Incoming? Kalvin Phillips

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I genuinely don't see the value in us going after Phillips. Not only because of this loan spell, but simply due to his poor record of late.

His minutes per game*, after joining Man City, have effectively fallen off a cliff. The volume of appearances also drops off once he becomes a PL player in 2020.

*All numbers sourced from transfermarkt

2016/17: 66.4 mins per appearance (40 apps, 2,656 mins)
2017/18: 78.14 mins per app (43 apps, 3,360 mins)
2018/19: 83.98 mins per app (46 apps, 3863 mins)
2019/20: 88.1 mins per app (40 apps, 3,524 mins) (Leeds promoted to PL here)
2020/21: 82.71 mins per app (31 apps, 2,564 mins)
2021/22: 82.39 mins per app (23 apps, 1,895 mins) (Joins Man C after this season)
2022/23: 28.33 mins per app (21 apps, 595 mins)
2023/24: 31.95 mins per app (20 apps, 639 mins) (Loaned to West Ham during this season)
2024/25: 66.55 mins per app (22 apps, 1,464 mins) (Loaned to Ipswich during this season)
2025/26: 42.25 mins per app (4 apps, 169 mins)

I also looked at his injury record on transfermarkt. They have recorded injuries for Phillips every season for the last 6 years besides 2023/24 (oldest recorded injury absence is from the 2020/21 season). These total 59 missed games, and 466 days.

Considering we've just released Riedewald, and his biggest, most prominent flaw was his apparent inability to complete 90 mins, why would we then want to replace him, with someone who in recent years, has also only shown an inability to complete games? His best return since joining Man City was no better than we've been getting from Jairo, and in that season he only completed 9 games.

In addition, his style of play is one we already have well covered in our squad. He is a ball player, one to move the ball around the field into areas of promise where his team can look to progress attacks. We already have both Arblaster and Rothwell under contract, who are both able to fill that role. Having let Jairo leave, we are in desperate need of a man who can win the ball and break up opposition attacks - Phillips is not this. Across his career, he typically averages 1-2 tackles, and 1-2 interceptions per game. Given the general lack of mobility in our current midfield options, we are crying out for (forgive the exaggerated example here) an N'Golo Kante type player - an Energiser bunny, who will chase the ball down all day in his own half, nick it back in the most unlikely of circumstances, and can then pass it on to a teammate who is more adept at ball progression.

I unfortunately don't have any suggestions to hand as far as players to fit this mould are concerned (a consequence of my watching a very limited amount of football lately), but I would expect that if the club were to put their minds to it, they ought to be able to find some very affordable options that would cover this shortfall within our squad very well.
 
Shadota said:
I genuinely don't see the value in us going after Phillips. Not only because of this loan spell, but simply due to his poor record of late.

His minutes per game*, after joining Man City, have effectively fallen off a cliff. The volume of appearances also drops off once he becomes a PL player in 2020.

*All numbers sourced from transfermarkt

2016/17: 66.4 mins per appearance (40 apps, 2,656 mins)
2017/18: 78.14 mins per app (43 apps, 3,360 mins)
2018/19: 83.98 mins per app (46 apps, 3863 mins)
2019/20: 88.1 mins per app (40 apps, 3,524 mins) (Leeds promoted to PL here)
2020/21: 82.71 mins per app (31 apps, 2,564 mins)
2021/22: 82.39 mins per app (23 apps, 1,895 mins) (Joins Man C after this season)
2022/23: 28.33 mins per app (21 apps, 595 mins)
2023/24: 31.95 mins per app (20 apps, 639 mins) (Loaned to West Ham during this season)
2024/25: 66.55 mins per app (22 apps, 1,464 mins) (Loaned to Ipswich during this season)
2025/26: 42.25 mins per app (4 apps, 169 mins)

I also looked at his injury record on transfermarkt. They have recorded injuries for Phillips every season for the last 6 years besides 2023/24 (oldest recorded injury absence is from the 2020/21 season). These total 59 missed games, and 466 days.

Considering we've just released Riedewald, and his biggest, most prominent flaw was his apparent inability to complete 90 mins, why would we then want to replace him, with someone who in recent years, has also only shown an inability to complete games? His best return since joining Man City was no better than we've been getting from Jairo, and in that season he only completed 9 games.

In addition, his style of play is one we already have well covered in our squad. He is a ball player, one to move the ball around the field into areas of promise where his team can look to progress attacks. We already have both Arblaster and Rothwell under contract, who are both able to fill that role. Having let Jairo leave, we are in desperate need of a man who can win the ball and break up opposition attacks - Phillips is not this. Across his career, he typically averages 1-2 tackles, and 1-2 interceptions per game. Given the general lack of mobility in our current midfield options, we are crying out for (forgive the exaggerated example here) an N'Golo Kante type player - an Energiser bunny, who will chase the ball down all day in his own half, nick it back in the most unlikely of circumstances, and can then pass it on to a teammate who is more adept at ball progression.

I unfortunately don't have any suggestions to hand as far as players to fit this mould are concerned (a consequence of my watching a very limited amount of football lately), but I would expect that if the club were to put their minds to it, they ought to be able to find some very affordable options that would cover this shortfall within our squad very well.
Click to expand...
He just needs a pre season dontchaknow
 



Well I did say I hope he can get his hunger back at a new club and a full pre season Ali is a basket case
 
Bladeloyal said:
Well I did say I hope he can get his hunger back at a new club and a full pre season Ali is a basket case
Click to expand...
He was a disastrous signing. I don’t get the obsession with him. We could do far better with the money we have than spunking it on yet another washed up has been.
 
He's under contract on silly money until June 28 , he's also 30 and not going to get fitter or less injury prone .

The risks outweigh the benefits regarding his motivation , injury record and he'll never be our player so zero sell on.
 
Bladeloyal said:
Well I did say I hope he can get his hunger back at a new club and a full pre season Ali is a basket case
Click to expand...
Alli has well-documented, immensely valid reasons for struggling to stay on "the straight and narrow". Calling him a "basket case" is horrendously disrespectful considering what he has been through.

To my knowledge, Phillips has had none of that.
 



If he can stay fit he'd be a big upgrade on what we've got. Cannot afford to have another Tom Davies situation though
 
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