Roy Hodgson calls for resilience

Saturday 19th February 2011, 11:29AM GMT.

Roy Hodgson calls for resilience

Roy Hodgson has demanded strong minds and resilience as he launches his Albion rescue mission.

The new Baggies boss will kick off his Hawthorns reign in the cauldron of tomorrow’s Premier League’s first Black Country derby at home to Wolves – the bitter rivals’ first top-flight meeting since 1984.

And head coach Hodgson today admitted the 12-game quest to save Albion from relegation will test the character of his under-pressure squad to the limit.

“In a situation like this, when you’re looking over your shoulder all the time knowing if you don’t take points it makes your position more precarious, it takes very strong-minded people,” said the 63-year-old.

“You need strong-minded characters and you need people who have got resilience to give it absolutely all they’ve got, but also to get over a bad result and not take it into the next game and exacerbate the problem.”

But Hodgson backed his side to handle the intensity of tomorrow’s derby encounter with a Wolves team who would jump out of the bottom three and plunge Albion into the drop zone if they won by more than one goal.

“There are a few players at this club with enough Premier League experience to cope,” said Hodgson.

“Most Premier League games these days are quite vociferous occasions and I would be very disappointed if the players didn’t handle that.”

Hodgson has inherited a side reeling from 13 defeats in 19 Premier League matches as well as last Saturday’s second-half horror show against West Ham where they thre away a three-goal lead.

But the former Liverpool and Fulham chief insisted there is no ‘magic wand’ to repair battered belief.

“I don’t think there are magic words that dismiss sad moments,” he said.

Hodgson will take charge without key midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu (hamstring) but the rest of his players are available after Steven Reid (knee) and Marek Cech (ankle) returned to training.


  1. 1
    boy from the REAL black country

    Roy, your a man of influence. Is there any chance you could have a quiet word with the Referees Association (or whatever name it goes under) and see if they may agree to lift our penalty embargo?

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  2. 2
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    this will be our last competative game agenst the dingles for years to come,when we beat them tomoz it will more or less relegate them,so in the return fixure they will be relegated while we will be sitting pretty in mid table,making the return fixture pointless,infact we could use it as our beach party,aye boing boing

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  3. 3
    astleistheking

    I expect them to go out there and face up to the problems we have head on. I’m sure they have listened to what Roy has said to them and will act on it.

    Conceding goals wont be a problem as Wolves don’t score many.

    WBA 2 – 0 Wolves

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  4. 4
    Baggiedad

    2 Sir Terry
    Nice to see you back on form, you seemed to be a bit depressed in midweek.
    And so to tomorrow. Yes it’s a big game alright, they want what we want, and we both can’t have em, those 3 precious points. Alot has been said, we need this, they need that, luck will play a part as always and a sure fire way of increasing your luck is by working harder than the other team and I don’t think we’ll be lacking in that department. So it will come down to one thing who is the better team. Sorry our Wulfy friends but on this score you loose hands down, tomorrow you will be out footballed.
    Come on you Baggies!

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  5. 5
    Lone wolf

    How is he pronouncing resilience ? He also uses, “precarious,relegation, and exacerbate he problem”. Its like a scene from the life of brian. You couldnt make it up. ( Que the TRBH giving me another lecture on rudeness etc ) I know no one is perfect, except Steve Bull(peace be upon him) but some body should have a word. His Churchillian pre match team talks must make the hairs stand on end. NOT.No wonder Liverpool got shut. Still, if he makes you lot happy ?

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  6. 6
    1954 baggie

    Dearly hope 2 proves accurate the only doubt i have they play well againdt the good teams.
    I just hope Roy goes with 2 holding players
    because they will pack the midfield and bring
    Sylvia or Fletch on at 80 mns I expect a few cards we have the more lethal attack as long as we dont get injuries must win very difficult games to come.

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  7. 7
    JACK the HAT.

