In focus: Latest West Brom manager report is bound to be music to the ears of rarely-seen player

by | Apr 11, 2019 |

In focus: Latest West Brom manager report is bound to be music to the ears of rarely-seen player

West Brom are set to make an approach to hire Preston’s Alex Neil as their next manager, according to the Telegraph.

The newspaper claims that Albion are ready to pay £650,000 in compensation for the 37-year-old, whose potential arrival is bound to be music to the ears of rarely-seen playmaker Wes Hoolahan.

WHY SHOULD HOOLAHAN BE EXCITED?

Hoolahan enjoyed one of the best spells of his career when he played for Norwich when Neil was in charge at Carrow Road. The Irish midfielder played a key role in helping the Canaries win the play-offs as he scored against fierce rivals Ipswich in the semi-finals before beating Middlesbrough at Wembley to earn promotion. Neil has managed to get the best out of Hoolahan in the past, and even though the rarely-seen West Brom player is at the twilight of his career, he may feel as though the Scot can squeeze out the best of him, or at least hand him a first team role, if he is hired. Hoolahan has made just 10 appearances in all competitions since joining the Baggies on a free transfer last year. He hasn’t started a single Championship fixture, even though Albion have been devoid of creativity since Harvey Barnes left in January. Hoolahan might feel that if West Brom do lure Neil away from Deepdale then he can at least have a bigger role in the side’s push to win promotion.

SHOULD WEST BROM HIRE NEIL?

West Brom have lost two on the bounce and even though they won the three games before that under caretaker manager James Shan, they didn’t do so in a convincing manner. Albion are at a point when they just need a manager with some experience to take the reigns at The Hawthorns. Neil won the Championship play-offs in his first season in English football and West Brom are more than likely going to be in the play-offs by the time the season ends. Could he repeat his success? That remains to be seen because the general consensus among West Brom fans right now is that they will fail to win promotion, no matter who is in charge.

INTERESTING FACT

Neil was only 33-years-old when Norwich hired him as their manager. The former Hamilton boss was the second-youngest in the English Football League at the time of his appointment at Carrow Road.