View: West Brom can avoid signing £60k/wk flop if underused 31y/o shines against Blackpool
West Brom play Blackpool in the FA Cup third round on Saturday and an impressive showing from Kieran Gibbs could have significant consequences.
The 31-year-old has struggled for form and game time since promotion, featuring just six times this season.
He was out of favour under Slaven Bilic but was preferred by Sam Allardyce before he picked up an injury in the warm-up against Arsenal.
Speculation has risen in recent days suggesting the Baggies could make a move for Tottenham’s Danny Rose, so Gibbs has to prove the £60,000 a week player is not needed.
And the match against Blackpool provides the perfect opportunity to do that – we don’t think the Tottenham flop is what the Baggies need at the moment.
The Seasiders may not share the quality of West Brom’s Premier League opponents, but the fixture at Bloomfield Road presents its own set of difficulties.
Pressure will be on the away side after just two wins in 18 games, particularly as they were defeated by lower league opposition in the Carabao Cup.
Gibbs will likely be one of the most experienced players to feature, however, so Big Sam will be expecting the left-back to lead by example.
The Baggies manager has already explained how important a player’s character is, and that is an area where Gibbs could make a strong impression.
Additionally, the full-back can boast that he has not been dribbled past this term, while WyScout stats show he has averaged 6.4 interceptions per game.
However, against Blackpool Allardyce will likely be looking at Gibbs’ attacking ability, too.
The former Arsenal player has averaged two progressive runs per game but he has been ineffective in creating chances, due in part to the style of play limiting his role.
If he can show that side to his game against Blackpool the manager’s faith in him should increase, and potentially lead Allardyce to focus his transfer funds away from Rose and on other more pressing areas of the squad.
In other West Brom news, a lot of supporters have been expressing delight at the possible loan exit of a Slaven Bilic signing.