well to start with, it doesn't seem like there's any TV broadcast of this particular match, and that is distinctly unusual. in fact - and although i know i didn't see that last middlesborough game, (for some reason) i am most usually - through my cable TV subscriptions to SETANTA SPORTS and FOX SPORTSWORLD CANADA - able to see all premiership games for the week - if not live, then at least in repeat; usually within 24 hours. so this one is strange, to say the least. i'm not even sure that there was radio coverage, unless it was on local BBC Radio Solent? perhaps they're already acclimatizing us to the fact that the albion isn't going to be around next year and their worth as a broadcast commodity has already seriously been diminished.
the particular irony in this is what a good match it appears to have been, and would've made for real good TV entertainment - and given a boost, especially to the out of town (not to mention out of the country) fans of these two rather beleaguered clubs, who could both really use one. christ! i followed it on the BBC live text report - with the chelsea/bolton match on the TV - and it was exciting - and to think that that's all i'm gonna' get...
i was surprised by the gaffer's selection this week. i was thinking that he would keep martis in the team, since the young man made real account of himself in both the matches that he played. all i can imagine is that mowbray wants to get meite his confidence back... maybe, not such a bad idea. i was glad to see that dorrans seems to be winning his place in the starting team, it sounds like he had a great game, and is the one bright discovery of the season. he should have come into the team earlier. i was most surprised by the total absence of bednar, though, as i had been calling for him to start regularly, as a general relegation battle strategy - playing behind either fortune or simpson. i wonder what is going on there... was he injured, or suspended? i don't recall mention of anything like that. whatever the case, i can hardly complain, because greening scored the equalizer - and that is something i've been calling for all season, that jonno (along with koren and morrison) be more aggressive going toward goal. as well, brunt scored from a free-kick, a distinct talent which has developed over the season and is starting to serve him well as a scorer in the premier league. good stuff!
it has been said - and it might true - that tony brown would not have been able to play the modern game, because as a midfielder, he never came back to defend, and nowadays everyone has to get back and defend. but i don't think that the bomber would care too much about that and would tell you that he played that way because all he cared about was scoring goals. i have always wished - and especially on days when he actually scores - that jonathan greening had more of that interest in scoring and a little more gentle disdain for that aspect of the modern game that has seen the central midfielder primarily as a high-defensive player, responsible for winning tackles and ball distribution, rather than an attacker coming from the back.
as i said, it is ironic that this game might not end up on TV. this a year to test one's faith as an albion supporter, and it is no wonder that it has only been european and "big four" english football that has managed to cultivate active interest in north america. the fact is, it's all that most people ever see with 3 or 4 english games that are available, and as they appear on regular cable, along with the champions league coverage, which, is better covered on game days than english football is on the weekends. but i won't get into a media rant, instead, i'll prepare the text commentary and photos for posting. after all, i shall need to find something interesting and creative to do if i'm going to be following the baggies with only the BBC live text for 90% of the matches.
text replay
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