Krystian Bielik’s summer transfer from Birmingham City to West Bromwich Albion promised continuity—staying in the Championship and avoiding upheaval. However, the Poland international has found his time on the pitch limited since joining West Brom.
At Birmingham, Bielik was entrusted with the captaincy during their successful League One campaign. Yet, in the second half of that season, his influence waned, with other players stepping ahead of him. The arrival of Eiran Cashin, alongside Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann, further pushed Bielik out of the starting lineup, paving the way for his departure to Albion in mid-August.
West Brom’s defence already boasted centre-backs Chris Mepham, Nat Phillips, and George Campbell, creating fierce competition for Bielik. As a result, Bielik has started just once in the Championship and made a total of four appearances. His sole start came against Charlton Athletic, where West Brom was chasing a point and maintaining a clean sheet until Bielik was substituted in stoppage time. Shortly after, Charlton scored a 95th-minute winner.
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Joe Chapman, an Albion reporter, described Bielik’s situation as a “bit of a head scratcher” on the Keep Right On Podcast. He praised Bielik’s performance against Charlton and questioned head coach Ryan Mason’s substitution choices, noting that replacing Bielik so late in a goalless match seemed counterintuitive. Chapman also cited other puzzling tactical decisions, such as removing Mikey Johnston, who had contributed two assists in the first half, at halftime.
Despite these challenges, Chapman’s view remains positive about Bielik’s signing, emphasizing the player’s versatility in defence and midfield and suggesting he has been unlucky not to receive more opportunities. Bielik’s adaptability includes playing right-back and holding midfield roles, skills Albion could utilize more often.
As West Brom prepares to face Birmingham City at The Hawthorns, Bielik finds himself up against his former club. While both teams are closely matched on paper, Birmingham has recently gained momentum, whereas Albion has stumbled. A recent match against league leaders Coventry City illustrated this, with West Brom surrendering a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 following a crucial red card for Jayson Molumby.
Molumby’s suspension opens a midfield spot alongside Alex Mowatt, with Bielik in contention. However, Toby Collyer currently appears the preferred choice due to his mobility, something Bielik does not typically offer. Chapman remarked that while Mowatt excels with the ball, he lacks Molumby’s dynamic presence, which Collyer is more suited to replicate than Bielik.
For now, Bielik remains a figure of intrigue at West Brom—a talented player itching for consistent game time and a tactical puzzle for the coaching staff.