Hodgson backed in ‘Liverpool week’
Monday 28th March 2011, 11:13AM BST.
Albion’s players are backing Roy Hodgson to take ‘Liverpool week’ in his stride as the head coach zeroes in on three more survival points.
The Baggies are in for a high profile week as Hodgson’s abortive reign at Anfield comes back into the spotlight with his first game against his former employers at the Hawthorns on Saturday.
The Albion boss has gone some way to repairing whatever damage was done to his reputation with his impressive start in the West Midlands – an unbeaten four-game sequence.
And the players who have responded so quickly to his methods know enough about Hodgson to expect nothing to disturb his focus on the challenge coming Albion’s way this weekend.
Defender Jonas Olsson said: “The occasion will be blown up by the media. But we have seen what a good manager he is. He is unbeaten since he’s arrived and has done a brilliant job so far.
“All of the players are on board with him and taking in his ideas. He’s only had five or so weeks yet we are already seeing the results from the changes he’s made.
“I think we had struggled with organisation, the shape of the team and doing our jobs as a unit, especially the defence. That’s what’s been highlighted the most since he came.
“We’ve been working 11 against 11, using the big pitch, working on game situations. We are more solid than we were but, with the ball, we can still play some good football.
“If we can just stay up this year and have a whole pre-season with this gaffer then we’ll have some very promising times ahead.”
Hodgson rarely completes a round of media duties as Albion head coach without some reference to Liverpool, which are politely batted away as he refuses to antagonise a controversial issue.
The 63-year-old left the club after just 31 games at the helm – the shortest managerial reign in Liverpool’s history – in early January.
But Olsson added: “I don’t see him as the kind of man who will get carried away with the Liverpool issue.
“For him it’s another three points as it is for the players and fans. I don’t think he will see it as a chance to justify himself. It’s about getting this club further away from relegation.
“He has enough quality as a manager and person without having his own agenda or having any need to put the record straight.
“Perhaps it will be more special but the only relevance come the final whistle will be three points.”
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Four games to shape Villa’s season
Villa return to action after a week off, travelling up to face bottom of the table Wigan Athletic. Aston Villa blogger Matthew Turvey asks what is needed to salvage Villa’s season to date, and looks at how the next four games will be critical for Alex McLeish’s men.
Aston Villa FC
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
I’ve got a good feeling about this game. i think we can turn them over..how good would that be? not only for us but for Hodgy!
Report abuse
Success is all relative. Hodgson wins one game out of four in charge of WBA and his reputation is enhanced. He was a complete failure at Liverpool where his mid-table approach was totally unacceptable. Being ‘organised’ will keep teams up, but of itself will not bring true success. That’s why Hodgson has not won a major trophy in 36 years of coaching.
Report abuse
No2 – Typical Liverpool fan. If it’s not King Kenny or Rafa then the players don’t want to know. You don’t lift Fulham to the final of the Europa Cup without being a good manager. Oh i forgot Braga beat you didn’t they, so go and sod off to a Liverpool site or probably a Wolves one, and we will see what happens on Saturday.
Amazing how some players just don’t want to play for a manager, and I would count some of ours in that, since RDM went. But I think with Roy it’s more about organisation and we obviously have players who want to listen, not big time charlies like at Liverpool.
Report abuse
brush, do what your name implies and go stick your head down the toilet. be you a dingle, seal or maybe a glory hunting arm chair supporter. (wears the man u, liverpool or chelsea shirt for two weeks in benidorm) your comments are as pathetic as they are puerile. grow up or should west brom have appointed sir alex, jose or arsene. fool. sorry tool.
Report abuse
No.2 Brush
Mr Hodgson was not a complete failure because he was appointed as an emergency measure at a time when the club was in disarray and because of financial constraints could do little about it. If you analyze Liverpool’s results under Dalglish they have done little better than when Hodgson was in charge losing to West Ham and failing to beat Wigan at home and an awful performance to get knocked out of Europe. Sure they won at Chelsea but Hodgson beat them at Anfield. They always play well against Man U but in general terms there has been no vast improvement under Dalglish despite new owners and over £50m spent. The advantage Dalglis has is that he was was a legend as a Liverpool player and that counts with Liverpool fans. It seems strange that three former Liverpool managers with top reputations in Houlier , Benitez and Hodgson have all been condemned by Liverpool fans. Dalglish should enjoy his honeymoon period with Liverpool as it may not last.
