Valerien Ismael has his feet under the table at West Brom’s training ground. Albion have been tasked with hitting the ground running in pre-season after reporting back for training this past week, and it’s likely to be as gruelling a month ahead that they’ll have faced for quite some time. The Frenchman has outlined his intentions to watch his inherited squad closely in the next fortnight before determining where he must strengthen in the transfer window. He also hinted at giving the academy prospects a chance to shine.
Valerian Ismael said: “Firstly I think it’s important to give everyone in the team a chance. At the moment it’s important that I need to have an overview on the squad and what type of player we have. Can the player play how we want? Can the academy, young players? Are they able to have that intensity? We need a couple of weeks to have a clear overview and make our selection if we need to add something, or if we have something from the academy, for example.”
There is already one through the door of course. Ismael could scarcely have started with a player more understanding of the way he works after Albion picked up his former Barnsley captain Alex Mowatt on a free transfer. With a slight grin, Ismael predicts that the Yorkshire midfielder will be a hit with the Albion fanbase.
Valerian Ismael said: “Alex has all the attributes for the way we want to go. He’s a young player, but with a lot of experience. He’s hungry, he has a big desire to continue to move forward. He’s very strong at scoring goals from outside the box and from set-pieces he’s very dangerous. He’s stepped up to the next level since last season and I think it’s a win-win for Alex and for West Brom. I think the fans will enjoy Alex.”
It’s early days, of course, but Ismael needs his players to understand the ways in which he works, and why he asks of them what he asks. The 45-year-old bangs the drum for togetherness, unity and a collective effort beyond the playing and coaching staff.
Valerian Ismael said: “It’s a new way to train, and a new way to play for the guys, but they’ve come back with a great desire and a new reset mentality. This is what you need for the season, and everyone is ready to go that way. We are ready to help the guys to understand quickly. The job for me, my staff is to make sure that they’re ready to compete. First of all I think it’s understand why we do this hard work. We need to create a work ethic for each other, that every player on the pitch works for each other. If one slips, we are dead. We need that mentality. We need to implement that. The intensity is the most important thing, we want to dominate our opponent with our intensity. We have the quality, for sure, with the ball. We want to become a complete team, who are very strong out of possession and in possession.”
While there is much work to be carried out, in terms of training and transfer negotiations, the early signs are positive and sizeable quarters of the fanbase are already quite excited about what may lie ahead in the Championship campaign, which kicks off at the beginning of next month. Once Ismael has ironed out his footballing philosophy, and the players understand what is expected of them, only then will he consider even talking about an immediate return to the Premier League.
Valerian Ismael added: “In the long term, for us, it must be promotion. At the moment, for me, it’s important to implement the philosophy. When I implement the philosophy, I need to have the right player to play like we want. When we get that, we’ll be ready to compete. Then, it’s all about winning games with consistency. My job now is to close the gap quickly, and prepare the guys to be ready to compete. When that comes, then will be the time to say we can attack for promotion.”
