This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
West Brom are the team to beat at the moment and their dazzling display against Swansea evidenced their array of attacking talent.
As well as several clever key signings in summer, the addition of Slaven Bilic is looking like an inspired move as he has already got his team playing in his identity, and they are reaping the rewards as a result.
The Baggies keep the ball wonderfully well but the agility and speed with which they get the ball forward makes them so difficult to stop, and it wasn’t surprising that they had 19 shots against the Swans.
Players like Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira are clearly having fun on the pitch but the key difference now is they have a clinical finisher in Hal Robson-Kanu playing ahead of them.
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After losing Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez from last season it would have been a big worry of Bilic as to where the goals would come from, and that concern may have increased with the lack of form of signings Kenneth Zohore and Charlie Austin.
Those two have six league goals between them because they aren’t as suited to the free-flowing pacy style of the West Brom attack.
That’s where Robson-Kanu comes in. He plays off the shoulder of the last defender and is always ready to pounce, as his goal against Swansea evidenced.
The Wales international has displayed his quality in bursts previously in his career, but it is clear that having a manager who believes in him and plays towards his strengths is really paying off.
He has six goals in his last nine games and even credited the attitude of his manager for the team’s success, pointing to Bilic’s high standards as something which allows all the players in the squad to play to the best of their ability.
It was that style which has contributed to Bilic’s success at Croatia and West Ham previously in his career, with flair players like Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini thriving under him.
Now it is the Baggies who are benefitting from his methods, with young players like Kyle Edwards and Nathan Ferguson benefitting from his encouragement also, with the former also getting on the scoresheet on Sunday.
Looking at their current form it is difficult to see them slowing down, too, and that means Robson-Kanu could end up getting the goals to ensure the club return to the Premier League.
While the striker is performing very well, fans are enamoured with another man who is realising his potential under Bilic.