Terry Wills on Albion’s FA Cup win last week and transfers.
Plenty of news, views and opinions from the media – some of which may have a grain of truth in there somewhere, but as for the rest?
Let’s start at the beginning – Albion’s third round FA Cup victory against an impressive Cardiff City who gave the impression they won’t be far away when this season’s three clubs are promoted into the Greed League.
The first surprise, for me at least, was that despite the number of Holby City injuries, and Roy Hodgson stressing that retaining our current upper class status was THE most important issue, he still selected a very useful looking side that eventually went on to book a place in the next round despite initially surrounding a 2-0 advantage.
With players drafted in to show what they could do it was Simon Cox who stole the show and left with the match ball after scoring an impressive hat-trick. A good way to prove to the head coach that it would be a mistake to let him go now the transfer window is open.
Indeed, substitutes Somen Tchoyi and, what a name, Marc-Antoine Fortune, performed well, although as we now expect, Somen’s frustrating habit of not knowing when to pass or shoot left supporters screaming in frustration and I daresay his team mates shared the same sentiments? To their credit Cardiff did well to pull back a two goal deficit (inevitably it had to be Robbie Earnshaw netting the first) to start a period when they looked capable of taking the game to at least a replay before the Baggies clinched the game.
A comment on Peter Odemwingie’s goal – “Offside”…???… Let’s just say that if it had been scored against us Albion supporters would have wanted to march the assistant referee, sorry linesman, straight down to Specsavers. What a joke-even Odemwingie looked amazed he’d been allowed a free run on goal.
Graham Dorrans certainly enjoyed one of his rare 90 minutes, his tackling and passing was excellent, so with Chris Brunt now well and truly sidelined he has opportunity to prove that he’s worth a place in the starting line-up.
Yes, a very enjoyable match and although Greed League has to be the priority it was good to see the name of West Bromwich Albion in the hat for the fourth round when Norwich City were drawn to visit the Hawthorns. And with the Baggies need to start picking up, what are up to now, rare home victories, it’s ironic that it’s the Canaries providing this week’s opposition when hopefully a majority of our walking wounded will be declared fit enough to play. Three points and a win would be a major boost, and if given the choice of winning this or the FA Cup game, I suspect that most would say this one.
Re: the inevitable transfer speculation, and there’s plenty of it, talk of Andy Carroll and Michael Carrick leaving Liverpool and Manchester United respectively to join Albion on loan HAS to be a figment of the imagination unless the football world has gone completely barmy!
Also as reported is that Queens Park Rangers are prepared to offer £10 Million to secure Peter Odemwingie – but then who knows?
Finally, welcome to the new signing Scott Allan from Dundee United, a creative midfielder apparently so anxious to play in the Greed League he spurned the opportunity to play for Rangers and Celtic. Welcome Scott and here’s wishing you a happy future at the Hawthorns.
Come on you Baggies.
