Robson gone!!!!

18 September 2006

Bryan Robson has parted company with West Bromwich Albion "by mutual consent".

In a statement on the Official Web Site, Chairman Jeremy Peace is quoted as saying

"After much deliberation, and in view of the results since early 2006, it has been decided that a change is necessary if the club is to achieve its aims for this season and beyond. This is a very important time for West Bromwich Albion. With promotion a priority, the Board felt that given the Club's current league position, the best way forward was to agree to make a change now."

The report goes on to say that Nigel Pearson will take over on a temporary basis while a replacement is found. Robson himself issued the following statement:

"I've really enjoyed the short time I've been at the Albion. The fans have been different class and I just hope, with the squad of players in place, that they get back up to the Premier League, which I really believe they will do this season."

"I do think there's a really good squad at the club and that it's only a matter of time before they get it right, climb the table and win promotion. As far as I'm concerned, the matter is now closed."

Although his departure has been described as a mutual agreement, the reaction of Nigel Pearson and his description of how Robson was feeling made it pretty clear that it was a sacking by another name. Steve Watson and Kevin Phillips were interviewed by Sky leaving the training ground and both seemed stunned and upset by the news. However, it follows a growing movement of discontent with the style of play and vocal complaint at games, and many fans were unhappy to see him on TV yesterday chatting with Tomasz Kuzsczak at his beloved Old Trafford. The bottom line is that most people feel that with the squad of players available, we should have been doing better. Few people realistically expected us to be rolling every team in the Championship over 5-0, but ninth in the table at this stage of the season combined with an overall record of only 19 wins from 81 games just wasn't good enough.

Fortunately the exit has been remarkably swift and painless - the last thing the Club needed was a long and difficult period of protest, especially against a man who was such a legend here as a player - but the question now, of course, is who do we get to replace him? Managers known to be available are Alan Curbishley, Kevin Keegan, Glenn Hoddle and most of the other usual suspects - or should we take a gamble on an eager lower league manager? What do you think of the news and your choice to replace him? Should we simply be going through the list of the managers who aren't currently in jobs - after all, people are often out of a job for a reason - or trying to lure someone away from another club? What about a foreign manager? Send us your thoughts and we'll post them here.

Thank god for that the football has been terrible and the squad is now where near fit enough for even the Championship. I just know that we should not be going after those names Hoddle Keegan etc. What we do need first of all is fitness and some discipline (You know the sort of thing that happened when GM arrived at the club). Then what we do need is someone with the tactical nouse to get us to play better football not route 1 which Robson made us suffer for the last 18 months. Curbishley is an option but look we could have Houllier and look what he has done with his french side but Peace must know the score - his appointment must get us up or face the uncertain future of losing all the better players either in January or next summer then having to rebuild over the coming years. The choice is a very interesting one. I'm sure Jeremy Peace knows what his accountants have told the club that it is not sustainable when you lose 7000 season ticket holders.

 - Baggy Polly

Fantastic news today & like every other Baggies fan I'm glad he's gone quickly. I'd love to see Curbs, but I do think he's waiting for the Spurs job. Other names, Martin Allen, Mike Newell & Dave Jones spring to mind?

 - Leigh

I think robo was good for bringing in big name players, hes tactics are not the best, and our attacking football was dull, we have got the squad to get us back up to the prem, i would say curbs would do a job, or alan pardew.

 - Deano

As an exiled baggy living in east lancs i have been impressed with what steve cotteril has done at Burnley.He is not afraid of making bold decicions and i think we could do worse than him. Please not hoddle, keegan etc

 - Chris Wright

I think Keegan would be ok until the end of the season on a rolling 1 year contract.

However I would really like to see Alan Curbishley as I think he could settle the players and get them playing well. However I AM SURE KEEGAN WOULD GET THEM PLAYING EXCITING STUFF. (Thats exciting... Mr Robson).

I would also perhaps like to see Ian Holloway or Mike Newell.

Dont really think Hoddle or O'Leary would be any great shakes. We need someone who can get the team motivated , something that for one reason or another Mr Robson could not do.

 - Paul Tunnicliffe

Somewhat shocked to see Robson has gone so early in the season after just 7 games, this is NOT normally Pearce's style to act so quickly. I thought that Robson would have been given at least into mid October. However shocked but not sorry!!

Robson was a world class player and is probably a nice bloke, but his Manager qualities leave a lot to be desired. Problem is what do we get served up with next?

It will be interesting to see how Pearson gets on with it Tuesday night after all he does have the qualifications if not the experience to be a professional manager.

