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Lewis Cox on Ryan Mason and West Brom's summer transfer kitty
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00:00Is there money there this season for Mason?
00:02Do you expect a little bit more in the coffers that they can maybe get to a three over the line?
00:09Or do you expect Albion to sell a couple before we start to see more incomings?
00:15I think both of those things are possible.
00:18I don't think they're mutually exclusive.
00:19I say the outlay on Phillips was an outlay, a sort of basic seven-figure.
00:26Not insignificant to Albion, but I think in the last couple of windows,
00:29we've seen them spend money, you know, as the kind of clouds of the previous era
00:34with Lai have started to sort of slowly lift under Bill Cullen and Shillam Patel.
00:38We've seen that the sort of financial possibilities have been there.
00:43You know, fees, Mikey Johnston, I mentioned Hegan, Tamar Bani in the new year,
00:49we haven't seen much of yet.
00:51It was, you know, £3 million there or thereabouts.
00:54Isaac Price, what a massive hit he was, you know, following arriving in January,
00:58£2.5 million and, you know, he's arguably Albion's finest asset now.
01:03Isaac Price at £21 million and there's been murmurs around him
01:06and what would his value be now?
01:07So the short of it is we've seen them in the last couple of windows be able to spend
01:11and I haven't heard or don't see any reason why that sort of pattern
01:16cannot continue this summer, you know.
01:18So I don't for a second think that sort of the coffers are empty, as you put it,
01:23after a bit of an outlay on a defender with experience like Phillips.
01:27I think as well we look into the exits, you know, we saw Shemi Ajayi move on.
01:32He was, you know, a decent earner at the club really.
01:35And then you look further forward at John Swift's departure, Grady Dian Garner's departure.
01:39Yes, they left on free, you know, as free transfers, but they were really significant earners in this squad.
01:44You know, they would have been two towards the top bracket.
01:47So, yeah, you know, that would free up finances within the budget.
01:52Obviously, Albion's other sort of primary concern really when it comes to financial fair play
01:57and that profit and sustainability.
01:59Now we know from the most recent accounts, the three-year cycle when you're allowed a loss of so much,
02:05£39 million, we know the figures look like Albion are sailing close there
02:09and we know that they're working strategically to make sure they obviously avoid that
02:14and avoid any sanctions that would come along with that.
02:16But we also know the club are, you know, confident and optimistic
02:20and, you know, they have their eyes totally open to that situation.
02:23So, you know, the new owners, these are very prudent people.
02:26Obviously, these are very business savvy people who know what they're doing.
02:29They know after they can make the finances work.
02:31So, I don't see issues.
02:33But something you mentioned in terms of having to, not having to sell,
02:36but, you know, players moving on, I've already mentioned those out of contract.
02:40Look, it's no secret there are players in this squad for different reasons
02:44who may move on, may be sold and ones that Albion are looking to sell really
02:49that will help, you know, either they've only got a year left on their deal
02:52or they're not in first-team plans and aren't going to play enough.
02:57And, you know, there's some obvious names in there
02:59and obviously those moving on will further help, you know.
03:02And I suppose only the likes of Andrew Nesta, Ryan Mason and others
03:05will really know how many, you know, how many players do I exactly want to bring in this summer?
03:10Is it four to five or is it a bit more?
03:13Probably dependent on what goes out the other way as well.
03:16But I suppose we must not forget that, as we're speaking now here on a Tuesday,
03:20the players are back in the building on Wednesday for pre-season.
03:24So, 24 hours' time and Ryan Mason will have his first look at them.
03:27You know, I expect there'll be a bit of getting-to-know time, a bit of talking,
03:32a bit of maybe classroom stuff and then maybe blowing off the cobwebs
03:35or the few runs and stuff before they get into the nitty-gritty.
03:38But this is an important time for a new head coach, isn't it,
03:40to get a feel of, get a look at what players are like, you know,
03:44on the grass in training, the feel of the dynamic of the group.
