44 | Kalvin Phillips - 2025/26

BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
And not starting Phillips against a who-cares competition with basically zero downside - either he performs well enough that we can move him on or he sucks and we rule him out... illustrates your lack of accumen.

As for Donnarumma - he's great at shot stopping when in his goal and when in form - to the extent that he won the award for best keeper.

But he's not great at passing. And ball control and passing has been our bread-and-butter under Pep ever since he's been our manager.

It's now obviously clear that we no longer are capable of having most of the possession against top sides - and Pep has changed how we play accordingly - we're going to park the bus against sides that are - let's be honest - better than us - and counter-attack.

As for indication of a "mental disability" - your post is spot on for concern.
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We asked him to give up time in the early days of his new born kids life , while his partner is still in hospital to be part of the squad which he willingly did. I don't have an issue with Pep giving him a few minutes on the pitch as a thankyou.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Cheers.

Perhaps this is true and perhaps we made a mistake in signing him.

Regardless - he's still in our side. What's the downside for starting him if fit in a competition that no one actually cares about? He should have started against Huddersfield IMO - unless he was physically unfit to do so.
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Is he better than rico lewis or Nico Gonzalez? If not, why should he get minutes at their expense. It doesn't make sense m8. If we've got a crazy injury crisis then fine, but if we have an option who is better then we will play that option. Heskey got in before him fwiw, so that's where he is in the pecking order
 
uwerosler28 said:
We asked him to give up time in the early days of his new born kids life , while his partner is still in hospital to be part of the squad which he willingly did. I don't have an issue with Pep giving him a few minutes on the pitch as a thankyou.
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Agree for sure.

But I think it's much more than this. Phillip's worth is unknown. At present he's not valued at all. Start him against Huddersfield - if he sucks so be it; but if he's OK or great - we either have identified another squad player whom we want to keep - or a player who is much more valuable in the transfer market due to his performance.
 
uwerosler28 said:
We asked him to give up time in the early days of his new born kids life , while his partner is still in hospital to be part of the squad which he willingly did. I don't have an issue with Pep giving him a few minutes on the pitch as a thankyou.
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F’kin ’ell. Give me £150,000 a week for 5 years and I’ll be happy to do that…! :)
 
uwerosler28 said:
You do know he would have got that anyway right?
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You’re acting as if he’s gone a great thing.

He’s done naff all for City or anyone he’s been on loan at and you’re giving him the dabs for missing a night or two away to make a rare appearance for a club paying him £150,000 week.

I’d say that’s the absolutely bare minimum of acceptable application under the circumstances.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
It's now obviously clear that we no longer are capable of having most of the possession against top sides - and Pep has changed how we play accordingly - we're going to park the bus against sides that are - let's be honest - better than us - and counter-attack.
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Speaking of mental disabilities….
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Regardless - he's still in our side. What's the downside for starting him if fit in a competition that no one actually cares about? He should have started against Huddersfield IMO - unless he was physically unfit to do so.
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It was his first competitive game since returning from a long term injury. Nobody starts a game under those circumstances.

Now, however, he has a chance to build his fitness by being available for more minutes.
 
Whether or not said:
I cannot understand the venom directed at Kalvin by some of our fans. He was never going to turn down the opportunity to sign for us, why would he, but sadly it just hasn’t worked out. But he didn’t come to City with the intention of weakening us, stalling his career, losing his England place, etc. I am absolutely sure he wanted to succeed. The fault lies with City 100%, in that we signed a player totally unsuitable for our style of play, and what has happened was sadly predictable. He comes across as a decent lad, he has never complained or criticised Pep or the club, it is just an unfortunate situation. People jumping all over him for a 15 minute sub appearance last night, coming back from injury, need to give him a break, it is just bullying.
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Not seen much venom to be honest. In fact our fans have been patient. The truth is he has been a disaster for City. Probably pound for pound the worst player to pull on a City shirt. We have had worse of course but not in the modern era. I don’t know him so don’t know if he is a decent lad off the field. But I have never seen him booed and he has been treated fairly in my view.
 
HelloCity said:
You’re acting as if he’s gone a great thing.

He’s done naff all for City or anyone he’s been on loan at and you’re giving him the dabs for missing a night or two away to make a rare appearance for a club paying him £150,000 week.

I’d say that’s the absolutely bare minimum of acceptable application under the circumstances.
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I'm not acting anything , just stating that I dont think a few minutes on the pitch yesterday was unreasonable based on the personal circumstances during the week itself. Its clear Pep also takes the human side of a situation into account which you seem incapable of understanding can and should also impact some decisions that are made regardless of what has gone before.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
It was his first competitive game since returning from a long term injury. Nobody starts a game under those circumstances.

Now, however, he has a chance to build his fitness by being available for more minutes.
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Cheers.

But appearing when up by two in the 83rd minute... FFS! That's bullshit.

Phillips should have been on at the very least from halftime.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Cheers.

But appearing when up by two in the 83rd minute... FFS! That's bullshit.

Phillips should have been on at the very least from halftime.
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Easy does it. It’s about catching up to the speed of the game and finding out if your physicality is up to the challenge.

Now, they’ll monitor any physical reactions. Hopefully, they’ll be none and he can put in 20 mins in the next game…then, 30-45 mins…then, start a game and put in 60 or so, then, see if he’s got 90 mins in him
 
What is the latest with Kalvin ?
With the recent issue with Gonzales surely he must get involved in games this month even against Exeter.
 
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