Thomas Jenkins, from writing to managing

ah Tom! Come in, have a seat! you got my text then?

I did yeah, I'm excited to talk about budgets Jeremy, this club will be ready to take the right steps with a bit of investment.

Tom, about the budgets... we can't offer you much, 2.5m transfer kitty and an extra 15k at most wages.

Jeremy, we've just qualified for Europe, we NEED investment. Wages may not be a problem as I've got 3 or 4 contracts ending... But we need a bigger squad as the boys are going to be playing a lot more games. That's f*cking sh*t of you Jeremy.


I walked out, ripped my piece of paper up that I had hoped to show Jeremy, 'Transfer Targets'... Clyne, Kirchoff, Bony... back into the loan market I go.

nice start mate best of luck with the rest of the season

2013-01-09 13:42#76335 FM King : nice start mate best of luck with the rest of the season

Thanks mate! Going to be hard this season, I need to sell players to get players in but if I sell my squad will lack depth!

What a stressful week, I've been out around Europe instead of relaxing like I should be, me and the scouts have found a few good targets... I finally get home and see the phone flashing.

*Voicemail has 5 new messages*

Beep
First Message... Hello friend, My client Vladamir is on his way over now to the stadium, he has arrived in England and is going to be ready for January 1st...
Beep
Second Message... Mr Jenkins you're loan offer has been accepted for Ibrahim Afellay, it is solely down to the player now, thank you.
Beep
Third message... Hello Thomas, Sulley Muntari is on his way from Milan now, the loan deal is done.
Beep
Fourth Message... Michael Essien's loan deal is set to be completed if he wants to join Tom, all the best.
Beep
Fifth Message... Hello Tom, Andy Carroll has a few offers so is mulling over his decision, we will be in touch.


I've found some excellent prospects, but am having second thoughts about Muntari... Vladamir Weiss on a free will be massive this year, as we need more quality out wide. I need to ring Kevin!

Hello...

Kevin!!!

Why are you ringing Tom?

Transfers my friend lots and lots of transfers!!

that's good to hear Tom but you let my contract run down, I'm not with the club anymore...

Oh... well I'll leave you to it then.

Half of me is pleased as he was useless at tactics, but I liked having him around.

TRANSFER WATCH

West Brom have reportedly been short of money this Summer and strengthening their squad seemed pretty impossible, but Thomas Jenkins seems to have started building a squad capable of challenging consistently for European places now with the Signings of Neuton for 3m, Mattia Destro on a free, Ibrahim Affellay on loan along with former Arsenal man Eduardo.









These four will bring quality to our play, Neuton provides cover at Left back and Centre back if needed, Affellay is what we need out wide, with him and Weiss joining it can only help us create chances. Eduardo is a class act, scoring twice already in two pre-season games he knows where the net is and I believe he would have been a much bigger name now if he hadn't got injured.

I still hate press conferences I thought... too many people asking questions, I now know why no managers ever used to talk to me because I asked them toomany questions... but here goes nothing.

reporter Mr Jenkins, ahead of your game against Ajax today can we talk about your team selection? will your signings be going straight in?

I will pick a team who I think need the match practice, as some do more than others for their fitness, I may pick two different sides, or let one team have a whole 90. We'll see, but the new boys will be playing.

reporterExplain your signings to us if you would? How did they come about and how have you been able to pull them off on a low budget?

Destro was a free agent, I've always liked him, but his loan last year meant we couldn't make a move until now, he won the best player award at the U21 championships which attracted more attention to him, AC Milan, Palermo and Napoli all offered him contracts too. Eduardo is simple really, we didn't score as many as I'd have liked last year and Eduardo is a goalscorer, we have 4 strikers now, and we are going to be challenging on 4 fronts, we need this extra class and depth. Nueton comes in to fill gaps left by Ridgewell and Tamas leaving and he'll be great. Affellay is just a class act so too is Weiss.

reporterSo you're defence is a bit weak now, bringing in one player to fill the gap left by two... any more signings expected?

Neuton will primarily play left back as Manga, Dawson and Olsson are my Centre Backs... I am looking into bringing maybe one more centre back in, or maybe a right back...

reporterLots of comings and goings this year Thomas, is it going to disrupt your squad? especially with a few changes in key staff areas?

Kevin Keen has gone, so too has umm... whats their name, the reserves and 18's managers... but my replacements are better. Terry McDermott has the respect of the players already. Players wise, we needed to sell and buy, and ultimately it's going to be good for us.

First press conference of the Premiership season then... lets get this over with.

MR JENKINS! MR JENKINS!!

