'Funny old Game'- End of 2025/26 Albion Review.

Jimmy Greaves always spoke about football, in his Danny 'Imrayesque', Essex accent, as it being, 

“ A funny old game”..

When you look back at the 2025/26 Albion season, funny is not a word that springs to mind, considering this is our fourth lowest finishing position in our proud and illustrious 126 year history.

From when The Strollers became The Albion.

And stroll is what we seemed to be specializing in, seemingly sleepwalking into relegation and a future of facing the likes of Mansfield Town rather than planning for a season where Spurs might be coming to town.

Although it looks more and more like a trip to one of Danny’s local clubs, if he signs again for us and we welcome The Hammers.

However, it all started, safely and somewhat promisingly under Ryan Mason, ten points from the first four games, but results and performances dipped, the expected defensive impact of new signings, Chris Mepham, Alfie Gilchrist and Krystian Bielik, either through injury or complete lack of a convincing run of form failed to materialize, and key loan signing, Toby Collyer, seemingly didn’t materialize at all. 

Ironically as our season ended, the injury prone Collyer’s season still goes on with a Play Offs Semi Final against the might of Millwall.

Ryan Mason seemed uninspired, didn’t fill the fans or perhaps the players with a huge amount of confidence, his use of the bench lacked imagination with very little room for impact, and in a sport dictated by squad over starters, this myopic, safety first approach can be judged to be have hamstrung the team somewhat.

It was almost like a boxing match scenario for Shilen Patel, on the count of 10, [10 away defeats in a row], with the 2-1 defeat at the soon to be doomed Leicester City.

As we know now, The doomed Foxes would only win one of their following ten home games, post Baggies grand larceny of a win.

It was an inevitable end of the Mason reign.

Oddly enough, Mason’s last game was perhaps his most unlucky, with genuine signs of an improved tempo and synch in a strong starting XI, who Mason may well end up ruing, only selected once.[Injuries of course, may have dictated that scenario.}

It seems that the appointment of Eric Ramsay was taken from the highest strand of the Albion hierarchy with the lowest outcome.

Ramsay cut a figure utterly committed to a style of play, fully at odds against the strengths of the players under his charge.

A toxic mix that can only spell trouble..

January 20th 2026, a day that long lives in Albion infamy when a home game was lost 0-5 to also at the wrong part of The Championship table, Norwich City, and it can easily and correctly be stated, we got lucky with only suffering a five goal defeat.

When players are embarrassed by performance, set up for failure by a team shape never close to working, another F word is very much on the minds of fans and even players, stunned by their beloved team in stripes, seemingly surrendering.

It was perhaps worse, in a huge ‘Six Pointer’ away at Portsmouth, two goals down early in the game, with a young, raw right back, seemingly another round peg in a square hole, called Danny Imray, exposed as much by Ramsay’s myopic, stubborn vision, as were the three central defenders whose utter lack of pace that day, became in a wretched and inevitable defeat.

Indeed embarrassing.

We made Portsmouth look like Porto, the clear case were Ramsay’s tactics, rather than the scintillating skills of Pompey, borne out by their next four home games all being losses, with only one goal being scored..

The Pompey Chimes, being mixed with their rendition of,

 “Can we play you every week”, still haunts and lingers..

For Ramsay it was a case of when, not if he’d lose his job.

He never lost the players or fans as it’s fair to argue he never had them in the first place..

A similar scenario faces Bilkul’s original target.

Seventeen months ago, Raphael Wicky, who, coaching visa issues aside, would have been our new boss in January 2025.

Wicky’s first post since the visa debacle, has been in the MLS with Sporting Kansas City.

One win and six defeats in his first ten games is hardly the way to start your new managerial career.

We may well have got away with one…

So it seems the international search for a new manager, to take The Albion long term into the future was right at our doorstep all the time, with club legend James Morrison, sadly a peripheral coaching influence in both the Mason and Ramsay spells, was waiting all along..

Sometimes, being reminded how bad things are from the outset is the best way, taking your medicine early is often the best remedy.

