With two games left to play in the Championship, it looks as though West Bromwich Albion have done enough to survive with or without a point deduction.
After victory over Watford, the Baggies now sit as many as eight points clear of the drop zone and can finally begin to look towards next season.
That said, there should still be a lot of reflection on and off the pitch at the Hawthorns this summer. From the boardroom to the recruitment team, there have been far too many regrettable moments.
West Brom are paying the price for failed recruitment
The top priority for West Brom must be to fix their finances this summer.
The last thing they need is more trouble with the Championship’s profit and sustainability rules. It could have ended in catastrophic consequences this season and there’s no telling what another charge would lead to.
The second priority should be all about recruitment. It’s been a nightmare 12 months on that front, from Ryan Mason’s arrival to the Eric Ramsay experiment, which couldn’t have been more disastrous.
It’s recruitment which has taken West Brom from top six contenders to relegation candidates. A drop-off doesn’t get more damning for a club of their stature, but it looks as though they’ve found an unexpected solution in James Morrison.
By handing their former player the job on a permanent basis, West Brom will have the chance to end their managerial woes and finally focus on finding reinforcements in the transfer window.
The Baggies have had one too many regrets in the transfer window in recent years. Additions like Alfie Gilchrist have failed to hit the mark and sale like Tom Fellows have dealt damaging blows.
Fellows, however, is not the only former Baggie lighting up the Championship after his departure.
West Brom made a bigger mistake than Fellows
Something has to change, that much is sure. Fellows’ departure is one lesson, as is Brandom Thomas-Asante’s to Championship title winners Coventry City back in 2024.
Thomas-Asante lasted just two years at the Hawthorns before West Brom decided to show him the door. At the time, it looked like a nothing transfer – one that worked for both parties. He had scored just 21 goals in 78 matches.
Yet, two years later, it should be the Baggies’ biggest regret.
Why? Well, twwo years since they sold the forward for just £2.2m, he’s valued at 445% more at around £12m these days, via Transfermarkt. From a financial perspective, that’s money that West Brom could certainly do with right now. From Morrison’s point of view, it’s a talent that would take his side up another level.
|
Thomas-Asante |
West Brom |
Coventry |
|---|---|---|
|
Games |
78 |
75 |
|
Goals |
21 |
18 |
|
Assists |
2 |
7 |
Thomas-Asante has been involved in more goals for Coventry and saved his best season for their promotion campaign. With a place in the Premier League sealed, the forward is on course to end the campaign on 12 goals and four assists in the Championship.
Whilst cashing in remains one of West Brom’s biggest regrets, the move has worked out perfectly for the 27-year-old. In one move, he’s avoided the current chaos in the Midlands and earned his way into the top flight.
Frank Lampard hasn’t shied away from praising Thomas-Asante, either. The Coventry boss told reporters last month: “I’ve got a lot of faith and love for Brandon working with him every day.
“Getting his goal as the game went on, I liked him more – his power, his reaction always to try and press. He’s got that power and speed about him.”
It’s faith that West Brom didn’t have in Thomas-Asante when they decided to cash in for just £2.2m back in 2024, only to regret that decision ever since.
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