NEW SIGNINGS
The capture of Romalu Lukaku on Friday night took Albion's summer signings to
five, following the arrivals of Ben Foster, Yassine El Ghanassy, Claudio Yacob
and Markus Rosenberg, Liam Jones takes an in-depth look at the Baggies’ new recruits.
Ben Foster
Probably Albion's number one target over the summer was to secure the permanent
signing of Ben Foster. A firm fans’ favourite and double Player of the Season
award winner, Foster equalled the club's clean sheet record in a Premier League
season, putting in some
great displays. Not many will disagree that he saved and earned Albion points
last season, dominant displays against Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea and Stoke just
some of the highlights of his season.
Many Fans
were disappointed not to see Foster on the team sheet for the last game of the
season against Arsenal at The Hawthorns having played every game of the season
up until that point. Foster's presence in that game was truly missed as we all
witnessed the Fulop horror show.
The permanent deal for Foster was a reported £4 million, which I personally
think is a bargain and I would of happily paid a bit more for him.
Foster
signed a three year contract which should see him stay at the club at least
until the age of 32 with the option of another two years in the club’s favour.
Yassine El Ghanassy
Only 22 years of age and he's got pace, skill and charisma, well, at least he
has on Youtube!
Not many Albion fans would have heard of Yassine El Ghanassy before the Baggies
signed him but from what I have seen of him he looks a cracking player.
On Tuesday
night against Walsall he assisted two goals and got on the scoresheet himself as Albion won 3-1. For the first goal his corner was met by the head
of Craig Dawson whilst for the second he displayed something I hope he can show
in the Premier League, collecting the ball just inside the Walsall half he ran
at the Saddlers' defence with pace and looked untouchable before he knocked a
short ball to Saido Berahino who finished nicely to make it two. He rounded off
his night when he grabbed the third goal with a tap in after the
Walsall keeper had given the
ball away to Marc-Antoine Fortuné who set up El Ghanassy for a tap-in.
He can play on both wings as well as in a central role. I personally can see him
pushing Jerome Thomas for a place in the starting line-up.
El Ghanassy,
who once had a trial at Birmigham City, joins on loan from K.A.A Gent with an
option to make it a permanent move in Albion's favour at the end of the 2012/13
season.
Claudio Yacob
The signing of Yacob came as a surprise to me, but personally, along with most
Albion fans, I am more than happy with the signing.
The day
before Yacob was even linked with the club, Tongo Doumbia, now on loan at
Wolves, had reportedly told French media that he had tied up a deal with the
Baggies. I therefore was expecting the signing of Doumbia to be announced but
news that Albion had pulled out of the deal allegedly over wage demands cleared
the way for Yacob. Seeing that Doumbia has now ended up at a Championship side
probably proves that the club were right to pull out of the deal.
As for the actual player himself, Yacob comes from Racing, the third or fourth
best team in Argentina.
He captained Racing as a teenager and was an ever present. He has been described
as a hard tackling box-to-box man who usually plays as a defensive midfielder
but can also play further forward in central midfield.
Talk sport's South American reporter said that Claudio Yacob is a cracking
signing for Albion. Three Argentina caps and one goal to his name, Yacob joins
on a three year deal.
Markus Rosenberg
Swedish international
Rosenberg
had been linked with Albion for quite a while although the Baggies had
apparently been looking at other options ahead of Rosenberg before he was
signed.
He has quite a footballing pedigree having played in the Champions League for
both Werder Bremen and Dutch giants Ajax. He scored 40 goals in 123 appearances
for Bremen.
He clearly left an impression on the club’s fans with plenty of them wishing him
luck in England.
Andy James,
a Bundesliga expert and commentator had plenty to say about Rosenberg.
"He's an aerial threat, because he's strong and tall and he's quite skilful.
They call him 'Sillen' in his homeland, which is Swedish for herring, because he
has quite a leap on him.
"I'd say he will play and will be a decent signing for West Brom. Most
Scandinavians tend to fare well in the Premier League. He's got the build for
it, he's fairly robust, has the right mentality and being Swedish his English
will be good. Rosenberg is also good friends with the West Brom defender Jonas
Olsson which will obviously help him settle. If he has a good season I expect
him to score around 10 goals."
I look at it like this - he's a free transfer with a good record around Europe,
it should be a win-win situation for Albion because even if he turns out to be a
flop, the player is on a three year contract so should at least have a resale
value.
Hopefully
though he will get the 10 goals that Andy James says he is capable of.
Romalu Lukaku
On-loan Chelsea star Romalu Lukaku is the most valuable player ever to join
West Brom.
Many were surprised by the signing as it came hot on the heels of another
striker joining Albion in Markus Rosenberg. Few fans will fail to get excited by
this move.
Just last
year he cost Chelsea
£13 million, rising to £18 million, but he has struggled to make his mark at
Stamford Bridge. Despite that many pundits believe that Lukaku is one of the
hottest prospects in Europe and has been labelled by some as the next Didier
Drogba.
A regular
in the Belgium
national team, Albion fans will be hoping that the 19 year old will be a regular
source of goals this season but what is important is that Albion fans don't put
too much pressure on him, he is still young after all.
In the 2009
January transfer window,
Albion signed another highly rated youngster - Jay Simpson, on-loan
from Arsenal. Simpson failed to impress despite a lot being expected of him too.
I believe though that Lukaku is on a different level to Simpson, and I firmly
believe he will be a big hit.
Liam Jones,
10/08/12
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