West Brom must take ‘really serious’ look at manager situation now – Chris Lepkowski
West Brom need to take a ‘really, really serious look’ at Valerien Ismael’s future as manager of the club, according to Chris Lepkowski.
The Baggies were well beaten again at the weekend by Millwall, falling to a 2-0 defeat at The Den. It was a fourth defeat in five games, and means they are clinging onto a playoff place by the skin of their teeth.
Lepkowski was speaking on The Liquidator podcast when he said that while he doesn’t think anything is imminent on the managerial front, he believes the club should be taking a ‘serious look’ at the boss’ future.
“Now we’ve got an 11-day break, or would’ve done since Saturday’s defeat,” he said. “I know Ismael has been back in Munich with his family this weekend after the game, so whether that indicates nothing is imminent at the moment I don’t know.
“I’m sure he’ll be back in a couple of days, whether something will come at that point remains to be seen. Not only are we not making progress but a fall out of the top six is looking imminent.
“It comes a point now, where the club has to be taking a really, really serious look at this. Especially during this break, which would be a natural time to make a change, but also against a backdrop of falling attendances at the Hawthorns.
“The loss of revenue that will bring and of course, eventually, if you do not make the change that the supporters are calling out for, whether you agree with that change or not, eventually those supporters will turn on the kingmakers, the people who make the decisions.
“If they don’t get what they want, they’ll turn on the board. I don’t think we’re far from that stage at the moment.”
Time to go
It’s been clear for a while that Ismael needs to go, but never clearer than it was after last weekend’s game against Millwall.
The Baggies looked bereft of ideas, were predictable as ever and could have been on the end of a really bad beating if the Lions had been on the top of their game.
The fact it’s had to get this bad for anyone to even mention sacking him is pretty poor, because the signs have been there for a while.
West Brom can’t score goals, defensively their solidity has begun to fade, Ismael can’t get the best out of his players and the anger among fans has only grown.
With a gap between games, a decision should ideally have been made already to give time for a search for a new manager to come in and have time to work with the squad.
Instead, he’ll either stay on, with the rot likely to continue, or the new man will have a rough ride from the start.
In other West Brom news, ‘Borrowed time’ – Chris Lepkowski suggests West Brom transfer business hinges on Ismael future