West Bromwich Albion seem to be finally narrowing down their manager search, with a few particular names standing out for Ron Gourlay…
What’s the latest?
According to the Express and Star, the Baggies are hopeful of naming their successor to Steve Bruce before this weekend’s clash against Millwall.
Would you be happy with John Eustace as the new WBA boss?
Whilst Carlos Corberan dominates the report, having been interviewed for the position, Birmingham City coach John Eustace is an outside candidate for the position.
He is said to be alongside other names such as Leam Richardson and Russell Martin.
Forget Corberan
The 42-year-old has earned huge praise for his wonderful work with the Blues, as he currently has a side that last season finished in 20th comfortably in mid-table. Thus, if the club are to take a different direction to Corberan – based on play style – Eustace could be perfect.
Having earned 20 points from his first 15 games of the campaign, he has brought a defensive solidity to a side that leaked goals for fun last season. They have conceded just 13 times in the league so far.
He has admitted that the style will have to wait whilst the results come first, admitting things would be “tough” before the “long-term success” arrived.
However, before moving to the Midlands he had earned a reputation for developing a wonderful brand for Kidderminster Harriers.
James O’Connor, who worked under Eustace during the second season, has been leading the praise for his management skills and feels he could go right to the very top.
He labelled their style of football “absolutely outstanding”, proving that he could mix results with an attractive brand. During his two seasons there he managed to lead them to the playoffs and the first-round proper of the FA Cup.
O’Connor also praised his personality, suggesting the now Blues boss was destined to go right to the very top. He said: “(Eustace) created an environment where there was every chance to succeed, that’s every day in training, sessions being good, intense, driven, knows what he wants.”
Whilst he may not have set the world alight with his style at Birmingham, the fact that his former side was dubbed the “non-league Barcelona” is a testament to how West Brom could soon be playing.
That factor could well place him above Corberan in the managerial pecking order and would be a dream given the misery fans at the Hawthorns had to suffer through under the previous regime. Eustace is certainly adaptable and West Brom need that after Bruce’s torrid tenure.
