Alex Mowatt's departure to Championship rivals Derby County is a double-edged sword for Albion and James Morrison
“This departure will feel to Morrison like a Mowatt-sized free-kick in the nuts. The timing is terrible.”
Welcome to the harsh reality of management James Morrison.
In the big picture, the sale of Alex Mowatt to Derby County makes sense; the club will receive a fee - somewhere in region of £750,000 - for a 31 year-old player in the final year of his contract and his relatively high wages are removed from the bill. Derby boss John Eustace has been a long-time admirer and almost signed him last summer, only for the former Barnsley midfielder to sign a new two-year deal to stay at The Hawthorns.
Right now however, the day before the first game of the season at Norwich, his departure will feel to Morrison like a Mowatt-sized free-kick in the nuts. The timing is terrible.
Doncaster-born Mowatt only started seven of Morrison's 12 games in temporary charge last season but he clearly impressed the now permanent boss during summer preparations. His experience in a young squad was valuable and he was captain last weekend at Rotherham in the Carabao Cup. At Norwich tomorrow, he would have been used as the play-maker in the centre of midfield alongside Ousmane Diakite.
Now Morrison will have to re-think and it will be Molumby or Horn-Myhre who gets the nod. The latter would be my shout with Diakite dropping into Mowatt's deeper-lying position; unless Molumby fills in, Horn-Myhre goes to the right and Harry Whitwell misses out.
The problem is neither Diakite nor Molumby are as good on the ball as Mowatt; Horn-Myhre appears to be a more attacking option and while Nzingoula comes with a reputation for being versatile, it will take the 20 year-old Frenchman a while to settle in.
The Albion boss praised Mowatt's attitude in his pre-Norwich press conference, which was held before news of Derby's renewed interest was revealed. Morrison was asked whether he would change tack for the tough-looking first day assignment - or whether he would stick to the keep-ball style that has swept them to six wins out of six in pre-season with a glut of goals.
'Absolutely I'll be be sticking to the plan, after such a good build up why would I change now?' he said.
He may have to now.
It is believed Mowatt wasn't looking for a move away and may have stayed but Albion felt it best to accept the money on offer for him. The fans will have mixed feelings about the transfer.
On one hand, Mowatt was a part of the team that was almost relegated last season, he lacks pace and would have left on a free next summer if he'd stayed. On the other, Albion were finally signing players like Horn-Myhre and Nzingoula, with legs to help protect the one designated for the quarterback role.
It's also the case that Albion have now lost last season's club captain and team captain in one summer, after Jed Wallace's departure on a free to Bristol City.
Speculation will continue over Molumby's immediate future. The Republic of Ireland international was more heavily linked with a move than Mowatt - but will Albion be prepared to lose them both?
And also who now becomes captain? It's probably between George Campbell and Callum Styles. But don't be shocked if it's new Norwegian signing Horn-Myhre. My early impression is that he has strong leadership potential.
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Steve Tudgay was a journalist for the Birmingham Evening Mail during the early 90s when West Brom were managed by Bobby Gould and Ossie Ardiles. You may remember him - he was the one banned by Gould! Since then he has worked in television for ITV Sport, Sky Sports and Premier League Productions.
