Departing Di Matteo hails Dons

Thu, 02 Jul 11:10:09 2009

New West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo has paid tribute to MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman following his appointment at The Hawthorns.

The 39-year-old signed a 12-month rolling contract to lead the the Baggies, who were relegated from the Premier League last season and had been searching for a new manager since Tony Mowbray left for Celtic earlier this month.

Di Matteo arrives with just one year's coaching experience under his belt after being appointed Dons manager last summer.

He enjoyed a successful season in charge of the League One club as they missed a second consecutive automatic promotion by just two points before losing to Scunthorpe in the play-offs.

Di Matteo said: "I'm very grateful to MK Dons and the chairman for letting me go to take up this opportunity. The chairman had to be brave last season to give me a chance and it worked out well for both of us.

"Now, I'm very much looking forward to taking the next step with West Bromwich Albion. I'm very happy to be here, it's a great club. I know there was a disappointment last season but I think there is potential to do very well here."

 

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  1. Ken don't be suprised to see Olssonn go to­ villa,and i'd play Clem alongside him in central­ defence if Olssonn stays. I think that before the­ season starts we will lose,Olssonn,Brunt and Morrison­ for sure.

    From BOB, on Thu 2 Jul 6:41PM
  2. Ken my poor deluded friend. You have identified getting­ rid of 9 players all of whom are under contract. So­ Peace wont be getting rid of any of them unless someone­ buys them - hardly likely as no-one is battering down­ the door. And you fail to identify any players to­ replace them, bearing in mind the available pot of­ money to buy new players. Drew as for any millionaires­ out there, there are many. However they will need multi­ millions to buy the club should Peace (and the board)­ want to sell.

    From Alan C, on Thu 2 Jul 5:36PM
  3. Bob,and Drew,.......thanks for your welcome comments,i­ left the ice cream man ( valero) out because i am­ hoping that the new man plays both him and Texeria­ together,.....i to have done my time in supporting the­ stars in stripes i have 50yrs sevice this coming season­ so i just want the best for us all.............just­ seen that Cox has agreed terms,can someone tell me­ whats happend to Miller?.........and lets get a central­ defender to play along side Olson hey have we forgotton­ Clemo`.....along with Chech and Zuviloon we might not­ need to ask Peace for much dosh ..get the ball winner­ in midfield and who knows...as for RDM he is not going­ to be known as `manager` why.....get behind the­ boys...keep plenty of strongbow in the fridge.....have­ the anadins close by..
    boing boing

    From KENNETH K, on Thu 2 Jul 3:45PM
  4. Hahaha Kenneth, my sentiments exactly. I hope Mowbray­ takes all the rubbish he bought last year with him,but­ you did miss 1 player­ out.............................Valero,what a waste of­ £5m.I'm wondering if it's Stevie Wonder who­ looks at these players before we get them. I just hope­ the manager gets reasonable funds to sort the defence­ out,because to be honest it is shocking. A final word­ to Mowbray,i've been a loyal baggies fan for over­ 40 years but last season i found you extremely­ stubborn,would'nt listen to any advice,terrible­ buys,and worst of all,no loyalty. Strange that you only­ have a 12 month rolling contract at Celtic,does'nt­ that tell you something your p45 will be in the post­ again come may next year.

    From BOB, on Thu 2 Jul 1:55PM
  5. Always interesting to reads Kens comments ... follow­ them always :) BUT did Mowbray have a say in WHO he­ 'suppossedly' bought ? i think even now, the ­ Cox saga was bought before we had a replacement­ manager, so i think many of yours were also bought by­ Peace and his board rather than with the managers­ consent ?
    Carson did let some howlers in BUT he also­ saved a few more ? and he is young ... goalies dont­ come good till late 20s ?
    Well Mowbray only had 2 years­ experience so we are going backwards with just one year­ now, BUT then Zola started slowly at West Ham, and­ finished in style, so, i cannot say we shall be back in­ the Prem in ONE season, and he can only be judged over­ the WHOLE season ? and Peace says so long as books are­ balanced its ok !
    ANY millionaires out there ??? please­ buy the club from our chairman

    From Drew W, on Thu 2 Jul 1:52PM
  6. Well I think Roberto will struggle in his new job with­ West Brom, he has not got the experience and the­ Championship and premiership is different to managing­ in League one and two.
    Look at "Incy" who­ thought he could go from the lower leagues to the­ premiership, he lasted six months ! !
    No, dont get too­ excited all you Baggie fans, you could have been landed­ with a "Wannabee" as a manager ! Time will­ tell.

    From peterwalduck, on Thu 2 Jul 1:06PM
  7. Shame Roberto (probably) cost the Dons promotion­ through his policy or collapsing into defence by taking­ off strikers for the last 20 mins of games the Dons­ were cruising but not safe in. Worst example Crewe @­ home 2-0 up against a team with no ambition. Result­ 2-2.
    Oh and for signing and then playing Tore-Andre Flo­ :(

    From Ray, on Thu 2 Jul 12:10PM
  8. Roberto,welcome to the Hawthorns,and to West Brom,you­ my friend will have to adapt very quickly to life­ here,first up get rid of the `dead` wood left by your­ predecessor
    Robinson.......useless thinks he`s a prem­ player clown mowbray arse licker
    Miette.........aka­ `sicknote`say it all
    Kim............a hero in his­ country...send him back then
    Barnett........so much­ promise but a moth in headlight­ defender
    Morrisson......going­ anyway....celtic
    Brunt..........going­ anyway....celtic
    Moore..........should never have been­ here in first place
    Bedner.........chased the dragon­ when he should have been chasing the­ ball
    Carson.........was going to spare him but then he­ was at fault lots of times
    Sounds harsh i bet but­ albion fan reading this do you disagree and why ?
    On a­ brighter note,we have three gems only kids but get em­ on long contracts soon before traitor mowbray comes­ sniffing.
    Dorrans.........the new bobby­ hope
    Worrall.........the new pop­ robson
    Woods..........potential pity he`s a kiwi
    there­ you go,as i have said baggies you tell me im wrong­ boing boing

    From KENNETH K, on Thu 2 Jul 11:59AM
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