Guardian writers’ predicted position: 13th (NB: this is not necessarily Ian McCourt’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 13th

Odds to win the league (via Oddschecker): 2,000-1

It is only a few days since the Victoria & Albert museum’s doors closed on the first major retrospective of Alexander McQueen’s art. The exhibition was adorned with those how-do-you-walk-in-them armadillo boots as well as quotes from McQueen explaining his philosophy. There was one, however, that they missed out on. “Give me time,” he once said, “and I’ll give you a revolution.” It’s a maxim that could easily be applied to the work of Tony Pulis.

Under Alan Irvine, West Bromwich Albion had lost direction and when they trooped off the pitch at Stoke last Christmas with nothing to show for their efforts, they had lost seven in nine games.

That meant Irvine had won only four games in 19 attempts and only one point separated the Baggies from the sticky mud of the relegation zone. In his interview after that defeat, Irvine said he would concentrate on the game against West Ham United but by the time that came around four days later, he was gone and Pulis had been parachuted in to replace him. The club’s then technical director Terry Burton said of Pulis: “He made it clear that this position excited him and that he was eager to get back into the business of winning Premier League points, and there are few who know how to do it better.”

It was a prescient statement as under Pulis a team that were more ragged than a Dickensian orphan’s clothes reappeared looking suited and booted. As you would expect, most of the Pulis revolution took place at the back. Starting with the 1-0 win over Hull City on 10 January, West Brom kept 10 clean sheets in 18 games, more than any other Premier League club during that period. There were blips and glitches – see the four defeats in five league games in March and April for further details – but safety was achieved as it always is with Pulis. He is the manager who has never been relegated, a comfort-blanket fact that should give West Brom fans a warm glow inside after the boing-boing years of the 2000s.

There will be no relegation for the Baggies this time around but the success of their season will depend on their business in the transfer market. So far this summer, players such as Chris Baird, Graham Dorrans, Youssouf Mulumbu, Georgios Samaras and more besides, have been pointed in the direction of the exit door. Not all were regular starters under Pulis – a manager whose circle of trust is a small one – but with only three signings so far, their exit leaves the squad short, a fact that alarms even the players.

“When you look around the squad and you see how many people were there on Saturday and you see the bench … we’ve not got a lot of numbers,” Darren Fletcher said after the pre-season win over Swindon Town. “Gareth McAuley came off injured and it’s a case of whenever someone feels something there’s a panic because we are low on numbers. It is not ideal. We know the manager is desperate to change that. It needs to be done before we get into the season.”

Pulis did not disagree. “We need to bring players in,” he said. “[But] the important thing is that we get the right players. Don’t throw mud at the wall and hope that things stick … I’m not going to say how many [players we need] but it is quite a few.” That hoping-the-mud-will-stick approach is a perfect summation of last season’s fairly calamitous purchases so Pulis is right to be cautious.

His first signing, James McClean from Wigan Athletic, is a good one. When McClean first strutted on to the Premier League scene for Sunderland, his direct running and old-fashioned wing play was a joy to behold. Since then he has evolved into a more well-rounded player with a significant defensive aspect to his game, all of which means he should fit snugly into Pulis’s plans.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest James McClean has evolved into a well-rounded player who will be an asset for West Brom. Photograph: Matt West/BPI/Rex Shutterstock

The signing of Rickie Lambert is also a smart move by Pulis. His side were far too reliant last season on the brilliance of Saido Berahino – the 22-year old scored 20 goals in all competitions, 13 more than any of his team-mates – and on set pieces, the source of 23 of their 51 league goals (including penalties).

Lambert joins the club after an ill-spent season at Liverpool and the former Southampton striker sounded suitably fired up. “I feel as if I’ve got a point to prove to myself,” he said. “That’s always the biggest drive – yourself – and it will carry on being that way.”

The third and final signing is James Chester from Hull, whose adaptability should see him provide decent cover on the right-hand side of the backline.

McClean will add width and speed but Pulis knows that he needs more and that is why Bakary Sako, who was available on a free from Wolverhampton Wanderers, was one of his top targets. The summer-long game of kiss chase between these two failed, however, to end in an embrace as the France-born Mali international joined Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

His signature and skills would have been a boon for Pulis but now the manager must take another look at Matt Phillips. Queens Park Rangers value him at £10m but it is arguable whether West Brom should pay that much for a player reportedly eager for a swift return to the top flight.

Apart from another winger, Pulis will want another goalkeeper, given that Ben Foster is out until at least October and that there are questions around Boaz Myhill and his ability to command his box. There have been confirmed inquires as to the availability of Cardiff City’s David Marshall, but as yet nothing has come of them. The manager may also want more cover at the back and, given last season’s poor return of the club’s record signing, Brown Ideye, another striker. Of course, the biggest signing of the season may be internal should Berahino be convinced to reject the overtures of others.

Rickie Lambert had an unhappy time at Liverpool but will be a threat up front for West Brom. Photograph: JMP/Rex Shutterstock

One of the recurring accusations levelled at Pulis is that watching his side can be anything but easy on the eye. That was true of his time at Stoke but not so much of his time at Crystal Palace. At Selhurst Park he added an exciting counterattacking touch to his tried and trusted approach of hard work, organisation and discipline. Keeping Berahino to play alongside Lambert (in the same way Marouane Chamakh and Cameron Jerome combined), as well as getting his hands on Phillips – or possibly Nottingham Forest’s Michail Antonio – would logically see Pulis revert to those tactics and should ease supporters’ legitimate fears about the lack of style on show at the Hawthorns.

West Brom have a tough opening to the campaign with games against Manchester City (home), Watford (away), Chelsea (home) and Stoke (away) and a run of opening defeats could dissuade intended targets from signing up. However, should these players fail to arrive, there will be no need to panic. Pulis will still be able to drive his side to safety. But his ultimate aim, of reinventing the club as a top-10 side, will surely remain unfulfilled this season. But give him time, he will get them there.