What's happened at the Hawthorns?

West Bromwich Albion for years known as the yo-yo club of the football leagues as season after season they swapped back and forth between premier league and championship football, as they never really managed to get a stable position in the top flight.

However that all seems to be in the past now, in 2011 under the stewardship of Roberto Di Matteo they established a more fluid style that saw them play attractive football but they struggled in defence. In February of 2011 Di Matteo was sacked after a poor run of form, in came Roy Hodgson after a tough time at Anfield. Hodgson welcomed the opportunity to take on the challenge of stopping the rot at the Hawthorns and stabilising The Baggies premier league status, he did that and they finished 11^th. The 2011-2012 season Hodgson went one better and guided the club to 10^th place their best finish in the top flight since 1981.

Hodgson had the club going in the right direction as they solidified themselves as a mid table premier league side, but before the end of the 2012 season Hodgson was approached by the FA to take the vacant England position. This came as a surprise as he was selected over the bookies and pretty much everyone’s favourite Harry Redknapp but it was nothing less than Hodgson deserved for years of good work in the game. Hodgson can’t be begrudged for taking the role on as it was the opportunity of a life time for him, but this left the baggies managerless and unsure of who to turn to.

A month later though Steve Clarke former assistant manager to both Jose Mourinho and Kenny Dalglish at Chelsea and Liverpool respectively took the reigns of the midlands club. At first this was met as a bit of a shock as the Scotsman Clarke had never held a permanent position as a full time manager before, however he soon proved that he had learnt a thing or two under the special one at Chelsea and Dalglish at Liverpool.

Clarke has been impressive in his first few months at the helm of the club, combining a new style of fluid counter-attacking football with the organisational and defensive strengths Hodgson installed in the side and the end product has been a huge surprise to everyone.

With just over three months gone the Baggies sit in third spot in the league taking 26 points from their 13 games played including impressive wins over Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton and Sunderland. This is West Brom’s best start to a top flight season in over 60 years and a lot of this season’s success has to be put down to the way Steve Clarke has managed the team.

Clarke made some shrewd signings over the summer to strengthen the squad and he also held on to players he needed to keep. He secured the permanent signature from Birmingham of Ben Foster who had been on loan at the club the previous season, Foster at one point was being touted as one of the country’s best and it seems that since joining West Brom he is regaining the form that earnt him that label.  

West Brom also managed to get Romelu Lukaku on loan the big Belgian striker who Chelsea signed as a hot prospect from Anderlecht has shown a lot of potential for West Brom as he has hit four goals in his 11 matches and he has always proved to be a handful for the opposition defence.

               

One of the more understated signings Clarke made was that of Claudio Yacob an Argentine midfielder, who signed from Racing Club in Spain, when signed he was somewhat of an unknown quantity but the Scotsman obviously saw something in him and he has repaid that faith greatly. He made his debut against Liverpool and earnt man of the match against the reds and since he has put in quality performances, he is the transitional lynch pin in the team and his presence has often proved to be the catalyst for West Brom to switch quickly from defence to attack.

                

However it’s not just the man’s shrewd signings that have transformed West Brom into the team they are today, his man management skills have also been very impressive as he has instilled previously missing confidence in strikers Shane Long, Peter Odemwingie and midfielder Zoltan Gera who have all inspired impressive wins this season.

Add to his man management skills his tactical astuteness and the counter attacking philosophy he has brought to the side West Brom look more hungry and ruthless than ever before and they have really been the surprise package so far this season.

Now the question on everyone’s lips is how far can West Brom really go under Clarke? Everybody is expecting this bubble to burst but what if it doesn't and this run continues, only time will tell but for now West Brom fans will be ecstatic with the start they have made and they will be hoping it continues for as long as possible.