Don Goodman responds to West Brom fan criticism of Brandon Thomas-Asante
Don Goodman accepts West Brom could do with a new striker this summer, but believes "brilliant" Brandon Thomas-Asante still has a part to play.
Thomas-Asante led the scoring charts for the Baggies in the 2023-24 Championship campaign with 11 goals in 41 appearances.
The 2022 signing has often come in for criticism among some supporters, but Goodman insists he more than played his part in Albion's fifth-place finish.
"I think Thomas-Asante had a brilliant season," he told West Brom News. "You must remind yourself that he cost £500,000 from Salford, so he was brought to the Championship from League Two.
"To then get 11 goals this season for a team that did okay in terms of scoring - six teams scored more - is a good return. I think it's accepted that they've been deeply unfortunate with injuries to the likes of Josh Maja and Daryl Dike, while Callum Marshall on loan from West Ham wasn't Championship ready.
"So that's an obvious area where West Brom need to fix, to invest, but Thomas-Asante will still have a role to play - whether as a wide player or a second striker. That all depends on how West Brom go about their business."
Is Brandon Thomas-Asante good enough for West Brom?
Thomas-Asante is a figure that can divide opinion, which is pretty much the nature of the beast of being a centre-forward.
In the view of some, BTA did not score as many goals as he should have last season; in the view of others, he more than played his part.
Ultimately, as Goodman points out, Carlos Corberan - or whoever is at The Hawthorns helm - could do with another centre-forward.
Thomas-Asante has showed he is capable of hitting double figures at this level and he has already more than paid off his minimal transfer fee.
If Albion can bring in a player to help take the workload off the former Salford man this summer, that would be hugely beneficial to everyone.
Finding that player is easier said than done, but get it right and another shot at promotion will be on next season.
In other West Brom news, Ally McCoist was left surprised by something Andy Townsend said regarding the Baggies.