Seven days to...
TWO
THREE
FROM BOB DOWNING t
Hopes and Fears
Lessons from last
season
Big deals
Spanish tune-up
Not impressed
All change!
Francis a bargain
NEWS
ROUND+JP
Ninety-two Football League managers and
countless thousands dotted around the
country have been preparing their teams
for next Saturday's big kick-off all thinking
to themselves 'This will be our season'
For a handful, this prediction will be
correct. For the vast majority of others
they will know soon enough that not only
are they going to finish amongst the also
rans—but some will not be in the same job
when the trophies are handed out.
It is a cold but inevitable fact from which
there is no escaping. We have seen from
the events at Derby that not even Football
Club Chairmen, or in some cases directors,
are not free from this worry.
I am not prepared to go crystal ball
gazing—I agree with John Wile, the
Albion skipper, who says: "When you
think you have this game of football
beat, it is likely to jump up and hit you
for six!'
Many, many teams have fallen into this
trap over the years and as far as John is
concerned, Albion will be in the hunt
for major honours 'if we have learned the
lessons from last season!
Many eyes will fall on Albion this season.
As my colleague, Ray Matts of the Evening
Mail, said recently "Albion have had the
foot in the doorway of real soccer
success now they are poised to cross the
threshold!'
Ron Atkinson has certainly been busy
during the close season on the transfer
market, selling Laurie Cunningham to Real
Madrid and buying Peter Barnes and Gary
Owen from Manchester City and the
possibility of Yugoslav goalkeeper Ivan
Katalinic from Fladjuk Split.
The inaptly named 'close season' has been
open for business, even on Sundays.
For the first time, the freedom of
contract was seen in action—and for
many managers, the consequences
are somewhat frightening. They can
no longer hold on to players which are
termed 'hot property' and the hopes of
a team can be destroyed from one
season to another.
There are of course exceptions but this is
only the first taste of players free to
negotiate with other clubs when their
present contracts have expired. Immedi
ately after today's game with Ajax, Albion
jet off to Spain for three matches—but the
most important will obviously be against
Real when Cunningham is expected to be
in action for the first time.
It is all part of the pre season build-up
process, getting players completely tuned
into the new campaign with peak fitness
arriving on the right day at the right time.
The newly formed FA Tribunal to
settle transfer wrangles has had its
first sitting—and did not get a burst of
applause from certain managers. One
of the players involved, former Albion
defender David Rushbury moved to
Swansea from Sheffield Wednesday
with Jack Charlton not too impressed
with the price he had to settle for.
But again, this is very much in its infancy
and it would be wrong to judge its merits
or otherwise on one example.
Manchester City's Maine Road ground has
resembled Crewe station with all the
comings and goings, even at managerial
level. Like him or not Malcolm Allison will
not be kept out of the news but I fancy
that club will be put under the closest
scrutiny.
Many believe City have sold a champion
ship winning side and they have paid a
staggering £750,000 for Mike Robinson
from Preston.
As one cynic said "That price for a player
who has not played in the First Division
makes Trevor Francis a bargain at £1
million"
But there is no inescapable fact in all the
goings on during the short break between
May and August. Mr Soccer fan has had
his appetite whetted for the new season
and that cannot be a bad thing for football
in general and the 92 League clubs in
particular.
IAN ORRICK
As the opening of the 1979-80
season approaches both 2nd and
3rd teams are busy with their
pre season training under the
watchful eyes of coaches Brian
Whitehouse and Albert Mc-
Pherson. There are the usual
comings and goings involved
with the younger members of
the playing staff. John Anderson
has decided to leave us for Deep-
dale and Preston North End, he
was. of course, a consistent
member of the reserve side and
he will be a valuable addition to
the Preston club. Two appren
tices were released by the Club,
they were Andrew Cowdell from
Telford and 'Geordie' Steven
Chambers.
We have signed a 17-vear-old
goalkeeper from Watford in Gary
Phillips, he did very well as a
member of our successful vouth
side in Rheinfelden, Germany, not
conceding a goal in four games.
There have been three new
apprentices added to the staff
this summer. They are Alan
Webb who hails from Wrock-
wardine in Shropshire, he reo-
resented Telford and his county
during his school football, he can
play at right-back or centre-half.
Two more 'Geordies' have also
joined us. These are Ian Orrick,
centre-half or midfield, who has
played for Newcastle Boys and
Northumberland. Kevin Hyde is
from South Shields and another
County player, plays in midfield.
