West Bromwich Albion have been seen plenty of names swirl around the rumour mill since last week’s dismissal of Steve Bruce, with there being so many that every brand of manager has been linked.
However, the overwhelming theme of the majority of candidates is both their age and philosophy, which largely seem to align.
Would you be happy if WBA appointed Scott Parker?
Excluding the two obvious anomalies in Chris Wilder and Sean Dyche, who were always going to be linked to this position, names such as Russell Martin, Carlos Corberan, Rob Edwards and Steven Schumacher all boast wildly different profiles from the aforementioned two.
They are tactically adept, enjoy playing a fluid brand of football, have youth on their side and have far less experience than Dyche and Wilder.
One man who manages to combine more of a blend of the two is Scott Parker, who despite still only being in the embryonic stages of his managerial career has already overseen the promotion of two Championship clubs.
His first success came with Fulham, where the 42-year-old took them up but then struggled to maintain their top-flight status.
Then just last season he did the same with AFC Bournemouth but was not given a proper chance to keep them up.
For a side that’s only goal is to ensure promotion, to appoint someone like Parker who has a track record yet does so with style could be a masterstroke.
Especially with some of the talent they have at their disposal, most notably Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
Just last weekend he proved what he could do when handed a start in his favoured midfield position, following months of being forced to plug gaps by Bruce.
A goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Reading marked their first victory in eight matches, as he outlined his creative qualities.
With the way Parker often likes to play, with a single-pivoted 4-3-3, the 20-year-old could excel in either of the more advanced central midfield roles due to his apparent versatility.
It was a waste to put a player who Richard Beale claims “brings energy” in the back four, and already the tweak is seeing everyone reap the rewards.
If Parker is to take the job, his first action must be to hand the youngster a spot in his midfield. Should he start to truly unlock his potential, it could be a dream for West Brom as an academy graduate potentially fires them back to the Premier League.
