Adrian Durham blasts West Brom, takes swipe at failed planning
TalkSPORT host Adrian Durham has taken a huge swipe at West Brom after the club was relegated from the Premier League at the weekend.
Albion’s short-lived return to the Premier League was over thanks to Arsenal, who beat the Baggies 3-1 at the Emirates and consigned them back to the Championship.
Several years ago, Durham sparked outrage from Baggies fans when he asked what the point is of the club.
The outspoken broadcaster made that claim in August 2016 when Albion were embarking on their seventh-consecutive season in the Premier League.
It was understandable that fans defended the club back then, but now, with the club relegated back to the second-tier again, his concerns do seem justifiable.
As shown in a clip on the talkSPORT Twitter account, Durham said: “There’s a bigger picture with West Brom and I did ask this five years ago… I asked the question, ‘what’s the point of West Brom?’.
“A lot of West Brom fans, understandably, got very upset about it and once they dried their eyes they realised what I was asking.
“Is there a strategy at West Bromwich Albion? Is there a plan in place? Because it all seems to be so knee-jerk. ‘Oh, we’re not winning games, let’s fire Darren Moore. Oh, we’re not winning games, we haven’t won the playoffs, let’s fire Jimmy Shan. Oh, we need a manager. Slaven Bilic. He’s taken us up but not doing well in the Premier League – let’s fire him. Let’s bring in another Pulis, another Megson, another Pardew and that’s Sam Allardyce’.
“What is the plan? When it all starts going wrong, just appoint one of those old-school managers.
“Is that the plan, West Brom? What’s going on there?”
Darren Gough then chimed in to say what he believes to be the plan at The Hawthorns, saying that the goal is ultimately just to be a Premier League club – no more and no less.
In response to Durham asking what the plan is, Goughie said: “It’s to survive in the Premier League, that’s what they’re searching for.
“I think it’s quite obvious they’re after a manager that can try and keep them in because they are the yo-yo club. They get relegated more than anyone else, they come back up, they get relegated.
“I don’t think they expect to get in the European places, I think they just want to be a Crystal Palace.
“That’s what they’re looking at and thinking, ‘that’s where we want to be’. They want to be where Wolves are at this moment in time and try and stay in the Premier League because that’s where the money is.
“That’s where these clubs want to be because they know they’re not going to win something. But to stay in it, where the money’s at, is what these clubs are aspiring to be. And they just can’t.”
There is a plan – it’s just an awful one
Gough has kind of hit the nail on the head. West Brom are just happy to be a Premier League club.
Albion are happy to finish anywhere 17th and above.
But so many clubs fail to reach their targets and therefore if West Brom fail to meet their target, they are relegated.
Albion are, in essence, aiming for mediocrity. They’re happy to be there and not really contribute.
Why not try to plan for a top-half finish? Why not hire a manager with a long-term vision in place that involves him steadily recruiting a squad – with investment from the owner – over a couple of seasons and then having a team in place capable of finishing in the top-half.
After those couple of years, if West Brom aren’t getting top-half, show some ambition and try harder. Try a new approach. But the ultimately aim should be a top-half finish and no less.
Because when you aim for 17th, it means you’re aiming to be a relegation contender.
That is exactly what West Brom have done for a long time now, dating back to the start of their longest stint in the Premier League.
It’s a tired, old plan that simply doesn’t apply in English football anymore. Allardyce and Pulis have proven that safety isn’t guaranteed simply by a manager.
In other West Brom news, Kevin Phillips suggests Albion should try to re-sign this player on a second loan deal.
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