Roman Bednar is West Bromwich Albion's Mr Grumpy
Sep 16 2008 By Chris Lepkowski
TONY Mowbray has admitted Roman Bednar became Albion’s very own Mr Grumpy in a bid to win back his place in the team.
The Czech striker helped himself to Albion’s second goal in their 3-2 win against West Ham.
Bednar’s penalty was his second goal of the season, with his other strike also coming from the spot, against Everton.
Mowbray admits Bednar responded to being out of team by unloading his frustrations on others during training.
And, far from being concerned, Mowbray was pleased to see the response from his giant forward, who got his chance on Saturday due to Ishmael Miller’s injury.
“Let’s not beat about the bush – he’s been grumpy,” said the Albion boss.
“But that’s fine. While I don’t want miserable players around the club there is a balance to be had and as long as there is no communication breakdown I don’t mind players, in whatever way, showing their disenchantment.
“Sometimes they go out on the training ground and run around everywhere, fly in at everybody and kick people.
“Others sulk and moan and don’t apply themselves enough.
“For me the better option would be the first one. You don’t want people kicking their team-mates but you would rather have a positive reaction to disappointment than a negative one.
“The problem sometimes when you have people who are disenchanted is that they don’t do the work during the week.”
“Then when theie opportunity comes on matchdays they are physically not up to the job and that’s no good.”
“But he showed at the weekend that he was ready. He worked hard for the team, showed some nice touches and threatened their goal.
“He scored – it doesn’t matter to me or him that it was a penatly kick – and it’ll do his confidence good.”
Mowbray reiterated that he was pleased with his current options up front.
“As I tried to get across I’m not anticipating a major striking problem,” added Mowbray.
“We have players who can lead the line for the team. It’s going to be about trying to retain the ball, trying to stay in the game and making the opposition aware that we are a decent footballing side and that they can’t be over-cavalier.
“The striker has to be at the cutting edge of the team, when the ball comes into the box he has to threaten the goal and in the four League games we’ve played we’ve generally done that.
“It was nice to get three goals at the weekend because it stops people asking about whether we can score goals - I have no fear that we can.”
