Val prepares Baggies to take the next step
CHRISTMAS isn’t usually the time to take stock if you’re a football manager. While leagues around Europe shut down for a few weeks, football on these shores tends to accelerate.
The festive period is notorious but we are currently experiencing the calm before the storm – that’s if Covid doesn’t snuff the schedule out.
All being well, West Brom will play three matches in seven days, between December 27 and January 2, but it’s unusual that they have been afforded ten days to prepare between that run and their last match, at Barnsley.
During this time, head coach Valerien Ismael is able to reflect on the size of the task he took on, how he feels he is doing and what more still needs to be done.
“The philosophy, the mentality, the way to train – there was a lot I needed to change,” he said.
“The assessment of the academy, the pathway to create with the academy...
“I had to learn the people around the club, how the club works, the club environment, everything really, and the players needed to learn my way to play and the effort needed. It’s still a process but after six months we have progressed a lot.
“We know more about ourselves and the players believe more and more in our way.” The second transfer window of Ismael’s reign is on our doorstep. He has already spoken of the need for the club to support his efforts in the market.
“For sure, the transfer windows will help us to take more steps with where we want to be as a team and as a club,’’ he said.
“The image we want to give to outside (the club), the feeling of our identity is very important for us.
“I think after six months’ work, we need to deal with the past, prepare for the future – win games and create a path for the academy and at the minute I think we have found a right balance.”
There is still so much work to carry out, not only by the players but by
Ismael and his staff, to get the Baggies to exactly where – and how – he wants them to be.
For that to take place, he needs everybody to be on the same page. It’s what brought relative success at Barnsley and LASK before that.
“I think at the start, I was surprised by how well we started,” Ismael admitted.
“Then it became clear we needed to develop the squad – we wanted to be strong out of possession and in possession.
“I think at the minute we have improved massively in all areas, but now it’s all about taking the next step. It’s about putting more desire and more conviction into everything we do.”