West Brom coach Ryan Mason is under increasing pressure to preserve his job at The Hawthorns following a disastrous start to his first season in full-time management.
Mason has failed to get his Albion side to be consistent in both results and performances, with the Baggies currently 16th in the league table after 20 games.
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is proving to be a controversial figure among West Brom fans, with many perplexed by his playing style, tactics, and in-game management.
Their recent setback to Southampton in midweek made it seven consecutive away defeats, and the squad has won just four of their last 16 games.
It’s profoundly troubling statistics under Mason’s leadership, and many fans are now right in requesting a change in the dugout.
It appears Mason will be handed Friday evening’s match against Sheffield United to inspire an improvement in results, but his position is gradually becoming untenable, especially given his form, which is far below the football club’s standards.
Our West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess has asked controlling shareholder Shilen Patel to ‘bite the bullet’ and relieve Mason of his duties at The Hawthorns, echoing the Albion faithful’s sentiments about the 34-year-old.
If Albion are to change coaches for the fourth time under Patel’s ownership, they must look for a replacement who has vast experience managing in the Championship and has a track record of guiding teams to the top of the table.
As a result, Millwall manager Alex Neil should be high on the shortlist, especially after having his Lions squad compete for automatic promotion to the top flight this season.
Neil was previously linked with the Baggies role in early November, when Mason’s future as Albion manager was also uncertain.
Despite Neil looking to be a candidate for the position, the Baggies aren’t a particularly appealing offer when languishing in 16th place, so the Black Country club will be waiting for one thing to happen to assist them entice the Scotsman to B71.
Alex Neil’s Impact at Millwall
While West Brom remain in mid-table, Alex Neil has inspired Millwall to dream of returning to the Premier League.
The former Stoke City manager took over at The Den in December 2024, when the Lions were 13th in the Championship.
He has since transformed the team and instilled a winning spirit in East London. Millwall won five of their final seven league games in the 2024-25 season, just missing out on a place in the playoffs.
They’ve carried that strong momentum into this season, establishing themselves as one of the division’s finest teams.
Millwall had won 10 of their first 19 league games to sit third in the rankings, with the feel-good factor returning to the club, which is trying to break a 36-year absence from the big time.
Under Neil’s leadership, Millwall has evolved from a traditional deep-sitting and counter-attacking outfit to a more progressive and possession-based side, with an emphasis on aggressive pressing and quick ball movement, while maintaining defensive organisation and their usual set-piece threat.
It is clearly something West Brom could benefit from. When Mason was promoted, he promised a progressive West Brom team that could win on a regular basis, but the 34-year-old has been harshly chastised for his pragmatism and refusal to throw everything at a game.
West Brom must hope for Millwall’s downturn in form to attract Alex Neil to The Hawthorns.
West Brom’s recent run of outcomes and performances is clearly unsustainable, with Albion fans reaching their limit under the current leadership.
If the Baggies continue to put up a first-half display like they did against Southampton when they meet Sheffield United on Friday evening, the mood inside The Hawthorns might become toxic and unpleasant, rendering Mason’s job untenable.
The West Brom administration should seriously consider making the transition, especially as there are several tempting possibilities for work, like Gary O’Neil, Michael Carrick, and Russell Martin.
However, Alex Neil should be the primary aim, but given the disparity in fortunes between West Brom and Millwall, it would be a strange move to make right now.
The only chance Albion has of tempting Neil away is if Millwall’s play suffers as the Championship games pile up.
It is possible, given the Lions’ challenging schedules against Derby County, Hull City, and Blackburn Rovers, as well as subsequent matches against fellow promotion candidates Ipswich Town and Bristol City.
If the Lions slide down the table, Neil may be convinced to switch to The Hawthorns, especially as his family still lives in Lancashire and he has already shifted employers in the division from Sunderland to Stoke.
There are numerous reasons why the Scot may make the transfer, and while it may appear unlikely at the moment, Neil could emerge as a top contender as the weeks progress.
The question is if West Brom officials will be patient enough to recruit him, but that is entirely reliant on a scenario outside their control.
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