With the 2015/16 English Premier League season a matter of weeks away, Richard Jolly provides his thoughts on each of the 20 teams and predicts their final league finish. Here he looks at West Bromwich Albion.
Tony Pulis’ task has changed. For the past two seasons, he has proved a rescuer from relegation after others piloted a club into trouble. Now he has had the benefit of a close-season and a preseason.
Yet long-term planning has been rendered more difficult at the Hawthorns by the protracted takeover of the club.
It explains why Pulis has been muted in the transfer market, with Wigan Athletic winger James McClean the first, and rather cheap, acquisition.
As the Welsh manager’s time in charge of Stoke City shows, his recruitment can be ambitious and expensive but, in the absence of major moves, he is reliant on the group he marshalled so effectively after his January appointment.
The defence tends to be a strong point of any Pulis team and, even with injured goalkeeper Ben Foster missing the start of the campaign, it should be again. The Welshman has an efficient, organised midfield, too, and he seems certain to keep the highly-rated top scorer Saido Berahino.
But Pulis missed out on Demba Ba and the search for other scorers continues. At least West Bromwich Albion may not need to score many goals, given a formula which has ensured Pulis has never been relegated in his long managerial career. That record should continue.
Key man: Joleon Lescott — One of last season's better signings. Lescott's solidity and his central-defensive partnerships with Gareth McAuley and Craig Dawson were reasons why West Brom kept 16 clean sheets.
Pivotal signing: James McClean — If only because of a lack of alternatives. But while the winger has underachieved in the last three years, he made a superb start to his Premier League career at Sunderland.
Crucial factor: Reducing the load on Saido Berahino. The young Englishman scored 14 league goals last season. Brown Ideye was the next best with four. That explains why Pulis has shown interest in attackers this summer.
Prediction: 13th
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