Tony Mowbray's final West Brom words: Big decisions, recruitment structure and a squad lacking

Inside another half hour he was dismissed by Albion chairman and owner Shilen Patel, who wanted to do so face-to-face as a mark of respect for the 61-year-old.

Really, it was a decision that had been coming and probably did not come as the biggest surprise to head coach Mowbray, who has been in the game long enough to see many things.

He gave a fascinating range of answers during his final dealings with the media. He spoke candidly and was typically respectful to all questions that came his way.

Here is a round-up of Mowbray's final revelations from The Hawthorns.

1 A squad lacking personality and leaders

Mowbray was not shy as he described his team as lacking courage and big character in their pitiful defeat against the Rams. Mowbray also let slip within summer talk that out-of-contract duo Grady Diangana and John Swift would depart.

"I felt they lacked a little bit of courage on the ball to play," Mowbray said. "Before the game today I could feel it. A bit like 'what is it going to be like on the pitch today?'

"You need big characters when things are tough and a bit tricky.

"I think the summer is huge for this club with the changes that will be coming. Recruitment has to be right. You have to sign players with personality and character and a hunger to get to the top.

"I think that's the key to everything. I think the summer's crucial. When you think of players who are not here, starting with the loan players and then there are three or four out of contract.

"I just feel we need to sign some personality, character, confidence who will play the way I believe West Bromwich Albion will play.

"I think it will be a fresh start because of the number of people who will be leaving. It won’t be the fans having a look and seeing one or two signings, I’m assuming it’s five or six signings potentially – it’s half a team of signings coming into the building, I would think."

2 Recruitment structure

"I don’t know anything about recruitment to be honest. I don’t know, I haven’t got a clue what budgets are, which players they’re looking at, which players they might sign. I’m assuming that the head coach will coach the players they sign, I think."

That was Mowbray's response when asked about funds being available to spend this summer. It told of an assumption he would only play an at-best fringe role in signing players. Sporting director Andrew Nestor said recently the head coach would be involved.

"Well, if I’m here and I’m doing it, yeah, you would think so (fit in line with his methods). In this moment, we’ve not had any discussions so I’m not sure. I think the club are thinking, let’s get this season done, let’s see if we could’ve made the play-offs," Mowbray said just prior to his sacking. "Obviously now we can’t."

"I don’t know whether conversations will start now or whether they’ll make decisions themselves.

"I have had a few chats with them about what are you looking for, where are the holes, if you see the holes I’ll tell you where I see the holes in the team and if we want to play a certain way."

3 How Mowbray felt about the structure above him

Mowbray reflected on how things have changed from his spell as manager 18 years ago - where he picked, coach, bought and sold players - to now, as head coach.

"That’s how it happened but I don’t do that anymore, I coach the players I’ve got, really," he said. "That’s not a criticism of anybody, I think that’s just modern-day football.

"I think the real issue is that the manager should be able, from the resources that he’s been given, to pick the team he wants to pick. So, just because someone costs £5million, £10m or £20m, if the manager doesn’t want to put him in the team, he should be given the right to pick the team."

4 Fans' frustration

It was a sparse crowd around The Hawthorns yesterday. The attendance given was 25,000 but it was nowhere near that and in reality probably closer to 20,000.

By full-time that has been decimated but the jeers were still audible. They certainly were at half-time.

"I fully understand it, I think the fans have been amazing," Mowbray said. "So, yeah, how do I feel? I feel disappointed for them, I feel disappointed for the players. I think we all have to search inside. 

"I’ve told them what I think is missing, the players have to get together in that dressing room and root it out, really, and make sure they turn up in the next two appearances. Then let’s see what the summer brings for everybody."

5 Characters 'get the job done'

While Mowbray did not have many positive things to say about his squad's character and personality just before his sacking, he did talk up Bartley as a prominent voice in the dressing room.

But midfielder Jayson Molumby, who has been suspended for the last three games, was also referenced by the head coach in his final interview.

Irishman Molumby's energy was very popular with Mowbray and though supporters have some question of the midfielder's discipline, the outgoing boss said the squad needs more characters of his ilk.

"I’m not saying I’m anything other than just a football coach doing his very best, but if I can’t inspire them enough to find the energy, the drive and the intensity required to win some football matches over the last few games, it’s either the coach or the team," Mowbray said. 

"From my perspective, hopefully it’s the team because there are some gaping holes in the squad that need to be replaced in the summer. And it shows you, potentially if Molumby’s lack of legs and athleticism and grit and determination are missed so much in three games, if we can add another few of them. 

"You don’t need a whole team of them, you don’t need 10 of them, you maybe need three or four of them in your team and five or six of them in your squad – those players who are desperate to get better, are desperate to play in the Premier League.

"That’s how I see football, you recruit personality and character just as much as talent.

"It’s character that gets the job done, I think. But you need to have the talent and quality as well."

6 Bany aspirations

Danish attacker Tammer Bany, a £3.3m purchase, has been knocking on the door for a start but suffered for one or two muscle injuries of late.

Mowbray was a fan of the attacking midfielder and hoped he would be fit to feature against Cardiff or Luton. He has also needed time to adjust to the discipline and demands of the Championship, compared to the Danish Superliga.

"I think he’s ready now, he understands from being around training," Mowbray said. "Even if he’s doing some rehab, he watches and sees what’s expected. I think he’ll be a positive for us.

"What position? Probably a number 10 off the striker, yet Maja comes deep. If you’re going to marry players together, I’m not sure that’s a marriage with both coming to the ball. Then that’s what coaches do, they have to figure that out really."

7 Dike 'stuck in a cycle' 

Striker Daryl Dike is heading into the final year of his Baggies deal and after nightmare injuries is not ready to train each day.

Mowbray said he prefers a high-intensity forward line and Dike does not fit into that mould. Mowbray questions whether the American could get through more than the first half of a game.

"If I’m wanting to play a game with intensity and pressing and denying the opposition the ball, Daryl’s not - in my opinion - at the level fitness-wise to help the team," the former head coach said.

"He’s stuck in a cycle of how do you get him what I would call match fit. At the moment, it’s cameos. So, if he started a game, when would he be coming off?

"Daryl Dike, in my mind, he’s a substitute. I need to see him do a full pre-season. I need him to show me aerobically he can do what he has to do. Because it’s not in my mind about Daryl Dike, it’s about the team trying to win football matches."