New West Bromwich Albion manager Eric Ramsay has laid out his core philosophy of 'clarity' as he prepares for his first match in charge at The Hawthorns.
A New Era Begins at The Hawthorns
The 34-year-old coach, who signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Baggies this week, arrives from MLS side Minnesota United. There, he guided the club to its highest-ever points total and a fourth-place finish in the Western Conference in 2025, followed by a run to the conference semi-finals of the playoffs.
Ramsay, who previously built his coaching CV with Chelsea, Manchester United, and the Wales national team, faces an immediate challenge. His first game in the dugout will be against high-flying Middlesbrough tomorrow night, a side currently occupying an automatic promotion spot in the Championship.
'Clarity' in Style and Expectation
When asked to describe his management approach, Ramsay was unequivocal. "I'd like to use the word clarity," he explained, emphasising this as the foundation for both his leadership and the team's playing style.
"I want to be very clear with the players and I want the expectations to be very clear," Ramsay stated. "I want them to feel like it's absolutely clear as to what is expected of them and how the team is set up to win games. I want the fans to be in our stadium knowing what to expect."
He expanded that this philosophy translates directly to on-pitch performance, focusing on controlling games with and without the ball. Achieving this balance, he believes, will forge an incredibly competitive and self-assured team capable of challenging for victory every week.
Focus on the Immediate Challenge
Acknowledging the club's significant history and the accompanying expectation, Ramsay insisted his focus is squarely on the short term. "It doesn't pay to look backwards or forwards too far," he cautioned.
"I've got to look at how we tackle the next day and how we tackle Friday's game," he said, referring to the upcoming Middlesbrough fixture. "We need to trust everything we put into each session amounts to a really competitive team. I'll let the players know how important that is."
His immediate task is to instil that sense of certainty and confidence into his squad ahead of a crucial Championship encounter at a packed Hawthorns.
