Kalvin Phillips

[billysboots]

Playing out of position is not helping, if the team was winning with him in defence it would be different.

[The Subhuman]

We went three seasons under MB with very few draws, only makes sense we'd get a string of them at some point. May not be winning but only lost one in the last five

Yes we played poorly yesterday, (for the first time this season imo in a whole game,) conditions didn't help and Brighton are a better team than most give credit for and well managed. In fact there are no easy games in this division.

We have two litmus games coming up at ER now, that may tell us something.

[Finnatic]

Where he’s been playing for the last two games IMO, is his best position, not quite a CB but a deep-lying DM.
He reads the game better, gets caught out less and can also do his Pirlo impressions because he has a fuller field of vision.
Where he plays for England he does it well cos he has the stamina to do that and Rice behind him as DM.
I actually think KP would be even better by swapping with Rice but that’s my opinion.

[weasel]

I feel he's not being managed well at the moment. He's being asked to play out of his natural and most effective position far too often.

He certainly is but by Southgate not Bielsa. He got into the England squad because Bielsa converted him into a defensive midfielder, quite often dropping deep to be in a 2 man central defensive unit when needed.

Totally different playing as 1 of 2 defensive midfielders for England when playing the majority of matches against teams that have only 1 or 2 players that are known of outside their country. In those type of matches you aren't in the team to defend or be a defensive shield, you are one of ten outfield players trying to find a way to win a corner so England can score.

[whiteswan]

I dont think Bielsa will have taken kindly to KP questioning our game management last week.

We know how MB is whenever his methods are questioned.

To be fair, a lot of players talk about 'game management', referring to the players on the pitch managing the game. Not sure it was a direct criticism of Bielsa, more about what the players as a group didn't do....

[1964white]

Hope Kalvin's injury is not serious, we totally lost control after his departure.

[Cjay]

Mike McGrath has confirmed that KP has picked up a hamstring injury and could feasibly miss the next 2 months.

The Telegraph journalist is a very respected source so presumably he has checked this.

We have played 12 Premier league games without KP since promotion.

Winning just 16.7% and taking just 7 points from 12 games which over a season would be 22 points.

[whiteswan]

Mike McGrath has confirmed that KP has picked up a hamstring injury and could feasibly miss the next 2 months.

The Telegraph journalist is a very respected source so presumably he has checked this.

We have played 12 Premier league games without KP since promotion.

Winning just 16.7% and taking just 7 points from 12 games which over a season would be 22 points.

Well, if that's the case then the management/coaching lot need to get over relying on Kalvin and get midfield sorted, earn their crust. It's ridiculous to have to rely on one player

[Overman]

With Kalvin out and possibly Bamford, this is a huge concern particularly with the games coming up. Our midfield with the likes of Forshaw and Klich really aren't going to cut against these sides. Other than Rapha, there really isn't a lot in our armament.

[mentalcase]

With Kalvin out and possibly Bamford, this is a huge concern particularly with the games coming up. Our midfield with the likes of Forshaw and Klich really aren't going to cut against these sides. Other than Rapha, there really isn't a lot in our armament.

Stop with the negativity Sir, didn't you notice that Roberts has scored and apparently he's class, surely he can pull us through.

[Carrick Dave]

Not being funny, but when is Koch back? Marcelo is likely to want to use Pascal in DM alongside Forshaw rather than bringing Bate in (too soon, opposition too strong next few games).

The other option, and my preference, would be to give Charlie Cresswell a run in the team. Koch will be rusty, at least Charlie's been playing & training.

Difficult few weeks incoming.

[1964white]

Not being funny, but when is Koch back? Marcelo is likely to want to use Pascal in DM alongside Forshaw rather than bringing Bate in (too soon, opposition too strong next few games).

The other option, and my preference, would be to give Charlie Cresswell a run in the team. Koch will be rusty, at least Charlie's been playing & training.

Difficult few weeks incoming.

Koch will already be in front of Cresswell in Bielsa's mind whether he's fit or not, Davy

MB obviously doesn't trust Charlie or else he'd have used him against Brentford.

[1964white]

With Kalvin out and possibly Bamford, this is a huge concern particularly with the games coming up. Our midfield with the likes of Forshaw and Klich really aren't going to cut against these sides. Other than Rapha, there really isn't a lot in our armament.

Dallas is more useful to us in midfield.

Klich is on the wane, he'll be gone in the summer unless he recovers a sudden burst of his old form, can't see it though as his legs have gone!

[1964white]

Well, if that's the case then the management/coaching lot need to get over relying on Kalvin and get midfield sorted, earn their crust. It's ridiculous to have to rely on one player

Our management to blame for this crisis, complacency set in, unfortunately.

[1964white]

bringing Bate in (too soon, opposition too strong next few games).

I agree

[BGwhite]

Dallas is more useful to us in midfield.

Klich is on the wane, he'll be gone in the summer unless he recovers a sudden burst of his old form, can't see it though as his legs have gone!

Klich would've been ok if he wasn't flogged to death, 2 back to back seasons hardly rested FFS ! At 30 he should be right at his peak now instead of the odd sub appearance. I'm actually surprised the rest of the long timers are still going but the club are in big trouble due to the lack of rotation and using the reserves more when we had the chance over the last 2 seasons.

Sent from my moto g(9) plus using Tapatalk

[The Subhuman]

Koch will already be in front of Cresswell in Bielsa's mind whether he's fit or not, Davy

MB obviously doesn't trust Charlie or else he'd have used him against Brentford.

Not necessarily, if he plans to start Charlie he can work him into first team practices more.. We have the depth so there are four or five ways we can go. Especially if Koch is close to return. I don't think any side not called Man City could survive losing that many key players but Bielsa trains for it so we have a better chance than most

Dallas to DMF, Struijk to CB, Roberts starts at 10,
Struijk to DMF, Cresswell starts, Dallas and Forshaw centre mid
Ayling to CB, Dallas to RB, Roberts starts at 10

James, Roberts or Rodrigo cover for Paddy...

[Cjay]

Struijk has a hip problem so no guarantees he will be back any time soon (or at the very least fit enough to.play ). Remember what happened to Klich when he tried to play through a hip injury, form went off a cliff.

Koch has only played once for the 1st team since mid May (as a dm vs Manure and he was awful). The last injury update we had on him he was still in the gym, aside from a light kick a bout with Paddy I dont even think he is back on the training pitch yet.

Koch won't be match fit for months.

Dallas can't play dm, Bielsa was asked this question before and the brief answer was no.

Also rumours are rife that Cooper is out longterm to.

The problem we have is we know how much MB loathes to use anyone outside of his 18 so in all liklihood Ayling will go cb with Llorente moved to the left side (a position he isn't as good in) then Dallas will go rb leaving an exhausted Klich and Forshaw's sticky taped body to hold the Fort either with a bewildered Rodrigo or a 1 goal in a blue moon Roberts.

[The Subhuman]

Checking the news feeds it seems that Pascal is close to return

[Cjay]

Checking the news feeds it seems that Pascal is close to return

So was Forshaw at various points throughout the years he was out.

Never confident with a hip issue myself.