West Brom told to avoid Tony Mowbray - he made 'questionable choices' | OneFootball

FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has reacted to Tony Mowbray being linked with a third spell in charge of Albion.

West Brom remain on the lookout for a new manager after parting ways with Eric Ramsay last week.

The Welshman’s 44-day reign in the Albion hotseat was brought to an end after a 1-1 draw at home to Charlton Athletic, which meant the Baggies boss had failed to record a single victory from the nine Championship games he was in charge of.

After completing his media duties, Ramsay, alongside assistant Dennis Lawrence, were called up to the boardroom by controlling shareholder Shilen Patel and told they were no longer part of the football club.

It means the Black Country outfit are now on the search for their third permanent manager of the season and fourth new boss since Carlos Corberan departed 14 months ago, highlighting the decline the club has been on since the Spaniard’s exit.

After Ramsay’s departure, club legend James Morrison was once again placed in interim charge of the team, but he failed to have any influence as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Oxford United last weekend to really damage their hopes of second-tier survival.

It could mean that the Baggies need a more experienced set of hands who can use their Championship knowhow to steer them away from the wrong side of the table.

And in recent times, Albion have been linked with returning for former boss Tony Mowbray, so soon after his departure from his second stint at The Hawthorns in April 2025.

Football Insider journalist Wayne Veysey has claimed preliminary talks have been held by the Championship club with Mowbray, along with his long-term number two, Mark Venus.

An appointment of Mowbray would be until the end of the season, with the Baggies then hopeful of naming a long-term manager in the summer, hopefully with their Championship place intact.

With this in mind, FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has offered his reaction to the Albion hierarchy interested in reuniting with Mowbray, and whether the Baggies would have a chance of survival with the 62-year-old at the helm.

West Brom, Tony Mowbray reunion waved away following last Baggies stint

Speaking to Football League World, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess believes a return for Tony Mowbray is a non-starter, particularly after his “questionable” in-game tactics and criticism of both the hierarchy and playing squad during his second spell in charge of the club last season.

Callum told FLW: “I highly doubt the validity of that. He was extremely critical of the players’ attitude, recruitment and the board in his final interview for the club after the 3-1 defeat against Derby County, so I can’t see that happening at all.

“On the odd chance it was true, I don’t think I’d take it either. There were many questionable aspects of his second term of the club, not being able to get the best out of Adam Armstrong in the Championship after having a good relationship with the player in the past.

“There were also some questionable choices in-terms of player selections. I remember John Swift being used as a defensive midfielder quite often in his tenure and in that final game against Derby County, alongside Ousmane Diakite was Grady Diangana, which was a very questionable choice when you first hear it.

“So I don’t think I’d really want Mowbray back, as brilliant as he was in his first time at the club, it’s probably best for him to spend time with his family rather than try and firefight.”

West Brom need to look elsewhere to save Championship skins

It would be a really bizarre choice for West Brom to make going back to Tony Mowbray, particularly when his second spell in charge of the club saw Albion drop down the table and led to their play-off hopes vanishing.

Mowbray oversaw just five wins in 17 matches at The Hawthorns last term, while he also questioned the players’ bravery and intensity following a defeat to Derby County, which led to his sacking, so it raises the question of why he would want to return to coach some of the players that he slammed just shy of a year ago.

Meanwhile, as Callum alluded to, Mowbray’s in-game management left supporters constantly scratching their heads, with the 62-year-old unable to get Adam Armstrong producing the goods in front of goal after landing him on loan during the winter transfer window, while he often started players out of position, hampering the impact that John Swift, Grady Diangana and Isaac Price could make.

And with all that continuing under Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay this season, which has led to their demise, Albion need a coach who will put round pegs in round holes, so they must avoid Mowbray at all costs if they are to get themselves out of the mess they are currently in.

Championship