The resurgence of Roy Hodgson has gone unnoticed by many this season but could the West Brom boss be the potential leading candidate for the England job if the FA and Harry Redknapp can’t come to an agreement.
Admittedly this is an unlikely situation but the fact that Hodgson has done such a brilliant job at West Brom should be recognised. When he took over the Baggies in February last year, the West Midlands club sat 16th in the Premier League, just four points clear of the drop-zone. Having recently been dismissed from Liverpool, after his dream job with a massive English club never hit the heights he had hoped, it was intriguing to see how the 63-year-old would respond.
The fact that not many people were talking about West Brom at the end of the season came as a massive comfort to the fans as Roy Hodgson threw off their “boing boing” tag, losing just two of the twelve games he took charge of that season to finish 11th, safely in mid-table.
Before taking the job at Anfield, Hodgson appeared to be the leading candidate for the job with the national side, if Fabio Capello left his post after a disastrous World Cup campaign, after performing heroics with Fulham. The Cottagers fans will never forget their side’s exploits in Europe in 2009/10. A remarkable four goal turnaround to beat giants Juventus as well as wins over German heavyweights Hamburg and Wolfsburg on their way to the Europa League final was almost capped with a major European trophy only for a heartbreaking Diego Forlan extra-time winner to deny Fulham right at the death.
Once again this season, very few will write home much about West Bromwich Albion with Saturday’s victory over Queens Park Rangers taking the Baggies thirteen points clear of relegation and in fact only four points behind Hodgson’s old club Liverpool in a congested mid-table area.
One win in seven at the start of this campaign looked ominous but Roy Hodgson managed to rally his troops with his own signings Shane Long, Zoltan Gera and Keith Andrews playing starring roles as the Baggies have once again pulled clear of the bottom three.
Add to this Hodgson’s international experience with Switzerland and Finland as well as a vast knowledge of the game during his 36-year globetrotting managerial career then it is clear he has the credentials to take on the vacant England job.
So if you would rather stay at Tottenham, Harry, we do have another perfectly able candidate ready and waiting.
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