West Brom Appoint Eric Ramsay - Here’s Everything Baggies Fans Can Expect

West Brom Appoint Eric Ramsay - Here’s Everything Baggies Fans Can Expect

If West Bromwich Albion’s first away success since October 1st wasn’t enough to make Baggies fans jump for joy yesterday, then the announcement of Eric Ramsay as their new head coach might’ve sent them flying over the moon.

Eric Ramsay gets started as Albion boss today.

Just thought we'd remind you. 👊

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 12, 2026

A two-and-a-half-year deal was announced for the 33-year-old, who departs Minnesota United after two seasons in Major League Soccer. Officially marking him as the second youngest coach in the EFL Championship, after Southampton’s Tonda Eckert.

The second-tier outfit were previously close to penning a deal for the Loons boss last summer, but opted for Ryan Mason instead, and oh how they lived to regret that decision…

“Risky”, “gamble”, and “inexperienced” are words that have been thrown around the social media universe in the days leading up to Welshman’s appointment in the West Midlands, but anyone who knows Ramsay’s story will be aware this move is over a decade in the making.

Qualities that impress. 💪

Albion President and Sporting Director @AndrewMNestor on our new Head Coach. 💬 pic.twitter.com/FMS6RV1jtc

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 11, 2026

Low Possession, High Efficiency: Ramsay’s Tactical Setup

Ramsay’s tactical ideologies can be boiled down to two core pillars: low possession and few goals conceded.

Favouring a 5-4-1 formation out of possession (which is quite often the majority of the match), Ramsay sets up a formidable wall that is near indestructible, and it stays that way for the full 90.

Eric Ramsay's Minnesota (black shirts) setting out in a 5-4-1 formation from the get-go. Image credit: Apple TV.

The former Manchester United coach’s team was infamous for recording hilariously low possession percentages, averaging 38.9% across the season; however, the Loons would often be caught dropping as low as 27% in matchups against Inter Miami and NYCFC.

They won both of those games.

Defensive Pillars

From the get-go, it is all about frustrating the opposition. Ramsay’s Minnesota teams would often move in a way that said: “pass that ball around all you like, it's not going in our net”. He had a trusted group of five central defenders, who would make up the Loons’ back three week in, week out.

Together, Minnesota would make a total of 1,095 clearances in the 2025 MLS season, a league high. This included 190 from New Zealand international, Michael Boxall, 123 from young Argentinian starlet, Nicolas Romero, and 114 from the German machine, Morris Duggan, who often played together as a defensive trio.

Overall, Minnesota would go on to concede 39 goals in 34 regular-season matches last year, only Supporters’ Shield champions, Philadelphia, and MLS Cup runners-up, Vancouver, conceded fewer.

🇺🇸 Some stats around Eric Ramsay’s Minnesota Utd:

⚽️ Lowest possession in the league but still top half for touches in oppo box

🛡️ Second best defence in Western Conference & top 6 for goals scored

❌ Not long ball, bottom 20% for long balls

🥇 Most set piece goals #wba pic.twitter.com/r48cAitC3E

— Albion Analysis (@AlbionAnalysis) January 12, 2026

Flexible Flanks

A trio of sturdy soldiers guarding the net is partnered with hard-working, interchangeable wide men. Going forward in possession, Ramsay’s Minnesota transformed into a 3-4-2-1 formation, as the previous wingers slotted in behind the centre forward, and the wing-backs shifted into the midfield four.

Robin Lod, Joseph Rosales, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Joaquin Pereyra, and Anthony Markanich were all expertly diverse individuals who could play in multiple positions and take on multiple chores, typically paired up on either flank.

Whether sitting deep or joining in attacks, they would consistently play with precision and accuracy; in fact, only Orlando (31.9%) and Dallas (31.5%) had a better cross success rate than Minnesota (29.1%) last campaign, thanks to Lod and co.

