What will Steve Bruce’s West Brom look like, more defensive football?
West Brom are reportedly close to confirming Steve Bruce as their new manager as David Ornstein reports he’s likely to accept the job offer today (3 February).
The 61-year-old has been out of work since he left his boyhood club Newcastle United in October following the Magpies’ Saudi Arabian takeover.
He has only been jobless for three months but he may be ready to jump back into the thick of the action with the Baggies chasing a promotion place in the Championship.
But how would Bruce’s Baggies compare to that of Valerien Ismael, who received his P45 from the club on Wednesday (2 February)?
We first have to look at how his Newcastle side were playing prior to his departure from St. James’ Park and it isn’t pretty for West Brom fans.
It was largely defensive football and back fives that have been a large reason for Ismael’s exit from the club, leaving them sixth in the second tier.
If he were to deploy a similar system at The Hawthorns, he would not be getting any of the supporters on side as they have already grown sick of the defensive football their former boss brought to the table.
Bruce also wouldn’t have a player like Allan Saint-Maximin to drag him out of trouble at West Brom as he did with the Magpies which would be a dreadful scenario.
The 61-year-old’s only choice is to set up in a very attacking formation with a lot of forward runners to try and get the fans and players in harmony for the first time in a long while.
That might see a 4-3-3 system deployed with Andy Carroll a key target man for the tricky wingers such as Callum Robinson and Grady Diangana to make runs off.
He may also go simple with a 4-4-2 which would see top scorer Karlan Grant likely to partner Carroll up top.
Whatever Bruce chooses, it has to be attacking because their goal-scoring this season has been simply woeful.
In other West Brom news, a reliable journalist has claimed that Ismael ignored senior players’ concerns during his time at The Hawthorns.