Losing six pointers simply has the potential to bite you massively long term, and ala Portsmouth debacle, a very early two goal deficit should inform, as reality proved away to a hardly free scoring and that rarest of teams in early 2026, below us at the time, Oxford United.

It didn’t affect with Ramsay who offered more of the same, under James Morrison, it was simply the line in the sand..

Mozza’s message was simple and to the point, 

“It wasn’t acceptable.”

Actions and deeds are only truly judged by results, and at the business end of the season, Albion under Mozza meant business, playing with a simplistic shape and structure that all could adhere to, moving players to positions to maximize their abilities and not restrain and confuse.

You get the players on board, the fans will always join the ride, and a tough ten game run, six of those games against all of the clubs finishing between 2nd and 7th, led to a remarkable accruing of seventeen points, that truly kept us up and was ultimately the basis for James Morrison deservedly being offered the opportunity to lead Albion full time for the next two seasons.

The final game of the season, a no show, giving Sheffield Wednesday their 4th point against us this season, in one where they ultimately gained zero points, is a strange scenario that may well be a future quiz question, but it was another part of the Mozza learning curve that informed.

You put a no show on Mozza’s watch, there are simply no excuses,

 “ I learned a lot about some players today”, is ominous to more than a few players' futures.

So where does the future lie with this squad?

Josh Griffiths had such an opportunity this season to cement a long term future with the limited understudy Joe Wildsmith, his only seemingly viable rival.

For Josh, he never quite convinced Mason, and the handing of the gloves to Wildsmith had to have had an effect on Griffith’s confidence, something he perhaps never truly regained..

The signing of Max O’Leary was one few anticipated and the local Bristolian's take of being a good shot stopper but weak on crosses seemed spot on even after half an hour of his debut v Derby County, inviting The Rams to take the lead after dropping a corner.

But a unity of defence comes from the group, not the individuals, and there was never a second game of the same unconvincing nature, as the defence has found its feet, so has O’Leary found his gloves, even gaining a place in the Republic of Ireland squad again, where he may well gain his second International Cap.

Likewise, Imray’s attachment to the Albion and viability to be such a key component long term has improved game on game.

This was clearly a position of weakness for way too long, and has become an absolute strength, Imray’s  marauding runs supplementing the attack, clearly stretching the field, his partnership with Jayson Molumby in his role as an emergency right midfielder especially strong.

The Player of the Year simply had to be Callum Styles, a justified reward for unquestionable commitment and consistency in a season woefully short of both components.

 If we can pursue and can sign, as is readily stated with Imray as one of our key transfer targets, that would be excellent business.

Of course, it comes down to business and indeed how Crystal Palace, under new management with Oliver Glasner moving on, maybe the incoming Palace boss will have other plans for Imray, particularly if they win The Europa Conference Final, as they are favorites to and qualification for The Europa League and the larger squad demands that competition offers.

Imray may be in Palace’s plans for that scenario.

In central defence, George Campbell has looked the epitome of a classy, left sided central defender, with natural leadership skills by deed and example that you either have or you don’t have?

When George was signed by us, my MLS analyst friends hit the nail on the head, opining in July 2025 that, George,

 “may need time to adjust to the pace of The Championship, that he’ll make mistakes, but long term, his coachability, traits being an excellent team mate and leader.”

The closest to the true assessment was probably, 

“A strong player, George is conditioned to play centre half, he’s so good on the ball”

Maybe I should have passed this information onto either Messers Mason or Ramsay??

The fact this is George's 15th consecutive month of football, makes his late season performances even more remarkable.

Quality players will be noticed, particularly left sided ones, and already it looks like Celtic are showing an interest, although depending on who wins the Playoffs, there could be another destination in the offing?

If it’s Ipswich sniffing around, can you imagine the reaction to a complete ex Baggies back four and keeper, [though there are rumours of an Alex Palmer return to The Albion?]

George looks future captaincy material without question, and I have no doubt if he was moved to central defence earlier by The Albion, he could well have been part of Poch’s USMNT 2026 World Cup squad plans..

