4 | Kalvin Phillips - 2022/23 Performances

[oldius]

Why some fans are so keen to stick the knife into a new player, I will never, ever understand. It is at times like this that I would love a 'dislike' button.

 

[Crooked_rain]

I was never sure what this signing was about

I’d never seen anything in him to suggest he should be moving to a club wanting to win champions leagues etc and the most dominant domestic club in recent history.

I always love to be proven wrong by our players though and I wanted it to work out for him but it just seems a bit pointless now, for him too.

Unless we still see him as a future starter and Pep is working on him behind the scenes, I have no idea.

If his role at the club going forward is essentially the same as this season because we don’t really fancy him then I’d just let him go, we’ll still get a good fee for him, and it’ll let the lad resume his career actually playing football.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Even if we got back our 40M, yes it is still a waste of money because we are already paying for his wages, we paid the agent fees and the signing on bonus. Lets say he goes to West Ham, I honestly doubt they would be willing to pay him the same wages his getting over here, which in turn could be a problem for us if KP plays hard-ball concerning the wages, either we would have to cover the difference or sell him for less than 40M

No way we are getting the 40M back. Maybe offer him to Newcastle for 30M (35 if we are lucky), get what we can and get Lavia back for 15m.

 

[skillman]

Shame how it’s turned out really. Thought he’d be a brilliant signing but the writing seems on the wall if he’s not even getting minutes when games are won.

Pep sticks with certain players and makes sure they’re integrated into the team (Grealish played loads last season for example) but we’re just not seeing Phillips at all.

Something must’ve happened behind the scenes (hence the comment after the WC) or he’s just shite in training.

 

[decmancity]

I think I am on a completely different page to everyone else. Rodri is so key to what we do, the chances of Pep ever taking him out is pretty much zero.

Phillips is around simply in case Rodri is on crutches and can't get out on the pitch. I think I may have believed for a bit that maybe Rodri would get 20-30min rests in some games but its just not going to happen.

The lad may have thought he would slot into one of the other midfield slots but it was always going to be tough and maybe he just hasn't made the step up. Pep would have done his homework but sometimes it just doesn't work out.

 

[jamesha]

I just hope that he has been given clear objectives around what he needs to do to be considered for selection. There is a player there but he needs to give it his all.

 

[SkyBlueFlux]

It’s a shame because I can see when he does get time on the pitch he is clearly a very good distributor of the ball. Some of his passes in the little time he’s had in games had a touch of Pirlo about them.

That said the issue seems to be general fitness, intensity, and desire which I’d imagine is one of the harder things to teach. I still think he may have a small part to play given the squad you need to go deep in three competitions but I’m not holding my breath.

 

[Paul1970]

He will get the sane chance as everyone and will be here next season . Still a good player and will do a good job when can get a run together

 

[hammersmithlad]

Why some fans are so keen to stick the knife into a new player, I will never, ever understand. It is at times like this that I would love an 'unlike' button.

I think you mean a 'dislike' button :-) But I agree with your point about not giving new signings time to settle in. I'm fairly sure there were a few of us who were writing off Rodri in his first season too.

My main concern with Phillips is the deer in the headlights aura he has currently at the club where he's simply happy to be in the squad. Compounded by the perceived lack of professionalism in not getting himself 'Pep' fitness ready isn't the best start to his City career.

I suspect similar to Jack during his time at Villa, there were less strenuous fitness regimes (well at least for the star players) at Leeds in comparison to what Pep expects from his players at City. Looks like an individual who needs guidance & to be reminded of the pathway required.However, I do think if given the chance he's seems to be a positive character to battle & take on the challenge.

 

[decmancity]

I suspect similar to Jack during his time at Villa, there were less strenuous fitness regimes (well at least for the star players) at Leeds in comparison to what Pep expects from his players at City. Looks like an individual who needs guidance & to be reminded of the pathway required.However, I do think if given the chance he's seems to be a positive character to battle & take on the challenge.

If anything I can imagine a large majority of the positives on his scouting report would have been because he was at Leeds under Bielsa. Pep would have had plenty of conversations with him about Phillips for months before we made a move