English Premier League: Evaluating the relegation contenders (Part 2)
In the last part of this series we analyzed Blackpool, now the focus turns towards West Bromwich Albion’s relegation battle with their new manager Roy Hodgson at the helm of affairs.
17th. West Bromwich Albion
A weak defence and erratic form has defined West Bromwich’s season so far. At the start, Roberto Di Matteo’s men got ransacked by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 but then the Baggies bounced back to defeat Arsenal at the Emirates stadium.
West Brom then travelled to Manchester United and obtained an over the odds draw against the Red Devils. Simply put, West Brom was unpredictable and highly volatile. However, that by no means implies that they will end up securing their place in the 2011/2012
English Premier League season.
West Bromwich Albion currently has 27 points from 26 matches in the English Premier League. With a goal difference of negative 17, the Baggies are not only weak in attack but also in defence.
Additionally, West Brom hasn’t won a single one of their last four encounters in the English Premier League. In their latest match in the English league, the Baggies succumbed to a 3-3 draw against West Ham United.
Interestingly enough, Roy Hodgson’s team have a good home record. Under their last manager, Roberto Di Matteo, West Ham won five, lost four and drew four out of their 13 home games.
Alternatively, West Bromwich has been woeful on their travels. The West midlands’ club has lost nine, won two and drawn two out of their total of 13 away matches which means that West Brom needs improvise their performances at away grounds where their attacking
football becomes susceptible to counter attacks.
West Brom’s run in to the end of the English Premier League consists of six home fixtures and six away fixtures.
However, the point to be noted here is that the Baggies are yet to play against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool at the Hawthorns Stadium while Roy Hodgson’s team also has to make a long away trip to Tottenham Hotspur as well.
These games will be crucial in determining West Brom’s fate at the end of the 2010/2011 English Premier League season.
Regardless, West Bromwich’s owners are banking on the new manager syndrome. After foolishly parting ways with Roberto Di Matteo who was doing an above average job with a below average team, Albion have replaced the Italian with Roy Hodgson who recently got
dismissed from his post as Liverpool’s manager. It is now Hodgson’s job to keep West Brom in the English Premier League.
However, such a task is easier said than done. Roy was clearly out of his depth at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 but the ex-Inter Milan manager has showcased in the past that he is capable of manufacturing miraculous escapes from the relegation zone.
Furthermore, to do so will require a massive improvement in West Bromwich Albion’s defensive department as the Baggies have conceded a total of 51 goals in 26 matches so far which indirectly means that the English club has leaked in approximately two goals
per match.
Conclusion: West Bromwich Albion is destined for the fall to the Championship.
In the next edition of this series, Wigan Athletic’s Premier League future is brought under discussion to see where they stand in the hustle and bustle of a relegation battle.
The views expressed by the writers are his own and do not reflect the editorial policy of
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