Final Word

Sunday's 3-3 draw with Newcastle secured the club's highest league placing in 30 years and the manner of the comeback has left many fans heading off into the summer recess on a high looking forward positively to August. A special mention also for the unpredictable Somen Tchoyi who signed off his first English campaign with a hat trick, only the second one in Albion's Premier League history. All that's left to do now is reflect on those players who made a contribution to this ultimately successful season and this has been duly done by ranking them in order of their effectiveness.

Mulumbu - 9 Man of the season, consistent, energetic, productive. The essential element of any reasonably successful team.

Odemwinge - 9 Superb return of 15 goals. Lively, pacey, dangerous. At last a striker to put fear into top flight defenders. Hot streaks at start and end of season.

Brunt - 8 Dip in form coincided with team slump. Creative, conductive and provides balance. Established Premier League player now.

Thomas - 8 Rehabilitation complete. Essential outlet, respected by opponents and constant threat. Increased productivity would launch him into higher echelons of league.

Scharner - 7 Inspirational, simple and missed when unavailable. Won over fans with commitment and maintained impressive record of keeping his sides up.

Olssen - 7 Usual committed self who was often charged with plugging a leaky defence. Comfortable with distribution and provide left side balance.

Shorey - 7 Fought off Cech for preferred role. Steady, competent and generally error-free. One of several who produced best at start and end of season.

Reid - 7 Injury free enough to be influential when it mattered. Combative, experienced and displayed leadership credentials. Questions on mileage left.

Morrison - 6 Delivered periodically yet stamina always a question. Great individual goals and some inspirational displays. Often substituted.

Carson - 6 Mixed season. Errors highlighted and often round the corner. Yet fought off Myhill and mid season dip to make some vital contributions.

Jara - 6 Not sure of best position. On day can easily perform at this level. Prone to off days and getting targeted by pacey wingers.

Tamas - 6 Can look the part and give classy performances. Has been integral to a leaky defence and errors often prove costly. Lot to prove next year.

Cox - 6 Limited, fighter, enthusiastic. Impressed with desire to make the grade. Had to drop back to find a role but delivered one of season's best goals.

Myhill - 5 Did little wrong when given chance but not impressive enough to retain place. Interestingly to see where he fits in if a summer keeper reshuffle happens.

Meite - 5 Out in cold for most of season but returned late to make some important contributions. Unfortunately old habits returned to mar end.

Dorrans - 5 Issue plagued season which only flourished for a small segment in the middle. Showed enough to compete at this level but needs to re-establish influence.

Tchoyi - 5 Inconsistent, unpredictable and frustrating. Looked to have all the components but influence faded prior to end of season bang.

Cech - 5 Combination of injury and inconsistent form conceded much of season to Shorey. Still enough quality and experience to figure in future.

Vela - 5 Two critical contributions created impression but probably did very little in loan spell to further career. Increasing used sporadically towards the end.

Fortune - 4 Disappointing return. Lost the spark of previous spell with positive characteristics missing. Likely to face increased competition in future.

Ibanez -4 Lacklustre, content, mediocre. No desire to compete. Content to live on pedigree with little desire to impress. Lots of questions to be asked.

Also figured but insufficient contribution to be assessed - Miller, Thorne, Barnes, Hurst, Zuiverloon.

So that completes my focus on West Brom's 2011 relegation battle, although some might say that with all the carnage and tension surrounding survival Sunday, it probably wasn't really a battle. Not something I expected to say when commencing this little project in February.

See you again