Alex Mowatt accountability at West Brom questioned as output falls short of expectation
Alex Mowatt’s influence for West Brom this season needs to be questioned.
The Baggies are battling to stay in the Championship this season, as James Morrison aims to steady the ship following the dismissal of Eric Ramsay.
The position that Albion find themselves in has raised eyebrows across the EFL due to the calibre of players that play each week at The Hawthorns.
Mowatt is one of those players, and for someone who dons the armband regularly, he has rarely stood up to the task this season.
Alex Mowatt has been below par this season; the stats don’t lie
How many times have we seen Mowatt speak out after a loss this season? He is supposed to be a leader in the dressing room, and though some may lead by example, he’s not doing that either.
The midfielder has obvious talent with the ball at his feet, but it seems like there may be a work ethic issue this campaign, which could be having a knock-on effect for other players.
When it’s not working going forward, the Englishman’s job is to get stuck in and be the heartbeat of the team, but that hasn’t been the case.
Mowatt loses possession 9.7 times per game on average and only performs 4.1 ball recoveries per 90.
He makes just 1.0 tackles per 90 while winning possession in the final third 0.3 times, which isn’t anywhere near the standard required. West Brom have missed bite and quality all season, and the 31-year-old has been a big reason for that.
What midfield pairing will James Morrison favour at West Brom?
The need for Mowatt to show his brilliant best will only be heightened in the final months of the Championship season.
That’s because it’s highly likely that Morrison will keep persisting with Mowatt, because it’s what he knows that can work.
But who partners him in midfield is another question. Jayson Molumby started in Albion’s defeat to Oxford United last time out in the league, but the Irishman has been in and out of the starting eleven all season.
| Player | Games in the Championship |
| Alex Mowatt | 31 |
| Jayson Molumby | 28 |
| Ousmane Diakite | 25 |
Ousmane Diakite has shown his class on occasions, but there still appears to be a lack of chemistry in the two defensive midfield spots.
As of right now, it feels more likely that Molumby will keep his spot, but with time left in the campaign, anything can change.
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