Chris Lepkowski delivers big Jake Livermore West Brom verdict
Chris Lepkowski has slammed Valerien Ismael for his reasoning behind starting Jake Livermore in every West Brom game this season.
The Baggies captain has started 14 of 15 Championship games this season, and Ismael was asked after the 3-0 Fulham defeat on Saturday as to why he’s persisted with the midfielder.
To which he responded, via Birmingham Live, “My responsibility is to give the team, give the way to play, the game plan and the solution to the guys, but at some point, the player has to take responsibility of their performance with the passes in decision making.”
Lepkowski, on the Liquidator podcast, suggested that he must drop Livermore and not start him just because he’s the captain.
He said, “I find it a bizarre thing to say. You cannot have one player have the advantage over the others because he wears your armband.
“I have nothing against Livermore but it doesn’t feel right that he has to keep his place because he’s the skipper.”
Spot on
Starting Livermore just because he’s the captain makes zero sense and the blame of that solely lies with Ismael.
Robert Snodgrass and Livermore started against the Cottagers and were played all over the park.
Their quick passing game against arguably the slowest midfielders at West Brom, made the visitors look like amateurs on the day.
Ismael cannot continue to have favourites in this squad, especially if the ones he likes are not the best players for his system.
He likes to play a high pressing game with a high tempo and unfortunately, at 31, Livermore is not capable of doing that.
The time has come for the Frenchman to make this change and drop the Englishman from his team.
In other West Brom news, Sky Sports pundit tears into a Baggies player for having a ‘Disaster’ in Saturday’s loss to Fulham
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