    Glad to see DORRANS back at his best. Olsson will be up for this one, after his three months injury lay-off. Shorey, another game under his belt. With our class wide-men, wolves will have to double up on their full-back positions. Ozase will cause panic with his goals. Have a good rest Mulumbu, you deserve it.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

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  8. 8
    Lone wolf

    Ive just heard that there maybee snow in the midlands tomorrow. Someone beter drag old alf the groundsman out of the snug, and get him to throw a couple of dust sheets over the old corrugated cathedral tonight. Dont want you getting away with it again !

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  9. 9
    Son Of Albion

    We’re better going forward than the Dingles and if we get a couple we SHOULD win. I know we bottled it against the Hammers but they can score goals, the Wolves don’t score many and that’s what gives us the edge.

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  10. 10
    DorranslovesBrom

    IS JOHN LALLEY ALBERT STEPTOE?
    Oh! Harold!!

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  11. 11
    Cyril Randle

    Please, no sendings off, (don’t like the grammar of that, but), no iffy penalties, no vicious tackles, just a hard fought encounter with the crowd in uproar and a sensible, accommodating referee. May the better team win, us I hope and both teams stay up along with Villa and Blues. Chances of all that? Well, you know the Prem. But I can dream can’t I? First time I’ve thought about the match today. I’ve been ‘straining the brain’ fixing my son-out-law’s computer and he ain’t even slightly interested in football.

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  12. 12
    wyya

    son of albion. you should be a physics teacher. well if you dont score and we score one we win. simples! like you

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  13. 13
    WVWolf

    You lot the better team? hahaha, ur avin a laff. We’re better all over the park (including defence)
    If you lot think ur guna keep a first clean sheet in 24 games your deluded…
    WBA 2 3 WOLVES

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  14. 14
    WV4EVA

    Bring it on St Peter-file. Try score past us you. YA GOIN DOWN, GOIN DOWN, GOIN DOWN WIV THE HAMMERS!!!!

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  15. 15
    DorransLovesBrom

    I remember Blues giving it the biggen and we
    went and smashed them 3-1.This match will be
    won and lost in the striking department with
    Odemwingie taking his chances and Doyle missing his.

    ALBION 3
    WOLVES 0

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  16. 16
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    4 baggiedad yeah sorry bout that only id just found out my best mate and drinking partner of many years Cyril Randle(yes that Cyril)as been visiting my home when ive been at the away games,and let me tell you he wasent coming round to clean the windows,tho they could do with cleaning,he was poppin round to see Lady Andrea baggie,and now im devastated they have run off together i got nobody to drink with,aye boing boing

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  17. 17
    sid

    resilience is one of the things, i hope youve mentioned DISCIPLINE, so no getting sent of Jonas, come on u baggies boing boing, ps (TRBH) IF I SEE YA IN THE BOXES WITH CHERYL AND MADDONNA ill give u a wave, boing boing

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  18. 18
    smithy

    Thought as a Wolves fan,Would come and make a comment on the Boggies page as ours seems full and yours empty.Ha!Ha! Enjoy a full crowd at the awfullthornes tomorrow Tesco boys.Because in the return like last time you won’t sell your tickets in fear of trouble when visiting Dingley hell.

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  19. 19
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    5 Lonely.
    It’s cue and when have I ever told you off for being rude? You’re like our own Sir Terry and I wouldn’t have you any other way.

    Looking forward to a good game and hopefully no idiots ruining it.

    Hope Mrs Lonely is well. Look forward to the gloating or the excuses after the game.

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  20. 20
    LA WANDERER

    To Cyril Randle… Good call! And probably the best comment yet. Being a Wolves supporter, I hope that we win of course but at the same time I hope we both stay in the Prem as we live for games like this. Good luck for the rest of the season………after the big one tomorrow!!!

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  21. 21
    SIR TERRY BAGGIE

    i just put my ALBION top on and i feel just like gary cooper did when he put his badge n guns on in HIGH NOON bit nervous but knowing theres only going to be one winner,wim guna shoot the evil dingle gang down,aye boing boing do not forsake me oh my darling

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