03:47I think that's a really important thing, what I mentioned earlier,
03:49about the leadership that Nat Phillips can bring in.
03:52And if you see another experienced head or two arrive this summer potentially
03:56or be targeted, you know, that's a sign of the sort of football department
04:00of the club thinking we need a bit of a revamp here of these leaders
04:05within the squad or maybe a lack of.
04:08But I see a busy summer ahead in terms of the rest of the transfer window, Nathan.
04:13What are we now, late June?
04:15What is there, two months and a bit left of the window?
04:18Yeah, there's a lot to do really, Alvin, and I don't mean a whole rebuild,
04:23a whole revamp, but there are positions, you know, to be worked on.
04:26Up top would be a primary one, really.
04:30You know, Adam Armstrong's loan didn't work, went back.
04:33We know about Josh Maggia, Daryl Dike at the club with one year left
04:36on their deals, but, you know, have been susceptible to injuries.
04:39So, you know, that's a primary one.
04:42Midfield areas look OK, but, you know, you're always looking, aren't you?
04:46Your full-back areas can be improved on.
04:47So there's work to do.
04:49Look forward to see how it unfolds.
04:51Hopefully before long now, as I mentioned, we might be catching up
04:53with Ryan Mason.
04:55And it's just good, you know, it's good at this point, isn't it,
04:57for us, especially when the players are back and things start to,
05:01you know, it won't be long until they sort of have some friendlies
05:03and things get to start and we can chat to a few people
05:06and, yeah, see how preparations continue to unfold.
05:09Yeah, and look, I'm sure there's certain players who maybe the club
05:12are on the fence with, whether they sell or whether they don't,
05:15and they'll want Ryan Mason to have a look at them
05:16and probably make a decision sooner rather than later on that.
05:20It's understandable.
05:21It's a big season for some of those or some of these guys
05:23who haven't been featured maybe as much as they would have liked
05:26over the last season.
05:27And, again, it's a fresh start for them to hit the ground running
05:30in the next week or so.
05:31And, you know, Ryan Mason, I'm sure, will have his ideas
05:33of some of the players that he likes,
05:35some of those players that don't fit into his plans.
05:37Important for them, but also important for Ryan Mason, remember?
05:40His first season as a head coach and first pre-season.
05:43Absolutely, Nathan.
05:43Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
05:45I mean, you know, he was 33 when Albion appointed him,
05:49club's youngest manager for over 100 years,
05:51and he's turned 34 now.
05:52But despite that, I've said this before on a video with Johnny,
05:57I think, despite that, I think the, you know,
06:00retiring as a player at 26, as he did after that awful head injury,
06:03I think, you know, it's no secret that the longevity he's had
06:07at Spurs as a coach and worked his way up so well so quickly
06:10around so many world-class managers, world-class players.
06:14I think that's really, you know, important.
06:17Appointing a young head coach manager for their first gig
06:20is always a risk.
06:21You know, I wrote after his appointment,
06:22any appointment, you know, is a risk, isn't it?
06:25But I suppose, you know, when you bring in a Mason in,
06:28yes, he's been caretaker at Spurs for a dozen games or so,
06:32but he's done with that sort of body of work of his management
06:35to relate it to.
06:37But I think as we've developed in the game,
06:40you know, where football is now,
06:41you've seen it so many times across the,
06:44perhaps not the Premier League,
06:45but a bit further down, Championship and EFL,
06:47where clubs are turning to these younger head coaches,
06:50you know, the modern way of thinking.
06:52And it's bearing fruit, isn't it?
06:53It's been successful.
06:54You look at Kira McKenna, a bit of a similar role.
06:58The Sunderland manager, Labrice, I know he's French,
07:02but much the same background as a new young coach.
07:06Blues down the road, I know they were in League One
07:08with all the money in the world,
07:09but, you know, they bought a coaching from Spurs,
07:12much like Ryan Mason, didn't they?
