Showing posts with label westbromnews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label westbromnews. Show all posts

Sunday, 18 October 2015

Pulis Promises McClean Chat


West Brom manager Tony Pulis says he will speak to winger James McClean if he thinks the wide man was to blame for a post-match melee which marred the win over Sunderland.

The Baggies secured a crucial 1-0 win over the Black Cats thanks to a second-half goal from Saido Berahino.

And former Sunderland man McClean provoked anger among the visiting players when he celebrated in front of the away fans at the end of the match.

McClean has claimed he was hung out to dry by Sunderland following his refusal to wear a Remembrance Day poppy in 2012.

And the Republic of Ireland international, who left Sunderland in 2013, was jeered by the visiting fans throughout the game.

He was confronted by Danny Graham and Lee Cattermole after his post-match celebrations, sparking a fracas involving players from both sides.

Pulis did not see the brawl and said: "Let me have a look at it first.

"I'd heard a roar or whatever and didn't know whether the players were involved in something.

"If he's out of order, I'll speak to him.

"He played really well today, James. He's settled in really well and is a smashing lad. The lads have really taken to him.

"He's not the sharpest tool in the box, and that's not being disrespectful to him. But he's a smashing lad."

Victory moved Albion seven points clear of the drop zone and Pulis preferred to focus on that aspect of the afternoon.

"I think the win was more important than anything else today," he said.

"And I thought, second-half, we played a lot better than we did first-half. We had gone away from getting clean sheets, so to get a clean sheet was good."

And Pulis also thought it was important to secure a first home league win of the campaign. 

"We played really well against Everton for 58 minutes, conceded a goal, and then went to pieces," he said. "We were 2-0 up and then conceded three goals, which was a real kick in the stomach.

"We needed a win, that is what we have got today, and hopefully that will give the lads confidence playing out here."


Friday, 25 May 2012

Shane Seeking Keane Long Term


Shane Long is determined to win a four-way battle for the right to partner Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane at Euro 2012.

West Brom striker Long, club-mate Simon Cox, Wolves forward Kevin Doyle and Stoke's Jon Walters are all battling for the striker role at the finals.

Doyle has been Keane's regular partner but Long believes he is "in the frame".

"I have to try to convince Giovanni Trapattoni over the few friendlies before we get to the Euros," said Long.

Long spent long periods of the last Premier League campaign as a frustrated bystander as he attempted to manage a debilitating back injury but he is now raring to go.

He added: "There are five us now fighting for that position.

"I think Robbie is very secure in his place, and deservedly so and there are four of us fighting for the other position."

The competition between the four men is intense, although Long insists that whoever gets the nod will have the full backing of those who miss out.

"We are all fairly close. Myself and Kevin are close off the pitch and we don't really talk about it," continued Long.

"Whoever plays is going to get the full support of the other three and that's the way it should be.

"He [Trapattoni] is obviously a very experienced manager and he is not afraid to change it up when he needs to.

"I think he has confidence in each one of the five strikers that play."

Long sat out a training session earlier this week ahead of Saturday's friendly against Bosnia, with Trapattoni acutely aware of his needs, and the striker is grateful for his manager's understanding.

"The last month is the first time since October I have been pain-free playing football.

"It's good timing coming into the Euros that I'm back to the top of my game and hopefully putting a problem in the manager's head."

Long was a schoolboy when Ireland last qualified for a major tournament, the 2002 World Cup finals.

factfile
Played hurling for the Tipperary Under-18 team
Made two appearances for Cork City before moving to Reading in 2005
Earned first Republic of Ireland cap against San Marino in February 2007
Signed for West Brom in August 2011 after scoring 46 goals in 174 Reading appearances