Vital Rondon Goals Helping to Silence Early Season Sceptics

There was cause for apprehension when West Brom broke their transfer record for a second successive summer. 18 months ago, the Baggies parted ways with a reported £10m to secure the services of Brown Ideye. A little over a year later, the striker moved on to pastures new, leaving for Greek champions Olympiacos after a thoroughly disappointing season at the Hawthorns. 

The money recouped from Ideye’s departure helped to cover the initial £12m paid to secure Salomon Rondon’s services a little over two weeks before the former’s departure. Rondon’s capture usurped Ideye as West Brom’s club record signing, but Baggies supporters were understandably wary of getting their hopes up following the Venezuelan's arrival. 

Ideye boasted the physical attributes to succeed in the Premier League, and more importantly establish himself as a first team regular in a Tony Pulis system. However, to say he flattered to deceive would be an understatement. The 27-year-old looked incredibly out of his depth in English football and it was little wonder that West Brom cut their losses last year. Initially, Rondon looked to be following a similar path as the former Baggies striker. 

While an imposing figure in attack, the 26-year-old appeared cumbersome for the Baggies. Despite his standing, Rondon was regularly eased out of possession, while his inability to really pressurise the opposition defence was cause for concern. The Venezuela international boasts an aerial success rate of just 34.8% in the Premier League this season, a poor return given the frontman stands at 6’1”. 

Rondon may have impressed in the Russian Premier League during his time at Zenit St. Petersburg, but like Ideye; he looked to have been found out to a degree in England. Seven goals may render him West Brom’s top scorer in the Premier League this season, but for the money paid to bring him to England, the Baggies may well have expected more from their record signing. 

However, they have been getting their money's worth of late. Of the seven league goals the frontman has scored this season, four have come in his last six appearances. The turn of the year has been a turning point for a number of the Premier League’s previously underwhelming performers. Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas are two whose performances have significantly improved in 2016, with Rondon in illustrious company. 

His Premier League WhoScored rating in 2015 was a disappointing 6.58, but that has significantly improved to a still modest 6.84 in 2016. Since the beginning of February – the time his mini-goalscoring run began – his rating stands at a respectable 7.15, a notable upturn given only a handful of teams have scored fewer goals than West Brom (30) in England’s top tier this term. 

Impressively, though, has been the impact Rondon has made during what have been relatively few goalscoring outings. His seven goals have won West Brom 10 points, netting the only goals of the game in wins over Stoke, Norwich, Everton and most recently Manchester United. Without Rondon’s seven goals, the Baggies would currently sit 16th in the Premier League, just five points above the relegation zone, rather than one point off the top half of the table. 

After his early season critics, Rondon looks to finally be silencing his doubters, coinciding with West Brom’s recent good form that has propelled them to safety. After parting ways with such a hefty fee, there was reason to be cautious over his impact, but Rondon’s performances of late have helped ease fears over a potential relegation battle. 

Having improved his fitness after struggling with the physical demands of English football initially, Rondon is finally proving himself to be the ideal battering ram for Pulis in attack. Capable of operating as the lone frontman for the Baggies, providing necessary the focal point, he also boasts the ability to run the channels to add further pressure on the opposition and another outlet for West Brom. 

With the campaign now at its business end, West Brom will need Rondon to maintain his goalscoring outings in order to better their record points haul of 49 in the Premier League. If his recent performances are anything to go by, the Venezuelan will be spearheading the West Brom attack in England’s top tier once more next term.

Do you think Salomon Rondon can maintain his recent good form? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below