The Diary

24 November 2003: Lee Hughes - Picking Up The Pieces

Oh dear ? it?s not a very good time to be an Albion supporter, is it? At least Lee Hughes finally had the good sense to turn himself in, although accompanied by his brief, it has to be said. As per the last news bulletin I saw, he was still in custody, so the police must be still questioning him in connection with the alleged offence prior to charges being laid formally. I presume he?ll then get bail, but I suspect there will be a raft of conditions attached to the granting of it. Once that happens ? and I?d be very surprised if they don?t charge him with something ? there?ll be an appearance at the magistrates court ? Coventry, no doubt ? probably, the following day, which will presumably set the wheels in motion for the charges to be dealt with at Crown Court level, although there may still be more hearings at the lower level for Lee before anything is formally pushed upstairs. Owing to the seriousness of the matter, I really can?t see the magistrates disposing of the case ?summarily? as it?s called. Far be it from me to pre-empt the final outcome, but what a waste of a talent, and what a sad state of affairs for the lad to get involved in something like this. Sad, because he?s not of a villainous nature, really; in many ways, he reminds me of my young nephew, but perhaps it would be better for me (and him!) not to take that analogy too far.

I?m sure that this whole business must have come as quite a nasty shock to our players, who were making preparations to leave for Cardiff as I was sorting out our Coventry City away tickets at the ground this lunchtime. Surprising the club elected for an overnight stay for this one, really, as the Welsh capital is only around 2 hours away by coach, but I suppose, in view of what?s happened, the more our players are protected from it all, the better. Watching tonight?s regional news, at the pre-match press conference today, the club decided to play a pretty straight bat on the issue, which is all they could do, really. This whole business now leaves us with one hell of a problem ? well, a couple, actually ? and the first is a ?biggie?. After all this, just how do you motivate our players into battling for all three points from what will undoubtedly be a bloody hard game? What?s happened must have come as a complete body-blow to Lee?s team-mates, not to mention the back-room staff, and whoever is tasked with the near-impossible job of raising morale tomorrow has my complete and utter sympathy.

The other? My remaining consideration?s totally pragmatic, and concerns our search for an additional striker, because if additional reinforcements, loan or otherwise, were deemed necessary before last weekend, our search must now be doubly- intensified - no, make that a treble. It goes without saying that Deech will have to fill in tomorrow night, although after watching him limp painfully off the park just before the interval on Saturday, there has to be a thundering big question-mark over his fitness for our encounter in the Principality. The question of recalling Jason Roberts from Pompey has been raised by many, but I believe he?s now injured, and, in any case, the word on the streets seems to be there?s a clause in his loan contract that negates us bringing him back before January. Anyone out there know for certain? Bearing that in mind, and other considerations, I reckon it?s high time the club starts calling in favours from managerial mates and boardrooms elsewhere. That?s assuming we do have some. Er ? do we?

In the immediate short-term ? like, now! - I can only assume Scott will get the nod partnering Rob Hulse, and DD will stay on the bench unless (or until?) the time arises for ?kitchen-sink? type tactics to be employed. Apparently there are no other ?walking wounded? from the weekend, so it sounds as though there will be little change in the line-up apart from those forced upon us by events. I can only hope that our friend Mr. Hass will be eager to atone for those awful misses on Saturday evening; in view of what happened, and the likely reaction of his comrades afterwards, will our hero now have more than ample grounds to change his forename from ?Bernt? to ? erm ? ?Kicked??

At this stage, I?d normally introduce into my daily offering an ?alternative history? of tomorrow?s venue, and list some famous Taffs for a bit of fun as well, but what with all the hassle we had before Saturday?s game, and now this unsavoury business with Hughsie, I?m finding it quite impossible to get my laughter-glands going tonight. In fact, I?m finding it extremely difficult to muster any sort of enthusiasm for tomorrow night?s affair, and I?m sure I?m not alone in this. In fact, judging from some comments I?ve read from other Baggies today, I know for certain I?m not alone in this. Will we reap a harvest from tomorrow?s trip? Well, unless you?re very astute as to whom you confide in regarding your love for The Baggies, if you?re going, you might just go home with a few contusions or lacerations by way of a premature Christmas gift courtesy of the locals. Ninian Park really is a horrible place to watch football; one of the many good reasons I never travelled to the place when they occupied the same space as ourselves during the seventies. Don?t wear colours and keep you mouth firmly shut; that?s my advice. As far as the garnering of league points is concerned, I now have severe doubts as to whether we?ll return with anything bar ?nul points? on the old Eurovision song contest score-board. A shame, but that?s the way I see it going.

And that?s it. I should be in full production mode on my (very early/late!) return from the valleys, yakki-da, and all that rubbish (well, I do have a Welsh forename, although there?s not one scrap of the ?Land Of My Fathers? in my DNA, honest!), so I?ll sign off until then. Tara.

 - Glynis Wright

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