Football League World
·18 February 2024
Football League World
·18 February 2024
This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Two unlikely candidates for West Bromwich Albion's player of the year award have risen to the top this season, but their contracts expire at the end of the season.
Alex Mowatt and Cedric Kipre are not two players that fans of West Brom would have associated with consistent top-level performance at the start of the current campaign. But they have been two of the most key cogs in Carlos Corberan's configuration this season, and the Baggies are looking good to finish in the play-offs.
With how well Albion are playing, they won't be happy with the fact that, including the 29 and 27-year-old, they have 10 players out of contract this season.
Football League World'sWest Brom fan pundit sees the aforementioned pairing as two players he would like the club to keep hold of.
FLW's West Brom fan pundit Matt Smith has said that he wants to see both Kipre and Mowatt stay past the end of the 2023/24 season.
"Unbelievably, Kipre and Mowatt have been two of the best players this season; something I would have never dreamed of saying in August. Mowatt looks fit, dynamic, he looks able to play the position, both technically and physically. The ball has stuck to his foot like glue. Like I said, it's unbelievable, but fair play to him because he's obviously been putting in an amazing amount of work.
"Kipre's been the same too. I know he's had a bit of backing amongst the Albion fan base, but I've never been a massive fan. But, again, he's been so composed. He's been able to receive the ball with both feet. But the most important thing for me is he has done the basics and the fundamentals well. So it bodes well for him.
"They must be offered new contracts. Can I see them both staying? I'm not too sure. I can probably see Alex Mowatt staying because I'm not sure whether he'd be able to get a better move than being with Albion.
"Kipre has probably been the player of the year. With the way he's played this season, I wouldn't say no to him being able to play at a higher level. I'm not too sure whether he will be with the club, but we'll wait and see. I hope so."
It shouldn't be a surprise, at this point, that players are looking the best that they ever have under the tutelage of the Spaniard. He has been remarkably revolutionary for this side, turning them from potential relegation candidates to a contender to get back to the Premier League.
The two players have both had decent to good seasons in the past, but you can see from the way that Smith glowingly talked about them both that the levels that they are hitting are something completely above what Albion fans expected.
Credit does have to go to the players for their adaptability, and willingness to learn and develop at this stage of their careers, but Corberan should be applauded for the work he has done to get them to their current standard. A standard which may see them eventually move on from the club.