West Brom set to welcome four back

Friday 3rd February 2012, 10:59AM GMT.

West Brom set to welcome four back

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson is hoping for a four-man fitness boost as the Baggies look to beat their Hawthorns hoodoo at home tomorrow.

The Baggies boss is set to unveil deadline-day signings Keith Andrews and Liam Ridgewell for the home meeting with the Swans.

But Hodgson hopes to also have Steven Reid, Billy Jones, Jerome Thomas and Shane Long available as they target just a third Premier League home win of the season.

Reid (ankle) returned from more than a month on the sidelines with a brief substitute appearance at Fulham on Wednesday but Jones (thigh), Long (ankle) and Jones (illness) all missed the trip to Craven Cottage.

Hodgson said: “I’m hoping quite a few of them will be back.

“Obviously Chris Brunt needs more time and Zoltan Gera is someone we’ve got to forget about for the near future.

“But I think most of the others should be knocking on the door to play.”

Hodgson also has Ridgewell and Andrews available to face the Welsh side and Hodgson welcomed the arrival of the pair on the final day of the January transfer window.

“It was good work from Dan Ashworth, well supported by the chairman and the club,” said Hodgson.

“It’s very important that they’ve given us that backing because they are two experienced players, two players who have been through the mill and two players who know what it’s like to play in the Premier League and be in a situation where they might need to fight for a few points in order to get a good league position.

“So it’s very valuable that we’ve got the two players in and they will prove to be very useful additions to our squad, not only in terms of their ability but also in terms of their experience and the fact they will be able to encourage the others.”

Andrews and Ridgewell were the new names included when Albion re-submitted their Premier League squad last night for the remainder of the season.

Roman Bednar, who has joined Blackpool on a free transfer, and Gonzalo Jara Reyes, who is on loan at Brighton for the rest of the season, are removed while Albion’s list still includes just 23 names with Craig Dawson, George Thorne and Scott Allan among those not included as they are eligible to play as under-21 players.


  1. 1
    dave

    win the next 2 games hello safety goodbye mick coyb

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  2. 2
    Boinging Baggie

    Great news. Can now hopefully push on an have a good finish to the season. Wonder if RH will try a Fortune/Long partnership tomorrow if Long is indeed fully fit.

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  3. 3
    Cyril Randle

    A neat article and an ideal one for Inside Man to indulge us on the team or squad for the morrow. Incognito of course.

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  4. 4
    astleistheking

    Good shout that Dave!

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  5. 5
    LucanBaggie

    You have to feel for poor old Shane Long, I have heard so far he is out with Back Digestive problems and now ankle the poor guys falling apart…

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  6. 6
    J♣ck the Hat.

    Having a smaller squad means no-one can hide in training, also individually it’s more intense. Nice to see Roy has more players at his disposal instead of having to make do and mend. Get them playing to their strengths, no problems. Jarrod, we all see games from different angles by watching some players more than others.
    Stood in the snow for the first time this year. Got stuck in the Welsh mountains after turning left just passed Balla lake on the outward bound, It’s a bit nerve racking those sheer drops, especially when on ice and having to reverse a quarter of a mile approximately to a little cut out, turn and head back the way we came. The missus was driving and I was co-driver, now where’s that sat-nav?. Oh and we paid another visit to Pistyll Raeadr waterfall as my son wanted to see it. Totally different mood than the other day. Icicles everywhere, really magical. Saw two donkeys and thought of Kev, nothing to do with their looks may I remind you lot. So peaceful and quiet up in the white-over mountain wilderness, really beautiful.

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

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  7. 7
    New Broseley Baggie

    Good news if so many are actually fit and ready.
    Does anyone know the exact reason long has been unfit?Ive just read a 3rd reason in itbeing an ankle injury.I also saw,digestive problem and another stated back problems.

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  8. 8
    astleistheking

    We need Long back for the WOlves game thats for sure!

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  9. 9
    J♣ck the Hat.

    Wolves are saved, Laughingwolf is back and he’s picked the team for Mick.

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

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  10. 10
    J♣ck the Hat.

    (5)
    Lucan,
    That’s just to get you Dod-Heads guessing.

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

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  11. 11
    geeman

    Got to start winning at home or get dragged down with the dingles..

