West Brom: James Morrison making strong case for permanent Hawthorns job
West Brom are creeping closer to Championship survival after a huge win over Hull City on Saturday.
James Morrison‘s side came into the game off the back of a frustrating 1-1 draw against Southampton at The Hawthorns last time out, with the Saints pinching a 91st-minute equaliser.
Regardless, Morrison was still delighted with the performance his West Brom team gave against Tonda Eckert’s men, with every point gained a precious one at this stage of the campaign.
Albion took their frustrations out on Hull City on Saturday too, in a convincing 3-0 victory to end the Baggies’ 13-game winless run in the Championship.
James Morrison has got West Brom playing again
Up until these past few games under Morrison’s caretaker watch, it’s been a dismal season for West Brom.
Ryan Mason’s appointment was a huge disappointment, whilst his successor, Eric Ramsay’s, was an even greater one, with the former Minnesota United boss lasting just 44 days in charge in B71.
As such, Shilen Patel has been coming under growing fire for the repeated failings of his managerial appointments, and the decision to give the job to Morrison for the rest of the season saw him stick his neck on the line further.
However, it’s looking like an inspired decision to do so, as the 39-year-old is getting a tune out of this group of players like the previous two head coaches couldn’t, and has The Hawthorns faithful believing again.
It’s now just one defeat from Morrison’s first five games in temporary charge of Albion, with two wins and two draws to boot, as out of nowhere, the Baggies are now on a three-game unbeaten run.
Those two draws against Sheffield United and Southampton – particularly the latter – now look an awful lot better too given the Hull win, as this team is so clearly playing for Morrison.
Should Patel consider Morrison permanent role right now?
The feel-good factor has returned to The Hawthorns, and goodness hasn’t it been missed if you’re an Albion fan?
And, in times such as these, there’s perhaps no better opportunity to extend it by rewarding the leading individual responsible for bringing it back, and in this case, that’s Morrison.
Supporters are firmly behind him, as evidenced by them signing his name against Hull, he’s a hero in these parts anyway for his playing career for the club, and has the team pulling in the same direction.
Therefore, Patel, a chairman who knows he has to get his next permanent managerial appointment right, must have to give thought to handing Morrison the job on a full-time basis right now.
What that would do is give West Brom a clear pathway moving forward into next season, reward Morrison for his team’s turnaround, and allow for recruitment planning to get firmly underway as they needn’t worry about signing players a different coach may not want.
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