 - Maido

Agree that Curbs would be the best option to take us forward. However, I'm not sure he'll be prepared to go for a job in the Championship when he's bound to be in line for a Prem job before the end of the season (Man City, maybe?). I wonder if Shearer's ready for Management yet? He's expressed an interest and has 2 of his UEFA coaching badges already. He's got about as much charisma as Robbo, but he would certainly get the players' (and fans') respect and would probably help us sign 'name' players.

 - Tim Dickson

So Robson's gone! So far many Albion supportors have vented there feelings about Robson and are pretty glad to see the back of him. I too agree that changes needed to be made, but would like everyone to reflect on the entirety of Robsons managerial career with Albion; have things always been this bad? He changed our destiny from certain relegation to survival on the last day of the season and having read comments on baggies.com for years now a lot of people expected us to go from strength to strength with the "exciting football" we'd been playing towards the end of that premiership campaign.

I'm a home season ticket holder and every game i've seen thus far this season hasn't been long ball football. I agree Albion take time in moving the ball forward but in fairness I'd much rather see us hold on to it and try to work the opening as oppossed to trying a hopeful pass. All our home games Hull, Colechester, Leicester and Southend have produced some good football in patches and I think we can all agree a hat full of chances in each game have been created however the finishing has been poor. Maybe we should look at sacking some of our strikers too?

Now we've got rid of him who we going to replace him with? It seems firm favourite with the fans is Alan Curb. I too agree and would love to see him at my beloved W.B.A, however I can't really see this happening, I think he'll wait for a bigger opportunity maybe Tottenham. Keegan - Exciting maybe going forward but we already crafted enough opportunities to win games the problem seems to be at the back and scoring what we've created. we need a bit of structure specially at the back and specially from Corners!

Who ever we get i'll support them fully maybe we should do what Sudderland have and employ an ex - proffesional, "Alan Shearer." Although this probably wouldn't work.

My point is i think the marketplace for managers at the moment is very poor and now we've got rid of Robson you have to make sure the next manager is better not worse. Who ever we bring in the crop of players we posses make by far the best squad in the division and we should quite easily achieve promotion.

Come on you baggies!!!!!!!!

 - Baggie Craig

Excellent exellent excellent, a wave of eurphoria has passed thru me, i have no idea who will replace him but they couldn't be any worse.

Personally i'd love Bob Taylor to manage us, he's got the heart, the technical knowledge of the game and i believe WBA would be his ultimate aim if he were to pursue a management career. Robson's always had both eyes on Old Trafford and us under his feet. Superbob would never let us go into decline. But realistically he has no experience and probably will never pursue such a career. However i repeat myself: he can't do any worse. No i expect the usual suspects of Souness, Hoddle, Curbishley and Keegan are going to be the shortlisted candidates. The sudden timing of the departure does strike me as though the club have already got a replacement most of the way thru the pipeline. We all wanted Robson gone, well most of us did, but i doubt any of us belived it would happen so soon. We expected an O'Leary stylie battle with the fans. I sincerely believe this sudden twist has happened because Peace has tapped up a replacement, i believe Robson knew this and that his days were numbered anyway. He knew the fans wouldn't back him if he protested publicly and so left quickly.

Good work Mr Peace, now let's hope the replacement has a personality and a shred of motivational skills.

 - Jules

So, farewell Robson (again!)
You've done your bit,
But as for tactics,
You were absolute sh*t!

 - Martin Rolfe

Alright there, my thoughts on Bryan Robson leaving Albion are that I think it'll be good for us to get a new manager especially if we get one that's more attacking-play minded. I think robson was a bit negative and maybe we need a young enthusiastic manager from the lower leagues who will be up for the job. I think we should try a lower league manager because it could just be what Albion need - someone young, enthusiastic, passionate and attacking minded

 - Sarah

The Man United fixation was getting ludicrous and his tactics were bordering on the bizarre but Robbos worst fault was his luck, he had none at all after the great escape, fair enough of course as he used all any man is entitled to on that one sunday afternoon but what we really didn't need was an unlucky manager and he became one. We should have won at least five more matches last term than we did and not one of them (blues away, villa away etc etc) could you blame on him. On those occasions he got everything right but could not legislate for Kamara growing two left feet overnight and, well you know the rest. Just a little bit of me, a not very nice, mean spirited bit of me, is chuffed to little bits tonight, only because if Robbo hurts a bit tonight, if he's remembering the time he had here as a kid who needed mackeson to build his strength up and all that, right through the ranks here into the England team, then he's recalling the same memories as many of us did when he buggered off to Old Trafford and basically ruined our football club in the process for two decades. Sadly, despite the great escape, he never really looked like redressing the balance as our manager. Still, he can go to Man U every week now! He'll make a much better fan I suspect than ever he would have made boss.

