West Brom are looking for a new manager for the third time in the past year after parting ways with Eric Ramsay.
West Brom are approaching two years under the leadership of Shilen Patel and the Bilkul Football Group. It was expected that hard times would come after Guochuan Lai’s mismanagement, but not quite as it has been.
Admittedly, the focus on balancing the books and operating more sustainably has been positive. Big wins on Tom Fellows and others Torbjorn Heggem have come a long way to stabilize the financial situation at WBA.
On the field, however, it was a period of decline. The current hierarchy has now hired three managers, and all three have failed.
Erik Ramsay became the latest boss on West Brom’s chopping block on Tuesday evening. A draw against fellow strugglers Charlton Athletic ended his tenure after no wins in nine games. Of course, the departed boss bears much of the blame for this struggle, but as the Baggies’ worrying decline continues, the finger is being pointed at the top of the club.
The board must take the blame after Eric Ramsay’s appointment at West Brom falls through
West Bromwich Albion FC News
The current owner’s first appointment was Tony Mowbray. He was brought in to replace Carlos Corberan and although his return was initially popular, results were poor and the football uninspiring.
It necessitated change in the summer and West Brom handed Ryan Mason his first managerial job. A positive start left WBA with high expectations, but a shocking record and, again, dissatisfaction about the future led to change as the club was on the slide.
Ramsay was seen as a potential replacement for Mowbray, but Mason was chosen. He was clearly someone highly regarded within the hierarchy, and he had built a solid coaching reputation in a variety of roles before finding success at Minnesota United.
However, the warning signs were there early. The young boss had operated impressively with a three-man defense in the MLS, and the West Brom side did not have sufficient personnel to make such a move mid-season. Winter support was limited, with inexperienced Premier League loans providing the only source of reinforcement.
Ramsay had his faults, that much is clear. But he probably never had the resources needed to make this WBA team a success. The decision to appoint him was a major misstep, with his profile as a young and emerging coach perhaps taking priority over his suitability for the team.
What West Brom need in their next manager hunt
Despite the shortcomings of the West Brom board and managers Mowbray, Mason and Ramsay, the players are far from exempt from criticism. It feels like the squad lacks real leadership and character, with little fight shown to support the past three bosses when the going gets tough.
West Brom – Championship table
| Pos. | G | W | D | L | GD | Ptn. |
| 21 pcs | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | -17 | 35 |
WBA can’t do anything about that now – the window is closed and free agent options are limited. It means the next boss must be a top motivator with strong man management to breathe life into a team that at times looked like it was giving up.
It’s not worth taking a chance on a young boss like Mason or Ramsay. Considering the personnel, it would also be helpful to bring in someone who will play a four-man defense.
They will have to be careful, but West Brom cannot dawdle. Being led into the relegation battle by James Morrison is not a risk they can take. Patel, head of football operations Ian Pearce and the rest of the hierarchy must act quickly, smartly and decisively.
If not, West Brom could drop out of the top two for the first time since 1993.
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