Premier League 2017/18: 5 Talking Points from gameweek 13

#2 West Bromwich Albion to still play with Pulis' mentality

Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League

West Brom's decision to dismiss Tony Pulis was as intriguing as it was expected. The Welshman left the Black Country club lingering above the relegation zone and it was a 4-0 defeat to reigning champions Chelsea which confirmed his sacking.

Gary Megson has since taken over as interim manager as West Brom eye a new manager, so naturally, much of the Pulis way of playing was still embedded within the approach to this weekend's 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

Perhaps we are to be surprised in the coming days, or weeks, and will see an attacking, young and innovative manager at the Hawthorns but the team's dedication to a specific way of playing this Saturday just reiterated that, like Crystal Palace did, West Brom will struggle to move away from their robust, defensive style of football championed by Pulis.

Tottenham had a remarkable 72.5% possession in the game at the weekend, having a total of 25 shots in the game as a whole. Moreover, West Brom were forced into an incredible 41 clearances compared to Tottenham's 9, which outlines that this was yet again a typical West Brom approach to the game.

Now obviously, playing against Tottenham and having lost their manager less than a week ago, drastic changes were not expected of West Brom, but the game was symbolic for the fact that the decision to remove Pulis from his post may not have been the best one.

The club are likely to employ a manager with a similar tactical, defensive set-up because this is what the playing staff are suited to. Given that Pulis himself has never been relegated and it seems that the club are not even looking to alter the playing style, it seems that appointing a new manager will not improve the Baggies' situation at present, at all.