Dead Ball Specialist

West Brom’s new man also embraces modernity, including trendy long throws into his play, too. Supporters at the Allianz Field became very adjusted to watching Boxall step up and hurl a ball into the box with his hands, then came a flick on, followed shortly by a goal. Of the 61 goals Minnesota scored in MLS last season, 24 were from a corner or long throw. For context, only 28 were from open play, so Baggies fans should expect their set-piece coach to be doing overtime during training.

Eric Ramsay's Minnesota (black shirts) gearing up for a long throw-in which would result in their second goal of the game. Image credit: Apple TV.

From this report so far, you might assume that, amongst all their defensive aggression and grit, there is little room for goals. You’d be mistaken.

Minnesota actually held an above-average goal record under Ramsay in 2025, making use of the little possession they had effectively. Mainly playing with a single centre-forward, goals are expected to come from the targetman, who can latch onto crosses and join in with counterattacks.

Large portions of a Ramsay-taught team’s goals will come from dead-ball situations, but having someone up top to reliably tuck them away is a must.

Three Steps West Brom Must Follow for Success

West Bromwich Albion require three things for Ramsay’s reign to be a success.

Firstly, a serious goalkeeper. It's a shock that the name Dayne St. Clair has eluded this article so far; the Miami-bound shot stopper played an overwhelming part in Minnesota’s triumphs since Ramsay arrived at the club, saving 76.2% of the efforts he faced in 2025.

Lying quietly in wait behind the Loons’ defence, before pouncing on attempt after attempt, if an attacker got past Minnesota’s deep line, then Canada’s No.1 was ready to save the day. For WBA, Josh Griffiths is beginning to pick up minutes at the club after a series of EFL loans have proven his worth.

The 24-year-old has shown signs of potential this season and was the difference in last weekend’s penalty shootout against Swansea, saving Bobby Wales’ spot kick at the death. It's expected the West Brom academy graduate will be given a chance to shine under Ramsay, benefitting from the Welshman’s arrival after a spell on the bench this winter.

🎶 There’s only one Josh Griffiths 🎶#WBA pic.twitter.com/qbZiHb5l6g

— AllAlbionFans (@AllAlbionFans) November 4, 2025

Secondly, clinical forwards. Minnesota overperformed their xG by five entire goals last season, because they simply took their chances. All of the MLS outfit’s top scorers had high goals per shot on target ratios, and without that confidence in front of the net, things could quickly turn sour in the Black Country.

Daryl Dike, Josh Maja, and Aune Selland Heggebø are all in contention to take that starting centre forward spot under Ramsay. The latter received the nod up top under Mason, which has seen the Nord score eight goals since August.

Dike will instantly get linked with Ramsay due to the pair's bright spells in MLS as player and coach, respectively, albeit half a decade apart. The former USMNT wunderkind wasn’t favoured at all by Mason, failing to start a single game under the now dismissed manager, playing 31 minutes from the bench. The former Barnsley star is the sort of profile Ramsay enjoys working with, thanks to his height, explosive play, and strength from set pieces.

Fresh. 💈@DarylDike pic.twitter.com/5kNXgWLzEe

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) January 8, 2026

Finally, West Brom must be mentally resilient. Minnesota were the third best MLS side away from home in 2025 for a reason, losing a lowly three of their 17 road games. The Baggies' form away from home is no secret, having lost 10 on the bounce under Mason.

Ramsay will instil a tolerance away from the Hawthorns, but also crack down on West Brom’s game management. Minnesota led at halftime on 13 occasions in the 2025 edition of MLS. They ultimately lost just one of those. The ability to see out a game is severely under-appreciated in football, and not many can master it, as it requires dedicated mental stamina.

Whether Ramsay enforces a similar style of play in the Championship is unknown; the coach had worked under plenty of different regimes at Manchester United, Chelsea, Swansea, and Wales, and has plenty of experience to pluck from.

His anticipated debut will be on Friday night, hosting promotion-chasing Middlesbrough in front of the Sky cameras. A chance to become an instant hit awaits should the 33-year-old handle the heat in a baptism of fire. If he rises to the challenge, Ramsay might just provide the spark that inspires West Brom’s cogs to start turning once again.