Albion's dangerous game
46 goals in 76 games for Albion.
22 goals in 24 starts this season.
235 goals in 477 career games.
Try as I might I'm struggling to find a reason why Albion have not yet locked Kevin Phillips in a cell and pinned him down to a new contract.
Kev is settled in the Midlands, enjoys it at The Hawthorns and his kids attend local schools.
All he wants is a two year deal. Albion want to give him a one year deal with a 12 month option in the club's favour, provided he plays a certain amount of games.
There lies the sticking point.
Kev will score goals in the top flight. What he lacks in pace and power, he makes up for in reading of the game, intelligence and vast experience. I reckon he'd score a minimum of 10 goals in the Premier League if Albion went up. Kanu, Sheringham, Shearer, Viduka and many others have coped without pace, while getting by with know-how, making the most of their finishing and the ability to create goalscoring opportunities for themselves. Phillips can too.
How much do goalscorers cost at any level? How much will Kev's contract cost over two years if he takes Albion up and keeps them in the Premier League?
Incidentally, although Kev isn't eligible to talk to clubs until the end of May, his representatives will almost certainly be putting the feelers out as we speak. That's how it works.
Albion are wasting time and putting great strain on Phillips at what is a crucial time of the season. He should be enjoying his football, not worrying about his future.
All of which makes you wonder why Jeremy Peace is playing this game?
Over to you now Mr Chairman.
There will be more on this in Thursday's Birmingham Mail.
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Chris Lepkowski - Mail man Chris Lepkowski’s view of what’s going on at West Bromwich Albion FC.
He should indeed get a two year deal.
However he gets on in the Premier League, IF we get there, his goals the year after when we may be back down at this level could prove vital.
I can understand the club's reluctance to offer a long(er) deal to a player with a potentially knackered knee, but sometimes some players deserve special consideration for their past and current contribution to the cause.
And let's face it, if things work out spiffingly well in our promotion quest, and we actually spend longer than a season in the top flight, there might come a time when Kevin Phillips pops off back to the Championship by himself, in the quest for another promotion.
A two year deal?
In Kev's case, yes.
Maybe it is because he is old, can't run, is injury prone and in the PL (if you lot ever get there) not only won't he get any chances, but you will be busy picking the ball out of the net. Phillips is a Championship player and with 'the best footballing side in the league/world/Smethwich' he is going to score goals if he goal hangs.
This is the bigest non brainer. For gods sake peace sign him up for another 2, 3 even 4 years.
Come on Peace sign him up. Even if he wants 20k a week it would only be 1m a year.
Its obvious he can score goals at any level. how can we afford not to sign him?