‘Things need to change’ – Exclusive: Phillips reacts to major Bilic development at West Brom
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 wants West Brom to show more patience with manager Slaven Bilic amid speculation that his job at The Hawthorns is under threat.
Since losing 2-0 at Fulham on Monday, The Telegraph has reported that Albion chiefs will be forced to make a decision on Bilic’s future if the side suffers a “heavy defeat and poor performance” against Tottenham on Sunday.
West Brom have not won any of their seven Premier League matches since winning promotion and currently sit just two points clear of bottom-placed Sheffield United.
While Phillips understands why West Brom might want to get rid of Bilic due to their awful run of form, he is hopeful the Croatian manager will be handed the time to turn things around.
“Sometimes it can become very difficult but I wouldn’t like to see him go at this precise moment. I’d like to see him stay for longer to try and turn it around,” Phillips told West Brom News. “But it just wouldn’t surprise me [if he went].
“I sat and watched the Fulham game with a West Brom fan and he was disappointed with the result but more disappointed with the performance.
“There are obviously worrying signs there.
“Unfortunately, football is football. It’s a results industry and if you’re not getting results in the Premier League then all of a sudden you can find yourself out of a job.
“Let’s hope that Slaven gets given the time and he can turn around but things need to change really quick.”
If Bilic’s management really the problem at West Brom?
While there are some alarming signs with the club’s dismal form and the more-than-dismal display at Fulham on Monday, there’s no getting away from the fact that this squad of players is not good enough to stay in the Premier League.
Not one of the players in Bilic’s squad was playing in the Premier League last season and most of the players with Premier League experience were left out of the starting line-up at Fulham.
While we agree that Matt Phillips and Kieran Gibbs don’t deserve a spot in the team based on things like poor form and ill-discipline, maybe it’s time for some of the more experienced heads to come in and try to help West Brom dig themselves out of this rut.
Unfortunately, a match against Tottenham this weekend is less than ideal with Jose Mourinho’s side bursting out of the blocks this season.
We’re genuinely terrified about what Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale can do to this Baggies defence.
In other West Brom news, Guochuan Lai may have handed the Albion ownership over to someone else.
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