Thomas Jenkins, from writing to managing

I'm sober again, sober as a Nun, One Terry McDermott has poured my liquor away. After our loss over two legs to Fenerbache I was inconsolable, he offered not only his resignation but retirement from the game after finding me naked in my office, in a pool of my own sick.

Maybe our end to the season can convince him to change his mind, he's been great as my number two.
SO, a draw against Newcastle and a win vs. Blackburn leave us two behind Manchester United and level with Chelsea but ahead on GD. Chelsea and Manchester United play eachother on the last day of the season so this title race could come right down to the final kick.

News that has saddened me and that I haven't realised until watching PSG is that Fabregas, Fabregas of Barcelona has moved to PSG for 11.5m last Summer, distraught. Even more distraught at the fact that Wilshere moved to the newly named Al-Mubarak Stadium for 33m in January, Manchester City have got him Walcott and Cazorla. Luzhnyi is a tyrant and I want destroy him!

WEST BROM LIFT PREMIERSHIP TITLE

Anonymous footballer chats to Thomas Jenkins

Well. It's happened, and I doubted it at some stages, but it's happened. You've done it Tom

It has indeed, we've been amazing, the run-in may have favoured us some said come the end of the season, but the games were there to be won and we won them, Man U and Chelsea slipped up and we took advantage of it.

At the start of the season you could have lost Kirchoff and Nem, and yourself, how pleased are you that you stayed?

Ecstatic, they were two of our best players for sure

Accompanied by the best manager then? Manager of the year this year, congrats.

Thank you, it's easy when you've got a squad like this! There's problems at Arsenal and Manchester City I know, and it's clear as the media have the quotes of unrest in the dressing room. We haven't had that.

And you said you'd decide at the end of the season if you'd stay or not, will you?

If the right job was there I may consider, no jobs are here at the moment, I will decide over the Summer break and will chat to the Chairman too.

The Euros are taking place this Summer, would an International job be an option?

Possibly... yeah.

As well as West brom?

Possibly... yeah *smirks*

Terry! I sobbed, Don't go, I'm telling you that offer until 2018, sign that! PLEASE! I have stopped drinking!!
No Thomas, you may have stopped drinking but it was never about that, I've won a premier league and FA Cup here, I've capped off a good career, I'll keep in touch mate. You'll find a way to carry on without me...

SIGNINGS

Franco Baresi joins as assistant manager





Rooney, a free agent had offers from boyhood club Everton and Tottenham too, but chose Premier League Champions West Brom. At 30, he is advancing... so what does Jenkins have in mind for Rooney? and where does he see him playing?
Wayne has won two champions leagues, and 6 Premier Division titles, he knows how to win, he will help the rest of the squad and undoubtedly the younger players. He provides class and experience. As for his position, up front, or central midfield, deep lying or pushing on as a playmaker.




[on Verrati] I wanted him at this club for a long time, now he is finally here I am happy. If people wonder about my future here, I wouldn't be buying these great players for the club when I could sign them for a club I may go to.

[on a new deal] It's been agreed, 2021 the latest deal runs out and I want to win the Champions League before that deal runs out.

Wayne Rooney (free) and Marco Verratti (17.5m) join along with 20 year old Matty Horner (6.5m) from Wigan.

[on Matty Horner] He's going to be kept around I think, unless a club can guarantee us a starting place with a loan deal, he's versatile and will be a star.

Tactics

My 4-4-2 will be kept Franco, but what do you think of this? We have wingers here but they can all play in that AMC role too, rotation can stop players getting angry, and with the competitions we are in it will provide us with chances to see everybody...

Si... Yes uhh Tomas I think that could work, a bit of Italian eh?

"I've got a group of winners"

I've got a group of winners Thomas Jenkins has told the blog. He went on to say that a deal is trying to be worked for Montpellier defender Yanga Mbiwa.

Their pre-season has given West Brom fans reason to be happy, convincing wins, although an easier pre-season than previous years Athletic was a tough test still... The Community shield win will prove a great morale boost and despite having 24 shots, 11 being on target they could not find a way past Joe Hart in normal time, going straight to penalties West Brom won 11-10 in one of the most tense shoot-outs to date!


The new system seems to be working Mr Jenkins?

the 3-5-2... it's making us look very solid, but a lot of our goals were due to the wide play last year, our wing backs can still provide that strength that Nem, Klaus, Belhanda gave to us from there last year.

Not many signings, but two big names, a few more outgoings though, explain your reasons.

