'Time'. West Brom December Review.

Every month’s narrative is one of glorious unpredictability.

And with it may come that golden word.

Opportunity.

But as ever in life, it’s how you take your opportunities that will truly count.

December and New Year's Day offered a smorgasbord of unpredictable and uncharted angles at The Albion.

As a club, some decidedly turbulent challenges these past 32 days, the outcome, to see an arguably brighter future, you’d certainly take that scenario with open arms.

And this is the scenario we indeed currently find ourselves in.

An exciting and rewarding vision of a team displaying greater flexibility and range.

And possibly, may we say it, a better team to watch?

We are currently 6th in the division.

The higher achieving sphere of the squad, breathing the clear fumes of self belief, embracing a more fluid and flexible style of football.

Laced with a clear sense of unity.

Playing for the shirt is something you simply cannot fake, and as the leaders of the team have taken us ‘once more unto the breach my dear friends’..

It’s reassuring to see such a genuinely collective effort, that sometimes isn’t always the opening stanza for a short term, caretaker boss?

But just as we always readily applaud our home grown players, the power brokers at WBA, judiciously appointed a core of caretakers quickly from within, to cover the seemingly seismic gap of Carlos Corberan leaving.

Ultimately, the most important decision of Andrew Nestor and Shilen Patel’s early tenure at WBA, will of course be selecting a new, long term boss.

But the portents for that decision are good, and we should totally herald the impact of Chris Brunt, and his two able lieutenants, Boaz Myhill and the deeply intriguing, and increasingly influential, Damia Abella.

For Chris Brunt to come to our cause on Christmas Eve of all days, says everything about character.

It was, as they say in the US, a curve ball. 

To accept the demands of management, with such little time for preparation wasn’t easy, particularly when you add in the challenge of two away games in his first four days of temporary tenure.

At this most family time of the year, for a dad as devoted as Brunty, to essentially impact on his family plans, was a huge personal sacrifice.

But Chris does not call West Brom, ‘my club’ without a strong conviction.

Brunty is a dad who brings his lads up right, who clearly shows them the realities of life, and the notion of giving back, judging by his previous delivering of gifts for the less fortunate in the Baggies community, with his sons.

Maybe this was a case of giving back to the club?

And the fact West Brom came first, says everything about being an example to the cause, and commitment to the club he truly loves.

Brunty is a talented and empathetic loanee manager at The Baggies, but it’s a huge step to oversee the first team over such a tight run of games, where rest and recovery are forgotten words in a footballer’s vocabulary, [though nothing like yesteryear when teams played on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and there wasn’t even the option of a substitute to offer rest or change]

After his third festive game, Brunt downplayed his long term aspirations of being full time WBA coach, but whether the same applies to the Baggies First Team Systems Analyst, and someone who spent time on the Watford coaching inner circle, Damia Abella, judging by his increasing leadership role against Preston, awaits to be seen?

West Brom have a relatively thin squad, where the drop off from the levels of the first team regulars to the rest, can definitely be deemed to be wide.

And as is forever a notion in such an arduous division as The Championship, it's squads win that promotion, not teams.

Corberan always spoke about the vital role of substitutes to control the latter stages of games, but it seems more and more, this winning platform has to be created by the starters first.

Impact from the bench seems to be consolidating, rather than creating.

The opening game for Brunt was around 36 hours after he began his role as caretaker boss, away to a struggling Derby, but when you analyze history, and no WBA league wins there in the last century, rather than an opportunity, it became a literal poisoned chalice and an inevitable defeat.

Stats can be the oddest of things in football, and away at Derby is certainly one of the more inexplicable ones?

But, with such little time to impact on a seemingly shell shocked squad, was that performance and result any real surprise?

To coach well, you’ve got to adapt quickly, make bold decisions and back them with changes of formation and belief..

It’s informative to see the three starters from the Derby game, who were omitted and the difference their replacements made?

Out of the team were Mason Holgate, Uros Racic and Jon Swift, replaced by Callum Styles, the seemingly forgotten Ousmane Diakite and the rested Karlan Grant..

The team gained energy, a sense of greater balance throughout, and much better positional fluency.

Here were the first hallmarks of the post Corberan reign, with quicker transition from defence to attack, a wider range of support runners and a dual prong attack of proven goalscorers in this division.

Of course, as we know, the early moments of the return to starting of Ousmane Diakite was horrendous, hounded by a sieging Sheffield Utd high press, his nervous first touch in his own penalty area, [the type that was meat and drink for the much missed Yokuslu] went awry and quickly caused the opening Blades goal.

