Now should be the time for Hodgson to tinker
- Published
Roy Hodgson has seven points from his three games in charge but should he tinker with the squad in the four which remain?
Interim manager Roy Hodgson maintained his unbeaten run as Bristol City took a point at QPR.
It was a typical end-of-season affair with City's keeper, Radek Vitek, being a virtual spectator all afternoon following two successive man-of-the-match performances.
On another day City might have come away with all three points but such is the paucity of their attacking options that the threat just wasn't there. In the overall scheme of things seven points from three games shows Hodgson has turned things around, but surely with a handful of games remaining this is the time for a degree of experimenting with team selection with next season in mind.
With the Championship table as tight as ever, only four points separate ninth from 17th. Equalling last season's points total of 68 is too big an ask now, but the optics of tumbling half a dozen places from where City are now as a result of blooding some youngsters is something the club's owners might not view favourably. Hodgson too, in what is likely to be a career sign-off, would like to end on a high.
Hodgson was able to include Ross McCrorie and George Tanner in his matchday squad and while City's Scotland international was brought on for the final 15 minutes, many supporters, me included, wondered why he did not give similar to 21-year-old left back Seb Naylor who was signed in January from Manchester City. It would have given Cam Pring, gradually returning to form, a chance to rest his legs.
Perhaps more baffling for City fans was when Roy brought on Delano Burgzorg as a forward threat. He is right up there among City's worst ever loan signings and won't be here next season, that's for sure. The much maligned Sinclair Armstrong would have been a better option against his former club, or the always enthusiastic Sam Bell, even though he's likely to be out the door come June unless offered a new contract.
With time ticking by there is still no news on the appointment of a sporting director which, along with a new head coach, were stated as urgent requirements by CEO Charlie Boss at the time of Hodgson's unveiling.
There is more speculation on who will be head coach than the position that is new to City and operated with mixed success by other clubs. The head coach could well be chosen by the sporting director, and one name that was linked with the role on social media platforms in recent days was former Swansea, Southampton and Rangers manager Russell Martin.
Reading the comments, let me just say that would not appear to be a popular choice if it happened at a time when the owners of the club need to be rebuilding bridges with the fanbase rather than say they are "ruining it", to quote Steve Lansdown's January Radio Bristol interview.
Finally, a shout out for City's former striker Nahki Wells whose two goals at the weekend won the Vertu Trophy for Luton Town. He turns 36 on 1 June and I feel few City fans would have argued against him being given a one-year contract extension last summer.
I have no doubt Hodgson would have selected him had he been here ahead of Armstrong, Burgzorg and Bell. The Bermudian international paired with Emil Riis could have been interesting.
You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast., external
