[Beefy 1965]

Reading between the lines this is interesting,

He has been training away from the first team along with others who we probably already know about,

But Mcmanaman's name came as a bit of a surprise  


Nigerian striker Victor Anichebe says he could quit Barclays Premier League club West Bromwich Albion when the transfer window opens in January.

Anichebe was impressive in the Baggies’ 1-0 win over Newcastle on Monday but even that may not stop the 27-year-old from moving to pastures new.

The former Everton striker made his first Premier League start of the season in Monday’s win over the Magpies as record-signing Salomon Rondon was suspended.

Anichebe also admitted that he has been training away from Tony Pulis’s first-team with fellow outcasts Sebastien Pocognoli, Cristian Gamboa, Callum McManaman, Serge Gnabry and, before his recall, Stephane Sessegnon.

“When you get your chance, hopefully I’ve taken a good step. Whether I stay here or whether I go on somewhere else I thought I did myself justice.

“I thought the team did well as well, so hopefully I can use that to kick on.

“Honestly it’s the best I’ve felt for a couple of years. It is really the best I’ve felt. I got a good pre-season behind me with the gaffer and then I pushed on fitness wise.

“Unfortunately I haven’t really played that much. Even though it’s been such a difficult time, we’ve worked together and we’ve stayed tight as a group.

“He put me in but credit to myself, Poco, Gamboa, Callum McManaman, Serge and Sess. There’s a few of us, we’re all in the same situation.

“We weren’t really getting a look in, but we’ve always been doing training on our own," Anichebe told the Mirror.

The striker has yet to score in two league appearances for West Brom this season.

[drewks]

Really disappointing to see all these talented players apparently ostricised (??) from the first team squad

[talkSAFT]

I'd like to watch the training.

Practising set-piece defending must be hilarious: "Olly - you take Rondon. Jonny - you take Saido. Gary - you take Mozza. Craig - you take Pulis." (that's while Brunty & Gardner are taking the corners).

[May68]

Why is Berahino not amongst the outcasts? What have they done that Bez hasn't? I'd really love to be a fly on the wall at the club as I just cannot fathom the rationale for some of these decisions.

[Salopbaggie]

Why is Berahino not amongst the outcasts? What have they done that Bez hasn't? I'd really love to be a fly on the wall at the club as I just cannot fathom the rationale for some of these decisions.

The reason you cannot fathom a rational, is because there is not one.  Sadly these days we look at the issues from a footballing sense, all the club hierarchy seem to be interested in is the money.  

[Worldclassalbion]

I find this incredible. What the F**k is Pulis doing. Surely you pick your team from watching them train. Why make these players train away from the 1st team FFS!!!!!!

If you're a trouble maker then OK , maybe for a week but this is pathetic. What if they are doing the business, who is watching them train then????

If I was JP I would have to get a grip and get TP to grow up with the added proviso that if they are being banished from training with their team mates, then their respective wages come out of his.

This has totally pissed me off, GROW UP PULIS and give everyone a fair chance

ruined a great result for me....RANT OVER

Hang On....................F**kin KNOB, now it's over

[Stairs]

I don't think the way we manage our players is any different from other clubs.  Players need to perform away from the match day. They need to put in the training and fight for their position. Fergie did it and so did Brian Clough - I am sure all other clubs do the same and there are thousands of cases of players complaining about their treatment, like naughty kids.

I guess that in player autobiographies there would be enough examples of these methods.

Players are spoilt and naturally all think they are the best, but they can't all be right. They are competitive and they react to competitive methods. I certainly did when I was fighting to keep my first team slot and I am the same at work.

I guess motivational techniques are used which result in a two tier training programme. First team/second team, Premiership/Championship model where players can lose their place or win a place. This way allows the coaching staff to focus on the first team selection set of players. I presume this focus is needed to ensure players understand what is expected next week against the opposition and its where they need to concentrate on drills and set pieces - not something you can do with a more general and all inclusive squad.

