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25-05-2007, 18:00
http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/wd2086343ian-4-ts-03.jpgCyrille Regis is backing the Baggies to round off a memorable weekend of celebration at Monday’s Championship play-off final.
The Albion legend is in London to attend the wedding of his nephew and former Baggies striker Jason Roberts on Saturday.
Then Regis is off to Wembley to meet up with old team mates from the official Former Players Association party travelling down on Monday.
Graham Williams, Brendan Batson, Ally Robertson & Co will all be there hoping to see Albion reclaim a Premiership place and Regis, the warrior striker who wrote himself into Hawthorns folklore with his barnstorming goalscoring in 1970s and 80s,$ admits he has rarely relished a game such as this one since he retired.
“I think we’ll do it – and I’ll be there with all the guys to enjoy the moment. Yes, I am really looking forward to this one,” says Regis.
The striker-turned-agent has kept a close eye on the Championship promotion battle and is well versed in the merits of Albion’s opponents from Pride Park.
Their strength and more direct style is one sharp contrast between Monday’s finalists and how Albion cope with the physical challenge – often seen as a Baggies weak spot this season – will have a vital bearing on the outcome, says Regis.
But he believes the key to the game will be the occasion itself and which team handles it best. And on that front, Albion have an edge which Regis believes will be decisive.
“It is a huge day in the lives of all the players and it is a question of how they approach it,” he says. “Do they see it as more pressure or do they see it as a challenge to really relish?$
“If you feel the pressure, you are on the back foot straight away; if you look forward to the challenge, you go on the front foot.
“This one particularly so because it’s at the new Wembley with 90,000 watching and all the players are fully aware of the £60m Premiership prize riding on it. Does that put a little bit of fear in their minds?$
“Although Albion carry the favourites tag, I think they have the edge here.$
“It will be an under achievement if they don’t get promoted and that’s something everyone has delighted in reminding them this season.
“But you’ve got to stop for a moment and look at the two sets of players. Derby have a lot of inexperience in their team but Albion are stock full of players who have been in these big game scenarios before – people like Phillips and Robinson, Greening, Kamara, Perry, Koumas, Kiely.$
“They have played big Premiership matches and big internationals all around the world in hostile settings. I don’t think Derby can match that which is why I believe Albion will shade it.”
“I like the spine of the team now too – Kiely in goal has been great for them, so has Sodje, Greening played really well against Wolves and you’ve got Phillips on fire up front. These are top players who are always going to give you seven out of 10 performances.
“It’s a tight, tight game but I believe Albion will shade it – just.”
Regis identifies “the Championship’s Alan Shearer” as the man his old club most quell. Newcastle fan Steve Howard is a relative late comer to a stage as grand as this one having grafted for his supper through the lower reaches with Hartlepool, Northampton and Luton before being signed by Rams boss Billy Davies for £1m last summer.
He took a while to get going but ever since he scored a winner at Wolves back in September has been scoring regularly and setting up Derby’s attacking play.
That’s brought him 19 goals and Derby’s Player of the Year award and and Regis says: “They’re two different styles.$
“Derby have got a more direct and physical game in comparison to Albion’s movement. Steve Howard is the key man for them and very much what they are all about.$
“He is not going to run past you with pace but he knows how to do that job at the head of the attack very well.$
“He’ll get across defenders in the box as well – Albion have got to contain him.$
“And they have got to stand up to the physical challenge. It’s not dirty or anything it’s just tough. Players such as Paul Robinson are vital for that.
“There will be Derby’s presence at set pieces to contend with as well – we all know about Darren Moore and there’s young Leacock coming up as well as Howard.$
“They are a handful in those areas and Albion must stand up to it and defend well.
“Billy Davies has ‘hit the post’ a few times now in the play-offs but he knows what it’s all about. I watched them play Southampton when they used Craig Fagan down the right to nullify Gareth Bale – it was a good move.$
“Davies will probably come up with something similar to work against Jason Koumas. Wolves tried that with Michael Kightly when it might have worked against them a little because it reduced Kightly’s impact at the other end.$
“But Koumas is clever. He will drift inside and cause problems. And we know Albion are going to play an open game.
“But I think Billy is a canny manager who will try to utilise the underdog spirit which I remember worked so well for us at Coventry in the 1987 FA Cup final.”
Regis is hoping that the final provides a better spectacle than last week’s Manchester United-Chelsea ‘showpiece.’ The weather$ forecast is for a cooler day but Albion’s old favourite acknowledges it might not be that easy for either team to go up the gears.
“I don’t know what to make of the pitch,” he added. “It looked really dead on Saturday for the Cup Final.$
“It’s a big Wembley pitch which could suit Albion but whether the surface is to their liking we will have to wait and see.$
“I’m not quite sure why the cup final was played at such a tempo – was that because of the way the teams approached the game or because the pitch worked against quickening up the match?$
“Albion would certainly prefer a faster pitch and it will be a factor.”