07:14And obviously it went well.
07:15Now, it's happening and it's been successful
07:19in plenty of cases, probably not across the board.
07:22And, you know, there's no given here.
07:25But I think, like I said on the appointment,
07:27this was, Bill could have been interested in Ryan Mason
07:31before, you know, before the Tony Mulberry episode
07:34or all of that.
07:34And it feels now like they've got their man,
07:36they've got their project,
07:37they've got their new, fresh start.
07:40So this is a time for it all to be given time
07:43and work and patience.
07:45And I think, I think out of the fans watching this,
07:48well, you know, they'll know that,
07:49that, you know, across the board.
07:53Let's see how it goes, you know.
07:54Let's try not to get irritated
07:56if there's only been a couple of wins in 10 games
07:59to start the season, say,
08:00and the club are down in 12th or 13th.
08:02You know, I think this is,
08:03this is one where certainly the owners
08:05and the, you know,
08:06the Tony Mulberry appointment didn't work, did it?
08:08And this is where things need to,
08:10you know, need to work.
08:11The longer I've been in the championship,
08:13obviously, without the benefits of the,
08:15what the top flight brings, the parachutes,
08:17it gets tougher and tougher, doesn't it?
08:18But I think, you know, more broadly,
08:21the recruitment by and large under Bilko.
08:23I've mentioned some names already.
08:25I have Anaya Hagen-Price, Callum Stiles,
08:27others have been relatively optimistic
08:30that the club, from the football perspective,
08:32are in good hands when it comes to these signings.
08:34And that, Phillips, obviously the latest example
08:36that as the windows go on,
08:40the squaddies has been improved,
08:42hopefully will continue to be improved.
08:44And luck last season.
08:45I was only writing about it earlier,
08:47last season's finish of ninth.
08:49You sort of almost forget
08:50the spectacular level of the fall-off, really,
08:52and the collapse at the end there
08:53that, you know, cost Mulberry's job.
08:56It just has to be improved on significantly.
08:58And I'm pretty confident it will be.
09:00Yeah, and just the last thing on Ryan Mason,
09:03I think it does help.
09:04It's a big change for Mogher,
09:05but someone who's not far removed
09:07from that dressing room,
09:08sometimes is very good with the players.
09:10They know the kind of vibe,
09:11they can speak to players,
09:13almost, you know, players who are obviously
09:14in the game at this moment in time.
09:15I think it's a different way sometimes,
09:18even just things like pop culture,
09:20et cetera, as well.
09:20Sometimes the way that you can talk to players
09:22and, you know, you've been there,
09:23you've been around them.
09:24And I think that gets a level of respect
09:27in there for certain players
09:29who have been there and done it.
09:31Whereas, no disrespect to Mogher
09:32and if you remember the older coaches
09:34who haven't been in that dressing room
09:35for 20, 30 years,
09:37they don't quite know the specifics
09:38and the dynamics that go on there.
09:40So I think that can only be a good thing
09:41for Albion to change it around.
09:43Yeah, it's a good point, actually, Nath.
09:44I mean, from what I was speaking
09:47to a lot of people around the time
09:48Albion were due to a point,
09:50Ryan Mason,
09:50and he's a very fiercely serious character.
09:55Obviously, I've not had the chance
09:55to interview him yet,
09:56hope to soon,
09:57but I think on interviews
09:59you watch him on Telly,
10:00he comes across as a really nice,
10:02genuine guy.
10:03But from what I hear
10:04by people who are closer to it
10:06and know him,
10:06he's a very, you know,
10:07immensely driven character.
10:08And I think his career
10:10probably speaks for itself
10:11in that regard, doesn't it?
10:12You know, you sort of forget.
10:13And again, speaking to Spurs fans
10:15when he was coming through the ranks,
10:16he was very hot property
10:17as a youngster at Spurs
10:18and broke through.
