Kevin Phillips’ Championship GW42 Predictions and Tips

Robin Roefs to Chelsea Rumours

It’d be a huge loss. He’s been one of the standout players this season. Since he’s been at the football club, he’s been a revelation, really. It was a big gamble bringing him after getting promoted, and to put him straight in, he had to perform. And he showed every Sunderland fan that he’s more than capable of doing that. He’s a wonderful goalkeeper. If Sunderland really want to push on and really try and get better and better from the season they’ve had, they need to keep players like that.

So Roefs would be a huge loss. No surprise that he’s linked with big clubs, but Sunderland will fight to keep him at the Football Club because he’s been brilliant, he’s got everything, he’s good on the floor, he’s a good shot stopper, very calm, good at crosses. He’s a gem, and he’s still young; he’s still a very young goalkeeper. It’d be a huge loss.

Sunderland vs Spurs Timing

I’m going to be at the game. Every Sunderland fan will be thinking the same. Is it a good time? Is it a bad time? Listen, it’s still the same players. De Zerbi is there; they’re away from home. Maybe that suits them a little bit, not being in front of their home fans. But everybody in the Premier League now knows what the stadium is like and what to expect when you come. And if you’re not on your game and you’re not at it, you get turned over.

So I’m really interested to see what happens. But from Sunderland’s point of view, they’ll just play the same way. They’ll attack the same way. It’d be the same atmosphere. And if they could get a goal early, then it might be the same old story. But I certainly see a reaction from the Tottenham players under a new manager, that’s for sure. I’ll be intrigued. Let’s put it this way.

Zan Vipotnik to Ipswich

I really like this player. I’ve spoken about him before this season. He’s got a bit of everything. He’s a big lad. He’s certainly suited to the Championship, that’s for sure. The Premier League is a different ball game, we know that. But to get 20 goals in any league, certainly in the Championship, is extremely difficult, and the season’s not over yet, so he could quite easily get another three or four. That’s in a team that’s 15th in the championship, so that’s some going.

He’ll be in demand over the summer. People will be looking at him closely, and the types of teams like Ipswich, if they are to get promoted, that’s the type of striker that they should be looking at, because if they don’t survive in the Premier League, they know they’ve already got a ready-made championship striker in Vipotnik. He’s a quality player. He would improve their squad for sure.

Mohamed Toure Quality

He’s an athlete. He certainly knows where the back of the net is. He’s still a young lad. He’s only 22. He scored on his debut, then he followed it up with a hat-trick on his full debut. He won Young Player of the Month in February. So he’s certainly got talent, and he knows where the back of the net is. But he’s very mobile, which is really a massive trait for a forward player.

He’s had a few injuries. He’s a wonderful young player, and he’s one that certainly Norwich want to wrap in cotton wool, really, and tie him down because there might be a few people sniffing. Certainly, a player that Philippe Clement will be delighted to have back, fully fit in and around the squad.

Philippe Clement, Manager of the Season Snub

Maybe a little surprising, he hasn’t been nominated. Where Norwich are in the league, as far as a football club, they need to be challenging for that promotion spot. You look at what Southampton have done since the new manager came in there, the run they’ve gone on and got themselves in the play-offs and on the brink of promotion, potentially. You’d expect Norwich to do the same.

So I can see why he hasn’t been included, but he’s done an excellent job. He’s got some good players there, and if he is able to rebuild in the summer, bring his own players in, then they’ll be there or thereabouts, and he’ll certainly be in the running for manager of the season next year, that’s for sure.

Clement’s Old Firm Record

I don’t think you can read into that for this match. It’s a completely different ball game. That fixture up there is massive, but you can’t look into that. It’s like when people say players haven’t won in a derby, does that affect it? No. He knows what he’s doing. We’ve seen that already this season with the performances that he’s got out of his players at Norwich.

So it’d be a completely different game. You can’t read anything into that. Of course, if they don’t win, then people are going to criticise him. But in my opinion, you can’t look into that. No chance.

Time to Rest Oli McBurnie

From Kyle Joseph’s point of view, he’ll be so frustrated when he’s sitting there watching the striker not score a goal. Normally, managers go four or five games maximum if a player doesn’t score, and they tend to bring them out, give them a rest and let them watch from the side and give someone else an opportunity. He’s clearly doing something that the manager likes.

But from the player’s point of view, it might be frustrating. The only thing is, when you haven’t scored for a while, you just try a little bit too hard, you run around, and you lose your discipline a little bit. So after eight games, if I were a manager, I’d probably pull him in and say, look, I’m going to rest you tomorrow. Sometimes it’s better looking from the outside in than the inside out. Sometimes coming out and sitting on a bench and watching can really help.

