Brutally honest West Brom reaction to Joe Wildsmith transfer - Middlesbrough promotion hopes may take "a very big blow" | OneFootball

FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has reacted to Joe Wildsmith leaving Albion to join promotion-chasing Middlesbrough on loan.

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 had a busy end on deadline day of the winter transfer window, with two arrivals and three exits being sanctioned.

After previously bringing in goalkeeper Max O’Leary from Bristol City and wing-back Danny Imray from Crystal Palace until the end of the season, Albion also added youth by bringing two teenagers into the building.

The Baggies completed a double raid from the Eagles by securing the services of talented youngster Hindolo Mustapha on a loan deal, while Aston Villa attacker Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba has returned to The Hawthorns on loan from Villa Park.

There were a few outgoings too, with young defender Michael Parker joining Swedish outfit Orgryte IS on a permanent deal, while Samuel Iling-Junior had his loan spell at The Hawthorns cut short, returning to Aston Villa and then immediately being loaned out to Serie A outfit Pisa, who are involved in a relegation battle in the Italian top-flight themselves.

The final outgoing saw third-choice goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith join Middlesbrough on loan for the remainder of the season, with Albion seemingly bringing his West Brom career to an end as he is out of contract this coming summer.

Wildsmith had drawn fierce criticism whenever representing the Baggies between the sticks, with costly mistakes over the last couple of seasons and an inability to lock down the number one position leading to the ex-Derby County shot-stopper falling down the pecking order when Eric Ramsay entered the Albion dugout.

And while it was an unexpected deal to happen on deadline day, it was far from surprising to see Albion wanting to get him off the books, particularly when he had been made surplus to requirements following O’Leary’s arrival.

With this in mind, FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has issued his thoughts on Wildsmith’s exit from The Hawthorns, and what Middlesbrough fans can expect from him at the Riverside Stadium.

West Brom warning offered to Middlesbrough over Joe Wildsmith’s capabilities

Speaking to Football League World, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess believes Middlesbrough’s promotion hopes could be shattered if Joe Wildsmith has to enter the Boro fray during the remainder of the season, with his performances at The Hawthorns doing little to inspire confidence.

Callum told FLW: “With the signing of O’Leary, Wildsmith losing his place earlier in the season and Middlesbrough being on the lookout for a new back-up, I imagine it was very much a scurry to see what goalkeeper would be available to sit on the bench for the rest of the season.

“Those at Boro will be hoping that there is no injury concerns to Sol Brynn for the remainder of his campaign, because if it did reach the event that Wildsmith did go in goal for them, his time at West Brom does show that it would take a very big blow to their promotion hopes.”

In just 17 Championship appearances at The Hawthorns, Joe Wildsmith will definitely go down as one of the worst goalkeepers in West Brom’s history after a series of calamitous mistakes.

When a gaping hole was left following Alex Palmer’s departure to Ipswich Town at the turn of 2025, the 30-year-old was elected to try and fill in some rather big shoes, but dreadful errors against the likes of Burnley and Sunderland saw him last just 10 games under Tony Mowbray, as Josh Griffiths grabbed the number one spot for the remainder of that term.

Heading into this season under Ryan Mason, Wildsmith was originally second choice, but was recalled back into the starting lineup at QPR in December following some poor showings from Griffiths.

But that change in goal lasted just seven games itself, with Wildsmith failing to be a calm and assured figure to help the Baggies backline.

And the individual mistakes kept on cropping up at crucial times too, most notably failing to dive to keep the ball out against Bristol City for their opening goal, as Anis Mehmeti’s strike trickled into the far corner of the net, which led to the Albion faithful in the Birmingham Road End booing him every time he touched the ball from that moment onwards.

In reality, Wildsmith was just not good enough to be a reliable enough option at Championship level, and it appears Middlesbrough were really scraping the barrel at the last minute by choosing him to be their second-choice shot-stopper

After the elated reaction from the Black Country to Wildsmith's exit, the Boro faithful will be hopeful that he won’t need to be called upon to replace Sol Brynn at any point this season, with his performances for Albion proving that he is unable to step up in big moments.