Exclusive: Kevin Phillips slams struggling player who West Brom ‘Fought hard’ to sign
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 slammed Grady Diangana’s form since returning to West Brom from West Ham for a club-record deal in September.
Diangana, 22, shone in the Championship last season, scoring eight goals and supplying seven assists in 30 league appearances to help the Baggies win promotion to the Premier League.
However, the £18million summer signing has struggled to make an impact in the top-flight and has even found himself an unused substitute in two of West Brom’s last three matches.
Other than his wonderful solo-goal against Everton in September, it is hard to think of any stand-out moments by the ex-West Ham winger.
Ex-Albion striker Phillips has suggested Diangana’s struggles might have stemmed from his injury issues last season in the Championship but still wants to see a lot more from the Black Country club’s most expensive player.
“He spent a fair bit of last year out of the team with injury and when he came back he didn’t really hit the ground running,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“His form since coming back from injury last season hasn’t been great. He hasn’t set the world alight.
“They fought hard to get him in the summer and West Ham’s supporters were surprised they let him go.
“It could be one of those where he comes out of the side, sits on the touchline but if Diangana’s going to play, he needs to step up. But not just him, it’s every West Brom player who needs to put in a performance to try and take the pressure off their manager.”
Diangana is one of many players at The Hawthorns who has struggled to cope with the step up from the Championship to the Premier League.
Slaven Bilic pushed hard to re-sign his 2019/20 loan stars in the last transfer window with Diangana, Callum Robinson, Matheus Pereira and Filip Krovinovic all returning to The Hawthorns.
Bilic has found himself under pressure for a series of poor results and poor performances. While many fans will point to the lack of financial support he had from owner Guochuan Lai, the Albion manager did actually sign the bulk of players he wanted.
Unfortunately, only buying players who did well in the Championship means that you end up with a very good Championship squad. Not a squad that could keep you in the Premier League.
In other West Brom news, fans tore this player to shreds for his performance against Newcastle.
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