Premier League Games 30/31 March '24

[stan bowles]

I am honestly not sure it is a matter of not putting in the effort as much as it is not being match fit and also having absolutely no confidence, which can make you apprehensive about running back to defend a player that’s got past you, especially when you’ve been sent off recently.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he is having a very hard time mentally right now. And that will have a huge impact on his ability and performances.

So how does he turn it around then ? If you're a Hammers fan, would you want him anywhere near the first team again ?

 

[eyalluvitt]

We’ll be lucky to give Phillips away for free at this rate.

It seems like that season with Leeds was his peak (perhaps even a fluke year, a la Michu), has had a long battle with his shoulder issues, got a move that was well beyond his actual level (which is probably where Leeds are now), and is now being humiliated every time he plays, as not only is he out of his depth, his confidence is completely shot.

Feel for him, honestly. It’s not like he’ll have wanted any of this or could really do that much about it.

Does Phillips not have an identical twin who is on the bench for Wilmslow Albion?

 

[SebastianBlue]

So how does he turn it around then ? If you're a Hammers fan, would you want him anywhere near the first team again ?

No, but I am just trying to explain why this isn’t entirely on him and why I feel for him.

 

[paulchapo]

The curse of Kalvin strikes again......Seriously as a neutral what a game. It had absolutely everything. West Ham will be kicking themselves. Credit the Geordies it seemed like half their team went off injured. They have to be doing something wrong there.

 

[WorthlessPoster]

Must admit I was very happy when we bought Kalvin from Leeds. What has happened to him, is it all down to injuries? He was very good in Leeds when they were promoted to the Prem, wasn't he?

 

[dadnlad]

our resident VAR hammer will be along soon enough saying it was a penalty

 

[stan bowles]

No, but I am just trying to explain why this isn’t entirely on him and why I feel for him.

He was brought on to shore the game up and to see it out. He dallies on the ball in his own area like he's got all day and night and gives a penalty away and then Barnes moves away from him with all the ease in the world to score the winner - Phillips never got within 2 yards of him. Yes he's low on confidence and on his performances for us and WHU, it's easy to see why. He's not played well for nearly 2 seasons - that's not a coincidence.

 

[Coljj]

Just saw the foul for the 2nd pen. Bizarre.

I'll give Gordon the first because he somewhat had the ball coming into his space but the 2nd he's mugged him from behind. Just purely focused on planting his foot right in Kalvin's stride. If ever there was a VAR referral that needed the on-field ref to reject this was it.

I remember similar incidents with us last season where KDB was about to strike the ball in the penalty area.

Partey in the opening 10 mins stuck his leg out and Infront, didn't touch the ball, Kev.went down and Partey got a free kick for it.

In the FA Cup final Kev ran onto a loose ball and pulled the trigger but was stopped by Fred sticking his leg in, not to play the ball itself but to block Kevs striking motion. The ref didn't give anything and no VAR referral either.

 

[Akira]

Must admit I was very happy when we bought Kalvin from Leeds. What has happened to him, is it all down to injuries? He was very good in Leeds when they were promoted to the Prem, wasn't he?

Injured in his last Leeds season before we bought him. His form was already declining then. He also suffered another injury shortly after joining us.

But because not alot of people pay attention to players lower down the table, the blame for his drop in form is put on us.

Right now he looks like a player struggling to get to grips with the pace of the game. It's also not helped that West Ham is not playing him all that much, not that I can blame West Ham for it.

 

[SebastianBlue]

He was brought on to shore the game up and to see it out. He dallies on the ball in his own area like he's got all day and night and gives a penalty away and then Barnes moves away from him with all the ease in the world to score the winner - Phillips never got within 2 yards of him. Yes he's low on confidence and on his performances for us and WHU, it's easy to see why. He's not played well for nearly 2 seasons - that's not a coincidence.

And I have talked about why he hasn’t. He had a fluke season or so and got a move that exposed that, with another occurrence of the shoulder injury that had plagued him for awhile before he joined us (that the scouts and medical staff should have been aware of).

It’s not like he wanted to be found out as being a championship level player or continually humiliated at this level.

Just trying to encourage some empathy.