West Brom interim Richard Beale lays down ground rules for first team ahead of Reading clash
If Richard Beale is to take charge of West Brom v Reading this weekend, he has some basic expectations of his squad.
West Brom are still yet to appoint a replacement for Steve Bruce, leaving academy coach Beale with the responsibilities over the weekend.
The 42-year-old coach has enjoyed great success with the Baggies Premier League 2 side since becoming manager last summer, with the youth team lifting the PL Cup under his tenure.
As he prepares for his first match in charge of West Brom’s first team, he’s already laid down some basic expectations for the players.
“I like to keep the game simple,” said Beale, as quoted by Birmingham Mail.
“I like to have players playing who are going to work really, really hard and fight. That’s a prerequisite before you start talking about everything else.
“If you want to play in the team that I’m coaching, then you need that firstly – the basics.
“After that, give very simple, clear instructions and off the back of that you can get the best out of players. It’s not always that easy, but that’s the way I like to do things and that’s the philosophy.”
Time to respond
It became increasingly clear that the players at West Brom wanted Bruce out as much as any fan – they made that obvious through their torrid performances.
The board reacted and dismissed Bruce, and it’s now time for the players to show that it was the right decision.
Beale’s first match in charge, however, is not an easy one. The Baggies face a trip to fifth-placed Reading on Saturday afternoon.
However, the Royals aren’t in great form having lost their last match against QPR and drawn the match prior against Norwich City.
Amazingly, Reading also have a worse goal difference than West Brom after scoring two fewer goals while also conceding 18.
There’s plenty of reason for West Brom to take confidence into the clash, and players should be trying to make a strong impression on the managerial candidates watching at home.
A response is desperately needed.
In other West Brom news, Kevin Campbell labels the dramatic final day in 2005 as his most iconic West Brom moment