Mowbray against adopting more combative approach against United
Jan 27 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post
West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray came over all philosophical when questioned yet again about his side’s tactics on the eve of their Premier League showdown with Manchester United at The Hawthorns tonight.
When his side’s poor record against the top four was pointed out it was suggested that he consider changing his stance following the lead of the likes of Stoke City in adopting a more combative approach against the best club side in the world. The Baggies boss turned to Chinese philosophy to explain why he is keeping faith with his brand of attacking football.
“You don’t go to war and fight on their terms,” said Mowbray, a confessed student of The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
“I am sure all football coaches read that stuff but it is just common sense. To understand strategy and want to make a football match into a tactical battle there is things to take out of it.
“You don’t travel a thousand miles to fight an army that has just eaten a big dinner and has had loads to drink, and you are out on your feet, because you are going to get beat. You fight on your terms. If we haven’t got overly-competitive players to get physical with them and condense the pitch, then you can’t play a game that you haven’t got the players to do it.
“The problem you have in football is that sometimes you face just good players and that is the difference. We can’t play like Stoke, who have got points at Anfield and against other top teams, because we haven’t got the type of players they have. To be fair, the games we have won, they wouldn’t have been able to win because they don’t play the way we play.
“At Old Trafford earlier in the season, we had a go and for 65 minutes we were pretty good, but then their individual skill undid us.
“It wasn’t the tactics that lead to a 4-0 defeat, it was their quality that beat us. That is why great players win football matches week in, week out.”
Mowbray may not find a chapter in The Art of War which explains how to fight a battle with half your team missing but will have to deal with facing United with a full side in the treatment room. Defenders Jonas Olsson (knee), Abdoulaye Meite, Leon Barnett, Shelton Martis (all hamstring) and long-term absentee Neil Clement (knee) are missing, meaning Ryan Donk may have to play despite limping out of the FA Cup draw with Burnley with a groin problem.
To add to Mowbray’s woes, captain Jonathan Greening underwent a scan yesterday to determine the extent of his knee injury suffered last Saturday, and Albion are also without James Morrison, Craig Beattie, Luke Moore and another long-term absentee Ishmael Miller.
United have their own injury concerns but can call upon the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Christiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, which makes Albion’s task even more daunting.
However, Albion can draw encouragement from their recent good home record and the fact they have not been beaten at The Hawthorns since Chelsea were victorious on November 15.
“It isn’t an ideal scenario for us but it is part and parcel of football. We have to get on with it,” Mowbray said, continuing his philosophical theme. “While we can talk about injuries now, once the game is playing no one is interested in injuries. It is just how we do against United that matters. Whatever team we put out will be very competitive, I am sure, and, with the fans’ help, we will try to make it as uncomfortable an evening for United as possible.”