Report abuse
Roy will keep us up – without a doubt he will want to do Liverpool this week, it’s just human nature, nobody messes with Roy and gets away with it.I’m going for a draw, it’s another point in the right direction, two more draws and two wins needed- COME ON BOYS YOU CAN DO IT, FOREVER ALBION !!!
Report abuse
2 Brush.
As you’re obviously not a Baggie, what are you so worried about??
Report abuse
Brush,
There may be an element of truth in what you say about a manager being more suited to making teams solid and difficult to break down rather than spectacular, but isn’t that what Mr Benitez was before him who’s a hero on Merseyside?!!
I think the problem in that ill-fated reign came with the expectation. An expectation of arrogant supporters used to success who believed that 33-year-old Carragher, Krygiakos, Ngog, Wilson, Spearing, Poulsen were better than mid-table players. Results have barely improved since, despite having many players returning but ‘King’ Kenny will get time where Roy didn’t.
Report abuse
I don’t know why you’re having a go at Brush. If the league had started when Dalglish was appointed, Liverpool would be top. Hodgson is a decent manager, but he only does OK at small to medium sized clubs. He will keep West Brom up and even get them to mid-table. That will be success for him and West Brom.
Report abuse
Roy’s record was appalling and his systems were a detriment to how Liverpool have historically played football. His transfer business was also poor – with little money he sanctioned a move for a fading Cole, and signed Brad Jones, Konchesky and Poulsen. All will be gone come May. His one truly great signing was Meireles, yet Roy insisted on playing him out of position and all 5 of his goals have come in the 10 games since Dalglish’s arrival. The team has accumulated 20 points in 10 games, the form of a top 3 side. Roy managed just 25 points in 20 games. So Robin Brittain (5) an analysis of the facts show that Liverpool have improved immeasurably. Brush made some sound points – just accept them rather than aiming abuse at him. Oh, and the net spend since Roys departure ? Zero (Torres plus Babel = Suarez plus Carroll).Good luck Roy – hope your new appointment works out well for you….
Report abuse
9 TomD.
Spoken like a true ‘nouveau football fan,’ not from Surrey by any chance?
Report abuse
I am a Liverpool Fan that actually still likes Woy. He wasnt the man for Liverpool as he is a manager that organises teams and tries to snatch games. (record proves it with draws) I’m not belittling WBA but thats the sort of manager he is. He builds foundations. he will put you in good stead if you can avoid relegation and he is at the helm 3-4 years down the line i think mid table premiership status will be yours. Hes a very hard to break down manager.
for Liverpool he was nothing mor than an interim manager that none of the players really wanted and the jury was out there from LFC fans.
I see a draw the weekend
Report abuse
2,9,10,12) Your time is at an end, Scousers. The Dalglish honeymoon is almost over, you have a mixture of players at the end of their careers, players who want to get away and players just not good enough. You’ll be like Villa in a couple of years, still full of cocky arrogance, but, going nowhere.
Get used to it.
Now go and nick next door’s telly, or something.
Report abuse
Dubai Red
You criticise Roy Hodgson’s transfer record yet his predecessor Benitez was lauded despite spenidng hundreds of millions on:
Acquilani, Keane, Babel, Riera, Dossena, Pennant, Bellamy, Garcia, Sissoko, Morientes, Cavalieri, Leto, Josemi, Paletta, Krygiakos, Ngog, Gonzalez, Degan, Dal Vella, Itandje, Ayala, Nunez, Pellegrino, Insua, Pacheco, Voronin…..the list is endless.
His transfer record’s absolutely not the reason he got fired, it’s because his face didn’t fit and he wasn’t given time.
It’s nice and easy to be the 12th man when you’re unexpectedly in the latter stages of the Champions League, but Roy needed your support when things weren’t going well, and like Gerard Houllier at the end (death threats), he never got it.
