[DevilDave]

West Bromwich Albion have reported that striker Jason Roberts has handed in a written transfer request.

I think Baggies fans are probably of a split mind on this one... he was not very good last year in the Premiership. God knows Uncle Cyrille Regis has done nothing but feed Jase's ego. But might he not be one of the keys to returning there from the Nationwide?

If Jase goes, the cupboard will be pretty bare. Who's left? Dobie, Dichio, Hughsie... all of whom were only sporadically good last season.

If I were the board my first option would be to deny his request. But if Albion can bring in someone decent, we may have an alternative to an unhappy player.

[John Boy]

Dobie, Dichio, Hughsie... all of whom were only sporadically good last season.

Dobie and Dichio (in particular) were consistently better than Roberts though

I'd accept it personally. If he thinks he's a Premiership player, well, hopefully someone else will too and he'll be off. If he's on the list and trying to attract interest, at least he may stop spending so much of the time on the floor and moaning at referees to put in a decent performance.

[DevilDave]

I agree. If he's on the transfer list, he will be better motivated to perform well.

Still, if Albion are willing to let another club take a chance on him, they'd better have a suitable replacement on the way. I have to believe Albion are looking for a striker anyway.

[DevilDave]

Albion have accepted Roberts' request and put him on the transfer list.

If Albion scouts aren't working a little harder now to find his replacement there will be hell to pay. Without some genuine threats up front, the road back to the Premier League will be quite difficult.

[DevilDave]

Well nobody's put in for JR... or perhaps they are biding their time. In any event, I'm sure he's got to be very disappointed at still being in an Albion shirt, languishing in the reserves. Too bad for him...

Is there the possibility someone will sneak in with a bid before the transfer deadline?

Then if no-one takes him, what do we do with him then? He started all of the games he was fit last year, do we do the same this year? Do we let him stew in the reserves?

[DevilDave]

Since this thread regarding JR exists, I'll update here...

Word on the official Albion site is that the club have accepted both a bid to buy by Wigan Athletic and an offer for a season-long loan from Leicester City.

http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/today...418445,00.html

Given the ego inflated by Uncle Cyrille, I would almost bet the house he will go with the Premiership club on loan rather than the First Division rival.

And if the Foxes don't offer to buy at the end of the season, he'll do more moaning.

[DevilDave]

Albion have reported that Roberts will be going on a season-long loan to Premiership new boys Portsmouth.

http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/today...419194,00.html

Hmm... go to whoever wants you who's highest on the current Premiership table, eh Jason?

There's certainly plenty time for Pompey to lose their form and fall back down near the bottom. We'll see whether Roberts will actually be motivated enough to help them or be the typical moaner he was in the Premiership last season.