The Nation Newspaper

Tag: WBA

  • WBA boss hopes for Ideye debut

    WBA boss hopes for Ideye debut

    West Bromwich Albion manager, Alan Irvine, has raised fresh hopes that Brown Ideye could be fit enough to make his Premier League debut at home to Sunderland next Saturday.

    The club record signing only arrived at the club on Friday after a lengthy wait for a visa, and the Nigeria international forward missed Saturday’s 3-1 friendly loss to Porto, africanFootball.com reports.

    “We’re trying to gauge where he is in terms of his fitness,” africanFootball.com quoted Irvine as saying on the “Baggies” website.

    “The situation at the moment is that he trained on Saturday and he’ll train again today (Sunday). We’ll talk on Monday regarding where we think he is.

    “If he’s ready to play some part against Sunderland, that would be great. I know he trained extremely well on Saturday and we need to see what the effect of that is.

    “He didn’t do a lot of pre-season with Dynamo Kiev, so we’re relying a lot on his natural fitness and athleticism, rather than something that has been worked on.”

  • Ideye awaits work permit

    Ideye awaits work permit

    West Bromwich Albion record signing, Brown Ideye, is still waiting for work permit to play in the English Premier League.

    Ideye, who cost “The Baggies” 10 million pounds, was not picked for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, africanFootball.com reports.

    But the former Dynamo Kiev striker is expected to get a work permit from the British Home Office as he is an established member of Super Eagles, winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations as well as featuring at last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    The rule says an applicant for the work permit must have played at least 75 per cent of his country’s games in the last two years to qualify for a work permit in England.

    Meanwhile, Ideye has been handed the number 9 shirt by WBA, while compatriot Victor Anichebe will wear the number 10 shirt after he donned the number 16 jersey last season.

  • Ideye gets nickname at WBA

    Brown Ideye has been given the nickname of ‘Bobby’ at West Bromwich Albion shortly after joining the club in a record breaking move.

    Although the Nigeria international is yet to link up with most of his teammates who are currently on tour at the United States,the players at the club are already welcoming Ideye with open arms.

    “We saw a tweet from Brown Ideye, who joined from Dynamo Kiev on Friday, stating he wants to be known here as ‘Bobby’,” Gareth McAuley wrote on West Brom’s official website.

    “Dozza [Graham Dorrans ] caused much amusement when he suggested Bobby should be shortened to the Scottish version of Robert…so Brown’s been christened ‘Rab’!

    “That works for me. We intellectually-challenged footballers always shorten names…as they’re easier to remember!

    “Joking aside, it’s big news when a club breaks their transfer record and we’re looking forward to working with Brown when we return to the UK.”

  • Chelsea strike thrills Anichebe

    Chelsea strike thrills Anichebe

    Nigerian striker, Victor Anichebe is pleased to have scored for West Bromwich Albion in Tuesday’s Barclays English Premier League game against Chelsea, supersport.com reports.

    Anichebe struck in the 87th minute after out-foxing the Chelsea defence to head home Saido Berahino’s pin point delivery from the left.

    The forward voiced his delight at helping the Baggies rescue a point against the leaders of the Premier League.

    “I was happy to get the goal. It didn’t matter who scored it, it was just important we got a result.

    “It was a great ball by Saido. I managed to get in front of the defender and it went in.

    “I have to pay credit to Saido though. Everyone dug in today and we showed what a good team we are,” supersport.com quoted Anichebe as saying on the club’s official website, www. wba.co.uk.

    Chelsea could have gone four points clear at the top of the table with a win against the plucky Baggies but Anichebe acknowledged that the team played without fear against the highly-rated Blues.

    “We pressed Chelsea all game and we attacked them too. We took the game to them.

    “A draw is a good result but we could have nicked it as well.

    “A point against a team who are going for the Premier League and the Champions League is a good point.

    “We’ll take a lot from that and take it into our next game. It is a big moment in the season.

    “Every game is a big one when you’re in this position,” he said.

    The 23-year-old has now scored three league goals this season. His first goal was recorded against Manchester City on December 4, 2013 at the Hawthorns.

    He also netted against Liverpool on February 2 as both sides battled to a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns.

     

  • Anichebe doubtful for WBA matches

    Anichebe doubtful for WBA matches

    Nigeria striker Victor Anichebe is West Bromwich Albion’s only injury doubt ahead of the team’s London double-header against Tottenham and West Ham.

    MTNFootbal.com reports that “The Baggies” striker has yet to resume training after missing Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hull due to a groin problem.

    Caretaker boss Keith Downing confirmed this at his pre-match press conference that Anichebe is struggling to be fit for the Boxing Day clash at White Hart Lane and the trip to Upton Park less than 48 hours later.

    Anichebe last played for West Brom in a 2-0 home loss to Norwich City on December 7.

    Injuries have limited the big Nigeria striker over several seasons so much so that the former Everton star has insisted he would rather concentrate on his club career than return to the Nigeria national team set-up.

     

  • Osaze gets WBA guarantee

    Osaze gets WBA guarantee

    Osaze Odemwingie has been given a guarantee on his future, after Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay insists he will ‘100 per cent not be resigning’ despite the ultimatum from the club’s Malaysian owner Vincent Tan.

