OPINION
West Bromwich Albion have lost sight of their football DNA, but Darren Moore can restore it with the right additions.
A few years ago, West Brom were renowned for their attacking, possession-based football as creativity and passing skill flowed through the side.
Players like Jason Koumas, Jonathan Greening, Youssouf Mulumbu, Zoltan Gera, Robert Koren, Borja Valero and Filipe Teixeira used to thrill The Hawthorns with their ability on the ball.
Then Tony Pulis arrived and immediately set about destroying it, favouring a more direct style of football. It worked for a few years, as Albion stayed in the Premier League year on year. But when the results dried up and Pulis was sacked, Alan Pardew was brought in to restore the previous playing style.
However, there were hardly any players left who could play in that system. All the creative players had been sold and he was left with physically imposing players who struggled to pass the ball around confidently. The Baggies were eventually relegated, but this could be an opportunity to bring the back the clubs passing football DNA.
As reported by the Express & Star, Moore is targeting former Baggie Romaine Sawyer, who should be the first of a number of new midfield additions and is just the right kind of player for this new team.
Fulham proved last season that you can get out of the Championship by playing expansive football, but you need the players to do it, like Tom Cairney and Kevin McDonald.
If the club can keep hold of James Morrison, Chris Brunt and Nacer Chadli, that would be a good start, but the midfield needs some serious work ahead of next season.
Current players like Jake Livermore and James McClean don’t have the ability to play that way, they need to be sold for reasonable fees and replaced with creative players.
Darren Moore has got a massive rebuilding job on his hands this summer, but if done right, he can rebuild the club’s reputation for playing good football in the process.