Kalvin Phillips

[Dribble]

I appreciate what you're saying and agree with pretty much all of it.

My concern is more around the way that Pep publicly and very ruthlessly called him out for being overweight and has since shown little or no faith in the lad, leading to very public ridicule. That's poor man management in my book.

Yes, it's an employee''s responsibility to get their head right and knuckle down to the challenge. However, it doesn't help if their boss knocks them down at the first opportunity, and doesn't seem to care whether or not they can get up again.

Kalvin Phillips hasn't been given a decent chance to redeem himself, despite obvious opportunities in pre-season, the community shield and Burnley matches.

If he'd underperformed in decent runouts, then there'd be justification in fan criticism. As it stands, the lad hasn't been given a proper chance and as such, the level of fan abuse is imo completely unreasonable.

Two weeks ago, this was my mantra & I'd have agreed with you 100%. HOWEVER, Rodri's interview changed all that.

Twenty minutes before the end of the Newcastle game, Rodri looked fucked, & it seriously worried me that Pep would rather risk Rodders breaking down, than bringing on his CDM competition/rotation team mate Kalvin Philips.

It's with a heavy heart & massive disappointment that I've been forced to admit that it looks very evident that Manchester City have lost faith in Kalvin ever making it here, so would be happy for him to rebuild his career elsewhere.

Southgate could be key to this. If he makes it clear to Philips that his England squad inclusion is under threat, this might just be enough for him to start looking at alternative career options.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Mount!

Unlikely given he can’t play for another club this season.

 

[bluedave1894]

I remember Denis Leman. He was always on the team photos at that time. I also remember standing on the scoreboard end or the Clairmont Road end before it was the North Stand. When the North Stand was completed , City used to do first team updates on the scoreboard. How times have changed. Less is more, somehow.

Got really giddy when the new North Stand was being built, think the first time it opened was around Christmas 70. Played Huddersfield I think, only the lower terrace was open. Went to the match with my brother & his brother in law, Roberto, an Italian lad who was over for the holidays. He was an AC supporter, bet he was overawed by Maine Road & our massive floodlights et al, San Siro? no thanks. Pity he never returned to see the completed job, featuring our state of the art, Bolton built, electronic scoreboard. We've always led the way.

 

[I'm Blue]

I see dipper links again.
£70m minimum to the cult/cunts
Personally I wouldn’t sell them a cold.
The hacking, the bricking and the letter writing to name a few reasons and they’re their best qualities.

 

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

I see dipper links again.
£70m minimum to the cult/cunts
Personally I wouldn’t sell them a cold.
The hacking, the bricking and the letter writing to name a few reasons and they’re their best qualities.

He's had a disappointing time at City but I'm sure a move to Anfield would revive his career and he'd soon be the best in the world in his position along with his ten new team mates. Unless he developed asthma from spending too ;ong in the damp Manchester air.

 

[Blue Smarties]

Two weeks ago, this was my mantra & I'd have agreed with you 100%. HOWEVER, Rodri's interview changed all that.

Twenty minutes before the end of the Newcastle game, Rodri looked fucked, & it seriously worried me that Pep would rather risk Rodders breaking down, than bringing on his CDM competition/rotation team mate Kalvin Philips.

It's with a heavy heart & massive disappointment that I've been forced to admit that it looks very evident that Manchester City have lost faith in Kalvin ever making it here, so would be happy for him to rebuild his career elsewhere.

Southgate could be key to this. If he makes it clear to Philips that his England squad inclusion is under threat, this might just be enough for him to start looking at alternative career options.

I've still not managed to see this interview thanks to the amount of alcohol consumed at the game. What did Rodri say?

 

[I'm Blue]

He's had a disappointing time at City but I'm sure a move to Anfield would revive his career and he'd soon be the best in the world in his position along with his ten new team mates. Unless he developed asthma from spending too ;ong in the damp Manchester air.

He’d become world class in the eyes of the media just by leaving big bad City and joining the plucky underdog dippers.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

I see dipper links again.
£70m minimum to the cult/cunts
Personally I wouldn’t sell them a cold.
The hacking, the bricking and the letter writing to name a few reasons and they’re their best qualities.

£40 million I'd snap their hands off. Stops them signing anyone who would improve them.

 

[Lavinda Past]

I think you're missing it's everyday training where players earn their shirt to start the next match or not.
We never see that, Pep does! Pep and his staff are watching how they move, behave, talk, when they arrive and leave, physios know any single muscle and blood status.
We only see the end product of this perfectly managed organization on the pitch. And are blessed. Like many neutral fans.

We also should take for granted all the rules for players are made very clear upfront. We are on the historical mission to be the 1st PL club to win 4 on the trot. Everyone is expected to give more than 100%.

There is no point of what you call man-management, not for Pep. If a player doesn't offer what's requested he won't play, full stop.

It took me some time to understand that Pep doesn't want the role of a motivational coach for players, like we traditionally know it from sports managers. Pep starts one level above all that to get to the very top. He simply doesn't have the time, nor energy or interest to convince some player to be great.

That's why we have started to only sign players who already have the personality that's needed to work with Pep on a fascinating level.

All of which suggests poor/inadequate research etc by the club in advance of Kalvin Phillips transfer from Leeds.

My biggest concern is the way and extent that many of our fans have piled on to KP without any real evidence, in reaction to Pep's apparent 'dislike' / 'distrust' of the player since the World Cup.

I never thought the lad was good enough for elite level football when he was at Leeds, and was surprised when we signed him. The whole situation makes me think that Pep doesn't have as much input or influence on transfers as many seem to think.

 

[Brewster's millions]

He’d become world class in the eyes of the media just by leaving big bad City and joining the plucky underdog dippers.

Would be like Sancho all over again - the ultimate hype job based purely on him leaving City.