Alan Irvine: No coast for West Brom at Saints

West Brom boss Alan Irvine is not a man who buys into the narrative of Southampton's summer tragedy.

The Baggies head coach takes his team to St Mary's tomorrow to face a club who have appeared in many a recent headline – most of them above stories detailing the departure of key players.

A whopping £95m worth of talent was sold, much of it to Liverpool, comprising 72 per cent of their goal threat last season. No wonder the Saints were many a pundit's tip for the drop before a ball was kicked.

But Irvine has noted with interest the players who have arrived on the south coast, among them England back-up keeper Fraser Forster, Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand and former Albion hitman Shane Long in a big money deal from Hull City.

After the new-look Saints gave Liverpool a run for their money in a 2-1 defeat last week, he is cautious.

"Having been at Anfield last Sunday and watched how well they played and watched how many chances they were able to create at a really difficult place, I think they can more than survive," he said.

"I think they could have a very good season. I think they have spent the money very wisely.

"Not many teams go to Anfield and make it go quiet, but that certainly happened during periods of the game. I believe it (St Mary's) will be a very tough place for teams to go."

Long – whose £12m move just months after leaving Albion for almost half the price raised many an eyebrow – did not start at Anfield, but Irvine remains wary.

"I think he is a very good player for a start," he said. "You are quite right that sometimes former players come back to haunt you.

"We have just got to make sure if Shane does play from the start that we are ready to cope.

"We know all about him and the qualities he possesses. Hopefully that gives our defenders the edge."

Most of the headlines might have been at Southampton, but it has been a significant summer of change at The Hawthorns too.

Irvine is beginning to see his squad grow in strength as players such as Gareth McAuley and Joleon Lescott progress in their recovery while new faces including £10m man Brown Ideye and Jason Davidson get up to speed.

"The good news is when we started training yesterday, every player in the squad was there," said Irvine.

"That included Joleon, though he only did the first part of the session which is what was planned for him and then went and joined the fitness coach.

"Last week we had good numbers of senior players train and this week we have had even better senior players train."

The players appear to have impressed the new head coach with their attitude.

After skipper Chris Brunt praised Irvine and his staff for lifting spirits from "rock bottom" it is perhaps another sign of a renewed camaraderie in the camp.

"I have heard throwaway lines from people saying: 'I didn't expect to see him out on the training ground after training had finished' and things like that," said Irvine.

"It is up to us to create the environment where people want to stay."