Seems like a lot of folk on here have been eating humble pie today with regards to Kalvin Phillips. I am going to take a big slice because i have driven Samu to Leeds and Bradford airport at least 20 times this year and he is now proving me wrong.
Last season he showed some early signs of been a very good footballer but has the season progress he got worse each week. You could see there was a player in there but you cant be a team asset with so many negative traits.
Non existent work ethic off the ball
Recurrent card waver/moaning to referees
Going down easy and staying down when no free kick.
Refused to challenge for any headers
Refused to pass to a team-mate as an easy option
Ran down wrong avenues
Would not shoot in great positions
The spitting incident and long suspension
I simply did give up on him. Two managers managed him over that period and nothing changed. His CV suggested this was a plight he had gone through at other clubs - why else would a talented player fail to make it beyond the segunda division?
Three games into this season and i am utterly amazed.
Last night i saw him challenge and WIN an header.
Hes chasing down the opposition goalkeeper with purpose
Hes chasing down the opposition and offering himself as a team player.
Ive not see him wag his wrist once.
Ive only seen him frustrated with the referee once.
He is playing easy balls at times.
He is releasing the ball quicker at times
He is staying on his feet more.
Hes taking the odd pop at goal.
and hes doing all this whilst looking trimmer, fitter, a little quicker which means hes getting away from players again, making a little more space for himself again so he can deliver top quality balls.
there i have eaten my slice of humble pie too.
long may "this Samu" continue
From Phillips to Saiz
posted on 16/8/18
And no, I have never said anything against either player!..
posted on 16/8/18
comment by LufcGermany (U6066)
How about people excepting we now have a boss that knows exactly what the players he's decided he can work with can do and let him get on with it?..
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posted on 16/8/18
Mike, I thought that was one of my better ones.
posted on 16/8/18
Genuine fans just say it as they see it and if someone is playing crap for long periods of time they come under scrutiny. Phillips was really poor Jan onwards, as were most of the team.
He's played better in these 3 games than most ever thought was possible, but we still have 44 league games left, a long long time to go and plenty of time for form to go out the window.
Saiz showed last season what he could do, but was awful after the suspension.
Let's keep fingers crossed we can keep playing like this and get some serious momentum.
posted on 16/8/18
That is either some of the best auto correct failure or Jonty sunk a few gallons last night.
posted on 16/8/18
comment by lufc - Harrogate (U6810)
posted 22 minutes ago
Genuine fans just say it as they see it and if someone is playing crap for long periods of time they come under scrutiny. Phillips was really poor Jan onwards, as were most of the team.
He's played better in these 3 games than most ever thought was possible, but we still have 44 league games left, a long long time to go and plenty of time for form to go out the window.
Saiz showed last season what he could do, but was awful after the suspension.
Let's keep fingers crossed we can keep playing like this and get some serious momentum.
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Common sense.
People in glass houses however......
Great start but means nothing if we don't keep it up and I suspect Bielsa won't be picking any player who turns in regular mediocre performances.
posted on 16/8/18
Harrogate, I hardly drink these days, half a shandy could have done that to me!
posted on 16/8/18
Jonty all is forgiven! I mean...we all oboe it's not alcohol u drink, rather Madagascan vanilla latte
posted on 16/8/18
There isn't a single Leeds fan anywhere that hasn't at one point criticised one of Phillips, Cooper, Saiz, Alioski, Roofe, or even Pablo. And if they haven't criticised one of them, they've got splinters for sitting on the fence too long.
We've all been proven wrong by someone so far. But it has to continue for a whole season for it to mean anything.
posted on 16/8/18
Lovely with a spoonful of Radapura sugar Mike.....and a pistachio meringuelet.