|
|
Post by ted1965 on Apr 5, 2009 9:51:04 GMT
This weekend we saw a tale of two Tony’s, one has shown many critics that he has matured like a fine wine. There’s still moments when you want to pull out your hair or bang your head against a brick wall with him but he’s has learnt lessons and it’s working.
The other Tony is an idealist, he has this Utopian view of football where tackles are outlawed you can’t score unless you have passed the ball backwards, sideways and across for at least 5 minutes before moving towards the oppositions goal. In the Mowbray vision of football apparently you no longer need to defend and your goalkeeper doesn’t actually have to be able to catch the ball, your forwards need not to be able to hit a cows behind with a banjo and apparently this makes you not far off a mid table side . Well Tony you’ve achieved your Utopian dream because your goalkeeper couldn’t catch a dead goldfish in a bucket, you have a defence that makes the Keystone Cops look organized and your forwards truly have achieved Nirvana but you pass, pass, pass, backwards, sideways, short passes, longer passes not many effective passes or incisive passes but you can‘t have everything can you. So Tony should be a happy man he’s achieved all his ideals, sadly for the residents of Rio de Smethwick and the passing enthusiasts from Brazil he hasn’t actually achieved enough points or goals to keep them from sliding back into the championship.
It’s like the Hokey Cokey of football, you play the back pass in, the back pass out, you pass it to the side then you pass it all about, you pass it to the winger and he lets the ball go out, that’s what it’s all about.
The other Tony has had his critics too, though he really seems to be coming of age and it’s such a sight to see. He has restored pride in one of the oldest clubs in the world. After waiting so long and everyone telling us we were going straight back down while the Baggies would be entertaining the world with their passing brand of football it’s so damn gratifying to see humble pie being eaten by the bucket load.
Our Tony has built a side around two quality central defenders, finally we seem to have a midfield with the correct mix of craft and graft, a winger who can get past people and actually cross a ball, Whelan is growing into his role with every game and most important he found a forward who had experience at this level, who had scored goals at this level but more important who wanted to prove a few people wrong and James Beatie is doing that in spades. He is without a doubt the bargain of the season.
While it’s best we don’t get to far ahead of ourselves as there’s still some work to be done, what a few weeks it’s been. I always fancied us to win this one. I got the correct scorers but foolishly thought the Brazilians may have scored one but I don’t care just proved once more how superior we are.
What an eye opener it’s been for all who thought the Baggies would be the highest placed of the promoted sides. It seems even the west midlands media have finally realized you need a little more than making people say you play lovely football to actually succeed. Why do so many compliment the Brazilians on their style of play because it’s easy to beat. Any good side needs to be able to do the basics and the Albion can’t, they can’t defend and thank God Scott Carson found a defence to compliment his goalkeeping skills.
I am sure many Brazilians would swap our side and a more effective style of play players who have ability, heart, passion and a collective will to succeed. There isn’t one player from the Brazilians who I would take because they have no fight, no heart and the cutting edge of a blunt spoon. They can still survive on Fantasy Island and I for one demand they do, after all it’s like a 6 point bonus having them in the same league as us. I thought the best football yesterday came from us, the hoofers, the pub team, the bullyboys, we were the ones playing effective passing football at times. Mr Mowbray passing football is only effective if it’s forward and with the purpose of creating genuine opportunities to score, possession is important in football but not if 50% it is 50 yards from the oppositions goal.
I am sure some will still believe we’re very much in the mix, yes we still need some points but the last two wins and the failure of others have taken some of the pressure from us. The safety valve has been released a little and we can go into the Newcastle game on a total high. We have a glorious opportunity to put ourselves on the brink of safety with a win, Middlesboro have a dogfight with Hull and if we can beat the Geordies it would almost be over for us, we could sit back and watch the relegation battle with 6 games left who would have imagined such a scenario.
How many people believe the new Messiah on the Tyne would actually wish a trip to the Britannia as his first away game. I am sure Shearer could think of a dozen places he would rather be taking his side needing a win than Stoke. Newcastle have some good players, no doubt about that but collectively they make a very poor team and that’s what you need if you’re going to battle your way out of these situations. Yes of course you need two or three game breakers and on paper they certainly have those but what they don’t seem to have is those players willing to work hard, defend for their lives, throw their bodies in the way of shots. It’s fine having Michael Owen, Martins and Duff but none of those three are what you would call up for a fight, you need solid foundations to compliment the fancy architecture if you house is built on nicely coloured sand the inevitable will happen, it may take a while and you may get the chance to throw a few lavish parties but eventually the house will begin to crumble. Alan Shearer may be able to enthuse the supporters but he can’t reinforce the weak foundations in 7 games without the aid of a cheque book and that option is not open to him. I have to say what little I saw of them last night, nothing much seemed to have changed and I believe we can almost finish the job of survival next weekend because we are a team built on solid foundations with a couple of game breakers.
I wish the game was today because I can’t wait, three in a row is more than possible next weekend and I can’t wait. In the tale of two Tony’s we have the it’s a far, far better Tony at the Britannia and we thank God we’re not West Brazil.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lightwood on Apr 5, 2009 9:53:30 GMT
;D ;D ;D
some belly laughs in there for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by salopstick on Apr 5, 2009 9:57:19 GMT
the tale of two tony's i have seen is that i wished we could have been just as positive in some of our previous away games
but
if we were only going to win one away game all season i would not have picked another team to beat
|
|
|
|
Post by Beardy200 on Apr 5, 2009 10:00:05 GMT
"It’s like the Hokey Cokey of football, you play the back pass in, the back pass out, you pass it to the side then you pass it all about, you pass it to the winger and he lets the ball go out, that’s what it’s all about."
Where were you with that one last week Ted? ..... That would've been great ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by torquaypotter on Apr 5, 2009 10:00:10 GMT
You sir are magic the things you have said are all the things that i would loved to have put down onto paper. love to read all the reports you send in to this notice board long my you carry on doing so .SIR i raise my hat to you [IF I HAD ONE LOL]
|
|
|
|
Post by Ghostface on Apr 5, 2009 10:01:18 GMT
I couldn't make it to The Hawthorns last season, due to work, but did manage to get home in time to listen to BBC Radio WM, and their absolute bile and venom towards Stoke. I've been saving this quote for a long, long time from a certain wanker called Daz Hale that night. After caling us neanderthols, thugs and animals he then retorted .. 'Aren't you glad that Tony Pulis isn't your manager?!' Nothing else needs to be said  |
|
|
|
Post by ted1965 on Apr 5, 2009 11:25:35 GMT
the reason beardy mate I didn't use it last week, simply didn't want to count chickens but I shouldn't have worried Mowbray's samaba passing machine didn't let me down so I could finally use my hokey cokey football line.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tubes on Apr 5, 2009 14:02:25 GMT
It’s like the Hokey Cokey of football, you play the back pass in, the back pass out, you pass it to the side then you pass it all about, you pass it to the winger and he lets the ball go out, that’s what it’s all about. good post in general but this bit is pure genius! |
|
