He was a real talent. At Leeds and during Euro 2020 he looked like a proper top-level midfielder disciplined, smart, good passing range. Not flashy, but very reliable.
Even at Manchester City, in those rare minutes he got, you could still see something. Especially those very controlled crosses and long passes from deep like he always knew exactly where the ball should go. That ability didn’t just disappear overnight.
But after Pep’s comments after World Cup, it really felt like something changed. Pep later softened his tone and kept calling him a special player in interviews, so maybe he realized it affected him. From the outside, it just looked like Phillips lost confidence after that point.
What also stands out is that he was always known as a great guy in the locker room. Teammates and coaches always spoke well about him. Not a problematic player, just a normal, good person.
Then came the loan to West Ham, and that’s where it really started to look bad. He didn’t just play poorly he looked completely lost. Low confidence, mistakes, no rhythm. Honestly, he looked depressed on the pitch. And since then, it doesn’t feel like he’s recovered from that mentally.
Now he’s at a point where it doesn’t even look like he’s Championship level, which is crazy to say considering where he was a few years ago.
What do you guys think can he still come back from this at least at some level, or is this one of those careers that just never recovers?
by nick_defiler
30 Comments
he was finished the day we signed him. it’s actually sad man😭😭
Pep’s comments didnt do anything.
He was finished as soon as he signed the contract 😭
Always thought the situation was a bit strange. Pep does occasionally sign players and then black ball them completely but not without trying a bit – obviously Matheus Nunes was quickly written off at centre mid – but for Pep to have soured on him so badly is crazy. Not sure if pep just very cruel or maybe we didn’t see Phillips and his attitude, idk
Hes been finished for years
yes
I’m convinced he was ruined by whatever injury he had before signing with us. He was a physical beast before that and at City he looked 2 steps slow. Probably wasn’t meant to be a Pep player in the end, but he could have at least been a high work rate enforcer in the midfield. The fact that he can’t even do that tells me he was screwed even if he had never transferred.
he’s well and truly finished the moment he joined us. i havent thought about it when we first signed him. but it makes sense halfway through the season. he’s constantly not in the best shape, being called as “overweight” by pep even after the world cup. it doesnt look like he put the work in on and off the pitch to gain the trust from the manager. he cant even do 10 minute shifts to see out the game.
truth is, he’s too nice for the top level. he’s happy to be here, instead of having the mentality of “i want to be here because i deserve it, and will continue to prove that i deserve to be here”. looking back, it was completely a red flag that everyone knows that he joined because he wants to be a backup to rodri. that’s just not right.. you should strive to play no matter what, not just be happy that you’ll be getting pity minutes. that’s why he failed. the mindset from the start is not right…
Yes
He had the chance for a permanent move to west ham and turned it down. That finished him.
He was never actually good enough for City and he has been poor out on loan also so it’s not a management issue.
He’s been finished for years.
His last day not finished was the day before pep called him fat.
hes never “started” to begin with. one of the most talentless humans on earth who somehow managed to fail upwards. my grandfather literally plays better than him.
I haven’t been supporting city before 2008 but I can’t think of a worse transfer in terms of bang for buck than this guy. Absolute scam
I always thought he’d end up being a monster and right back.
He did not look promising in his minutes played
He was “Bought Dead”
He looked decent at CB for city on the USA tour a couple years back. Other than that just atrocious in every appearence
He wasn’t quick enough mentally to play in our midfield. He was just noticably slower in his decision making.
It’s a shame because he was incredible in the Euros back in 2021, but these things happen. Injuries obviously haven’t helped
people forget how intense bielsa ball is. that man clearly drained him of all of his juice by the time he signed for us. phillips was injured at the time when he signed for us.
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes but who cares.
I genuinely believe there’s an alternate reality where that long range shot he took in the carabao cup against Southampton that hit the crossbar went in, we won the game, and he managed to have a somewhat respectable career here. Seems like such a nice guy but I think the injury, lack of confidence, pep’s comments, and his own lack of motivation were a recipe for disaster.
another perfect example of us buying choice nr 8 because we cheaped out on the first 7 options.
He’s been finished for years.
When we signed him, he was in his prime years, had played his way into the England starting eleven and was playing the best football of his career. He only declined from that point on, which is sad really because I genuinely liked him and thought he could become a solid squad player for us. Yes he had injury issues, but Pep’s reluctance to play anyone other than Rodri as a holding midfielder essentially ruined his chances of ever having a career at City from day one.
One of our rare flops, hope he finds his calling
He definitely needs a change scenes in another country where there are less English media exposure for his own good.
Unfortunately I don’t think the role was ever explained well enough to him.
Being in Rodris shadow is impossible
As a support role it could have worked but he never adapted into the type of CDM we needed.
Fitness and injuries definitely played it’s role too.
A shame really, he’s wasted his career for a payday
For me it’s just poor decision making. After his amazing 2021 Euros he should’ve moved then, and the city move would’ve made more sense. In 2020/21 Rodri was starting but Fernandinho played a fair few games and even a champions league semi final. If he went to City straight after the euros he would’ve taken Fernandinhos place and given Rodri serious competiton for DM minutes.
Instead he waits another year, Pep realises he made a mistake in the 2021 champions league final, will always play a DM and Rodri develops to another level, plays 33/38 prem games and every champions league game and they lose in the semis to Madrid in extra time.
Moving to City Summer 22 after Rodri has just made himself the first name on the team sheet every week made no sense. City then win a treble in 2022/23 and Phillips never even sniffs the first 11 again. Just poor decision making and choices has led to him never hitting his potential
World class hairline though.
You can make a case that his willingness to come to City to be a backup was a 🚩right out of the gate. It’s one thing for a guy like Scott Carson to come to City and know you’ll be bench warming, but for a guy in his prime to come knowing Rodri was a nailed on starter just showed his mentality. He just didn’t have that killer mentality and was just happy to be at a top tier club.
Kalvin Phillips reminds me of Jack Rodwell, a proper player for other team but somehow did not click for City, Kalvin probably at much higher level.
The weight comments were certainly heavy on him. With Leeds his distribution was top notch, with City it never reached those levels.
I felt maybe the squad did not support him much, except for Kyle “Forever Expecting Dad” Walker.