Dare to Dream: How West Bromwich Albion are reaching the heights

Far too many were left perplexed around five o’clock Saturday afternoon checking the day’s full-time scores.

At a glance my phone told me West Bromwich Albion had beaten Chelsea 2-1.

After rubbing my eyes and looking once again to confirm the initial sighting it was approved in my mind.

Yes, West Brom hosted Chelsea, scored two goals and the visitors only managed to score one.

Shocked?

If the answer to this is yes, you can rest assured you are not alone.

However, by no means is luck or fate behind the rising success of West Brom.

May we get the ‘on paper’ verdicts out of the system sooner rather than later.

Chelsea, a team full of household names: John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Fernando Torres all being names even those who do not divulge in football could associate with the club.

Bankrolled by the Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich and turning over some of the largest revenues in Europe when it comes to sports teams.

And there is West Brom.

The home side went into the lead with just 10 minutes played at The Hawthorns on Saturday thanks to Shane Long’s stooping header.

Edin Hazard gave the visitors hope drawing the match level just before the interval but the day belonged to the hosts without a shadow of doubt as Peter Odemwingie sealed three points just after the restart.

But Saturday’s performance and result were not merely a flash in the pan.

Far from it to be precise.

Currently sat in fourth in the Premier League, just five points behind leaders Manchester City, the Baggies may be enjoying glimpses of continental dreams.

Obviously it is important to understand the top-flight season is only 12 games old and no one would want to be getting carried away at such an early stage, especially ahead of the vitally eventful Christmas period.

Yet, writing this post it would seem disrespectful to not acknowledge the potential West Brom have shown.

Maybe they should dare to dream?

Steve Clarke was appointed manager earlier this year when his predecessor Roy Hodgson headed for the bright lights of international leadership and has continued to orchestrate result yielding football at The Hawthorns.

Following Saturday’s three points Clarke spoke of how his team controlled proceedings against Roberto di Matteo’s side, irony being the Chelsea boss was Baggies boss just last year, and this has been one of the key forces in their success.

It is true that you cannot win football matches without scoring goals, but set that aside for a moment.

Should it not also be said in equal measure that without a resilient defensive system you cannot win football matches?

The casual football theorist may frequently overlook the value in solidarity at the back but at West Brom it has been central to the agenda.

The rewards are being harvested of the hard yards invested in defensive strategy at The Hawthorns.

Starting at the number one jersey Ben Foster is leading the way with four clean sheets to his name already this season.

This combined with a solid back four including Jonas Olsson, who has consistently performed with dogged determination, has meant West Brom have only conceded 13 goals so far this season.

Liam Ridgewell has also been a key feature at the back for the Baggies and despite recovering from a recent injury is set to continue manning the fort with esteem at The Hawthorns.

Then there is the strike force headed by Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long who have both netted four times this term in the Premier League.

However, the beauty of the Baggies this season is the fact they are not relying on the out and out frontmen to provide the goals and have a number of names grace the score-sheet including; Youssouf Mulumbu, Romelu Lakaku and James Morrison.

Throughout it appears West Brom have discovered something fresh this time around, turned a corner some may say and are discovering the true potential held within.

Not only are they confirming their right to be in the top flight, they are establishing credibility to fight up there too.

Who knows what will happen from here on in, but maybe, just maybe it could be time for the Baggies to dare to dream.

Just when you thought you had seen it all…

More comes along.

Did you know?

Two day of Capital One Cup fourth round action. Eight matches. 43 times the ball hits the back of the net.

More than five goals per game on average!

Do not even dare say the magic of the cup is dead.

In my previous post I ended with a plea for that very spirit to live on and Wednesday’s fixtures definitely did not disappoint.

Manchester United graced Stamford Bridge again just days after the saga which unfolded on Sunday which resulted in them taking three Premier League points against leaders Chelsea.

This time it was a place in the quarter-final at stake and Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea were after revenge.

United led 2-1 at the interval but Chelsea threatened a young and frail visiting defence throughout.

Gary Cahill equalised for Chelsea before Nani gave the away side the lead once again before Scott Wootton conceded a 92^nd minute penalty gifting the opposition a ticket to extra time.

