Nacer Chadli has had issues at West Brom this season but will Tony Pulis sacking help him rediscover his best form?
Tony Pulis, manager of West Bromwich Albion, during the Premier League match against Chelsea.
Tony Pulis was sacked as West Bromwich Albion manager on Monday (November 20) following a string of poor results left them just outside the relegation zone in the Premier League.
It brings to an end almost three years in charge at the Hawthorns for Pulis and some of the squad will have only known time at the club under the Welshman.
Nacer Chadli of West Bromwich Albion and Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City during the Premier League match.
One of those is Nacer Chadli, who became the Baggies’ record signing in the summer of 2016 when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur in a £13m deal (BBC).
That first season the winger enjoyed a decent enough campaign, scoring five goals and providing five assists as West Brom finished tenth in the top tier of English football.
However, ahead of this term things started badly as Chadli fell out with Pulis and then pushed to try and earn a transfer to Swansea City, as reported by the BBC.
Nacer Chadli of West Bromwich Albion battles for the ball with Cedric Soares of Southampton during the Premier League match.
The 28-year-old has only made two appearances in 2017/18, which was attributed to an injury by the recently sacked boss – who told Sky Sports the Belgium international would be out for the “foreseeable future” – but there was concern there was maybe more to the story.
In a stodgy Pulis team that relies heavily on defence with a three-man back line shielded by three defensive midfielders, there is little room for creative talent like Chadli.
Yet with the 59-year-old having now been removed from his position, is there an opportunity for one of the club’s key players to flourish?
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