 - Steve Sant

what about the new Fergie - Alex Mcleish - who was so badly treated by Rangers?

Surely he must be worth considering to dragthe Baggies up to THE PREMIERSHIP.

 - Brian

What a day.

My Dad brainwashed me when I was 7 as he was brought up in Smethwick. I have been an affected and afflicted WBA heart felt fan every since. I have had numerous years of heartache and years (still got my WBA handbook of The Three Degrees Tour of China).

I was listening to 5 Live today and Pat Murphy. I'm sure he?s a Villa fan anyway - but my God what a load of nonsense he came out with. Bryan Robson 19/81 wins - Kevin Campbell?s spirit and self belief kept us up re The Great Escape.

Robson's a top bloke but the way he and Remi Moses jumped ship was blunt to put it politely. I don't get involved in football transfer loyalty and feeling but they just didn't give a ............... damn.

I'm afraid to say Robson at WBA has been like going out with an ex girlfriend that you didn't really care about hoping something better would come along.

Mr. Robson - good luck in wherever and whatever.... but management and especially man management is not for you.

Please someone with passion, style and fire come in. This is like Groundhog Day.

 - Steve - London

So Robbo is gone - Surely he must have known if he substitutes a forward with a midfielder who has never played up front and a full back with a midfielder who has never played in that position before together with having an injured forward on the bench, when he could have had a lad with tremendous potential there, that Q's were going to be asked of his sanity never mind his ability to manage.

Robbo was a Legend as a player but as a manager he was a loser.

Personally I would go with the concensus of trying to get Curbs but if we cant get him, please oh please dont get O'Leary or Hoddle!

 - Enda McMorrow

"...he buggered off to Old Trafford and basically ruined our football club in the process for two decades"

I worshipped Robbo as a player for us, never rated him as a manager and am delighted that he's gone but harking back to '81(?) is going just a bit too far, methinks!

 - chris chambers

well he's gone again, Peace has got to try hard to convince Curbishley to come to the baggies. Please, please, please dont go for hoddle, souness, gregory or o'dreary just ask villa fans, He did ok at leeds because he had loads of money to spend which he wouldn't get here. If Curbishley decides to hang on for a premiership club which i think might happen, Mike Newell is a good young manager but Peace has got to convince Curbishley that his future belongs here to get this club we love back where we belong. come on you baggies!!!!

 - donnybaggyboy

I have just this minute joined this mega website I have been a Baggies Boing Boing supporter since 1959 when I first went to see them play in 1960.

I only heard of Bryan Robson departure some 2 hours ago I was shocked at his departure I had hoped he would of turned our futunes around but bringing in players well over their 30s - Hartson, Phillips, that swiss goalkeeper and Chris Perry - you are going to have problems with match fitness.

I am sorry to see him going as I remember him well from his days as a player. But management is a different kettle of fish in this division you have to be hungry and ruthless to get out of this division. Megson had those Qualties but they say you should never go back. My choice therefore would be Alan Curbishley or Ruud Guillit but please not Hoddle or Keegan

 - Terry Jones

Hi everyone i have a few suggestions for a new manager, I have lived in Burnley now for 15 years (but ill always be a baggie)and my son is at the centre of excellence there and i have to say Steve Cotterill is doing a good job up here and must be a serious contender.

My main person for the job is Paul Jewell we should have gone for him last time and i believe he would not take too much persuasion to leave Wigan. My wild card is Steve Claridge he understands the game and talks a lot of sense.

 - Darren (Lancashire)

Good move by Peace, should have done this close season - it reinforces my belief that Peace would not sanction any big spending by Robson in the summer based on what he has already bought, preferring to keep the money for our next manager. Make no mistake Jeremy Peace is an hard nosed chairman when it comes to spending OUR money in the main, although Sky's cash is the dominant funding of our club.

The concensus of opinion is for Curbishley but anyone think that he is a bit long in the tooth and weary? not really sure why he left Charlton except to say he was tired!

My shout for an up and coming manager is Mike Newell of Luton although his outspoken views on the bungs in football may hinder his cv a little, he's hungry and very forthright in his opinions a la Megson, i believe they like to play attacking football and has already unearthed the new Curtis Davies apparently.

Take away Curbishley and who's left out of work? Hoddle, Lord Megson, Mark Mcghee, O'leary... I rest my case.

 - Tom Storey

Don't build your hopes up over getting a top manager. with out a big pot of money we've got no chance. can anyone imagine paerce putting his hand in his pocket to fund transfers - he must have made a fortune out of our yo yo seasons. Told you hartson is over the hill.

