Give Tony Pulis more time and judge him in December, says supporters' club chairman

The Baggies are on an eight-game winless streak and fans are growing increasingly disillusioned with the head coach’s cautious approach to games with his new-look squad.

John Homer understands the concerns, but believes it is too early in the season to panic.

He says Pulis deserves more time to gel his team together, and earmarked a three-game burst against Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Swansea as the point to judge him.

“I’ve been a pro-Pulis fan since he arrived,” said Homer. “I don’t think it’s the time for panic. We need calm heads at the club because we still need time for these signings to settle down and for him to find his proper team.

“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion. I respect those people who are saying Pulis should go, they’ve got every right to say that.

“I think he should stay. We’re still in that trough where we’re trying to sort out our best side.

“A couple of players like (Jake) Livermore and (Matt) Phillips have lost their form, but it should come right. He’s got the players, now he needs to knit them all together.

“We’re nine games into the season, we’ve only lost three of those, and we got stiffed at Arsenal.

“We just need one good performance to turn our season and give us that bit of confidence. We’re only three points off Liverpool, a win could make it alright.”

That may be difficult because the Baggies face three of the top four in the next four games, and host Manchester City next week.

Homer said losing that game would be no disgrace, but called the trip to Huddersfield after that a ‘vital’ match because fixtures with Chelsea and Spurs follow it.

“We should give it a few more games,” he said. “Give it another month or so, when he gets past these tough fixtures, that’s when you can judge.

“Those three games against Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Swansea are the crux of it. If we’re in the same position towards Christmas then fair enough, things have to be looked at.”

Albion fans were singing Pulis’s name not that long ago, but the poor performance at St. Mary’s Stadium was a turning point for some.

Homer, who travels home and away with the Baggies, said: “I wouldn’t say it was a great swathe, but there were a few people who had turned.

“If you talk to older people like me they tend to be a little bit more patient than the younger fans.

“But there will come a time when, if results don’t improve, then things will change.

“We should have won at Leicester,” he added. “The performance wasn’t that bad, if we had used the final ball better we would have won that game.

"It’s not Pulis’s fault if someone puts a pass astray in good positions. Against Southampton, we let in a wonder goal. but someone should have taken him out, if I was playing I’d have stuck my foot out and got a yellow.”

Pulis has received criticism for his tactics and starting line-ups, and even though he still has faith in the Welshman, Homer would reinstate two of last season’s crucial players to the team.

“I think I’d probably bring Phillips in and give him another chance because he is a good player,” he said. “Take a look at the three man midfield and decide which one needs to be lost.

“Maybe try Chris Brunt in midfield too. Playing three in midfield who are a similar ilk doesn’t work unless you’re trying to give someone a free rein to get forward.”