Returning for another crack at promotion after their disappointing playoff defeat, West Bromwich Albion look very different this time around. Undertaking a huge rebuild over the summer, the Baggies have significantly lowered the average age of their squad and have a new head coach at the helm in Slaven Bilic. In this West Bromwich Albion season preview, we take a look at their chances this time around in the ultra-competitive Championship.
Slaven Bilic Aiming For Promotion With West Bromwich Albion
Play-off Disappointment
West Brom’s promotion hopes last season were ended at the hands of fierce rivals Aston Villa in a tense penalty shootout at The Hawthorns. The reality is, though, that Albion spent the majority of the season as promotion contenders whilst never really showing that they were better than those around them. Watching the Baggies last season always gave the impression that they had another gear but rarely managed to find it.
This somewhat explains the surprising dismissal of Darren Moore, a decision best described as harsh yet understandable. For many on the outside looking in, firing the coach that has the club sitting in fourth place was questionable at best, whilst those watching regularly knew that his side were capable of more but rarely delivered and ultimately costing them promotion.
Different Look Under Slaven Bilic
Managing to retain the large majority of their Premier League squad for last season, West Brom have now been tasked with a major rebuild this summer. Key players such as Craig Dawson and Jay Rodriguez have been sold to Premier League clubs. Dwight Gayle and Mason Holgate, who also played a major part last season, have returned to their parent clubs, leaving a major rebuild job to be done at The Hawthorns.
Their approach to this campaign has been very different from last summer. Rather than bringing in loan players from the Premier League on high wages, Albion have targeted hungry young players that know the division. Kenneth Zohore from Cardiff City, Semi Ajayi from Rotherham United, Darnell Furlong from Queens Park Rangers and Romaine Sawyers from Brentford have all been brought in for la ow cost. Each of them are in their mid-20s with their best football ahead of them.
Filip Krovinovic has come in from Portuguese side Benfica on a season-long loan to play the number ten role. He became Slaven Bilić’s first signing as Albion boss with the Croatian head coach already familiar with his fellow countryman, having watched him closely at youth level. Bilić now finds himself not far away from a competitive squad, maybe two or three more players will suffice. A prolific goalscorer, in particular, is still needed.
Slaven Bilić
West Brom finally landed a permanent head coach following a drawn-out process. Moore was ousted back in March despite having no backup replacement, forcing West Brom to see out the season with interim head coach James Shan.
Slaven Bilic enjoyed a successful period as manager of Croatia for six years from 2006 to 2012, leading them to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008. He left his role there with an impressive 42 wins from 65 games and just eight defeats, a win percentage of 64.6%.
Bilic also has experience in England with a spell at West Ham United beginning in 2015. He guided the Hammers to seventh place in the Premier League, earning Europa League qualification in his first season. The following season was a mid-table campaign, ending the season in 11th before a difficult start to his third campaign saw him removed from his post.
His most recent employment will be of some concern to West Brom fans though also somewhat incomparable to his new position. An ill-fated stint at Saudi club Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Professional League came to an end in February. Only five months in charge and just three wins from 15 games, though, is a mere hiccup in the impressive resume of the Croatian.
Expectations
West Brom will once again be expected to challenge for promotion, whilst failure to achieve this time around could well see them get swallowed up by the division. Sides such as Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are still facing the challenges of a long stint outside of the Premier League. West Bromwich Albion will not want to find themselves in that predicament.
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