West Brom have got something ‘invaluable’ with Chris Mepham and Nat Phillips deals
Chris Mepham and Nat Phillips have the potential to make history together at West Brom this season.
The Baggies have undergone a significant overhaul with the appointment of Ryan Mason and the departures of Torbjorn Heggem and Tom Fellows.
Andrew Nestor’s business in the previous transfer window at The Hawthorns should be commended, having solidified the backline for the 2025/26 campaign.
Mepham and Phillips look like a Championship promotion-winning partnership as the Albion sit fifth in the league table after five matches.
Ryan Mason has leaders at West Brom
Mason has something “invaluable” in some of his new signings at the Baggies and that’s leadership, Curtis Davies says.
The former Baggies defender believes a price tag can’t be put on solid characters like Mepham and Phillips, who have the ability to galvanise the team at The Hawthorns.
With the former Liverpool defender playing at the highest level in the Premier League, his experience will come in handy, while the Wales international has 50 caps for his nation.
Speaking on BBC Sounds on 17 September, Davies said: “With recruitment now, a lot of people are looking at… ‘He’s got resale value’. But actually, there’s a level of leadership, like Mepham and Phillips, what they can bring to a group, that’s invaluable. And you can’t put a stat on that.”
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Middlesbrough will be tough test for Ryan Mason
Rob Edwards and Mason will meet next at the Riverside Stadium on 19 September as the Baggies look to bounce back and close the gap with Middlesbrough.
Boro are currently at the top of the table in the Championship, but the Albion are just three points behind as things stand.
The Black Country outfit will be disappointed about losing to Derby County in the league on 13 September despite controlling most of the game, and it will be interesting to see how they react to that setback.
- The Baggies made nine signings last summer.
- Mason has won three, drawn twice and lost once in the Championship.
- Derby have beaten the Albion for the second time this season after their win in the Carabao Cup in August.
West Brom are predicted to finish third in the Championship this season after some decent recruitment last summer, but only time will tell how the situation will unfold.
The Baggies have lost their last three meetings against Middlesbrough, but Edwards, who was appointed in June 2025, has never beaten the Black Country outfit as a manager.
Boro are in fine form, and a win against them could go a long way in showcasing that the Albion are ready to push for Premier League promotion.
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