According to Adrian Goldberg. Sam Johnstone missed a squad meeting after Valerien Ismael stated that he would be on the West Brom bench.
While the former Baggies manager was ousted this week and replaced by Steve Bruce. With a rift between him and the club’s first-choice goalkeeper reportedly playing a role in the decision.
The BBC WM host, speaking on the Liquidator podcast, said:
“I heard from one source that after being told that he’d be on the bench. Johnstone missed a team meeting and was therefore bombed out of the squad for a couple of games”.
While the former Barnsley manager’s squad management appears to have been a major issue. And his inconsistent handling of different players is seen to have contributed to his demise.
While given how club captain Jake Livermore was rushed back into the lineup despite his substitutes’ success. Goldberg went on to say:
“It was laying down a marker wasn’t it? He was saying that there are some players in this side who in my view are undroppable. Who are guaranteed a game. To say that to Jake Livermore, but to say the opposite to one of England’s number one goalkeepers in place of the competent journeyman that is David Button, imagine what an insult in that context Sam Johnstone feels that to be.”
Things going Downwards for Sam Johnson and West Brom
Concerns about Ismael’s connections inside the squad prompted the board to consider replacing him. According to Steve Madeley of The Athletic, Robert Snodgrass left on a free transfer following another disagreement.
If his decisions were causing players to blatantly disregard commitments.While was only a matter of time until those in control intervened.
If the results had been better, the 46-year-old former defender may have been given a chance against Sam Johnstone. While he appears to have been against Snodgrass. He never had the political capital at the Hawthorns to be destroying bridges in that way because the football was so bad and the fans were so dissatisfied.
While it was a precipitous fall from favour for the former Bayern Munich player. While he was signed to a four-year contract at the start of the season but never completed it. The hope now is that with new man Bruce at the helm. He can achieve Championship promotion for the fifth time.
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