Steve Hermon, BBC Radio WM
Head coach: James Morrison
Final season: twenty first
Key ins: Barney Stewart (Falkirk), Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Chelsea, mortgage), Conor Townsend (Ipswich), Matt Ingram (Oxford United), Felix Horn Myhre (SK Brann), Rabby Nzingoula (Strasbourg)
Key outs: Jed Wallace (Bristol Metropolis), Karlan Grant (Charlton), Josh Maja (Le Havre), Daryl Dike (Orlando Metropolis), Josh Griffiths (Stoke).
Expectations? An enormous enchancment on final season, hopefully. The membership inexplicably flirted with relegation to League One, however James Morrison rescued them with a 10-game unbeaten run. He now has the job completely and, with two additional play-off spots on provide, that ought to all the time be the goal for a membership the dimensions of Albion. Reaching that may be a completely different dialog, although, and with a youthful, creating squad, a top-half end would not less than be a constructive signal of progress.
Strengths? Morrison’s miraculous rescue act was constructed on defensive solidity. He deployed a 4-4-2 formation, which is uncommon within the modern-day, and gamers performed in positions they had been comfy with. The workforce stored seven clear sheets of their closing 9 video games, but in addition elevated entries into the opposition penalty space because of advancing full-backs, so it was removed from boring. Hopefully that organised depth continues.
Weaknesses? Photographs elevated below Morrison, however turning probabilities into objectives was an issue over the course of the earlier marketing campaign. Solely 4 groups scored fewer than the Baggies, and two of them had been relegated (Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday). Predominant striker Aune Heggebo bagged 9 league objectives in his debut season in England, so the Norwegian will need to enhance on that, however he wants assist. Spreading objectives throughout the entire workforce is a should.
Distinction-maker? Jimmy-Jay Morgan has scored 5 objectives in pre-season and appears promising, however having not performed within the second tier earlier than, and after bigging up Isaac Worth on this article final summer season, I am reluctant to place that strain on the younger ahead’s shoulders. Horn Myhre is an entire beginner to English soccer, however at 27 and having performed in European competitions, he ought to be capable to deal with any expectations. I am excited to see how the midfielder fares after being dubbed Brann’s ‘most essential participant’ by one Norwegian journalist I spoke to. If he adapts shortly, he might play a pivotal function.
Jobi’s prediction: seventeenth