Jay Rodriguez: Top 10 is aim again for West Brom
Tony Pulis has challenged his team to improve on their 10th-placed finish this season.
Summer signing Jay Rodriguez, who impressed on his debut last weekend, confirmed the Baggies boss set the target during a team meeting before the campaign.
Pulis knows he still needs a few more additions in the transfer window to mount another tilt at the top half but he’s confident he can get the numbers in to boost the squad.
And Rodriguez says there is also belief in the players already at The Hawthorns.
“We want to finish higher than last year,” he said. “That’s always the aim, to keep improving. We believe we can, and we’ll continue to work hard to do it.”
The striker has been impressed with the calibre of player he’s found at the club following his £12m switch from Southampton this summer.
“You only have to look at all the internationals at the club – there’s no shortage of those,” he said. “The quality of the squad is really good. And there are a lot of good young lads as well who look sharp.”
Rodriguez’s own form will play a big part in whether that top-10 goal is realised or not. Pulis hopes his new striker can add a goal-threat from open play this season, but the 28-year-old is keeping his own goal target close to his chest.
“I’ve got my own personal targets and goal tallies but I try to keep them to myself and just work towards them,” he said. “Football can change so quickly so I try to keep them realistic.
“I just try to get the maximum out of each week and each game.”
The new signing is starting to feel welcome in the West Midlands, especially after hundreds of fans queued up at The Hawthorns this week to meet him and fellow new boy Ahmed Hegazi at a signing session.
“It was really nice,” said Rodriguez. “Me and Ahmed enjoyed that.
“Most of them were probably here for Ahmed rather than me! But it was a nice feeling and a really nice welcome.”