We’ll never know how well he would’ve done given more patience, but a successful manager for 40+ years doesn’t become a bad one in 4 months. Liverpool’s loss may well be our gain.
Report abuse
Everybody in football likes Woy and I am glad he is our Manager but I can’t see him staying if we are relegated.
Liverpool was a step too far as he has always managed club’s like us, Blackburn and Fulham and he deserved a shot after the wonders he worked at Fulham but it was a step too far and it has shown at Liverpool since he has left.
I am glad he is looking at the Goalkeeping situation as this is an area where we are particularly weak. I think Myhill is far better than Carson but still not good enough for premier League club.
Report abuse
Well I am always fearful when you come up against ex players/managers, who always seem to have a knack of kicking you in the nads, usually when they have not been that brilliant for you, just to rub salt in the wounds. Lets hope that curse continues, for at least the next week ;-)
Report abuse
Roy Hodgson had not a cat in hells chance of doing anything at Liverpool,Not with the Dalglish allwats hovering in the back ground.It was and is,patently obvious the player’s didn’t want him and performed accordingly,Crap.The fans certainly didn’t want him,”king Kenny” was the man they wanted.With little cahange in the team, it’s quite obvious with recent results that this was the case.So if Roy Hodgson keeps us in the Prem,then i couldn’t give a flying chuff what the so called Liverpool fans think about him.Their fans and Players never gave him a chance.
Report abuse
HAHA Dalglish is 10 times the manager Woy ever could be! 20 points from 10 games. what was woys first 10 game tally 12 points. well done and we hadnt even played anyone in top 4!!
We did give him a chance! He wasnt doing anything! Di Matteo had you playing good football. Woy has made u relegation fodder again
Report abuse
I used to love watching Liverpool play back in the day. simple but effective football & feared & respected all over the world. Those days are finished..not even King Kev can bring them back the club is totally mashed up!
Report abuse
Eddie
You can’t judge any manager on their first 10 games, we’ll see how good King Kenny is next season, he’s been out of football for 10 years. I wonder if the Newcastle fans agree with you that he’s the better manager……
Report abuse
I wouldnt bet against roy getting you something from the liverpool game. I reckon a draw is on the cards. Take that now i guess ?
Was roy treated shabbily by Liverpool or was he not good enough to cut it at the very top ? If he keeps you up, it has to be the former.
Not long left to find out, and some tough games yet to play. Even at this stage of the season, it aint easy to pick the final bottom 3.
Personally, i would like to see Blackburn continue their freefall all the way.
Villa to join em, just to stop em givin it that ” biggest club in the midlands ” brag.( although they probably am. )
And Wigan.
I dont need to keep having a pop at the baggys 24/7 cus one of your own( 1973 baggy ) seems to be doing it all for me. I like him !
Report abuse
Dubai Red No.10
Dubai Red seems to conveniently forget that Liverpool spent £24M on Torres in the first place so that has to be deducted from the cash received from Chelsea , resulting in your spending being anything but negative. You have the asset value of Carroll of course but would anyone else spend £35M on him ?.
Report abuse
Robin Brittain u are stupid. do u know why, hw dare u compare king kenny,s reign in liverpool wif that of roy. you luv WBA sure so stick to that and focus on saturday than compare things that are not comparable. pls dont be a daft.
Report abuse
15. 1973 is just like an old 78 record, stuck in one groove, scratching away at the same old line, frying eggs background noise, needle worn and tin trumpet bent. Give it a rest little Wulfie, you ain’t foolin’ no one!
Report abuse
Hi shadrag (18)
Report abuse
Wow, this website has suddenly turned into glory hunters united.
I noticed last Saturday after playing Arsenal, the Sun report on the game was followed by about 150 posts. About 2 of these from Albion fans, the rest from Man Ure, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea ‘supporters’ most of whom never go to games but sit hunched over their PC’s comparing paternal dimensions.
Thank God we have our own page where real fans of our two little clubs that actually go to games can verbally kick lumps out of each other without the imput of the Sky TV fans.
