Tony Pulis identifies academy mistake West Brom made during his tenure
Tony Pulis believes West Brom missed a trick by investing in young players when in the Premier League, rather than bringing through their young talent.
The former Baggies boss who was in charge at the Hawthorns between 2015 and 2017 and felt a talented crop of youngsters at the club during his time there should have been blooded.
But West Brom invested a lot of money in other young players in the hope that they would then go on to turn a profit, including a £15 million purchase of Oliver Burke from RB Leipzig, who only played 24 times in three seasons, scoring once.
Discussing his tenure on the Express & Star‘s Baggies Broadcast podcast (11 September) Pulis said: “All of a sudden there was this recruitment phase that everyone seems to have bought into, but then it was new to me. I think Burky was one, I was not 100 per cent convinced on him but it was the way the club wanted to go.
“For me, I thought we had Leko, Edwards, Kane Wilson, Sam Field, Tyler Roberts, a real good young group there. We had them dipping in and out, playing in the League Cup, and I was much happier doing that than investing in these players the club thought they may get a big return on.
“They were a good group, who needed a bit more encouragement and involvement, and it is probably an area where the club really missed a chance.”
Missed a trick
When you look at where West Brom currently sit in the football pyramid, you have to wonder whether they would have been better off investing in some of their younger talent, especially when you look at where some of these players’ careers have gone since.
Jonathan Leko is still only 24 years old and was playing in the Championship with Birmingham City until the summer, Kane Wilson won the League Two Player of the Season with Forest Green Rovers before making the switch to Bristol City where it didn’t work out for him.
Tyler Roberts flattered to deceive with Leeds United before spending time on loan with QPR and is still in the Championship with Birmingham. While these players may not have been Premier League-ready in 2017, they could have been assets in England’s second tier.
For the players themselves too, it could have been incredibly helpful to their development had they remained at The Hawthorns. Most of them haven’t managed to settle and find their exact level since and maybe that would’ve been easier with the club they came through the ranks with.
Hopefully, under Carlos Corberan and with budgets tight, the Baggies will not let more exciting prospects slip through their fingers
In other West Brom news, Corberan has admitted Jeremy Sarmiento still has ‘problems’ he needs to sort out at the Hawthorns