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West Brom manager Roy Hodgson pleased with squad depth but not ruling out late transfers
Baggies boss content with current group of players, claiming he doesn't feel desperate to make any signings, but admitted he may not be done yet for this January
26 Jan 2012 15:43:00
by Nathan Lowe
Getty Images
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has revealed he is happy with his current squad and doesn't anticipate any signings before the transfer window closes, unless the perfect opportunity presents itself.
The Baggies boss believes his squad is bigger than it seems, and buying new players could just clog the ranks at the Hawthornes with Marc-Antoine Fortune now back in the team following his loan spell with Doncaster Rovers.
But, Hodgson admits his side can afford to buy or sell at the right price before the window closes, if he deems it necessary and worthwhile.
"If something comes up that we think could help us either in the short term or the longer term we would be foolish not to do it," he told his club's official website. "But that's got to come up.
"We're not desperately scratching our head every day thinking 'we've got to get this or that'.
"We're just keeping our eyes and ears open and seeing what comes about.
"If something comes up that we think would be nice for us then hopefully we would go in and strike."
The former Inter manager thinks his squad is stronger than people give it credit for, and is unsure about filling it to the brim, a situation that could halt the progression of some of his younger players.
"I don't think the depth of our squad is that bad," Hodgson remarked.
"I've said all along that I don't think there is any panic to do things and the performances at the weekend from people like Tamas and Fortune, to name but two, who haven't featured much, and Cox, who hasn't featured too much either, shows that.
"It's important anyone we bring in has to fit a bill and a profile that we've set up, and it isn't just us saying 'that's a good idea, let's go and get him' because you just pile players up and make a rod for your own back.
"You also block spaces.
"I watched the reserve team yesterday and saw people like Sam Mantom and George Thorne playing very well against Stephen Dobbie and Ferrie Bodde, and anybody we bring in in that position pushes them further back.
"You've got to be certain if you bring somebody in that you don't mind them being pushed further back because this particular player is exactly what you're looking for."
Hodgson reserved special praise for some of his side's more impressive recent performers,
including captain Jonas Olsson and midfielder James Morrison.
The Swedish defender has featured prominently in the center of the Baggies' backline since returning from a four-match injury layoff, and Hodgson admits the team miss his leadership when he isn't playing.
"[Olsson]'s got leadership qualities," the Baggies boss said.
"He takes the game by the scruff of the neck, he takes other people with him and he leads by example by winning tackles, getting his head on the ball and doing everything top centre-backs should do.
"He's a very good player in his position and he's a leader so when he's not playing we sometimes miss that type of leadership, desire and will to win that rubs off on the others.
"But it's a little bit unfair to say we win with him and we don't win without him because that's not really been the case.
"He's not a goalscorer and it's not really been the fact that we've let in loads of goals and given opponents loads of chances.
"I would say in the last 12 games of last season, when we bagged an enormous amount of points and lifted ourselves up to mid-table, we probably conceded far more goal chances per game than we have this season - but they weren't going in."
Hodgson similarly believes Scotsman Morrison is one of his side's best performers so far this season, and he certainly hopes that trend continues.
"He has had a good season so far," the manager said.
"Touch wood, he's been playing very well for a while now. He's been up there among our best players.
"When he plays centrally, in particular, he's done some very good work, and also when he's had to go wide and do a job for the team.
"When you take the 22 league games we've had this season, he'd be right up there with the best performers and it's good to see him continue it.
"His confidence is good as a result of it.
"When I came in I took him on board as a relatively senior member of the squad and a player who I knew was a gifted player.
"In the year I've been here he has been one of the most consistent performers and I would think he has played the bulk of the games."
Morrison scored last weekend during West Brom's important 2-1 victory at Stoke City, and fellow goalscorer Graham Dorrans managed to earn a few lines from his boss
as well.
"It's good to see Graham is getting better match by match," Hodgson said.
"We're beginning to see the best of him because he is getting a run of games and is getting fitter through the games.
"Since I've been at the club, which is almost a year now, a large part of his time has been spoilt by injury.
"I'm hoping in him I'm finding a new player."
