Nat Phillips sensational, 4/10 a big disappointment – West Brom’s summer signings rated so far
Ryan Mason has wasted no time in putting West Brom’s summer signings to work.
West Brom’s summer transfer window was an impressive one, with nine new players arriving at The Hawthorns.
Some have settled in well to life at Albion, while it is clear that the pressure is still too great for others.
Either way, Mason has a lot to look forward to as West Brom News rates how each summer signing has performed so far.
Nat Phillips – 8/10
Nat Phillips signed for Albion from Liverpool and has quickly established himself as a sensational starter for Mason.
He netted his first goal for the Baggies in West Brom’s win over Stoke City in the Championship and has been a strong force at the back.
However, Phillips has shown that he is prone to a mistake or two, having netted an own goal which cost Albion the win in their draw to Leicester City.
Chris Mepham – 7/10
Chris Mepham arrived at West Brom from Bournemouth as part of the many defensive signings, with the hope that his Premier League promotion experience could aid the Baggies.
His first game for West Brom came against Stoke City, and like Phillips on his debut, he towered above the rest.
In fact, he has formed a pretty sturdy partnership with Phillips at the back with the Baggies conceding 10 goals in the Championship this season.
However, Mepham has struggled these past couple of games, and Albion’s defensive record reflects this, with six of the 10 goals conceded having come in the last four matches.
Samuel Iling-Junior – 8/10
West Brom signed Samuel Iling-Junior from Aston Villa on loan during deadline day, much to the disappointment of some Albion fans.
The versatile winger has gone on to prove all those who doubted him wrong, scoring and creating the Baggies’ last two goals.
While eight out of ten seems generous, if basing it on his performances alone, he deserves to be rated even higher.
But given he’s only made a handful op appearances, eight seems about right for now.
Aune Heggebo – 4/10
Four out of ten may seem harsh for Aune Heggebo, who signed for West Brom from SK Brann over the summer.
He is a centre-forward whose hold-up and link-up play have been praised since his arrival. He can create for his teammates and always looks to bring others into the game, which makes him a valuable asset.
However, what use is it having a striker who struggles to score?
- Heggebo has netted once in eight Championship starts
- He has missed three big chances
- He has converted six per cent of his chances this season
The statistics are damning, and having kept Josh Maja from the starting lineup against Millwall, one game after his heroics to secure the win against Norwich City, patience for the young forward is beginning to run thin.
George Campbell – 7/10
George Campbell signed for Albion from Montreal and, like several of their summer signings, has slotted straight into Mason’s starting lineup.
While Campbell has primarily played as a centre-back throughout his career, he has been one of the Baggies’ starting full-backs this season.
- Campbell won the most duels against Leicester City
- He has won 63 per cent of his ground duel
- His passes are 89 per cent accurate on average
His commitment and execution of a role unfamiliar to the defender earn him a few extra brownie points where the ratings are concerned.
As a result, it looks like Albion have signed a solid and versatile player who is already making a difference at The Hawthorns.
Charlie Taylor – 5.5/10
Charlie Taylor arrived from Southampton on loan as another deadline day signing for the Baggies.
The left-back has struggled for minutes under Mason, with his first and only start coming against Leicester.
Even when on the pitch, he has been underwhelming for the most part.
Therefore, it would not be surprising if he fails to establish himself as a starter while at The Hawthorns.
Toby Collyer – 6/10
West Brom signed youngster Toby Collyer on loan from Manchester United over the summer.
While Albion fans have not seen much from him, he was the only bright spark in their defeat to Millwall, which was also his first start.
The central midfielder is intelligent and purposeful in his movement and offers promise when on the attack.
As a result, he could be vital for the Baggies moving forward with a little more game time.
Alfie Gilchrist and Krystian Bielik – N/A
Alfie Gilchrist and Krystian Bielik have both been sidelined at West Brom due to injury and tactical reasons.
To date, both have played around a combined 20 minutes for the Baggies, which is not enough to form a fair opinion.
Both have looked strong from the limited time they’ve had on the pitch, so they could be ones to watch moving forward.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest West Bromwich Albion news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @westbromnews247