retired_jeja111

Great story mate, just read the lot and i am enjoying it. Time to snap that losing streak!

retired_jessicabraden

What a way to bring in the New Year, we learn that the article in last week's newspaper is correct Kieran Richardson will leave the albion on the 11th January and move to Chelsea for a figure of 11.25 million. Will he want to play against them in a couple of days time for us?

35 year old Naybet joins the Baggies for £50,000 from Spurs its a short term measure in a bid to strengthen the back 4. I'm unsure as to whether he will do the job but for that figure we had nothing to lose.

retired_jessicabraden

Chelsea are the visitors for todays clash.

Richardson is anxious as he is waiting his move to Chelsea, so I have a quiet word with him "Whats up mate? Worried about your big move, shall I make it easy for you, I'll place you on the sidelines, Darren Carter has been playing well, you are scared that you will put in a performance that is awful and that will ruin your chances of getting in their first 11"

I am not that worried about Richardson leaving its obviously a big loss for us but we can't match bids like that and compete with the big clubs. We should have the depth in the club to survive this season its the long term planning that I am concerned about. Kanu and Kamara start up front.

Mourinho doesn't acknowledge me when I go to shake his hand and wish him well. I just hope that we can turn our bad run around and quickly. I didn't expect to get anything from the game and neither did the fans.

The first half saw us hold on 0-0, Chelsea holding onto the ball and passing it through the middle, however they could find no way past Kirkland who was having a stormer.

You would not beleive the huge roar when Kamara hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 on 67 minutes. Mourinho thumps the side of the dug out in anger, he claims that it was off side. I back down from telling him he is cluthing at straws but sit their with a little grin on my face. The game is all over when Kamara hits his second, his on fire and the game is won 2-0.

We climb back 2 places up the table with Chelsea falling to 3rd. Think we have done Sir Alex a favour here and maybe dented Chelsea's hopes.

Kirkland is man of the match and his clean sheet will have done loads of good for his confidence.

retired_aurie

As a short term filler, he'll do a decent job. But in the long run you'll need to get some fast centrebacks to cover those flashy strikers all over the place.

Good luck with the Baggies. I've always had a soft spot for them since the days of Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis

retired_aurie

I recommend giving a stinging attack against the chosen one for his attitude in the dugout mate. He's a prat

retired_jessicabraden

Managerial Change in the Midlands

I pick up the local newspaper to read what the press have to say about our emphatic win, however the above headline seems to have dominated the back page of the paper. Surprisingly Paul Merson has packed his bags and left Walsall, hung up his boots and joined Carlise. I find the move a bit strange as Carlise are struggling at the foot of the league a massive 12 points adrift. Walsall are quick to name Mark Hateley as his replacement.

I phone Paul up "You've shocked me a little bit there mate, thought you were happy with the Saddlers, anyway we never did get round to having that welcome drink, maybe when your down in the area we could, I hope everything works out for you bud" Paul was one of the first people to wish me luck when I started so I felt it appropriate to return the gesture.

Our performance takes up the last but one page with the heading Boing Boing at the Hawthorns. The press can not believe that we have won, and to be honest it hasn't sunk in with me yet. The fans are starting to believe its not going to be a relegation dog fight and reportely feel that I am doing a reasonable job. I was hoping we could acheive a top half finish, but the games are coming quick and fast and its important to get a good run going.

Sorry Morinho I didn't shake your hand after the match but you did walk off ahead to fast, I couldn't catch you up, and you didn't look in a good mood.

retired_jessicabraden

4th January 2006 Away at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland were in the thick of trouble and or confidence was high following the win over Chelsea.

I keep Richardson on the bench as we have got to get used to playing without him, and keep the pairing up front the same.

Ronnie Wallwork came up with another stunning goal, he only seems to score good goals not simple ones. Confidence is high. We get pegged back from a fluke Sunderland goal. It was that good nobody on or off the pitch knew who had scored but Arca takes the credit.

Sunderland have all the advantage and the ref might as well put a red shirt on as he gifts them their second goal on 71 minutes from Elliott. However we manage to salvage a point with Kamara on 76 minutes. We will take the point back to West Bromwich, its another point towards safety.

retired_jessicabraden

Transfer Activity at the Hawthorns

Manager Lee Allen has taken the bold move of signing Charlton reserve striker Francis Jeffers and Bordeaux midfielder Steeve Gustan. Both will move to the club in July.

Allen reports "These are two exciting young players who have international experience. Hopefully they will help us to maintain and improve of course our position within the Premiership. The opportunity was there to sign them and I grasped it quickly, I have high hopes for them, and they want success just as much as I do"

Allen has reportely broke the wage structure to bring Jeffers to the club who will obviously trying to push his way back into the English set up having acheived a solitary cap for the national team.

Inamoto has apparently been shown the door in a 1.8 million transfer deal to Nice. Allen states "I feel for the lad hes a good player with potential it just was not working for him here at the club, he plays well, but not consistent enough we have good players fighting for limited spaces and he lacked that fight."

The move will spark crys of outrage in Japan who have grown fond of the Baggies.

It is rumoured that further players will be shown the door to bring down the massive wage bill.

retired_jessicabraden

7th January - FA CUP 3rd Round V Bristol City

FA Cup fever hits the Hawthorns for my first tie in the competition against Bristol City. Although we are firm favourites to win, you have to be careful of the underdog. As we were two divisions higher they had nothing to lose and would fight for every ball.

I look down their team sheet to find an old Baggies favourite Stuart Naylor. Hes in his 40's and been struggling for a club and had found his way to City albeit in the reserves. He should get a good reception today. I also note their front two are capable of scoring goals Stewart and Bridges and tell the back 4 to be careful.

Earnshaw nets the opening goal to relieve some tension from around the ground, a simple tap in which see him celebrate. The strikers are giving me a selection headache now.

We continue to dominate the first half and Bristol are penned into their own half. Shot after Shot being placed at the City goal but there was no way through. We go in at half time.

"Good performance keep it up, don't give them any room box the front two in, get another goal and put the tie safe."

On the hour mark Gera falls to the ground and signals that he needs to come off. Do I put Richardson on, change formation or drop Kamara to just in front of midfield.

I risk changing formation and bring Ellington on and play him up front (4-3-3). He immediately makes an impact and scores 2 quick goals within 10 minutes of coming on. Another selection dilema.

The tie is safe and we could relax even more after 71 minutes when they were reduced to 10 men. We progress through the first hurdle of the cup and await to find out who we have to tackle next.

We sit in the dressing room as the results come in and look to see if there are any major shocks.

Struggling Premiership side Wigan lose away at our local neighbours Wolves 2-1. What a tie that would be. Blackburn another team at the foot of the table lose at home to Ipswich and Luton knock out Charlton.

retired_jessicabraden

FA Cup Round 4 Draw

The FA Cup has ben thrown wide open following todays draw with 4 of the top 5 teams playing one another. Arsenal and Chelsea are to face one another and Everton host Man Utd. Liverpool the other top team are already out of the competition have fallen in the last round to Spures.

West Brom travel to Brighton and Wolves travel to Newcastle. Lee Allen comments "The draw has been favourable to us and it gives us the opportunity of progressing further, hopefully we can go a long way in the competition"

Gossip is also going around the ground of a possibe swoop to bring Bradley Wright Phillips to the Hawthorns on loan. We await further developments.