The Nation Newspaper

Tag: West Brom

  • West Brom, Hull chase Ighalo

    West Brom, Hull chase Ighalo

    Atta Aneke, the agent of Watford striker Odion Ighalo, has hinted that West Brom and Hull City are interested in the recently – capped Nigeria international, ahead of the reopening of the transfer window.

    The Norwegian – Nigerian agent also revealed that a plethora of teams based outside the United Kingdom are exploring ways to sign Ighalo, whose priority is to remain in England and play in the top tier.

    ”Like I said before, there are many teams interested in Odion Ighalo, I can confirm that” Atta Aneke said to SL10.ng.

    ”We want to wait and see what happens to Watford at the end of this season, they are likely to be promoted.

    ”There are different English teams interested. There are teams from other countries interested, but we are concentrating in England.

    ”If the bid comes from a different country, we’ll consider it. The natural step for Odion is to play in the English Premier League.”

    This season, Odion Ighalo has put himself in the shop window, with 17 goals for The Hornets in the Championship.

    The center forward is tied to Watford until June 30, 2017.

  • Arsenal, West Brom, Hull chase Kigbu

    Arsenal, West Brom, Hull chase Kigbu

    Manchester City defender Ashinme Kigbu is attracting attention from English Premier League (EPL) clubs including Arsenal, West Brom, Hull and Leicester City, according to his dad Vincent Kigbu.

    The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also believed to be monitoring the situation of the soon-to-be 16-year-old at the Etihad.

    Manchester City and Ashinme Kigbu’s representatives are scheduled to meet next week over the extension of his stay at The Citizens, and the youngster is not lacking suitors if negotiations break down.

    ”We have opened talks with Manchester City, and they plan to make a decision on all the players they wish to offer contracts by next week,” Vincent Kigbu told SL10.ng.

    ”There are definitely other teams interested. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal want him.

    ”So many top ten Premier League clubs have contacted me for permission so they can talk to Manchester City, I’m yet to make that decision.

    ”My son is happy at Manchester City CFA and I really would love that he remains in Manchester City, however, whatever step he takes regarding his football future and development will depend on what Manchester City CFA offer him.”

    Manchester City snatched Ashinme Kigbu from under the noses of Manchester United back in the 2011 – 2012 season and he could be reunited with his old employer sooner rather than later if the EPL champions fail to meet his demand.

    ”Both Manchester City and Manchester United scouted him at the prime age of 7.

    ”I opted for Manchester United until he progressed to their youth academy then The Cliff. I took him off football for a couple of years so he can progress in his education.

    ”At the age of 11 he was made the captain of his secondary school and then Manchester Boys got him for a short while and then both Man United and Manchester City came calling again.

    ”He went back to Manchester United for a short while and Manchester City got him since 2011/2012 season up until date,” Vincent Kigbu added.

    Kigbu, who was born in Nigeria, is described as a versatile defender, who can also operate in midfield and attack.

  • West Brom fans slam Ideye

    West Brom fans slam Ideye

    A section of the West Bromwich Albion support appears to have run out of patience with the club’s Nigerian striker, Brown Ideye.

    Ideye, WBA’s record signing from Ukrainian club, Dynamo Kyiv, has yet to hit expected heights with just one Premier League goal to his name this season.

    The attacker failed to score in WBA’s latest Premier League game, a 1-0 win over Hull City at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

    He missed a glorious chance on 42 minutes when he dragged his effort wide with just the Hull City goalkeeper to beat after he was put through by Saido Berahino.

    Speaking after the game, the WBA manager, Tony Pulis, spoke about Ideye’s miss and the need for improvements to be made by every member of his squad.

    “We had good chances in the first half and never took them. A lot of things (in our performance) pleased me today but there are a load of things we can work on,” he said.

    Some fans of the club were however not quite as charitable and took to Twitter to voice their frustrations.

    Adam Stevens attempted to draw comparisons between Ideye and the day’s match winner, Berahino as he tactfully made his point.

    “No one can try and fool #WBA fans as to Berahino’s price. We’ve seen that 10 mil buys you an Ideye, so you can at least treble that for Said,” he tweeted via @AdamLibertyLies.

    Simon Kendrik summed up his feelings thus: “I’ve hoped and hoped that Ideye would prove us all wrong at some point. Today has extinguished that hope. #wba,” via @billybassett68.

