West Brom could start next season in July as insiders speak out
West Brom will be looking to bounce back from their first Championship defeat of the season.
Ryan Mason was handed his first Championship defeat against Derby County at The Hawthorns.
The defeat came as West Brom celebrated The Hawthorns' 125th birthday in a loss West Brom fans thought was very "Albion that" indeed.
Nevertheless, Mason will still be looking to earn Premier League promotion in the coming months. But there is always the chance that the Baggies remain in the second division for another season.
Championship considering July Carabao Cup fixtures
As reported in the print edition of the Daily Mail (16 September, page 64), the Championship are considering starting next season in July - with a round of Carabao Cup fixtures.
This comes as one of several options to deal with an increasingly busy calendar.
The first round of the Cup matches would commence on the weekend of Saturday, 1 August. However, if any of the games were scheduled for Friday, the 2026/27 season would begin on 31 July - only 12 days after the World Cup final.
Insiders claim that any changes to the calendar will be made by the EFL board following "extensive consultation with clubs."
While this could work on the surface, some clubs are said to "harbour concerns" that an earlier start date could rob them of the opportunity to organise "money-spinning" friendlies over the summer.
West Brom's defeat against Derby County on penalties saw them exit this season's competition prematurely. Thus, there is no doubt that Mason will be hoping to improve his record once the 2026/27 season arrives.
What went wrong for Albion against Derby?
There is no doubt that Mason will be puzzled over the Baggies' recent Championship defeat.
Albion were the dominant side. They created the most chances, had the most possession and looked the likeliest side to score. However, an 84-minute goal from former West Brom forward Andreas Weimann made all the difference for the Rams.
- Albion held 68 per cent possesion to Derby's 32 per cent
- The Baggies had 18 shots on goal, with four on target
- The Rams had 4 shots on goal, with one on target
Aune Heggebo arrived at Albion in the summer but has yet to score in the Championship for the Baggies. Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Issac Price is the club's top scorer.
As a result, being more clinical in front of the goal will be Mason's key takeaway from the confrontation.
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