Lewis Cox brings you all the latest from James Morrison's first press conference - ahead of Albion's trip to Cardiff on Saturday.
The ex-Baggies midfielder has stepped into the interim manager's role following the sacking of Tony Mowbray on Easter Monday.
The ex-Baggies midfielder has stepped into the interim manager's role following the sacking of Tony Mowbray on Easter Monday.
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00:00Baggies fans, it's been quite the week, hasn't it?
00:03Friday here now, 24 hours before Cardiff City away,
00:06Albion's penultimate game of the season.
00:08And as we know, the week started on Easter Monday
00:11with obviously a miserable home defeat
00:13and the relieving of his duties for head coach Tony Mowbray
00:18after just three months and 17 games at the helm.
00:21So it's been quite the whirlwind week.
00:23However, the season does roll on for another couple of games.
00:26Let's be honest, pretty largely irrelevant games
00:29in terms of the league table.
00:30What's certainly irrelevant in terms of the league table.
00:34However, the maths don't quite say that, do they?
00:36Albion are six points from six with obviously two games left.
00:40But look, everybody knows, everybody watching this,
00:42no one is pretending that that's on the line
00:44with Albion down in 10th.
00:46We have this morning spent some time
00:48in the company of interim head coach James Morrison.
00:52It's not Chris Bunt this time.
00:53It's Moza and another Albion hero.
00:57Of the 2000s, playing hero.
01:00And obviously alongside Damir Abella, the Spanish coach,
01:04and Boaz Myhill in caretaker charge.
01:06They'll lead Albion down in South Wales tomorrow
01:08and then on the final day next Saturday at home to Luton.
01:13As I say, down in Cardiff tomorrow.
01:16And it will be interesting to see with James Morrison
01:19leading the way at the helm,
01:21just how he sets Albion up.
01:24I think the most interesting thing is maybe selection.
01:28And it's something we put to Moza just now.
01:31Obviously, Tony Mobley had a lot of interesting things to say
01:33about half an hour before he sacking,
01:37before Shillam Patel delivered the news the other night.
01:40And some of the things he mentioned,
01:42well, he brought into question the character,
01:46the courage, the leadership,
01:47or lack of all of those things in the squad.
01:49So that was very telling, wasn't it?
01:50And look, we all know about the continuing of the rebuild
01:53that's needed in the summer.
01:55But he also revealed things like, you know,
01:57players had a contract.
01:58And they weren't great secrets, really.
02:00But, you know, your John Swift,
02:01your Grady Dean Garner's not being around next season.
02:03So how does Moza go about picking a team, really, for tomorrow?
02:08Well, he suggested to us there that everyone is available.
02:11So it won't be a case that Dean Garner won't be involved,
02:14that Swift won't be involved.
02:15Everyone is available.
02:16He said it's not quite the time to blood kids in terms of,
02:21you know, he's previously had an academy role, hasn't he?
02:23So he knows them more than most.
02:25But he did suggest that Luton at home next weekend
02:27might be one where we see more young players.
02:29So that'll be something to look forward to, I think.
02:31A glimpse into the future, hopefully.
02:33As I say, everyone sort of considered available for selection.
02:36Bit of team news.
02:37I think Shemi Ajayi is progressing.
02:40Could be in a round.
02:41It's the same with Tamar Bani.
02:42So that's, you know, Ajayi is one that obviously, you know, is expected.
02:45He could well depart, expected to depart this summer.
02:47Tamar Bani could be around.
02:49I think people keen to see him.
02:51Darrell Dike was someone Tony spoke of at length, wasn't he?
02:54I think, you know, just for the record,
02:55I think those quotes by some have been taken out of context, I would say.
02:59So don't read too much into what Tony, you know,
03:03what it was suggested Tony meant by that.
03:05I just think it's in terms of Dike, you know,
03:08still being on specific training regime.
03:10But look, Moza said there, James Morrison said there to us that,
03:14you know, Dike can be considered like he is.
03:17I think Josh Madger, you know,
03:19one of the last things Mowbray said to us is he probably won't be risked
03:22for the last two games now and he'll be given the summer.
03:24But, you know, Morrison said to us there that Madger's been involved in training.
03:28So look, you know, Albion have got what?
03:30They've got Jason Molumbi and Callum Starrs back from suspension as well.
03:33So boosted by a couple of bodies, but it's by the by, really.
03:37You know, Baggies fans will travel to South Wales tomorrow expecting,
03:40well, maybe not expecting, but maybe hoping for, you know,
03:43to see something after what happened over the Easter weekend
03:46with two pretty pitiful performances, really, if we're being honest.
03:49And one of the things that James Morrison said a couple of times was,
03:53you know, players taking responsibility for what's happened.
03:55So, yeah, we'll see how it goes.
03:59You know, James Morrison told us he'd been in contact with Tony this week.
04:03I think it was Tuesday or Wednesday, a day or two after the sacking.
04:05He'd had a conversation with, obviously, someone he knows very, very well,
04:09in Tony Mowbray.
04:11And look, from Mowbray, there was an acceptance of results
04:15and not being able to pick up the wins desired.
04:18So, yeah, plenty to bring you from James Morrison, as we say.
04:2224 hours' time will be on the road down to South Wales,
04:24but all the build-up for that will be on your way to the website,
04:27expressostar.com.
04:28We'll be there bringing the coverage.
04:30So, as ever, stay tuned.