Michael Carrick increasingly likely to take charge at West Brom as Ryan Mason sinks to new low
Ryan Mason is sleepwalking his way to being sacked by West Brom, with Michael Carrick a name in the frame to replace him.
Pressure continues to grow on Mason, and West Brom’s 1-0 loss to Swansea on Thursday certainly hasn’t helped his case.
Supporters are almost unanimous in wanting Mason out as the Baggies sit 18th in the Championship table and nine points adrift of the playoff places.
Michael Carrick continues to be heavily linked with West Brom, and if he were to come in, he’d need to rescue a disastrous season that has seen the Baggies equal a dreadful club record.
Michael Carrick closer to West Brom move as losing away run continues
West Brom have now lost nine consecutive away games, which is the joint-worst losing run away from home in the Black Country club’s 148-year history.
The Baggies are also on course for their worst league finish since 1999-2000 when they finished 21st in Division 1 (Championship).
After such a promising start to the season that saw West Brom second in the table after five games, their inability to perform on the road has proved to be the downfall of Mason’s reign.
| Carrick | Stat | Mason |
| 139 | Games managed | 39 |
| 65 | Wins | 15 |
| 25 | Draws | 6 |
| 49 | Losses | 18 |
| 46.76 | Win percentage | 38.46 |
The Hawthorns has lacked life and inspiration during Mason’s tenure, and Carrick’s impressive numbers are a positive sign of his ability to lead a team that is low on confidence.
Carrick was previously 3/1 to be the next West Brom manager, but those odds have been slashed to 9/4 by one bookmaker.
Carlos Corberan is the second-favourite at 11/2, with the former Baggies boss currently struggling at Spanish side Valencia.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Russell Martin and Gary O’Neil are also in the running, but none of them look more certain to get the job than Carrick.
What style of play would Carrick implement at West Brom?
Too often this season, fans have criticised their team for uninspiring and drab performances, particularly away from The Hawthorns.
Carrick led Middlesbrough to fourth, eighth, and tenth-place finishes, particularly impressing in his first season in charge.
He was known for bringing a measured possession-based style of play to the Championship, using wide full-backs and narrow wingers to hurt teams in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation.
Although some fans criticise him for not leading Middlesbrough to promotion, given the squad he had, Carrick certainly changed the fortunes of a club that has been languishing in the second tier since 2016-17.
Given that West Brom are in a similar position, Carrick could bring real excitement to the supporters, and he would begin to build an optimistic future if he were to replace Mason.
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