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Bela-Rusian Revolution in the Midlands
By Dan McGregor
Around 6 months ago, West Brom sensationally sacked young up and coming Andrea Stramaccioni and replaced him with Victor Goncharenko, another of Europe's top young managers. Many people seen the change as sheer panic from the Baggies board but after 3 months of the new season, things look a lot brighter than they had this time last year. We caught up with the charismatic Scottish Owner of the Baggies, Angus Guthrie, after the Scotland U21's 6-1 to the Netherlands at St Mirren Park.
DM: Nice to see you again Angus, did you enjoy the game tonight?
AG: Not particulalrly if i am honest, I was up in Scotland for business and thought i would head along to the game, Holland outplayed the boys and in the end the score reflected that. Seeing young Stevie May scoring was a highlight though.
DM: You were spotted talking and sitting with Allan Johnstone, is that another possible manager change?
AG: *laughs* No, i have known Allan a very long time, i was just catching up with him.
DM: Talking of manager changes, the one you pulled in March was inspired by the looks of things?
AG: I wouldn't go that far, Victor certainly kept us in the league and has now got us pushed on.
DM: This season, you have shown much more determination and fight, as well as some good football, would you say that is just down to the manager?
AG: Not completely, obviously the old players reacted to the new boss coming in, in the right way. But i think the fresh faces in the dressing room helped. New players always change the way a team reacts and plays.
DM: Sitting 10th after 3 months, do you think you can stay up?
AG: It is far too early to predict that, by new year we should have a really good idea of where we are. I would love to say yes but we cannot count our chickens after 2 lucky seasons.
DM: You look at other teams and chairmen in the league, do you fear you may be left behind?
AG: At the start of this project i would of said yes, but not now. With the new money rules in place it means no team can overspend so it makes it a much fairer system.
DM: That sounds like you agree with the new rules?
AG: Well i don't. You have to speculate to accumulate in football, and these new rules stop that from happening.
DM: You never seem to mince your words at all, never hold back?
AG: What is the point in that? So i can just be that boring guy who owns West Brom? No thanks, its not me.
DM: Will we see much business in January from West Brom?
AG: Again that depends on how well we do in the next couple of months, if we are sitting mid table, then i doubt we will need to change much.
DM: A lot of people were surprised in March when the board came out with a statement and that you didn't make it yourself? Why was that?
AG: The less said about that the better. It was a rough time for the cub and I was trying to sort out the issues in the background so the board took it upon themselves to release a statement to garner some support for the team.
DM: That's all for now, no doubt if things continue i will be back for a chat soon.
AG: Cheers Dan, always a pleasure catching up with you.
DM: Oh one last thing, Saturday night is the big fight, do you follow boxing if so who you got?
AG: Oh I dont really follow it but i have Froch to win by knockout, with a big right hand in the 8th.
The big Scot was in good form as always, very honest and to the point. He certainly seemed a lot happier than last year, things are looking up in the Midlands.
Bela-Rusian Revolution in the Midlands
By Dan McGregor
DM: Nice to see you again Angus, did you enjoy the game tonight?
AG: Not particulalrly if i am honest, I was up in Scotland for business and thought i would head along to the game, Holland outplayed the boys and in the end the score reflected that. Seeing young Stevie May scoring was a highlight though.
DM: You were spotted talking and sitting with Allan Johnstone, is that another possible manager change?
AG: *laughs* No, i have known Allan a very long time, i was just catching up with him.
DM: Talking of manager changes, the one you pulled in March was inspired by the looks of things?
AG: I wouldn't go that far, Victor certainly kept us in the league and has now got us pushed on.
DM: This season, you have shown much more determination and fight, as well as some good football, would you say that is just down to the manager?
AG: Not completely, obviously the old players reacted to the new boss coming in, in the right way. But i think the fresh faces in the dressing room helped. New players always change the way a team reacts and plays.
DM: Sitting 10th after 3 months, do you think you can stay up?
AG: It is far too early to predict that, by new year we should have a really good idea of where we are. I would love to say yes but we cannot count our chickens after 2 lucky seasons.
DM: You look at other teams and chairmen in the league, do you fear you may be left behind?
AG: At the start of this project i would of said yes, but not now. With the new money rules in place it means no team can overspend so it makes it a much fairer system.
DM: That sounds like you agree with the new rules?
AG: Well i don't. You have to speculate to accumulate in football, and these new rules stop that from happening.
DM: You never seem to mince your words at all, never hold back?
AG: What is the point in that? So i can just be that boring guy who owns West Brom? No thanks, its not me.
DM: Will we see much business in January from West Brom?
AG: Again that depends on how well we do in the next couple of months, if we are sitting mid table, then i doubt we will need to change much.
DM: A lot of people were surprised in March when the board came out with a statement and that you didn't make it yourself? Why was that?
AG: The less said about that the better. It was a rough time for the cub and I was trying to sort out the issues in the background so the board took it upon themselves to release a statement to garner some support for the team.
DM: That's all for now, no doubt if things continue i will be back for a chat soon.
AG: Cheers Dan, always a pleasure catching up with you.
DM: Oh one last thing, Saturday night is the big fight, do you follow boxing if so who you got?
AG: Oh I dont really follow it but i have Froch to win by knockout, with a big right hand in the 8th.
The big Scot was in good form as always, very honest and to the point. He certainly seemed a lot happier than last year, things are looking up in the Midlands.
