Following his red card for West Ham United against Nottingham Forest, Kalvin Phillips suddenly talked to the press and was brutally honest, according to Neil Moxley.
It has been a trying time for Phillips since making the switch from Manchester City to the London Stadium in January.
Journo says ‘insecure’ Kalvin Phillips did to him at West Ham what most other players don’t do
This has seen him make many errors which have received criticism from the press and West Ham fans in recent months.
The England international picked up two cautions and a subsequent red card against Forest away from home in his fourth game for the club.
Following this, Neil Moxley has informed the Sunday Mirror (page 63, 7 April) the honesty that Phillips showed him post-match.
On that, he said: “I was present at the game at the City Ground. Phillips was employed in a three-man midfield and didn’t look comfortable from the first whistle. His eventual ejection was unnecessary but came about because he grew in irritation at his failure to influence the game in any meaningful way.
Afterwards more out of hope than expectation, I requested for a few words from him. Usually, players who have been sent off don’t want to speak. They duck out. Phillips didn’t. His honesty was refreshing. He was frank. He spoke about his time at Manchester City and the jibe- for which he later received an apology from Pep Guardiola- for being ‘overweight’. He claimed that he didn’t have to leave, he wanted to, to play football since that’s what he is, a footballer.”
How can West Ham United get the best out of Kalvin Phillips?
At his peak, Phillips played as a solo defensive midfielder for Leeds United and in a twin pivot for England alongside Declan Rice.
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He reached his peak form under Marcelo Bielsa when he played as the base of a midfield three behind more attacking players.
There is little doubt that West Ham could alter their team to suit the Englishman given what they have available to them.
As a DM he could play on his own with James Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta ahead of him and operate there.
Alternatively, alongside Edson Alvarez, he might form a dynamic double pivot where both are able to get on the ball and look ahead.
The Mexican is exceptionally defensive and records in the top two per cent of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for blocks and clearances [Fbref].
It has been made obvious that playing in a flat midfield three or playing farther forward under Moyes isn’t something that suits Phillips.
It doesn’t look probable that the Hammers are going to make the trade permanent but if they did, they need to build around him.
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Jonathan Jonathan