MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 12:24:24| >> :120:55022:55022:

A look at the problems West Bromwich Albion faced this season

A look at the problems West Brom faced this season
© Reuters
The Baggies have been relegated to the Sky Bet Championship.

West Brom have dropped out of the Premier League after just a season back in the top flight.

It was the first relegation Sam Allardyce has suffered in his managerial career.

Here, the PA news agency looks at where it went wrong for the Baggies.

Why could Allardyce not save them?

West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City – Premier League – The Hawthorns
West Brom conceded goals for fun in Allardyce's early games (Nick Potts/PA)

When the former England boss replaced Slaven Bilic in December, the amount of games and coronavirus protocols at the training ground meant he did not have much time to implement his ideas.

In his first five home games the Baggies shipped 19 goals, scoring just twice, as they lost 5-0 to Manchester City and Leeds while also losing 3-0 to Aston Villa and 4-0 to Arsenal.

It ultimately took too long for the manager to get to grips with his new side's failings – although once he did they at least put up a decent fight.

How much did the Baggies shoot themselves in the foot?

Sheffield United v West Brom – Sky Bet Championship – Bramall Lane
Sheffield United beat West Brom in February (Martin Rickett/PA)

Albion will rue dropped points against relegation rivals Fulham, Newcastle, Brighton and Burnley since the turn of the year, while they also lost to rock-bottom Sheffield United in February.

Impressive performances against Tottenham, Manchester United and Everton earned them just a point.

A shock 5-2 win at 10-man Chelsea on April 3 showed what they could be capable of but it was too late.

Did Albion use their funds wisely?

Albion had a meagre budget of £20million going into the season but had already gone over it by the time Bilic was publicly putting pressure on the board to re-sign Filip Krovinovic on loan.

He struggled and ended up joining Nottingham Forest on loan in January, Grady Diangana has not lived up to his £18million price-tag – although not all of it was upfront – while £15million Karlan Grant has struggled.

Turning Matheus Pereira's loan move from Sporting Lisbon permanent was a savvy £9million deal but the forward has still struggled for consistency.

Did the winter signings arriving too late?

Mbaye Diagne File Photo
Mbaye Diagne joined on loan from Galatasaray (John Walton/PA)

Okay Yokuslu, Mbaye Diagne and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have helped immensely since their loan arrivals.

But all three joined towards the end of the window and what West Brom would have given to have them for an extra few games.

Loan deals such as these are always more likely to happen at the end rather than the start of the windows but getting them in the building a few weeks earlier would have given Albion a better chance.

How did decisions – on and off the pitch – impact the season?

Albion feel they have been on the rough end of decisions and planning this season.

Allardyce has been very vocal with his objections to the fixture list and said he felt the Premier League was contributing to Albion's relegation.

On the pitch, tight VAR calls and referring decisions have also angered Allardyce, notably Pereira's red card at Crystal Palace and Conor Gallagher and Branislav Ivanovic being denied penalties in the game.

He branded VAR a laughing stock after Diagne was denied a goal in the 3-0 win over Southampton, with the technology unable to find the right angle to prove whether the striker was on or offside.

ID:446731:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9556:
Written by
P A
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
West Bromwich Albion's Matt Phillips and Okay Yokuslu look dejected after Arsenal's second goal on May 9, 2021
Read Next:
West Brom relegated from Premier League
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
Read more about Sam Allardyce Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd21145230111945
2Leeds UnitedLeeds21126337152242
3Sunderland21117332171540
4Burnley2010822471738
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2011452517837
6Middlesbrough21104735251034
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
8Watford199462725231
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds218582630-429
10Swansea CitySwansea217682322127
11Bristol City216962626027
12Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
13Millwall206772018225
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Coventry CityCoventry216692730-324
16Preston North EndPreston2141162127-623
17Stoke CityStoke215792328-522
18Queens Park RangersQPR2141072127-622
19Luton TownLuton2164112337-1422
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2046102133-1218
21Cardiff CityCardiff2046101932-1318
22Portsmouth193882134-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2045111942-2317
24Hull City2137111930-1116


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!