Posts
Roy
Hodgson was confirmed as West Brom manager yesterday after suffering a torrid
time at Liverpool. The 63-year-old will be looking to get his managerial career
back on track and, to do that, he’s going to need these five players.
Peter
Odemwingie
The
Nigerian striker had an explosive start to his Premier League career as he
scored an 81st-minute winner against Sunderland on his debut after
he signed for £1 million from Lokomotiv Moscow back in August 2010. Odemwingie,
who has made 49 appearances for his country and scored 9 goals, is just shy of
6ft. tall and it is his physical presence, as well his speed and finishing
ability, that makes him a threat to all defences. The 29-year-old can also play
out wide on the right wing and likes to come inside across the back-line and he
is the current top goalscorer for the Baggies, with nine goals in eight League
appearances. If Hodgson is to play a 4-5-1 formation, which he did at Fulham
and Liverpool most frequently, then Odemwingie would be the perfect
lone-striker.
Chris
Brunt
When
Hodgson guided Fulham to the Europa League final in the 2009/2010 season, he
had wingers who could deliver a pin-point cross from both wings. Irishman
Damien Duff was the main man on the left and, on the right, either Clint
Dempsey or Simon Davies were used. Chris Brunt, then, is an ideal player for
Hodgson. The 26-year-old Northern Ireland international has made the most
assists this season for West Brom (8) and his ability to play in ever position
across midfield will be of great use to Hodgson. Brunt has been found on both
wings this season and his pace, technique and ability on a dead ball situation
will be of huge use to Hodgson. Brunt has been found playing in an attacking
midfield role for West Brom this season but it is out on the wings where he is
most effective.
Jerome
Thomas
Another
technical and determined player, Jerome Thomas should be able to forge an
understanding with Brunt, meaning that Brunt and the Arsenal academy graduate
could be seen switching wings to confuse full-backs this season. Thomas’ five
assists and two goals this campaign make him a great source of creativity and
his pace will terrify defences all over the country. Thomas has made every one
of his twenty appearances on the left-wing this season, but his ability to cut
inside and use his favoured right foot means that he will probably be used on
both wings under Hodgson.
Youssuf
Mulumbu
At
Fulham, Hodgson used a variety of central midfielders, from the likes of Danny
Murphy, Chris Baird, Jonathan Greening and Dickson Etuhu. In Mulumbu, Hodgson
has an athletic, strong and powerful defensive midfielder who will sit in front
of the defence and allow those in front of him to attack at will. Mulumbu also
likes to roam forward at times and his two goals this season, against Blackpool
and Fulham, show that the French-born Congolese 24-year-old can suit a variety
of roles. Mulumbu has been sent off twice this campaign (against Manchester
City and Everton) but Hodgson’s teams are well known for having an excellent
disciplinary record – only one player (Kagiso Dikgacoi) was sent off in the
League for Fulham in Hodgson’s last year in charge.
Paul
Scharner
Since
Scharner joined Wigan in 2006, the Austrian international has been known as one
of the most versatile players in the League. The 30-year-old can play at centre-back
or at centre-midfield, as well as at full-back. While Scharner may not be the
most gifted of players in terms of ability, his versatility and box-to-box
attitude should be well utilised by Hodgson for the remainder of this season.
Scharner’s skill in the air also makes him a threat at corners, shown by the
fact that both his goals this season have been headers. Scharner was mainly
used as a central-midfielder by Roberto Di Matteo but, under Hodgson, the
former-Austria Wien defender could find himself played more defensively,
possibly as a roaming centre-back.
This article
originally appeared on sports website Sports Haze but is now unavailable due to
the site closing down.
Picture from nicksarebi
