23rd January 2006: The reactions
from some claiming to "support" West Bromwich Albion on
radio phone-ins and internet fans' forums since the defeat to Sunderland
on Saturday could indicate that there is a groundswell of opinion
amongst the Baggies faithful that Bryan Robson should be dismissed.
While I haven't conducted a poll to confirm or deny such suggestions,
I would like to reassure people that there are some Albion fans that
do recognise the advancements the club has made in the past twelve
months.
Furthermore, Albion fans have been criticised in some quarters as
to their treatment of individual players on more than one occasion
this season, the latest example being Darren Carter, and I would like
to add my voice in deploring the actions of what are a minority of
Albion fans who boo individual players during matches.
I still believe that Albion will escape relegation this season, but
they will insist on making it difficult for themselves. Saturday's
game against Sunderland provided them with the ideal opportunity to
put six points of daylight between them and the bottom three, but
instead they suffered an ignominious defeat to a side that had only
won once in the Premiership all season.
It was a poor game to watch and a particularly poor performance from
the Baggies as, once again, key players failed to perform. The team
lacked invention and only Ronnie Wallwork tested Mackems' 'keeper
Kelvin Davis, but it needed a stroke of outrageous fortune for the
visitors to grab all three points in a game that for so long looked
destined for a goalless draw.
Hardly a sign of progress you might think, but the reaction of many
Albion fans to the result has been hysterical, and ignores the excellent
work that Bryan Robson did last season, and to an admittedly lesser
extent this season. Furthermore, the treatment of Darren Carter by
a minority of fans following his part in Sunderland's goal was disgraceful.
It is true that Darren Carter has not had the best of times since
he joined the Hawthorns last summer. His two best displays have come
against the two North London clubs - he scored a memorable winner
after coming on as a substitute against Arsenal and had a good game
in the centre of midfield against Spurs' talented midfield pairing
of Davids and Jenas - but most of his games have been on the left
side of midfield, a position in which he has never looked comfortable.
But with Kamara in Egypt and Gera still sidelined, Robson has been
left with few options although many, including me, feel that Chaplow
deserves a run in the side.
It has been frustrating for fans to see Carter struggling more often
than not, but I feel that the treatment he received from a section
of fans on Saturday evening was at best unhelpful, at worst unforgiveable.
He was fouled when he lost the ball immediately prior to the goal,
although the referee failed to give it, and while his overall performance
was not good enough, he does not deserve to be lambasted in that manner.
He has become the latest scapegoat for fans' frustration in a list
that includes Ronnie Wallwork, a player who has now rediscovered his
form and was the best Albion player on the field against Sunderland.
Ronnie has the strength and experience to ignore such treatment; I'm
not sure how Carter will react.
While I deplore the fans' treatment of Darren Carter, I can understand
their frustration. What I cannot understand are the renewed calls
for Bryan Robson to be sacked. Supporters were obviously angry at
the end of the match and many reacted by booing the team off the pitch,
which is an acceptable reaction AT THE END of a match, but there seem
to be a group of fans that use any excuse to recommence a campaign
to get rid of Robson, and a few more who like to jump on the band
wagon once it's rolling.
 Would
the reaction have been the same, for example, had Albion narrowly
lost at Wigan and narrowly beaten Sunderland with similar performances?
I think not, yet the net result would've been the same.
Perhaps the problem is that fans have seen glimpses of how good this
Albion side can be, but are frustrated that they cannot reproduce
that good form week in week out. Are the Albion team becoming a victim
of their own limited success?
After all, the facts point to Albion moving in the right direction
overall. They still have nine more points than they did at the same
stage last season (and five more than they did in their first Premiership
season), and they have beaten Arsenal, Spurs and Man City already
this season, matching the total number of victories achieved in each
of their two other Premiership seasons with still fifteen games to
go.
It is also worth pointing out that Albion have what is widely reported
to be the lowest wage bill in the Premiership, and are currently having
to do without the services of three of their most influential attacking
players in Zoltan Gera, Nwankwo Kanu and Diomansy Kamara.
I'd be a fool to suggest that Robson is not partially culpable for
Albion's inconsistency as his tactical nous has, at times, left much
to be desired, but the fact remains that under Bryan Robson, Albion
have played the best football I have seen at the Hawthorns in my twenty
years of watching them regularly. They might not be able to do it
every week, but given a fully fit squad (which has rarely, if ever,
been the case this season), I believe they will produce those performances
more often than not.
Bryan Robson has his faults. He is not the most dynamic character
either on the touchline or in front of the media, but his reputation
as a player must be a clue to his real motivational qualities. His
substitutions have often left many baffled, but notable successes
include Horsfield against Portsmouth last season, Carter against Arsenal,
Campbell against Manchester City and Albrechtsen against Wigan just
over a week ago.
Many have still not forgiven him for leaving the club for Manchester
United a quarter of a century ago, but such elephantine stubbornness
ignores what a superb move it was for him at the time, and how that
experience at Old Trafford is benefiting West Bromwich Albion today.
It's not his fault that Albion failed to invest the money received
for him wisely. It is probably indicative that those who feel that
way are probably the ones that abandoned the club during the dark
days of the nineties, and have only returned to the Hawthorns now
that top flight football is back. They cannot fully appreciate the
strides that have been made in the past five years.
The campaign to get rid of Bryan Robson has smouldered ever since
he joined the club, and continues to do so in spite of his remarkable
achievements last term. It is reignited after every poor performance
while conveniently ignoring the excellent results and impressive displays
we have seen in Robson's reign. I'm sure those that want him out now
were sulking in a corner when Albion achieved the Great Escape in
May - or perhaps not.
In my opinion, Bryan Robson saved this club last season, and he is
working hard to build on that success this campaign. Can anyone really
argue that Kevin Campbell and Kieran Richardson, two of the players
that were most influential in last season's Great Escape, would've
joined the club had Robson not been in charge? Is it really credible
to suggest that a Gary Megson side would've won 4-1 at Charlton or
got the invaluable point at Old Trafford? Was it not Bryan Robson
that turned around the careers of Wallwork and Kanu turning them into
our most influential players this season? Was it not Robson that spotted
the talents of Curtis Davies, who is developing into one of the best
defensive prospects in England?
West Bromwich Albion are not in as good a position as we'd all hoped
this season and some of Robson's signings have not had the desired
impact, but if Albion are still in the Premiership at the end of the
season, it will have been another successful campaign.
However, the fact that I believe that Robson is doing a good job is
not the most important reason why he should stay in his job. The overriding
reason is that to get rid of him would plunge the club into turmoil,
and that would, in my opinion, certainly lead to relegation. Moreover,
what respected manager would want to join a club that had sacked the
man who had guided them to such a remarkable escape the previous season?
Should the worst happen and Albion are relegated at the end of the
season, Robson's position should certainly be considered, but until
that happens, he deserves the full backing of everyone who wants success
for West Bromwich Albion Football Club. Unfortunately, and to the
detriment of the fans' reputation, he seems unlikely to get it.
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