West Bromwich Albion have embarked on a summer frenzy in the transfer market as they bid to establish themselves in the Premier League.
The Baggies have boinged between the Premier League and Championship in recent campaigns and Tony Mowbray is the latest man charged with bringing back the glory days to the Hawthorns. Their free-flowing style of football was a joy to watch last year and goals galore rained in as they lifted the Championship.
Mowbray is unswerving in his belief that football needs to be played in a certain manner and h wont be compromising his principles in order to adopt a dogs of war policy.
However, he has shown he will be ruthless with team selection and is yet to select on a settled side with so many new signings to choose from. The loss of Kevin Phillips to near neighbours Birmingham City will leave a big gap in terms of goals but Mowbray couldn't guarantee the experienced striker regular football.
But the permanent acquisition of Roman Bednar is a coup whilst Luke Moore is also at the Hawthorns on a permanent basis. Marek Cech and Gianni Zuiverloon will add a new dimension to the full back positions and Mowbray has dipped back into the Scottish market to PFA Scottish Division One Player of the year Graham Dorrans from Livingston for £100,000.
Scott Carson's arrival from Liverpool increases competition for the number one jersey and there is likely to be yet more movement before August 31.
One thing that won't alter, however, is Mowbray's deadpan demeanour and attitude to football. His phlegmatic approach ensures that there is a stability at the Hawthorns that transmits to the players.
They in turn are able to relax and play in a composed manner and that stability and composure will need to remain in evidence this term when Albion will face some difficult afternoons against top-class opposition.
INS/OUT
In
Roman Bednar (Undisclosed/Heart of Midlothian)
Marek Cech (£1.4m/Porto)
Kim Do-Heon (£550,000/Seongram Ihwa Chunma)
Michal Danek (Loan/Viktoria Plzen)
Graham Dorrans (£100,000/Livingston)
Luke Moore (£3m/Aston villa)
Gianni Zuiverloon (£3,2m/Heerenveen)
Scott Carson (£3.25m/Liverpool)
Out
Martin Albrechtsen (Free/Derby County)
Curtis Davies (Undisclosed/Aston Villa)
Kevin Phillips (Free/Birmingham City)
Zoltan Gera (Free/Fulham)
PREDICTION: It will be another tough campaign for the Baggies who have yet to win a pre-season fixture at the time of writing. Tony Mowbray's style of football is fantastic to watch but they will find it hard to outpass the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea and will do well to survive. Relegation is a very real possibility.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF WEST BROMWICH ALBION FC
Albion have an illustrious history, which includes winning the First Division (Premier League) on one occasion back in 1920. However, they have lifted the FA Cup on five occasions, although the last one was back in 1968.
They pocketed the League cup in 1966 and have also won the Charity Shield in 1920 and shared it with old rivals Wolves in 1954. Last season they were crowned Championship champions and have won that honour previously in 1902 and 1911.
Although Albion didn't lift any silverware under Ron Atkinson in the late seventies they were famous for an exciting brand of football and they were pioneers by becoming the first English team to have three black players playing regular first team football (Brendon Batson, Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham).
Did You Know: The Hawthorns is not only the highest league ground in England but it has also hosted a cricket international between India and Pakistan, Kabaddi tournaments in 200 and 2001 as well as being the final straight for the first ever Midlands marathon in 1908.
