Jed Wallace shines, Tom Rogic total flop – West Brom transfer ratings so far at World Cup break
Steve Bruce was forced to operate with a minuscule West Brom transfer budget in the summer and focused on free transfers to boost the squad.
There were tentative signs that things might be on the up prior to the season when the lack of cash didn’t prevent some solid arrivals coming through the doors at the Hawthorns, but the season itself soon told a different story.
Loan deals for Steven Alzate and Josh Onomah are conspicuous by their absence on the list of West Brom arrivals after a transfer deadline day debacle that proved a sign of things to come, with the former Newcastle boss ultimately sacked in under a year and replaced by Carlos Corberan.
Here, West Brom News rates the Baggies arrivals out of 10 as the club enter a month off for the World Cup in Qatar.
Jayson Molumby – £900,000 from Brighton (The Athletic) – 6
Fans weren’t exactly blown away when a large part of a tiny transfer budget was spent to make the 22-year-old’s loan permanent ahead of the transfer window opening, after he made 31 appearances last season and scoring one goal.
Has featured in almost every game, although for much of the Bruce era that wasn’t really any indicator of quality, but has been important in recent victories under Corberan, and at his age there is still room for him to develop further.
John Swift – Free from Reading – 6
A solid free agent capture back when there were hopes of growth in the summer and began the season well. Started every game until October, where the wheels fell off for Bruce and Swift had gone badly off the boil.
Has looked better again as part of the revival under the new manager and has improved his numbers to three goals and four assists, so has time to up this rating over the second half of the season.
Jed Wallace – Free from Millwall – 8
Another prized free transfer from Millwall he has been the stand out West Brom signing so far this year, registering three goals and three assists, but creating chances for far more.
At times it has seemed like the game plan was to just hope the 28-year-old winger would be able to put one on a plate well enough that even the profligate Baggies strikers couldn’t help but put it away.
Surely will be as desperate as anyone to see Daryl Dike back in the team, and at this stage doesn’t look in much danger of being overtaken as the pick of this year’s arrivals.
Brandon Thomas-Asante – £300,000 from Salford City (Express & Star) – 7
The only other signing that West Brom actually spent a fee on when they dipped into League Two to bring in the 23-year-old striker, and he instantly became a fan favourite when he scored two in his first two Albion appearances.
Hasn’t looked entirely out of his depth in making the jump up two divisions, and would probably represent a crafty bargain in other transfer windows, but as one of only two actual buys he remains a work in progress, albeit and encouraging one, and if he can replicate the spectacular bicycle kick he scored in the win over Stoke in the previous game (12 November) he will prove to be a hit.
Martin Kelly – Free from Crystal Palace – 5
A deadline day arrival on a free who provides versatile cover across the back line, he made sense while Bruce was in the midst of a defensive injury crisis, and looked fairly good when he got into the team through the first half of October, but those four appearances are the extent of his involvement.
Okay Yokuslu – Free from Celta Vigo – 6
The returning former loanee as a popular signing in the summer as fans remembered what he produced in his previous spell with the club, but didn’t prove to be as much of a hit while bouncing in and out of the team under Bruce.
Has racked up 16 Championship appearances now, scoring once, and is showing signs of being an important player under the new boss, so could yet prove to be one of the better signings of the campaign once West Brom return to action in a month’s time.
Erik Pieters – Free – 7
His arrival had a touch of a clutching at straws feel to it as Bruce scrambled to find any answer that might be available after the deadline, as the long unbeaten run, which was itself frustrating enough, descended into a winless one with frequent losses.
Being that he arrived with low expectations the 34 year old has proven to be a fairly solid pick up, making 10 league appearances so far, and like Kelly provides versatility in covering multiple positions while contributing more than double the appearances.
Tom Rogic – Free – 4
The former Celtic star felt like a masterstroke when he was secured late on for free, but amid a lack of match fitness to start his time at the Hawthorns, and pretty uninspiring form in his sparse action, he has done very little.
Has made just six appearances, none of which have lasted more than an hour, and the 53-cap Australian international missed out on a place in his nation’s World Cup squad as a result.
Surely the biggest disappointment so far, but as a free signing it could have been worse, and he should get an opportunity to rectify that over the rest of the season.
In other West Brom news, an up and coming Baggies talent has been targeted unjustly while out on loan.