October 2009 Archives

HERE's a thought. Back in 2007/08, Albion's opening 14 games - the 3-0 win coming at Watford - had already brought nine goals from Kevin Phillips, six from Ishmael Miller, one from Craig Beattie with Roman Bednar still some weeks from making his debut.

Two years on and, in the opening 14 League games, three of Albion's strikers have scored six between them. One, Roman Bednar, is struggling with his fitness and was probably brought back too early. Another Luke Moore has lost his early season and summer form.

He's back to the player he was last year and previously. ie. Not particularly interested.

The third one, Wood, just 17, often has been given the responsibility of scoring Albion's goals. Worryingly, he is starting to get stick from a very small minority of fans.

And the fourth striker is Simon Cox, who has barely been used. Sources tell me that he can play up front on his own, as part of a two or in a supporting role. Albion's coaching staff - check out Eddie Newton's comments last week - are pleased with him. Yet, still, he doesn't play. All of this is raising the question most of you would have been asking when Albion first made a bid for him.

Roberto Di Matteo insists Cox was brought to the club with his blessing. Yet the longer his first-team exile continues, the more questions will be raised.

In the light of this, surely now is the time to strengthen - before Albion's form slips any more...

Thursday usually means press conference day at Albion.

This meant a bit of hanging around when Albion were in the Premier League. A 1pm start used to mean a 3-4pm finish by the time Tony Mowbray had finished his lectures and Kit Kat.

But wasn't it quiet today?

Pressers at Villa, Blues and Wolves meant there was just myself and another journalist at the Albion training ground today, with representatives from two radio stations.

The rest abandon Albion when there's no Premier League match to talk about. The national agenda shies away from non-top flight football.

Meanwhile, Wolves had about 20 reporters, Blues welcomed double figures too. Villa, I guess, had even more. They usually do.

The paucity of press is a good thing for Birmingham Mail readers. On Thursday it meant a chat with No2 Eddie Newton in the absense of Roberto Di Matteo, who is still suffering with flu.

Having a high profile manager brings other issues. The national media come all starry eyed and generally start picking a manager's brain about anything but Albion matters - for instance Bryan Robson would spend his time answering questions about Man United or England. Which is hardly what Albion fans wanted to read. Sky Sports used to ask Robson several questions about Albion and one about United/England. Guess which clip you'd see on Sky Sports? It'll be the same waffle you'll see if Albion are promoted next season - endless comments about Chelsea, Italy, Ancelloti, Capello and anything else perceived as being of interest to a national audience. RDM won't be ignoring Albion - they simply edit the comments.That's assuming he entertains such questions (Glenn Hoddle refused to talk about England or 'national matters' when he was boss of Wolves). To give an example, before Albion's recent game against Arsenal, RDM revealed that he was envious about Arsene Wenger's time in Japan. Cue tabloid journalist asking: "So, Roberto...do you like sushi?"

He does.

RDM is a very bright man. But Eddie Newton is also a refreshing change for the media. A different voice. Intelligent, articulate and witty. You can see why he is so popular among players and staff.

He has a lot to say.

Simon Cox, it seems, is getting there and the comments of Swindon's chairman were met with a roll of the eyes. You can read about Cox's progress in Friday's Birmingham Mail. (Personally I think it's time he was given a chance. Moore is back in last season's zone)

Gonzalo Jara has made 'fantastic' impact since joining, according to Newton. Height wasn't a problem for Paul Parker nor for Newton's mate Frank Sinclair. It won't be for Jara either, assuming he stays at centre-half. He also spoke of the naivety and inexperience of Albion's side. Albion's average age is 23. In footballing terms Albion have a young side, who are growing up while they continue the job of trying to get the club up.

It's easy to pick holes in Albion when they lose. Yet Albion are playing in a demanding League where games come every three days early on. There is little time to fine-tune players, adapt a new system of play or remedy mistakes. And all with the core of a squad that was built by somebody else. It's taken some doing that Di Matteo, Newton and Appleton have led Albion to the top. They've made it look easier than it should be and, in all likelihood, made a rod for their own back in terms of expectation. The coaching staff deserve credit - even if some results have been far from convincing. They are about two years behind the stage Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus were at when they took over at Albion. They will make mistakes. They need to learn from those when they do.

