West Brom debrief: Boss risks wrath of football phone-in with immediate lessons learned.

Tony Mowbray marked his return to The Hawthorns with a five-star attacking display that demolished hapless Portsmouth. Mowbray has been charged with unleashing Albion’s offensive talent, and the Baggies have responded to their 2-0 setback at Middlesbrough in the new manager’s debut last Tuesday. Here are some key notes from the most recent debrief. Wrath of the Football Phone-In “I was very conscious when selecting that team today; if we had lost 1-0, the local phone-in would have been full of people asking ‘what is he doing?'” There are strikers on the bench; how will we score without strikers?” Mowbray spoke.

 

“However, I saw it work at my previous club, where (Amad) Diallo was the false nine and we played Jed.” Diallo scored 18 goals in half a season thanks to talent, perseverance, and the freedom to break the box. I know people can score from that position.” It was definitely a lesson in overreaction to team news an hour before kickoff. Jed Wallace and John Swift were unexpected starters, but both delivered with long-awaited first goals this season and encouraging all-around performances. Wallace, a winger, played the false nine role that Josh Maja usually plays, and John Swift began as a central midfielder but moved forward as Callum Styles filled gaps.