How to fix West Brom: Kevin Campbell's five-point plan
Wednesday 4 April 2018 11:47, UK
Premier League relegation looms for West Brom with six games remaining of their season and former captain Kevin Campbell, speaking on Premier League Daily, has given his verdict on how to fix the club...
1) THE MANAGEMENT
"If the management isn't strong and if it isn't right then you're going to get more of a drop and that's what they can't afford. The manager and his staff have to be good. Nigel Pearson was there when I was there under Bryan Robson - he's done fantastically well at Leicester, he could do well. Craig Shakespeare was there at the same time as well, so was Michael Appleton. All of these guys have good knowledge of the Premier League and are good managers so that type of person, who knows the club, I think could be very good. I'd like to see Nigel Pearson, I really would, he's a strong manager."
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2) PHILOSOPHY
"The philosophy of what the club is going to be about under their regime. Also, what the players are going to buy into because I think that's going to be key as well. As a player, when I was in the dressing room, if the manager had a good philosophy it's easy to move forward with him. It all depends on the manager, because the manager is the one who sets the tone for that football club. As a player you're looking to be led by the manager - he sets the game plan and then everybody's heads are focused and you can take it forward. Without that and the manager you're not going to have a progressive football club."
3) CAMARADERIE
"If the players buy into the manager and they buy into the philosophy, then you get that camaraderie, you get that team spirit together - you always hear it. The best teams always have camaraderie, they always look out for each other - they go up the pitch and they fight for each other. Camaraderie is a key component to a football club being progressive and moving forward."
4) FEEL-GOOD FACTOR
"If the fans see the players having that camaraderie and producing performances on the pitch you get that feel-good factor around the football club, you get the fans buying into it and then you've got momentum. It's everybody from the manager to the tea lady, to the stewards - everybody has that feel-good factor. Any good football club needs that feel-good factor."
5) CONFIDENCE
"70 per cent of football is confidence. Winning football matches breeds confidence, but if you don't have all of these things together you're going to lack confidence. Having confidence to move forward, to be progressive is going to be important for West Brom to be able to turn this thing around, especially the rest of this season and next season they have to have some momentum."