The Baggies continue their FA Cup run on Saturday when they host fellow Premier League side Norwich City at the Hawthornes.
Hodgson's 15th place side then travel to 12th place Fulham on Wednesday in Premier League action.
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The Baggies boss believes his squad is bigger than it seems, and buying new players could just clog the ranks at the Hawthornes with Marc-Antoine Fortune now back in the team following his loan spell with Doncaster Rovers.
But, Hodgson admits his side can afford to buy or sell at the right price before the window closes, if he deems it necessary and worthwhile.
"If something comes up that we think could help us either in the short term or the longer term we would be foolish not to do it," he told his club's official website. "But that's got to come up.
"We're not desperately scratching our head every day thinking 'we've got to get this or that'.
"We're just keeping our eyes and ears open and seeing what comes about.
"If something comes up that we think would be nice for us then hopefully we would go in and strike."
The former Inter manager thinks his squad is stronger than people give it credit for, and is unsure about filling it to the brim, a situation that could halt the progression of some of his younger players.
"I don't think the depth of our squad is that bad," Hodgson remarked.
"I've said all along that I don't think there is any panic to do things and the performances at the weekend from people like Tamas and Fortune, to name but two, who haven't featured much, and Cox, who hasn't featured too much either, shows that.
"It's important anyone we bring in has to fit a bill and a profile that we've set up, and it isn't just us saying 'that's a good idea, let's go and get him' because you just pile players up and make a rod for your own back.
"You also block spaces.
"I watched the reserve team yesterday and saw people like Sam Mantom and George Thorne playing very well against Stephen Dobbie and Ferrie Bodde, and anybody we bring in in that position pushes them further back.
"You've got to be certain if you bring somebody in that you don't mind them being pushed further back because this particular player is exactly what you're looking for."
Hodgson reserved special praise for some of his side's more impressive recent performers,
including captain Jonas Olsson and midfielder James Morrison.
The Swedish defender has featured prominently in the center of the Baggies' backline since returning from a four-match injury layoff, and Hodgson admits the team miss his leadership when he isn't playing.
"[Olsson]'s got leadership qualities," the Baggies boss said.
"He takes the game by the scruff of the neck, he takes other people with him and he leads by example by winning tackles, getting his head on the ball and doing everything top centre-backs should do.
"He's a very good player in his position and he's a leader so when he's not playing we sometimes miss that type of leadership, desire and will to win that rubs off on the others.
"But it's a little bit unfair to say we win with him and we don't win without him because that's not really been the case.
"He's not a goalscorer and it's not really been the fact that we've let in loads of goals and given opponents loads of chances.
"I would say in the last 12 games of last season, when we bagged an enormous amount of points and lifted ourselves up to mid-table, we probably conceded far more goal chances per game than we have this season - but they weren't going in."
Hodgson similarly believes Scotsman Morrison is one of his side's best performers so far this season, and he certainly hopes that trend continues.
"He has had a good season so far," the manager said.
"Touch wood, he's been playing very well for a while now. He's been up there among our best players.
"When he plays centrally, in particular, he's done some very good work, and also when he's had to go wide and do a job for the team.
"When you take the 22 league games we've had this season, he'd be right up there with the best performers and it's good to see him continue it.
"His confidence is good as a result of it.
"When I came in I took him on board as a relatively senior member of the squad and a player who I knew was a gifted player.
"In the year I've been here he has been one of the most consistent performers and I would think he has played the bulk of the games."
Morrison scored last weekend during West Brom's important 2-1 victory at Stoke City, and fellow goalscorer Graham Dorrans managed to earn a few lines from his boss
as well.
"It's good to see Graham is getting better match by match," Hodgson said.
"We're beginning to see the best of him because he is getting a run of games and is getting fitter through the games.
"Since I've been at the club, which is almost a year now, a large part of his time has been spoilt by injury.
"I'm hoping in him I'm finding a new player."
The Baggies continue their FA Cup run on Saturday when they host fellow Premier League side Norwich City at the Hawthornes.
Hodgson's 15th place side then travel to 12th place Fulham on Wednesday in Premier League action.
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