Tony Brown wants Jake Livermore to do less for West Brom
Jake Livermore needs to just “sit there” in midfield because trying to be everywhere leads him to pick up so many cards, says Tony Brown.
The captain returned from suspension to help the Baggies pick up their first win under Steve Bruce against Hull City, having been sent off in the new manager’s first game.
He put in a much-improved performance with the support of Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Alex Mowatt, playing in a holding role, and West Brom legend Brown wants to see him there more often.
He told BBC Radio WM, via The Athletic: “I think he tries to get about the pitch too much and he’s going all over the place. He’ll be on the right-wing one minute and the left-wing the next.
“He’s got to sit in the middle of the park and pull the strings of the players around him. I think he’ll do a far better job if he plays that way instead of running here, there and everywhere.
“I think he gets booked a lot of the time because he’s always the wrong side of his man because he’s going everywhere.”
Something to build on
The victory on Humberside was badly needed and fingers will be crossed at the Hawthorns that the manager might have stumbled upon the right formula to put some results together.
Fans had long been wanting to see the youngster Gardner-Hickman given a chance there, and he vindicated that faith with a strong performance.
That may have had multiple positive knock-on effects, if it means that the returning skipper can be left to operate in a holding role.
The Athletic’s Steve Madeley outlined how the former England international has rarely been used there of late, and it has contributed to him picking up five red cards at the club.
If he can settle further back in the later years of his career, with fresher legs putting in the running further forward, the Baggies midfield should be a different proposition from the pedestrian set up that has plagued the past few weeks.
Playoffs may still be out of reach, but any improvement on the dreadful form of the previous couple of months constitutes something to cheer for now.
In other West Brom news, the chairman has revealed major transfer plans for the club.
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