4 | Kalvin Phillips - 2022/23 Performances

[bluemoon32]

Was never good enough for us

 

[Lavinda Past]

If Fernandinho was still with us,he'd be getting a game before this fella

If Fernandinho was still with us, he'd probably be getting as many games as Rodri.

 

[meeesh]

If Fernandinho was still with us, he'd probably be getting as many games as Rodri.

Probably,but Rodri is first name on Pep's sheet even before a keeper,running him into the bastard ground,hope he has a night off tomorrow,should do anyway.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Probably,but Rodri is first name on Pep's sheet even before a keeper,running him into the bastard ground,hope he has a night off tomorrow,should do anyway.

That's what I'm getting at.

Until we get a backup who is somewhere near as good as Rodri, Fernandinho and Rodri rotation would be ideal.

 

[meeesh]

That's what I'm getting at.

Until we get a backup who is somewhere near as good as Rodri, Fernandinho and Rodri rotation would be ideal.

If only Ferna would have been 5 or 6 years younger eh

 

[decmancity]

That's what I'm getting at.

Until we get a backup who is somewhere near as good as Rodri, Fernandinho and Rodri rotation would be ideal.

Well that isn't going to happen. Not necessarily directed at you but I think Rodri is still underrated on here for some reason.

If you are close to Rodri you are starting in the CL, for your country and probably play for one of the top 6 teams in the world. That is just the long and short of it. Nobody close to Rodri is coming to City whilst he is still here.

Fernandinho was a one off, a player with vast experience and the trust of Pep.

Even then, Fernandinho was not doing what Rodri is now, he was being used to play in various positions because Pep didn't trust or have any other options.

 

[Keeper!]

I would say that's true in some positions but DM is probably the exception. It's the hardest position to play under Pep because it's not about just intercepting the ball and passing to someone else, it's critical to our whole system. He has to be there as an outlet almost 100% of the time to enable a switch of play or a pass out from the back or a triangle in wide areas. Then he also has to read the game well enough to be able to win the ball back and stop a counter or assist the defence in their positioning.

Rodri looked a car crash initially and there were numerous threads on other players to replace him. A lot of us are guilty of seeing DMs at other teams and thinking they'd be better, when all they do is intercept the ball and put a foot in. We need that alongside David Silva style tempo and control from a defensive perspective. It's a hugely challenging role to play. I believe Pep got the thumbs up from Bielsa on Phillips and believed he could give us that, and maybe in time he will. But he just doesn't look to have the confidence to be that constant outlet, the ability to control the pace of the game or - fundamentally - the fitness to cover ground and do a job.

I disagree over Rodri.

He looked class from the start, without struggled with the pace of the game/league but he showed from the start he was a quality footballer.

And again he is just getting better and better with age and experience, the greats do.

Phillips looks so slow and ponderous but his biggest crime is lack of enthusiasm on the pitch, he looks like he would rather not be on it.

 

[City_Sean]

Thought it was a pretty rank cameo in all honesty.

He genuinely looked like he couldn't be arsed. He walked and was bypassed without any effort whatsoever.

 

[meeesh]

Pep just been asked about him,answered the question by saying Rodri is so important,Pep is thinking what most are now it appears

 

[supercity88]

I disagree over Rodri.

He looked class from the start, without struggled with the pace of the game/league but he showed from the start he was a quality footballer.

And again he is just getting better and better with age and experience, the greats do.

Phillips looks so slow and ponderous but his biggest crime is lack of enthusiasm on the pitch, he looks like he would rather not be on it.

Yeah I was harsh in the car crash comments. But many were pretty uninspired and doubtful of his ability initially. It took a while for him to adapt to the pace of things and a new system where he was the sole defensive midfielder, understandably. Phillips as you say has shown no signs of being good enough in any department which is a worry. We've had many signings struggle to initially adapt but the majority have always shown the right attitude on and off the pitch. I feel as though Pep's comments today were more to give Kalvin more freedom and let him know that we're not expecting him to be Rodri because that benchmark is so high.