    The 41-year-old has been told by the Bluebirds chairman to quit or face being sacked, but Mackay said after his side’s 3-1 defeat at Liverpool that he will not voluntarily walk away from the Welsh club.

    Mackay, who spoke at length with League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan after the game at Anfield, admitted his relationship with Tan had totally broken down but claimed he could not ‘look himself in the mirror’ if he were to quit.

    “I’ve got a steely determination and a passion for my job and for what I do and have done for the football club for the last two-and-a-half years” he told BBC radio Wales.

    “Anything after that is out of my control and something that you should be finding out really from other people at our football club.

    The former Watford boss stayed on the Anfield pitch after Saturday’s match to applaud Cardiff’s fans, who had chanted support for the Scot and held up banners against Tan.

  • Anichebe wants first-team place

    Anichebe wants first-team place

    Victor Anichebe got his first goal for West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday and said he wants to compete with in-form Shane Long for a starting spot.

    “I’m going to keep working hard and we’ll see where that gets me,” MTNFootball.com quoted Anichebe as saying on his club’s website.

    “Longy ran them (Manchester City) to death tonight and I came on and carried on from where he had left it. Longy has played really well. He scored some great goals against Villa and Chelsea.

    “If someone is playing well then sometimes you have to wait for your chance.

    “I was playing well after Man United and I’ve had a few niggling injuries since then.

    “That knocks you off your feet for a couple of games.

    “If someone comes in and plays well then fair play to them.

    “I’m the first to congratulate anyone who is doing well,” he stated.

    The Nigeria international admitted it was a bittersweet night against Manchester City.

    The 25-year-old came off the bench to fire a stoppage-time consolation against the former Premier League champions.

    And the 6ft3in centre-forward insists he is disappointed to have lost the game despite scoring.

    “I’m delighted but it’s difficult to take because we’ve lost the game,” Anichebe said.

    “I always knew that sooner or later a goal would come.

    “We were looking to get a good result.

    “It was a great weighted ball into my feet by Vydra and I didn’t really have to do much.

    “I just put my body in the way, turned him, and got the strike towards goal.

    “Anyone who has seen me down the years will know that’s what I’ve always done.

    “If a defender comes tight I will try to roll them.

    “In my first game for Albion at Fulham I did something similar and I should have scored then.”

    Anichebe said he is now looking forward to Saturday’s clash with Norwich City.

     

  • Cardiff manager hails ‘impressive’ Odemwingie

    Cardiff manager hails ‘impressive’ Odemwingie

    The manager of Cardiff City, Malkay Mackay, has said he believes West Bromich Albion short-changed themselves by offloading Osaze Odemwingie during the last transfer window.

    Futaa.com reports that Odemwingie impressed in a cameo appearance on his debut against Tottenham on Sunday and is set to feature in a heavily-changed side for Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup clash against West Ham.

    The former Lille forward spent seven months in the wilderness at WBA after his aborted move to Queens Park Rangers in January. He joined the Welsh capital side for around £2.5million on transfer deadline day.

    “He has guile, a great touch, awareness. I know exactly what I have got: an intelligent, articulate lad who had a smile on his face since the day that he got here.

    “He is in the need of match fitness and training and we need to blend him in gently. But we have an exciting talent for what I believe is a really fantastic price.

    Odemwingie holds WBA record for the most Premiership goals by any player.

     

  • Stoke, Cardiff bid for Odemwingie

    Stoke, Cardiff bid for Odemwingie

    West Brom Albion has received offers of about £2 million from Stoke and Cardiff for Osaze Odemwingie with Swansea prepared to pay a little less.

    WBA has previously rejected bids of £1.5million for the 32-year-old, but these latest offers could pave the way for his exit, according to Birmingham Mail.

    Osaze has not played any part for Albion since his return to pre-season training, with the club making it clear there is no way back for him.

    The Nigeria international has been sidelined since his well-publicized fall-out with the club last season – which started with his failed move to Queens Park Rangers and continued with a series of Twitter meltdowns.

    Although ‘The Baggies’ are not prepared to let him go on the cheap, club officials are mindful that his age and contractual situation will drive his price down.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Osaze has less than 12 months left on his current contract with Albion.

     

  • West Ham joins Odemwingie’s chase

    West Ham joins Odemwingie’s chase

    West Ham United is looking to capitalise on the failure of Crystal Palace and Fulham to secure the service of Osaze Odemwingie.

    The out of favour West Brom striker was rumoured to be on the verge of moves to Ian Holloway’s side and Martin Jol’s side, but both fell through, MTNFootball.com reports.

    That has left the door open for Sam Allardyce to add some panache alongside Andy Carroll, according to The Times.

    West Ham officials have turned their attentions to the Nigerian, having failed to agree terms with the former Chelsea striker Kalou – who reportedly wanted assurances of a starting role within the Hammers attack for next season.

    Al Nasr of Dubai is also considering increasing the initial offer for the former Lokomotiv Moscow striker.

    Al Nasr owners had asked WBA to inform them what they considered to be an acceptable fee by Tuesday, after their initial bid of £850,000 was rejected.

    But that deadline has now passed without further communication from ‘The Hawthorns,’ leaving ‘The Blue Wave’ to look elsewhere for summer recruits.