Young striker Reuben Reid wants to secure West Bromwich Albion place
Aug 29 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail
ALBION’s summer spending policy has seen a significant shift this summer.
Taking the signings of Youssouf Mulumbu and Gonzalo Jara out of the equation – who had been watched for 14 months as it turns out – Albion have been shopping more locally than in the past couple of years.
Tony Mowbray’s promotion side of 2007/08 was built around bargain buys from around Europe, as well as one or two bigger signings in England.
James Morrison, Craig Beattie, Chris Brunt and Luke Barnett cost in excess of £8 million and were blended in with the likes of overseas players Filipe Teixeira, Roman Bednar, Bartosz Slusarski, Carl Hoefkens, Pele (who came from Stoke and Southampton respectively), Tininho, Bostjan Cesar and Michal Danek.
That policy, although successful in getting the club promoted, was perhaps found wanting at a higher level, where several performers simply underachieved.
The over-riding ‘Buy British’ policy this season has seen the arrival of Simon Cox, Jerome Thomas, Joe Mattock, Reuben Reid and Shaun Cummings on loan.
Reid, who arrived from Rotherham, feels the club is offering a welcome chance to youngsters from lower levels.
“Any time a manager brings a player in they believe it’s going to strengthen the team or the squad,” said the 21-year-old, who scored 19 goals for Rotherham last year before completing a low-cost move during the summer.
“They will have looked at it and thought that bringing these players in, along with the foreigners, will help.
“If they can get a bargain there from the lower leagues, then they will do it.