Yes, you with the cheap suit

Mr Jenkins What are your chances this year you feel?

European places again, I want a better showing in the domestic cups and a long run in the Europa league, I feel it's possible.

And your signings, you have just added Clyne to your growing list of players, a good squad now.is that it for transfers?

yeah, Kirchoff and Clyne were my last two I needed, Dawson and Jones had to make way for them but it had to be done.

Kirchoff rejected Dortmund for a move here, Destro rejected Napoli and Milan, Clyne waited for a month for the move, does this show that West Brom is an attractive place to be now?

I hope so, the players know they're joining a good project.

Project... what do you mean?

Sorry, In my mind I have this project envisioned, champions league football and title contenders, these players are young, but will develop and help the club compete.

Does the Chairman agree?

He offered me little money so maybe not

*laughter*

But no, he's offered me a contract until 2017, I think by then you'll see Champions League football here.

And on the game today? Arsenal will be tough, with one eye on Feyenoord are you wary of over-tiredness early on in the season?

The players are fresh and just want to play, and they can do that with this run of games.

Lastly Thomas... Where's Sulley Muntari? he signed and hasn't been unveiled...

He's back at Milan... let's say uh... we didn't get on

I hate International Breaks, probably as much as I hate Olivier Giroud... thinking back to his performance against us that first day of the season, he just loves playing well and scoring against us... he is handsome though...


Neuton had got sent off before they even scored, 0-0 at half time then the three goals came in the second half, we were stretched and tired come the end. We couldn't do much really, playing against them with 11 men is tough enough.

Then came Feyenoord, 2-1 away from home and then a 1-0 home win was good enough to see us through, there was no Premier League match in between these games which was nice to be able to just focus on qualification, now we had the draw was the next day...

VALENCIA
BASEL
WEST BROM
ROSENBORG

Not bad... not bad. Valencia is tough, Basel could be tricky but we need to really prove ourselves to everyone, we need to step up. The real journey this season starts now.

A good start to the season, 7th joint with Man City after that win, 10 points from a possible 18, losses to Chelsea and Arsenal taken away then the only dropped points I was unhappy with is the draw vs. Wigan. It seems we always perform well against City, they're narrow formation allows our wingers a bit more freedom.

...


Mattia Destro has been putting in some really good performances and his penalty to win it against City shows he welcomes the pressure too. Eduardo's form has dropped a bit but I'm sure he can still help out big time. *swigs bottle of whiskey*

Boss... should you be drinking that before a game?

I looked up... "Jonas, yeah don't worry it's fine I drink to calm my nerves".

Okay boss, well Terry is ready to take the warm-up anyway so I'll take the rest of the lads out now. You got a good feeling about today?

"Yeah okay, I do yes, we got to be solid again though guys"

Guys? It's only me Tom

"Oh... I thought there was two of you here, get going then Jonas..."




BREAKING NEWS
Following his sides 1-0 win over Southampton Thomas Jenkins was not present, he travelled with the squad to the game but failed to attend the pre or post match press conferences with Terry Mcdermott deputising for him Jenkins did not make it to the sidelines sources within the club say he watched from inside the stadium but others have re-ignited the rumours that Jenkins has a drink problem and that he may have drank heavily before the match and passed out... If so could this problem be a bigger threat and risk West Brom's promising season?

My phone hadn't stopped ringing, messages from countless journalists seeking answers to feed their cruel addiction of belittling us managers. Trying to draw my problem out like a syringe draws out blood, I used to be one of them... That mentality wound me up in this job, the best job I'd ever had and I could ruin it by my drinking?? This could be a better West Brom squad than the one of the late 70's. The track we're on I could make this team one of England and Europe's greats... I have to stop drinking.


BEEP

Message from Chris Brunt...
boss, all this squad is behind you, we believe in you and want you to lead us to glory for years to come, we don't care what the press say we know you're the one for the job... lets kick on now.


....

And kick on we have... results to follow.

MR Jenkins, ahead of your 1/4 final tie with Newcastle will your players feel a bit jaded after the recent run of games? will you be rotating?

Rotation will be evident yes, but the players look after themselves well, and we as a club try to look after them, they'll be ready.

With injuries this year so far to Affellay, Wellington Nem and Weiss for periods of time does it show that to compete at the level you want to be you may need a bigger squad?

We have four wingers really, the three you mentioned and Drenthe, Kadlec, Dorrans and Brunt can play there if needed, so having versatile players can make up for not as big a squad.

What about your drink problem Thomas, will that be affecting your chances this year?

I like the occasional drink yes, It won't be affecting our chances at all.