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  12. 12
    sherlock

    back problem or digestive problems?

    so will he be needing a pain-killing injection or a rennie?

    jack the hat, wonderful part of the world. all my first holloidays as a child were camping trips in that area, and now i take my kids camping there regularly. Somewhat sinfully, i’ve never seen it in its mid-winter glory though. shame you can’t stick photos on here.

    i’ve just spotted the way i spelt ollidies and cor be bovvered to goo back an change it

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  13. 13
    LucanBaggie

    Jack 10

    Dod-Head?

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  14. 14
    Baggiebob

    Neither Ridgewell or Andrews have had much game time recently therefore I doubt we’ll see too many changes from Wednesday.

    Crucially, Swansea are a good counter attacking side and like to get behind the back four. Three times at home we’ve failed to address this style of play. The role of midfield is key and I would question playing both Cox and Odemwingie for this particular match.

    Foster
    Reid
    McAuley
    Olsson
    Shorey
    Thomas or Andrews
    Dorrans
    Mulumbu
    Morrison
    Odemwingie
    Fortune

    Next two games a pivotal to the rest of the season.

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  15. 15
    1954 baggie

    Swansea have been a suprise team but not so good
    on the road lets hope wev’e learned from games v
    similar sides there strength is on the wings
    Should’nt be a threat from set pieces but have
    small tricky players our big guys may have a problem I would go 451 with Peter O playing on
    shoulders.

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  16. 16
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    9 Jack.
    On behalf of all of his adoring fans over here, well spotted that’s wonderful news. With Shadrag to help him pick the team Merlin Mick the Magician’s Mighty Molineaux Malleables will surely now storm their way back up the table. Just when we thought he’d thrown himself off the Beatties building and missed, he reappears

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  17. 17
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    9 Jack.
    On behalf of all of his adoring fans over here, well spotted that’s wonderful news. With Shadrag to help him pick the team Merlin Mick the Magician’s Mighty Molineaux Malleables will surely now storm their way back up the table. Just when we thought he’d thrown himself off the Beatties building and missed, he reappears like the Superhero he’s always been to us. Can’t wait for his first post on here as Bobby Bag or whatever name he’ll use. Rock on Shadrag.

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  18. 18
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    B****r. Don’t no how that happened and 14 BaggieBob I was in no way having a go at you as I was so excited I had to post as soon as I read JTH’s but Shadrag has used your moniker in the past. Just one of those mad coincidences and the fact that you’ve picked a team makes it sound even less believable but it’s true. I’ll stop digging now.

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  19. 19
    J♣ck the Hat.

    (12)
    Sherlock,
    That will be the only time I’ll see it in all that glory as the missus said “Never again” after being on ice and in that precarious position in them there mountains. Talk about ice-road truckers.
    (13)
    Lucan,
    Sorry mate, It’s the way you came over, sorry blue.
    (16)
    Bully,
    LoLs, Looks as though he has pulled through the terrible shocks he’s suffered so far this season. He’ll soon put Mr.Morgan in his place.

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

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  20. 20
    We only need one half!

    9) JtH & 16) TRBH, Blimey, I will notify West Mids Police so they can stop dragging the cut!

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  21. 21
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    I fear that madness is descending on the dark side and Rocket I love the arrogance of your tribute act as well as the others.

    kenny hibbitt scorcher 78
    “so if mcarthy goes, who next.
    get david moyes and kenny hibbitt as coach give them enough money, morgan and watch wwfc go. (thats if we dont get relegated, but if we do then, sam allardyce , with chris hughton as coach. utw.”

    I’m guessing both will be happy to drop a division as it’s Wolves.

    kentnumptie

    “Ray Wilkins backed up by Steve Clarke.
    Alternatively, Gus Poyet”

    Of course Steve Clarke will jump at the chance to leave Liverpool to take up the same position at Wolves.

    John De Wolf
    “All the good managers are now in work. I’d go for Paul Lambert or Brendan Rodgers and pay the compensation.”

    FOREVER WOLVES
    “Good point realist and I doubt we could get Lambert, Rodgers or Poyet. The best we can hope for is to finish 17th and West Ham not to come up and take Big Sam.”

    And finally one who has really gone Dolally Tap (one for Cyril there.)

    Gavin Caddick
    “Glad to see o’hara back ive always thought hes one of the top midfielders in the prem hes like xavi and iniesta is for barca a top top talent.Im also a big fan of his mrs.”