After the World Cup, there is every chance Pochettino will move on, as well as the left sided USMNT fixture, Tim Ream who will be 38 years old.

George is only 25 next month, such a relatively young age for a central defender, there is every chance from what I’m hearing that George may well be in the Autumn USMNT squads.

Reality is, if we sign Danny Imray, our right back and left sided centre half may well be playing against each other in future CONCACAF matches as Imray would fit perfectly in the Trinidad and Tobago team, as he qualifies for that nation.

Nat Phillips now looks like the player we hoped we’d sign, authoritative, strong, trusted, creating such a solid base with Campbell.

Of course, apart from early in the Ramsay era, Phillips was very inconsistent whether paired with a myriad of centre half partners, but also he became a dad for the first time in October and that wonderful experience can also lead to a bit of exhaustion, as your life completely changes..

No doubt Grandfather Liam Gallagher would be available for a lullaby or two!

The signings of play off pair from previous seasons, Chris Mepham and Alfie Gilchrist hasn’t worked at all, Gilchrist being on a four year contract was a statement of intent signing for the long term and it’s not worked.

Neither has loan signing Charlie Taylor, looking beyond his 32 Years of age, and Krytian Bielik, still a classy player, but undeniably is one you VERY sadly  cannot rely on for a prolonged run of games with his long term litany of injuries..

Creator in chief Mikey Johnston, a little bit like Josh Maja with his serious injury in 2024/25, has a record that was unlikely to be beaten, despite missing months of action.

Obviously for Maja it was goalscoring, his 12 goals in just 26 games last season, dwarfed the ratio of goals per game of others,by almost doubling the ratio of his nearest challenger, Karlan Grant, 7 goals in 44 appearances.

This year, Mikey Johnston, worth noting, playing primarily in Mason and Ramsay [sounds like a pair of lawyers!], teams, but still got over double the amount of his nearest challenger, with nine assists in thirty six games.

There’s been talk of how Mikey might fit in with a Mozza Albion, if indeed we do sign Danny Imray who loves exploring that right channel.

Flamengo came knocking last summer, who knows who will approach MJ this time around?

Santos, possibly?!

Jayson Molumby has been a revelation in terms of discipline this season, averaging a yellow card less than once every ten games which is by far his best ratio, and add in flexibility of positional play, filling in admirably, indeed thriving with Imray as his right sided partner in exploiting attacking wide positions and supporting defensively, they simply dovetailed so well, with also his central midfield duties.

Molumby’s role in overseeing Ousmane Diakite’s huge development under James Morrison, where at last, Oussie has turned into a capable and very athletic starter, his energy to cover defensively and utilizing his height in defensive situations has been marked.

It’s amazing what confidence in a player from a manager can do?

Alex Mowatt signed a two year contract at the end of last season, his passing skills are still a very viable option, but athletically he has struggled somewhat to keep pace with the pace offered by opponents in counter attacking situations.

Whether, in this last year of his contract, The Albion attempt to move Mowatt on and not be part of James Morrison’s plans, and attempt to recruit a more energized presence in midfield will be an area well worth watching, but as the team has clearly gone into decline over recent years, changes are very much needed.

Rumours suggest, Karlan Grant will be offered new terms, but as a free agent, now the five year Grant debt has been fully paid off, he has all of the cards in his hand over a new contract.

Once Isaac Price’s position was simplified, his performances have improved, finding the sort of form he first exhibited when joining the club, and not going into the reverse gear of the Mason and Ramsay days.

Price is still relatively young, at just 22 yrs old, and this summer will be, for us, a blessing in terms of Price taking a longer break than usual, as Northern Ireland are not in the World Cup, so hopefully the batteries will be recharged for 2026/27.

Jed Wallace is the epitome of a club captain, responsible, respectable, simply a class act.

Any signing of a four year contract for a 28yr old, as Wallace was when he signed for us, is replete with risk, as the body tends to begin to not want to do what the mind says.

