The end of season club honours will shortly be upon on us with all focus being on the playing awards where Odemwinge, Mulumbu, Olssen et al will be the leading contenders. If we manage to stay up, there will also be plenty of plaudits for Roy Hodgson and the excellent job he has done since taking over in February. However quietly sitting behind the scenes will be one man who probably made the most vital season defining decision and he will be smiling quite contently as others get their well earned praise.
Chairman Jeremy Peace divides opinion amongst many fans ranging from appreciation of steering the club through to solvent waters to that of an owner who refuses to take expenditure to a level enjoyed by most Premier League clubs. Yet in February, he decided to remove Roberto di Matteo from his role, a brave decision in light of the fairly unanimous opinion of the decent job he had done in his short time at the club. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but there is a growing widespread thought now that without the change, the semi post Christmas decline would have gathered pace to such an extent, that in a season where the basement team will probably exceed 35 points, we could well have been doomed by now.
So with 4 games to go we have now reached the mystical 40 point mark, thanks to our 2 all draw at Champions League chasing Tottenham. While safety is still not mathematically assured, relief and optimism is now beginning to soar. This point was achieved on one of the hottest April days in living record. While London temperatures headed into the upper 20's, Albion battled back from surrendering a early 5 minute lead, to fruitfully equalise 10 minutes from time. Simon Cox deservedly opened his Premier League account with a sublime curled effort, while Peter Odemwinge's 13th of the season, added a few more pounds to his value, should we wish to trade a little in the summer.
While Odemwinge's goals and general play have thrilled fans this season, he does give you the impression of having a nomadic career, and we all know the past history of Jeremy Peace's astute and very profitable transfer activity. Although let's not be too negative on this Easter weekend and enjoy the praise that is beginning to filter our way from the national footballing establishment.
As well as the 42 point target set by manager, Roy Hodgson, there is still plenty to play for in the remaining weeks of the season. First up is a derby game against traditional rivals, Villa, a team we have not beaten since 1985. Soon to be followed by a massive game at Molyneux, with a possible chance to relegate our bitter Black Country neighbours. It's definitely a good time to be a West Brom fan.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Defeat Eventually
This blog has really been Albion's lucky omen as, from the moment Carlos Vela equalised against Wolves, our unbeaten run has gone on and on. Eventually it had to come to an end but for this to finally happen on the 39 point mark with 5 games to go is a tribute to the management of Roy Hodgson and the commitment shown by the players. You probably have also got to give a little credit to chairman, Jeremy Peace who made a brave decision to sack Roberto di Matteo, which while widely decried in some quarters, has seemingly paid off with impending survival.
The unbeaten run finally came to end at the unsurprising hands of Chelsea who had far too much class for an Albion team that lacked the recent intensity shown to grind out a lot of positive results. The multi millionaire pound Londoners were really on a different level from the Baggies and after quickly replying to Odemwinge's impressive opener, there was only going to be one winner. The eventual final scoreline of 3-1 could have been a lot worse if Chelsea had have been more clinical in the second half but while this Albion team were off the pace, their recent form did not warrant a good beating.
The main positive from the match was an energetic performance by Yousef Mulumbu, who eclipsed goalscorer, Odemwinge with a never say die effort. Unfortunately the defeat was contributed to by a few defensive errors, an element of the game that Hodgson had worked hard to eliminate. Shorey was guilty of one bad mistake and Carson had an afternoon that leads to a divided opinion amongst the fans, with some quality saves residing alongside more questionable efforts.
With Wolves currently on a downer, West Ham conceding a last minute winner to Villa and Blackpool tumbling quicker than a seaside helter skelter, 39 points might be enough to stay up. However there is no evidence of complacency within the club and all focus is on securing a couple more points to put the icing on survival.
The unbeaten run finally came to end at the unsurprising hands of Chelsea who had far too much class for an Albion team that lacked the recent intensity shown to grind out a lot of positive results. The multi millionaire pound Londoners were really on a different level from the Baggies and after quickly replying to Odemwinge's impressive opener, there was only going to be one winner. The eventual final scoreline of 3-1 could have been a lot worse if Chelsea had have been more clinical in the second half but while this Albion team were off the pace, their recent form did not warrant a good beating.
The main positive from the match was an energetic performance by Yousef Mulumbu, who eclipsed goalscorer, Odemwinge with a never say die effort. Unfortunately the defeat was contributed to by a few defensive errors, an element of the game that Hodgson had worked hard to eliminate. Shorey was guilty of one bad mistake and Carson had an afternoon that leads to a divided opinion amongst the fans, with some quality saves residing alongside more questionable efforts.
With Wolves currently on a downer, West Ham conceding a last minute winner to Villa and Blackpool tumbling quicker than a seaside helter skelter, 39 points might be enough to stay up. However there is no evidence of complacency within the club and all focus is on securing a couple more points to put the icing on survival.
Friday, 15 April 2011
Safety Almost In Sight?
39 points with 6 games to go. Unchartered territory for yo-yoing West Brom. In fact you can almost whisper the word 'mid table mediocrity'. But let's not get too carried away as this unpredictable season has sprung more than one or two surprises and nobody within the club has banished the thought of relegation yet.
The 39 point level was reached with last Saturday's 3-2 victory at Sunderland that lifted the Baggies up to tenth place in the table. This fourth away win of the season saw the team come from behind twice with the remarkable fact that each of these wins has been the result of at least three goals scored.
