Who would Phil have had? All the muscle guys were dead, rats or in prison.
Would have been him, Jr and Tony Buck.
Merlino had the muscle and I really doubt he was stepping aside for anyone at that point in time
None of that matters because the Westside and the other families would not of let a family fold to non made members !!!! It's only because the Chin let it lay because he knew that Phil had him and Manna . Even back then the five families would not of let outsiders take a family because there was a sitting godfather.
