Ten defeats now in 22 league games this season is not good reading for Ryan Mason’s West Bromwich Albion.
Without an away win since October 1 as well, when the Baggies claimed a slim 1-0 win at Norwich City, there is a sense that the 34-year-old is a head coach under significant pressure as games come in quick succession in the Second Division.
Football Insider recently revealed that the powers that be at the Hawthorns would reconsider Mason’s position if they were drawn into a relegation battle, with the dismal away form alone screaming for a basement battle to come.
It remains to be seen whether the former Tottenham Hotspur manager remains in the Baggies dugout, with a new manager perhaps what is needed to get the best out of Alex Mowatt again, who has struggled of late in Mason’s starting XI.
Why Mowatt is struggling at West Brom
The former Leeds United midfielder has recently been absent from his manager’s line-ups under fire due to injury, but his general form throughout the campaign so far means he is not exactly knocking on the door to be the Baggies’ reliable star at center of the moment, when he is fit.
Indeed, the 30-year-old talent has just one goal and two assists to boast from 20 unremarkable Championship appearances, which is a far cry from Mowatt at his “sensational” peak in the EFL, as he was once labeled by former boss Steve Evans.
Last campaign, Mowatt collected seven goals and two assists, while winning four energetic duels per championship.
This time around, his average has dropped to 3.3 per game, as Mason has yet to inspire the experienced midfielder to return to the heights he is capable of.
Mason will pray that he can turn around his own fortunes, and Mowatt’s, in the process. But he may not have that luxury if the losses continue to pile up, as West Brom potentially turn to an experienced Championship manager to replace him, who could get even more out of the Baggies’ number 27.
An elite manager could revive Mowatt
Mason is to be commended for taking on the pressures of the West Brom gig as his first real role as first-team manager, with the 34-year-old unfortunately now struggling in the deep end of the second tier.
Michael Carrick – who has been linked with the role recently – would not be floundering under the same strain, arguably, with the former Middlesbrough boss becoming a transformative force when he steps into the dugout at the Riverside Stadium in 2022. He transformed the Teesside giants into promotion challengers when they were once loitering in mid-table and below.
It’s clear that Carrick is a big improvement on what West Brom are currently running, with 56 league wins as Boro manager, taking them to a playoff finish and a few promotion near misses. This sudden turnaround in fortunes on Teesside would lead even one analyst to hail the 44-year-old as an “elite” future manager.
It’s not just his calmness under pressure that makes him stand out as a fantastic replacement for Mason, however, with his remarkable track record playing alongside some of the EFL’s best midfield talents also allowing him to get the best out of Mowatt once again.
|
Notable CMs Carrick worked with at Boro |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Games |
Goals + Passes |
|
Hayden Hackney |
104 |
9 + 9 |
|
Jonathan Howson |
94 |
4 + 6 |
|
Riley McGree |
73 |
11 + 11 |
|
Finn That’s it |
66 |
16 + 16 |
|
Matt Crooks |
57 |
10 + 10 |
|
From Transfermarkt |
||
The table above shows a handful of midfielders that Carrick has had the pleasure of working with at the Riverside, with Hayden Hackney even being described as “outstanding” by one of Carrick’s coaches, Jonathan Woodgate, when he was tipped for a Premier League move under his tenure.
Additionally, Carrick managed to get plenty of goals and assists from the likes of Riley McGree and Matt Crooks during his famous spell, with McGree standing out as a complete individual – like Mowatt – winning 4.2 duels per 90 during the 2021/22 season.
The former Manchester United legend turned proficient EFL operator hoped he could be a trusted figure for Mowatt; therefore, after his remarkable flat performances in the second tier under Mason, West Brom went after Carrick, also having the potential to turn their season around from a mid-table slump to a promotion challenge.
Corberan 2.0: West Brom could hire ‘elite’ manager better than O’Neil
West Bromwich Albion must now consider replacing Ryan Mason with this standout target manager, who could be their next Carlos Corberan.
