West Brom Season Preview: can they evolve?

West Bromwich Albion managed your highest finish for four years last season with the Premier League’s best defensive record outside the top eight. While the late slump in form tempered the mood a little, were there positives to draw on? The Football Lab speaks to supporter Alex Rob Newton from Read West Brom ahead of the new campaign.

If the season ended in February Tony Pulis would have been manager of the year and Albion would have been the big overachievers in the Premier League. The fact we got the points on the board so early was a significant positive taking away the risk of relegation halfway through the season. The way we played against teams at home who were below us showed there is a ruthlessness to the side too.

You scored the second-most goals from set pieces (20). Did Craig Dawson and Gareth McAuley play their part in that department, as well as the defensive side?

It’s amazing the criticism Albion got for ‘only scoring headers and from set pieces’. Some of the defending from opposition teams were awful, especially Arsenal in the 3-1 victory at home. Both McAuley and Dawson are commanding in the air, and we’re only playing to our strengths.

Only the bottom three scored fewer in open play (22) though and you netted just four in your last nine. Did that late slump highlight the need for attacking improvement?

It was clear to see for everybody that Albion lacked goals upfront. The problem came when only Rondon and Hal Robson-Kanu were natural strikers at the club after the sale of Berahino to Stoke. Rondon’s hot form just before the turn of the year quickly went away, and I’m still not convinced Robson-Kanu is Premier League quality. Hopefully, come the start of the season we will have some more depth up front.

Nobody under 27 started more than four games last year. With only Jay Rodriguez signing, are you disappointed you’ve not tried to add some fresh legs this summer?

I think Jay Rodriguez still has a little time on his side, but it’s no secret we have an ageing squad. Hopefully, we start to phase out the older guys such as McAuley and bring in the promising youth in the academy such as Sam Field and Jonny Leko.

It seems Salomon Rondon is asked to buy free-kicks and do lots of defensive running with little support. Has this role seen him lose the killer instinct he had earlier in his career?

I think abroad Rondon would have saw a lot more free kicks given for him. The English refs don’t mind a bit of roughing up, and defenders have learned how to play against him. I think this makes Rondon frustrated which often leads to him becoming disinterested in games.

Matt Phillips and Nacer Chadli were brought in, theoretically, to add more pace and creativity. How do you feel they did?

Chadli looked like a world-beater in his first couple of months in an Albion shirt, but that quickly disappeared. He’d show flashes of what he was capable of but never managed to string a run of good games together.

Phillips was the complete opposite of Chadli. He started poorly, and there were even calls for him to get dropped, but he hit a golden run of form and didn’t look back. Regular goals and assists quickly saw him become a fan favourite. Injuries in the second half of the season halted his momentum. Unfortunately, Chadli didn’t step up enough to cover him.

You picked up the 2nd most yellow cards last season (80) but never had a red. Does this show shrewd, well-channelled aggression from the likes of Claudio Yacob?

While I agree there’s a case to be made about well-channelled aggression, some plaudits have to go to Pulis. His game management with things like yellow cards is superb. If a player picks up an early booking it’s rare they’ll play the full 90.

Jake Livermore signed in January. Does he have more energy than the outgoing Darren Fletcher?

100%. Livermore is younger, fitter and much more lively than Fletcher. You could start to see Fletcher’s legs go at the back end of last season. The next nine months is a tremendous opportunity for Livermore with a World Cup on the horizon.

Jonny Evans played largely at centre-back last year. Would you like a natural left-back to come in?

A natural full back has to be top of the shopping list for the Baggies this summer. While the likes of Evans and Brunt haven’t been awful there, you can tell it’s not natural to them. Somebody like Kieran Gibbs from Arsenal would be an outstanding signing.

Baggies aside, what are your thoughts ahead of the Premier League season as a whole?

It should be one of the best yet regarding quality. It’s clear to see there’s a top seven then anybody else below them could realistically be relegated. I think Harry Kane will retake the golden boot with Paul Pogba being the player of the year. City to win the league.

Where will you finish?

Heart says 8th. Head says 14th.

The Football Lab’s Verdict

Though West Brom have stabilized in recent years, they need to do more at some stage to evolve an aging squad and encourage better use of the ball. By definition, they never directly struggle under Pulis, but fans have a right to ask for a little more. 14th

Click above to join our league in The Telegraph Fantasy Football