Classless from Klopp

My Birmingham Mail Column from Weds May 2nd 2018 

If you ever needed proof that this wonderful game of football is and has been for some time morally bankrupt then just look at the reaction of players when their team is relegated from the cash cow that is the Premier League.

Most players will have a relegation clause in their contract that will see their wages at least halved. However none of those players will ever look in the mirror and question their part in the club being dropped into the Championship.  

Usually the first thing on many of their minds is to get away and find another Premier League club willing to pay them the money they believe they are worth despite having willingly signed a contract. Or should I say the money their agents have told them they are worth. Never forget the part agents will play in players wanting to get away from teams that have been relegated. However I don’t totally buy that because a man can make up his own mind and tell his agent what he wants to do but usually players are led by the agent rather than the other way around. It’s hard at times to figure out who works for who?

Despite the amazing job done my Darren Moore at West Bromwich Albion since taking over from Alan Pardew which has seen two wins and two draws the Baggies still looked doomed to relegation to the Championship.

With two games still to play apparently some of the players are looking for other clubs according to James McClean. He says “they’ve got to look after themselves first and foremost”. The implication from James is that it is all about what they can earn. I just don’t buy into that garbage that we want to play premier league football when what you really mean is that you want to earn premier League money.

Now I have no problem with that after all we all work to maximise what we can earn for our families.

What gets to me is that it’s all matter of fact with the players not taking any responsibility for relegation? I am sure there are those who will say James was being honest and yes he was but he showed zero empathy towards the fans who are hurting due to the performances of him and his team mates.

He should have been more diplomatic and aware of the fans feelings: he should have said something along the lines of “we have two games left and that is all I am focusing on”. That would have been the classy way to deal with it.

I just wonder what will happen if no one comes in for him or any of the other players he is referring to. Will he be happy to stay on half his wages? Of course he would but he has angered the supporters with his comments and that makes it difficult for him. James McClean is not alone and I mention him because it was his comments in the press this weekend but lots of players from all relegated clubs will feel exactly the same as him.

This is why I would urge everyone not to be fooled by the “badge kissers” in football. It’s not the first time I have seen this and it is not unique to West Bromwich Albion in fact I would suggest it happens at every relegated club.

I remember doing commentary from the playoff final at Wembley between the Baggies and Derby County. Baggies lost and while the fans were crying their way down Wembley way come players were talking about looking for a move to Premier Clubs.

But it is worse at relegated clubs because it’s those players who are wanting away that contributed to the club being relegated. However I am sure not many will accept the responsibility as it would always be someone else’s fault. The manager, the tactics, the other players or whatever.

Sadly this is the monster we have created in the Premier League where money is King and Queen. Would I be any different? That is hard to say because I have not been in that situation but being honest probably not-but I guarantee I would not insult the supporters by saying it with two games to go.

However what some players will say is that how many clubs have used players and cast them away when not required anymore and that is true. But the big difference is that player’s wages are ring fenced by watertight contracts. Unless of course they want to move then the contracts suddenly become worthless.

By the way they might be really nice guys to talk to and deal with until it comes down to money and then it’s an “I’m alright Jack” attitude.

The players are in control these days and that makes management much harder and why many managers pander to players. Because they need them onside or they will down tools and get you the sack.

By the way fantastic to see Darren Moore, Chris Brunt and James Morrison at Halesowen Town last Sunday in the charity game in memory of Richard Eades. Now that’s class!

Next time you or your mates talk about loyalty remember with only a few exceptions player wise the only genuine loyalty is on the terraces.

Saddlers Slipping into trouble

My Birmingham Mail Column Weds Apr 25th 2018-Part 2

Over the past few months a lot of focus has been on the relegation problems faced by the Baggies and Blues as well as Villa’s hopes of winning promotion to the Premier League. However while all that has been taking the attention Walsall have been clipping into relegation trouble in League One and are in serious danger of dropping out into League Two.

With 3 games to go they, along with Oldham, are on 48 points - just one point above the trapdoor. Since the turn of the year they have lost 11 from 19 games winning just 5 and it’s got progressively worse with 8 defeats and just 2 wins from their last twelve games. That dismal run has seen them quietly drop from mid-table into the relegation mix.

The teams occupying the 4 relegation spots are Bury who are bottom and already relegated. The come MK Dons on 42, Northampton 46 and Rochdale 47. How tight is that? This Saturday they take on Northampton at Bescot in a must win game. Northampton will have a massive say in the outcome because they face Oldham at home on the last day of the season.

Walsall are a smashing club with some amazing people working at Bescot but without the finance and resource of a lot of other clubs in League One. As with West Brom it looks from the outside like they waited too long to make a change of manager-while hoping things would change.

Dean Keates only taking over on March 16th by then it looked like losing had become a habit for the players. I am told by various managers that it can be difficult to change that mentality overnight especially if the quality of the squad is not good enough both in terms of ability and also attitude.

Good luck to Dean Keates in his battle to avoid the drop.

Classless Klopp

My Birmingham Mail column Apr 25th 2018- Part One

Over the years I have heard more than my fair share of rubbish from various managers and I suspect one or two reading this will be saying “yes! And you’ve spoken more than your fair share as well”. Seriously though I was absolutely amazed at the post match mutterings of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp because his team were unable to beat West Brom..

