James Morrison prioritises quality over numbers in West Brom summer rebuild | OneFootball

James Morrison says he will not be drawn into a numbers game as he builds his first West Brom squad this summer. According to ExpressAndStar.com, the head coach, on a two-year deal, will work with club decision-makers through the off-season and is expected to receive realistic backing after a disastrous 2025/26.

He said he would prefer quality to quantity, that it is about recruiting the right people, and that a process is in place with everyone working together. He accepted changes are needed and added there will be changes.

Reshaping has begun, with Jed Wallace, Daryl Dike and Joe Wildsmith set to leave. Karlan Grant, Josh Maja and Max O’Leary are considering contract offers.

Morrison’s comments followed a season in which Ryan Mason at times suggested senior depth was lacking, yet Albion used 34 players across 46 league games under Mason, Eric Ramsay and Morrison. Only seven Championship clubs used more, with administration basement Sheffield Wednesday leading on 40.

That 34 included Torbjorn Heggem, sold to Bologna after one appearance, and youngsters or injury-hit players who barely featured, among them Tammer Bany and Esoesa Sule with a combined 65 minutes. It also counted the sold Tom Fellows and youngsters Harry Whitwell, Alex Williams, Souleyman Mandey and Hindolo Mustapha, who totalled 12 minutes between them.

Player of the season Callum Styles logged more league minutes than any team-mate, while nine-goal Isaac Price featured in 46 matches to Styles’ 45. Elsewhere, strugglers such as Oxford, Blackburn and Portsmouth used more players, while automatic promotion winners Coventry and Ipswich used the fewest, with 27 and 29.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com