How fast time changes. Jus a few months back, West Brom fans let Tony Pulis and the hierarchy know that they are far from happy with the defensive style of game of their beloved club. Well, who could blame them! Everybody likes attractive football but Pulis was never that kind of a manager.
He always plays the safe way which is why he used to be a dream manager for small clubs. But what a drastic transformation we have seen in Pulis in the last few months! The Baggies are having a brilliant campaign this season barring a few hiccups in between.
As per The Mirror, West Brom are interested in signing Leeds United left-back Charlie Taylor but are happy to wait until summer. The 23-year-old’ contract is up for expiry in the summer and the Baggies could bag his signature for just a mere compensation. The Midlands club were actually looking to bring him in January only but Allan Nyom doing so well in an unnatural left-back role has made Pulis have a second thought.
Charlie Taylor is a very highly-rated left-back and has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs over the years. He is a graduate of the Leeds academy and has racked up 97 appearances for the Whites till date. In the process of becoming a key player at Elland Road, he got valuable first-team experience while on loan at clubs like Bradford City, York City, Fleetwood Town and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Taylor is exactly a modern-day full-back. He is gifted with a blistering pace which helps him go forward and become a menace on the overlaps. The Englishman has a solid recovery pace that helps him track back every time his team is in danger. Leeds United’s Player of the year in the last season, Taylor could be a great signing in Pulis’ system thanks to his excellent eye for crossing.
Taylor likes to play it long which is evident from 2.4 long balls every game. He has made 0.7 crosses every game this season while playing 0.6 key passes in the process. In 97 games for the Whites, he has been able to register 12 assists which is pretty impressive. Nyom has done well at left-back this season but he is right-footed and is not a natural crosser with his left foot.
Taylor being a bombarding left-back, West Brom will do much better with him in the side in place of Nyom who acts as an inverted left-back. Getting player of Taylor’s calibre for free would be a nice coup from the Baggie and would be a brilliant deal in the long run.
