And defender says Premier League nous of new boys will help them bed in quickly
JONAS Olsson believes Albion’s new-look squad is one of the best he has seen in his time at the club ahead of Saturday's game against Sunderland (ko 3pm).And he is confident, although several of the new signings did not arrive until late in the transfer window and need time to settle into the team, many of them already have Barclays Premier League nous to make the transition easier.
“I’m sure if you asked the gaffer he would have wanted them in for the start of pre-season,” said Olsson, who himself joined the Baggies on the penultimate day of the 2008 August transfer window.
“Pre-season is there for getting in physical condition but also for preparing the team for the way you want to play in the new season.
“So it’s not ideal but it’s like that for all clubs.
“I came in late in a transfer window and I was happy to be in England - but it’s not ideal.
“In an ideal world you have a pre-season with the whole team, but the players we brought in like Victor, Sess and Scott have all played in the Premier League, so that transition is easier.
“Sessesgnon is a very good player. I remember him from playing against Sunderland and he was always a test with his speed.
“He has qualities that are very important and that very few players have, with his speed and his ability one on one.
“He showed that at Sunderland and, with Scott and Stephane coming in, we have players with qualities that we didn’t have.
“There is definitely still confidence. We’re just four games in and of course we would have wanted more points but I am very confident.
“We have a great squad and I’m sure we will do well.
“It’s important to get a good result on Saturday but I think the squad we have this year, compared to the squad we’ve had in other years I’ve been here, is one of the best.”