West Brom player played over 200 times but "isn’t very popular" after decision involving Wolves | OneFootball

FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has revealed that he believes Craig Dawson is a disliked figure among the Albion faithful for his connection to Wolves.

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…

Over their illustrious history, West Brom have had players on the books supporters look back on with dislike.

Whether it’s moving to a rival club, a poor performer or causing unrest for the remainder of the playing squad, Albion like any other outfit, have had troublemakers.

The Baggies faithful will have definitely sounded them out to receive fierce criticism in seasons gone by, as loyalty in the game becomes less and less apparent.

Players that spring to mind from a West Brom point of view are David Button for his unreliability in the West Brom goal, Markus Rosenborg for his abysmal goal-scoring record at the club or Nicolas Anelka, whose controversial ‘quenelle’ celebration saw him make just 12 appearances for the club following a lot of hype surrounding his arrival.

That’s just a handful in a very long list, and FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has signaled out a player who he believes isn’t a popular figure at The Hawthorns due to his past actions.

Speaking to Football League World, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has sounded out central defender Craig Dawson as a disliked figure by the Albion faithful due to his controversial move to Black Country rivals Wolves his conduct when leaving the club following their fallout from the Premier League back in 2018.

Callum said: “I think after Craig Dawson decided to make the move to Wolves, he became unanimously disliked even more amongst the fanbase. Towards the end of his Albion career there were some signs that Albion fans weren’t the most pleased with him.

“He had enjoyed his best days when Tony Pulis was at the club, and he was utilised at right-back, and, of course, he was getting goals from set-pieces, but when Darren Moore took over, and he was being used more at centre-back in a back-three at the time, we didn’t really see the best of him.

“There were also rumours of him handing in transfer requests and looking to leave the club, so that didn’t adhere to supporters either, especially after making the decision to join Wolves in recent years.

“So it’s fair to say he isn’t very popular at the club.”

Craig Dawson tarnished West Brom legacy at the end of his Baggies career

After making his breakthrough under Tony Pulis, Craig Dawson would go on to miss just one Premier League game over two seasons and go from strength-to-strength, notching four goals in each term with his attacking prowess from set pieces handing Albion alternative routes to goal.

Dawson would make 29 appearances for the club during the Baggies’ relegation back down to the second-tier, with his stay starting to turn sour when he submitted a written transfer request and demanded a return to a Premier League club.

After contributing significantly to Albion’s eight-season stay in the top-flight, Dawson would begin to tarnish his Albion legacy by refusing to go on Albion’s pre-season tour to Portugal due to registered interest from Burnley, Everton and West Ham. Dawson did have a change in heart to represent Albion in the second-tier, but it was evident that his preference was to play in the Premier League.

Following his Albion exit to Watford and then moving to West Ham, Dawson made the unthinkable decision of switching to join West Brom’s bitter Black Country rivals Wolves, sparking further hatred from Albion supporters after a frosty ending to his career in blue and white.

Their dismay was highlighted when Dawson was consistently booed and jeered in a hostile fashion when Albion and Wolves met in the FA Cup in January 2024.

Although the defender was a top signing for the Baggies for minimal money and helped them achieve some memorable seasons in the Premier League, all love is lost in that relationship with how the story ended, and Baggies fans will always pray on Dawson’s demise at whichever club he ends up representing.