West Brom may owe Tony Pulis a survival bonus as James Morrison chat instantly pays off
West Brom may just owe Tony Pulis a bonus if they are to secure their Championship future.
James Morrison revealed last week that he has been in contact with the former Baggies boss since being handed the managerial job until the end of the season.
Morrison took over from Eric Ramsay last month, with Albion locked in a battle at the wrong end of the Championship after a far from ideal campaign thus far.
Things have since changed at The Hawthorns, with West Brom unbeaten in four league outings, since the 2-1 defeat to Oxford in Morrison’s first match.
Pulis took charge of the club between 2015 and 2017, guiding the Baggies to multiple mid-table finishes before he was sacked with the Baggies sitting 17th – though he carries more than enough knowledge to pass on to Morrison.
Tony Pulis is highly capable of preparing for battle
When it comes to situations similar to that of West Brom currently, there aren’t many in the game more prepared and capable to take it on as Pulis.
Many will remember his Stoke City side in the Premier League, which consistently punched above their weight, while being incredibly hard to beat.
| Season | Finish |
| 14/15 | 13th |
| 15/16 | 14th |
| 16/17 | 10th |
Similar can be said regarding his time in the Black Country, where he lost 49 matches out of a possible 121 in charge, before he lost his job in November 2017, before Albion would go on to be relegated from the top-flight following his departure.
Current manager Morrison remained a regular during Pulis’ spell at The Hawthorns, and his willingness to get back in contact with him following his recent appointment showcases just how highly regarded he is.
Following his West Brom departure, Pulis would take over at Middlesbrough just over a month later, before guiding Boro to a play-off spot in the same season.
Pulis is an expert at rescuing a club, making it easy to see why Morrison would reach out given the current predicament.
James Morrison has made an instant impact at West Brom
Morrison was placed in charge with the Baggies in desperate need of points, fast.
With Leicester opting for Gary Rowett, and Blackburn for Michael O’Neil, the clubs in and around them had brought in experience and know-how in the division, after disastrous spells under the inexperienced pair of Ryan Mason and Ramsay left West Brom sinking.
After suffering a 2-1 defeat to Oxford in his first outing, Morrison has overseen a serious uptick in form, with draws against Sheffield United and Southampton followed up by wins against Hull and Bristol City.
In both matches, the Baggies looked a completely different side.
The defence was rock solid, while the togetherness was on another level, with the group that once looked like a group of individuals seemingly having each others back both in and out of possession.
These are all traits witnessed under Pulis, of course.
The response to the late heartbreak against Southampton was also perfect, with Morrison not looking to make excuses, while his players bounced back sensationally.
The style of play is not necessarily the same as Pulis, with Albion looking to remain on the front foot, but the way in which the squad has been galvanised is akin to the work of the former boss just over a decade ago.
Morrison did the right thing in contacting Pulis alongside Tony Mowbray, and West Brom may just owe a survival bonus should they get the desired result come May.
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