Kalvin Phillips ‘disaster’ detailed amid extreme West Ham United frustration after Man City exit
West Ham United loanee Kalvin Phillips is a “very frustrated player” following his “disaster” of a move to Manchester City, according to Craig Burley
The England international has enjoyed a difficult start to life at the London Stadium, struggling in all four of his appearances for the Irons, the latest of which saw him sent off in a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday (17 February).
While several fans and pundits have already written of Phillips as a terrible signing, Burley has suggested that he could still come good for David Moyes’ side if he works hard in training and regains his match fitness.
Speaking on ESPN UK’s YouTube channel on Monday (19 February) he said: “He was a good player. I’m not suggesting he was the next coming of Rodri or anything but he’s a good player. It’s a classic case of going to the wrong club at the wrong time.
“It’s a difficult scenario because being chased by the best team in Europe as they have been and certainly the best in England. But you have to look at the bigger picture. ‘What’s it going to do to me? Am I going to play? Is it about the money?’ All these sorts of things.
“It’s clearly been a disaster for him and I think what you’re seeing here is a very frustrated player. An extremely frustrated player who’s not fit enough, who’s not sharp enough, he’s had not enough game time and he’s frustrated with his own performances.
“Sometimes, when that happens, it just triggers you. You’re not being able to do the things he used to do for Leeds and for England on occasions. But he can remedy that. He can remedy that with attitude and getting his head down.”
Will West Ham sign Kalvin Phillips permanently this summer?
It has been clear since Phillips first pulled on a West Ham shirt that he is not match-fit or sharp and that has been reflected in his recent performances as the midfielder has looked massively off of the pace of the game.
While his red card against Forest was incredibly soft, it was just another example of the 28-year-old jumping into a challenge just a second too late and he paid the price for it. That sort of recklessness didn’t happen when he was at Leeds.
However, there is still plenty of football to be played before the end of the season and Phillips has plenty of time to rebuild his fitness and show West Ham that they should look to sign him permanently come the end of the season.
Hopefully, once he returns from suspension, the midfielder will be able to put his frustrations aside and focus on succeeding at the London Stadium, rather than proving Manchester City wrong.
In other West Ham news, an update has emerged surrounding the Hammers’ interest in Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly
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