West Brom 2015-16 Team Preview

Our series of 2015-16 Premier League team previews continue with a look at relegation-threatened West Brom. 

Summer transfer window

With the capture of Rickie Lambert from Liverpool the club’s most high-profile buy, West Brom head into the new season with many question hanging over the squad.

Other than Lambert, West Brom’s dealings are by no means complete, having only managed to push two other deals over the line thus far. Winger James McClean arrives from relegated Wigan for £1.5 million, and has impressed at left-back in pre-season after controversially refusing to acknowledge the national anthem before a game against Charleston. In light of injuries to Dawson and McAuley, they paid £8 million for Hull central defender James Chester this week, while director of football administration Richard Garlick is seeking additions all over the pitch.

The exit door has swung apace, with midfield pair Youssouf Mulumbu and Graham Dorrans both joining newly promoted Norwich City. Chris Baird, Jason Davidson and Georgios Samaras have departed on free transfers.

Last season

After a run of seven defeats in nine games over the Christmas period, Alan Irvine was sacked and replaced by arch-pragmatist Tony Pulis, holder of an enviable pedigree for keeping teams in the top-flight. The Welshman’s due emphasis on defensive solidity yielded instant reward, in the shape of five clean sheets in his first seven games in charge.

The Baggies were able to grind out crucial wins at home, beating Stoke, Swansea and Hull at the Hawthorns, while posing a keen threat on the road, picking up maximum points in trips to Goodison Park and Old Trafford. The goals of Saido Berahino- 20 in all competitions- were indivisible from their ability to survive, while Boaz Myhill won them several points with heroics towards the back end of the campaign.

Manager

Tony Pulis, 57, is a wizened operator whose speciality is the preservation of precious, Premier League status. He was propelled into the reckoning after his establishment of a top flight empire at Stoke City, who he took to an FA Cup final and subsequently into Europe in the Europa League. Having hauled a seemingly doomed Crystal Palace out of the mire and to comfortable safety, Pulis was dismissed on the eve of last season after transfer disagreements.

The identikit Pulis team is certainly more brawn than brain. Defensively, they give nothing away and do the basics very well, especially at set-pieces, which West Brom were statistically the best in the league at exploiting last term. At Palace and now the Hawthorns, he likes to play midfielders at full-back, for some obscure reason; whether this is a calculated tactical function or a coincidence is tough to say. One striker, in this case Berahino, tends to play just off the other in a hybrid 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1 system.

Strengths

The Baggies are well stocked with wily functionaries in the middle of the park. Ready-made skipper Darren Fletcher proved an excellent acquisition last year, directing traffic from the base of the midfield alongside Claudio Yacob, who remains a vital cog. This strength will allow them to control the tempo of many games.

In Fletcher, Chris Brunt, Gareth McAuley, Ben Foster and Joleon Lescott they have a seasoned stable of senior professionals, who have facilitated the implementation of Pulis’ philosophy.

Weaknesses

Albion lack pace, reflected in their attempting of a league-low number of dribbles last season. So far, they have failed to bring in either Michail Antonio or Matt Phillips to redress this.

Across the board they are deficient in squad depth, desperately in need of further cover at the back and in midfield. Saido Berahino cannot be expected to shoulder the goalscoring burden alone, and greater creative contributions are required from all over the field.

Key Player

Berahino, 21, is the totemic figure in this side but, if they hold onto him he should continue to flourish at his current rate. The key to developing this season could be unlocking the ability of the mercurial Stephane Sessegnon. Significantly less productive when played out wide, Pulis will have to balance the Beninese’s clear preference for the number ten role with a desire to play Berahino and Anichebe in tandem.

Best First XI

(4-4-1-1) Foster, Dawson, Chester, Lescott, McClean; Yacob, Fletcher; Morrison, Berahino, Sessegnon; Lambert

[interaction id=”55bee0f0a52231f6077bc70e”]

Prediction

A favourable campaign for the Baggies depends on how they do against fellow mid-table sides, not when they meet the monoliths of the league, like on opening weekend against Manchester City. They have a pretty good spread of fixtures and tough assignments blend in favourably with winnable games.

Should Berahino fire once more, Fletcher continue to exude influence and Lescott repeat his class act, this could be an exciting top half finish and more cracking games like the 3-0 thrashing of Chelsea would unfold.

If this transfer window continues to feel like treading through treacle and significant additions are not made, this could be an unseemly scramble for points. This, alongside a somewhat turgid style of play, could grate on even West Brom’s fanbase, known for its stoic loyalty.

Almost anything is possible within a certain range, but it seems inconceivable, for a number of reasons, that West Brom are going to get relegated this season.

What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.