July 2008 Archives

THERE must be better things to do on a Tuesday night.

Watch EastEnders, for instance, update Facebook or even change the cat's litter tray.

TGI Friday's, next to the Sixfields, was looking particularly tempting. Mind you, so was KFC at one point!

So, for that reason only, we must raise a glass or two Do-Heon Kim, who rescued the night to give Albion their first pre-season victory of the summer.

ALBION have been allocated just 405 tickets for the friendly against Swansea on Saturday.

The Baggies' first visit to Liberty Stadium - a testimonial match for 30-year-old Swans midfielder Kristian O'Leary - is all ticket.

ALBION manager Tony Mowbray admits he is considering a five-man midfield for the opening game of the season at Arsenal.

Mowbray revealed last week he intended to put out a strong side at Ipswich and that proved the case, although the Baggies were more defensively set up than last season.

He played with five midfielders, with Ishmael Miller playing as a lone striker.

Mowbray admitted the system - which, despite the connotations, was actually a fluid, attacking formation - was in his mind for next month's trip to the Emirates.

But he also revealed the arrival of new players may force a re-think before then.

SOMETIMES you need to step back and look beyond the result. If the last five games - three defeats and two draws - had been Premier League matches then there would be panic on the streets of West Bromwich.

Albion fans would be holding their heads, pundits would be talking about 'doing a Derby' and Tony Mowbray would be trying to say all the right things.

Thankfully these are only friendlies. Fitness is the key issue.

And, in fact, only the referee cost Albion victory on Saturday.

Mike Thorpe, probably born in Suffolk, possibly bred in Suffolk and certainly still living in Suffolk, handed Ipswich two goals which even Jim Magilton admitted were 'very dubious'. More about him later.

Until then it had looked good.

ALBION new boy Scott Carson aims to reclaim his England shirt.

The Albion keeper, who joined last week in a deal worth an eventual £3.75million, today revealed that his burning ambition was to earn a recall into Fabio Capello's squad.

Carson has been named in just one England squad since his infamous mistake against Croatia.

And the 22-year-old feels his move to The Hawthorns will help his cause.