Over the course of the summer transfer window, West Bromwich Albion’s squad’s average age decreased by nearly a year. Jake Livermore, Tom Rogic, Marc Albrighton, and David Button, all of whom are at least 30 years old, were among the players that Albion said goodbye to. Compare that to their three recent additions, Pipa (25), Josh Maja (24), and Jeremy Sarmiento (21).
The club’s recruitment team and Carlos Corberan generally used the summer to trim the edges of what had been a fairly bloated squad; the aforementioned quartet left along with Kean Bryan, Karlan Grant, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, and a number of academy products who went on loan, in addition to the significant sale of Dara O’Shea to Burnley.
With the promotion of young players Caleb Taylor and Tom Fellows, who have been regularly playing for the first team so far this season and who were kept at the club while others were being sent out on loan on deadline day, Albion now has 20 fit first-team players. This number has been helpfully supplemented by their addition.
Additionally, the Baggies and Corberan are currently waiting on the returns of three injured players; however, in all of those situations, patience is urged. Adam Reach and Daryl Dike most likely won’t be seen until after the New Year, and Martin Kelly sustained a serious injury in January and will also need some additional time before he can play.
All three are senior keepers now and were all raised in the academy. Cann was elevated to third choice goalkeeper after Button left. Having worked hard and waited patiently over the years, Palmer currently holds the mitts.
Defence
Kyle Bartley, Erik Pieters, Conor Townsend, Martin Kelly, Pipa, Semi Ajayi, Caleb Taylor, and Cedric Kipre
Without a question, Albion’s defense needs to get better, as they’ve allowed two goals in five of their first six games. Ajayi and Kipre appear to be Corberan’s final choices, however Townsend’s position in this starting lineup, should he be chosen, is still up in the air. Meanwhile, Furlong and the new signing on the right are expected to engage in another duel.
Midfield
Okay, Nathaniel Chalobah, Jayson Molumby, Alex Mowatt, and Yokuslu
Yokuslu and Molumby continue to choose for themselves, despite the former’s recent form raising some questions. Chalobah and Mowatt provide a wide range of alternatives, and Corberan appears content with that, even though neither has yet made enough of an impact to merit a starting position. Taylor Gardner-Hickman joining Bristol City made Corberan pleased.
large expanses
Adam Reach, Matt Phillips, Jed Wallace, John Swift, Grady Diangana, Jeremy Sarmiento, Grady Diangana, and Tom Fellows
Albion still has plenty of choices when it comes to positioning men either side of the striker in this 3-4-3 formation, even without the injured Reach. While Townsend is presently being kept out of the lineup at wing-back by Phillips, who has once again established himself as a key player, Sarmiento is being forced to wait his time behind seasoned players Wallace and Swift. While Fellows has little Championship experience, Diangana has returned as well.
Forwards
Josh Maja, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Daryl Dike
Currently, Thomas-Asante is the club’s top choice. Before the American’s terrible injury, Corberan was allowed to switch between him and Dike during the previous year’s autumn and winter. Despite working on his body over the summer, he still leads the line well, almost buying Maja some time while he adjusts to his new club. Dike probably won’t return for another three months at least.
