14th January 2005: Bryan Robson
broke his recent silence on the arrival of Matias Almeyda this week,
when an official statement on the club website stated that the move
had been due to "family problems". No more detail was given, but unless
Pop is being legged over by the Argentinian's agent, it is encouraging
in as much that it appears to be a matter of when he arrives rather
than if.
The Inamoto situation woke up today with a reported comment from the
Japanese international that he is "happy" in Cardiff and that he would
consider a permanent move should Albion agree. Perhaps the most worrying
comment is that he has reportedly admitted to saying that "Cardiff
is a nice city and that the people are very friendly" - sorry to any
South Wales Baggies, but that's not the Cardiff I remember...
There was no other apparent movement in the transfer market from an
Albion point of view today, although this evening, Albion were reported
to be interested in Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa. Middlesbrough
are also reported to be interested in the Croatian international and,
while Albion maybe second favourites for his signing given the relative
league position of the clubs, it does lend increased weight to the
belief that Robson doesn't rate Tomasz Kuszczak. Hoult's mid-season
wobble didn't give the "Pole in Goal" a chance in Robson's eyes, and
with Hoult's form returned, but his fitness still a concern, the Albion
manager seems intent on signing another 'keeper. Murphy remains on
loan at Walsall and Albion tried to sign the highly rated Scott Carson
from Leeds earlier in the month, although that failure is hardly surprising
given Chelsea's inability to sign him this week.
We're now less than 48 hours from the crunch game at Craven Cottage,
and I obviously hope the Baggies win, not only for the sake of their
relegation chances and all Albion fans, but also to prove Mark Lawrenson
wrong. He may not be alone in predicting that Albion will be relegated,
and he may well be right, but to describe Albion as "doomed with a
capital D" in his "Premiership Predictions" on the BBC website today
annoyed me immensely. It's a tough ask, but Albion do have a chance
of getting out of this, and Lawro's attempt to be as controversial
as Rodney Marsh is poor and pathetic. I used to respect you Mr Lawrenson,
but in the past few months, you have plummeted in my estimation and
reached a new low in your comments today. I truly hope that the Baggies
prove what a plonker you are (obviously, I have curbed my language
for the sake of any junior readers I may have, .... and my mom!).
|
