West Bromwich Albion: Baggies Now Have Some Pepe In Their Step!

Well it is finally here and West Brom have announced their new manager, Pepe Mel. This is the same guy who was spoken to about the vacancy back in December but was ruled out after wanting to bring his own backroom staff with him.



He will come alone and work with the current caretaker manager at West Brom, Keith Downing. Downing will take the reigns one last time for the game at the weekend away to Southampton, with Mel watching from the stands.

The first game in charge will be just over a week later when Everton visit. So I am sure not many people know a whole great deal about the guy now in charge at the Hawthorns, so what can we expect? Well last year he got his side Real Betis to promotion in their first season and then to a top 7 finish in his last full season, and Europa League qualification.

Interestingly Mel has only signed an 18 month contract, the same as Tim Sherwood. When Tim was given the job at Spurs it raised eyebrows that maybe it was a stop gap measure until someone better comes up after the World Cup. With West Brom though the concerns are different with the position in the league they currently find themselves.

Nevertheless though it does show desperation and consideration in equal measures. This guy was ruled out in December because he wanted to bring his own people, and now, a month later, they are back together. Was this because he was their only target and they didn't want anyone else but just had to get him to drop his back room staff? Maybe, but then why not tie him down to a longer contract. Or was it a case of after a month no one else had shown interest in the job, or did and were really unsuitable and so they were forced back together.

We know he can be reasonably successful in Spain and he likes to play free flowing attacking football. Will this work in a relegation battle though, certainly his first few games are a baptism of fire. Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea at home and away to relegation rivals Villa, Crystal Palace and Fulham. 

Currently only four points above the relegation zone I think the West Brom board are hoping for a Mauricio Pochettino effect but could just as easily end up with Pepe Le Pew!  

Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979.