West Brom saw a decent run in the Premier League come to an end a few seasons ago and didn't manage to stay in the top flight last season.
It's time for a rebuild, and you could be the manager to bring better times to The Baggies in FIFA 22 Career Mode.
You're expected to gain promotion, but times will be tough from there, with the squad needing lots of reinforcements on a tight budget - do you have what it takes?
Team Rating
West Brom have a three-and-a-half-star rating on FIFA 22.
That is due to their team rating of: 72 ATK, 72 MID, and 72 DEF.
Starting Lineup and Formation
West Brom line up as a 5-2-3, and we will stick with this as the squad is really only built around this one style.
The front three all have decent speed, with Callum Robinson leading the line, Karlan Grant giving more pace on the left-wing, and Matt Phillips having some power on the right.
The midfield two has a playmaker in Alex Mowatt and a holding midfielder in Jake Livermore.
Both wing-backs, Conor Townsend and Darnell Furlong, are capable on the ball and can get forward to swing in crosses.
The centre-back three are all massive at 6'4" each, all strong, with Semi Ajayi having great pace to cover for Kyle Bartley and Cedric Kipre.
In goal is England international Sam Johnstone.
The bench has some talent, with Adam Reach able to come on at LWB or in CM and pace provided by Grady Diangana.
Robert Snodgrass is unlucky to miss out on the starting XI and will be used as a CM as opposed to on the wing.
Jordan Hugill offers an aerial threat to break teams down if the original gameplan isn't working.
Tactics and Instructions
We're keeping the tactics as they are, using Press After Possession Loss to quickly win the ball back.
Offensively it's Fast Build Up with Forward Runs, making the attacks quick and direct.
Grant and Robinson will be told to Stay Forward, giving us a couple of players to catch the opposition out if they commit too many men forward.
Grant is also on Cut Inside and Get Into The Box For Cross, so he will often feel like having a second striker.
Mowat is to Get Forward and Livermore Stay Back While Attacking, giving us an extra attacking threat while still protecting the team defensively.
Both wing-backs are on Join The Attack and Overlap, as we can be a bit more aggressive with three centre-backs staying back.
Development Plans
There is only one player with a potential of 80+ OVR, and that is Johnstone.
If you're looking to stay in the Premier League that won't be good enough, but there are some others the could definitely provide a squad role.
Look to train up Diangana, Grant, Dara O'Shea, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Rayhaan Tulloch and Robinson, to pad out your squad.
Transfer Market
Starting transfer budget: £11.8 million
Starting wage budget: £141,000 a week
Who should go
Nearly the whole squad will need to be sold to compete in the Premier League, but that will happen over a couple of seasons.
The only players we'd deem 'safe' from the chop are Johnstone, Diangana, Grant, Robinson and Ajayi.
If you can find suitable replacements, feel free to get rid of everyone else!
Loans
Matt Clarke, Jayson Molumby and Hugill will all be returning to their parent clubs when their loans finish at the end of the season, so don't plan around them too much.
You also have a few players out on loan, with the only slightly notable one being Jovan Malcolm.
He has a potential of 77 OVR but could be a useful speedster to bring off the bench when you need one.
Who to Sign
As we've said, the whole team needs improving, but possibly the most pressing issue is in centre-midfield.
If you can bring in a cheap, promising player now, after a season in the Championship they could be your star man in the Premier League.
If you can bring in a couple of men off this list, then even better!
Centre-midfield options
Player | Age | Club | Cost | Wage | OVR | POT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kouadio Kone | 20 | Borussia Monchenladbach | £3.5m | £11k | 71 | 83 |
Alhassan Yusuf | 20 | Royal Antwerp | £3.1m | £7k | 70 | 83 |
Cristian Medina | 19 | Boca Juniors | £3.3m | £4k | 70 | 83 |
Amadou Onana | 19 | Lille | £3.1m | £8k | 70 | 83 |
Junior Dina Ebimbe | 20 | PSG | £4.3m | £28k | 72 | 80 |
Your current forwards and centre-backs will be good enough to get you through the first season, so if you have the budget left look to bring in replacements for the wing-backs.
Wing-back options
Player | Age | Club | Cost | Wage | OVR | POT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Luca Netz | 18 | Borussia Monchengladbach | £2.9m | £3k | 69 | 85 |
Aaron Hickey | 19 | Bologna | £3.7m | £8k | 71 | 84 |
Hugo Siquet | 18 | Standard Liege | £3m | £2k | 70 | 84 |
Liberato Cacace | 20 | Sint-Truidense | £4.2m | £7k | 72 | 83 |
Viktor Korniienko | 22 | Shakhtar Donetsk | £3.4m | £430 | 71 | 82 |
Board Expectations
There is one critical priority, and that is Domestic Success.
You are expected to gain automatic promotion, while also making the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Youth Development is of high priority, and with such a small budget should definitely be focussed on.
You will need to sign at least 3 players younger than 20 with a potential greater than the average overall rating of players currently in the same position.
Brand Exposure and Financial are both medium priority and should be easy to complete.
Signing a crucial first-team midfielder will complete the Brand Exposure objective, and is definitely an area you need to improve upon.
Financial is split into Short Term and Long Term requirements.
Short Term you will need to reduce player wages by £64,000 a week, and after you've got rid of much of the squad that should be fulfilled.
Long Term may also be completed in this way, where you are asked to make a £10.3 million profit from youth player sales within 3 seasons.
You aren't in European competitions, so Continental Success is a very low priority, as there is nothing to be fought for!