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  22. 22
    LucanBaggie

    Jack
    no problem.
    Pistyll readra stunning place is the little pub at the top still there about 20 years since I last camped there

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  23. 23
    CantelloRocket 78

    6 JtH & 12 Sherlock,

    it is beautiful up there,my wife’s cousin has a ‘second’ home in Llanderfel(?),about 3 miles from Bala Town,on the edge of Snowdonia,and he offered us a ‘free’ holiday there a couple of years back.

    The village is small,not even a shop anymore,but there’s a lovely stretch of the River Dee,and a decent pub with guest ales and good meals.

    As I’m a life-long angler,who loves the countryside,and enjoys a pint,it was ideal.

    If only there was a private plane laid on to The Hawthorns,I’d be happy to live there permanently……….

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  24. 24
    CantelloRocket 78

    21 Bully,

    as I’ve said before,I only quickly scan a wolves story every two or three weeks,I don’t spend much time there because whenever I look,it seems that 9 out of 10 posts begin-

    ‘Please Mick,leave now!!’.

    Then the other day,Max told me to ‘ave a look,and sure enough,one of the first posts I saw said-

    ‘get rid of Mick,bring Chris Hughton in,and give Blues some comp.’

    Just like that.

    Knock on his door,and say ‘put your coat on,we’re taking you to wolves.
    What’s it like to have a chance of a lifetime,managing a club who were once amongst the elite,albeit nearly 60 years ago?’

    I did glance down,and was almost happy to see L.W.Shadrag,esq.
    Strangely,I’ve missed him in a funny sort of way.

    I could tell it was the ‘real’ LW,because he always ‘signs’ his posts with a team sheet for the next game.

    Having said that,he has been known,from time to time,to include a player who left wolves several months earlier.

    I can say with some certainty that he’s unlikely to be ‘Inside Man’………

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  25. 25
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    24 Rocket.
    I like to peruse our rivals site and I hasten to say (cue for condemnation from some quarters) that I have the utmost respect for the majority of Wolves fans who just support their club the way we do.

    Yes they have a percentage of knuckle draggers, as well as a percentage internet idiots but there are also the likes of Malvern, 1877, Father Ted, PeteNuts, Filton etc and of course Lonely knowledgable and funny.

    I have a laugh at the arrogant posters but put their posts on here in the hope that some of our own will see them and think ‘that could be me.’ As you say ‘bring Hughton in, give Blues some comp,’ all very medieval reminiscent of feudal robber barons.

    But thing is it’s all so easy to say ‘Peace get your hand in your pocket’ or ‘Roy should try a 6-1-3 formation.’ or as somebody said as the window closed ‘I’m disappointed that we didn’t get a proven goalscorer in.’ Whoever it was I’m not having a go at you but a proven PL goalscorer if there is such a thing, Torres, Carroll, can cost anything from £30 mill upwards or you take a punt on somebody from the Championship and pay over the odds at this time of year for a player that might not make the step up.

    I also list p*****g into the wind among my hobbies.

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    Cyril Randle

    21.TRBH. What’s that about Mrs O’Hara’s big fan from Caddick?
    I have been over t’other side only once in ages. I find it so depressing reading their anger and misery. I can remember when both our teams were big noises in Div.1. Both have plumbed the depths since, Wolves sinking as low as anyone can and still survive, for which they should thank Graham Turner. I don’t remember there being much gratitude poured in his direction though. They used it all up on Steve Bull. Then Sir Jack became the Saviour and it ended with him reviled too.
    One day they will wake to realise we are ORDINARY now, both teams.

    Report abuse

  27. 27
    J♣ck the Hat.

    (22)
    Lucan,
    Only visited the B&B plus cafe at the foot of the waterfall, can’t attempt to reach the top these days. So peaceful listening to rushing water.
    (23)
    Cantello,
    You should be O.K., all you need is a seaplane service, then you could take off on Bala lake and land on the “Cut” by the Hawthorns, but watch out as you don’t wreck the BAGGIE barge. Just think of the views from up there.

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

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  28. 28
    J♣ck the Hat.

    (12)
    Sherlock,
    Sure is a pity, I’ve got lots of photos and video footage of those areas. The photos look beautiful when put through the computer to the television. Will have to put them on disc.

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

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