Season Preview: West Brom

Overall Outlook - As Jeremy just called them in our IM stream about the last few teams in our season preview series, they are "the Darren Huckerby of teams" and sadly that isn't a compliment despite Huckerby's status as both an EPL fantasy favorite when he was with Norwich and more recently an MLS fantasy favorite in his first year at San Jose.  That said, the reference is to a player, or in this case team, who just treads water.  The players are largely the same as the last time we saw WBA in the Prem.  They are mostly veterans and there is little reason to think they're suddenly going to step up their level after being cast off from bigger clubs and finding their level at the top of the Championship and the bottom of the Prem.  Guys like Nicky Shorey, Luke Moore, James Morrison, Roman Bednar, and the like just aren't going to take you anywhere and sadly for fantasy managers, they also aren't likely to put up many exciting numbers for you.  Despite their veteran presence, you have to think this group is bound directly back from whence they came.

Koren surprised by exit

Robert Koren has admitted he was surprised that West Brom decided not to keep him at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies confirmed earlier on Monday they were releasing Koren after opting against taking up the further year's option on his contract.

It was expected West Brom would keep hold of the attacking midfielder as they prepare for life back in the Premier League, but Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo has decided to let him move on.

I'm thinking this is the club rallying around Dorrans, who has already been subject to a transfer offer from West Ham. Though there is also bad blood between he and Di Matteo.  Strops after being substituted, complaints about where he was being played on the pitch, etc.

Koren is a bit old in the tooth at 29, but if he has a good World Cup for Slovenia I could see him being snapped up by a Premier League club. Perhaps Newcastle or Villa will look to him as cover for Nolan or Milner, respectively.