I remember a certain Bernardo Silva coming back crazy early from his summer holidays simply because we were so short of players.The two things that have changed my mind on him, from thinking "he could still make it" to "we need to cut out losses";
1. When he got back from the world cup, it wasn't the drama over the weight gain, but the fact he took the full week or two weeks all the players got afterwards. He'd been out for the first half of the season in a team that's hard to break into and the club had supported him in undergoing surgery to get him fit for the world cup - then he barely played, a few mins here and there. Then took a long break, that sure he was entitled to, but for someone who should be hungry to break into a team he really should have been doing everything he could, he should have wanted to be back sooner than the rest.
2. And this ties into the first one, he keeps going on about "all players perform better in their second season" and if you watch his documentary on Amazon his agent does too. The problem is, it clicks in the second season if you are playing, and if you haven't been then showing up and training hard isn't enough, you need to be doing extra. And I just get the impression from his documentary and his quotes that, lovely guy, but he thinks it will just click if he keeps doing what he is doing.
If it's a wage issue, send him on loan and pay the difference.
You like Phillips as a person or a footballer? Huge difference.I like Phillips. I want him to do well at City. I think we'd be foolish to exile him off a few hundred minutes of playing time.
Both. I do think there are areas where he needs to improve his game (mainly, his passing becomes sloppy when he loses concentration). But we've seen plenty of players go from 'not so good' to world beaters under Pep (Ake, Rodri, Foden, Stones etc). I think he has quite a good character. If you watch England's penalty shootout vs Italy, he's the first to run over and console Saka - I know it's a jump to say that makes him a great guy, but I do see signs of a leader there.You like Phillips as a person or a footballer? Huge difference.
Yep, Anyone could be a nice guy for 150k a week and the chance too win trophies.Anyone who has sympathy for a "nice guy" sat on his arse , grinning like a moron on 150k a week needs a serious look at themselves.
Complicated situation, as T points out.
He's not wanted, that much I believe. I think Pep's lost interest. He wants the nasty competitive edge to come through. If Pep can't get it from him, then it's time he went somewhere else.
Club can't be too nasty about it, or heavy handed. There's little point, and it could result in repercussions. And there's politics everywhere. He's under the CAA Stellar banner. CAA Base represent Lewis and Palmer *cough* and Eze *cough*.
Rudy's on a train to nowhere, halfway down the line.Maybe he trains like a MF, the 'Rudy' of the team and we jsut dont know lol.
Complicated situation, as T points out.
He's not wanted, that much I believe. I think Pep's lost interest. He wants the nasty competitive edge to come through. If Pep can't get it from him, then it's time he went somewhere else.
Club can't be too nasty about it, or heavy handed. There's little point, and it could result in repercussions. And there's politics everywhere. He's under the CAA Stellar banner. CAA Base represent Lewis and Palmer *cough* and Eze *cough*.