‘Smells a bit like the Bilic situation’ – Exclusive: Super Kev disagrees with Deeney’s WBA claim
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 disagrees with a claim made by Troy Deeney that Sam Allardyce will quit West Brom before the end of the month.
Speaking on talkSPORT earlier this week, the Birmingham-born Watford striker said: “If he doesn’t get three or four players in then he probably could walk by the end of this month.”
Big Sam has already made two new signings at The Hawthorns with Andy Lonergan coming in on a free transfer to replace LA Galaxy-bound Jonathan Bond and experienced Premier League attacker Robert Snodgrass arriving on a permanent basis from West Ham.
Deeney believes Allardyce will want more than that in order to keep Albion in the top-flight but ex-Baggies striker Phillips doesn’t take Big Sam as someone to baulk at a challenge.
When asked if agrees with Deeney, Phillips told West Brom News: “No, I wouldn’t have thought that would happen.
“I’d be very, very surprised if he was to walk away. He doesn’t seem like a quitter to me, let’s put it that way. He’s a very proud man.
“Yes, he’ll be hurting at the moment but it doesn’t help with the takeover situation and whether there are funds there. It smells a bit like the Bilic situation in the summer.
“But he has been given funds to bring Snodgrass in and I’m sure Sam would have gone in there before putting pen to paper with agreements in place that he has funds available and can bring in who he wants.
“I’d be very surprised if he walks away because I don’t see him being a quitter.”
Phillips is right, Allardyce would not have joined West Brom unless he was promised that funds would be available this month.
However, if the Albion were to break promises or not do what Big Sam expected, then Deeney could be right in suggesting he’d walk away.
But we really don’t see that happening.
West Brom have sacked and replaced one manager already and are unlikely to do it again any time soon.
It’s hard to see how any one manager can come in and keep this team up now when it’s so clear that the playing squad is not up to scratch for a Premier League survival bid.
Allardyce needs all the help he gets but we fear it still won’t be enough for the Baggies to stay up.
In other West Brom news, Albion have offered this key player a new £45,000-a-week contract.
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