Exclusive: Bilic tipped to make WBA change v Spurs with suggestion star is unhappy – pundit
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 to see Matheus Pereira play in more of a free-role in the West Brom attack with fans concerned by Slaven Bilic continually playing the Brazilian on the right-wing.
Pereira, 24, tore the Championship to shreds last season by playing mainly as a central attacking midfielder behind a striker.
However, in the opening seven matches of the new Premier League campaign, the former Sporting CP attacker has been shoved out wide.
As seen in the images below, Pereira played more of a free role last season in the Championship while this term, the 24-year-old has been stuck out wide a lot more [WyScout].
Phillips believes Pereira may have asked Bilic to play him in his preferred role but ultimately, that decision will down to the manager.
“It might be something Pereira’s not quite happy with. He may have expressed his opinion to the manager but at the end of the day, you play where you’re told to play,” Phillips told West Brom News. “It could be one of those scenarios.
“But Pereira’s the kind of player you like to see drift a bit and get on the ball, make things happen and be a creator.
“That could be something to look at for the next game coming up.”
After the 2-0 defeat to Fulham on Monday, Bilic was quoted by the Birmingham Mail as saying that Pereira “wasn’t good enough” when asked why the South American was substituted off early.
The playmaker disappeared down the tunnel at Craven Cottage when he was hooked by Bilic, which suggests that he was frustrated by either his performance, him being played out wide or the fact he was taken off earlier than anticipated.
You can understand that frustration – us fans have felt it ever since football resumed in June.
Bilic needs to work hard on getting West Brom out of the rut they are in.
But we don’t see that happening this weekend against Tottenham.
In other West Brom news, Bilic could axe one player for a decisive match against Tottenham this weekend.
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