2015-16 Premier League Season Preview: West Brom
Welcome to theScore's 2015-16 preview of West Bromwich Albion. Transfer dealings, lineup projections, and everything else you need to know about the club's upcoming campaign.
West Brom
There is arguably no Premier League club that captures mid-table mediocrity quite like West Brom.
Since its return to the top flight of English football five years ago, West Brom has finished between eighth and 13th in four of five seasons, making for some underwhelming campaigns and some irrelevant fixtures.
Nonetheless, a turnaround could be in store for the West Midlands club, as Saido Berahino is back despite reported interest from other clubs:
Ok, this is getting silly now. So let us make it clear. There has been NO bid for Saido. That's it. Carry on everyone #wba
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) July 28, 2015
Meanwhile Tony Pulis, who was appointed manager on the first day of the calendar year, will be embarking on his first full campaign at The Hawthorns.
2014-15 Season
| Record (Points) | Finish | Goals For | Goals Against | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-11-16 (44) | 13th | 38 | 51 | Saido Berahino (14) |
Trophies Won: None
There were highs. There were lows. As a result, West Brom's 2014-15 Premier League season averaged out to yet another ordinary campaign.
The club found itself sitting 13th in the table after a season that included a 3-0 win versus Chelsea, and a five-match unbeaten streak between mid-April and mid-May.
However, those were the highlights of a fruitless campaign that also saw West Brom win only four games before New Year's Day, at which point manager Alan Irvine was sacked and replaced by Pulis.
Key Arrivals
- James Chester (from Hull City)
- James McClean (from Wigan Athletic)
- Jack Rose (from West Bromwich Albion FC Academy)
In an indication that West Brom is set for another middle-of-the-road season, the club hasn't been particularly active in the summer transfer window.
Specifically, only three new players have joined the club since this summer, one of whom is a product of West Bromwich Albion FC Academy.
Of course, the most impressive signing of the trio is the one involving Chester, who signed a four-year deal reportedly worth up to £8 million and who is a product of Manchester United. The 26-year-old centre-back wasn't about to join Hull in the Championship next season and should provide West Brom's backline with a much-needed boost.
Key Departures
- Youssouf Mulumbu (released)
- Andre Wisdom (end of loan)
- Graham Dorrans (Norwich City)
- Chris Baird (released)
West Brom wasted no time in trimming its squad this summer, announcing its retained list immediately after its season finale at Arsenal.
Most notably, it was revealed that Mulumbu would not be returning to The Hawthorns as West Brom decided against exercising its one-year option on the midfielder, ending his six-year stint at the club. Baird and Jason Davidson were released, while Wisdom returned to Liverpool following the end of his season-long loan.
Projected Starting Lineup (4-4-2)
Boaz Myhill; Craig Dawson, James Chester, Joleon Lescott, Chris Brunt; Craig Gardner, Stephane Sessegnon, Darren Fletcher, James Morrison; Berahino, Brown Ideye
As it stands, West Brom's starting XI will look eerily similar to last season's.
At the back, Dawson and Brunt will likely take the pitch as the starting right-back and left-back, respectively, while Chester is expected to replace Gareth McAuley and feature alongside Lescott, who is 32 years old but has been solid since arriving at West Brom.
With the obvious exception of Mulumbu, the midfield will also feature a number of familiar faces, including Gardner, Sessegnon, Fletcher, and Morrison.
Unless West Brom flirts with a 4-5-1 formation, as they did sparingly last season, Berahino will almost certainly start alongside Ideye, who is a club-record signing that has yet to live up to expectations.
Player To Watch: Saido Berahino
Normally, when a player tallies 14 goals in a Premier League season at a club like West Brom, he finds a new team before the next campaign.
Somehow, West Brom has avoided losing Berahino and will be hoping he can find the back of the net with the frequency that injected terror into opposing clubs last season.
West Brom's chances of avoiding a typical mid-table finish rest largely on the 21-year-old. Should he score 20 goals, the club could earn a Europa League berth. Should he score fewer than 10 goals, however, the club could be one of the three sides to suffer relegation.
Keep One Eye On: Craig Dawson
Three Questions
- Is there any reason to believe that West Brom isn't doomed for another season of mid-table mediocrity?
- Can Berahino produce a 20-goal campaign?
- Will Pulis experiment with various formations, as he did last season, or will he consistently deploy a 4-4-2?
Trivial Matters
- Manager: Tony Pulis
- Nickname: The Baggies
- Stadium: The Hawthorns (Capacity: 26,850)