Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former West Brom footballer Gareth Barry has given his thoughts on all things the Championship, including if his former club can stay up, if former teammate Frank Lampard can guide Coventry City to promotion and if Hull City can make a run back to the Premier League via the playoffs.
Barry also gave his perspective on the job Martin O'Neill has done this season at Celtic , whether Roberto Martinez could replace him in the summer and reveals if he ever had the chance to play in Scotland .
EFL Football
West Brom
I had a good three years at West Brom . Seeing them struggle this year was a massive surprise. You don't want to see a big club like West Brom going down another tier to League One . I'm hopeful they don’t. I was glad when they let James Morrison know he's going to have the job till the end of the season, so he knew exactly where he stood. He's an ex-teammate of mine, so it's brilliant to see them win the last two games, because this period of the season is all about momentum.
So if they can carry that forward, I think there's a little gap now. I'm hopeful they can stay up, but you only have to look at Leicester down there, too. You don't want your Leicester’s and teams like that, who have been around for a while in the top league, struggling. But there's not room for everyone, so you have to get your team ready, sometimes give your manager a bit more time.
Coventry City
I'm delighted for Frank . He's had a couple of tastes of management, experiencing both success and some less favourable times. It's fantastic for him to be managing at the top of the Championship .
He seems to have gone in, changed things around without bringing in many new players, and implemented his own style. The fans absolutely love him, so it's brilliant for Frank . I'm sure they can get a promotion now and enjoy the last few games.
Hull City
For Hull City and the other teams that get to the playoffs, momentum is definitely the thing you need to get over the line. You don't want to be stuttering at this stage of the season. The teams in and around third, fourth, and fifth, they know they sometimes can't go up, and they're guaranteed the playoffs. And I don't think that's a good feeling around the club. We had it at West Brom once we couldn't get automatic. You just got that feeling around the place. You have to play a few games, not knowing what's going to happen and who you're going to be playing.
All of a sudden, you have to go again for the home and away games. That year we met Aston Villa , and they were 16th at one point, and then all of a sudden came flying through with momentum and ended up going up that season, who beat us in the semi-finals. Yeah, momentum is definitely the key. You look at someone like Southampton , who seems to be absolutely flying. That's the sort of feeling you want around the club as you go into the playoff games. But, you know, seven games to go, there's still a lot to play for and plenty of teams still eyeing the top two.
Scottish Football
Martin O’Neill
You look at the business end of the season, and the players and sometimes the manager that's been there before just swings it in your advantage. But yeah, it's just a different feeling this year with Hearts in the mix. It's great to watch, and I think it's attracted a lot more attention with people wanting to watch a bit more of the Scottish league. Neutrals will definitely be wanting to see Hearts get over the line.
Celtic , I'm not surprised by the bounce they had with Martin because I know the way he manages. He'll come in and bring the confidence back to everyone and get a team that's settled rather than make loads of changes, get everyone in their right positions, and just simplify things. I wouldn't be surprised if they finish strongly and nick it from the other two. The experience he's got there, been there and done it, will give him a little edge over the other two managers.
Roberto Martinez To Celtic?
Getting Roberto Martinez would be a big statement for Celtic . The way Roberto Martinez's managerial career has gone, I can see that happening. He's had a couple of years out of the day-to-day stuff with the international jobs. Having worked at Everton , he absolutely lives and breathes football, knows every player, and knows every tactical move.
I think he'll be a success there. He'll improve players that come into the club. It will suit their style of wanting to improve young players, moving them on sometimes. I can actually see that happening and see why he's among the favourites for the job.
My Scottish Links
There certainly was a conversation when I left Man City and had a loan season at Everton . It was a conversation with my agent about Scotland and any real interest. I just think the timings and everything meant there was never any real strong interest, which is a shame, really, because it's something I'd probably like to have sampled.
You get players that go out there on loan sometimes for half a season just to sample it, and they seem to have great times. The Old Firm Derby is quite something, just watching on TV, you can tell the atmosphere, and as a player, you would have loved to play in it. Unfortunately, nothing really got too close, but it's one I would have loved to have experienced.
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