Sadly, for Baggies followers, Christmas was ruined earlier than it even started. Within the early hours of Christmas Eve, Carlos Corberan had formally joined Valencia to interchange their earlier supervisor. If Shilen Patel hoped for a stunning Christmas break, that was abruptly ripped from him the evening earlier than.
The search started instantly, with updates on who can be within the operating for the brand new emptiness offered as quickly because the twenty seventh. Names, together with Slaven Bilic, Tony Mowbray, and Luke Williams, got here and went.
Managers similar to Russell Martin and Lee Carsley rejected the Albion on their preliminary advances. Nonetheless, within the case of the previous, most Albion followers are extra relieved that Martin is lower than preferred on the membership.
Till Portsmouth demolished his Swansea facet 4-0 within the league, Luke Williams appeared a certain factor. This and his agent’s antics all however ended his probabilities for the job. This left the Albion with their ultimate three…
Urs Fischer – Union Berlin’s Mastermind
The primary title on the checklist, Union Berlin’s former supervisor, Urs Fischer, discovered himself the favorite for a short time. Nonetheless, the least is understood about his involvement together with his agent, who’s the tight-lipped of the three. He could not even be within the operating anymore, however nothing has been confirmed or denied.
Urs Fischer can be a monumental coup for the membership. He joined Union Berlin again in 2018 after they have been within the German Second Division. In his first season, he led them to a third-place end, the place they beat Stuttgart within the promotion playoff, securing a historic promotion for the membership.
Within the 2020/21 season, he led them to seventh within the Bundesliga, attaining Europa Convention League Soccer. They confirmed no signal of slowing down, although. The season after, they completed fifth and secured Europa League Soccer for the primary time within the membership’s historical past. The next season, they improved once more and completed 4th to safe Champions League Soccer.
Urs Fischer’s achievements have been recognised as he was awarded Supervisor of the 12 months for that season. Sadly, the fairy story ended with a cataclysmic begin to the 2023/24 season.
How Would He Match?
Throughout his time with Union Berlin, Fischer took cost of 224 matches and had a good 1.53 factors per sport. This resembles Carlos Corberan’s 1.59 factors per sport in 107 matches. Nonetheless, you could possibly argue that Fischer’s comes from the next division in opposition to tougher opposition.
His favoured formation has additionally been predominantly a 3-5-2 or a 5-3-2, relying on their opposition. A midfield three would work properly on the Albion. Diakite, Mowatt, and Molumby would have a safe defensive setup, while Swift can exchange a type of names as an attacking midfielder for a extra offensive setup. That is one thing we’ve seen Urs Fischer do with Union Berlin.
One obvious problem together with his setup is the shortage of wingers, which could possibly be argued to be the Albion’s strongest place. Mikey Johnston, Diangana, Tom Fellows and Jed Wallace can be sweating with the sudden tactical shift. They could possibly be used within the 3-5-2 setup, however that does sacrifice some safety defensively. Plainly Fischer at all times opted for conventional fullbacks or wingbacks.
He would additionally want some reinforcements each at centreback and at striker. Sadly, the Albion have hit an harm disaster within the centreback place, with Ajayi nonetheless out and Paddy McNair’s mortgage ending. Caleb Taylor has been recalled from his profitable mortgage at Wycombe to raise the strain from Bartley, Holgate and Heggem.
Maja and Grant have proven an important partnership within the entrance two, however with the fixture congestion of the Championship, each will want understudies. With Dike nonetheless out injured, that leaves solely Devante Cole because the third-choice striker, which doesn’t encourage a lot hope together with his transient cameos this season.
Raphael Wicky – Younger Boys Success Story
Raphael Wicky’s profession, oddly sufficient, crosses over with Urs Fischer. On April twenty first 2017, Raphael Wicky took on his first head coach function at Basel, changing Urs Fischer. A number of days later, Basel would win their eighth consecutive title. This achievement might be extra positioned at Fischer’s ft, however Wicky did play his half.
On the twenty fifth Might, Wicky lifted extra silverware with Basel as they gained the Swiss Cup convincingly. Nonetheless, it wasn’t a contented ending for Raphael with Basel…
On July twenty sixth 2018, he was dismissed from his function. This got here after ending runners-up, a large disappointment after profitable the league eight years on the bounce, and was subsequently knocked out of the 2nd Qualifying Spherical for the Champions League in opposition to PAOK.
After an unsuccessful stint within the MLS with Chicago Fireplace, Wicky returned to the Swiss Tremendous League, this time with Younger Boys. That is the place his profession took off.
Younger Boys did the double within the 2022/23 season with Raphael Wicky on the helm. It was a rustic often dominated by Basel, and Raphael gave them a trophyless season, albeit for the second time in his profession…
Sadly, Wicky was dismissed on March 4, 2024, after a poor run of outcomes, which noticed Younger Boys’ lead minimize to at least one level forward of Servette. They have been additionally knocked out of the Europa League in opposition to Ruben Amorim’s unimaginable Sporting Lisbon facet.
Will Wicky Work?
At Basel, Raphael Wicky managed 51 matches, scoring a powerful 1.88 factors per sport and attaining a 56.86% win price. Nonetheless, at Chicago Fireplace, he labored 51 video games once more however might solely muster 0.98 factors per sport and a dismal 23.08% win price.
Ignoring this one blip in his profession, in 88 matches for Younger Boys, he managed 1.97 factors per sport and a 59% win price. These two profitable stints in Switzerland eclipse Carlos’ document with the Baggies. Nonetheless, they have been in command of two of the strongest Swiss groups.
