Eric Ramsay risks selection howler vs Stoke City that could lead to West Brom sack
Eric Ramsay has had a terrible start as West Brom manager and is already in must-win territory against Stoke City.
West Brom suffered an embarrassing 5-0 loss to Norwich City at The Hawthorns on 20 January in what was the first sign that he could be out of his depth.
West Brom’s 3-0 loss to Portsmouth on 31 January was also brutal, and after just four games in charge, Ramsay is winless and already at risk of being sacked.
And he could face further problems with the fans if he makes a terrible call with his starting lineup for Saturday’s clash with Stoke in B71.
Eric Ramsay must be smart over Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba debut
Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba joined West Brom on loan from Aston Villa on deadline day.
The 19-year-old loanee came through the Baggies academy at the start of his career, and fans are expecting him to succeed on his return.
Jimoh-Aloba is expected to start against Stoke, but he must be used on the left wing or in attacking midfield.
The logical call would be to use Callum Styles at left wing-back, although Ramsay has not shown any consistency with the teams that he has put out.
Samuel Iling-Junior had been woeful in the first half of the campaign, scoring just one goal in 24 appearances, although Ramsay played him as a wing-back during the defeat to Portsmouth.
As he’s been recalled by Aston Villa, and Jimoh-Aloba has gone the other way, it would be wrong to see the youngster play in the defensive position.
They aren’t like-for-like replacements, and the 19-year-old needs to be given a chance in attack on Saturday.
If Ramsay fails to do so, and the Baggies lose as a result, then The Hawthorns could become very toxic towards the former Minnesota United manager – even more so than it already is.
- Read more: In-depth guide to Eric Ramsay’s West Brom situation – Will he be sacked in record-breaking fashion?
Eric Ramsay’s treatment of Callum Styles isn’t right
The Hungarian international started in Ramsay’s first match, a 3-2 loss to Middlesbrough on 16 January.
However, despite being selected in the next two games, he was withdrawn after just 60 minutes against both Norwich City and Derby County.
This then culminated in Styles being dropped for the relegation six-pointer versus Pompey.
| Stat | Callum Styles |
| Appearances | 318 |
| Goals | 17 |
| Assists | 18 |
Every Baggies fan can clearly see that he is the player who is most experienced and most qualified to play as a left wing-back.
Picking Iling-Junior over the 25-year-old was criminal, and it’s not a shock that Ramsay turned to him at half-time at Fratton Park as an act of damage limitations.
West Brom’s head coach simply can’t afford to make that same mistake with Jimoh-Aloba.
Otherwise, it could spell the end of his time in charge already.