George Overhill

Sat 22 October 2022 21:17, UK

Jake Livermore’s influence is hardly having the positive effect on West Brom that Richard Beale suggests amid major struggles at the club, says Chris Lepkowski.

The Baggies captain was missing from the match day squad for the 2-1 defeat at Millwall on Saturday (22 October), having started both of the interim boss’ previous games in charge, after picked up a problem in training on Friday.

But while Beale values the 32-year-old for his importance behind the scenes, Lepkowski dismissed how useful it has actually proven to be given he has already seen 10 managers in his time, and is about to play under an 11th when Steve Bruce’s replacement is named.

Express & Star reporter Lewis Cox has reported on his Twitter account on Saturday evening (22 October): “Re Livermore, picked up a knock yesterday, Beale keen to have him around due to influence and positivity within group.”

Reacting on Twitter shortly after, Lepkowski said: “‘Influence’.

“He is about to welcome his 11th WBA manager in 5 years. That’s an influence we could probably do without”.

Cutting

As skipper and a central figure in the squad it of course suggests that the former England international is important to how things work at the club.

But his time has coincided with a significant period of upheaval at the Hawthorns so it is perhaps a reasonable question to ask whether his influence does enough.

At the same time there is the sobering thought of how much worse things might have been over the past year or so had Livermore not been in situ, given that repeated coaches have valued him.

Considering how badly things have gone though since Albion dropped back into the Championship under Valerien Ismael and then Steve Bruce it is fair to question their judgment in general.

Beale looked like the relief this squad needed when he immediately oversaw a much-improved performance with the win at Reading on 15 October, but with back to back defeats since, to Bristol City and now Millwall, that has proven to be short lived.

Livermore arrived under Tony Pulis, and has since seen Gary Megson, Alan Pardew, Darren Moore, James Shan, Slaven Bilic, Sam Allardyce, Ismael, Bruce and Beale preside over games since January 2017, so whether the veteran midfielder is part of the solution on the problem he has certainly been present for an unsustainable model, and the new man will have a major job on his hands.

In other West Brom news, an ex-Chelsea coach wants the Baggies job and talks have been held.