Tactically, Raphael Wicky primarily units up in a 4-4-2 Diamond, which typically appears to be like like a 4-3-1-2. He has often used a extra conventional 4-4-2 in opposition to sides like Basel, the place he may have to arrange barely extra defensively.
In his 4-4-2 Diamond, he used two huge midfielders and a holding somewhat than three central midfielders. This might work with West Brom having some influential huge gamers who’re used to a 4-4-2 system underneath Corberan, particularly this season.
The extra conventional 4-4-2 can be good for this present Albion staff, and his possession-based type additionally appears to be a superb match for the membership proper now. Maja, Grant, Fellows, Mowatt and Molumby have thrived in a 4-4-2 system, and defensively, they’ve had little to no points with scoring being the principle downside for the Baggies.
Rene Hake – Ten Hag’s Assistant
Lastly, we’re met with the ultimate title on the checklist and maybe probably the most fascinating of the three, primarily as a result of so little is understood about him. He has managed a number of golf equipment within the Netherlands however appears to be recognized purely as Ten Hag’s Assistant Supervisor in England.
He has managed FC Emmen, Twente FC, SC Cambur, FC Utrecht and Go Forward Eagles. Rene Hake’s profession historical past features a few stints as an assistant supervisor at varied golf equipment. To say the least, it appears to be like lower than inspiring. I believe it’s secure to say that out of the three, he can be the riskiest appointment.
In soccer, it’s good to consider whether or not the reward outweighs the danger. I believe, on this case, it doesn’t. He could hit the bottom operating and push for the playoffs or promotion to the prem. That is the best-case state of affairs, which might see him once more out of his depth, with a complete squad of gamers additionally out of their depth seeking to him for solutions.
He has no expertise securing promotion or surviving within the high division like Urs Fischer. There isn’t any historical past of silverware related to him like there’s for Raphael Wicky. Out of the three, the house owners should see that he’s the obvious outsider for the job.
Might Hake Match The Invoice?
At FC Emme, he scored a meagre 0.87 factors per sport from 60 matches in cost, with a 21.67% win price. This improved throughout his time with Twente FC, the place he scored 1.28 factors per sport from 75 matches and had a 36% win price.
SC Cambuur noticed his most profitable stint at a membership with 63 matches, a powerful 1.60 factors per sport, and a 44.44% win price. Issues didn’t enhance with FC Utrecht and Go Forward Eagles earlier than he stepped again all the way down to assistant supervisor to affix Ten Hag at Manchester United.
Tactically, Rene Hake prefers a 4-3-3 with a holding midfielder. This is able to swimsuit the Baggies with their abundance of midfield expertise that includes the likes of Alex Mowatt, Ousmane Diakite and Jayson Molumby. It additionally permits them to play to their strengths with two wingers, retaining their star Tom Fellows on the forefront.
A again 4 has additionally proved defensively astute for Albion this season,, and so they boast a somewhat spectacular defensive document. With them already being defensively fairly robust, Rene Hake wouldn’t have a lot work to do instilling his philosophy.
Effectively, Rene Hake not solely encourages a possession-based type, however he can also arrange his groups to give attention to fast transitions and counter-attacks. That is one thing that the Albion are adept at, however they may additionally do with some expertise to assist enhance this side of their sport to make sure extra objectives, one thing they’ve been missing this season.
Three’s Firm
It’s clear what the Albion hiring staff are in search of of their subsequent supervisor. They need somebody with an identical philosophy to Carlos Corberan. A possession-based system with the power to educate the staff to hit on the counter and be cutthroat on fast transitions.
They need the Albion to proceed constructing out from the again and being devastating in assault, sprinting on the opposition to unsettle them. Nonetheless, additionally they search vital expertise in both promotion or silverware. Success breeds success, and confidence spreads. A assured supervisor means a assured staff.
Out of all of the choices, I believe the perfect match is evident.
Urs Fischer has expertise in getting groups promoted and retaining them up. His most well-liked formation entails a again 5, which in current historical past is kind of profitable in surviving relegation within the premier league, with groups similar to Nottingham Forest and Wolves adopting it.
In addition to his meticulous build-up play alongside devastating runs at tempo on the opposition to unsettle them and drive probabilities. Urs Fischer can be an actual assertion signing. Nonetheless, together with his agent so tight-lipped, it might be the case that this was bold pondering, and he’s not within the job.
A Essential Resolution
Raphael Wicky can be a strong second selection—a winner with a really thrilling possession type of play and flexibility that fits the Albion already. Wicky leaping into this facet at this late stage of the season wouldn’t be too disjointed because the gamers are already properly accustomed to how he would need them to arrange.
A younger and thrilling supervisor will probably be determined to show himself, and with such a robust squad, success would probably be underneath his stewardship.
Rene Hake wouldn’t be a disastrous appointment, despite the fact that it could look that method based mostly on my preliminary ideas. Having researched him extra carefully, I can see why he matches the necessities for the board.
The one factor he’s missing is expertise. While he’s managed extra golf equipment than the opposite two, he hasn’t spent a lot time at any of them, and he’s additionally not doing a lot together with his time at these golf equipment.
Nonetheless, his type and beliefs swimsuit what the Albion try to construct, and he would have little downside leaping in at such a late stage. Nonetheless, this subsequent appointment must work; there hasn’t been a extra essential appointment in West Bromwich Albion’s current historical past. This could make or break their season.
Whoever Albion appoints out of those three, I consider will probably be the suitable choice. The house owners appear very competent and have taken their time making this choice. They gained’t allow you to down, Baggies followers.