Rooney and Verratti will be brilliant, Brunt goes to Swansea for 2.2m. He finally won things with West Brom, big things, the FA cup and last year, many thought he was going to be let go on a free before the season, but we gave him a new contract for a year, he then started to perform amazingly, triggering his 20 game bonus which meant another season for him, that was this year, I felt that with Barkley, Adryan etc. here they need to now start playing and filling his shoes. He will forever be a legend here.

I let Benzia go to Sunderland, for 5m. I didn't see a place for him here, now Remi's [Dupont] development has changed dramatically he will be ready for first team games soon. Benzia didn't develop how I would have liked, and I wanted him to do as well as possible, a loan wasn't seen as necessary.

You've just won the Community shield so you've got to build on that now, do you think you can push further in the Champions League this year?

For sure, our first year we did amazing, last year we did well but Fenerbache are a team we should have beat. Hopefully we can experience a semi-final this year in the Champions league.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE COMES TO TOWN

Real Madrid
West Brom
Anderlecht
Celtic





Not a bad draw I thought, a different Madrid team this year but I would have rathered have a go at Athletico again. Athletico haven't made it to the group stage this year and are competing in Europe's second tier this season... they boast massive names in their squad including Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Chris Smalling, Nelson Oliveira, Abel Hernandez, Siyunda Xulu, Seb Corchia and Kurt Zouma. It's scary the talent they have really, and this year could see them challenge for the league, after two games they sit top of La Liga.

In contrast we are also top, after two games, two 3-0 wins vs. Cardiff and Bristol City. 3-5-2 looks good.

Nice! How is Butland going for you?

2013-02-02 20:48#79707 PaukerJ : Nice! How is Butland going for you?

Not getting a whole deal of game time mate, Foster has been great but I'm hoping to blood Butland in soon!

It's come, one of the most exciting days in football. Teams are starting to act fast as they try to secure a few last deals that they think can strengthen their squads either for relegation battles or for title pushes.

Notable Transfer Listed players
Fernando- The Brazilian central midfielder is valued at around 20m and Porto are looking to offload him with Europe's elite looking to secure his services.

Kevin Gameiro- The French striker is at Juventus, at 29 years old now he can still offer someone a good option up front.

Paul Pogba- One of the most exciting prospects at one point, his attitude can put off some, but he still will be a great buy.

Yaya Sanogo- Amazing young stiker, looks like he'll be on the move as he thinks he is 'too good' to stay at Auxerre...

Steven N'zonzi- The Liverpool Defensive midfielder valued at 10m has teams like AC Milan, Roma, Stuttgart and Norwich after him, a loan may seem the best option but Kaiserslauten are reported to be readying a bid.

Alvaro- Spanish striker is set to be off as he 'wants a new challenge'... Getafe are trying to hold out for 20m.



We spoke to West Brom Manager Thomas Jenkins, on his transfer targets and how he feels his side can do this season.

Thomas, thanks for having the time for us, it's reported you're still in the market for a player, can you tell us who?

That's quite alright, we were in the market for a central defender, the lad is a great player and will turn into a world class centre back but his work permit was turned down. A deal was in place and contract had been agreed.

Will deadline day make you dive back into the market for a player seeing then?

If the right player comes about then yes, we are hoping to get a bit of cover at Centre back just in case, this 3-5-2 we're playing means the defenders will be getting a lot of game time.

And with the 3-5-2, what do you plan to do with your wingers? the wing backs play in your formation instead of wingers, will the likes of Felix Klaus and Wellington Nem be getting game time?

They can play in the advanced central midfield role and the rotation of the squad will allow me to utilise my squad to the full.

We have sources telling us that Mulumbu may be on his way out? with clubs interested?

We've had no bids, and I discourage clubs from doing so.

Lots of deals coming through now I can confirm that Brazilian Fernando has made the switch from Porto to Sporting, a fee of 15.25m has been agreed. Let's recap on some of the deals shall we?:

Sammy Khedeira has made the switch from Chelsea to Athletico Madrid, with reports Madrid were after M'vila could this be an alternative?? The fee is around 10m we are being told.

Yapo Yanga Mbiwa has finally made his long-awaited move to West Brom in a deal that could rise to around 14m, Montpellier at first were holding out for 20m for the defender, but the players desire to leave has lead to them giving in.

25 year old German Patrick Herrmann has made a 10.25m switch from Bayern to Spurs, Tottenham have taken a chance on the player who hasn't lived up to his potential as much as many thought he would have.