Baggies feel the pain

Sunday, 18/09/2011

by Dave Wedgbury, Shoot's West Brom blogger

After the win at Norwich, I felt that this was the day that we could build upon that first success of the season. A trip down to Wales to play Swansea could be just what the doctor ordered, I thought we could have won this game with our new found confidence.

My bubble was well and truly burst with a poor display and a 3-0 defeat, a well deserved defeat against the newly promoted team from Wales. The only positive that I felt after this match was that Luke Moore didn’t manage to score against us, that would really well and truly have taken the biscuit.

I have questioned all season whether our so-called strongest eleven are suited to playing Roy’s preferred 4-4-2 system, after this uninspiring performance I have no reason to have changed my mind. There are just too many weaknesses with this system and I feel that Roy must change his beliefs as soon as possible.

The first concern is that playing Mulumbu and Scharner in the centre without a more creative central player alongside them leaves us lacking the creativity to set up opportunities for the striker. Both players are capable of doing a great job but I feel they need either Dorrans or Thorne in front or alongside them to provide that cutting through ball.

With this system we are lacking the width that is usually provided with five midfielders, both Thomas, Brunt or Morrison tend to navigate to the centre or are being restricted by their defensive duties, although neither really provide too much protection for their fullbacks.

The question must also be asked whether Long and Odemwingie can play together in this system, it is early days but at times it seemed like they were on different wavelengths and both seemed reluctant to create for each other, often preferring to go it alone and into dead ends. Odemwingie does appear to thrive as that lone player, but where does Roy fit in his only summer transfer signing?

I know that I am not along with these doubts, reading the message boards, talking to other fans and using common sense tells me that Roy may have to change quickly, or try different personal to make his system work more effectively.

Obvious errors from Saturday included Scharner’s needless challenge in the box for the first, Olsson failure to challenge Lita from the long clearance for the third goal and sloppy marking for the second goal allowing Sinclair to win a flick on totally unchallenged.

This was a painful defeat, we got exactly what we deserved and the lads and manager need to get a win when Roy’s old team Fulham visit the Hawthorns next week.

Yes, it is early days but sitting rock bottom of the Premier League wasn’t in our plans, decisions needs to be made and Roy needs to be bold and brave for the next match.

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