Roy Hodgson

[Craig_H]

[Craig_H]

[James P]

And I'm mr confrontational?

It's okay, Craig expresses affection through aggression. He loves us really.

[Kenneth]

And I'm mr confrontational?

[Craig_H]

Yes James. When i'm not laughing at your hilarious jokes, that is.

[James P]

A colleague of mine just picked up the phone at work, said hello to the other person, and then uttered the words: "I thought you'd be really happy, bouncy bouncy!'

Still working at the adult chatline then, Craig?

[little dave hedgehog]

have shaggy's comments been deleted?

[Chris]

They are at home to Fulham on the weekend, Fulham cant play away from home (wonder who engrained that in to them?!" so dropped points there and they are in deep ****.

Cant wait to see him sacked, humiliated and a broken man, though im sure a lot of media friends will push the blame all on Di Matteo.

[Exiled_red]

Could the world and his dog FINALLY be starting to open their eyes and see what we knew over a year ago?

I didn't want people to get on to this yet, I wanted him to get the England job before they realised

Hodgson for England

[McDermotX]

Won't be long before his Elite status is reduced to 'UEFA merely-super-dooper Coach'

[Craig_H]

Could the world and his dog FINALLY be starting to open their eyes and see what we knew over a year ago?

[Buzzo]

Some interesting comments too

http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/...ion-at-albion/

It's finally happening, the punters are realising that these 'tried and tested methods' that the Bodge constantly bangs on about are in fact utter ****e that any man on the street could come up with. The rigid 442 with an emphasis on defence could do for WBA this season.

Sadly this article could have been written about the Bodge and LFCexactlly 12 months ago.

Fortunately we are in a far more stable relationship just now

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

Has hodgeson always played 4 4 2 throughout his career. His 36? Years in management.

[Shaggy]

Some interesting comments too

http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/west-bromwich-albion-fc/2011/09/20/now-is-the-time-for-action-at-albion/

West Brom blogger Jarrod Hill believes now is the time for boss Roy Hodgson to act with a change in approach after the Baggies’ poor start to the season.

Now, is it D:Ream’s song ‘Things Can Only Get Better,’ or is it track two, Bon Jovi’s ‘Keep The Faith?’

Personally, I prefer the little known track White Flag by Dido, as it’s more applicable to our performance, or should I say non-performance, on Saturday against Swansea.

As a naturally pessimistic person, I tend to surround myself with people who see happiness and light in everything they do or see.

Pete ‘Hilltop Baggie’ Danckert is often my ray of sunshine and, on these very pages, I love reading the positivity of posters such as Warren, Cyril, the Real Bully Hoo, CR78, and Kev from the sunny side of town.

I want to be more positive and I often refer myself to the quote by Daniel Reardon, “in the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip.”

But, to put it bluntly, I’m not enjoying the trip. I find it hard to find anything good to say about what I saw on Saturday and I so desperately want to be waxing lyrically about our performances every Tuesday and Friday.

My only cheer this weekend football wise was on Sunday. My nephew Noah plays for Warstone under-10s and they played against Stourbridge under-10s in what was a cracking game.

Warstone were 4-1 down before rolling up their collective sleeves and achieving a remarkable comeback to win 4-5 away from home.

Noah and the rest of his team played a blinder against a very good Stourbridge side and, when I asked one of the players what had changed, he said “nothing, we just really wanted to win.”

Talk about out of the mouths of babes, it made me realise why I get so angry watching professional football, the passion is too often more abundant in the stands than on the pitch.

However. I still believe we have a squad capable of achieving good things this season and I still see boss Roy Hodgson as the man to lead us onwards and upwards.

But we desperately need to change from the 4-4-2 formation we have deployed in the first five games.

Swansea simply outnumbered us in midfield and outpassed us. We defended poorly as well and Paul Scharner’s reckless challenge got us off to the worst possible of starts, but it’s ultimately the formation that is hurting us.

Youssouf Mulumbu can play box to box but seems to be constantly mopping up after Paul Scharner, who looks totally out of form.

Mulumbu can score and create goals, but it’s obvious he doesn’t want to wander too far forward due to having little cover and the same goes for Jerome Thomas.

Has Thomas been told not to take on his full back? Is he thinking if I go to far forward, I won’t get back?

In a five man midfield, ‘JT’ has the protection to roam forward because he knows there is a spare holding man to cover him defensively and Mulumbu can play more box to box knowing there is an extra man to sit in.

Scharner is probably suffering the most from playing four in midfield, as it highlights his lack of movement and ability to dictate play.

It’s glaringly obvious that the players are not comfortable in the new formation and, following on from our lucky win at Norwich, the team again looked very lethargic.

Hodgson, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee, this formation doesn’t suit us.

I understand we now have Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie and we would want to accommodate them both but, for the good of the team, I would drop one of them to the bench.

We need to get back to what we did so well last season and, even if its 4-4-1-1, it would give us that little bit more in a midfield, which is currently being over-run.

It’s strange because normally when we suffer such a poor display fans tend to target certain players who have failed to perform but, in this instance, all I keep hearing is fans saying 4-4-2 is not working.

If we can see it, why can’t our extremely talented and experienced manager?

My biggest fear is that we will persist with playing two up front and, although I appreciate that there are other factors to consider, such as missing our influential captain Chris Brunt, I just don’t see any evidence of us getting to grips with this formation.

The fact we are now five games in with one rather fortuitous win under our belts and it’s a bit worrying, but what is more worrying is the fact that at no point has Mr Hodgson changed it back to 4-5-1 as Plan B.

Is he being stubborn? Or is he sure that playing two up front just needs time to settle in?

I hope it’s the latter and the boys start to click soon, because the Premier League has a habit of chewing up those that dilly dally.

Personally, though, I would be happier if I walk into the Hawthorns at 2.55pm on Saturday and find out we have gone back to our tried and trusted five man midfield.

Things must get better or I’m trading in my season ticket for one to watch Warstone FC every week. At least I wll never question their desire.

[Shaggy]