Baggies need players

Monday, 03/01/2011

by Dave Wedgebury, Shoot's West Brom blogger

Recent accusations that the bigger teams in the Premiership tend to get match-changing decisions going their way were highlighted again at The Hawthorns during the New Year’s Day match between Albion and Manchester United, which ended up with a 2-1 United win.

Albion fans felt robbed of the opportunity to beat United by what must be described as one of the worst refereeing decisions that I have witnessed.

I sat  only 50 yards from the clumsy challenge made by Gary Neville on Graham Dorrans when the Albion midfielder was clean through on goal, a clear cut penalty and an obvious sending off for Neville.

This was our chance to take the lead and play against ten men for over 60 minutes of the match, but justice was snatched away by Chris Foy, a referee who decided that no foul occurred, how the referee’s assistant couldn’t see the incident was just as much a mystery.

Yes we did get another penalty later in the game, which was agonisingly poor by Peter Odemwingie, who scuffed his shot well wide of the post. But this did not make up for the fact that United should have been down to ten men after 26 minutes, a fact that has since been agreed by Sir Alex.

The Baggies did play well and for most of the game their defence were untroubled, but injuries and terribly poor defending cost us any chance of a point, let alone dreaming of three points.

Two headed goals from United, neither which required the players to even jump off the ground due to poor marking.

Albion are not the same defensive unit without their inspirational central defender Jonas Olsson, who incidentally has returned to training after a lengthy layoff.

Also there is a debate amongst Albion fans whether the time has come for the manager to give a start to goalkeeper  Boaz Myhill, in preference to captain Scott Carson, my heart is certainly in my mouth every time a corner or cross is swung into the Albion goal area.

Carson is very reluctant to command his area and this puts added pressure upon an already weakened central defence.

January has arrived and with it the chance to add to the team with signings or loans, Albion must pull out all the stops to find and sign a striker, and possibly a right back and centre half.

Although linked with John Carew and Federico Macheda, Albion tend not to make any movements within the market until the last day of the deadline.

This will not satisfy fans who know we need players now, the next half a dozen games are against teams who we are capable of beating and with other teams strengthening their squad, it is vital we do the same, and quickly.

I’ll be checking for any signs of a new signing, but whether the chairman backs his manager and releases the money required to strengthen the team is any bodies guess.

Albion’s recent history in the Premier League at this time of the season makes me feel that very little transfer activity will be witnessed at The Hawthorns.

I really hope that I am wrong and that a couple of quality players will be on view over the next few weeks.

Amongst all this doom and gloom it is easy to forget that James Morrison scored an absolute cracking goal on Saturday, the type of shot that you know is going into the top corner the moment that it leaves the player’s foot. 

Come on Jeremy Peace, this is the best opportunity for Premiership survival that Albion have had for years, do the right thing and support the manager like the fans support the team.

• 

• Have your say