Monday night saw England crash out of EURO 2016 in the most humiliating way after losing to minnows Iceland which is fast becoming the nightmare in Nice. Immediately after the game Roy Hodgson resigned from his role as England manager saying “I’m sorry it will have to end this way but these things happen”. In my time supporting England, it’s by far the lowest moment, only comparable to the failure of qualifying for EURO 2008, which doesn’t seem half as bad as this.

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Four years ago Hodgson was picked by former FA Chairman David Bernstein as he beat bookies favourite Harry Redknapp to land one of the most prestigious jobs in world football. The appointment of Hodgson saw the end of his 15-month reign at West Bromwich Albion. Taking over the club in February 2011, Albion were in dire straits only out of the relegation zone on goal difference and with 13 defeats in the last 18 games it looked like a return to the Championship for the Midlands side. Not only did former Liverpool manager Hodgson keep Albion in the Premier League, but with five wins and five draws in the final 12 games, he guided the club to an 11th place finish. Albion’s highest ever in the Premier League era at that point.

Hodgson’s second season was a highly successful one, improving on Albion’s best-placed finish which he achieved the season before as first the first time in the clubs history he saw them finish in the top half of the Premier League in 10th. Hodgson left for England and ever since then all the way back in 2012, the club has been lacking stability. Which brings us up to the current manager Tony Pulis…

Alex Morton/Getty Images SportI’m nowhere near Tony Pulis’ biggest fan, I find his football frustrating and his tactics naive. He’s currently been in charge the same amount of time Hodgson was and the difference in the two is incomparable. Unlike the Albion under Hodgson, there has been no progress under his management finishing 13th and 14th in his two seasons at the club. This is also after he spent a club record £40 million plus during 2015. All that money yet we still went backwards in position. Has the quality of football improved in the last season and half? Not for me.

It really is stick or twist time on Tony Pulis during the next couple of weeks. If we stick, we have the catch twenty-two situation of playing under Pulis for more than likely will be a mediocre season, which currently looks like it would involve a relegation fight. The bookies currently have Albion as 4th favourites for the drop with only the three promoted teams having shorter odds. Another risk with sticking with our manager is our easy run of games at the start of the season. A poor run of form will see pressure mount on Pulis which in turn could lead to his sacking. This leaves the club in the awkward position of once again trying to appoint a manager midway through the season.

Of course, Pulis could turn it all around and we could have another top half finish this season but at the moment it seems unlikely. For me, Hodgson would be the perfect fit for Albion. He would come into the job with little to no pressure on him after a disappointing 4 years with England. He knows the club well and although his tactics were sometimes questionable during his reign as England coach his style is what Albion have been crying out for. As seen at these EURO’s England incorporated plenty of youth having the second youngest squad in the tournament after Germany. Albion had the oldest squad in the entire Football League last season so something needs to change, although Jonathan Leko and Sam Field getting their first professional contracts are a step in the right direction.

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67-Year-old Hodgson has plenty of links in world football and an extensive knowledge of several leagues which come to fruition in the transfer windows. Four years after he left the Hawthorns he still is a perfect fit and could feel like he has unfinished business at the club. Albion maintained top half status the season after Hodgson left under the guidance of Steve Clarke finishing 8th, it could have been much better under Hodgson.

Time is ticking if we want to change Pulis this window and it seems unlikely but for me. we have to take the risk. Hodgson has an extensive CV and experience and can banish the chants of boring boring Baggies from the Hawthorns. That’s why I’d make him our first permanent signing of the summer.