Tony Pulis has come under pressure from the terraces but is it fair?
West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has come under criticism from Baggies fans in recent months, with frustration growing over the last few weeks.
The club have gone nine Premier League games without a win, picking up just four points from their last 27 available.
Their style of play is what fans are most frustrated with, particularly as they failed to score against a Huddersfield Town side who played the last 30 minutes with ten men.
West Brom are 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone. Fans of the West Midlands club expected better, particularly after signing the likes of Grzegorz Krychowiak, Oliver Burke and Gareth Barry in the summer.
West Bromwich Albion’s English-born Welsh striker Hal Robson-Kanu reacts after missing a shot on goal during the English Premier League football match between Huddersfield Town and West…
Pulis took over in January 2015 with the club 17th in the league and sliding towards relegation. He guided them to a comfortable 13th place finish that season.
They finished 14th the following season and last term, Pulis took them to 10th.
Despite a top half finish, West Brom fans were unhappy with the way they capitulated after hitting 40 points. They reached that mark at the end of February but went on to win just one of their final 12 league games.
The Baggies could well have pushed Everton for seventh place and challenged for Europe, instead they took their foot off the gas and were lucky to remain in the top half.
Regardless, it was a successful season for Pulis however targeting 40 points and safety shouldn’t be the remit for a team who’s been in the Premier League for over seven years.
Pulis himself has admitted there’s pressure on him. He told the BBC: “If you’re on a run that we’re on, I don’t care what club you are, you’re going to get stick. It’s not the first time it’s happened to me, there are a certain amount of supporters who will give you a hard time.”
The Baggies face Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in their next two games before crucial clashes against Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.
It could be an even worse situation by the time Palace arrive at the Hawthorns. Failure to win any of those would surely spell the end for Pulis as style and results will both count against him and his position will then be untenable.
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