Premier League Season Preview: West Bromwich Albion

Jul 24, 2010

With the Premier League season now rapidly approaching, I have decided to take a look at each of the 20 sides that will be playing at the top level of English football during this upcoming season.

To start off my countdown, I have decided to actually go in reverse order with Wolverhampton starting off the list, and Arsenal concluding this list right before the start of the Premier League season.

In the fourth part of this preview, I will look at West Bromwich Albion , who finished second in the Championship, which gave West Brom an automatic spot in the Premier League this season after being sent down the year prior.

Review of Last Year:

After being relegated the season before from the Premier League, West Brom were able to rebound once again and finish second in the Championship, which promoted the Baggies to the Premier League.

West Brom were able to do this thanks to some great play on Graham Dorrans and Chris Brunt, both of whom provided enough offense for the Baggies to make the Premier League.

Now, Roberto Di Matteo's men find themselves in the top division of English football for the fifth season since 2002.

Transfers:

Incoming Players:

Steven Reid (Blackburn), Pablo Ibañez (Atlético Madrid) and Gabriel Sebastian Tamas (AJ Auxerre).

Departing Players:

Joss Labadie (Tranmere Rovers), Jonathan Greening (Fulham), Luke Daniels (Bristol Rovers) and Borja Valero (Villarreal).

West Bromwich Premier League Fixture List

All Times are GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Saturday, August 14 2010
Chelsea - West Bromwich Albion (17.30)

Saturday, August 21 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Sunderland (15.00)

Saturday, August 28 2010
Liverpool - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, September 11 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Tottenham Hotspur (15.00)

Saturday, September 18 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Birmingham City (15.00)

Saturday, September 25 2010
Arsenal - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, October 2 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Bolton (15.00)

Saturday, October 16 2010
Manchester United - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, October 23 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Fulham (15.00)

Monday, November 1 2010
Blackpool - West Bromwich Albion (20.00)

Saturday, November 6 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Manchester City (15.00)

Tuesday, November 9 2010
West Ham United - West Bromwich Albion (20.00)

Saturday, November 13 2010
Wigan Athletic - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, November 20 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Stoke City (15.00)

Saturday, November 27 2010
Everton - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, December 4 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Newcastle (15.00)

Saturday, December 11 2010
Aston Villa - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Sunday, December 19 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Wolverhampton (12.00)

Sunday, December 26 2010
Bolton - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Tuesday, December 28 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Blackburn (15.00)

Saturday, January 1 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Manchester United (15.00)

Wednesday, January 5 2011
Fulham - West Bromwich Albion (19.45)

Saturday, January 15 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Blackpool (15.00)

Saturday, January 22 2011
Blackburn - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Tuesday, February 1 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Wigan Athletic (20.00)

Saturday, February 5 2011
Manchester City - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, February 12 2011
West Bromwich Albion - West Ham United (15.00)

Saturday, February 26 2011
Stoke City - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, March 5 2011
Birmingham City - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, March 19 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Arsenal (15.00)

Saturday, April 2 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Liverpool (15.00)

Saturday, April 9 2011
Sunderland - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, April 16 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Chelsea (15.00)

Saturday, April 23 2011
Tottenham Hotspur - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, April 30 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Aston Villa (15.00)

Saturday, May 7 2011
Wolverhampton - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, May 14 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Everton (15.00)

Sunday, May 22 2011
Newcastle - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Major Questions Going into this season:

1. Will West Brom be able to stay up?

The biggest question for a Baggies supporter by far. West Brom will be able to stay up if they can put together some great performances to start off and end the season, but if they cannot do that, they will be down.

2. Will West Brom be able to contend against any of the best sides in the Premier League?

West Brom have not had much success against any of the top sides in the Premier League since the start of the Premier League in 1992. But now, West Brom will need to be great against the best sides in the Premier League in order to stay up.

3. How will West Brom do against their local rivals?

West Brom have Aston Villa, Wolverhampton, and Birmingham City in the Premier League together for the first time since 1984. All three of these sides are major rivals of West Brom, and the Baggies must have success against these sides to stay up.

4. How good exactly is West Brom?

West Brom have been a side that is too good for the Championship, but not good enough for the Premier League. Hopefully this year we will find out exactly how good West Brom are as they look to stay in the Premier League.

In case you want to see a preview of West Ham's Premier League season, please click here.

In case you want to see a preview of Wigan's Premier League season, please click here.

In case you want to see a preview of Wolverhampton's Premier League season, please click here.