When it comes to transfer targets being linked with your club during an open transfer window, it is strongly advised that you keep those pinches of salt close to hand as you sift through, filtering the wheat from the chaff along the way.
West Brom’s Window: The January Guessing Game
In relation to West Bromwich Albion however, the guessing game takes on another layer or two, not least due to the arrival of Tony Pulis in the office marked Head Coach but also due to the, of late, very much-maligned and misunderstood recruitment system which has in the past been so heavily-praised. What this has naturally led to is the random rumour generator clicking into overdrive and spewing out the names of former Pulis players in the hope that at least one of them comes off, enabling various ‘ITK’ Twitter accounts to jump up and down shouting “I told you so”. Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whelan, Tom Ince and Robert Huth have all seen their names crop up on spurious websites looking for a bit of teenage adulation (Huth in particular, but that’s another matter entirely!).
Whilst former players are the obvious and easiest place for a lazy national journalist to start pin-sticking, I would personally hope that the net is being cast a little wider by the under-the-microscope and soon-to-be streamlined ‘Recruitment Department’, though both Ince and Walters would add a new dimension out wide should they be pursued. Supposed interest in 13-goal top scorer Saido Berahino has led to gaudy figures being bandied around, with Liverpool and Spurs the most likely destination should the Albion hierarchy decide that selling him is the best way to afford Pulis his own transfer war chest. A player-plus-cash deal to Spurs has seen both Andros Townsend and Aaron Lennon linked over the last couple of days, either of whom would add the pace out wide which has been so sadly lacking.
Whether or not Berahino moves, I’d expect Pulis to also be on the lookout for a robust striker to be the focal point of the attack, a role that Victor Anichebe could excel in if any degree of faith could be put in him staying fit, but unfortunately, that ship may have sailed. One player who has so far been on the outside, looking in who may see his role expanded is Georgios Samaras, who fits the Ricardo Fuller, Mamady Sidibe, and Peter Crouch mould of player favoured by Pulis during his time in Stoke-on-Trent. One name to watch may well be Rickie Lambert who is sure to see his playing time further diminish should Brendan Rodgers strengthen his faltering attack this month.
The competition for places at both full back positions has been pretty much non-existent this season with Liverpool-loanee Andre Wisdom occupying the right back spot, without any real pressure from Cristian Gamboa who would appear to be the type of defender who relies solely on pace as opposed to the much more desired defensive positioning. Likewise, Sebastien Pocognoli has felt absolutely no challenge to his left back berth from Australian Jason Davidson. Not much has been seen of Davidson to this point but he has done nothing to impress in his limited opportunities and my own personal feeling is that he is at the very least playing one level above where he should be.
Finally, in midfield, I would expect one of either James Morrison or Graham Dorrans to be deemed surplus to requirements, with the latter the more likely to be on the move. In his place, I’d expect a physical presence with height drafted in to add some steel to what is, for the most part, very much a ‘tiki-taka’ midfield. Jack Cork is one player strongly linked with making the move in the past – and we all know how much West Brom love track their prey, long before actually pouncing for them!
One thing for certain is that the next month will be far from boring in the Black Country.
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