Long live local supporters, the life blood of real football.
Report abuse
Only one Matt Jarvis story today. Is he losing his magic?
Report abuse
‘laughingstockwolf’-
sad news about Doyle(I know you’re also obsessed about wolves players being injured).
But look on the bright side.
By the end of the season,he’ll be fit again,so he’ll be in good shape when wolves look for a decent fee as he leaves to join a new club.
After all,he won’t be willing to play in the championship with you next season,will he?
p.s.-with Jarvis also sure to go,you’ll be left with the perfect squad that’s well suited to play championship football next term.
Report abuse
Hodgson is a very average manager best suited at clubs that play organised, boring, defensive football. West Brom are too good for him. The style of football the Baggies play, is much better than what any of his teams have ever played. He might keep you up this season and next season too but you’ll be bored senseless.
Report abuse
It looks like they won’t accept one of my posts,so let’s try a little differently-
‘laughingstockwolf’(AKA several poor disguises)-
looking down this thread,it didn’t take me long to notice you spent 4-5 hours posting here,using about 5 different names.
I’ve met some sad people over the years,but you take the biscuit.
Isn’t it about time you got yourself a life?
Report abuse
Dingle game on sky,now the whole world will see us send um down
Report abuse
Number 31: You couldn’t even beat us when you were playing at home. What makes you think it’s going to be any different when you come to Molineux? You will get slaughtered. Take a glance at our home record. We’ve put teams that are in a different league to you to the sword (Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City)
Games against Utd, Chelsea & City at home: Wolves scored 5 conceded 2. Won 3 drew 0 lost 0.
Don’t make us laugh. You’ve got the worst squad in the prem by far & that’s why you won’t be in it with the big boys next year!!
Report abuse
NUMBER 30
Its a real shame they accept any of them .
Report abuse
32 – WOW…… with those results i can’t understand how you have been in the bottom three all season – its almost as if you have picked just three results that support your point and ignored all the ones that dont – but I’m sure I’ve got that wrong.
Report abuse
As for the worst squad – surely those teams at the bottom have the worst squads – or have I got it wrong again ???
Report abuse
32 diffrence is unlike those teams you mentioned we wont be feilding a weakened side,we will be at full strengh,hope you can sell you tickets this time as you wont be playing you for a while,hooooooooooooooof
Report abuse
Cantello Rocket: It does amuse me how whenever anyone ever posts anything negative about your club, you (and others) immediately dismiss it as ‘dingle in disguise’ – brilliant! People like Gadaffi employ similar principles! Are the fans who have been booing at your games this season in last also Dingles who have paid the money to come into your ground, just to boo????????? Or maybe there are some Albion fans who don’t think all is rosy?
Happy Baggie – still being arrogant I see…….I remember when you were 6th in the league and you were accused of this earlier in the season. You responded that you had the right to be arrogant due to the league position, which was fair enough……..have you not seen your remaining fixtures compared to ours and other clubs at the bottom? If we are beneath you after 38 games, feel free to be arrogant then. Though I suspect that if you we are, we will both be in the bottom 3.
On the subject of Roy, I personally think he is a great manager, a great bloke and was very badly treated by Liverpool fans who clearly didn’t want to give him a chance from the start. It seems to be that he is respected in most of Europe, apart from Liverpool……..but that’s Scouse logic for you. At least it was a good opportunity for them to have another reason for a bit of self pity for a while.
Report abuse
37 wolf in notts-
you may notice that I directed my post at one person,and that’s because he’s got a track record of doing this kind of thing.
Having looked at a few of the earlier posts on here,I can see several of his ‘trademarks’.There must be at least half a dozen clues I picked up on.
Whenever he’s claimed to be a ‘genuine’ Albion fan,I’ve asked him to let us know where he sits in the Hawthorns,and everytime he refuses to reply.
So how would you honestly feel about an Albion fan going on the wolves site every day,with a string of ‘false’ names,trying to stir things with constant attacks on your club?
Report abuse
33 WHB-
So as usual,you suddenly appear from nowhere,and launch an attack on either an Albion player,or a Baggies supporter,in this case it’s me again.
