Up the Albion!
Mark Brailsford on England, Gus & Leicester
Gus stays! Well, sort of. Much as the majority of Albion’s fans accept that Gus will always be linked to managerial vacancies when they arise, the news that Poyet might have moved to Reading came as a bit of a shock. To most fans it looked a sideways move at best, a team probably heading for relegation, with a new and inexperienced owner and let’s be honest, not as nice a stadium. Thankfully, Gus opted to stay at a club that looks a safer bet to help him achieve his stated aim of managing in the Premier League. What this brief dalliance with Reading does indicate may be of more significance in the close season when several clubs might cast a roving eye over our Gus. Whatever happens, one day Gus Poyet will go and good luck to him when he does. He would have done a quite magnificent job and with a new training ground, a patient chairman (not many of those to a pound) and a fantastic stadium, the next incumbent might be even more special. Let’s enjoy his presence while it lasts and think of what greatness awaits for his eventual successor. The future’s bright, the future’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. You read it here first.
England U21 England Vs Austria
Once again, The Amex played host to the FA as the Under 21’s took on Austria in a friendly which brings back some fond memories for fans of a certain vintage. The last time Albion hosted an U21 international, a certain Mr P. Ward featured for England and scored a classic hat trick, left foot, right foot, header. More of that later.
“The last time Albion hosted an U21 international, a certain Mr Ward featured and scored a classic hat trick”
The young England Lions have made it to the U21 finals in Israel and Stuart Pearce’s team are one of the favourites for what is set to be a fiercely contested U21 European Championship. This young England team are not as callow as some teams have been in the past which is a reflection of the faith shown in Stuart Pearce who has managed the U21’s under three different senior managers. Some of his charges have full England honours such as Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Danny Rose (Spurs but on loan to Sunderland), Andros Townsend (QPR) and my personal favourite, Andre Wisdom (Liverpool), who one hopes and prays answers to the nickname ‘Norman’. This is an experienced squad for its age, and, with the seniors struggling for defenders at times, Steven Caulker, a scorer for the full England team at the Euro’s, will feel unlucky not to have been in Montenegro playing alongside Rooney, Gerrard et al.
These occasions are relaxed affairs, often with younger fans getting their first taste of International football. Some of the players on show will be gracing the bedroom walls of many a youngster in the coming years as they mature and play for not only the full England side, but the top Premier League teams. An impressive 20,000 crowd enjoyed the occasion, although the football left a little to be desired with rather too much long ball action for the spoiled Amex regulars more used to the pass and move, technical game played by Albion. Which brings me nicely back to young master Ward. What a contrast between the strikers of then and now. Ward, the svelte magician, circa 1977 vs the 2013 version Connor Wickham, a strapping carthorse of a man who to everyones amazement in the stadium, walked off with the man of match award.
Albion fans would have enjoyed having the U21’s at the Amex, although the reliance on the long ball makes Albion’s style of play look like Spain on a good day, much like that magical night at The Goldstone back in ‘77.