Injuries pile up, influence wanes.

In Jed’s first two seasons with the Albion he missed only four of the ninety two games in the Championship over this period, however has started just ten games this season…

Mozza spoke about how emotional he was hearing the news of the extent of Jed’s latest injury, this was looking to be an Indian Summer of his Albion career, thriving in a 4-4-2 in this new regime and had now come to a sadly, premature ending.

Sport is that classic environment where time waits for no man or woman, and the risk of signing older players will be inherent for time immemorial, but hopefully Jed’s career can be extended at another club, or possibly for us in a player/future coach, capacity..

Goal scorer's and lack thereof, is a massive issue at The Albion, in my opinion and our three combatants, all have strengths, but clinical finishing is seemingly not one of them.

Aune Heggebo was top scorer, playing every game this season, but when your top scorer doesn’t break double figures in 46 Championship games, something is certainly not working..

Heggebo’s work ethic and occupying defenders are a strength, he plays well coming deep and shows vision laying the ball off, but I don’t see a huge amount of synchronicity playing off either of his co-strikers, and as we haven’t played with a natural No.10 all season, who knows how that might work?

Josh Maja’s role as an intelligent, perceptive forward player is necessitated over the fact his mobility seems compromised, at odds with his age, being just 27 yrs old, but tackles bordering on assaults catch up with you and recovery is never certain..

Daryl Dike knows all about injuries and recoveries and at last having a manager who fully believes in him, allied to the burgeoning confidence in the full recovery of his own body, has played very well in the last throes of this season, when the odds of relegation allied to the scandalous EFL punishment were adding up fast..

Dike is also out of contract, and rumours are he’ll be offered another Albion contract, but I’ve zero doubt MLS teams will not be actively looking to bring him back to the States, and as Dike freely admits and it is completely true, the league has come on leaps and bounds since he left four seasons ago to arrive at West Brom.

Orlando City may well be an option, as Dike thrived there and is still a fans favorite, pairing him up with new signing, Antione Griezmann would be an excellent forward line, and the team are on a high after just being bitter Floridian rivals Inter Miami last week.

No doubt, Dike will have a media career out in the US offered to him post playing career, so he has some big decisions to make, and is still only 25 years old.

Being a talented youngster is no guarantee, and for every Tom Fellows there are a lot more Rekeem Harpers and the likes..

The next step up from age group to first team football is a bridge too far for too many, and the decision to send on loan and return more mature, able to withstand the rigours of Championship football, is the key to success.

Returning loanees who are doing well and would seemingly be better off with hindsight staying at their club for the duration of their original loan, is a huge judgement call, clearly not working in the favour of a player like Harry Whitwell this season, and it’s not the first or last time that will happen.

It looks like Ollie Bostock would benefit hugely from the rigours of a season’s lower division loan and it’ll be interesting to see what the club do with the likes of Cole Deeming, Souleyman Mandey [who looked such an intriguing prospect in his cameo role at the weekend], full back Alex Williams and of course Whitwell for next season?

Home grown players have to be the future of the club, for far too often this season, the only home grown player making starts has been Josh Griffiths, and that was after FOUR successive loan periods for Josh, so we know the road isn’t easy, but for the long term future of the club we need more of an impact from our own home growns.

On the Albion website, the profile of Matt Gill, the message was all about "utilizing Matt’s experience for the last eleven games" and my word, what a quietly efficient job he has done, hopefully one piece of business Mozza needs to do is sign up Gill to work again in tandem with him, next season and beyond..

Big decisions to be made and to tie into that theme, that was a VERY big year in Baggiebard.com, the readership has gone through the roof, worldwide, the positivity to my articles, critiques and interactions are a credit to what discourse can hopefully be, and I thank each and everyone of you for taking time out to read any and all of them!!

This summer I’ll still be putting out new articles, hopefully my latest one on Youssouf Mulumbu will be very eye opening and as inspirational as our Congo DR midfielder is and always will be..

Thanks again!!

Come on you Baggies!!

Andy Caulton 6th May 2026.