    Martin Eaglestone posited that the former Sochaux man is not a striker with his tweet. “Seems Ideye is out to prove, beyond doubt, he is not a striker. #wba go prove me wrong –please,” he wrote via @Carrageryr.

    The man at the centre of the storm, Ideye, seems to be taking it all in his stride as he also took to Twitter immediately after the game.

    “We really appreciate all the support from everyone in the stadium today especially the WBA fans, very important 3point today,” he tweeted via @OfficialIdeye.

    Ideye, the club’s record signing, has scored once in 11 league appearances for WBA this  season.

  • West Brom boss blasts Ideye

    West Brom boss blasts Ideye

    West Bromwich Albion head coach has hit out at some of his players whom he believed under perform in Tuesday night’s shock 2-1 loss to AFC Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup.

    Irvine who made 10 changes to his side that played in the Premiership game against Crystal Palace at the weekend says he clearly feels some players didn’t justify their inclusion.

    According to the manager, the game on the south coast was an ideal platform for some players to stake a place for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League game at Leicester but not enough performed to the level expected of them.

    Record signing Brown Ideye was one among the numerous changes made by the Baggies boss who failed to impress on his return from injury and was replaced in the 55th minute by his Nigerian compatriot Victor Anichebe.

    “I was disappointed by the performances of some players,” said Irvine after the game.

    “We did enough to get back into the game but we needed to do more to win the game.

    “I have to look after the players who have played a lot. And I also have go to give players who were desperate to play a platform to impress.  Some of the players did, but not enough of them. I don’t regret the 10 changes.”

  • Ideye has to wait, says West Brom boss

    Ideye has to wait, says West Brom boss

    WesT Bromwich Albion manager Alan Irvine has said he does not expect record buy Brown Ideye to start playing for the EPL club immediately.

    Irvine said except he surprises him, Nigeria striker Ideye needs to work more with the squad before he will make his debut for ‘The Baggies’.

    “I don’t see him being involved in the early stages of the season because he still needs to work with the rest of the squad,” Irvine said.

    But the manager was also quick to point out that with the small size of his squad, Ideye may well be thrown into the deep-end earlier than anticipated.

    The former Dynamo Kiev star, who has also played in Switzerland and France, was held back by a late issuance of a visa and work permit by the British Home Office.

    The Nigeria international became West Brom’s most expensive signing ever when they reportedly splashed 10 million pounds on him last month.

    West Brom’s opening league game is on August 16 against Sunderland at home.

  • West Brom keen on Moses

    West Brom keen on Moses

    After the celebrated club record signing of Brown Ideye, West Bromwich Albion are said to have pushed ahead for a loan deal for another Nigeria international, Victor Moses.

    According to Soriebah Kajue of Mirror, the Baggies were first linked with Kaduna-born Moses when he played at the World Cup for the Super Eagles of Nigeria last month, but as it stands, a deal is yet to be concluded.

    Moses, the Wigan stand-out performer, has failed to replicate the form that made Chelsea pay £9m in 2012 for his services. He had a below average performance last season while on loan at Liverpool and is not in Jose Mourinho’s Blues plans for next season, but the interest from West Bromwich Albion may be the life line Moses needs to reignite his career.

    The Baggies’ Technical Director Terry Burton has listed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner as the main interest to play at the club’s wings.

    If Moses joins West Brom, he will form an all-Nigerian attack along with Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe and also join other Nigerians like, Peter Odemwingie, Kanu Nwankwo and Ifeanyi Udeze who have at one time or the other worn the Baggies shirt.

  • West Brom fans to Ideye: You must not flop

    West Brom fans to Ideye: You must not flop

    New West Bromwich Albion striker, Brown Ideye has been warned that success in the Premier League is not automatic, as his record breaking fee may be a burden.

    The warning, which was passed on in a forum maintained by WBA fans, baggiesblog.co.uk, has these warnings for the Nigerian:

    “Last summer, Premier League clubs spent £173.15m on new strikers,excluding loan fees and wages. After 28 games and 740 goals,the 30 new forwards contributed to just 95 of these goals.

    “Teams in a similar position to West Brom spent millions on strikers. Norwich spent £8.5m on Ricky Van Wolfswinkel and Cardiff spent £7.5m on Andreas Cornelius who failed to find the back of the net.

    “Both of these players came to England as unknown quantities and failed to deliver.

    “Six strikers were signed for over £10m, but only one of them managed to score 10 or more Premier League goals for their clubs.