If a player is no expected to be part of the next match, then he's not in that prime set of players - he could be excluded for discipline, fitness levels or purely because he is second or third choice in that position.

It does not surprise me, I am not concerned and naturally player not in that first team 'select' group will complain, sometimes justifiably, that the 'gaffer' is not rewarding him for his efforts or not giving him the chance etc. Its his job to get his head down and work on all aspects required; fitness, skills, drills and behavior and wait for his chance.

Big Vic took his chance last weekend.

Maybe if he is not injured as a result of putting a shift on, he might get another chance. If he performs again when he gets it, he might just secure his contract at West Brom.

Can't speak for the others but they are all grown men and can knock on the 'gaffers' door.  I can only presume that they are either not fit enough, have spoken/acted out of turn, can't get to grips with the requirements of set plays or simply are not as good as the person contending for their position.

[drewks]

I find this incredible. What the F**k is Pulis doing. Surely you pick your team from watching them train. Why make these players train away from the 1st team FFS!!!!!!

If you're a trouble maker then OK , maybe for a week but this is pathetic. What if they are doing the business, who is watching them train then????

If I was JP I would have to get a grip and get TP to grow up with the added proviso that if they are being banished from training with their team mates, then their respective wages come out of his.

This has totally pissed me off, GROW UP PULIS and give everyone a fair chance

ruined a great result for me....RANT OVER

Hang On....................F**kin KNOB, now it's over

That's a great post, Worldclass!!

Got to agree mostly with stairs though (above); and I'm bloody sure that these players (the naughty ones!) aren't training literally 'on their own' - other coaches will be conducting those sessions and feeding back obviously to the main man.......

---

....but you'd've thought that all these players would be described as 'fringe' players and therefore included in the first team preparations - what if illness/injury takes any 1st teamer out?

[May68]

But the fact that there are so many outcasts (i.e. 1/3 of the squad) makes me wonder what the common denominator is here, and it looks to me like it is Tony Pulis. Either we have somehow contrived to sign the most unprofessional bunch of players ever put together, or the manager is overly prickly and prone to favouritism. Let's be honest here: some players like Gamboa will never get a look in, so I for one don't blame them for becoming slightly demotivated. I know people will say they get paid a million pounds a week or whatever, but it's human nature to not try if you know you will never get a game.

Also let's be clear about why Anichebe was brought into the side: It wasn't because Pulis thought he'd been training really well with the stiffs and was impressed with his attitude. It wasn't because Pulis suddenly realised he'd hit a patch of form and should get a chance in the team. It was because a) Rondon is suspended b) Lambert is 33 and played a whole game 2 days previously c) Berahino doesn't want to be here and has put on weight again. Pulis played him because he had no choice, and lo and behold it turns out the lad can play a bit.

[aries22]

DDI find this incredible. What the F**k is Pulis doing. Surely you pick your team from watching them train. Why make these players train away from the 1st team FFS!!!!!!

I remember Steve Clarke used to pick Nicolas Anelka presumably on the basis of watching him train, but how many of us even wanted Anelka at the club in the first place? I didn't, based solely on the wages he was on, then vindicated by his subsequent off-field actions.
Sometimes there has to be a balance struck between a player's worth to the team and his behaviour. A player's training isn't just about running between cones and five a side games. There is stuff going on behind the scenes with Berahino, and you only have to read what Darren Fletcher has to say about that to realise that maybe Pulis is getting it right.

---

But the fact that there are so many outcasts (i.e. 1/3 of the squad) makes me wonder what the common denominator is here, and it looks to me like it is Tony Pulis. Either we have somehow contrived to sign the most unprofessional bunch of players ever put together, or the manager is overly prickly and prone to favouritism.

Or it could be that the manager does what he thinks is best for the team and the dressing room. Would you argue that Alex Ferguson is the best manager we've seen in the past quarter century? He shifted Jaap Stam, Roy Keane and David Beckham from United because for one reason or another they were all causing problems in and out of the team and dressing room. And I don't see anything different that Tony Pulis is doing.