West Brom forward Karlan Grant, top scorer in 2021-22, was loaned to Cardiff City last season
Many anticipated Karlan Grant to depart West Brom again this summer. Few would have predicted his current importance in this team,
which is proudly leading the Championship after five matches. Grant was loaned out to Cardiff City last year, in a loan term that didn’t
produce many goals but did the job for both the player and the club. Grant played 39 games last year, 26 of which were full 90 minutes.
Whereas Cedric Kipre and Alex Mowatt were loaned out but welcomed back by Carlos Corberan, who had not made the initial decision,
Grant’s departure from the Baggies came at the Spanish club’s request last year. His six-year deal still has two years to run. All parties
concerned were at a crossroads. Where are we going from here?
Grant, to his credit, returned with vigor during the preseason. Corberan was made aware that he wanted to buckle down and press his way
back into his manager’s consideration and selection process. Matt Phillips and Adam Reach had left, while Mikey Johnston was yet to
return in the summer. Grant got the opportunity to express his intentions throughout the club’s friendly campaign.
“The players put themselves in one place or another,” Corberan explained. “That’s why I don’t believe in expectations: sometimes we
expect one thing and get another. Many incidents like this have occurred. I remember thinking a year ago that I’d play Semi Ajayi and Erik
Pieters as centre backs for various reasons; the following year, I played Kyle Bartley and Cedric Kipre. This is football; things may change
suddenly.
“What you need to do is open your eyes, observe how the players are improving, and give them what they deserve. Grant…when we started
preseason here, we didn’t have many left wingers. Mentally, he wanted to stay here; he approached me in pre-season with the mindset of
wanting to make things happen for West Bromwich. He didn’t want to let time pass before leaving the club.
“He wanted to be important. You can see this in the way he trains and cares for himself. After we lost two major players in that position
and moved late in the market to cover, he took advantage of his opportunity. He demonstrated in the pitch what he intended in his head.
Some have the desire but are unable to translate it to the pitch.”
Albion were clearly not finished with the transfer market by the time the new season began, and Grant, as he had done in the final pre-
season friendly against Birmingham City the week before, started at Queens Park Rangers on the season’s first day. In a nutshell, he
demonstrated the characteristics his supporters desired and exuded a youthful appearance. He was unfortunately unable to open his
account that day.
As August progressed, Grant saw additional arrivals arise. Callum Styles, who has been compared to the outgoing Reach because of his
versatility, can certainly play on the left. Then, shortly before the window closed, Albion achieved a breakthrough with Celtic, and
Johnston returned after an excellent loan term, prompting Corberan to make him his top recruitment target.
Johnston is through the door, a true rival to Grant on the left, but he put in another strong performance at Fratton Park last weekend and
may consider himself in pole position to start when Plymouth visits The Hawthorns on Saturday. Make no mistake: Grant is in this new
Albion lineup solely on merit.
“Every player will be affected by this,” Corberan reasoned after Johnston’s comeback. “When you know you have good players in this
situation, you know you have to perform at your best. I don’t think Johnston has an effect on Grant, either positively or negatively; I
believe it is due to his drive. The finest players in the world don’t need each other to perform at their peak. Rafa Nadal has no competition
other than himself, and he wants to be the best.
“If you need to be pushed by someone, a coach, or a teammate, it signifies you’re not powerful enough to make an effect in football.
“Everything comes from ourselves.”
Grant’s 18 goals in 2021-22 helped Albion finish halfway down the table under Valerien Ismael and Steve Bruce. He started the following
season well, scoring against Watford, Hull, and Wigan, as well as Sheffield United in the cup, but his only goal after Corberan’s arrival
came against non-league Chesterfield in the FA Cup.
Grant, particularly under Ismael’s soldered-in system, made the most of his role in the 3-4-3, on the left of the front three, where he
proved to be a demon from the edge of the penalty area. Opposing teams rapidly learned not to give Grant time on the ball. With his
penalty responsibilities, Grant put up a respectable score in a difficult season.
He opened his account this year with a powerful header at Stoke City to convert Tom Fellows’ cross, demonstrating all of the drive
Corberan has mentioned. Still, it’s a different system and style of play from when Grant was a regular in the Albion side. Will such
opportunities continue to present themselves now that he is playing more traditionally as a winger?
“The game of QPR he had a very good opportunity and the keeper made a very good save,” according to Corberan. “He scored against
Stoke City.” He had a great chance against Leeds and scored a header against Portsmouth. He always has moments that prove he is
present. He had an opportunity the other day when he didn’t kick the ball well, but he’s always there. “He has a natural ability to perform
these tasks.”It’s beneficial to have a player that can score goals. Normally, the striker scores goals, however there are other positions that
can assist you. Mowey recently scored two goals. Other players can score goals because they accept responsibility and possess the
necessary talents.
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