Kevin Phillips’ Championship & League One Play-Off Semi Final Predictions

Danger Men for Both Sides

It’s going to be a real, another tight, tight game. I think from Boro’s point of view, they’ve hit a bit of form at the right time, haven’t they? Scoring goals at last. And I think you have to look no further really than the front lads in Whittaker and Conway, has got 14 goals, Conway’s got 13 goals, but they’re getting supply from an Aidan Morris, who’s been outstanding in that midfield all season alongside Hayden Hackney, but Browne has come in with his experience and taken over and done a good job. I think Whittaker, Conway, Strelec, these are the players that can hurt any team and they’ve already showed that this season.

From Southampton’s point of view, they’ve been outstanding. I’m at the game at the weekend, covering the game for TV, so I’m really looking forward to it. And you look at their front players again, your Scienza, your Larin, your Ross Stewart, your Fellows, your Azaz. These players can hurt any team. And so they’re the players, really, for me, that if you want to get through these ties, they need to step up.

You can’t really pick between these two. They both won 22, they both drew 14, they’re a goal difference of one. They both finished on 80 points. Such a fascinating game.

Hayden Hackney Transfer Rumours

He’s picked up the injury, which is disappointing for him at this stage, but he got voted Player of the Year for the league. So, he’s a fantastic player. He’ll be on the radar of a lot of clubs, that’s for sure. Obviously, if they don’t come up, then I fully expect Hayden to move on.

Listen, if he ended up going to a Brighton, they play fantastic football, which would suit him. If he went to a Man United, wow, one of the biggest clubs in the world. The biggest thing for me, for Hayden, would be if you’re going to leave, make sure you go somewhere where you’re going to play. It’s as simple as that.

There’s nothing worse than having played the majority of his season at your previous club, then you go, big move to somewhere and you sit on the bench every other week, that’s not good for him. So I think he needs to be a little bit careful where he goes, but he could walk into a lot of Premier League sides, that’s for sure.

Southampton’s Play-off Experience

Again, having them around the squad, the play-offs, you need a mixture of balance of a bit of experience, a bit of youthfulness, a bit of where players don’t know what the playoffs are about and they just go and experience a great occasion.

But it’s always important to have those experienced players, whether they’re playing or not, in the dressing room, the lead up to the game, just letting these players who haven’t experienced know what it’s like, and give their experiences potentially of playoff experiences. And it’s a real big help, especially for young players.

So, I’m sure the manager will be leaning on their shoulders to help these players and it’s such a fascinating game that yeah, experienced players are a huge, huge help.

Prediction – Stevenage vs Stockport

My old town, that’s where I’m from, born and bred from Stevenage, so I can’t go against them. But again, when you look at the league table, there’s only two points between them, Stevenage finish sixth, Stockport third. Stockport have got such a bigger budget than Stevenage, but I think Stevenage might just edge this one at home. Stevenage 2, Stockport 1.

Delap Transfer Rumours

If he is available, I would go for him, yes, as simple as that. Whether he would come back to Ipswich having been at Chelsea with the wages situation, I don’t know. But he clearly loved it at that club. He’d done very well for them. And if I was Ipswich, it’s probably an area that you do need to go and look to bring a top player in.

Delap knows the football club, he knows the area, which is always a bonus, and he’s a quality player. So as long as they’re not paying stupid money for him, I would say if they can get him at the right price, yeah, for sure, I would go and try and get him back at the club.

Keeping Jovon Makama

First and foremost, I’ve spoken about Norwich players this season. I’ve seen Toure up top, he’s done excellent. Players like Jovon Makama, they need to keep him. Norwich again, like a West Brom, will challenge next season. They have to challenge for the size of the club and if you want to do that, you have to keep your best players and he’s certainly been that.

He’s had his injury problems, but he’s only 22 years of age. He’s got himself 10 goals this year and he’s a different type of player. He’s a big lad and he causes issues. So I would definitely not be looking to move him on. I don’t think the manager will be. But again, Premier League club comes in and turns the kid’s head. It can be difficult at times, but you’ve got to be building teams around these types of players if you want to try and challenge, that’s for sure.

Lorent Tolaj as Agyemang Replacement

When you look at his career, he scored 17, I think 17 goals this year. Aldershot he scored 19, Port Vale scored 15. He’s gradually, he’s getting better and better, and he’s that type of old-fashioned, he’s a strong, powerful lad. He holds the ball really well and he’s quick and he scores goals.

So, the next challenge for him would be to step up to the championship. If he was to move up to Scotland, that’s an even bigger jump, but you’re going to a massive football club if he ended up there. But I think the championship would probably be his next step. And again, whoever club’s looking at him, I think he could be a real good addition to a lot of squads in the championship because of the qualities he possesses and the biggest thing, he is a goal scorer.