As the poor form of West Brom’s Aston Villa loanee, Lewis Dobbin, continues, Carlos Corberan and Shilen Patel may look to take action in January, especially as a difference-maker becomes key.
After a double-digit move of about £10 million from Everton to Aston Villa in the summer, West Brom fans were overjoyed when the Midlands club acquired Dobbin’s signature, albeit on a temporary basis.
The Villan spent a significant amount of time in The Toffees’ first squad, logging 227 minutes in 12 appearances during the 2023/24 season and scored one goal in the English top division.
Unfortunately, this form has gone unnoticed by Baggies fans, especially because a difference-maker is needed more than ever at the Hawthorns.
Dobbin has failed to be the answer to West Brom worries
Another disappointing stalemate at Deepdale leaves West Brom with just one win in their previous 12 games, a run of form that has seen the Championship’s early pacesetters drop out of the top six.
Albion fans were perplexed by Dobbin’s selection in the starting lineup, which occurred for the first time against Preston nearly four months after his arrival.
Villa are looking to recall the winger due to his lack of engagement, but if the choice is left to Carlos Corberan or Shilen Patel, Dobbin’s failure to solidify a consistent period in Corberan’s side is telling.
| West Brom winger stats 2024/25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| Lewis Dobbin | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Karlan Grant | 18 | 16 | 4 | 2 |
| Tom Fellows | 18 | 15 | 0 | 7 |
| Mikey Johnston | 14 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
Even others who have failed to make a lasting impression this season, such as Mikey Johnston, have had more notable appearances than the 21-year-old, whose stats provide little encouragement to force his way onto the teamsheet.
Letting Dobbin out the door could allow another to come through
Shilen Patel quickly made it plain that it was his strategic prerogative to keep the Baggies buzzing in his first season at the head by reducing the pay expenditure.
Patel was able to reduce West Brom’s annual payroll by £2,544,000 last summer; today, even though Dobbin only earns £8,000 and is extremely low on the list of earnings, his departure might likely spark a successor who could provide the Baggies a new dimension (Capology estimates).
As the winter window approaches, Patel and Corberan must seriously explore this cognitive process, especially as they attempt to awaken from their slumber.
West Brom only recently shown their resourcefulness in the January transfer window last season, when Johnston became a fan favourite.
Similar savvy business must be carried out, especially if West Brom want to remain in the play-off places at the conclusion of the season and prevent the campaign from slipping away.
That business might be the end result of Dobbin returning to Villa, freeing up a spot in the team and on the salary line. It would be unsurprising to find that Corberan and Patel were planning to hit the ground running in January.
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