Stones was 22 when we signed him and we priced in that he'd take a few years to settle and he'd peak in his late 20s. Forget voices on a forum, Pep and the club always knew that was the plan. Saying Stones needed time is like saying Alvarez will need time.
Kalvin, on the other hand, is 27: he ain't a kid. He's only a few years younger than Mateo Kovačić who we've signed as a wise old pro who won't need time to settle.
If he wants a career here he needs to kick on now. I've said elsewhere, I think it would be best for all concerned if we treat this season like his first one, and settle for glimpses of a player he could become next year, but he hasn't got time to develop slowly.
Who would seriously bid for him in all honesty?We cannot go into a new season with Phillips as back up to Rodri as he isn't up to stepping up and stepping in. I very much doubt Phillips can up his game and i wouldn't take the chance on him. Get rid whilst we can still get decent money for him.
There would be a que at the door for him, he is a very good player, just not an elite player.Who would seriously bid for him in all honesty?
We're stuck with him
Doubt it west ham apparently, who are looking for a player in his position see Gallagher at £40 million as the player they need.There would be a que at the door for him, he is a very good player, just not an elite player.
The issue is he does not want to leave, I am sure the club would be happy for him to go, if a replacement is gettable.
Stop pedaling this nonsense. Rodri averages 50+ a season for the past 5 years, his number of games is limited by the progress we make in each competition, not his fitness. He is only getting better. Pep isn't going to just drop him for a rest, there is no rest at this level, he is critical to the team.We cannot over burn Rodri again.
Because Kalvin does not want to leave, they did inquire.Doubt it west ham apparently, who are looking for a player in his position see Gallagher at £40 million as the player they need.
The lad doesn't want to go so of course West Ham have moved onto other targets or is your point if they want to spend 40m on Gallagher we are getting half that for PhillipsDoubt it west ham apparently, who are looking for a player in his position see Gallagher at £40 million as the player they need.
Stop pedaling this nonsense. Rodri averages 50+ a season for the past 5 years, his number of games is limited by the progress we make in each competition, not his fitness. He is only getting better. Pep isn't going to just drop him for a rest, there is no rest at this level, he is critical to the team.
Rodri would basically have to be on crutches for Pep not to play him.
If he gets injured then that is life. We adapt and move forward. If that is Phillips, Kovacic or maybe even Stones or Ake. Pep is not going to just stockpile playersPlayers get burnt out over time. The more seasons he has playing this number, the more likely it becomes that something will go wrong. There's also the chance somebody injures him.
You could be right, I hope so. As long as Pep can pick and choose when to rest him then we're fine. If something happens and he can't play against the best teams, that's when we could be in trouble.
If he gets injured then that is life. We adapt and move forward. If that is Phillips, Kovacic or maybe even Stones or Ake. Pep is not going to just stockpile players
It gets better after half time...I'm 38 minutes in and I'm starting to think I'd rather have Wilson Phillips in the middle.
Agree the difference between shining for a team trying to win things and shining in a team just treading water is consistency. Its ok playing fantastically well in 1 out of 3 games when you only need to hit 40 points but when you need to be hitting 90 you can't make mistakes and need to be on it in virtually every game. Your called out for the games you got it wrong in his position as it is. We have been blessed with De Jong, Barry , Fernandinho and Rodri operating in the defensive midfielder role with each in my view being an improvement on the last (harsh on Fernandinho but its true). Hoping Phillips can step up and be useful cover but need convincing he has it in him.The phrase "game of fewest mistakes" comes from golf but has a lot of applications in football as well.Most players including Kalvin can do some good things but my doubt is how frequently he gets it wrong, especially in a team like city who don't sit back it can be very costly. Wish him luck but think city's system maybe too difficult for his touch lack of quickness of turn,feet etc. Think his passing and tackling etc would suit most teams in top half.
Definitely concerned how this maps out.Might just get away with it keeping it very simple but like others not sure he's the right material.
I think plenty of clubs would take him, but we'd have to sell him at a price that they'd pay. Maybe about 30M ?Who would seriously bid for him in all honesty?
We're stuck with him
Doubt it west ham apparently, who are looking for a player in his position see Gallagher at £40 million as the player they need.
The lad doesn't want to go so of course West Ham have moved onto other targets or is your point if they want to spend 40m on Gallagher we are getting half that for Phillips
He's obviously pretty resilient, but I also wonder if the game he plays is less demanding physically.Players get burnt out over time. The more seasons he has playing this number, the more likely it becomes that something will go wrong. There's also the chance somebody injures him.
You could be right, I hope so. As long as Pep can pick and choose when to rest him then we're fine. If something happens and he can't play against the best teams, that's when we could be in trouble.