Ok thanks both, here we are then, from John Percy of The Telegraph :-
It is almost three months since West Bromwich Albion dropped out of the Premier League, but the Valérien Ismaël revolution is already in full swing.
He is sitting high up in the Hawthorns’ Smethwick End outlining his philosophy and vision for the future, and it instantly becomes clear that Albion’s new head coach means business.
Since his appointment in June, Ismaël has grabbed West Brom by the shirt collar and given the club an almighty shake, removing any lethargy and disappointment after relegation.
They start the Championship campaign on Friday against Bournemouth with Ismaël’s reputation high after taking Barnsley to the play-offs last season, utilising a relentlessly energetic, super-pressing approach which was the equivalent of a bludgeon to the senses of opponents.
West Brom will be one of the favourites to achieve promotion and under Ismaël, they aim to become a team nobody will want to face.
“It’s all about high-intensity on the pitch, being unpleasant for the opponent and giving everything for 90 minutes,†he says.
“In our stadium, with our fans, it has to be horrible for the opponent. We have to create an atmosphere of fear when they come here.
“Togetherness is very important and we need everyone. When one slips, we are dead - that is the motto.
“Only a few teams, like Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid, are able to dominate the opponent in possession. My teams are able to dominate any team with intensity, and it doesn’t matter who we are playing.â€
Ismaël is an impressive man, speaking with clarity and total conviction in his philosophy. A former centre-back in his playing days, at nearly 6ft 4in he is someone you want to keep happy.
He is also big on discipline, and made it clear days into his tenure that he would not tolerate any hangover from last season, when West Brom finished second-bottom with only five league wins.
Matheus Pereira, the Brazilian winger, has been frozen out in pre-season after informing the club of his desire to leave.
“We told the players very early on to forget what happened last season,†says Ismaël. “This is a restart for everyone. We are looking forward and it’s clear we need everyone in or out.
“When you are in, it’s 100 per cent. If you’re out, you’re out. We want to work with people who want to work with us and are proud to play for West Brom. This is what I want to see and the message is clear.â€
Ismaël will be 46 in September and has worked as a manager for nearly a decade, with a wide breadth of experiences.
He has fought for promotion in Germany with Vfl Wolfsburg II, guided Austrian club LASK to the round of 16 in the Europa League [where they were beaten by Manchester United] before last season’s remarkable turnaround of Barnsley.
“I believe in my philosophy and over the last two years I’ve played 100 games with it at every level from Champions League qualification, the Europa League group stage and Championship,†he says.
“It’s a journey as a manager. You start the work, you fail or get rejection, then stand up and go again to improve your skills.
“I always knew how difficult it was to do this job but you stay strong and true to yourself.
“I’ve learned so much already. The big difference as a player is that you’re focused on just yourself, staying fit and recovery. As a manager you are responsible for everyone else.â€
His achievements at Barnsley, losing narrowly over two legs in the play-off semi-final against Swansea, were inevitably going to attract interest from rival clubs.
Crystal Palace considered him in their managerial search before appointing Patrick Vieira, but it was West Brom who paid the £2 million compensation fee. Their commitment to him was underlined by the decision to offer a four-year contract.
“Barnsley was a successful story. It was always my dream to work in English football,†he says.
“It was the right choice and now West Brom is the next logical step forward for me as a manager.
“The intensity will not change, whether it is Barnsley or West Brom. The difference [here] is the squad and its quality. My expectation is that we will have more possession here than Barnsley.â€
Ismaël has inherited a squad with a blend of experience and emerging young talent, though some fans do have concerns over the depth.
He has high hopes for record £20 million signing Grady Diangana (“he has huge quality, it could be a massive season for himâ€) and midfielder Alex Mowatt (“the exact profile of player we needâ€), who signed from Barnsley on a free transfer.
Pre-season has been meticulously planned, with short training sessions lasting usually 45 minutes. His players have to be super-fit to play under him, while he expects total professionalism away from the club.
Ismaël is also very reliant on data and analytics, offering a fascinating insight into his philosophy.
“We play 3-4-3 and all the players - the three centre-halves, wing-backs, the No. 6 and front-three - need to hit numbers to make sure we have that intensity,†he says.
“The numbers will be total distance, high-speed and sprinting. After that you have another measure which is the player load.
“When I choose a player he must not drop below the average line. If they do, the question is are they injured or unfit, or do we need another one.
“This is my way to success and the good thing with the data is that you don’t need finance, or an agent telling you things, it’s about finding the right player for the position.â€
Ismaël has fully immersed himself into his new role. Days after his appointment he watched the documentary “Full Throstle†which details the history of the club. He has also met with representatives from The Albion Foundation, the club’s official charity partner.
He lives in nearby Sutton Coldfield, with his family - wife Karolina and daughters Lupita and Cataleya - remaining in Munich, though they are expected to attend the first home game against Luton.
The Ismaël revolution will be televised on Friday, as the 46-game slog begins. “It’s a tough, crazy, but interesting league. There are so many ways to play,†he says.
“Sometimes it’s just about set-pieces so we need to adapt and be flexible. We need to become a more complete team.
“We have the squad to do this and we’ll be completely ready against Bournemouth."