Andrew Nestor blamed for West Brom transfer 'disappointment' as decision made - 'The only surprise is' | OneFootball

FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has reacted to Samuel Iling-Junior’s loan spell at West Brom being cut short on deadline day.

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 third-choice goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith has seemingly had his Albion career brought to an end as he will spend the last few months of his contract on loan at Middlesbrough.

Samuel Iling-Junior also had his loan spell from West Brom cut short too, returning to Aston Villa and then immediately being loaned out to Serie A outfit Pisa, who are themselves involved in a relegation battle in the Italian top-flight.

It brought a very short and disappointing spell at The Hawthorns to an end, with Iling-Junior scoring just once in his 24 Championship appearances in the blue and white stripes, which came on his home debut against Leicester City.

The former Baggies loanee was primarily used as a right-winger under Ryan Mason, while he was shifted into a left-wing-back role with Eric Ramsay in charge.

But his lack of impact was evident, with it getting so grating on Albion supporters that he was fiercly booed by the away end at Pride Park in their 1-1 draw with Derby County.

With Iling-Junior’s loan termination confirmed, FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has issued his thoughts on the departure and whether the club has made the correct decision.

West Brom fan pundit outlines relief over Samuel Iling-Junior loan termination

Speaking to Football League World, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has admitted his relief to see Samuel Iling-Junior depart The Hawthorns, with the 22-year-old looking “like a duck out of water” from his disastrous performances in the second-tier.

He also pinpointed the blame on outgoing President Andrew Nestor for deeming Iling-Junior a suitable replacement for Tom Fellows.

Callum told FLW: “I think from the start it was a disappointment. Apart from his goal against Leicester, hearing he’d be the only incoming in for Fellows, who had spent last season shoe-horned in at left-back for Middlesbrough, you weren’t exactly getting much excitement from the prospect of him replacing a winger who had the joint-most assists in the Championship.

“The fact the board, Andrew Nestor in particular, thought it was a good idea to use left-back or left-wing-back as a suitable replacement for our best player last season, it kind of got off to a bad start immediately.

“He’s not really done much to help convince anyone with his performances. He’s been a real disappointment and looked like a duck out of water on many occasions, so the only surprise is his loan being terminated has not happened sooner.

“I think Saturday’s performance with him getting hooked off at half-time after a very disappointing first half sums up his Albion career very well.”

It didn’t take too much time for Samuel Iling-Junior to be an unpopular figure at The Hawthorns, with the Aston Villa man unable to add any consistency in the final third and replace the loss of creativity from Tom Fellows' exit.

Iling-Junior would so often refuse to take risks in order to make things happen going forward, while he would gift possession away so cheaply at times, with the frustration felt against Derby when he did so on many an occasion in a horrific second-half display.

And while he got the opportunity to make up for it at Portsmouth, he had an equally dreadful opening 45 minutes, with those two glaring signs that it wasn’t going to work out for him under Eric Ramsay’s set-up.

To replace him, Albion have now recruited another Aston Villa loanee in Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, who had been on the Baggies' books until 2023. It appears he still holds a deep affection for the club and is eager to make an impact to drag the club out of the relegation mire.

Because of that, Albion supporters will be hoping they have received a massive upgrade, while the majority of fans will be ecstatic that they don’t have to watch Iling-Junior continue to disappoint for the remainder of what has been a dismal campaign so far.