Talksport host Adrian Durham has questioned what West Brom can offer to the Premier League should they earn promotion this season.
West Brom lost their first play-off semi-final leg against fierce rivals Aston Villa 2-1 on Saturday, which put them on the back foot going into the second-leg on Tuesday. Dwight Gayle was sent off in the game and will miss the all important decider at the Hawthorns, with a game at Wembley on this line.
Durham said on talkSPORT Drive: “When they had that many years, a decade in the Premier League what exactly did West Brom offer?
“Was there a new style of play that wowed us all, was there this scintillating attacking football, wingers flying down the flanks and delivering balls into the middle and goals being scored left, right and centre, was there anything special that West Bromich Albion did?”
“Do we want that in the Premier league when a club is that divided?”
West Brom went into the game with caretaker manager Jimmy Shan in charge after sacking Darren Moore when they were fourth in the Championship with no replacement lined up.
The Baggies endured an inconsistent return to the second tier after spending eight years in the Premier League.
OPINION
Adrian Durham was certainly passionate about West Brom and their bid to get back into the Premier League. Any team that gains promotion through the play-offs deserves the accolade as they are one of the most brutal parts of the football league. The Baggies caused controversy when sacking Darren Moore despite him taking his side to fourth in the league and that’s exactly where they finished under Jimmy Shan. During their time in the Premier League they enjoyed some great seasons and finished eight in the 2012/2013 season. They are currently going through a transformation period with no permanent manager and a squad full of most of their Premier League squad. Should they not earn promotion this season then they will be facing a summer exodus with the lack of money coming in meaning they should have to sell some of their higher earners such as Jay Rodriguez and Craig Dawson. This is one of the hardest play-offs to call in recent years with four massive clubs involved and who ever gains promotion will certainly deserve it. Having said this, West Brom have a mountain to climb when they welcome Aston Villa on Tuesday one goal behind and missing Dwight Gayle.