25th November 2003: A good point
well earned at Cardiff. It's always disappointing to surrender a lead,
but I think we'd all have taken a point before the game. And with
Norwich only managing a point at home to Coventry, the Baggies remain
a point clear at the top with a game in hand.
I must admit to being surprised that JK played the full ninety minutes
again - he looked jaded late on in the game against Reading and I
thought he might be rested - however, he did, by all reports, put
in another sparkling performance at Cardiff and long may it continue.
I just hope we can hold on to him through the transfer window. Although
he has not signed a contract extension, I don't see any signs that
he wants to leave and it will take a very large bid for Albion to
consider selling him - I hope, at least.
It's another tough game at Forest on Saturday. They've had a mixed
season but they are capable of producing a good performance. Losing
Harewood will be a huge blow, but it looks like Marlon King will be
his replacement.
A quick comment on the Lee Hughes situation. My first thoughts are
for the family of the man who was killed in this tragic incident.
We evidently don't know the facts as yet and I am not going to speculate.
However, it seems likely that he will continue to be unavailable,
at least in the short term, and from West Bromwich Albion's point
of view, it heightens the need for another striker particularly with
the injuries to Dobie and Dichio. Even if they are both available
for Saturday, it does demonstrate how exposed we are in that position.
Jeremy Peace has stated that there is no further money available for
transfers, which only leaves the loan market available. That means
that the Premiership and foreign clubs are the only sources of players
(given that first division quality strikers are not going to be loaned
from lower league clubs), so it will not be easy to pick a player
up quickly. I imagine that the club have been working hard behind
the scenes for some weeks now, so we can hope that there is somebody
lined up to arrive in the short term.
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