The gulf in quality between the Premier League and the Championship has been apparent throughout the past ten years, with several teams proving too strong for the second tier but ill-equipped to handle life in the top flight. For supporters of these ‘yo yo’ clubs, the game has been a real rollercoaster of emotions.
No club fits the tag better than West Brom, who have experienced a catalogue of highs and lows. Promotions in 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2010 have been counterbalanced by relegation in 2003, 2006 and 2009, as well as a last day survival and a playoff final defeat to add to the annual drama.
The inevitable turnover of players and managers has made it difficult to ensure stability at The Hawthorns, with the constant challenge of balancing the books, and the critics have not been shy in writing off West Brom. Invariably, pre-season predictions have made the Baggies either promotion candidates or relegation fodder.
That could be about to change, though, with Roy Hodgson at the helm and an organised, committed group of players at his disposal, ranging from a reinvigorated Scott Carson in goal to the fiery Paul Scharner in midfield and livewire Peter Odemwingie spearheading the attack. Turning solid performances into much needed points has always been an issue for the Baggies but, with everyone buying into the team ethos, Hodgson is quietly steering his new club into safer waters. It could be the important first step on the road to the Premier League stability that the supporters crave.
From day one, Hodgson has had that target in mind. After accepting the job, he said: “I am delighted that a club of West Bromwich Albion’s stature has given me the opportunity to help them in their quest to retain their Premier League status and to build for the future.” The challenge was simply too appealing to turn down.
And the former Finland coach has backed up those words. Unbeaten since 5th February, West Brom have taken the game to the league’s elite. A 2-2 draw against Arsenal, in which Hodgson’s men took a two-goal lead, exhibited the improvements made under the new boss before a 2-1 victory at home to Liverpool raised the bar yet higher; a gritty 3-2 win at Sunderland then proved the worm has well and truly turned.
Of course, for Hodgson, the win over Liverpool was especially sweet, despite his attempts to downplay the significance. His brief, unsuccessful spell in the Anfield hot seat ended in January after just seven wins from 20 league games, however Hodgson emerged from the crisis with only a portion of the blame. After all, the Liverpool players frequently performed well below their best and Hodgson had to deal with an injured Steven Gerrard and an out-of-form Fernando Torres, who has looked totally at sea even after joining forces with Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba at Chelsea. A series of ill-advised comments to the media meant the Kop swung quickly against the Londoner, making any chance of a revival with the impetus provided by fresh ownership impossible.
But that chapter of the Hodgson story is over. He already looks more comfortable at The Hawthorns than he ever did at Anfield – and he now has the chance to form a squad capable of following in the footsteps of his impressive group at Fulham. The manner of the performance at Sunderland in which the Baggies fell behind twice, was the latest sign of a bright Hodgson-led future for the Baggies.
The fight for survival is not over, however, with just eight points separating tenth-placed West Brom from rock bottom Wigan Athletic at the time of writing. While the Midlands club can take nothing for granted as crunch time approaches, their recent displays have suggested that finishing in the top half is likelier than being dragged back into the relegation dogfight. After all the events of the past nine months, West Brom find themselves perched just a few spots below Liverpool.
Upcoming clashes with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will test the resolve of Hodgson’s rejuvenated side, but home fixtures against Aston Villa and Everton are certainly winnable. Momentum is clearly on their side.
For Hodgson, a season that began with so much excitement for the 63-year-old with his first truly "big club" job in England, then descended into despair, might just end on a high. And for West Brom, that all points towards finally establishing themselves as a Premier League club.