According to him it was everybody else’s fault apart from his! The groundsman was at fault for not watering the pitch at half time? The referee was at fault, Even Albion were at fault for not letting them win when Darren Moore’s team didn’t need the points as they were all but relegated? A waste of points he said!

It really disappointed me to hear his comments mostly because he is one of my favourite managers ,I love his passion and sense of humour and was really hoping he would be the man to steer Liverpool to the title.

However, In my opinion, a person’s class best manifests itself when they have to handle disappointment; on this occasion Jurgen showed little class whatsoever with not no praise for the opposition whereas Darren Moore oozed class with his comments.

The pitch was to dry? That really is laughable and embarrassing because the first thing that struck me was that the pitch certainly wasn’t too dry in December when the Baggies drew nil-nil at Anfield? Nor in January when Albion won 3-2 there in the FA Cup? By the way that was the only time they have lost at home this season.

The referee Stuart Atwell should have awarded them a penalty and should have sent off Baggies defender Hegazi for allegedly punching a Liverpool player.

It’s an overdose of sour grapes from a man whose team could not find the answers to win in an eleven v eleven game but needed the referee and groundsman on his side as well.

He also said that the best teams should always win? Are you sure Jurgen? Because if you are right then Manchester City would never lose a game.

He even has a snipe at Albion’s way of playing by saying that if the Premier League was about “set pieces” Albion would not be relegated.

There is no right or wrong way of playing this fantastic game most managers or coaches just play the way they need to play to get a positive result. Every game poses different questions for a manager. He will come up against different styles, formations, pitches, etc. and it’s then down to his coaching ability to prepare his team to answer those questions.

He would have had detailed report after detailed report from his staff about the way the Baggies play. He obviously wasn’t as prepared as he should have been so perhaps start looking in the mirror before blaming everyone else for your team’s failure to win.

For me it sums up what is wrong with the game and the attitude of the so called bigger clubs who believe every other team should play the way that will allow the bigger clubs to win. The reality is if you try to out pass and out play these teams you will more than likely get beat so you need a plan that doesn’t allow them to settle comfortably into their rhythmic was of playing. That usually means 90 minutes of hard work from every single player to frustrate and stop the so called better players from expressing themselves. Set pieces and counter attacks being your best bet for a goal.

I hear that Jurgen was looking forward to playing against Roma in the Champions league last night because they play it on the ground and don’t just rely on set pieces-yet another classless pop at West Brom.

No end of season feel about either end of the Championship table!

It may be all over for West Brom and Wolves but both Villa and Blues have plenty to play for. Despite Steve Bruce understandably saying they have to keep going while the second automatic spot is still mathematically possible with three games to go. Realistically it looks like the playoffs so finishing 3rd or 4th would guarantee being at home game in the second leg.

It’s the richest mini competition in world where 3rd placed take on the 6th placed team and the 4th placed team facing the 5th placed for a place in the final where the reward is a guaranteed minimum 160 million pounds which includes parachute payments when and if a team is relegated back to the Championship.

At the other end of the table Blues have 2 home games against Sheffield United and Fulham and an away game at QPR to save themselves from the drop into League One. The team below them, Barnsley have a game in hand and are just two points behind Garry Monks men. The two home games are absolutely crucial although with every point a prisoner anything from QPR, who by the way have the best home record outside the top half of the table, would be a massive bonus.

You don’t have to be a genius to see that it will be team from Barnsley, Blues, and Bolton who will drop out although having said that Reading are only 3 points better off and could easily slip into trouble.

It’s going to be a nervous nail-biting time for Blues fans and I have already finished with my hands and am starting on my toes.

EFL and PFA player of the season votes!

Votes on anything be it best restaurant, favourite breed of dog or player of the season are subjective and end up being all about personal opinion. You know the saying “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”. However I find it hard to understand how Wolves midfielder is not the EFL Championship player of the season. He has been far and away the stand out player in the competition having played 39 games scoring 6 goals. However it his influence on the team and he has done more than any other player to steer Wolves to the title and into the Premier League. He is Wolves orchestra leader the one that glues it all together and makes them tick in my opinion.

It is perfectly understandable how a lot of attention has also been on Fulham’s 17 year old sensation Ryan Sessegnon who has played 43 games scoring 14 goals. And yes I can see the two players would be the two uppermost in everyone’s mind when it comes to end of season awards. He is a major talent and looks set for a very successful career at club and international level.

Yes there are arguments for both players but I am not just looking at ability but the way they influence the team’s performances and success.

Many think that Tom Cairney has been a bigger influence on the Fulham team’s great results over the season although he is not as pleasing on the eye and as exciting or individualistic as Sessegnon is.

It appears it was a three horse race between Ruben Neves, Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney for the EFL Player of the season award and yet Cairney surprisingly did not make the EFL team of the season although rightly so Neves did- You couldn’t make it up.

By the way Ryan Sessegnon is in the short list for the PFA Young Player of the season and so is 24 year old Harry Kane but 21 year old Neves isn’t?

I speak to many people in the game and they all say without doubt that Neves is the best player in the Championship so how he has not won the EFL Player of the Season award beggars’ belief.