West Ham United: Kalvin Phillips did to journalist what most other players don’t do
Following his red card for West Ham United against Nottingham Forest, Kalvin Phillips surprisingly spoke to the press and was brutally honest, according to Neil Moxley.
It has been a tough time for Phillips since making the move from Manchester City to the London Stadium in January.
This has seen him make many errors which have drawn criticism from the press and West Ham fans in recent months.
The England international picked up two bookings and a subsequent red card against Forest away from home in his fourth appearance for the club.
Following this, Neil Moxley has told 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 used in a three-man midfield and didn’t look comfortable from the first whistle. His later dismissal was avoidable but came about because he grew in frustration at his inability to influence the game in any meaningful way.
Afterwards more out of hope than expectation, I asked 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 forthright. 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 said that he didn’t have to leave, he wanted to, to play football because that’s what he is, a footballer.”
How can West Ham United get the best out of Kalvin Phillips?
At his best, Phillips played as a solo defensive midfielder for Leeds United and in a double pivot for England alongside Declan Rice.
He found his greatest form under Marcelo Bielsa where he played at the base of a midfield three behind more attacking talents.
There is no doubt that West Ham could mould 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 could form a dynamic double pivot where both are able to get on the ball and look forward.
The Mexican is very defensive and registers in the top two per cent of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for blocks and clearances [Fbref].
It has been made clear that playing in a flat midfield three or playing further forward under Moyes isn’t something that suits Phillips.
It doesn’t look likely that the Hammers are going to make the move permanent but if they did, they need to build around him.
In other West Ham news, Michael Owen has been left fuming amid a recent controversy in London involving the Hammers.
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