Exclusive: Phillips slams West Brom senior player, baffled by transfer decision
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…
Former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips is baffled by Albion’s failure to sign a new centre-back in the January transfer window.
Sam Allardyce and technical director Luke Dowling welcomed a number of new players last month and on transfer deadline day last week but none of the new recruits will be slotting into the Albion back-line.
Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga, who can play at centre-back or right-back, was linked with a loan move to The Hawthorns at the latter stages of the transfer window [Express & Star].
Phillips does not believe he would have helped out Big Sam’s rearguard too much as he was furious with the way his former club defended against Fulham in the 2-2 draw last month.
“Tanganga is another good young player but I’ve only seen him play as a right-back. He’s done a good job there. But for him to come in as a centre-half, I’m not so sure that would’ve been the answer,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“I watched the way they defended against Fulham and in the first half, it was just horrendous – and that was coming from some experienced players. It looked like Kieran Gibbs hadn’t defended for a long time.
“Signing a new centre-half in January was key, to try and get someone in who can slot in there and organise that defence and get them going to get clean sheets.
“Only time will tell but I really felt that since Sam came in, that was the area he would have looked to strengthen.”
Since the transfer window closed, West Brom have played twice and lost twice with Sheffield United and Tottenham both putting two goals past Big Sam’s defence.
Up next for the Baggies is a daunting clash at The Hawthorns against Manchester United, who have scored 12 goals in their last two Premier League fixtures.
It would be a major shock if the Albion were to keep a clean sheet against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s free-scoring attack but on the budget Allardyce and Dowling had to work with in January, would they have been able to sign anyone to seriously improve the back-line?
Okay Yokuslu, a defensive midfielder, arrived on loan from Celta Vigo last Monday and looked as though he could add some much-needed grit to the weak Albion midfield when he came off the bench at Spurs last week.
Hopefully, he’ll start against Man United to earn his full debut.
In other West Brom news, fans want this 45-year-old manager to replace Sam Allardyce if he’s sacked.
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