By Terry Wills.
Amidst the doom and gloom of watching and listening to reports of nationwide riots, it’s a welcome back to what should be the opening games in the Greed League and Roy Hodgson’s Baggies, facing a certain Manchester United in their first (but certainly not last) Hawthorns Sunday home game of the season, a fixture leaving Albion facing what will appears to be a certain loss of three points. United are overwhelming favourites within the media to retain the Premier League trophy, so if we could shock the ‘Red Devils’ that would be considered a MAJOR surprise.
Prospects? With Roy Hodgson’s shrewd transfer haggling, especially relating to Ben Watson, Shane Long, and Zoltan Gera, spirits will be high that we might just improve on last season’s unlucky 2-1 defeat at the Hawthorns, a defeat so undeserved that even Sir Alex was forced to admit that Albion had been unlucky – a rare admission from the most successful manager in the game.
Foster is recognised as a quality keeper, Long a potentially lethal striker, and Gera’s quality is such that his return has been an unexpected bonus for the fans. Even so, with a new look Baggies side initially attempting to recognise the strengths and weaknesses of their colleagues, it easy to see why any result apart from a United victory will be considered a headline worthy report.
Managing to retain the services of Yousoff Mulumbu and Peter Odemwingie has been warmly recognised by every supporter. So providing they, plus hopefully a return to his best form by Graham Dorrans, and a continuation of the results we enjoyed at the back end of last
Season, we could enjoy a relative stress free campaign – along with the majority of clubs whose sole realistic aim is to avoid slipping into the realms of Championship football. And if that isn’t sad reflective proof of just how the game has changed for the worse then I don’t know what is.
Forecast? It has to be a United win, but who knows? Ahould Miracle Man Roy Hodgson manage to instil a sense of determination and desire from Chris Brunt’s side there might just be a surprise lying in wait for Wayne Rooney and his colleagues.
One thing is beyond dispute – the number of goals conceded HAS to be drastically reduced and in that context Jonas Olsson will inevitably be a key imposing figure at the heart of the defence. If not, we will have to score something like three goals a game to win matches and that will be difficult. But we’ll simply have to wait, see, and hope for the best won’t we?
Come on you Baggies.
