Bye bye Pepe and co.!

Viva Pepe! Adios! Muchas gracias amigo! These are the sentiments of most fans at the parting of the ways between WBA and Pepe Mel.  Sad that a decent club like Albion should have brought in such a nice bloke, only to treat him so cursorily and unjustly.  But it is a decision that is understandable too.  A line had to be drawn under the 2013-4 debacle of a season and this meant letting go all those associated with Albion's misfortunes.  Along with Pepe we have lost Misters Ridgewell, Popov, Allan, Amilfatano, Reid, Gera, Thiemy, Jones, Vdry, Sinclair and Lugano.  One or two of these I think deserved to stay on but the changing room has been well and truly swept out so plenty of room for new signings and a new start.

So where to next?  Craig Gardner is in...a fairly low key signing of a solid, if unspectacular performer.  Obviously, the fact he was a free signing makes him a bonus for Albion.  A local lad too so hopefully he will know what the club means to the fans.  That is maybe a sign of things to come too...less imports and loans stars in exchange for players who owe something to the club and want to fight for the cause.  

For this reason I would be happy if Keith Downing stepped up to the plate and took on the manager's mantle.  Don't expect he will though.  After all, being assistant coach at WBA is a fairly safe number.  You work hard and support the head coach, who gets the plaudits when the team does well and the sack when it doesn't.  Meanwhile Keith continues unnoticed in the background...there is wisdom in such a low profile strategy.  But I think if Keith is too prudent to take the job then someone who knows what the club is all about must come in.  No foreign experiments please.  No short term appointments either or people who will move on as soon as Albion string two half-decent seasons together. I think David Moyes would fit this category.  Also, no bosses who offer nothing significantly better than what we have had before - yes Mr Hughton, that means you.  So, who is left?  Well, we know the names trotted out by the media - Misters Jol, McDermott and, most recently, Slade. Whoever it is is someone who needs to take back the dressing room and get a good buzz around The Hawthorns...oh, yes and speak intelligible English too.  Perhaps the return of Michael Appleton is on the cards?