What a transformation over the last few seasons.
Came in for loads of criticism from the fans a few years back but successive managers clearly saw something and picked him repeatedly.
He’s 25 tomorrow so not a youngster any more and really coming into the prime of his playing career.
I think it took him a couple of games to find his feet at this level but found his feet he has.
Everything comes through him and when he does make a mistake it’s usually costly as there isn’t another Philips to clean up!
Souness comments should be seen as a compliment. Souness knows his football and he knows this role and what he is saying is that he’s pretty much perfect in that role. Every player has something that they could improve on and I think if you ask anyone the one thing Philips could improve on it would be, some more goals or assists, after all he does take a lot of corners and free kicks already and can slot into that attack at will.
I would say at the moment Philips is a 60
Mill player, if he chipped in with 8 goals a season regularly he becomes 100 mill player.
There’s a difference between pinging long range passes and hitting the target with such effectiveness that you’re banging in free kicks and long range efforts.
If he has the appetite to go from good to great, maybe he does need to spend some time working on finishing, it wouldn't surprise me if he already does but not everyone puts in that complete commitment that is needed to rise to the very top, not saying that’s Kalvin, just that it’s really rare to see that 100% commitment to what you have to do.
Im sure we’ll see over the course if this and future seasons whether he’s able to add to this area, I think he can and we’d have one of the best players in the world if he can add that.
Kalvin Philips
posted on 1/12/20
Interesting stuff.
I guess it depends what the brief is from Bielsa in terms of Phillip's positioning. I know there'll be significant detail that will be gone into in terms of where he is expected to be during various actions in a game.
Risk and reward. There may be times he could follow the play to the edge of the area and if it breaks for him he can fire at goal. It is weighing up how much benefit we get from that against the risk of a quick break, being not where he would be expected to be in our shape and the goals that may have been prevented.
He certainly has goals in his game and pre Bielsa was good for 5 a season at last, two in one game against Bolton I seem to remember in 2017.
I don't know how rigid his positioning has to be in certain situations. I suspect knowing Bielsa it will be very deliberate. Maybe if you are playing a side not quick on the counter the, risk of him occasionally joining an attack as a surprise at the edge of the box might be reduced. Do it against Leicester, Vardy and co and the risk not worth it.
I am no coach so I don't know the answers. I am just delighted with the improvement he has shown and his impact on our performance. If he starts popping in goals aswell great. If he just keeps doing what he does also great
posted on 1/12/20
Maybe he was getting goals pre-Bielsa but he wasn't half the player that he is now...Rock solid now!
posted on 1/12/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 1/12/20
40m I’d put his value at, but doesn’t mean someone wouldn’t offer 80m. He’s like a quarterback, pinging pinpoint passes across the field, we need him to stay fit. I’m starting to think Forshaw will never be back (15 months and counting) he’ll never be fit enough after so long out, I’d be concerned that the intensity of Leeds training will be too much.
posted on 1/12/20
comment by The Very Rev Wilko (U21072)
posted 5 hours, 1 minute ago
Kalvin has scored some corkers from free kicks - where have you been?
Also if Declan Rice can be quoted at silly prices KP certainly can.
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I think he has scored 2 from free kicks, considering he takes a significant amount of them, that really isn't enough. The one area he needs to improve.
posted on 1/12/20
I fell off my chair laughing when Kalvin was breaking against Everton, was the furthest man forward with the ball - then 15m inside Everton half he stopped, turned round, allowed Everton players to get back, and passed the ball backwards as if he had hit a wall.
It showed to me his mind told him - why am I here? I've ruined our system, I need to get back and let others do their stuff up front.
That's a measure of what Bielsa has instilled - it may have removed some small element of individual creativity but it has introduced a clear understanding that the team and the system comes first, and any one player losing their position can lead to disaster
Others will see it different and prefer Kalvin to carry on and go for goal, but I found it a very telling passage of play
posted on 1/12/20
comment by Long Short Tall 666 (U19233)
posted 21 minutes ago
I fell off my chair laughing when Kalvin was breaking against Everton, was the furthest man forward with the ball - then 15m inside Everton half he stopped, turned round, allowed Everton players to get back, and passed the ball backwards as if he had hit a wall.
It showed to me his mind told him - why am I here? I've ruined our system, I need to get back and let others do their stuff up front.
That's a measure of what Bielsa has instilled - it may have removed some small element of individual creativity but it has introduced a clear understanding that the team and the system comes first, and any one player losing their position can lead to disaster
Others will see it different and prefer Kalvin to carry on and go for goal, but I found it a very telling passage of play
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If that was literally true then Phillips wouldn't be taking corners or involved in free kicks because he would be even more exposed if the opponents defence cleared the corner and broke away!
posted on 1/12/20
Don't think so NJS - there is always a change in formation between set plays and open play, and clearly a change in who is meant to be where
posted on 1/12/20
Fair enough.
posted on 4/12/20
agree with article..
not sure on valuation though, not too far wrong with 60 Jonty.. transfer fee's are a strange formula...
too many different aspects to tranfer fees so you can't really put an exact price.
how long left on contract, how much selling club need the cash, is the player wanting to move, are the buying club very desperate for that type of player, is he the only player of his kind to purchase.
do agree though, no reason to suggest he won't add to his game further, on an attacking front. if he does, its scary to think what he could be worth, when only 2.5 years ago, we'd of given him to chesterfield for free