Throughout 2024, West Bromwich Albion navigated a series of highs and lows, both on and off the pitch. The year was marked by significant ownership changes, disciplinary challenges, and managerial shifts, all of which have set the stage for a transformative period in the club’s storied history.
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00:00To West Bromwich Abbey now, obviously, looking across their 2024, a bit of a missed opportunity,
00:09a chance to go to Wembley in the play-off final. They sort of slipped up in the play-offs.
00:13But to get there in the first place was very honourable for Carlos Corbijn, the shoe-shrink
00:18budget and the way the players, he's got them playing. It's not a top sort of championship
00:24echelon group of players, but they sort of have proven that they can perform like that.
00:29So maybe Baggies fans view 2024 as a bit of a learning curve, a bit of a chance to
00:34get the new sort of ownership structure right and go further. But how do you sort of review
00:392024 for West Brom? I mean, it's something that you look at going into 2025 and you can
00:45maybe think there could be some positivity ahead.
00:48Mopping up previous mistakes, the new ownership coming in, solidifying things at the basis
00:52of the football club, trying to remove the debts the club was in, not able to spend much
00:56money in the transfer window as a result. Now in the next couple of years should be
00:59able to up their spending a little bit. It's against the Premier League would be a massive
01:03help financially. That hasn't happened. The disappointment last year of losing to Southampton
01:08in the play-offs. But Albion just weren't quite ready to make that step. The fact they
01:12finished in the top six was a top six was a positive step forward, but they weren't
01:17ready to go all the way to the Premier League. Even Southampton themselves winning the play-offs,
01:21getting up and they've not been ready to compete just yet. Obviously, Russell Martin losing
01:26his job recently, rock bottom of the English top tier, and it was like an absolute miracle.
01:31One of the best ever escapes for them to escape relegation. So I don't think that'll be happening.
01:37That does put things into perspective for West Brom. Maybe they shouldn't be too disappointed
01:40that they didn't go up and maybe it wouldn't have been the right time anyway.
01:44Kicking on this season, there's been a bit of a struggle at times. So many draws, especially
01:48at the Hawthorns. I was there recently when they finally put an end to their draws at
01:52home as they beat Frank Lampard's Coventry City. They then go and lose away at Watford.
01:57Disappointing, but they're still just outside the play-off positions. Still so long to go
02:01this season. And I think maybe if they can strengthen a little bit in January, it should
02:05be able to help them kick on. But the shoestring budget, as you mentioned, is still an issue
02:10this season. It's going to be difficult to improve in key areas, but Carlos Corbijn,
02:14such a good head coach, such good at getting the best out of a bad situation. So I expect
02:19him to kick on and finish in that top six.
02:21Looking at Baggy's best players across the calendar year, who sort of stands out there?
02:27Because there has been some big impacts made by Carlos Corbijn.
02:31I think Alex Palmer, the goalkeeper, has been so impressive. He won the Golden Glove last
02:36season in the Championship. He's already got 10 clean sheets in 21 games so far this season
02:41at the time of recording, which is an incredible achievement. Just having that solid base,
02:45an experiencing goal and the leadership as well is so important. It just gives the defenders
02:50in front of him more confidence and it means you can build from the back and hopefully
02:54push on and get those wins. So Alex Palmer, superb this year.