16 Mar 2024 14:54:20 Bermo, Not looking to get into a big debate would just like to note you say you saw Philips for what he was/ is My view on this is he is burnt out After Bielsa many of our players suffered this fate because of the intensity required by MB Then when players should have been resting over the summer Philips went to the Euros and was one of Englands best performers . While able to get to the level required to play at the top he couldn't sustain that physically, this is what Pep saw and then after this Philips confidence is shattered Needs a reboot but probably won't reattain those levels again For a period he was our best performer, probably Englands best midfield That's why City invested in him You cannot take this away from him.
16 Mar 2024 16:37:12
Leeds1970 that Ipswich your taking about well I do hope?
But you your are 100% he look done in just not the same player he Wes sitting on the bench didn’t help, sad.
16 Mar 2024 17:27:06
70 I don't think burn out is anything to do with KPs demise. Bielsa took a championship midfielder and helped him get fitter than he has ever been put him in a rigid system in which he flourished.
The fact he lost his fitness and turned up to man City overweight made pep not use him.
In my opinion it's a loss of focus after leaving leeds. This led to him losing his fitness over the closed season and he has lost all confidence by not being played.
16 Mar 2024 17:42:15
Ipswich are making up ground on our goal difference it’s going to get hard now win win every game.
16 Mar 2024 17:57:30
Spot on Ben
Nothing to do with burnout
Injuries in 2021/ 22
Loss of Match fitness from not playing at all 2022/ 24
Loss of confidence from being hung out to dry by Pep . bad man management 2022/ 23
England player of tournament in 2021 got him his move to Citeh .
16 Mar 2024 17:59:22
Whitey . GD isn't important according to someone.
16 Mar 2024 18:00:22
Not trying to take anything away from him. Just saying I saw him for what he was and still is when many including pep couldn’t see it.
Phillips is a player who of you allow him to play he will dominate the ball and hurt you… he showed this a number of times. Best examples of this was against Everton and Croatia… both games he was sat back off of and he played well with his range of passing…. Not taking away from him.
He is also a player who is too slow to be effective if you play against him. Mount showed that in derby game, Scotland showed it against England, man you showed it when he was at fault for 4 goals in 45 minutes!
He is not a dm… he is slow, easy to by pass and can not read the game… annoyingly I can not post videos on here but using footage on motd I showed 80 examples where he was at direct fault for being out of position and gave away a goal or free kick which led to goal.
Trouble is without that analysis which I had and showed while at leeds he looked like world beater because of passing not a useless player.
I saw this, called it out, showed this through analysis and now he doesn’t have rice next to him or playing in a leeds system which allowed him to be useless as Belisa didn’t care about defending everyone can see what I saw.
So not taking away from just saying as they say in the London Underground. I see it say it sorted…. all my what’s app groups that can see my footage and commentary (which is not suitable for under 18s or any of humanity) all praise me for this.
16 Mar 2024 20:14:33
Baz mate I no but if they keep banging them in it could well be.
16 Mar 2024 20:53:51
While I agree with some of what you say Bermo Phillips is a good player. He is slow and players can breeze past him but David Batty wasn’t exactly quick either. I believe he is more suited to international football with the slower pace and having more time on the ball.
As for having numerous clips of his ineptitude you could do the same on almost any player. Ronald Koeman was such a player. Unbelievable at certain parts of the game but on occasion could be a liability.
It’s all about opinions I suppose? You actually said before Shackleton was a class act and was way better than Phillips but I see Jamie as much as I like his endeavour a league 1 or at best Milwall level player.
Not taking the piss with Milwall bit by the way!
16 Mar 2024 22:07:49
I agree cork Phillips is good at what he does but too weak in the modern game because of his skill set.
I adore batty (who was a lot quicker than Phillips but then so is my nan and she died last year) but would batty suit the modern game.
Pace is so important now, high press, quick turn over etc all kill you if slow. That was always my point… if you let Phillips play he will kill your… but it’s Beth easy to take him out the game.
I was talking to a millwall first team player about shacks. I said o rate him… he does nothing well but does everything well enough
He said the same… in teaming he was a terrier that no one could beat, he can mark, he can tackle and is quick and mobile enough to do a job… just not flashy enough
As dm shacks offered more than Phillips but in modern game style over plays substance sadly.
17 Mar 2024 00:27:19
Berm you are very critical of kalvin.
How can he be so bad if he has played in a euro final and a world Cup for England? Yes he is and was limited in his abilities but in the system he played he was a good solid player.
In my opinion the only factor was the best version of kalvin was the version that was super focused and bielsa fit. When that kalvin left the building he was spent.
Every dog has its day but some have longer leashes.
17 Mar 2024 08:19:19
Agree with you Ben, Kal was a good player with Bielsa and his game. Fitness was the key word for Phillips and he hasn’t been the same since. You could say with all his injuries that followed were a cause of that period with Bielsa’s hardcore training.
He may be a spent player now but he most certainly wasn’t then.
17 Mar 2024 09:11:01
Maybe ben but I never rated him…
For me like beilsa too many focus in the strengths so didn’t see the weaknesses…. Rose to tied glasses… with both Phillips and Belisa I saw and appreciated the streanghts but unlike most also saw the weaknesses and felt over all the weaknesses outwieghed the strengths
I was very vocal about both and predicted both of the overall weaknesses and downfalls…. I got a lot of flack on here and rightly so
However years on it turns out I was right with both … of course they have good points but the bad points mean they have no place in the prem.
17 Mar 2024 12:41:56
Yes I know and read most of your posts on kp and bielsa before I joined this site properly. I too could see the good and bad parts of both parties. Kp was never quick enough or skillful enough for a top champions league like man City and had rodri in front of him. I often questioned his inclusion in the England team, but with the Southgate tactics, he was suited to that role where most of the play was in front of him.
A 100% fit 100% confident and 100% focused kp was able to overcome his shortcomings. I think maybe his mindset on leaving leeds may have reverted to the championship player that bielsa found 4 or so years ago. Bielsa's coaching and fitness regime was in my opinion a perfect storm for kp and I really don't know if he will find that storm again.