What is it with you? You seem to have a massive chip on your shoulder.
Why should we care about what wolves fans say about us here,when you seem intent on doing more damage from the inside?
Report abuse
All those teams you mentioned (Utd, City & Chelsea) played full strength teams against us. & even if they didn’t (which they did) there reserves are 10 times better than your full strength championship outfit!!!
Report abuse
WVWolf
“Take a glance at our home record, we’ve put teams in a different league to you to the sword”
Would that be Wigan and Bolton? Or Notts County in extra-time?
Wolf in Nottingham
Like many of your comrades before you, you accuse us of being arrogant but completely discard the idea it might be a response to the hoards of your lot who spent the summer telling us what we needed to survive; that we might be good enough to hang onto your mid-table coat-tails if we invested £20m; that you’re a massive club and we’re an insignificant tinpot neighbour, who you’re all bizarrely obsessed with…….
You end the arrogance accusation by implying you’ll be over-taking us anytime soon, no irony there then, we’ve been hearing this for about 3 months. Just when exactly are you planning on over-taking us?
At least you’ve enlightened us on something, it’s little wonder Gadaffi’s forces are depleted if they’ve been behind the booing at football matches, he must’ve had 25,000 of his men based in Wolverhampton for the last 20 years.
Report abuse
37 – i respond to a wolves poster who claims Albion will get slaughtered at your place cos you beat Man Utd and point out that you must have lost a lot of other games to be in the bottom three – and I’M arrogant ???
Sureley its arrogant to be boasting from the bottom three how you are gonna do this that and the other to the teams that have been above you all season.
I agree that we will know more at the end of the season – but right now we are above you, have been above you all season, so people who post on here quoting the odd game to back up their point will get laughed at – see post 40 for the ultimate example (even you must feel embarrassed by that one) !!
Report abuse
CR 78
I did not realise i was Harry Potter and could suddenly appear anywhere.
Just for the record it was you who attacked me first a few weeks ago when i replied to a blog from another supporter , so pot , kettle and black come to mind .
I give my opinions on the Albion when i feel like it and if they do not match yours , well so be it , i do not look through your Blue and White tinted sunglasses where everything appears to be rosy at the Club no matter what.
As for damaging the Club , well i have been a season ticket holder since 1970 so i think damaging the Albion is low on my list of priorities.
As for caring about what Wolves Fans think , i do not, indeed i prefer not to converse with them at all on Footy if at all possible, because i decided that was a futile excercise long ago.
Report abuse
(32)
Wv,
One problem for you, wolves will have to attack at yours, you know what that means, don’t you. The club that occupies the bottom spot did the double over wolves, see, anybody can turn an argument round.
(37)
Notts,
How nice of you to remember when we were SIXTH from top, Funny, I can’t remember when wolves were.
It’s O.K. lads these Dingles are full of themselves, at the same time they’re shaking in their little shoes. More to be pitied than blamed. Aye Ho, Aye Ho, it’s through the door they go.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
Report abuse
43 WHB-
After the initial sarcasm,you make me sound like the villain,with your ‘I’m the poor victim’ slant on things.
It may be more balanced if you explained that a new Albion fan put on a cheerful,positive post,and in reply you completely opposed what he said,then accused him of basically being a ‘drippy hippy’,with flowers in his hair.
I said to the guy that,based on some of your past comments,that’s the sort of response we would expect you to make,and in return you then turned on ME.
It’s a ‘free’ country,and everyone is entitled to their opinion,which I respect,but if you criticise Albion players or fans on the Albion site,you have to expect a bit of stick back.
It’s no good giving it,if you’re not prepared to take it in return.
Report abuse
Happy Baggie, I’m really not being arrogant at all…….making no claims or predictions, though I do hope we are both in the Premier League next year. I’ve not said we’ll be doing this, that or anything else.
I do remember the season however when you lot were in the Premiership and us the Championship, you spent a lot of time commenting on the Wolves boards…..surely this is the same sort of arrogance as described by Warren (41)?
