TONY MOWBRAY IS CLASS ACT
He deserves chance to re-build his West Brom side
JUST about the only time Tony Mowbray looked cultured as a player was when he came up against Wimbledon's lumbering John Fashanu.
With the ball-playing Gary Pallister alongside him during his Middlesbrough days, Mowbray was the archetypal old school centre-half.
No mere clogger, though. He won England B recognition in a team that also included Pallister, Paul Gascoigne, David Platt and Paul Parker.
And Mowbray would go onto be voted Scottish Player of the Year during a successful spell with Celtic. Beneath the granite surface there was obviously a frustrated play-maker bursting to come out.
And, like so many before him, when Mowbray moved into management he showed greater admiration for the sort of player he was never able to be, just like Glenn Hoddle's perverse preference for David Batty over David Beckham.
Mowbray's philosophy was also influenced by one of the managers he played under at Boro, Bruce Rioch.
Rioch's side won plenty of friends with the attractive style that won two successive promotions into the top flight, only to be go straight back down in 1989 because they were regarded as a soft touch.
Sound familiar? That's precisely what we hear about Mowbray's West Bromwich Albion...lovely to watch, great football but too soft, too naïve.
Albion could well be relegated today but the fact they go into their penultimate game against Liverpool still with an outside chance of staying up is an immense credit to Mowbray and a board who have stuck by a manager determined to stick to his principles.
I accept Tony Pulis has done an immense job in keeping Stoke up and fully understand why they want be a latter day Wimbledon albeit without the naked rage. But I wouldn't pay a tanner to watch them play.
In contrast, despite losing 1-0 to Tottenham at White Hart Lane recently, Albion were a joy to watch.
Sure, a bit too loose at the back and without a cutting edge but, as Harry Redknapp pointed out, Mowbray should be applauded for having assembled a team of virtual unknowns on a shoestring who pass the ball better than most.
Call me old-fashioned but surely the game still has to entertain and not just ALL be about winning.
If they do go down, Mowbray certainly deserves the chance to build on what he's got, bounce back and then add some better players so that next time around the Baggies won't be caught with their trousers down.
You can't expect to be considered for Manager of the Year when your team finishes bottom but Mowbray deserves applause for having the balls to keep the faith.
And showing there is more to be proud about in the game then just getting results.
Now get the News of World print edition for more from Rob Shepherd
This article has 4 comments
Well said Shep! The premier league will be the loser in the end! I would much prefer to watch Albion try to play their way through sides than watch Pulis and his potters smash the ball long and fight for the scraps. I struggle to see Stoke continually avoiding relegation playing their style of football. Congratulations though must go to the potters. They have got the absolute maximum out of their squad and their fans are fantastic.
By Shaun. Posted May 19 2009 at 6:39 AM.
Rob ..it's fortunate that you feel that football is not just about winning, because as you rightly say the Baggies haven't got a defence, or an attack. OK, they like to pass...and pass...and pass.....but largely in their own half.....tip-tap, tip-tap, tip-tap...... where they can't hurt anyone.
Tony Mowbray picks a team leaving his best goal-keeper warming the bench all season...... and while he bemoans the fact that he can't afford a proven Premiership goalscorer......wasn't it super Tony who let Kevin Phillips GO
Stoke beat W.B.A (as usual) at the Brit where Moanbury master tactician played a five man midfield, and we gave them a lesson in goal scoring at their place ...again! We will certainly miss our annual six points off the West Brazilians.
Entertainment is a wonderful thing... BUT do you really think the Albion fans have been happy this season? .....WE have been entertained at the Brit. It has been a roller coaster of passion, and excitement
Rob you say that you wouldn't pay a "tanner" to watch Stoke .That is your loss. We pay our money the Potters are our team, we are enjoying every minute of it ...not just the 90 minutes of the game, but all week.
We've got a local supporter Chairman, a British manager who has never been relegated and the best match day support in the world.
It is almost impossible to bridge the gap between the Championship, and the Prem... and to get established is even harder. GIVE US A CHANCE !
By J BENNETT. Posted May 18 2009 at 10:13 PM.
I'll have a pint of whatever this deluded joker has been drinking. We are in 11th place having just won the last 2 matches with 7 out of the 11 starters from last seasons squad.
We play to our strengths and to be honest we love people like you who criticise to the point of sounding rediculous.
I'll pay you £10 not to watch The Mighty Potters
By stuart matthews. Posted May 18 2009 at 12:41 PM.
What a load of rubbish, albion are a poor side who can't defend and have nothing up front. So what if they manage to pass it backwards and sideways all the time (borring).
Even though stoke have proved all the doubters wrong this season it seems there is still room for another cheep shot at us. The stoke games i have been this season, i have witnessed a team of hard working pro's with bags of passion, determination and the ability to play good football from creative players like wheelan, etherington lawrence, fuller and beatie. This was evident at the hawthorns on the 4th of april with many pundits agreeing that stoke played albion of the park.
Also all the stoke games i have seen this season i have never left the ground thinking it was a waste of money and I wouldn't pay a tenner to watch albions tippy tappy no passion nonsense.
By John. Posted May 18 2009 at 12:53 AM.