Posts Tagged ‘giles’

Albion injuries heading to danger levels

Joining Roman Bednar who has a thigh injury, Steven Reid who has a groin injury and Jerome Thomas who has a hamstring problem is now Jonas Olsson who picked up a calf problem during the first half in the victory over Swansea. He looks very unlikely to return in time to face Preston at home this coming Sarurday, leaving Roberto Di Matteo with a mounting problem.

“Jonas has a little injury in his calf,” said Di Matteo.

“That’s why we had to make a change at half-time.

“He shouldn’t be out for too long but it’s one more on our injury list and he’ll be very doubtful for our next game.

“I am a bit concerned about our injuries.

“We already had plenty and now that includes Jonas.”

With a few of the fit players like Ishmael Miller and Giles Barnes only just back from long term lay offs and still not properly match fit, Di Matteo will have to be ultra carful in his team sheet choice and substitutional back ups for the foreseeable future.

Dorrans Penalty wins the spoils for the Baggies

West Brom moved a step closer to the Premiership after a second 5 goal thriller with Blackpool this season. This was the fifth double for the Albion of the season and a mirror of the Bloomfield Road game earlier in the season. The last game was won by a debatable penalty and the same happened at the Hawthorns this afternoon.

Charlie Adam’s scored in the 12th minute before Ishmael Miller equalised a minute later and by half time there was only one team in the game, or so it seemed.

Koren put the Baggies in front in the 53rd minute, however, the Tangerines fought back and equalised through Brett Ormerod on 72 minutes. 6 minutes later, however, Dorrans fired home another penalty and Albion held on for all 3 points.

After Blackpool opened the scoring they had another chance almost from the kick off, however, seconds later Steven Reid’s header was cleared off the line and Albion started to take control. Miller’s pace allowed him to get the better of Tangerines defender Rob Edwards and reach Chris Brunt’s pass and he put the ball through the legs Matt Gilks in to the back of the net.

Jonas Olsson had a header come back off a post but neither Reid or Miller could get the ball to score.

Giles Barnes replaced James Morrison when the teams came back out. Koren hit a 25 yards shot over the bar when Brunt was in a far better position in the 52nd minute, however, he made up for it just 80 seconds later from more or less the same position. That was the Slovenian’s second goal in 2 games.

On the hour Miller was replaced by Roman Bednar and from this point Blackpool started to get a foothold back in to the game. Miller was looking very tired and the lack of games was obviously showing through. In the 72nd minute they got their reward when Brett Ormerod headed of the underside of the bar and the ball smashed in to the back of the net from an Adams cross.

Just 6 minutes later, history repeated itself when the Albion were awarded a decisive penalty that Blackpool were very unhappy with. It was certainly no clear cut penalty, however a penalty it was and Graham Dorrans happily scored from the spot. That was more or less it, Albion closed the game down and held on to gain all 3 points.

This win saw them claw to within 4 points of Newcastle who have a game in hand, but more importantly see’s the Albion go 5 points clear of Forest who lost this afternoon, meaning Albion have their promotion chances down to their own performances now. Albion now need to do better than Forest in 10 of their 11 remaining games and they will most likely be in the premiership.

Bednar out, Miller and Barnes in?

Roman Bednar may well miss the trip to QPR this weekend, however, there is some great news in the fact that Roberto Di Matteo has confirmed Ishmael Miller and Giles Barnes are possible starters for the Loftus Road clash.

Bednar has a groin problem, picked up versus Reading in the cup replay and may be unfit to play. Barnes stepped up his comeback from long-term injury midweek when playing all 90 minutes of the Walsall reserves game. Miller on the other hand played for 70 minutes in the same game, a sure sign that his ankle must now be up to the job.

The returning internationals have all signed back in at the Hawthorns without a glimmer of an injury and Di Matteo had this to say:

“All the internationals will be reporting back tomorrow morning for training,” said the Hawthorns boss.

“Some are back already and some are not depending on where they’ve travelled from.

“Everyone seems to have come through the games fine.

“Roman Bednar is still injured and is doubtful for Saturday.

“Miller and Barnes played in the reserves on Tuesday night and both are in contention for Saturday.

“It’s good news.”

Michael Appleton has spoken of his surprise at Giles Barnes’ comeback from injury, the youngster on joined the Baggies last month and was still recovering from a ruptured Achilles he suffered last summer.

“I think he is ready, from my point of view and what I saw on Tuesday,” said Appleton.

“I was delighted he got 90 minutes. He looked strong at times and I knew he was quick without the ball but I didn’t realise he was that quick with the ball!

“For me he is around about ready for a place on the bench.

“Whether he gets that is a different question and one the head coach has to decide on.

“But I’m sure he will be in our thoughts on Saturday in terms of being on the bench.”

“He has probably surprised the playing staff,” the Baggies’ first-team coach added.

“But the work he has put in behind the scenes with the physios has been second to none and the physio and sports department have been working hard with him.

“They deserve to take a bit of credit because there was a lot of work he needed to do in the gym in terms of rehab and ‘prehab’ work and he did a lot of that before he even got onto the field.

“We are delighted he is at the stage he is now but I don’t think he would have been if he hadn’t done the work previously.

“He is a talented player who has been in the Premier League with Derby and he has played in some big games in the past.

“He has been to two or three clubs and had trial periods and it hasn’t worked out for him.

“Whether those clubs have been prepared to take a chance is another question.

“You would have to ask them.

“From our point of view, we recognised that he needed to do a lot of work before he even tried to kick a ball or get back on the training field or somewhere close to the first team.

“And the lad’s attitude and work rate to do all that before he even started to kick a ball was spot on – and that’s why we took a gamble on him.

