Terry’s Baggies Blog

FIXTURE INDIGESTION

19-11-2008

Albion have got the Top Four out of the way – now it’s time for a few matches that, in theory, they can win. Terry Wills assesses the prospects.

Well we received what virtually every, Baggies fan expected last Saturday - a footballing lesson, from possibly not only the best team in the Premiership but possibly in Europe, despite at times playing a brand of football that again belied our league position.

But looking on the ‘bright’ side, at least now Albion fans can look at the next half a dozen fixtures without seeing the names of the top five lining up as the opposition.

Sighs of relief - things can only get better, can’t they? But therein lies the problem when examining the remaining fixtures before the bells ring out to welcome in 2009.

An initial glimpse into the future. First up it’s another visit to the ‘Land Of the Giants’ better known as Stoke (we never beat em’) City.

And whatever my, or any other Baggies supporter’s opinion of their ugly style, the fact is they are above us in the table and look far more capable of grinding out results, especially when playing against teams such as Albion, complete with a fragile defence that’s already conceded 24 goals from 13 games. Need I say more?

A six pointer for both teams even at this stage of the season. Following that, a trip to Wigan (which I still think of being a Rugby League outpost) another ‘must not lose game’ seeing as they’re only marginally better off than the Baggies.

After that 'dear' old Pompey at home. A team we’ve enjoyed success against down the years, forgetting the Wembley FA Cup semi final last season! And without doubt they’ll be looking for points to consolidate a top half of the table position.

Back to lower table opposition and yet ANOTHER team battling to survive, Roy Keane’s Sunderland. The Baggies have achieved some vital results in The Stadium of Light and another would be even more important this time round.

Taking us up to the end of year we finish with games against Manchester City and Spurs at home and ‘whisper it quietly Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge.

So again am I being pessimistic in thinking that without an adjustment of his footballing philosophy, Tony Mowbray will find the Baggies facing a mammoth task in keeping Albion out of the dreaded bottom three relegation spots?

It’s palpably unfair to use the defeat against Chelsea as a yardstick bearing in mind their undoubted qualities. Individually and as a team they oozed class and confidence and once they opened the scoring the game was as good as over.
But as at Old Trafford and Anfield, in the opening stages Albion looked worthy of a place in the Premiership. Indeed the ‘Blues’ manager Phil Scolari actually said, post match, “Early on Albion were the better team”.

Yes fluent passing intelligent football that was inevitably negated by our so OBVIOUS overall weaknesses.

A defence prone to concede unnecessary free kicks and corners. Scott Carson and Paul Robinson NOT being tuned into the same wavelength – this was definitely Scott’s poorest game to date. A midfield that passed the ball around with some aplomb, without making any significant progress, and then compounded the issue by giving the ball away courtesy of really sloppy distribution. (Groans all round)

Our non-scoring strikers. Prepared to work hard, run and harry the opposition, raise supporters hopes, but when chances come along continue to throw them away as if saying “Never mind there’ll be plenty of others coming along soon”. (Sounds like the Number 11 Outer Circle Bus route)

Sadly after Ishmael Miller missed the first at the Smethwick End it wasn’t until Kim came on as a substitute that another genuine chance was created but then true to form he promptly followed suit. The only difference being it came in front of the Brummie Road regulars.

Again I’d anticipated another defeat, preferring to be realistic rather than optimistic (!) and while Chelsea and their fans can be proud of their footballing display they surely CANNOT feel the same of their cynical tackling, not unsurprisingly led by John Terry. But then perhaps in line with the officials they failed to acknowledge the totally unwarranted and unnecessary crude challenges emanating from their squad?

So what can we travelling supporters expect to see and hear at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday? No prizes for the obvious correct answers.

A team of Red and White ‘giants’ snapping in tackles and I wish we could see a reprisal from the Baggies lightweight counterparts. Rory Delap, he who terrorises defences via his javelin type throws and which in the Championship caused far to many problems for Albion’s ‘quaking’ defence.

Then there are the sounds, if that’s how they can be described, when the City fans belt out the strains of ‘Delilah’!

I can appreciate it when sung by Tom Jones, BUT not when the Boothen End sing, did I say sing (?) “Delilah”

How I’d love to hear it drowned out by Psalm 23. And talking of that IF ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ please Lord you know only to well what we want.
A clean sheet-a win, three points, and a closing of the gap between those giants that reside in the likes of Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, and Sunderland.

That’s not too much to ‘pray’ for is it?!

Tony Mowbray still retains the faith from supporters who have enjoyed some of the finest exciting football at the Hawthorns since the Halcyon days of Big Ron’s 1978 side.

His attacking principles worked in the Championship but unless he’s prepared to modify his footballing philosophy by adding steel, grit, determination, and a desire to win ‘ugly’ when necessary, then the ‘beautiful’ passing game will eventually offer a declining appreciation of these tactics.

At the same time continuing to gift less talented teams points that have been gift wrapped rather than earned by what’s required from the Baggies. “Blood, sweat, and tears”

So WILL we see it against another ‘bogy’ team that we haven’t beaten in over 20 plus games?

If the required attributes CAN be installed then the Baggies skill factor COULD see them through, BUT if not then expect a convoy of cars and coaches enduring another miserable ride back home mulling over a continuation of some truly dispiriting results.

“Come on you Baggies”…PLEASE do it for the fans.

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