‘We knew we were strong’: West Brom playmaker talks squad strength and ‘unexpected’ blistering start

‘We knew we were strong’: West Brom playmaker talks squad strength and ‘unexpected’ blistering start.

That was the mood among the fans, and the Albion dressing room was experiencing the same thing, as John Swift has verified.

After a summer of upheaval, several important players left, and Albion made astute moves to bolster the team’s depth as well as strength.

Though there was anticipation for the campaign, nobody, not even the participants, realised what was in store for them throughout the first five games.

Albion is atop the Championship after four victories in five games and an undefeated start.

“We knew we were strong when we entered the changing room, but nobody seemed to be expecting us to start like we have,”

“As I am now 29 years old, you have learnt to anticipate that the same faces will change throughout each season.

“There will always be changes, but some players have performed incredibly well and have some great moves.

Your body adjusts to it. By the time the window shuts, everyone is already focused on the games.

“Most of the team is currently fit. Being able to change the game with quality players on the bench is a huge plus.

“With the calibre of players we have on the bench, hopefully they can keep playing and making an impact.”

Albion signed eleven players despite losing a lot of players in the summer, with Mikey Johnston’s £3 million acquisition marking the highest signing.

Asked if it is now the strongest squad he has been a part of, Swift said: “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the strongest squad I’ve been in, but because we’ve had the gaffer for a while now, everything we did in pre-season we already know, so we’ve just been topping up. Every player in the team knows exactly what they need to do – the players who were here last year but also the players who are new.

In that sense, we are definitely stronger because of the knowledge we get from the manager and the coaching staff – we know a lot more now. The squad is really strong, but if you’d asked me this time last year, I’d have said the same.”

As well as a change in personnel, Albion’s fluid system seems to be one of the reasons for their early season success and Swift is playing a key role in this.

The former Chelsea and Reading player, who usually plays at number ten, is sliding deeper into midfield to pick up the ball, giving Josh Maja more room up top and enabling others to make forward runs.

And Swift seemed to be enjoying this system.

He continued, saying, “I’m playing deeper, more like arriving deeper, not necessarily standing deeper. Jayse has room to break into the box on the right side since I play like a 10 but from the left side.

“If I want to get on the ball, I can drop in on the left or play left back. With Mowey and Okay in the middle, it was essentially a two-man show last year. It appears a little bit more liberated now. The ball can be rotated and moved wherever we find space. Josh plays a significant role in that.

Josh can drop when I drop, which makes room for him to do so. Josh is most likely the most at ease player in that position to receive the ball. Josh is a really special kind of player. I can drop and get on the ball and impact the game, so I do feel a lot more free.

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