Comment: Time for Darren Moore to take West Brom back to basics – again

Do they persist with a philosophy – as admirable as it is – obviously creaking under pressure, or do they rip up their plans and start over with a new approach?

When Albion first began playing 3-4-1-2 with an insistence on passing out from the back, it was an exciting new direction for the team and one welcomed with open arms by fans.

Results swiftly followed as the Baggies blew away their opposition by exploiting spaces ahead of them with clinical aplomb, despite leaving several at the back themselves.

It was the right decision at the time, because it squeezed the club’s best players on to the pitch in areas they could hurt the opposition the most.

But the Championship moves quickly and a blueprint laid by Wigan Athletic was developed to devastating effect by a high-pressing Derby County.

That thrashing at home seems to have dented confidence in the system among the players.

Heads have subsequently dropped and the goals have dried up.

At the moment, Albion don't appear to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

Many coaches stick stubbornly to their philosophies, but few successful ones ignore the need for tweaks.

Moore was given the job on the back of his results last season, which were built on a simple but effective 4-4-2.

This season he correctly recognised the different requirements of the Premier League and the Championship.

But after one point from a possible 12, it might be time to go back to those basics that earned him his place in the dugout.

When that was put to Moore yesterday, he said: "This division is completely different to the Premier League. The dynamics for West Brom are different.

"When we were in the Premier League and we sat back and defended our box compactly before counter-attacking.

"This season, we've got players who score goals from every angle of the pitch, we've got a very attacking goal threat.

"You try and pick a style and a system to suit them and the one we've picked has got us to leading goalscorers in the division."

The issue is, while the system suits one half of his players, it doesn't suit all of them.

Far from looking like they are getting used to their new playmaker roles, Craig Dawson, Ahmed Hegazi and Kyle Bartley continue to look jittery.

Richard Sneekes summed it up perfectly on BBC Radio WM this week.

The former midfielder, who has been a manager himself, said it was far too early to be talking about Moore losing his job, but persisting with this style of play with these players may just end up getting him the sack.

Injuries haven't helped. This system loses something without the tenacity of Dwight Gayle and the composure on the ball of Kieran Gibbs and Gareth Barry.

With all three potentially returning this weekend, Moore once again has the tools at his disposal to persist with the current plan.

But whether it's the right one for the long-term is up for debate. It would appear Albion, in their current guise, have been sussed out.

Moore does at least seem to be aware of the issue.

"You have to analyse things in recent weeks and what's not gone well," he said. "If we see fit to change, we're going to have to.

"It's important that we continue to find ways and means."

So then, stick or twist? The reality should really be somewhere in between.

Albion have swayed from one extreme to the other in recent years.

Striking a balance between attack and defence is always the preferred option.

But after such a poor run of results, going back to basics yet again would not be unwelcome, particularly against a Leeds side who come to The Hawthorns top of the table with their own clear identity.