West Bromich Albion, a team who are in the Premier League, have been in the top division of English football on and off for the best part of 10 years have continued the hypocrisy and idiocy of the urge of English football for quick results and to echo Fernando Torres' comments this week, 'Maybe it is all about business'
A few weeks ago, I blogged about the exclusion of Scott Carson from the WBA starting line-up; mystified that he is being made the scapegoat for a run of five consecutive results. Since then with the inclusion of the 'peerless' Boaz Myhill (previously with last season's relegated Hull City) have now lost a total of 13 out of 18 in all competitions, including elimination from the FA Cup to championship side, Reading.
Now, Jeremy Peace has taken the decision to put his manager, Roberto Di Matteo, on gardening leave with immediate effect, virtually ensuring that he is now unemployed. This latest instalment of the managerial merry-go-round is worse than when Newcastle United sacked Chris Hughton in November of this season. Di Matteo was the man who got the team promoted, playing a brand of football that was a match for Newcastle last season, they were both promoted at a canter and some pundits were genuinely looking forward to seeing West Brom continue to play positive football, and up until there poor run of form they were. Gaining positive results most notably victories at Arsenal and Everton, and a very creditable draw at Old Trafford that could easily had written off United's attempt at invincibility before their Black Country rivals, Wolves did yesterday.
However, it was their home form that has suffered, losses to Blackburn, Bolton and a crippling loss to Man.United that they should really have won due to a mixture of failure to take chances, a poor referring decision and a missed penalty by Peter Odemwingie. A victory over the champions elect would have looked very good on a fledgling CV, now Di Matteo need to get the CV out of the bottom drawer.
It is interesting because before the season they were making all the right noises about staying positive with a brand of football endebted to the Italian manager, and the play of Chris Brunt has been most impressive. Even the signing of Odemwingie, the Nigerian world cup striker was a sign of intent; and his goals have won them games that would have meant they would be in the relegation zone. At this moment, they are 17th (the vital number to stave off execution), but unfortunately Birmingham and West Ham appear resurgent, whilst both Wolves and Wigan won at home yesterday. This is not a decision to save this season, this is a decision for next season too prematurely.
When Hughton was sacked from Newcastle, there were suitors available for hire; who in there right mind would want to go to Baggie-land for the last 3 1/2 months for what is now a relegation party.
West Bromich are the team for whom the term 'yo-yo club' was invented, whilst teams like Blackpool, Stoke and Wigan show the resilience to fight the battle until the end, West Bromich look to have lost their appetite.
No comments:
Post a Comment