WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Alex Palmer of West Bromwich Albion during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg match between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton at The Hawthorns on May 12, 2024 in West Bromwich, England.(Photo by James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images)
This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
West Brom have been told they’re not missing Brandon Thomas-Asante after the striker completed a summer move to Championship rivals Coventry City.
The striker spent two seasons at The Hawthorns, scoring 21 goals in 78 appearances for the Baggies, but he completed a move to Coventry in the summer, in a deal worth a potential figure that exceeds £3million.
Since his West Brom departure, Carlos Corberan has seen Josh Maja enjoy a terrific run of form which has seen him become one of the division’s deadliest finishers, meaning Thomas-Asante’s departure hasn’t been felt to the same extent that it could have.
The Baggies also signed Devante Cole in the summer, and while he perhaps hasn’t made the desired impact yet, they’re not short of quality options at striker.
West Brom, Brandon Thomas-Asante claim emerges.
We asked our West Brom fan pundit, Callum Burgess, whether the Baggies were missing Thomas-Asante after his summer switch, and he believes that Maja’s goals have softened the blow.
Speaking to Football League World, Callum said: “Despite fans being frustrated with the lack of usage of Devante Cole as an alternative to Josh Maja up front, citing that sometimes when Maja has to be given a rest after about 70, 80 minutes, we don’t really turn to Devante Cole enough as an option.
“We’ve often played players out of position like Grant and Wallace, but with Maja’s start to the season in mind, and with the quality he’s shown, I don’t think Albion are missing Brandon Thomas-Asante as a starter.
“The main praise of Thomas-Asante was for his work ethic, he always gave 110% up front, and you can never say that he didn’t give that. But despite that, there were a few occasions where he showed a lack of quality in front of goal and if he was on the end of some of the chances that Maja scored, I don’t think Albion would have as many points.
“I don’t think Albion miss Thomas-Asante, it could be nice as an option from the bench but overall, I don’t think Albion are missing him too much.”
Brandon Thomas-Asante’s Coventry City form suggests West Brom aren’t missing him
Brandon Thomas-Asante -1
Thomas-Asante has failed to nail down a regular starting place in Mark Robins’ Coventry City starting XI this season, and hasn’t been particularly prolific in front of goal either, so perhaps West Brom aren’t missing him.
As Callum alluded to, the 25-year-old could be a decent option to bring off the bench, but it’s hard to envisage a scenario where he’d be keeping Maja out of the team after the start he’s made to the season.
Brandon Thomas Asante’s time at West Brom – Transfermarkt
With the likes of Karlan Grant able to play up front along with Daryl Dike set to return from injury later this season, West Brom probably don’t need Thomas-Asante, and the huge profit they made on him in the summer after his initial signing from Salford City would have been well-received.
The Ghana international was a decent player for the Baggies, but the early signs so far this season is that it was the right call to part ways with him in the summer.