More... (http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2007/05/25/its-got-to-be-baggies-for-cyrille/)
The Albion legend is in London to attend the wedding of his nephew and former Baggies striker Jason Roberts on Saturday.
Then Regis is off to Wembley to meet up with old team mates from the official Former Players Association party travelling down on Monday.
Graham Williams, Brendan Batson, Ally Robertson & Co will all be there hoping to see Albion reclaim a Premiership place and Regis, the warrior striker who wrote himself into Hawthorns folklore with his barnstorming goalscoring in 1970s and 80s,$ admits he has rarely relished a game such as this one since he retired.
“I think we’ll do it – and I’ll be there with all the guys to enjoy the moment. Yes, I am really looking forward to this one,” says Regis.
The striker-turned-agent has kept a close eye on the Championship promotion battle and is well versed in the merits of Albion’s opponents from Pride Park.
Their strength and more direct style is one sharp contrast between Monday’s finalists and how Albion cope with the physical challenge – often seen as a Baggies weak spot this season – will have a vital bearing on the outcome, says Regis.
But he believes the key to the game will be the occasion itself and which team handles it best. And on that front, Albion have an edge which Regis believes will be decisive.
“It is a huge day in the lives of all the players and it is a question of how they approach it,” he says. “Do they see it as more pressure or do they see it as a challenge to really relish?$
“If you feel the pressure, you are on the back foot straight away; if you look forward to the challenge, you go on the front foot.
“This one particularly so because it’s at the new Wembley with 90,000 watching and all the players are fully aware of the £60m Premiership prize riding on it. Does that put a little bit of fear in their minds?$
“Although Albion carry the favourites tag, I think they have the edge here.$
“It will be an under achievement if they don’t get promoted and that’s something everyone has delighted in reminding them this season.
“But you’ve got to stop for a moment and look at the two sets of players. Derby have a lot of inexperience in their team but Albion are stock full of players who have been in these big game scenarios before – people like Phillips and Robinson, Greening, Kamara, Perry, Koumas, Kiely.$
“They have played big Premiership matches and big internationals all around the world in hostile settings. I don’t think Derby can match that which is why I believe Albion will shade it.”
“I like the spine of the team now too – Kiely in goal has been great for them, so has Sodje, Greening played really well against Wolves and you’ve got Phillips on fire up front. These are top players who are always going to give you seven out of 10 performances.
“It’s a tight, tight game but I believe Albion will shade it – just.”
Regis identifies “the Championship’s Alan Shearer” as the man his old club most quell. Newcastle fan Steve Howard is a relative late comer to a stage as grand as this one having grafted for his supper through the lower reaches with Hartlepool, Northampton and Luton before being signed by Rams boss Billy Davies for £1m last summer.
He took a while to get going but ever since he scored a winner at Wolves back in September has been scoring regularly and setting up Derby’s attacking play.
That’s brought him 19 goals and Derby’s Player of the Year award and and Regis says: “They’re two different styles.$
“Derby have got a more direct and physical game in comparison to Albion’s movement. Steve Howard is the key man for them and very much what they are all about.$
“He is not going to run past you with pace but he knows how to do that job at the head of the attack very well.$
“He’ll get across defenders in the box as well – Albion have got to contain him.$
“And they have got to stand up to the physical challenge. It’s not dirty or anything it’s just tough. Players such as Paul Robinson are vital for that.
“There will be Derby’s presence at set pieces to contend with as well – we all know about Darren Moore and there’s young Leacock coming up as well as Howard.$
“They are a handful in those areas and Albion must stand up to it and defend well.
“Billy Davies has ‘hit the post’ a few times now in the play-offs but he knows what it’s all about. I watched them play Southampton when they used Craig Fagan down the right to nullify Gareth Bale – it was a good move.$
“Davies will probably come up with something similar to work against Jason Koumas. Wolves tried that with Michael Kightly when it might have worked against them a little because it reduced Kightly’s impact at the other end.$
“But Koumas is clever. He will drift inside and cause problems. And we know Albion are going to play an open game.
“But I think Billy is a canny manager who will try to utilise the underdog spirit which I remember worked so well for us at Coventry in the 1987 FA Cup final.”
Regis is hoping that the final provides a better spectacle than last week’s Manchester United-Chelsea ‘showpiece.’ The weather$ forecast is for a cooler day but Albion’s old favourite acknowledges it might not be that easy for either team to go up the gears.
“I don’t know what to make of the pitch,” he added. “It looked really dead on Saturday for the Cup Final.$
“It’s a big Wembley pitch which could suit Albion but whether the surface is to their liking we will have to wait and see.$
“I’m not quite sure why the cup final was played at such a tempo – was that because of the way the teams approached the game or because the pitch worked against quickening up the match?$
“Albion would certainly prefer a faster pitch and it will be a factor.”
More... (http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2007/05/25/its-got-to-be-baggies-for-cyrille/)
