Hodgson up for the cup

Sunday, 08/01/2012

by Dave Wedgbury, Shoot's West Brom blogger

Maybe for some the beauty of the FA cup has been diby Dave minished over recent years but Roy Hodgson showed that he is taking the cup seriously by playing his strongest eleven players available.

Make no mistake this cup tie against Cardiff was never going to be a walkover, this was a potential banana skin for Albion.

Albion started with youngsters Dawson, Thorne and the returned Jara, in addition to these we also had Wood, Mattock and Mantom on the bench. This team highlighted just how bad our injury problems have become this season.

Albion got off to a flying start and were two goals up after strikes from Odemwingie and Cox, but Cardiff did get back into the game and just into the second half it was 2-2.

But two more goals from Cox ensured Albion’s name in the next round draw and the match ball for Cox, this also gave a sharp reminder to Roy that Cox can score goals when given the chance.

So with an injury list that includes Brunt, Olsson, Long, Thomas, Mulumbu and now McAuley and Scharner, who will be the players who will stand up and be counted? Will the current players be able to successfully fill the gaps left by such influential players or will Albion have to break their thrifty transfer policy and search for new talent?

Dawson is the first who will be given the role of replacing Olsson or McAuley, yes he is young but with nearly 100 league appearances and six international Under-21 caps to his name, he is not short of match experience – Dawson will only get better from the chance to play alongside the experienced McAuley or Olsson and could prove to be a key player for Albion over the next few years.

Thorne is currently filling in at central midfield and is a steady enough player, he may get caught on the ball occasionally but has not looked out of place in the engine room of Albion’s team. Thorne has 12 England Under-19 caps to his name but less than tne league appearances, but for a youngster he has a calm and assured head on his shoulders.

One for the future, or one ready to take responsibility for Albion’s midfield? Time will tell on this but rest assured Roy will need and I believe will also be utilising Thorne this season more than he probably anticipated.

Cox scores goals, there can be no denying this but Albion fans are split over whether he really has the ability to impact upon Premier League games, he does not possess that extra pace of Long and Odemwingie, he doesn’t have the tricks that Odemwingie possesses, so what does he add to the team?

Cox has heart, he does not give up and will give his all for his team, he also knows exactly where the net is and given half a chance will usually take it. Hodgson likes Cox and I don’t believe will allow him to move from the club, he is regularly played out of position and asked to be Albion’s utility man fitting in midfield, up front or in the hole behind the front man.

I think Cox has that knack of scoring that will ensure he remains with us as an injury to Long or Odemwingie would reduce us to fringe players or youngsters. Cox may just get his chance very soon and yesterday’s hat-trick will have reinforced Roy’s reluctance to let Simon Cox leave the Hawthorns on any loan or permanent deals.

Yesterday was great but the more important fixture will arrive next wek when Norwich visit the Hawthorns, we just cannot lose this game and three points are becoming more urgent with teams around us picking up points.

With Stoke, Swansea, Fulham and Sunderland coming up, there are games that we can pick up points, I again call for the club to sort out a few players to strengthen our squad. Scott Allen is rumoured to be very close to signing and may just be thrust into first team action quicker than planned, but we do need a few more players to follow him into the club, and quickly please.

• 

• Have your say