    “West Ham signed Andy Carroll for £15m and after an injury plagued season,he scored two goals. Stevan Jovetic also struggled with injury during his first season with Man City, scoring three goals.

    “Team mate Alvaro Negredo also failed to reach double figures, scoring nine league goals after a £20m move.

    “Southampton forked out £15m for Pablo Daniel Osvaldo but he only managed three goals before being sent to Juventus on loan after a training ground bust up. Tottenham man Roberto Soldado scored six league goals after arriving for £26m.

    “Only Wilfried Bony, who signed for Swansea from Vitesse Arnhem, managed to reach double figures in the league for his side last term.He scored 16 goals and cost £12m.

    “West Brom’s new striker Ideye will have to be clinical in front of goal and take every chance he gets. He is a similar player to Bony,as they are both big and powerful.

    “It is important that Ideye does not let the big price tag effect his game. He needs to be confident and break the mould of expensive strikers who struggle in the Premier League”

    Another Nigerian, Osaze Odemwingie, holds the record for goals scored in a season, and another Nigerian, Nwankwo Kanu is still a legend in the Black Country side.

  • West Brom: Anichebe key to survival

    West Brom: Anichebe key to survival

    West Bromwich Albion boss Pepe Mel was pleased with goalscorer Victor Anichebe for their 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

    Mel believes the Nigerian is the man to provide the inspiration in their relegation battle.

    He said: “Victor is going to be so important to our survival hopes.

    “I’ve been impressed by him. But I was proud of all my players against Chelsea. Now they have to show me we have the right mentality to win.”

     

  • Osaze will leave West Brom- Manager

    Osaze will leave West Brom- Manager

    West Brom manager Steve Clarke has said that forward Peter Odemwingie will not be welcome at the club beyond this season.

    The Nigerian has been in consistent trouble with the club since his botched January transfer to Queens Park Rangers. Odemwingie, 31, drove from Birmingham to London only to be turned back at the gate by Rangers security. Afterwards he’s taken to Twitter to attack the club.

    His future will be decided in the summer. I don’t think he’ll be here next season,” Clarke was quoted by BBC Sport.

    “I’ve stuck by him because he’s talented and I need as many talented players as I can get.

    “I think over the last four months I’ve done as much I can to put up with it.

    “To be honest over the last four months he hasn’t really played for my side. He’s been in and around the place but his contribution since January has been very, very little.

    “The disappointment for me is that before January, when he was fit and available, I think he played over 70% of the games, produced good performances and scored goals.

    “And in the second half of the season I haven’t had that player, so that’s the disappointing thing for me as a coach,” concluded Clarke.

  • OSAZE TO WEST BROM Sack me now

    OSAZE TO WEST BROM Sack me now

    • Nigerian hints at buying out contract
    • Baggies won’t let him go
    • To get N18m fine

     

    Controversial and out-of-favour Super Eagles striker Peter Odemwingie has hinted that he may buy himself out of his West Brom contract in another Twitter outburst on Tuesday.

    The 31-year-old Baggies striker has 15 months remaining of his current four-year deal at The Hawthorns.

    But, under article 17 of FIFA’s transfer regulations, players over the age of 28 can end their contracts two years after signing for a club by paying a compensation figure determined by their wages and transfer fee.

    Odemwingie tweeted: “I see a free player. A player who buys out his contract soon. Or a retired player. Does he look like he cares much? They made him not to.”

    Albion have already confirmed the Nigeria international will be dealt with internally after his Twitter attacks on the club on Sunday.

    Odemwingie hit out at being only a substitute in recent games and for the club allegedly questioning his commitment.

    Sources close to the Barclays Premier League outfit have indicated Albion will not sack Odemwingie, Press Association Sport understands.

    Odemwingie will face another £76,000 fine after being hit in the pocket during January for a series of social networking outbursts.

    But Albion will not ban the former Lokomotiv Moscow and Lille forward from using Twitter although any activity by players is governed by the club’s disciplinary code of conduct.

    Should the former Lokomotiv Moscow ace succeed in buying his way, he would be following in the steps of compatriot Obafemi Martins, who only recently paid off his contract with Spanish side Levente to join American Major League Side Seatle. Obagoal, who returns to national duty for Nigeria on Saturday against Harambee Stars of Kenya, made his debut for the Amerian side before hitting Eagles’ camp for the Calabar showdown.