‘I’d be desperate’ – Exclusive: Phillips suggests how West Brom players may be feeling right now
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has suggested that West Brom players would be “desperate” for the current season to resume at some point after the EFL was suspended last week until next month.
Due to the growing spread of coronavirus in the United Kingdom, the Premier League and EFL have suspended all matches until April 3.
However, that resuming action by that date could be seen as a tad optimistic as the scale of the pandemic grows each day.
There have been noises from certain people in football that the season should be made null and void, which would see Liverpool’s Premier League title bid derailed, as well as West Brom’s bid for automatic promotion.
Ex-Baggies forward Phillips says that would be a massive blow for Slaven Bilic and his men, who deserve promotion based on what they’ve managed so far this term.
“It will be very, very disappointing,” Phillips told West Brom News when asked about the impact of a potential cancellation of the season on his former club.
“They came so close last season after losing in the play-offs against Villa before bouncing back this season to look even stronger and, at times, it looked like they were going to run away with it.
“To be in the position they’re in with nine games left, I’m not saying they’re nailed-on to get promotion, but it’d be hard to bet against them with the football they’ve been playing.
“If I’m a player sitting in that camp now, I’d be desperate for the season to reconvene at some point so they can get it done and dusted.”
Everyone in the game simply needs to wait and see what is going to happen with the way the coronarivus is going to impact things.
As it stands, that April 3 date hasn’t changed but as the virus spreads and affects more people, it is bound to be discussed again by the Premier League and EFL.
Players simply need to sit tight and keep themselves fit and healthy in this time; there’s nothing else they can do.
In other West Brom news, Alan Shearer wouldn’t be happy to see Albion handed promotion amid the current coronavirus-enforced suspension of the leagues.