Morrison's Mission: Can West Brom Turn Survival Into Progress?
James Morrison pulled West Bromwich Albion back from the edge of League One last season. Now he has the job permanently, a rebuilt squad, and a Championship campaign that begins this weekend — and the question is whether his rescue act can become something more.
When Morrison took charge, West Brom were sinking. A 10-game unbeaten run to close the season, including seven clean sheets in the final nine matches, kept them in the second tier. They finished 21st — survival, but only just. Only four Championship teams scored fewer goals, and two of those, Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday, went down. The attack was the problem; the defence, under Morrison, became the solution. (BBC Sport)
The summer rebuild addresses both ends of the pitch. In come Barney Stewart from Falkirk, Jimmy-Jay Morgan on loan from Chelsea, Conor Townsend from Ipswich, goalkeeper Matt Ingram from Oxford United, Felix Horn Myhre from Norwegian side SK Brann, and Rabby Nzingoula from Strasbourg. Myhre arrives with a serious reputation — a Norwegian journalist called him Brann's "most important player" before the move. Morgan, meanwhile, has already staked his claim with five goals in pre-season. (BBC Sport)
Several familiar names have departed. Jed Wallace joined Bristol City, Karlan Grant moved to Charlton, Josh Maja headed to Le Havre, Daryl Dike returned to Orlando City, and goalkeeper Josh Griffiths signed for Stoke. It is a significant turnover for a club that could ill afford stagnation. (BBC Sport)
One constant is Aune Heggebo. The striker scored nine league goals in his debut season in England — a modest total in absolute terms, but a notable return for a side that struggled so badly in front of goal. If Morgan's pre-season form carries over, Morrison may finally have the attacking options he lacked.
The wider Championship landscape has shifted too. The play-offs — the end-of-season mini-tournament that decides the final promotion spot to the Premier League — expand from four teams to six this year, giving more clubs a route up and making mid-table finishes far less dead than before. (BBC Sport)
The season kicks off on Friday night with Wolverhampton Wanderers hosting Blackburn Rovers at 20:00, the local rivals' opening fixture adding an early spark to the campaign. West Brom's own schedule begins across the opening weekend. (Sky Sports)
For all the new arrivals, expectations remain grounded. BBC pundit Jobi McAnuff has tipped West Brom to finish 17th — comfortably clear of trouble, but well short of the play-off conversation. It is a reasonable reading: Morrison tightened the defence, but turning a relegation scrap into a push up the table usually takes more than one window. (BBC Sport)
What gives Albion fans reason for optimism is the trajectory. Morrison inherited a team heading down and made them hard to beat. The clean sheets were not luck; they were structure. If the new attackers can supply the goals that Heggebo carried largely alone, this could be the season West Brom stop looking over their shoulders and start looking ahead.
