Kevin Phillips’ Expert Analysis: Championship Matchweek 11 Predictions

Agyemang’s Early Return Is a Big Boost for a Struggling Derby

I think John will be desperate to get Agyemang back and get him in there and get him settled. Any manager, when you’re having to rotate that front line all the time, it’s not too healthy, because you want someone to just find a bit of form and consistency. So if you can get him back, he’s certainly a player who offers that, and that’ll be a big boost. Obviously, we know Derby are sitting, I think, second from bottom, so they haven’t had a great start. They need someone up there now to start scoring goals to get them out of the situation they’re in. And he’s certainly a player that can do that.

Watford’s Fans Have Every Right to Vent Their Frustration

I covered the Watford game on the first game of the season, and yet another manager was in charge. They’re a great bunch of supporters, a real family club, and it’s sad to see the fans having to do this. But you get to a point where they’re fed up; they’ve had enough of seeing their team lose. I think they’ve conceded nine in the last two games. They follow them all over, so they’ve every right to vent their frustration. It’s so frustrating, isn’t it, because Watford are a great club. But it’s no surprise now that the fans have had enough.

Amdouni Coming Back Can Only Do Wonders for Burnley’s Manager

There’s a lot riding on his shoulders, especially given how Burnley have started the league. You need every player back, and certainly your best players, and he’s one of those. So, with him getting back and scoring goals, it looks like Bruun Larsen may be just hitting a bit of form as well up top, but to have another player like that to challenge can only do wonders for the manager there, because as we know, it’s been a really difficult start to the season. The quicker he gets back, scoring and staying fit, the better it is for the football club.

Having All Three North East Clubs in the Premier League Would Be Great for the Area

I hope Middlesbrough can get promoted. It’s been a long time since that happened, and spending most of my time now in the North East, yeah, there’ll be some fans that don’t want it, but the majority, 80-95% of the fans, want all three teams in the Premier League. It’s great for the area. And it’d be great obviously for Boro, having been out for so long. As I said, I tipped them for promotion this year. They look a good side. And with Lankshear, the league’s joint top goalscorer, they’ve got every opportunity.

Lyndon Dykes Is a Handful Wherever He’s Been and Gives Millwall Another Option

I’m not saying that’s because of the way Millwall play, because they like to play their football, but it gives you another option, doesn’t it? And he’s well suited to doing that. Wherever he’s been, he’s been a handful. He’s like a typical old-fashioned number nine, likes to get involved physically, and when balls go into wide areas he can get in the box. So it’s great to see, and as you say, he’s already surpassed his goal tally from last year. I think from his point of view, if he stays fit, he’ll be a crucial part of what Millwall do this season.

Mohamed Toure’s Goals-Per-Shot Ratio Tells You Everything

If he stays fit, definitely. And if he gets the opportunities, definitely. Norwich as a team haven’t started the way that we all thought they would. But we’ve always said, and I’ve always said, if Toure stays fit and gets chances, he’ll score. And the stats you’ve just read out tell me everything. His goals-per-shot ratio is very, very good. So he knows that when that ball gets into that area, give him half a chance and he’s finishing it. It’s just getting that ball into the area for him, time after time.

So five goals in a team that’s struggled just shows you the qualities that he’s got, and he can definitely keep it up. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s in and around the top goalscorers come the end of the season.

A Keeper in That Form Is an Immensely Important Part of Any Team

It’s always great in a team. When that back line is breached, you want your goalkeeper to step up. And if it’s not, people are shooting from long range. You want your keeper to be solid, and Max is an immensely important part of the football team. And from a manager’s perspective, it’s great to have that confidence, that security at the back. The only concerning thing is that he’s having to do too much work, which means that they’re conceding chances. But then you want your keeper to step up, and he’s certainly done that. So hopefully he doesn’t have to face too many more chances over the course of the season, but if he does, he’s more than capable of dealing with it.

Thierno Barry Should Keep Doing What He’s Doing and the Goals Will Come

You’d like to think he can get in and around double figures for sure. Whether he can get to the 20 mark, that’s a big ask. The encouraging thing is he’s getting in the positions; he’s getting the opportunities. He probably should have had a few more goals than what he’s already got. But for me, if I were the manager, I’d be telling him to keep doing what he’s doing and keep getting in those positions, and the goals will come. So it’s very promising. In training, I’m pretty sure he’s doing his repetitive stuff, and it will pay off. So just keep doing what he’s doing. I’d be far more worried and concerned if he wasn’t getting in those positions. So there’s a lot of promising and positive stuff to come out of that.

Liverpool Have a Real Talent in Lewis Koumas

Listen, when you lead the line for Liverpool, you’re not far off having cracked it, are you? Me and Jason certainly didn’t do that. His dad was a fabulous footballer; he played on the outside, on the wing, created lots of opportunities, scored great goals; he’s a different type of player to his dad. He works his absolute socks off, and to be thrown into such a big game under the spotlight, as we all know, he did not look out of place whatsoever. So Liverpool have got a real talent on their hands there.

Whether that’s his best position, I don’t know, but he looked a handful; he looked a threat. And I’m sure as time goes on the goals will come as well. So a really talented player.