10:19And it just didn't,
10:22there was a season or two
10:22where it didn't quite work for him
10:23and whoever was in charge of Spurs
10:25at the time,
10:25he didn't quite fit into the midfield
10:26or whatever.
10:27But when Hall snapped him up,
10:29I mean, you know,
10:29you'll be aware of this, Nathan.
10:30Yeah, he's a club record boy
10:31for Hall back then
10:33when Hall, you know,
10:34went up to the Premier League
10:35and, you know,
10:35obviously his horrific head injury
10:37came just a few months later.
10:39But yeah,
10:40without bringing the mood down too much,
10:43you know,
10:43it was a very unsettling,
10:45obviously experience,
10:46you know, experience.
10:46Ryan Mason's talked about,
10:47you know,
10:48it being a near-death experience
10:49and obviously,
10:50look in time,
10:51it had to force him away
10:52from playing the game,
10:53everything in his life.
10:54But, you know,
10:55I suppose because of his profile
10:57and personality,
10:58but also what he can bring,
10:59how he carries himself,
11:00how you've just mentioned it there.
11:02You know,
11:02he got himself on the coaching ladder
11:04pretty swiftly.
11:06And, you know,
11:07it's no,
11:07it's no gimme or free pass
11:09how he's been allowed
11:10to step up,
11:12you know,
11:12just because I,
11:13Ryan Mason,
11:13he played a few games
11:14for us in midfield,
11:15been allowed to step up
11:16in and around these Spurs appointments,
11:19successful or failed,
11:20because of how valued
11:21his work is
11:22and,
11:23you know,
11:23the way he's developed
11:25young players
11:26when he had a young role
11:27and he was given
11:29the caretaker role
11:30in two separate times,
11:31one after Mourinho,
11:32I think I'm right in saying,
11:33I'm trying to remember now.
11:35One may have been
11:36after Nuno,
11:37former Wolves boss,
11:37but,
11:38you know,
11:39because he's been
11:40a trusted figure to do so,
11:41you know,
11:41that's a massive gig
11:42to be given twice,
11:43isn't it?
11:43Looked after them
11:44in a cup final at Wembley.
11:46Someone reminded me
11:47this morning,
11:48and actually he actually
11:48had to front up to the press
11:50in press conferences
11:51around the time
11:51of the Super League debacle.
11:53If you remember going back
11:55however many years
11:56to that then,
11:57you know,
11:57it was,
11:58obviously it was tough
11:58on the managers
11:59to have to sit in the media
12:00and explain all that stuff
12:02where the top six clubs
12:03wanted to branch out
12:04to the European Super League
12:05and there was Ryan Mason
12:07at 29 or something,
12:08you know,
12:08just become the youngest
12:09ever Premier League manager.
12:10So,
12:12look,
12:12I think I sense this,
12:14I've been away
12:14for a couple of weeks,
12:15but I sense the tone
12:15of the Albion fans
12:16as to be one
12:17of real excitement
12:18and optimism
12:18and enthusiasm
12:20for this sort of
12:21fresh start,
12:21new start,
12:22you know,
12:23and that's good,
12:24isn't it?
12:24That's what's needed
12:25for an appointment
12:26like this
12:26and I'm really
12:28looking forward to it.
12:29I'm looking forward
12:30to working with Mason,
12:31seeing how the summer
12:33develops and recruitment-wise
12:34and,
12:35yeah,
12:35the start of the season,
12:36which isn't too long
12:37away now,
12:37is it, Nick?
12:38No,
12:38it certainly is not.
12:39A fresh start
12:40for Ryan Mason,
12:41fresh start
12:42for Nat Phillips,
12:43fresh start
12:43and fresh look
12:44for Lewis Cox.
12:45We've got all the
12:46Albion news to come,
12:47it's going to be
12:48an exciting few months
12:48and we'll be the first
12:49to bring you
12:50all the latest.
12:51Lewis,
12:51thank you very much.
12:52Thank you very much.
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