Newton spoke of the fears about Roman Bednar's injury and he expressed his relief that the Doc had been on his rounds with the anti-flu jab. Shame it was too late for Di Matteo. There was also comment on Neil Clement, who continues his battle against a major knee injury - the same problem which ruined Newton's career as a player. You can read about Clem in Saturday's Birmingham Mail.

Before Newton, Marek Cech was on press duty. Albion's second-ever Slovakian (remember the first?) has a tendency to shake hands with everyone he meets. So much so that I'm convinced, though I may be wrong, that he once returned to the front of the queue during the pre-match handshakes. He recently exchanged three cheek-to-cheek kisses with a female journalist. Needless to say, he will never get a six out of 10 from her again. It's an Eastern European thing.

In any case it's an exciting time for Cech. He's hoping to be on the plane for South Africa next summer after Slovakia qualified out of a horrible group featuring neighbouring Czech Republic and Poland, along with Slovenia, Northern Ireland and San Marino.

Yet you can't imagine he'll be longing for a return to Poland any time soon. It seems Polish customs officers weren't too impressed with Slovakia's qualification-clinching victory in Chorzow. Staff at a Polish airport kept the Slovakian team waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Cech reckons it was down to their bitterness over defeat. I believe it had more to do with the fact that Poles have a relaxed attitude to drinking at work. That's my version. Marek wasn't having it - he reckoned it was jealousy. He's right.

In any case, he's now having to take Robert Koren and family for a meal after Slovenia beat Slovakia. Still, we all know which of the two Baggies men had the last laugh when it came to World Cup qualification.

Yet Koren still has a chance. So it's just as well the World Cup play-offs aren't seeded.
Oh.

Ps. One esteemed local journalist likened Craig Beattie to a 'carthouse' during the opening stages of Albion's second half against Swansea on Tuesday. Some 30 seconds later Beattie scored the only goal...

One thing I've been frequently asked during my live chats this season is about the health and fitness of James Morrison. A quick-fire Q and A, where I'm trying to answer questions swiftly, means I've not really elaborated.

Sadly, it's been a long, hard slog for Morrison. It remains so. It's hard to believe that such an innocuous blister on his heel can cause such a problem.

What should have been a routine issue was worsened when an infection set in, leaving Mozza with a deep hole in his heel. Worse still, that part of the foot is not well served when it comes to blood circulation.

He then had to be taken into hospital for emergency treatment when infection set in. I'm no medical expert, but it simply doesn't bear thinking about how nasty this injury could have got.

But that was then.

The recovery has been slow. He's had plastic surgery and some skin grafting to try and help the process. Not surprisingly, he's been very down - interview requests have, understandably, been politely turned down - but the outlook is hopefully brighter.

Morrison has now had a minor operation now which Albion's medical staff now feel will speed up his process.

It could still be a while yet. When he is ready to train, he'll need to build his fitness back up which will take a few weeks.

Albion are going well. But having a fit and functioning Morrison would give them a huge lift. Let's hope this latest medical procedure will be the start of the end in this sorry saga and that we see Morrison back in an Albion shirt before too long.

*Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of Tony Mowbray's unveiling as Albion boss.

Yet that phone call he took from then Livingston boss Mark Proctor, about two years ago, must be the best call he ever took as Albion manager.

£100,000 for Graham Dorrans was money well spent by Albion. I would suggest so.

Every now and again Albion hit upon a good idea.

And this one is a belter.

The club are opening their doors to help find a potential next Hawthorns hero.

So if you're a lad of 14-16, can kick a ball straight, or know somebody who can and falls into that age group, then you may wish to know more.

The Baggies are offering open trials for boys aged between 14 and 16 later this month. It's an ideal opportunity to earn a full Baggies Academy trial.

The trials will take place at the club's indoor training facility off Halfords Lane.

Players must be in years nine, ten or 11 at school, hold a full European passport, be in full-time education and live within one-and-a-half hours of The Hawthorns.

* GOALKEEPERS - Must be slim with an athletic build, agile and have good handling skills.

* DEFENDERS - Must be quick with and without the ball, and competitive.

* MIDFIELDERS - Must be able to manipulate the ball in tight areas and execute a range of long and short passes.

* FORWARDS - Goalscorers, dribblers, target men or poachers.

Anyone interested MUST call Steve Hopcroft on 07961 704 595 and quote 'open trials'.

You will be given a date and time to attend - either Tuesday, October 27, or Thursday, October 29 - and the cost of the trial will be £10. For this you will receive a training T-shirt to keep and a ticket to an Albion first-team game.