Your honesty may get you into trouble sometimes Mr Jenkins, you speak your mind, with regards to the referees, players, the press, and more... do you think that to make it to a bigger club they may want you to tone it down a bit?

The bastard is pushing me and pushing me to make me snap...

I'm honest because there is no point in lying to you lot, you'll find out anyway. And a 'bigger' club you say? West Brom will be the biggest club in England under me.

With the budget you are on though? do you believe that?

by progressing into the Europa League further stages and by good performances in cups and the league domestically we should gain revenue, our stadium has been expanded which gives us a bit more, believe me we will be up there in a few seasons time. The signings I've made with the budget I've been on are fantastic, Kirchoff is a rock, Affellay and Weiss are dangerous and creative and Eduardo and Destro... well they'd finish a plate of poo they're that clinical



............



The results that have followed after Southampton have been promising, the defeat to Basel was hard to take but a win against Rosenborg should be enough as I expect Valencia to beat Basel. Man City was a highlight and so too was Watford, 2-1 down with 5 minutes to go, Craig Dawson comes back to haunt us when suddenly Eduardo and Kadlec spring into life, two sharp incisive moves see us win the match.

Great set of results there Keep battlign it out for Europe!

2013-01-13 20:59#77025 The FM Rookie : Great set of results there Keep battlign it out for Europe!

I really want Champions League! think I'm going to have a massive session on it and update around february/march time!

After a bad run at the start of December we then picked up the pace a bit and kept in touch with the pack at the top, sitting in 7th now there's a massive chance we can still come 4th, a massive win against Chelsea courtesy of a Shane Long hat-trick has put us right back in the mix.

.......
I'm starting to like interviews more and more... the press are nice when you're doing well...

Mr Jenkins... how happy are you with your results recently?

Very happy, Arsenal always seem to do well against us and the last fixture against them was no different, but the Manchester United matches we can be proud of in the league cup, we frustrated them whilst at the same time creating chances of our own, we were certainly their equals in my eyes... as for Premier League results I am happy, we just need to keep it up.


Do you think Champions League qualification is possible?

Yeah why not? we are in a good position and have players coming back from injury at the right time. This squad is hungry.

You decided not to strengthen the squad in January, is that through choice or through lack of funds?

I tried to sign Vincent Aboubakar on a bosman but his work permit was turned down... Bernard Mendy will actually join in the Summer but that was our only activity, a full back was main priority as Clyne and Neuton cannot play every game, Steven Reid is injury-prone so I feel I needed cover but with no funds I could not operate. This club is making profit most months and if we can string a run together in Europe and the FA cup in the latter stages that money can help too, the main money we are looking for is Champions League revenue, that will take us to the next level.

But with no immediate funds are there worries about your contention for 4th place?

A bit... but I know that my strongest 11 can compete with everyone in this league.

Jenkins' Baggies creeping into Champions League ?

I used to work with Tom at the Birmingham Echo and was his understudy at Sky Sports a until he got the job at West Brom, he will always let me know what the latest news is at the club when he has time, many think he dislikes the media but I guess as he knows what the media were really like (most were like) he is wary. The remarkable journey of an outspoken journalist-come confident manager is exciting, he has the ability to take this side to the very top he believes. After this weekends victory vs. Spurs it is becoming clear that he is more than just talk. Tactically he tinkers from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2, both formations can offer so many avenues and they are not restrictive to the players.

Take the strikers for example:

Eduardo- 19 goals in 40 appearances this season, for a 31 year old who many said would never recover from his leg break and some say never has reached the heights he could have. Jenkins took a chance on Eduardo and has been able to keep him fit, he has rotated his strikers well and this leads me onto the next man...

Shane Long - 17 goals in 28 games, he works very hard which is overlooked by many, he'll chase defenders, he won't give them a minute's rest. Jenkins may have sold him last Summer in a bid to raise funds for a different type of striker but he likes Long and he resisted, after his hat-trick this year vs. Chelsea and a hat-trick against Cardiff if the FA cup 1/4 final he has proved his worth in big games.

Mattia Destro - 8 goals in 36 games, not the best return for someone who shone so brightly at the u21 championships but his recent return to form saw him bag a hat-trick against Southampton. Destro is said to be Jenkins' prized striker for years to come and he believes he can be one of the best in the league.

Vaclav Kadlec 4 goals in 11 appearances isn't bad for the young lad but his injury problems may halt his progress at West Brom, One for the future we hope.

I am hoping that my old friend Thomas Jenkins can prove his critics wrong and make something out of his hugely talented squad, my next piece is on his midfield and what the Summer may bring for his players...

anonymous.

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- Birmingham Echo