Gary O’Neil ‘exactly what West Brom need’ after shock manager news
West Brom are already on the hunt for a new manager after sacking Tony Mowbray following defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.
The Baggies witnessed their playoff chances all but disappear with consecutive defeats over the Easter weekend, including Good Friday’s loss to Coventry.
Albion have managed just one win in their last six games, prompting Shilen Patel to sack Mowbray, while the West Midlands side are set for another season in the Championship.
The Baggies’ season took a significant turn for the worse after Carlos Corberan left The Hawthorns in favour of a move to Spanish side Valencia back in December.
West Brom urged to appoint Gary O’Neil
Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has been out of work since being sacked by the Albion’s bitter rivals in December, and has emerged as a favourite to replace Mowbray.
| Opponent | Result |
| Bristol City (A) | 2-1 L |
| Watford (H) | 2-1 W |
| Coventry (A) | 2-0 L |
| Derby (H) | 1-3 L |
Speaking to Football League World, Joe Jacobson believes he could tick all of the boxes.
He said: “Gary O’Neil has done a very, very good job, especially at Bournemouth. At Wolves, it was tough, but I think he is a very, very good manager, and that’s exactly what West Brom need right now, a freshness, someone with some fresh ideas, someone who’s obviously very motivated and wants to prove himself again.
“And West Brom have just been in this limbo land the last couple of seasons, where they’ve spent a lot of money on players but not necessarily on bringing a lot of youth through, but just getting some good Championship players in the squad, but not really having a team around them. So, I think Gary O’Neil would bring about that freshness and energy, so I think he’ll be a good appointment for them.”
West Brom should not appoint O’Neil
Mowbray steered West Brom to the 2007/08 Championship title, which is a feat the West Midlands outfit will always be grateful for.
However, the 61-year-old’s second stint at The Hawthorns did not go to plan, as a series of poor results has meant that the Baggies no longer have a realistic chance of finishing in the playoffs, which is disappointing for a side who finished in the top six under Corberan last term.
But while Mowbray’s departure was both understandable and predictable, Patel must now choose his replacement carefully as the Albion look to challenge again next season.
Thanks to his Wolves past, O’Neil could prove to be a disastrous appointment who would be very unpopular with the Baggies faithful from the moment of his potential arrival.
There is no doubt that O’Neil could do a good job in the Championship, given his Premier League pedigree, but West Brom would not be the right club for the ex-Wolves man to join.