Although with the team's leaky defence it's been vital that scoring hasn't been too much of a problem this season. Peter Odemwinge has got a lot of plaudits this week after converting his eleventh goal of the campaign but fittingly it was the scoring contribution from midfield that sealed the points. Despite his often holding role, Mulumbu has contributed a few vital goals in his first couple of seasons with the club and Paul Scharner's winner was his fourth goal of the season, impressive from a player who you don't really expect to contribute in an offensive manner.
So it's Chelsea up next for the seven game unbeaten Baggies, a team they have failed to get a Premier League point against in the past. However the same scenario was with Liverpool a couple of weeks ago and that ghost was laid to rest. While Chelsea will no doubt be odds on favourites to seal the three points, a draw is clearly a possible outcome and see us ultimately hit the 40 point mark. The unpredictable nature of this season has led to many unlikely outcomes so why not a Albion win with Roy Hodgson smiling at reaching his 42 point target. Optimism is definitely reigning supreme at the Hawthorns this April.
The 39 point level was reached with last Saturday's 3-2 victory at Sunderland that lifted the Baggies up to tenth place in the table. This fourth away win of the season saw the team come from behind twice with the remarkable fact that each of these wins has been the result of at least three goals scored.
Although with the team's leaky defence it's been vital that scoring hasn't been too much of a problem this season. Peter Odemwinge has got a lot of plaudits this week after converting his eleventh goal of the campaign but fittingly it was the scoring contribution from midfield that sealed the points. Despite his often holding role, Mulumbu has contributed a few vital goals in his first couple of seasons with the club and Paul Scharner's winner was his fourth goal of the season, impressive from a player who you don't really expect to contribute in an offensive manner.
So it's Chelsea up next for the seven game unbeaten Baggies, a team they have failed to get a Premier League point against in the past. However the same scenario was with Liverpool a couple of weeks ago and that ghost was laid to rest. While Chelsea will no doubt be odds on favourites to seal the three points, a draw is clearly a possible outcome and see us ultimately hit the 40 point mark. The unpredictable nature of this season has led to many unlikely outcomes so why not a Albion win with Roy Hodgson smiling at reaching his 42 point target. Optimism is definitely reigning supreme at the Hawthorns this April.
Friday, 8 April 2011
Liverpool Overcome
36 points and safety in sight. Alas this is the 2011 Premier League relegation battle and any team that rests on its laurels is likely to get sucked back into the mire. So that's enough of the reality check, let's reflect on our marvellous win last weekend over Liverpool.
The first observation to make is that the Mighty Reds are not so mighty these days especially in a season where the gap between the top and bottom has been considerably narrowed. In years gone by we have struggled to live with the better teams and the best we've usually hoped for is a plucky defeat. However last Saturday after a fairly even 70 minutes there was only one team prepared to take up the challenge to win the game and our desire was duly rewarded with the 88th minute penalty winner. True, Liverpool rattled us on several occasions in added-on time but this was to save a game not win it. The final 2-1 victory scoreline was well deserved over the duration of the game.
Special praise this week to Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwinge. The former has had a tough time since Christmas but he finally recaptured his early season form to produce an effective display to couple with his two coolly taken penalties. Captaincy has appeared to be a burden for Brunt but there was no evidence of that during this performance. Odemwinge is another player whilst overall having a good season, has flittered in an out recently. However this week he terrorised the Liverpool defence and was unlucky to lose the supporter's man of the match award to Brunt as well as not getting on the scoresheet, twice thwarted by impeding Reds when in on goal.
So our relegation saga takes a trip north next, to the Stadium of Light and a visit to Sunderland, a perceivably safe team, now only two points ahead of us. The general talk this year is of exceeding the mythical 40 point mark for safety but despite the continual points haul of the bottom teams, there is still a very good chance that three teams will finish on 39 0r under. But then again who would have predicted Albion getting eight points from the original big four with Chelsea still to play.
The first observation to make is that the Mighty Reds are not so mighty these days especially in a season where the gap between the top and bottom has been considerably narrowed. In years gone by we have struggled to live with the better teams and the best we've usually hoped for is a plucky defeat. However last Saturday after a fairly even 70 minutes there was only one team prepared to take up the challenge to win the game and our desire was duly rewarded with the 88th minute penalty winner. True, Liverpool rattled us on several occasions in added-on time but this was to save a game not win it. The final 2-1 victory scoreline was well deserved over the duration of the game.
Special praise this week to Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwinge. The former has had a tough time since Christmas but he finally recaptured his early season form to produce an effective display to couple with his two coolly taken penalties. Captaincy has appeared to be a burden for Brunt but there was no evidence of that during this performance. Odemwinge is another player whilst overall having a good season, has flittered in an out recently. However this week he terrorised the Liverpool defence and was unlucky to lose the supporter's man of the match award to Brunt as well as not getting on the scoresheet, twice thwarted by impeding Reds when in on goal.
So our relegation saga takes a trip north next, to the Stadium of Light and a visit to Sunderland, a perceivably safe team, now only two points ahead of us. The general talk this year is of exceeding the mythical 40 point mark for safety but despite the continual points haul of the bottom teams, there is still a very good chance that three teams will finish on 39 0r under. But then again who would have predicted Albion getting eight points from the original big four with Chelsea still to play.
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