Terry Wills is getting concerned about Albion’s prospects.
“It does feel like a soap opera. You should try being involved in. It’s one thing after another, managers changing, people getting suspended. It’s hassle we don’t need. There was even talk of the new manager going last week”
An apt summing up as to how Albion supporters are feeling. However, please note these aren’t my words, but those of James Morrison, a key player who is in a far better position than any diehard, despairing Baggies devotee, to k now what’s going on. We can only sit back wondering how this ‘soap opera’ can be resolved.
Mercifully at least last week’s results by and large went in our favour, and with seemingly (but by no means a certainty) Fulham and Cardiff looking favourites for relegation, this means Pepe Mel has to ensure the third relegation spot isn’t occupied by West Bromwich Albion.
With a game in hand, for what it’s worth, anything resembling a return to their best form could just be enough. But again this game just happens to be away at another struggling side, Sunderland -and based on their display at Wembley in the Capitol Cup final, they appear well equipped to retain their place in the Greed League.
So to Saturday, and the visit of another ‘struggling’ side, Manchester United. Oh , to be in their position! Agreed, this season they aren’t the all-conquering familiar Red Devils but with Messrs Rooney and Van Persie up front it will need a resolute defensive display, and 90 plus minutes (not 45) to ensure another valuable priceless three points don’t go begging.
Good news – Claudio Yacob and Stephane Sessegnon are available, countered by another injury to Billy Jones. Who will Pepe select? What formation will he choose?
Will he be celebrating by steering Albion to their first long overdue win, in the process easing the unrelenting pressure on himself, the team and Jeremy Peace? The chairman, who is being blamed for not investing in quality players due to the club’s reluctance to match other clubs spending power, has to be concerned.
But let’s not go down that never-ending road again. All that matters is results on the field, and not circumstances leading to happenings again being described as a soap opera. The difference is that when soap opera writers sit down to compile a particular story line to set viewers intrigued as to its likely end they can, if they decide to do so, amend it. No harm done, who’s bothered.
Not so for supporters of West Bromwich Albion. We ARE bothered, we can’t switch off, we simply have to grin, bear, and accept it. Will we be grinning after United’s visit, or leaving the Hawthorns knowing the early televised kick-off has presented the remaining relegation-threatened teams a chance to improve their chances of survival? Should that be the case every Albion fan will know it’s going to be another miserable weekend made worse by the daunting prospect that the next two games are away at Swansea and Hull City, two sides far from safe and eager to put more daylight between them and Pepe Mel’s struggling side.
Come on you Baggies.