll-call. He was once told by Mick McCarthy: 'you know what..you just write what you want to write...you normally do' when he had tried, and failed, to put words into the mouth of the Wolves boss.

One high-profile ex-Albion player, now playing elsewhere in the region, warned his team-mates to beware of anything they said to this journalist having himself previously been stung by a story. I recall that particular story being lifted from the pages of the Birmingham Mail and spun into something more sinister - Tony Mowbray had claimed that the summer was a difficult time for players and managers because agents were often 'hawking their players around clubs trying to get the best deals'. Two days later that story, lifted by this particular reporter, appeared in his newspaper as 'Mowbray blasts XXXX (player's name) for hawking himself around other clubs'. Which he hadn't done.

It seems James Nursey, the reporter in question, has now built up quite a 'cult following' among Albion fans following his boorish rants against Bednar, a player who, to his credit, has shown remorse and apologised for his foolish actions.

You won't be surprised to know that Nursey didn't show up at The Hawthorns for Saturday's game against Plymouth. That's a shame because quite a few supporters had congregated around the media entrance to speak to him about his comments.

Still, fear not, I hear he'll be there for tomorrow's game versus Doncaster Rovers...

BACK in 1997 Roberto Di Matteo took just 43 seconds to score the then quickest goal of any FA Cup Final.

Concetta Di Matteo was sat in the crowd that day but unaware that the cheering and euphoria around her had come courtersy of her brother's long-range shot.

She had been blind since the age of 18 after six years of sight deterioration due to a rare eye disease. Roberto later dedicated that goal to his sister.

Twelve years on and the empassioned devotion to charity remains within Albion's head coach.

It is why his backing to the launch of the Albion Foundation - the rebranded community programme - fitted as naturally into his managerial portfolio as team selection and coaching drills.

Di Matteo claims community links are imperative to football clubs and insists on all players doing their bit.

Today's launch included soccer skills and DJ sets by young people who attend the Foundation's Kickz project - a local authority/West Midlands Police partnership involving local youngsters - with dance troupe Fusion also performing.

The Foundation has seen the growth of the womens' football teams, basketball sides and affiliated disabled clubs, all of which carry the Albion Sports Club brand.

Today's launch included talks from coaches and members involved in the scheme, with Di Matteo, Luke Moore and Jonas Olsson also attending, as well as former secretary Dr John Evans, now the Foundation's trustee.

It was inspiring stuff from all concerned.

A week or so ago I suggested that Albion had, over recent years, neglected certain issues or made poor judgements which had lacked thought, sympathy or understanding of what supporters (of all ages) want, need or should come to expect from their football club.

There is still room for a lot of improvement on many fronts but the Albion Foundation is one initiative the club certainly deserve a lot of credit for.

And with Roberto Di Matteo's backing it can only prosper.