I can see that as well but such a set up requires someone at the back to come through and dominate in the air in the middle and for those two to win any second balls. If they don't win those, then we have a defender out of position and opposition attackers in behind us up against the remaining two defenders who will likely be sitting wider.With such a short turnaround until the start of next season it wouldn't surprise me to see Phillips and Kovacic starting at the beginning, so it's up to him to take his chance.
Let’s hope he goes thereJust in case you're reading this thread.....West Ham is lovely this time of year ;-)
If he stays let’s hope he can start the new season at the correct weight.The one thing he might have in his favour is that so many of Pep's signings often need a season to acclimatise to his way of understanding our game. He's had his year, now he's got to kick on if he doesn't want to be moved on before the window close.
Yeah but most of them still played quite a lot whilst getting to grips with it. He didn’t. I can’t see it with him but you never know.The one thing he might have in his favour is that so many of Pep's signings often need a season to acclimatise to his way of understanding our game. He's had his year, now he's got to kick on if he doesn't want to be moved on before the window close.
Seems like a lovely bloke and I appreciate his determination to try to prove himself, but his lack of game-time last season worries me.
Learning what Pep wants in training is one thing, but it's time on the pitch trying to implement it that really drives home those lessons.
He hasn't really had any significant time to do that, and it's hard to envisage when he's likely to.
Why not, but he would definitely have to play regular footy to find it out, here or somewhere else. Even without Master Pep.Watching the late unchecked run into the box that led to his goal for England against the North Mac(c) lads I wonder if Pep could turn him into the next Ilkay.
Anyone ever wonder why Phillips went down like a led balloon so much? Like, surely he isn’t THAT bad? You can’t help but feel that Pep just doesn’t like him but then he seems like a nice lad.
I remember we let him have that operation to be fit for the WC but then he came back overweight. I also recall he took a full 2 weeks off on holiday before returning to training despite barely playing before the WC and not playing at the WC either. I always had the feeling that could have pissed Pep off as it might not have sent the right message about wanting to play.
In general he looks a bit overwhelmed and happy to be here. We’ve not even seen much potential. With players that came good in their 2nd season, we at least saw flashes of what they could become earlier on in their City careers and they all at least acted as decent squad players before going to the next level.
Well, he wasn’t before we did, so he certainly won’t now.can't see him getting a game if we sign kovacic
Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups……….It's going to be sick when he turns up in preseason in top shape and starts bossing the midfield. Everything I saw from him after they started winning trophies told me he wants to be a big part of doing it again. I've learned my lesson on giving up on guys after one year so I'm just going to assume he's going to be the man going forward.
I thought that was Mary Anne TrumpAssumption is the mother of all fuck ups……….