If only they'd had something like this when I was a lad...(it probably wouldn't have made the blindest bit of difference)

Sol Campbell. A big name, a big personality and a big defender who, we're told, was too big for Meadow Lane.

If someone offered me £42k a week, I'd happily play for two days without rest on a cow field wearing flip flops, not least if Hooters is within a five minute walk.

What is clear, from my dealings with various folks, is that the nervous fidgeting has started at Albion. Put a question to them and the 'umm', 'ah' and 'well...' all begin. This is a sign. I was first alerted to this on Wednesday. Was there anything in Sol Campbell 'having a medical'? Several text messages, two phone calls and, later that evening, a few Facebook messages. So, naturally, I put it to Albion.

'No', I was told. Probably after much nervous umming and ahing.

Which, of course, is a 'no', in the same way, you or I, would say 'no, well, maybe..oh go on then, if you say so...'.

Actually, he probably hasn't had the medical yet - so the club get the benefit of my doubt on a technicality - but there is no doubt that Albion's pursuit of the 35-year-old is more advanced than they will ever tell us publicly. So much so, I've heard he's been to the training ground, met the mana...sorry, head coach and probably had time for a swift one down the Bell.

Will it happen? Well, that's assuming he gets special dispensation. If he does then there's a very good chance he will ONLY be granted a move to a non-Premier League club. That gives Albion a strong chance. Middlesbrough have signed St Ledger, Newcastle have signed Khizanishvili.

QPR, the most likely alternative given Sol's preference for the bright lights of that London, are being distracted by Flavio Briatore being investigated as to whether he's suitable to own a football club. (For non-F1 fans, the Italian told one of his drivers, Nelson Piquet, to risk his own life by crashing his car so Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso could gain an advantage from a safety car situation to win the race) You decide whether he's fit to run your football club? Interestingly, QPR's assistant is John Gorman, the ex-England and Spurs No2, who will know all about Campbell.

If Campbell doesn't get 'special dispensation' then will Notts County wish to loan him out?

We don't know.

One thing is certain - Albion will need to pay big money by their standards.Two millions pound would cover 12 months of the five-year deal he was on at Notts County. And, as you and I know, Jeremy Peace usually only 'tops up' in January. Unless this means that we'll be seeing a few leaving in the New Year. Barnett, Meite, Teixeira can't be long for this club surely? If Sol Campbell does join Albion then he'll almost certainly be coming on a much lower salary than those he gets at Notts County.

Only time will tell.

On another note, Ishmael Miller was full of enthusiasm down the training ground today. For someone who hasn't played for 10 months, he's looking lean and in good shape. He was happy and delighted to be active - for today he ran for the first time. Will he be ready for the mental and physical hurdles which await? He claims so. And, given that he's taller than me, I won't argue.

And, what's more, he's already set a date for his return. To find out when you'll have to check out Friday's Birmingham Mail. You may be pleasantly surprised...

Not since Steve Bruce persistently moaned about a Paul Robinson challenge has another manager gone on as much as Alan Irvine.

The PNE boss claims, keeps claiming, that he was offered the Albion job. The Baggies say otherwise.

We'll never know the exact truth on the basis that both sides are sticking to their guns on this one (although I have to say, I know who I'm believing more since further information has come to light)

Alan, you've got a job so just be happy with that.

*Note to self - must ensure I book time off in the week leading up to March 20...

Albion have made a real statement by offering a new five year deal to Ishmael Miller.

Not only does it show an unequivocal confidence in Miller's ability to recover from a major injury, but will come as a huge personal lift to the 22-year-old as he continues his comeback.

Roberto Di Matteo continually expresses his excitement at the prospect of Miller's eventual return from injury.

And the noises coming from Albion, and Miller, is that he seems more satisfied and comfortable with his current rehabilitation than he ever was with his previous recovery before his setback during pre-season, which was a shattering blow to him and the club.

It's unlikely that Miller will be back until well into the second-half of this season and, in all honesty, we may not see the best of him until 2010-11.

But if he's anything like the player who was making significant progress in the Premier League, then Albion will have a major force on their hands for some time yet.

PS. Alan Irvine - was he offered the job, or wasn't he? He says he rejected it, Albion insist it wasn't offered to him in the first place. Get the feeling we'll never know the truth?