Ryan Mason given clear answer to goalkeeping dilemma in remarkable new reveal
West Brom’s goalkeeping situation has become a mess under Ryan Mason.
The big news before West Brom’s 3-1 loss to QPR on 6 December was that Josh Griffiths had been dropped by Mason after making a huge mistake in the 3-2 win over Swansea City the week prior.
Joe Wildsmith came into the team as a result, but has failed to deliver a single assured performance, once again proving to be costly in West Brom’s 2-1 defeat to Bristol City on Friday.
The result leaves the Baggies 16th in the Championship table, and the chances of pushing for a playoff place are looking more unlikely than ever under Mason.
West Brom can’t seem to keep the ball out of their net, and the 34-year-old manager has to swallow his pride and drop Wildsmith as the stats continue to stack up against him.
Ryan Mason can’t continue Joe Wildsmith experiment
Having made 12 appearances prior to the QPR match, Wildsmith’s West Brom career certainly hasn’t been filled with promise, and it got even worse on Friday.
Anis Mehmeti gave the Robins the lead at The Hawthorns after four minutes, although Mason believes the goal shouldn’t have stood.
Wildsmith didn’t even make an attempt to dive as Emil Riss Jakobsen, who was standing in an offside position, jumped over the ball at the last second.
The incident once again asks the question why Griffiths continues to be overlooked, and Mason has failed to answer the reason for placing his faith in Wildsmith.
The tweet below shows each goalkeeper’s stats per 90 minutes under Mason, and Griffiths clearly edges out Wildsmith in every metric.
Although Griffiths has to be reinstated into the starting lineup, the Baggies need a new goalkeeper regardless.
- Read more: Andrew Nestor at fault as West Brom flush £3.3m down the drain with latest Tammer Bany update
West Brom need a new goalkeeper if they want to change their fortunes
The Baggies have conceded 31 goals this season, and have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 matches.
While the responsibility of their defensive woes should also lie with the defence, it is ultimately up to the goalkeeper to lead his back line with authority.
West Brom have conceded an xG of 26.2, the seventh-lowest in the division, and it points to their goalkeepers not being up to the level that is required to play in the Championship.
The Baggies are susceptible to letting in a long-range strike, and supporters are surely questioning how both Wildsmith and Griffiths are training ahead of each match.
Unfortunately for West Brom fans, signing a new shot-stopper in the January transfer window seems unlikely, and they will continue to wonder why that wasn’t prioritised in the summer.
Mason is on the brink of being sacked, and it’s safe to say that if he had a competent goalkeeper, the Baggies wouldn’t be in the position that they are right now.
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