What is the rightful division for West Bromwich Albion?

Dec 4 2008 By Chris Lepkowski

Yo-Yo hell for Baggies!

carving out Albion’s status as a perennial yo-yo club?

Albion have bounced back twice from relegation. Next time they might go the way of a Southampton or Norwich.

The Baggies’ plight means that little of the money they didn’t spend in the summer will be re-allocated for January transfers. It will be loans and cash raised through sales.

Players are difficult to come by in January. How much, for instance, will Everton’s striker problems – losing Yakubu for the season and Louis Saha for a long period – affect Albion’s chances of signing a forward on loan for instance?

Yet there is still a lot to play for. West Ham will have to shed players to cope with the fall-out of Sheffield United’s compensation claim, Blackburn are sliding, Sunderland’s season has become as ugly as the grey fluff around Roy Keane’s mouth, Stoke will struggle, while Bolton and Hull cannot be ruled out either.

The Baggies are right to be prudent in many ways. Perhaps Peace simply doesn’t have the funds to stretch Albion any further – this, he claims, was the main thrust in his want for outside investment during the summer.

While his name is above the main door then it’s his right to do as he pleases with the club’s funds, but you cannot help wondering whether just a touch more ambition could have significantly helped Albion’s hopes of survival.