Livermore performance vindicates West Brom’s cautious transfer policy

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Jake Livermore impressed during West Bromwich Albion’s 1-0 win over Stoke City on Saturday.

As deadline day quietly passed by at the Hawthorns, a portion of disgruntled West Bromwich Albion fans took to social media to vent their frustration at the club’s lack of transfer activity. These gripes have become somewhat of a bi-annual occurrence – and rightly so.

West Brom currently boast an ageing squad that is also the smallest – counting senior pros – in the Premier League. The need for reinforcements and replacements doesn’t appear to have been met with much urgency, leaving Tony Pulis’ side a few injuries or suspensions short of fielding academy players.

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However, this time out, Baggies’ lack of transfer activity appeared to be more a case of being picky than parsimonious. An approach based on quality over quantity, that should help to avoid a repeat of the disastrous summer window of 2013, which left Albion lumbered with the likes of Georgios Samaras, Cristian Gamboa and Sebastian Blanco.

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Last weekend, West Brom’s only permanent signing of the January window stepped up to vindicate Albion’s careful approach to the mid-season market. Jake Livermore was excellent filling in for hard-tackling fan-favourite Claudio Yacob. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City man added mobility and a range of passing that has been sorely lacking in Albion’s defensive midfield role.

Livermore’s performance was a reminder that these calibre of players are worth the wait, even if that patience comes with the short-term pitfalls of a small squad and frustrated supporters. It was a showing that offered promise of progress rather than merely plugging gaps to secure Premier League survival.

Make no mistake, Albion’s hierarchy still have plenty of work to do in the summer. But if Livermore’s outing is anything to go by, Albion supporters can be optimistic that they will get it right.