Kevin Phillips: Mowatt could take West Brom captaincy from Livermore
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 feels Valerien Ismael could strip Jake Livermore of the West Brom captaincy and hand the armband to Alex Mowatt.
On Friday, the Baggies announced Mowatt, 26, as their first new addition of the summer transfer window after he was released by Barnsley.
The ex-Leeds midfielder was instrumental in Barnsley reaching the Championship play-offs last season.
He wore the captain’s armband for Ismael and Phillips claims the new West Brom boss might want to do the same at The Hawthorns.
When asked if Livermore could be stripped of the captaincy and Mowatt handed the armband, Phillips told West Brom News: “There’s any chance.
“I think a new manager coming in will want to stamp his authority and he’s gone back to his club and taken their captain.
“That kind of says he knows him, he relies on him, he’s going to play him and make him captain.
“There’d be every possibility.
“Livermore is a leader but when new managers come in they want to stamp their authorities, make decisions and make changes because they want to bounce straight back.”
Livermore may be West Brom’s club captain but the armband was passed around a lot of players last season.
As the ex-Tottenham and England midfielder only played 19 times in all competitions for the Baggies, players like Kyle Bartley, Hal Robson-Kanu, Branislav Ivanovic and even Kyle Edwards were trusted with the armband.
Mowatt is likely to start every match next season and as he’s an experienced leader and a good player with a future at The Hawthorns, we wouldn’t be opposed to a change in player leadership.
In other West Brom news, Albion want to sign this player who scored against them last season.
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