Defender Leon Barnett today urged Albion to give their promotion heroes the chance to prove themselves in the Premier League.
Barnett expects new faces for the return to the top flight in August, but he believes the current squad could perform well among the elite.
And he is keen to see out-of-contract duo Zoltan Gera and Kevin Phillips kept on.
The youngster said: “The gaffer will be concentrating on trying to stay in the League and personally I want to play – and win – as many games in the Premier League as possible.
“At the start of this season, the manager brought in quite a few players, so anything could happen.
“He could buy loads of players, but I think the players we have at the moment are adequate for the Premier League.
“There are a few who left last summer, but the ones who stayed have another crack at the Premier League, which is a massive assignment for them and for young players like me.
“I don’t see why a lot of them couldn’t hold their own at that level and push on in the Premier League.
“Zoltan Gera, Dean Kiely, Jonathan Greening and Kevin Phillips have all done it before. We’re training week in, week out and we’re working hard every day. Being promoted might help people like Kevin and Zoltan to stay because this is a club that should be in the Premier League.
“We’ve finally got there and hopefully we can keep the players we’ve got. They have both been a massive influence for us throughout the season and Kevin’s record in the Championship and the Premier League is unbelievable.
“It’s a massive step for players like me to look up to him.”
19 Comments
I have had my doubts about Barnett, but then i keep forgeting the boy is just 21. He was my man of the match on Monday, simply outstanding. I think he plays a lot better as a no nonsense defender, rather than trying to play football, we have a just a few others who can do that side of things!!
Understand his motivation for speaking as he does.
But use of the word “adequate” really say’s too much…We need to be a bit better than adequate. I would expect that turn of phrase to drip from the lips of a Custard Bowl player and then it would be overrating them!
We do need some fresh blood especially in defence, so it will be interesting to see who TM brings in whatever he does it will be brilliant no doubt.
It is sad Mr Wizard that at the peak of your achievement and excitement you seem to get most pleasure by having a pop at us, I feel sorry for you. If you do not strengthen your team and your squad it is 100% certain that you will come straight back and this is not a pop at you because it would be the same for anyone going up, even us. If I look back to our season in the Prem one single thing would have kept us up and that is if Kamara had taken just a few of the chances that we created for him. You may recall we beat the Mancs at home and although we lost up there Kamara had 3 one on ones to win us the game. Make some clever buys, and Mr Mowbrays track record suggest that he will, find a 15 goal striker Phillips, Miller or whoever and you just might do it.
Malvern
True cheap shot apologies , it’s just that sometimes I feel like balancing the books. But that’s no excuse.
I promise you no pleasure is greater than promotion and I hope you experience it.
You don’t need the like’s of me taking a pop I have just read the Eastwood post’s you are more than capable of doing it to yourselves.
Good Luck Sunday to both teams
I agree that the current team can do a job in the Premier League. A top quality player in each area (def, mid and striker) and a few of Mowbrays bargains should ensure survival.
Don’t foregt that alot of our players are better suited to the Premier League - I’m sure Kim, Tex and even Moore will shine!!
3 Malvern,
“….this is not a pop at you because it would be the same for anyone going up, even us.”
Can’t see the logic in this statement at all? When you say “even us” are you suggesting “us” have a stronger squad than West Brom?
I’m going to give my honest opinion as a Wolves fan - he’s in cloud cuckoo land and just worried for his own future. Lets be honest, you need to spend silly amounts of money to survive. Teams have destroyed the championship with brilliant football, yet struggle in the Premiership. Harsh reality is you are a good side - but not good enough for Premiership survival with the team you have.
There’ll be one or two coming in before we re-convene for next season, probably names from abroad at half the price we pay here. I still expect the nucleus of the team to be as it is allowing the new men to settle first. Then before the ‘window’ shuts expect any weaknesses to be bolstered up by a few more buys. This gaffer knows what he’s about.
Why exactley would we be 100% certain to come straight back down?
I would imagine that we are better equiped for the prem than the other 2 sides that would come up with us, so, by you logic we would only have to be better than 1 team in the prem at the moment to stay up. I certainly don’t fear Wigan, Blues, Bolton, Middlesborough and Reading even without adding to our current squad. We stayed up once before if you recall and we have better forwards now than we did then.
REMINDS ME OF A CERTAIN CARLTON PALMER
TM needs to bring in 5 players. Get a goalie,1 defender , 1 midfielder and 2 stikers. Miller, Phillips and Bednar cant do it. Oh and forget Luke Moore.
GET YOUR MONEY OUT PEACE!!!!
62MILLION.
CRISSY BRUNT BRUNT BRUNT.
BOING BOING BAGGIES GOING UP THE MOWBRAY WAY.
Congratulations and the best of luck for next season.
I should add that I know that is not the correct spelling of his name but the way he treated us means we no longer say his name, just like the manager we had known simply as H. Petty? Sadly yes.
Barnett you’re a joke.
You let loads of goals in the chap so you got no chance with this squad in the Prem..
7 rob,weev got silly amounts of money,so dont you get worrying cuz weem staying in the prem the MOWBRAY WAY IN STYLE OH YES
14real, dont worry,one day you mite be in the prem,and go to wembley,and get in the play offs boing boing going up the MOWBRAY WAY
14. You ok?? Seem quite annoyed with things.. Don’t worry sure mick will unearth another darren ward!!!!
Telford, I meant exactly the opposite, I was just assuring you that it was a comment and not a pop.
15. I’m not worried, why would I be? Its one thing having money but another attracting players who will be in a relegation battle. Don’t kid yourself about having loads of money either as the fat cats of football clubs will want bigger wages, signing on fee, bonus’s, etc, etc.