That might just help Oli McBurnie at this stage of the season, bring him out for one and then chuck him straight back in. You could get a response. I’m backing Kyle Joseph, but it might be time to give him a shout.

Southampton Automatic Promotion Push

Listen, after what they’ve done this season from where they were and watching them the other night against Wrexham, they blew them away against a side that is so strong at home. Anything’s possible. They’ve got some good players there.

Larin has really, really stepped up. He was excellent the other night. So everything’s possible. But Ipswich, they’ve got two games in hand over the teams around them. They’re sitting in pole position. All they can do is concentrate on their own performances, their own results, keep winning, and anything’s possible.

They’ve got every opportunity, and it will go right to the very wire. I can’t see Saints getting turned over from now to the end of the season. I can see them winning a fair few more matches and really going for it and pushing for it. So yes, I think they could go up automatically.

Derby’s Chances

They have to perform, for sure, going to one of the in-form teams in the Championship away from home. But John Eustace, he sets that team up really well. Obviously, losing Agyemang is a big blow for them. Someone will have to step up there.

It’ll be a tough ask. But they’ve just got to play their own game, and hopefully the Saints players don’t turn up, maybe get a bit of complacency, and they’ve got to take advantage. Derby have shown they can do that this season. They’ve had some excellent results. They’re pushing for a playoff spot. It’ll be a really, really good game.

Agyemang to Miss the World Cup

It’s devastating for the lad. There’s no bigger stage to perform and play in than a World Cup, especially at home. He’d be heartbroken. The only positive you can take from it, he’s 25 years of age, he still might get an opportunity in his career to play in a major tournament or certainly a World Cup in another four years.

He’s a big loss for Derby. He’s got 10 goals. He’s a huge threat. I feel for the player, it’s devastating. Hopefully, he makes a full, speedy, quick recovery and he’s back on the pitch very, very soon.

Middlesbrough’s Lack of Ruthlessness

I would certainly say they lack ruthlessness. When you look at their stats, let’s look at the two games over the bank holiday weekend. They dominated possession in both games. They created 32 chances in the first game on Friday, 29 on Monday, and they’re not getting results. It just shows that they’re not being ruthless enough.

They’re not being clinical enough. And that just purely comes down to pressure. When you’re getting in those areas, you’re panicking. You’re not doing what you did earlier in the season to get you there. There’s nothing else that you could really say. If the stats didn’t suggest they were getting those shots or creating opportunities or possession, then you would say not. But those stats don’t lie. They’re not being ruthless enough for sure.

Femi Azeez Journey

We look at Femi’s journey, who came from non-league, went to Reading, and now performs in one of the toughest leagues in the world week in and week out. He’s been excellent. He’s got eight goals, he’s got eight assists as well. He’s got a bit of everything, he’s got pace, he’s got directness, and he’s been a shining light for Millwall this season.

So, absolutely no surprise that he’s nominated for Player of the Season, and so he should be. There are a few others in that Millwall team that should be nominated as well. He’s still a young lad as well, 24 years of age, got a big career in front of him. Hopefully, who knows, he could be playing in the Premier League next year for Millwall.

Coventry Players Ready for the Premier League

You could run through all of them. But I can’t wait to see Haji Wright perform in the Premier League. Can he step up? Matt Grimes, who deserves a crack in the Premier League. Sakamoto is an excellent player. He’s tricky on the wing. Then you’ve got the two full-backs, which will suit the Premier League.

They love to bomb forward, but they can also defend. So I could mention the whole team, but they’re the players that I’d really look forward to seeing perform in the Premier League.

Birmingham vs Wrexham

Wrexham, I think, will bounce back. Birmingham 1, Wrexham 2.

QPR vs Bristol City

What a job Roy Hodgson’s done. Won the last game. A tough, tough place to go. QPR 1, Bristol City 1.

Oxford vs Watford

I fancy Watford here for some reason. Tough place again. Scrapping for points, Oxford. Oxford 1, Watford 2.

Leicester vs Swansea

I don’t know what to expect here. Watched their last game live. Both drew their last game. I see a draw here again. Leicester 1, Swansea 1.

Stoke vs Blackburn

Stoke, I think, will bounce back after losing their last game. Blackburn drew their last game. Stoke 2, Blackburn 1.

Charlton vs Preston

I think this will be a score draw. Tough place to go to, The Valley. Charlton 1, Preston 1.