West Brom will be looking for an instant return to the Premier League after relegation ended their eight-year stay in the top division. Having faced a difficult campaign that saw them finish bottom last season, the Baggies have spent the summer rebuilding a squad they hope is capable of lifting them back out of the Championship.
West Brom Season Preview
It’s been a tough year for West Bromwich Albion. A disastrous season, culminating in relegation to the Championship, has brought underlying player issues to the surface. Transfer requests and pre-season refusals have become the norm as the Baggies try and prepare for the coming season.
With some of their bigger stars having already made their way to the exit and more soon to follow, Albion’s recruitment department must replace them with players capable of a promotion push. Transfer activity in the coming weeks is key and will ultimately determine how West Brom will shape up for this season.
With goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and defender Kyle Bartley becoming the first new arrivals at the Hawthorns, it appears that head coach Darren Moore is building his new squad from the back. Having garnered a reputation in the Premier League for organised defending under Tony Pulis, Moore, a former defender himself, doesn’t seem to be looking to stray too far from that style.
Player To Watch
One of the few positives for West Brom to take from relegation is that it may open the door for their young stars. The Baggies have some very good youngsters in their ranks, 20-year-old Sam Field the most promising amongst them.
Having earned his way into the team under Tony Pulis. The midfielder has since made 19 Premier League appearances, scoring once. Defensively minded and composed in possession, a run of games could well see Field nail down a place in Darren Moore’s team.
The Manager
A stunning turn around in club results at the tail end of last season has earned Albion cult hero Darren Moore the role. Inexperienced but well-liked, Moore is handed a difficult role as his summer has been an interesting one.
Backed to get the job by players who have since decided to jump ship leaves Moore with a big rebuild, this sees West Brom face the new season with a new team as well as a new manager, making them very unpredictable. Although six games is not much to go on, Moore’s impressive start to his managerial career gives West Brom a reason to be positive.
Predicted Finish
The Championship is a very different animal compared to the last time West Brom were in the division. A much more competitive competition, West Brom will find it tough to replicate past promotion seasons.
Despite this, they are still expected to be amongst those pushing for promotion. A team in transition following a tough summer means that it’s doubtful that West Brom will immediately return to the Premier League. They should find themselves around the play-off spots come the end of the season.
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