Challenges for a 24 year old, striving to make a statement in his return to being a first team starter, cannot get much bigger, but through adversity, true colours can also shine. 

For Diakite, his willingness to take possession in dangerous areas of the pitch, to cover assiduously, and also display great energy as his confidence burgeoned was warming to the heart and to the Baggies faithful. 

You could argue, the exact same qualities, Uros Racic has struggled to stamp in far more opportunities for West Brom thus far?

Diakite backed this up with an even more energized performance, against, it has to be said, weaker opposition in Preston, but for me, he is starting to show shades of a player West Brom fans consider one of the best midfielders of recent ilk, the indomitable Yousuf Mulumbu.

It seemed, the central midfield area was dictated by the metronomic, meticulous play of Alex Mowatt, and any prolonged injury to him was unimaginable?

With Diakite as a more than viable option, things suddenly look better for the Baggies in terms of central midfield breadth and strength, allied to the fact this has been Jayson Molumby’s best spell of the season for West Brom.

A one man riot act of energy and powerful runs from midfield, taking the game back to Sheffield Utd, when the need was most absolute.

On moments like these seasons may be turned and leaders step up.

As a fan, the word inspiration is overused, but Molumby's display was that in a nutshell, one for the ages, and a player we may well risk losing to free agency when his contract runs out in June.

Consider the facts?

Molumby will still be only 25 years old, an established international, who also is beginning to score more goals to add to his repertoire.

There is a certain irony that Jayson’s first club in Ireland was Railway Athletic, back in his home town of Cappoquin.

An appropriately named team, as he steams into tackles from all angles, and displays such a consistent level of desire and energy..

And he’ll be eligible for a free transfer!

Signing Molumby to an improved, long term contract is absolutely paramount to the Baggies.

No doubt many potential suitors will be casting their eyes.

As we are a club climbing out of the embers of financial disaster, adhering to tight restrictions, it’s going to be tough.

In terms of contracts, one player we were incredibly smart in signing to a long term contract was Callum Styles, who joined that core of Baggies in the perfect zone for fitness and availability assurance, [same as Palmer, Heggem and Molumby] all in their mid 20’s.

As an observer, opening impressions can be made by the assurance of a first touch, and Styles sets a perfect example, whether attacking from deep, or being under pressure, his technical reliability and early situational awareness are spot on.

Seeing this undersized left foot rampage down the wing, again is a nice reminder of the most talented full back I've ever seen at West Brom, Derek Statham, a player whose talent at The Baggies is simply unique and unmatched.

Carlos Corberan is certainly a coach who took his time in embedding new players, his patient approach over reintroducing Alex Mowatt and Tom Fellows from loan spells last season was noticeable, and for some, eyebrow raising. 

With Styles, the early impressions were off the bench, in midfield cameos, and thankfully this has developed into starting roles at left back, with his propensity to attack from deep, in either inverted or wide positions, [the  vacated space noticeably covered by Diakite in recent games].

A four year signing of any player these days is eyebrow raising, and the vitriol from Barnsley fans on Styles leaving Oakwell may perhaps be seen from what they were missing when signing for West Brom.

Overall, defensively, West Brom look to have better balance with the matching of team skipper Kyle Bartley, with Norwegian phenom, and recent selection to Sky Sports Championship team of the season, according to ex Baggie, Curtis Davies, Torbjorn Heggem.

The lack of central defensive cover may well be the dichotomy of recalling Caleb Taylor who excelled on his loan with Division 1 leaders Wycombe Wanderers. 

The key for Taylor returning is, if he sits on the Baggies bench, would that help his overall development more than the playing responsibilities of a promotion run with Wycombe?

With Semi Ajayi months away from full fitness, and perhaps avoiding the type of confrontation by Kyle Bartley and his ill judged injury time push on Preston striker Emil Riis, with stronger potential punitive on field punishment may be the key reasons for Caleb’s return?

We’ll have to see?

This is obviously a bold and early call from Andrew Nestor and only time will tell if it was judicious, long term for Caleb Taylor's development?

One of the many difficult decisions Nestor faces, may well include Tom Fellows

remaining a Baggie or going to the Premier League for a huge transfer fee in the next month?

Such a financial boost would help our long term finances no end, but how do you replace such a potent attacking threat, who has already created ten goals this season?

In some ways, Fellows is a throwback, and I wonder if Tom’s PE teaching parents, who have done so much to keep their lad so humble, have ever shown him footage of Chris Waddle marauding down either the NUFC or Spurs wing back in the day?

A full back being aware of the Waddle stepover was one thing, stopping it was a totally different challenge, and the same scenario is now playing out with Tom, as he torments and beats his marker for fun before delivering inviting crosses with unerring quality.