Goals from Daniel Sturridge and Ramires shot the home side into a 5-3 lead leaving many feeling the game had been put to bed.

Ryan Giggs managed to net a consolation penalty but with just seconds left on the clock his race back to the half-way mark was in vein as the final whistle from Lee Mason shortly followed.

In an all top-flight evening of affairs in the Capital One Cup it was again not just a tale of one drama.

Brendan Rogers’ sketchy Liverpool side hosted his former club Swansea City who produced a somewhat regal display to send their ex-gaffer packing.

Chico gave the visiting side the lead at the half-way mark of the tie before Nathan Dyer doubled the tally for the Jack Army.

Luis Suarez provided retaliation just four minutes later to give Rogers some hope to cling onto.

Before Wednesday’s clash Swansea had scored three goals in their last nine league cup fixtures and De Guzman sent the Welshmen into double figures with his 90^th minute tap-in sealing a place in the last-eight.

Meanwhile at Carrow Road Andre Villas-Boas’ tenure as Tottenham Hotspur manager took a further blow as his side scored two goals but managed to lose 2-1.

Gareth Bale gave Spurs the lead in the second half but an 84^th minute own goal from Vertonghen brought Norwich back into the tie.

With a quarter-final place up for grabs the pressure was on and an added half an hour loomed.

But Simeon Jackson gave the home side a 2-1 lead in the 87^th minute and with Clint Dempsey failing to convert a late penalty it was the Canaries who were left to progress to the final eight.

Tuesday, scintillating.

Wednesday, enthralling.

Cup football, incomparable.

If anyone’s fire for football ever needed reigniting these two autumnal evenings of theatre are just what the doctor ordered.

Ben Hampshire (@BH92)

Clattenburg Controversy

Not for the first time Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg is centre of the headlines. Chelsea have launched an official complaint against the man who was in charge of their 3-2 defeat at home against Manchester United on Sunday.

Reports from Stamford Bridge claim Clattenburg made comments containing “inappropriate language” against two Chelsea players during the top of the table clash.

However, Mr Clangerburg is not new to stealing the show with a number of previous faux pas making him a controversial character.

January 2005

During his time in goal for Manchester United Roy Carroll fumbled a shot from Pedro Mendes which crossed the line and Clattenburg, along with his assistants on the day, failed to award the goal.

October 2007

Clattenburg dismissed Everton full-back Tony Hibbert in bizarre fashion as he appears to show a yellow card before quickly changing his mind to produce red. As the game progressed he then failed to show red to Dirk Kuyt for a double-footed lunge on Phil Neville, resulting in the match official kept away from Toffee’s matches until 2012 and the Durham man is yet to make an appearance at Goodison Park since.

August 2008

The referee was withdrawn from the Community Shield match between Manchester United and Portsmouth before being sacked as allegations came to light he owed £60,000 as a result of a failed business venture. By February 2009 Clattenburg was reinstated.

December 2009

Allegations are made against Mr Clattenburg claiming he asked Manchester City players “how do you work with Craig Bellamy all week” during a match against Bolton before sending off Welshman Bellamy for a second yellow card.

October 2010

Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes places the ball down believing he has a free kick before Manchester United winger Nani runs up and kicks the ball into an empty net without Clattenburg blowing the whistle yet the referee allows the goal to stand.

Although this is another case to add to a long list for Clattenburg possibly the most worrying and harrowing thought is that a match official could face investigations of racial abuse.

In recent weeks football has seen more than enough of the R word with John Terry being found guilty by the FA and the riot which ensued following an England Under 21 match in Serbia. And the case of Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez is not much of a distant memory for many football fans either.

It is one thing for isolated instances to occur in the heat of moment, which in themselves can never be condoned, but should match officials be involved in such incident it is absolutely intolerable and the fA have no option but the crackdown and serve out severe punishments to quash the issue.

As cycling begins a mountain climb following the Lance Armstrong doping saga and cricket aims to eradicate match-fixing scandals which has engulfed officials football now needs to find a way to calm it’s very own storm and move on to get back to the heart of the ‘beautiful game’.

Ben Hampshire (@BH92)