Kamil Grosicki is the latest name to be linked with a move to Derby County. The experience Polish international was released by West Brom this past summer. What can Derby fans expect from him if he were to sign? We spoke with Luke Hatfield, Digital Sports Journalist for the Express and Star and Shropshire Star to find out. He covers all the teams in the West Midlands. You can follow Luke on Twitter here!
Grosicki’s currently a free agent following his release at Albion. Why was he not offered a new deal?
Ultimately, It was probably a mixture of lack of game time and freeing up some funds for other moves this summer. It was fair to say things didn't quite work out as hoped for Kamil Grosicki and Albion, despite his good track record for previous clubs. He had a role to play in the Championship for them, but that didn't materialise in the top flight, and with him getting on a little bit and his wages quite high, I think the club were happy to let him go.
He signed an 18 month deal at West Brom but only made 17 appearances for the club. Why was that?
That came down to sheer competition in wide areas, along with him falling out of favour in the Premier League. Like I said, he did seem to show some form in the Championship, but having to compete with the likes of Callum Robinson, Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira made things difficult for him. When Albion went up, he still had those players to compete with, whilst also dealing with some managerial changes which went against him. He wasn't fancied at all under Sam Allardyce, and with Albion well stocked in wide areas for this season, it would've made little sense to keep hold of him.
He always stuck me as a very useful player. If he was on the outs at West Brom, how come there was no loan move for him?
Grosicki definitely is a useful player in the Championship, but Albion couldn't find a destination for him during transfer windows after he'd fallen out of favour. He was regularly linked with sides both home and abroad, but ultimately no deal materialised which crossed the line.
Are you surprised he still doesn't have a club?
Very much so. He's a great player at Championship level, judging by his level of production at previous clubs. The fact of the matter is, Albion are well stocked in his position, and from what I can tell the player has previously had pretty big wages. That might have added to the issues regarding him not finding a new club yet, but you can never be sure.
How would you sum up his time in The Hawthorns?
Underwhelming.
He promised when he first joined the club and played a fairly important role in getting the club up, but he was simply inconsistent at times, and not fancied in the Premier League. Following relegation, Albion have other players contracted who they favour, so it was an expectancy that he would go. There's been no mention of any bad behaviour or dislike regarding him, it just seems to be a matter of wrong place, wrong time with him. Every Albion fan accepts that, and the player probably does too - he'll be wished well by everyone at The Hawthorns.
What type of player is Kamil Grosicki?
A fast, forward-thinking winger with the ability to create chances and goals. Defensively, there may be a few question marks, but he always showed effort when I saw him in action and can produce in the second tier. I'd expect him to perform well at this level if he's given an opportunity to do so.
What are his strengths?
His biggest asset is his pace. He can burn by full-backs without an issue - and that makes him a real problem for a lot of teams to deal with. He's obviously got pedigree at Championship level too. He did phenomenally well at Hull, despite their struggles - that shows how good he can be.
What are his weaknesses?
Probably consistency and end-product, at times. Despite registering fantastic stats at Championship level previously - he too often struggled to deliver quality time after time for Albion, which can be frustrating. As a winger, he also lacks a little bit defensively, but I never felt like he completely left other teammates out to dry too often.
What is he like in the dressing room?
I'm not so sure on this one, but I've not heard of him causing any issues behind the scenes. He strikes me as someone who simply loves to play football, and focuses on that.
Derby are currently under a transfer embargo but can sign players under a certain threshold. Was Grosicki a high earner at WBA?
He was a high earner, but that was thanks to his previously high Premier League wages, which didn't reduce too much with Hull's drop into the second tier. He'll probably be understanding that post-COVID, he won't be earning quite the same amount of cash as he did previously though.
How can Derby get the best out of Grosicki?
I'd argue the best way to get him playing would be to have a manager show some trust in him and get him playing regular football. He showed inconsistency with Albion, but that felt like it came from the fact he was in and out of the XI and often brought on from the bench. Stick him on the left flank and get him running at defenders and he'll be a handy addition to most sides.
What would you expect from him this season if he signs for Derby County?
I'd expect him to have a big role to play, given the well-documented issues at the club right now. He's a senior pro, with a good amount of experience at Champioship level, Derby could do far worse than him.
Comments