Express & Star

Don Goodman: Don’t tinker too much at West Brom

Former Albion striker Don Goodman has urged Darren Moore to replicate his tactics from the Leeds game for the foreseeable future.

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Albion’s tactics had Leeds chasing shadows during the Baggies’ 4-1 triumph at The Hawthorns (AMA)

Goodman, who helped cover the game for Sky Sports, said that victory over Leeds was a ‘signature moment’ in the fledgling manager’s career.

He described putting Matt Phillips into a central midfield three as a ‘masterstroke’ and believes the Baggies do not have the personnel to play it out from the back.

“That’s the type of football they’re going to have to play if they want to get promoted,” said Goodman.

“History tells us just because you’re relegated from the Premier League, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get promoted back at the first attempt. The figure is less than 30 per cent in recent years.

“It’s a tall order but what I saw from them against Leeds United was very encouraging.”

Goodman’s comments come after assistant head coach Graeme Jones described the tactics against Leeds as a ‘one off’ – but the broadcaster believes they suit Albion’s players.

“I’ve seen them three times live,” he told the Express & Star. “Twice I was a little bit disappointed but last time against Leeds United was much more like it.

“The two previous games were against Nottingham Forest and Derby Country and they got completely overrun in midfield, they didn’t have the same level of energy, pace and mobility as either of those sides.

“I think it was a masterstroke putting Matt Phillips in there alongside (James) Morrison and (Jake) Livermore.

“It was a tactic that certainly worked against Leeds United and I don’t really see too much need for Darren Moore to tinker with it.

“I liked the energy levels of the front three, it looked like a more comfortable back four when they had the ball, they weren’t trying to be over-elaborate and expansive, they didn’t invite the opposition to apply pressure.

“That was something they’d be getting caught out with, playing out from the back, but it rarely happened against Leeds. I’m not really sure they have the type of player that ethos suits.

“You need a very comfortable midfielder that’s a bit of board of you to bounce the ball off if you’re a central defender.

“Nottingham Forest had that with Adlene Guedioura and Derby had that with Tom Huddlestone.

“West Brom don’t possess that type of midfielder. When defenders have the ball it’s about movement and availability in front of them.

“In the games I saw when they were trying to do that it wasn’t fluid enough.

“I m not saying it’s not the way forward, but for now, what I saw against Leeds United was first class and that type of display on a regular basis will get them up.

“That was a signature moment in Darren’s early coaching career.

“You’ve got to identify when something isn’t quite right or not working, whether it’s personnel, training, travel, whatever.

“You have to be able to identify it, between him and his backroom team they had a look at the previous four games had gone, where they hadn’t gone well.

“They weren’t getting performances; they weren’t the better team in those games.

“They were outplayed, particularly by Derby County. Something wasn’t quite right, it’s very important as a coach to be able to identify that and come up with solutions.”

Goodman, who scored 63 goals in 163 appearances for the Baggies while they were in the second tier, believes Albion’s defenders should be allowed to play with to their strengths.

“The strengths of the three central defenders isn’t with the ball at their feet,” he said. “Passing is not their best asset, they have many other strengths between the three of them, but playing expansively and making things happen ahead of them isn’t their strength.

“There are other factors as well. West Brom for most teams in the division is a big club. Clubs will come there and enjoy the environment and view it as a huge game and thrive on it. You’ve got to be able to deal with it.”