It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

[TheBlueCat]

Simple answer is to play Phillips if he isn't moving. We signed him for the purpose of covering Rodri. We aren't going to waste more money in bringing in another unsuitiable replacement.

There is no logic to this. Surely he will only be played when the manager believes he can do a good job. If pep doesn’t think he will he won’t be picked..

 

[Berts Neck]

We didn't think he wasn't that shit otherwise we would have left him at Leeds. Unless he goes down a similar path to Cancelo we aren't going to completely cut him loose just yet.

Correct..In fact Rodri was apparently shit after Fernandinho left ..have no idea WTF is going on with KP but there is indeed a player there..injury,upset Pep..who knows..some players need a run of games..but how people say he is shit when he has barely played I can not comprehend at all.

 

[RayCTID]

There is no logic to this. Surely he will only be played when the manager believes he can do a good job. If pep doesn’t think he will he won’t be picked..

If there are no realistic replacements available then there is little choice.

 

[yellamcfc]

Phillips lacks the intelligence to play the role that Rodri plays.
He doesn’t see the space and never drops into defence when Stones or Dias move upfield.
He’s not good enough and doesn’t look like he can adapt.

 

[Kamaro011]

If there are no realistic replacements available then there is little choice.

I agree, buying his replacement only to find them being marginally better than Philips will only leads these new player on bench again most of time.

The only real upgrade imo will be FDJ or Kimmich and neither of these player have any intention wanting to leave their respective club.

 

[Summerbuzz]

I've been right before, I've been wrong before. KP's time is up. There's so many arguments why Pep would make that clear to the board. This goes back several years. He wants his midfielder. Just because Bielsa liked KP, and Pep loves Bielsa, it really doesn't mean it was Pep's deal. It smacked of Txiki's idea of good value.

 

[blueparrot]

If there are no realistic replacements available then there is little choice.

We’d only let him go if we think we have better alternatives and he wouldn’t play. So if he goes that’s what we think, and what will happen.

 

[Jonesyy91]

Phillips ain’t shit far from it, not gonna be easy when you get zero chances and when you do get a chance you’re playing with a second string team. Play him over Rodri against half of the teams in the premiership we win.

 

[blueparrot]

I've been right before, I've been wrong before. KP's time is up. There's so many arguments why Pep would make that clear to the board. This goes back several years. He wants his midfielder. Just because Bielsa liked KP, and Pep loves Bielsa, it really doesn't mean it was Pep's deal. It smacked of Txiki's idea of good value.

Doubt it, they will have thought about it together and both thought he had the ability to play for us. It’s impossible to know if a player has the football intelligence to adapt to a Pep pivot until they try, but they will all have thought he had the potential.

 

[Kamaro011]

Phillips ain’t shit far from it, not gonna be easy when you get zero chances and when you do get a chance you’re playing with a second string team. Play him over Rodri against half of the teams in the premiership we win.

The problem is Philips spots in lineup is being used by CB DM hybrid with player like Stones and Akanji playing these role in Pep current tactical setup.

 

[Jonesyy91]

The problem is Philips spots in lineup is being used by CB DM hybrid with player like Stones and Akanji playing these role in Pep current tactical setup.

That ain’t his spot that spot needs to be a defender, stones/Lewis or Akanji because they go back into a 4 in defence. Take our starting lineup against Newcastle swap out Rodri for Phillips and you beat most of the teams in the PL if you don’t it’s not just Phillips who’s ‘shit’

 

[Sir peace frog]

important to note re Phillips winning England player of the year. It was a fan vote and Leeds fans basically hijacked it online. Phillips is a very limited footballer who was made to look good by bielsa‘s system. Before bielsa Phillips struggled getting a game for Leeds. He will never be good enough for a top side and sadly was just an awful buy

phillips played 74(transfer market stats) league games for leeds in the two seasons before bielsa came,(16/17,17/18) bielsa joined in the summer of 2018, i would say he was an integral part of the leeds team before bielsa came, hes a very capable premier league player, he might not be a good fit for our style ,but he would be able to do a very good job for a lot of teams in the premier league imo

 

[Kamaro011]

That ain’t his spot that spot needs to be a defender, stones/Lewis or Akanji because they go back into a 4 in defence. Take our starting lineup against Newcastle swap out Rodri for Phillips and you beat most of the teams in the PL if you don’t it’s not just Phillips who’s ‘shit’

I never said Philips is shit you can check my history post, i just think our tactic is already evolve from last season where someone like Philips isn't that necessary to have anymore. He is good player and i just think it best if we let go of him to other club that will suits him the most.

 

[Rammy Blue]

sounding good

 

[blue ranger]

Spot on. I couldn't agree more. It would be a MASSIVE signing for us. He would immediately improve us. Like a statement signing that we wanted all summer long after winning the treble.

No way are Inter selling a major player 2 weeks before the end of the window. They will want to do well in league and champions league. Hope I’m wrong but I don’t think it will be him.

 

[blinkblue]

If we flog Philips and don't get a replacement it might be an idea to keep THB around for the year to fill in at CB for Akanji/Stones while they're in midfield?

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

I mean, Veratti is still available, lol. I don't see it - I think Pep doesn't want him in the squad, his age is a problem, plus there may be something about PSG and City not wanting to deal with each other. But... he fits the bill technically, and he is available.

Would have been a dream signing 3 or so years ago but he's wrong side of 30 now and injured all the time.

 

[blueparrot]

If we flog Philips and don't get a replacement it might be an idea to keep THB around for the year to fill in at CB for Akanji/Stones while they're in midfield?

If we sell Phillips and don’t buy another DM think it will be because we think Kovacic and or whichever other midfielder we buy can play there to rest Rodri. Not sure we will be planning to play either Stones or Akanji or any other CB as a pure DM.

 

[Mid Wales blue]

He’s a right footed David Silva, with quite a good left foot too!

 

[Haaland94]

No way are Inter selling a major player 2 weeks before the end of the window. They will want to do well in league and champions league. Hope I’m wrong but I don’t think it will be him.

That's a good point. However, if not him, then who? We need a world-class CM and we have 90m quid to spend.