Maybe, a loan back to the Baggies for Fellows for the rest of this season, would be a situation that a cash starved club like ours may have to face, reluctantly accepting a Premier League bid, but understandably an accepted part of the business of football?

Over the years, exploiting attacking possibilities with width has always been our calling card, and to reach the optimum balance the increasingly confident Mikey Johnston is at last thriving from the left, playing his most impactful football since signing full time from Celtic.

And of course, this style of attacking is great on the eye, with support running on both wings from Darnell Furlong and of course Styles.

As is the Grant/Maja forward combination.

Maja’s propensity to drop off the forward line and become a pivot forward or pocket passer, linking midfield with secondary runners from wide areas is such a strength of his.

The last goal of the Corberan reign, a delicious team first, constructed goal, finished by Mikey Johnston, was augmented as ever by the intelligent, ball playing role Josh Maja’s thrives in, in a fluid formation.

Again, rumours circulate over January bids for Maja, but we’ll see?

A goal scorer who tends to score in hot streaks, the two clean finishes against Preston may well hopefully see a run of goals in January for Josh.

A dozen goals by our main striker is in recent years, standard fare for the season.

Josh, hitting this figure on Jan 1st is such a welcome change.

Karlan Grant, as we all know, is a revelation this season.

Returning from his Cardiff City loan spell, there was hope rather than an expectation that the climes of Cardiff would rejuvenate, [like the Kipre experience], the rebirth of an expensive but seemingly peripheral Baggies player. 

The evidence has been overwhelming.

Grant looks a completely different player, from his fitness levels to his commitment to the team. 

Like Maja, Grant has a far higher ratio of goals away from The Hawthorns, but maybe that is a comment on the counter attacking flow being more prevalent in the Corberan days from away matches.

Or maybe, as Grant is from Greenwich, it’s simply, time..

And time seems to be right for the injury plagued Daryl Dike to return to first team action.

Dike is a player I really rate, seeing him play live, out here in the States and many times on TV.

But this was a pre duel serious injury Dike, few medical teams are better than West Brom’s in terms of rehabilitation, and we can only hope the recovery for Daryl is long and sustained.

Only time will tell?

Time may be running out for the enigmatic pair, who I felt Corberan relied too heavily on early season but who just haven’t delivered for West Brom this season, Grady Diangana and Jon Swift.

39 games played between them, zero assists.

With both of these underachieving players contracts running out in June, any offer now to gain a semblance of value, in this January window, may well be considered.

On a similar contract ending arc, but with 18 Months left, is club captain Jed Wallace, another who seems set in stone as a cameo substitute, but all the willingness and hard work in the world, cannot mask, 19 appearances, zero assists.

Big decisions and priorities have to be made, and the impact and lack of, of existing players has to come into any decisions. 

Signing older players on three year contracts where diminishing returns are rife, is a bad risk we have taken before and is to be something to be avoided in the future.

On a personal note, nothing beats the sensory overload of being at The Hawthorns, and last month's visit to see two games, was fantastic, and simply an experience, living in America that is always and forever. irreplaceable.

Witnessing the 80th Birthday celebrations for John Giles, was an honour to witness and the respect and loyalty club legends, Tony Brown, John Wile and Ally Robertson had for their ex boss was both genuine and moving.

Ally described Giles as the ‘best manager I ever played for at West Brom, by far’.

I think that says it all.

Also huge congratulations to Dawn Astle on her truly deserved recognition of an MBE for her diligent mission to develop awareness of head injuries and support for  those afflicted, as her dad, the Baggies King’, Jeff was.

Dawn’s tireless work is so admirable and true to the character of the immortal Baggie No.9 and something he would have been rightly proud of.

In the next month, the Baggies face six games, a chance for the likes of youngsters with huge potential such as Harry Whitwell and Ollie Bostock to start in the FA Cup tie away to Bournemouth, as well as see if Devonte Cole can create a striking impression as a starter.

WBA’s four away games in January encompass the length and breadth of the UK, from Swansea, Middlesbrough, Plymouth and of course the Fighting Cherries. 

It’s a huge ask for our away fans, financially and in terms of time, but as ever the Baggies faithful will be there in huge numbers and my respect for them is total.

Home games v Mark Robbins Stoke [I think Robbins would have been a good fit for us] and Pompey make up the month.

Football’s narratives are fast and unerring.

Who leads the Baggies through these half dozen games and beyond will be fascinating to see and for the long term security and future of the club such a pivotal decision.

It’s in your hands, Mr.Nestor.

It's your time.