West Brom may be keeping close eye on Millwall situation as Ryan Mason sack talk grows | OneFootball

The Baggies will be hopeful of a Millwall dip in form if they want to lure Alex Neil to The Hawthorns.

West Brom boss Ryan Mason is under mounting pressure to save his job at The Hawthorns after a desperately poor start to his first season in full-time management.

Mason has really struggled to get his Albion side showing consistency in both results and performances, with the Baggies now sitting 16th in the league table after 20 matches.

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is proving to be an unpopular figure among the West Brom faithful himself, with supporters often left scratching their heads at the playing style, tactics and in-game management.

Their latest loss at Southampton in midweek made it seven straight away defeats on the spin, while the team have won just four games of their last 16 matches.

It’s deeply concerning statistics under Mason’s guidance, with many supporters now justified for wanting a change in the dugout.

It does appear Mason will be given Friday evening’s clash against Sheffield United to inspire an upturn in results, but you feel his position is slowly becoming untenable, particularly with this form going way below the standards set of the football club.

Our West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has urged controlling shareholder Shilen Patel to 'bite the bullet' and relieve Mason of his duties at The Hawthorns, typifying the consensus felt by the Albion faithful towards the 34-year-old.

If Albion are to make a change of coach for the fourth time under Patel’s ownership, then the Baggies must strive for a replacement who has extensive experience of managing in the Championship and has a habit of getting teams towards the top end of the table.

Therefore, Millwall boss Alex Neil should be high up on the shortlist, particularly after getting his Lions team competing for automatic promotion to the top-flight this season.

Neil was previously linked with the Baggies post at the beginning of November, as Mason’s future as Albion boss was up in the air at that time too.

Despite Neil appearing to be a candidate for the role, the Baggies aren’t a particularly attractive proposition when sitting in 16th, so the Black Country outfit will be hoping for one thing to happen that would help them lure the Scotsman to B71.

Alex Neil’s impact at Millwall

While West Brom have been languishing in mid-table, Alex Neil has boosted Millwall into dreaming of a Premier League return.

The former Stoke City boss entered the hotseat at The Den in December 2024, with the Lions placed 13th in the Championship table at the time.

He has since transformed the side and built a winning mentality in East London. Millwall won five of their final seven league games of the 2024-25 season, narrowly missing out on a place inside the play-offs.

And they have now taken that positive momentum into this campaign, establishing themselves as one of the best teams in the division this term.

Before last night, Millwall had won 10 out of their opening 19 league matches to sit third in the standings, with the feel-good factor firmly back at the club, who are looking to end a 36-year exodus from the big time.

Under Neil’s tenure, Millwall have evolved from a traditional deep sitting and counter-attacking outfit to a more progressive and possession-based side, with an onus on aggressive pressing and quick ball movement, while retaining defensive organisation and their usual set-piece threat, which has been so accustomed to Millwall sides throughout the years.

It's definitely something West Brom could do with. When appointed, Mason promised a West Brom side that was progressive and could win regularly, but it’s been anything but under the 34-year-old, who has been fiercely criticised for his pragmatism and unwillingness to throw the kitchen sink in games.

West Brom must hope for Millwall dip in form to lure Alex Neil to The Hawthorns

It’s clear that West Brom’s run of results and performances can’t go on for much longer, with the Albion faithful coming to the end of their tethers under the current regime.

If the Baggies continue to throw in the first half performance like they did at Southampton when they face Sheffield United on Friday evening, then the atmosphere inside The Hawthorns could turn very toxic and unpleasant, making Mason’s position untenable.

The West Brom hierarchy should definitely consider making the change when there are quite a few appealing options available for work, which include Gary O’Neil, Michael Carrick and Russell Martin.

However, Alex Neil should be the preferred target, but at this moment in time, it would be a very odd switch to make given the contrast in fortunes between West Brom and Millwall.

The only hope Albion have of luring Neil away is if Millwall have a dip in form as the Championship games come thick and fast.

It could well happen, with the Lions facing tough fixtures against Derby County, Hull City and Blackburn Rovers, while further matches follow against fellow promotion contenders in Ipswich Town and Bristol City.

If the Lions do end up slipping down the table, then Neil may be persuaded to jump ship to The Hawthorns, particularly given the fact his family still reside in Lancashire, while he has moved jobs before in the division from Sunderland to Stoke.

There’s plenty of reasons as to why the Scot could make the move, and while it seems far-fetched at the moment, Neil could turn into a prime candidate as the weeks progress.