Kalvin Phillips | Joins City on a 6-year deal

Status
Not open for further replies.
Loved Phillips last year and thought he was instrumental in Leeds' top 10 finish. Statistically one of the best DMs in the league too and not sure how that can be argued against.

Obviously this year he hasn't been able to push on due to injuries and other issues (and Leeds' possible relegation is intrinsically connected to Phillips' lack of game time, IMO) but surprised to see such a lot of negativity around a promising, reasonably young, and perhaps most importantly home-grown DM who would be available for a pretty cheap fee and could be a very able deputy to Rodri who obviously has the position locked down but could use a bit of relief from time to time.

For me it's a very attractive idea. Don't know if it'll happen but, having watched that Leeds Amazon documentary, I got the impression that Phillips was definitely one of the sharper tools in the Leeds box and had a lot of passion and willingness to learn, so I wouldn't at all be unhappy to see him come in.
 
Last edited:
SterlingSilvas said:
Madrid started talks in March, so prob timing.
Click to expand...
I can’t for the life of me believe no one saw the opportunity there. The guy will be massive under Simeone. Danilo from Palmeiras another name I insist people remember, will turn world class at a major club in a couple of years
 
MichaelBBack said:
Loved Philips last year and thought he was instrumental in Leeds' top 10 finish. Statistically one of the best DMs in the league too and not sure how that can be argued against.

Obviously this year he hasn't been able to push on due to injuries and other issues (and Leeds' possible relegation is intrinsically connected to Philips' lack of game time, IMO) but surprised to see such a lot of negativity around a promising, reasonably young, and perhaps most importantly home-grown DM who would be available for a pretty cheap fee and could be a very able deputy to Rodri who obviously has the position locked down but could use a bit of relief from time to time.

For me it's a very attractive idea. Don't know if it'll happen but, having watched that Leeds Amazon documentary, I got the impression that Philips was definitely one of the sharper tools in the Leeds box and had a lot of passion and willingness to learn, so I wouldn't at all be unhappy to see him come in.
Click to expand...
He will get on well with England lads and settle in really well

Especially Stones and Walker
 
BrazilianBlue (Gus) said:
I can’t for the life of me believe no one saw the opportunity there. The guy will be massive under Simeone. Danilo from Palmeiras another name I insist people remember, will turn world class at a major club in a couple of years
Click to expand...
Yes other top teams will have world class players. That said no team has 22 world class players. Nearly every team that wins stuff has their few 'journeymen' . History is littered with how did such and such player win champions league and p/l medals.
 
It’s a weird world when signing this lad meets with general approval and Declan Rice doesn’t. One of them is top quality already with the potential to be a fixture in our starting eleven and the other is a bang average plodder. I’d be surprised if we sign him.
 
blueparrot said:
Yes other top teams will have world class players. That said no team has 22 world class players. Nearly every team that wins stuff has their few 'journeymen' . History is littered with how did such and such player win champions league and p/l medals.
Click to expand...
I don’t think you understand my point. I am saying there are much better and cheaper business opportunities than Phillips. We don’t need to settle for him at all.
 
BrazilianBlue (Gus) said:
I can’t for the life of me believe no one saw the opportunity there. The guy will be massive under Simeone. Danilo from Palmeiras another name I insist people remember, will turn world class at a major club in a couple of years
Click to expand...

Funny you've not mentioned him before now...
 
hgblue said:
It’s a weird world when signing this lad meets with general approval and Declan Rice doesn’t. One of them is top quality already with the potential to be a fixture in our starting eleven and the other is a bang average plodder. I’d be surprised if we sign him.
Click to expand...
But haven’t you heard it’s a crime to sign a player that can potentially be as good if not better than Rodri? It can only be around average
 
BrazilianBlue (Gus) said:
I don’t think you understand my point. I am saying there are much better and cheaper business opportunities than Phillips. We don’t need to settle for him at all.
Click to expand...
Unless we want to for whatever reasons. I think he a good p/l player that can do a good job. If we buy him, and I don't know if we will, it would be for good reason, not because we are settling for him.
 
BrazilianBlue (Gus) said:
If Phillips at £30m is a “no brainer”, I have to ask what Boubacar Kamara on a free is. 22 years old, much higher ceiling and he bests Phillips on nearly all stats already. As for the “worked with Bielsa” point, Kamara works with Jorge Sampaoli, who also is a Bielsa disciple and who had Juanma Lillo as his assistant for awhile as well

And this is just one example of a much better deal
Click to expand...
I don’t know if you mean to Gus but you often speak in facts and certainties when in reality what you’re stating is you’re opinion which you are fully entitled to. However, you don’t seem to afford others their opinion and are quite quick to jump in to dismiss it. We get you don’t rate Phillips and that’s fine but you also don’t need to comment on everyone that does rate him or has a difference in opinion to yourself. A signing like Phillips is always going to split opinions as countless have before like Ake. Even when you look at Liverpools signings (who I know you’re a fan of recruitment wise) I can remember a lot of people turning their nose up at mane and Robertson when posters here suggested we should be in for them but they’re turned out alright. I personally think all the best squads are built up of a mixture of superstars and smart more conservative signings and the blend of which allows harmony within the squad. It creates a squad where everyone knows their roles and responsibilities but it also gives you hungry players trying to push those in front of them. Phillips might not set the world alight but what he does bring is some steel to the midfield that we would lack without ferna anymore. The jury is out as to whether he has the ability to fully step in (in particular passing under pressure) but we all know City will have done their homework extensively and if they think he’s right for the job then I’m more than happy to trust their judgement.
 
Mcfc_110 said:
I personally think all the best squads are built up of a mixture of superstars and smart more conservative signings and the blend of which allows harmony within the squad. It creates a squad where everyone knows their roles and responsibilities but it also gives you hungry players trying to push those in front of them. Phillips might not set the world alight but what he does bring is some steel to the midfield that we would lack without ferna anymore.
Click to expand...
I am getting tired of saying over and over that I am not advocating for anything different than this. Like others, I don’t see Phillips as a conservative signing, but rather a mediocre one. “Oh but Ake”, “oh but Walker” just doesn’t cut it for me. I see better opportunities in the market, that’s all. Including for the characteristics you listed
 
glyntowen said:
Why would you pay so much more for a player that isn't that much better if he actually is better

The snobbishness of some of our fans regarding other teams players is rag esq
Click to expand...

It was tongue-in-cheek mate. Throwing £75m on top of his fee and going for Rice is absurd. £100m might not get Rice anyway. I don't rate Phillips. He's older than Rodri and I think there are better players in Europe at a younger age that could challenge Rodri in a couple of years. But the price is good and the club are rumoured to want Bellingham next summer who will no doubt cost a pretty penny so we might be looking at some lower cost options to increase numbers in the squad. And that's a good thing. If we sign Phillips I'll give him my full support and hope he proves me wrong.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top