 - long distance baggie fan

So another era has ended at the Hawthorns and Bryan goes the way of his erstwhile neighbours, O'Leary and the Saintly Glen. I can't help feeling sad, a bit like I felt when Brian Little got the boot - but more so. Robson after all is a bona fide Hawthorns hero. He has an affinity with the place that the other managers who've come and gone could never have. I desperately wanted him to do well and not just for the more obvious reasons. I was reluctant to jump on the Robson out bandwagon and still think it might have been premature. Peace has cited the run at the end of last season as the main reason - but then why wasn't he sacked in May? And admittedly four points from the last thirteen Prmeirship games was an atrocious record but sometimes statistics misrepresent the facts. We could have won several of those games including the two local derbies and the game at White Hart Lane and the home game against West Ham. Robson can't be blamed for Kamara's inability to hit a cow's arse with the proverbial banjo. Luck and better finishing in those games could have given us ten more points and safety. Also no one could have predicted Portsmouth would display championship form for the same thirteen games - admittedly after they'd been bankrolled by a billionaire and signed a shedload of players. Robson didn't have anything like this luxury.

On the other hand he did make some strange selections, not least in constantly preferring Campbell to either Kanu or Ellington or - when he was there - Earnshaw. It was also more than a little sad to see Inamoto leave - underused, undervalued and grotesquely underestimated. And the football thus far this season has been uninspired. With Gera, Greening, Koumas, Ellington, Quashie and Phillips we should be pissing all over 'second division' sides - although maybe that's the problem - expectations are too high. But I still think given more time he might have done it and apart from anything else he seems a thoroughly decent bloke who has the respect of his players - something that no one could have claimed for his predecessor. And as someone has said, if Phillips had hit the net instead of the post on Saturday, we wouldn't now be writing Robson's obituary.

I thought/hoped that Peace had someone lined up as an immediate replacement but it seems not. And who is going to want it? I can't see any high profile characters wanting it - and perhaps that's just as well. We should be looking more at Steve Cottrell or Mike Newell or Parkinson who did wonders before moving to Hull. On one of the websites someone has suggested Bob Taylor. Nice idea, but what a risk that would be, for Bob as well as us. Another legend moving into the hero to zero bracket I suspect. Boothroyd isn't going to leave Watford and Jewell's not going to leave Wigan however much we might wish it otherwise.

Bryan might well be sipping his pint tonight and reflecting that but for Kamara's two left feet and/or the width of a Southend post he would almost certainly still be in a job.

 - Stuart Russell

So Robson's gone - I must admit I was quite shocked at the timing - as has been stated many times our dealings last Jan cost us dearly but who was to blame then! Peace fell out with Megson & now Robson. Was the return of the prodigal son 'Koumas' a factor confirming Peace's influence over playing affairs?

I was not in favour of Robson's appointment and his record speaks for itself - but why now? & not last May - his time at Braford was woeful & his initial success at Boro was mainly based on Gibson's huge pile of cash. We have a reputation as poor payers & Robson from his own experience knew this before he joined and Peace is not blameless in all of this.

On our day we put in some great performances against teams in the middle tier of the Prem but we never built on these successes and never competed with the teams at the lower end. Rightly or wrongly his Manure connections were a factor & despite the Great Escape he never had the full backing of the fans - his comment 'the fans were in a different class' is quite vague.

Also I fail to see how he left us with a squad worth ?30 million - Davies - probably ?7-8M, Gera ?2-3M - how much would the rest raise? The plans for the academy were in place before he joined. Interesting so see the (Manchester) press once again sticking up for their Manure old boy. Also the players are shocked & saddened - well no wonder too many were in the comfort zone for too long - well now its time to stand up & be counted.

As for the new manager let's not go down the route of appointing a 'name manager' we need someone young, hungry, tactically aware & inspirational - now that should be easy...

 - Lamp Baggie

I do hope it is Dave Jones that gets the job, really rate him and hoped he would be appointed when Bryan Robson got the job.

 - John W

Well he's gone as he must have known was for the best! 2+ years and going backwards was just not good enough & I can't agree with his view that he's leaving the club in great shape for promotion with the strongest squad of players. In my opinion, apart from a handful of 'genuines' the majority of the rest would be lucky to get a start for Walsall and the remainder would have to hope that Kidderminster were short! Now Mr Peace, lets's move forward please. The right man this time. No second raters or failed incumbents a la O'Leary, Pearson, Hoddle, Souness, Platt (Platt??-you got to be kidding!), Sanchez or Reid. We need a WINNER,someone with a successful managerial track record with good technical know-how,who can inspire players,motivate and deploy players in their correct positions. Young Cotterell should be our target.

 - Lynn Lennard

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  16 September 2006:  Free papers!

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