Incoming? Kalvin Phillips

[Nick Jansky]

IMO one of the few players that can push/replace Norwood in the long term.

That’s what we have Berge for.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

Phillips berge and norwood could all do 30 mins each

 

[Brownieblade]

Isn’t he always injured or at least gets injured quite a bit ??

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Never say never, but I think we have other priorities this summer.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Riedewald is better than Phillips. And cheaper.

 

[Gin&Juice]

Wilder and them forruns

 

[DifferentClass]

Injured 90% of the time... and when he IS fit he gets sent off!

 

[Shadota]

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.

 

[Danetheblade]

Laughable. Genuinely laughable.

 

[ATL Recs]

Riedewald is better than Phillips. And cheaper.

Neither are the solution

 

[Blade56]

Neither are the solution

Wilders not the solution, neither are out absent “owners”.

 

[Nedski]

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.

He just needs a pre season dontchaknow

 

[Champagneblade]

Riedewald is better than Phillips. And cheaper.

And not always injured.

 

[Danetheblade]

Riedewald is better than Phillips. And cheaper.

He also isn’t semi retired, reliant on absolute roasters to offer him deals to keep him living the lifestyle.

 

[YES Blade]

At this point he might as well just stay at City, see out his contract and retire.

 

[Danetheblade]

At this point he might as well just stay at City, see out his contract and retire.

Why? He’ll get a longer deal from someone stupid enough to sign him. Whilst possibly getting paid up at City.