“Touch wood he can stay away from injury because, if he can, we’ve got a real player on our hands.”

West Brom Reading FA Cup Replay Preview

The Baggies went out on penalty’s against Middlesbrough at this stage of the FA Cup just 3 seasons ago and Roberto Di Matteo is making sure as best as he can that this does not happen again tonight.

“We have practised penalties even though it’s not the same on the training ground as when you go into a game and you have to do it in front of 20,000 and the pressure is on,” said the Albion boss.

“By now I know the character of my players and I have a good idea of which ones I would like to take penalties, if it goes that far.”

Players that may return tonight include James Morrisson and Marek Cech, both fit again although Morrisson clearly lacking in match practice after 10 months out.

Giles Barnes will still play no part as he is not quite fit yet, Ishmael Miller still has an injured ankle, Jerome Thomas has another game where he is banned, then the 2 loan players Frank Nouble and Ben Watson are cup tied.

Di Matteo has said “We have to take into consideration that Cech has been out for three weeks and Morrison for ten months.

“But it’s good to have some players back.

“Morrison’s been doing well but competitive games are completely different.

“The fact he has been out of the game for a long time means we have to be careful with him.

“Barnes is getting closer but he’s not in the frame for tomorrow.

“It’s hard for me to say when Giles and Ishmael Miller will be back.”

At the Madejski Stadium 2 weeks back the Albion came from behind twice and the late equaliser was very cruel on Reading, however, with a home tie in the quarter finals up for grabs at against Aston Villa or Crystal Palace the Baggies are surely going to be well up for this game.

Roman Bednar should keep his shirt and Abdoulaye Meite who was an unused substitute on Sunday in the defeat at Bristol City may get a recall.

Another player likely to keep his place tonight will be the in form Albion defender Jonas Olsson , he is over the moon at getting his first ever call up to the Sweden national team.

His top notch Baggies performances have seen him with just rewards, a place against Wales in Swansea next Wednesday.

Olsson won 25 caps at under-21 level but an appearance at the Liberty Stadium would be his first full cap.

The former NEC Nijmegen centre-back said: “Since I moved to England I have developed in the right direction.

“I feel that I have come to a country whose football suits me, and I have grown with the task.

“It is very nice to have a chance in the ‘big’ team. I’ve played some under-21 games before and to pull on the national team jersey is special and it makes me happy.”

Do Newcastle Want Koumas Just To Spite The Baggies?

Jason Koumas is apparently subject of a battle between at least Albion and Newcastle for his loan services. Albion have been working very hard to bring in some loan cover and it has been heavily catalogued that Jason Koumas was top of the list. Now it seems that just as the day arrives that would be perfect for season end loans and the Albion are likely to try to finalise a deal, Newcastle suddenly appear trying to gazump them.

Could they simply be after Koumas to save him from going to the Albion? Do they really need his services? With Koumas in the ranks, the Albion could easily expect to finish the run in on great form, are Newcastle scared that this would be enough to land Albion the title?

The Baggies seem to have struggled up to now to get anywhere with premiership clubs in the race to bolster an injury riddled team. It is looking more and more unlikely that the Albion will secure any loan player services in time for the trip to Ashton Gate.

Koumas is certainly available, Latics boss Roberto Martinez has confirmed that they will listen to any offers.

Victor Moses was the last player that Newcastle and Albion fought to sign, they both lost out the, who will win this time? Does Koumas really want to make the move to either anyway? There have been no comments from him on either team, or even a loan move in general.

Defence is another section of the pitch that Albion are struggling in, perhaps the struggle for loan signings may head this direction now too. Giles Barnes is getting closer to full fitness and Jerome Thomas has just 2 games of suspension left, so midfield will hopefully be the least weaker position within a week.

In the opposite direction, Marcus Haber has gone out on loan to League One Exeter for an initial month’s loan.

The 21 yr old striker who signed from Vancouver Whitecaps last month, will most probably make his debut in the Grecians’ home game against Stockport on Saturday.

Giles Barnes speaks of his fitness confidence.

Giles Barnes is hoping to make his first appearance for new club Albion within weeks after vowing to rediscover the form that made him a £7 million man.

The ex Derby winger was talking to the club site for the first time about his fight to regain full fitness and explained that his ruptured Achilles has now fully healed.

Barnes is hoping and convinced that all the injuries over the last 3 years are now behind him and that he can get on with his career.

He said: “I’m there or thereabouts. I am short of game practice and I’m not going to hide that but as soon as I get one or two game practice games behind me I would be thinking I’d be ready to enter the first team if selected.

“My Achilles feels fantastic. I don’t have any pain or any swelling from it, so I suppose that’s a good thing.”

At 21 he has already been one of English football’s brightest talents and attracted bids of £7million in the summer of 2007, one of those bids from West Ham, this was after helping Derby reach the Premier League at Albion’s cost. The hammers move looked all set to go when the injury nightmare started.

He said: “There is no doubt in my mind. I was probably playing better football than ever when I went on loan to Fulham, even though it was in reserve games. In training I was sharper than I had ever been before.

“Even though I got my Achilles injury from that, I didn’t lose my football brain and thank God I haven’t lost any pace or anything like that.

“You come back stronger from things like that and if you keep watching football you learn things as well.”

With foot, knee and Achilles problems since 2007, Barnes has never considered once that his career could be doomed to failure.

He said: “That is one thing that never came into my head – not even an echo. I am that eager to get back. If anyone had turned around to me and said ‘we’re not too sure,’ that would have been a big shock to me.

“But not playing again is not something I ever contemplated.”

Only time will tell, however, should Barnes regain the form he was capable of and steer clear of any further injury, Albion may have an asset on their hands that could be worth close on £10 million.