Cantello, yes I would find that annoying! However I don’t think you should just assume that any negative posts on the Albion boards all come from the same chap, under one guise or another.
Report abuse
44. It’s O.K. lads these Dingles are full of themselves, at the same time they’re shaking in their little shoes. More to be pitied than blamed. Aye Ho, Aye Ho, it’s through the door they go.
jtp you are right we’re shaking with laughter at what you steptoes are saying and we’ll be shaking with laughter in a few weeks time too. Wolves Ay We /\_/\
Report abuse
WW Wolf No.40
Difficult to understand how you beat any of those teams without crossing the half way line.
Report abuse
Can’t see anything other than a good old fashioned drubbing for the Albion,they’re definitely overdue!The bookies seem to agree aswell.Roy has had his day and should never have left Fulham for a poison chalice.Just a matter of time now,i’d say irreversible damage by May,followed by the Duff league in August……….toodles and lots of luck!
Report abuse
ND. Nose Dive????????
Report abuse
I see there’s loads of wolves fans flooding on the Albion site,spitting poison and saying how they’re gonna batter us.
Are these really the same people that have been calling us arrogant,sorry Arrogant?
Talk about hypocrites with a very big capital ‘H’.
Some things never change.
Report abuse
47 wolves1983-
after telling us the other day about your ‘fantastic’ wit and humour,it’s no wonder you’re shaking with laughter,you must have told yourself a joke.
So at least one person thinks you’re funny.
Report abuse
52 CR78.
‘Steptoes,’ geddit? It’s the way he tells ‘em. I might be wrong but I think the ‘Wolves Ay We’ might be a play on words, taken from the old ‘Toys Am We’ joke. Comic genius.
Report abuse
1877,
*Just a query,
No need to rewrite my post, ALBION fans comprehend the one I posted. *Do you dingles have to repeat your dross over and over so that it sinks in with you lot?.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
Report abuse
46 – I wasn’t calling YOU arrogant – merely pointing out that the initial post i addressed was arrogant.
As for earlier in the season – If pointing out that we were 6th and you were bottom is arrogant then I’m sorry – but I’m sure if the tables had been (literally) turned there would have been a flood of wulfies posting on here… after all, they do it now and you are still in the bottom three….. god help us if you ever did manage to get above us.
TRBH – old 1877/1983 loves his steptoes gag – flogging a dead horse comes to mind but he seems to enjoy it !!
Report abuse
I purchased the DVD orange crush last weekend from the club shop. If any wolves fans are unsure how things go down when we play you i could lend it to them. As always i would advise them to spend a little time above us in the table, win the league when we are in it with them or beat us occasionly before they start boring us with what they are going to do
Report abuse
54 JtH-
Regarding ’1877′-
We call them ‘dingles’,so after thinking about it for a year or two,he decided to call us ‘steptoes’.
I called some of our wolves visitors hypocrites,so he replied by calling me a hypocrite.
And you put a post on here,so he then repeats YOUR words on HIS post.
Obviously what we have here,is one of those yellow and black parrots,often seen flying around close to the Welsh border.
Apart from repeating new words that it’s introduced to,it’s also known for much loud squawking.
Report abuse
I see WV is on here again defying all medical advise regarding his high blood pressure. No booze, no fags and no Baggies messaging boards. Just leave it mate. I’m sure one day Wolves will finish in a higher position than the Baggies but you need to look after your heart to make it through another 10 years.
All joking aside I hope we both stay up and blackburn, wigan and blackpool go down.
Boing Boing
Report abuse
23CantelloRocket 78
March 24, 2011 at 12:38 pm
22 wolves1877-
You said-
‘It’s going just fine for us down here in the bottom 3′.
We don’t really need to say anything,you just keep shooting yourself in the foot.
57 cantellosteptoe if you are going to slate people for copying what people have said in another post then make sure you don’t do it yourself cos you’ll end up looking very silly, as I ‘ve said you are by far the biggest hypocrite on here, with you it’s do as I say not as I do, even your own fans have a go at you thats how hated you are on here what a sad bitter and twisted plank you are.
Report abuse