LASTSEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP18thFACUPThirdRoundLEAGUECUP
FirstRoundTOPSCORERSJoeGarner,NickPowell(8)LASTSEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP 4th FA CUP Fourth Round
LEAGUE CUP Third Round TOP SCORER Dwight Gayle (24)FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 57WEST BROMWICH ALBIOn WIGAn ATHLETIC
SEASOn PREVIEW
FFTVERDICT
1ST FFT VERDICT
18TH
In Darren Moore and James Shan,
West Brom had club stalwarts at
the helm last term, but both lacked
experience. No such problem now,
and Slaven Bilic could make the
same impact as he made in his
first season at West Ham. Who
will be the Baggies’ Dimitri Payet?Rotten on the road, losing 16 of 23
away matches, Paul Cook’s Latics
were superb at home last season,
winning 11 times and losing just
four. Ex-Portsmouth gaffer Cook
has improved sides wherever he’s
been, and should be able to keep
Wigan away from relegation again.The big talking point among the fans
is how a 96-day wait before hiring
Slaven Bilic [above] as Darren Moore’s
successor implied a lack of strategy.
This season will be different if we
have a new-look side of hungry young
players. The goals of Dwight Gayle
and Jay Rodriguez helped to conceal
a dysfunctional side needing a reboot.
I won’t be happy unless we can see
a new mindset at the top. The owner
won’t invest and the CEO won’t talk.
Look out for Dara O’Shea. His loans
suggests a pacy, cultured centre-half.
The best away ground is Craven
Cottage – an antidote to the soulless
suburban mid-1990s arenas.
The best away fans are not inspired
by Billy Ray Cyrus or Sloop John B.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club is Hal Robson-Kanu.
He’s poor, when he’s not injured.
The pantomime villain will be ref
Graham Scott, who won’t be allowed
to forget his mistakes at Villa Park.Our best celebrity fan is Frank
Skinner: his comedic pithiness suits
the club’s journey. Conversely, Eric
Clapton’s ‘support’ coincides with our
booms. See you at Kenilworth Road?
The one change I’d make to the club
would be new owners.
The best club social media account
is @WBAFoundation.
The best thing about the matchday
experience at Albion is the handing
out of ‘caps’ to former Baggies players.
The signature local dish is the very
popular barbecued Tandoori mixed
grill at British Asian-owned desi pubs.
Did you know that in 1981 the club
appointed the wrong manager. The
chairman told a club official to ‘tell
Alan he’s got the job’. He meant Alan
Mullery; the official hired Ronnie Allen.
Our key player will be keeper Sam
Johnstone [below]. Mixed last season,
he should grow behind a settled unit.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that he’s the most popular choice
since Roy Hodgson. Bilic has got the
hunger and, hopefully, the sparkle.
If he left, he should be replaced by
Boiler Man.
We’ll finish 5th.The big talking point among the fans
is how to get by without Nick Powell,
who has moved to Stoke.
This season will be different because
we’ve learned our lessons. Hopefully
with a Championship season behind
us, 2019-20 can be less stressful.
I won’t be happy unless we're given
a decent non-league away FA Cup tie.
Our most underrated player is
Gary Roberts [below]. The midfielder,
35, runs himself into the ground.
Look out for 20-year-old forward
Callum Lang. We have several strong
prospects, but he scored 13 goals on
loan at Oldham last season.
The best away ground is Griffin Park,
for one final time. Easy transport, the
terraced away end – and the pubs.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club is Josh Windass. He
didn’t pull up many trees last season.
Our best celebrity fans are pretty
questionable. BBC personality Stuart
Maconie pitches up now and again,while Wigan-born Sky News presenter
Kay Burley comes along occasionally.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Bradley Dack. Horrible, but
has the eye for goal we sadly lack.
The one change I’d make to the club
would be to have somewhere decent
near the ground for a pint.
Save the date for Preston away on
August 10. Only a few miles down the
road – last year we took 4,500 fans.
The best thing about the matchday
experience at the DW Stadium is
the welcoming family vibe that few
clubs manage to pull off succesfully.
The signature local dish is pies. Not
in the ground: try Galloways in town.
Our key player will be Gavin Massey
[above]. He suffered with injuries last
year but should do well this season.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer, Paul
Cook, is that he faced abuse last year
when we were struggling. But he kept
his cool and we stayed up comfortably.
If he left, he should be replaced by
the returning Roberto Martinez. But as
he’s more likely to roll up at the Camp
Nou, I would take his former assistant
Graeme Jones instead.
We’ll finish mid-table: 14th would do.FAn FILE
CHRIS LEPKOWSKI
@chrislepkowskiFAn FILE
SEAN LIVESEY
@pieatnight_WAFC