I'm coming around to the idea of signing this player. We wont get Rice, Tchouameni or Frenkie. Kamara is the only better option and I don't see enough links to him.
No thanks, and I mean no fvcking thanks
Exactly. I don't know why people continue to ignore these weaknesses and pretend Fred doesn't exist.There is a serious overlap with the skillsets of these players.Look at what in the euros? He was by far the weakest position in the side and whenever we played a good midfield (Italy) we were completely schooled in there.
Phillips has similarly good traits to what our current two central midfielders have. He’s got bags of stamina, loves to press, and is pretty physically capable. That’s basically McFred. In terms of actual passes per game, passing accuracy, and carrying/holding the ball under pressure, he’s pretty darn average and the stats show that.
Like I said with Rice, there's a reason why no clubs outside england are interested.
He is, but my point is that they're but under english tax. We should stay away from those players, overpriced and overrated.Rice is too expensive to be fair, no European club is going to spend 100m on a DM currently.
He is better than Phillips, easily.
Phillips would improve our ability in the midfield as he's a significant and obvious improvement over McTominay. He's also more natural playing the deeper role than Fred is, although yes there are obvious similarities there. A Phillips-Fred combo would definitely be quite an improvement over what we currently play with, both with and without the ball. Phillips-McTominay would also probably be a bit more of a natural fit than Fred-McTominay.Exactly. I don't know why people continue to ignore these weaknesses and pretend Fred doesn't exist.There is a serious overlap with the skillsets of these players.
Kamara's profile looks a lot different. De Jong's profile is a lot different. Somebody like Fabian Ruiz is a lot different. I can see all of these adding something we don't have and giving us some calmness. People go on about this ETH style of football as if it doesn't require us to get a grip of the football and we can just run around. It's mandatory that we up our technical quality, the top sides take technically gifted players and get them working their arses off too. You can't add ability to Phillips.
why?
The fact that he has been out for quite a few games this season and last.what's concerning about his injury record?
I don’t rate Phillips myself but I’m pretty sure Liverpool fans could have said the exact same stuff when they signed the likes of Wijnaldum.A clear sign of how far we have fallen.
Wijnaldum is a LOT more technically gifted, its like buying Salah, you can clearly see the technical ability and so his weaknesses can be fixed.I don’t rate Phillips myself but I’m pretty sure Liverpool fans could have said the exact same stuff when they signed the likes of Wijnaldum.
Right. Except people on this forum would be criticising the club if we’d signed wijnaldum from relegated Newcastle when Liverpool did. You’re saying he’s much more technically gifted now when he’s won a PL and a CL - were you then? Ditto Mane who many turned their noses up at when we wanted him under LVG.Wijnaldum is a LOT more technically gifted, its like buying Salah, you can clearly see the technical ability and so his weaknesses can be fixed.
We need to be aiming at better players than this. De Jong is a much better player.
Yes he was clearly more technically gifted back then than Philips is now, clear as day.Right. Except people on this forum would be criticising the club if we’d signed wijnaldum from relegated Newcastle when Liverpool did. You’re saying he’s much more technically gifted now when he’s won a PL and a CL - were you then? Ditto Mane who many turned their noses up at when we wanted him under LVG.
I mean I don't rate him highly but honestly how many English players are being linked to clubs outside of England? Sancho, Grealish and Kane weren't really linked to anyone but us or City last summer, Bellingham only seems to be linked to Liverpool at the moment. Its not really a benchmark to assess a player's worth and promise.Like I said with Rice, there's a reason why no clubs outside england are interested.
There's a reason for it, it's because the English tax. Everyone knows that buying an English player means having to pay more for a player of the same quality. Clubs outside England don't give a feck if the player is English or not so they're not willing to pay that extra.I mean I don't rate him highly but honestly how many English players are being linked to clubs outside of England? Sancho, Grealish and Kane weren't really linked to anyone but us or City last summer, Bellingham only seems to be linked to Liverpool at the moment. Its not really a benchmark to assess a player's worth and promise.
I think most would have Rice above him, if cost wasn't a factor. Fair shout on Neves too, but I think Phillips is better and would be more what we need than him. Both would be nice.
Just like Man and Van Dijk, he plays for Leeds United and is not shiny enough like Bellingham. I would love him in Arsenal to compete with Xhaka for the DMF role if we qualify for CL next season.I think he’s a pretty good player and could end up doing very well for us under ETH if we do get him that is.
Reading about people’s doubts around Phillips’ fit and talent (although the injury record is a concern) reminds me of that time when posters here were raising concerns about Van Dijk and Mane at Southampton as potential transfer targets. Not saying that he’ll become world class like them, but imo he can definitely take that step up.
Don't know about Kamara, but Bissouma looks good on the ball.Bissouma and Kamara would be better and cheaper.
I mean I don't rate him highly but honestly how many English players are being linked to clubs outside of England? Sancho, Grealish and Kane weren't really linked to anyone but us or City last summer, Bellingham only seems to be linked to Liverpool at the moment. Its not really a benchmark to assess a player's worth and promise.