Richard Beale scolds West Brom U23s after 5-0 hammering v Nottingham Forest
West Brom may have picked up form in the Championship but their Under-23s team didn’t enjoy the same fate last night in Premier League 2.
Richard Beale’s side were utterly outplayed and outworked as Nottingham Forest ran out 5-0 winners at The Hawthorns to humiliate the young Baggies.
Even the red hot Reyes Cleary couldn’t turn the game in Albion’s favour as he was left horribly isolated for much of the contest and after the game, Beale did not hold back on criticising some of his players.
“The players aren’t going to play for anyone’s first team, let alone, here if they don’t roll their sleeves up and play with intensity,” Beale said, as quoted by the Express and Star.
“They missed an opportunity to impress (Bruce) which is really disappointing because in conversations with the first team staff we talk about certain players and everything we have been saying is positive.
“I’m the biggest advocate for bringing energy, intensity and hard work. The rest is out of your control.
“But we didn’t see enough of that and that’s how you impress people. That’s how you get into first-teams.”
Had to be done
Yes, these players are young and inexperienced and yes, they do need time and patience but you can only give them so much.
Sometimes, young players need a good rocket up their rear end to remind them how far they still have to go to make a career out of being a footballer.
Caleb Taylor was perhaps the only player who lived up to the ability he has shown on the night, making a number of key interceptions and tackles at centre-half to stop the score from becoming even more embarrassing.
Beale’s words will be ringing in their ears for days on end and every time they come into training this week there will undoubtedly be a few shy glances in his direction when they first see him.
It might crush the confidence of some but it is in these times where you get to see who is really determined to make it and who doesn’t want to put the work in.
In other West Brom news, Steve Bruce has confirmed that a first-team ace has picked up a new injury concern.
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