Posts Tagged ‘WBA FC’

Bednar and Reid out of Swansea line up as Baggies reel from FA fine

Roman Bednar and Steven Reid are both injured and will be unavailable for tommorrows crunch trip to Swansea. Bednar who only returned from a 3 match injury break Saturday is now ruled out with a thigh injury and Reid has a groing problem.

Ishmael Miller who only recently returned from a 15 month absense due to injury picked up a hamstring problem during the Blackpool game, however , he has reacted well to the treatment and will be fit to face Swansea. The same is also said for Luke Moore who has made a recovery from illness which forced him out of the squad on Saturday.

Jerome Thomas who is suffering with a hamstring problem will not be ready in time for the trip to Swansea, however, Di Matteo is taking it all in his stride.

“The injury situation doesn’t get better, does it?” joked Di Matteo.

“You have a good weekend and think you’re looking good for the next game – and then you’re not!

“We’ve lost Steven from Saturday with a little groin problem while this morning Roman felt his quad so he won’t be available either.

“Jerome is also still out but Luke is a bit better from his flu while Ishmael, who got a kick to his hamstring, is recovering from his knock.

“But we’ll need to assess Ish.

“He’s been out for a long time and the same applies to Steven.

“Steven hasn’t played a lot of games in a short period for a long, long time. That goes for James Morrison too.

“All three of them are feeling the games because they’re not quite up to the tempo.

“I wish I could start Ish every game but we need to take all of these factors into consideration.”

The both teams have been fined for failing to control their players after a brawl at Home Park during February. The fine was £12,500 for both teams, however, £7,500 has been suspended until June next year. Should either team be charged with the same between now and then they will have to pay the other £7,500 plus suffer the consequences of the further breach.

Eager Nouble may start tonight against the Iron

Frank Nouble has today spoken about his hope for the future and how he thinks he could help out tonight. Although a striker he has confirmed himself as a potential replacement for the suspended Jerome Thomas against Scunthorpe.

He said: “I just want to play in an attacking role, be it left wing, right wing or up front, I am here to gain some experience and help the team.”

The 18-year-old finalised his initial 28 day loan from West Ham earlier today and in time to face Scunthorpe at the Hawthorns tonight.

Continuing, Nouble said:

“I am very excited. I watch some of the games on TV and some of the teams like West Brom are big teams, so I want to see how I do at this level.

“I made my debut at 17 recently. I have just turned 18 and I want to get as much experience as I can in any league, be it the Championship or Premier League.”

The youngster’s arrival from Upton Park gives Roberto Di Matteo extra options in the quest for a replacement for Thomas, who begins his four match ban tonight.

Nouble agreed that Di Matteo’s friendship with West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola played a big part in securing the move.

He said: “Gianfranco Zola and the manager here are close friends, so it was easy for them to talk about me. I think Roberto Di Matteo definitely listened to what he said and I think he is happy I have come here.

“The manager here has Chelsea links and was a terrific player when at Chelsea with Gianfranco Zola.”

Albion first team coach Michael Appleton has also spoken about Nouble: “Frank is really strong and aggressive and he will give us an outlet sometimes when we need that, especially when teams are trying to frustrate us.

“He is versatile and can play in different positions, which is good for us. There may be times when we want to use him in the centre but he has played a lot of football lately in wider areas so I think we’ll look to use him in both areas of the pitch as and when we need to.”

So, with Thomas out and Nouble fresh whilst other players are suffering from the rigours of 4 games in 10 days, added to the fact that he cannot play Saturday at Reading due to being cup tied, it is very likely that he will start tonight.

Albion really do need to make changes quite often at the moment anyway, as by next Tuesday at 10 pm they will have played 5 games in 13 days, a ridiculous amount in such a short period.

Chris Woods up for goal of the season with Soccer AM

Chris Wood’s super strike in Albion’s 3 to 1 win at home to Doncaster Rovers in September, which was of course his first senior goal for the Baggies, has been nominated by the club for the Football League’s top 20 and is in the running to win the Mitre Goal of the Year 2009.

Vote and watch the goal at the Soccer Am website to give Chris a chance to get in to the top 5 and have a chance to win the award.

The overall winner will be decided at the 2010 Football League Awards on the night, these awards take place at the prestigious Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, on Sunday, March 14, 2010.

Wood’s is not the only Albion player on the list, however, as young Cox also makes the list for his strike when playing for Swindon against Walsall in January.

All football Championship clubs were asked to nominate their best goal to Sky Sports’ Soccer AM show, who screened the 20 goals on Saturday.

Get on down to the Soccer AM site to Vote and the watch goal along with the other 19 contenders. One lucky voter will win tickets to the awards, however, more importantly, lets get a trophy under our belts early this season.

Plymouth Albion team sheet

Di Matteo names 4 new faces on the team sheet, the first change for 6 games.

Abdoulaye Meite replaces Jonas Olsson to join Gabriel Tamas in the Baggies defence.

Gonzalo Jara joins Olsson as a sub and Gianni Zuiverloon is recalled at right back.

Marek Cech is replaced by Joe Mattock at left-back.

Simon Cox replaces Robert Koren, who becomes a sub.

17 year old youth team midfielder George Thorne is on the bench.

PLYMOUTH (4-4-2): Stockdale; Duguid, Arnason, R Johnson, Sawyer; Clark, Fletcher, D Johnson, Judge; Mackie, Fallon. Subs: Larrieu (gk), Wright-Phillips, Barker, McNamee, Noone, Summerfield, Cooper.

ALBION (4-5-1): Carson; Zuiverloon, Tamas, Meite, Mattock; Brunt, Cox, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Thomas; Bednar. Subs: Kiely (gk), Jara, Olsson, Koren, Moore, Slory, Thorne.

REFEREE: S Tanner (Somerset).

Plymouth Albion team news – Youth on bench

Roberto Di Matteo has this morning spoken of injuries that will effect today’s line up.

Marek Cech is not on the team sheet due to a hamstring injury picked up midweek against Blackpool.

Joe Mattock has recovered and is available for selection at Home Park so looking likely to replace Cech.

Ishmael Miller Will not be making the bench after damaging his ankle against Blackpool, bringing scary times for the youngster just back from a long term injury.

“Joe is fine now,” said the Baggies boss.

“Unfortunately Ish and Marek got injured on Wednesday and they will be missing today.

“We’re going to call-up George Thorne from the youth team so we have enough players on the bench.”

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.