West Brom Turmoil: Why Tony Mowbray Blamed Daryl Dike in Brutal Exit Bombshell

Tony Mowbray’s final words as West Bromwich Albion head coach were filled with brutal honesty, particularly towards striker Daryl Dike. 

Following a poor run of form that saw Albion slip out of the play-off picture, Mowbray lifted the lid on the hidden struggles that plagued his tenure.

Addressing the media for the last time, Mowbray made it clear that the club’s ongoing attacking issues were heavily influenced by Dike’s persistent fitness problems. Despite widespread calls from fans to start the American forward, Mowbray insisted that Dike was simply not physically ready for the demands of Championship football.

The head coach explained that Dike’s inability to train consistently meant he was never match-fit. Albion scored just four times in their last six matches under Mowbray — a damning statistic that underpinned the frustrations felt inside The Hawthorns.

“The issue I have with Dike is he doesn’t train every day. He has two or three days where he doesn’t do any training,” Mowbray said. “If I’m wanting to play a game with intensity and pressing and denying the opposition the ball, Daryl’s not – in my opinion – at the level fitness-wise to help the team.”

Having battled back from an Achilles injury, Dike was expected to lead the line, but recurring niggles and a failure to complete full training sessions left him far from match sharpness. Mowbray admitted he saw the striker only as a late-game option, given his inability to maintain intensity beyond half an hour.

It was not just Dike who presented problems. Mowbray was also forced to rely on Adam Armstrong and teenage prospect Will Lankshear, both of whom struggled to deliver goals. Josh Maja, another forward option, did not play a single minute under Mowbray due to injury.

Mowbray’s vision of a high-intensity, pressing game plan simply could not come to fruition with a centre-forward unable to lead the charge. It ultimately contributed to West Brom’s steady slide down the table, sealing Mowbray’s fate.

Dike’s performance against Derby County — where he failed to have a single effort on goal — symbolised the difficulties Mowbray faced. Fans were left frustrated, questioning decisions, but behind the scenes, the reality was far grimmer than it appeared from the stands.

Site Opinion

Mowbray’s blunt verdict on Dike lays bare a key issue often hidden from supporters — the chasm between player fitness and tactical ideals. While the fanbase clamoured for Dike’s inclusion, Mowbray was operating with severely limited options. As Albion prepare for yet another managerial reset, the new boss will need a fit and firing striker or risk facing the same fate. Solving the squad’s physical fragilities is now a top priority if promotion ambitions are to be revived.