Premier League preview No18: West Bromwich Albion

Guardian writers' prediction 13th (This is not necessarily Rob Bagchi's prediction, but the average of our writers' tips)

Last season's position 11th

Odds against winning the title 1,500-1

Compare and contrast Roy Hodgson's record and demeanour last season: by the end of his 191-day spell at Liverpool, the former Fulham manager had accrued 25 points from 20 Premier League games and cut a pretty prickly figure – tetchy, chastened and pointedly defensive of his achievements over 35 years of management. By mid-May, after 12 games in charge at The Hawthorns from which West Bromwich Albion took 20 points to fuel their climb from 17th to 11th place, their highest finish since 1982-83, Hodgson was gregarious, as sunny as he gets and looking as though he felt thoroughly vindicated. For a man who claimed he had nothing to prove, he certainly looked delighted to have reminded everyone of his proficiency.

He had every right to be pleased with his Red Adair job, ensuring that for the first time since 1999 the Baggies were involved in neither a promotion nor a relegation battle come the last three games. When he succeeded Roberto Di Matteo, who, it should not be forgotten, was at the helm for an eye-catching victory over Arsenal at the Emirates, a thumping 4-1 away win at Everton and a well-deserved draw at Old Trafford, Albion had taken only five points from their previous 10 matches, a slump in form that had seen them fall from eighth spot at the beginning of December.

Hodgson barely tinkered with the system employed by his predecessor. He used a 4-4-2 with Simon Cox partnering Peter Odemwingie for five games and a 4-5-1 with James Morrison or the dynamic, mercurial Somen Tchoyi in an attacking midfield role for the others.

This season, however, following the purchase of Shane Long from Reading, whose clever movement, pace and assured finishing brought him 23 goals for Reading in the Championship last season, the 4-4-2 Hodgson learnt at the knee of Allen Wade will probably be his default strategy with Odemwingie, once fit, benefiting from the Irishman's industry.

Cox remains an option up front but Hodgson enjoys such an abundance of attacking midfielders, supplemented by the return of Zoltan Gera from Fulham and the classy Graham Dorrans's recovery from injury, that 4-5-1, 4-4-1-1 or even 4-2-3-1 will be utilised in the absence of his preferred front two.

The midfield, as a whole, continues to be the team's strength. Youssuf Mulumbu completed a remarkable 84% of his passes last season, on a par with Tottenham's Luka Modric, but breaks free of the stereotype of a classic defensive midfielder with his ball control, poise in tight situations and decent shooting that brought him seven goals last season. Paul Scharner, operating alongside him, has shed most of the positional indiscipline that used to undermine his contribution as a back-four shield and has struck up a good understanding with Mulumbu of when to hold and when to break forward.

For all Odemwingie's star quality, the captain, Chris Brunt, is Albion's key player and Hodgson, who favours using right-footed players on the left flank and vice versa to compress play across the field by instructing them to cut inside, does not underestimate Brunt's contribution from the right. Only Nani, Didier Drogba and Cesc Fábregas made more goals than the Northern Irishman's 11 assists last season. With Jerome Thomas or Gera on the opposite touchline, Hodgson has his width-with-a-twist formula covered.

If options for the front six look rich enough to better their eminently respectable tally of 56 goals last season, the verdict on Hodgson's pre-season work will depend on the eradication of the defensive errors that saw them concede 71, a tally only Blackpool exceeded.

Some Baggies' fans might argue that by jettisoning the erratic Scott Carson, Hodgson has solved that problem at a stroke. His cock-ups alone accounted for five of the goals let in and the poor organisation of the defence was most obvious at set pieces, through which another 30 goals were scored.

The agility as a shot-stopper of Ben Foster, on a season's loan from Birmingham City, has never been in question but the improvement in his decision making, command of his area and confidence at St Andrew's should serve Albion well. He is as capable of a howler as Carson but is generally much the sounder keeper and Marton Fulop is a more than adequate back-up.

Under Tony Mowbray and Di Matteo the emphasis was on attack and the defence was left to flounder in the top flight. Hodgson's tactics are all about maintaining a team's shape, achieved by relentless drilling and practising nullifying numerous scenarios through repetitive shadow play.

In addition he has bolstered his options by signing Gareth McAuley on a free transfer from Ipswich, and the Northern Ireland captain brings a ruggedness in the air to the side that will have older Baggies fans reminiscing about John Wile. He should line up alongside Jonas Olsson, who will have had his old habit of losing possession on halfway by risking tackles in 30-70 challenges drummed out of him on the training field. Craig Dawson might also get his chance in the middle after impressing on loan at Rochdale last season, the club Albion bought him from in 2010. He scored 19 goals from centre-back in two seasons at Spotland and got off the mark for Albion in pre-season. Perhaps a Derek Mountfield-type future, solid at the back with a happy goalscoring knack, awaits.

Billy Jones, the promising and versatile defender, has also signed on a Bosman from Preston North End, and can maraud from either full-back position but looks best-placed to give Steven Reid competition on the right with Nicky Shorey established at left-back.

In the past, given time, Hodgson has proved effective at plugging leaky defences and if his famous drills reap similar dividends at Albion Premier League consolidation is firmly on the agenda. It's been "boing, boing" rather than "boring, boring" at The Hawthorns for more than a decade but drama-free seasons do have their merits.