Former West Brom midfielder Keith Andrews has named the Baggies’ Craig Dawson and Ahmed Hegazi as the best defensive pairing out of the whole Championship but insists they are not suited to playing out from the back as Darren Moore wants.
The duo both have Premier League experience under their belts and remained at the Hawthorns despite their drop into England’s second tier, acting as part of the first choice defenders, with Moore choosing both a flat back four and a back three during the current campaign.
Speaking of the style of play trying to be adopted by the boss, Andrews insisted it was not suited to the personnel at his disposal, but raved over their abilities as out-and-out defenders.
He told Sky Sports’ coverage of the clash against Ipswich on Friday night (23/11, 19:00): “I don’t think the back four are good enough to play out from the back. He wants to play out from the back, I personally don’t think they’re good enough.
“They’re very good defenders – you look at Dawson, you look at Hegazi, very very good, probably as good as it gets as a defensive two in this division.
“It’s not really them (to) split, playing from the back.”
Opinion
Huge praise coming the way of the defenders at the Hawthorns, but if they are that good then why have they conceded so many goals this season? Is it that they are not as good as Andrews thinks they are, or could it be that the style of football being asked of by Darren Moore is leaving them susceptible at the back? Most would probably argue the latter and while the manager is looking to bring positive, forward thinking football to the Baggies, he needs to make sure the basics are done first and foremost. If he can get his men drilled to ensuring that the opposition attack are shut out more often, then he can start introducing the likes of passing out from the back but for now, it is putting their success at risk. Let Hegazi and Dawson do the job they are best at and the results will come their way.