Kalvin Phillips

[WhiteRose]

Yep, would seem so. I'd already accepted Bamford was done, but KP is a big loss as that is our glaring positional weakness currently.

I was just thinking about the whole KP saga and will he be off in the summer. It may (pains me to say) pay for us to cash in for him if someone offers big-bucks. His injury record is not great, and we really need a reliable seasoned defensive midfielder to make our style of football work. I guess much also depends on who the manager is next season. Bielsa stays, then perhaps selling KP for 80m will afford us to bring in a player without the injury problems who can do the job and plenty left over for strengthening other positions like AM, #8, or Striker.

Okay, ready for the pelters headed my way.

Unfortunately I think you are right though it could be between Philips or raph - usually the squeaky wheel gets the grease and I can’t see Phillips been too vocal about leaving unless we go down of course. I’d be wary about either leaving really as I’m not convinced the cash would be reinvested.

[Lumiukko]

Unfortunately I think you are right though it could be between Philips or raph - usually the squeaky wheel gets the grease and I can’t see Phillips been too vocal about leaving unless we go down of course. I’d be wary about either leaving really as I’m not convinced the cash would be reinvested.

Of course, yes, that is a very valid point. I think Raph would be harder to replace (at least when prices for attacking players are considered), but KP is Leeds through and through, and may feel after all these injuries he'd be best staying for one more season since he's already an England fixture. Either way, it will be hard to find anyone who wouldn't agree that one or both of KP/Raph will be sold in the summer.

[BobHirst]

Yep, would seem so. I'd already accepted Bamford was done, but KP is a big loss as that is our glaring positional weakness currently.

I was just thinking about the whole KP saga and will he be off in the summer. It may (pains me to say) pay for us to cash in for him if someone offers big-bucks. His injury record is not great, and we really need a reliable seasoned defensive midfielder to make our style of football work. I guess much also depends on who the manager is next season. Bielsa stays, then perhaps selling KP for 80m will afford us to bring in a player without the injury problems who can do the job and plenty left over for strengthening other positions like AM, #8, or Striker.

Okay, ready for the pelters headed my way.

I'm starting to be inclined to agree with you. We miss him terribly when he doesn't play but if he misses the rest of the season (12 games played) and this is any indication of his future injury record then losing him now for top money might be the best for the club in the long run.
I have done zero research but as you said, surely there is a replacement for a bargain 50 million or so which gives us a large chunk of change to help get us a desperately needed midfield player as well.

[Kennyb41]

Unfortunately I think you are right though it could be between Philips or raph - usually the squeaky wheel gets the grease and I can’t see Phillips been too vocal about leaving unless we go down of course. I’d be wary about either leaving really as I’m not convinced the cash would be reinvested.

H'mmm yes that's now got me worried because i wasn't really panicking about Kalvin leaving if we could get 80m for him.
KP is absolutely pivotal to our team, before Bert arrived i didn't particularly rate him until Bert moulded him into the player he has become.

KP's position is all about reading the play, breaking oppo's down and distribution (plus some), i've always been of the opinion if Bert did this with KP, he wouldn't find it hard to do it with another ( Koch and Struik aren't for that role) Forshaw is the closest but only 70%, so it's proving harder than thought.

They are hard to find (Kante) but i'm sure Bert could mould another cheap option if the monkey with a pin could find one, hopefully Bert spots something first that he feels he can work with.

[weasel]

H'mmm yes that's now got me worried because i wasn't really panicking about Kalvin leaving if we could get 80m for him.
KP is absolutely pivotal to our team, before Bert arrived i didn't particularly rate him until Bert moulded him into the player he has become.

KP's position is all about reading the play, breaking oppo's down and distribution (plus some), i've always been of the opinion if Bert did this with KP, he wouldn't find it hard to do it with another ( Koch and Struik aren't for that role) Forshaw is the closest but only 70%, so it's proving harder than thought.

They are hard to find (Kante) but i'm sure Bert could mould another cheap option if the monkey with a pin could find one, hopefully Bert spots something first that he feels he can work with.

Koch and Struyjk are getting better in the role but it does take time - something fans don't seem to appreciate - to learn a new role. Forshaw is limited in the position and I don't think Bielsa sees him playing there apart from when there were no other options.

The key is Bielsa being able to mould the player. If we'd been offered £250k for KP prior to Bielsa's arrival I think we'd have taken it and likely KP would have gone on to have a fairly mediocre career as a box to box midfielder with poor shooting technique. If we'd bought O'Brien then maybe he'd be well on his way to being that player, likely the reason why Huddersfield tried to extort a king's ransom for him but without Bielsa how good a player will O'Brien become?

[1964white]

H'mmm yes that's now got me worried because i wasn't really panicking about Kalvin leaving if we could get 80m for him.
KP is absolutely pivotal to our team, before Bert arrived i didn't particularly rate him until Bert moulded him into the player he has become.

KP's position is all about reading the play, breaking oppo's down and distribution (plus some), i've always been of the opinion if Bert did this with KP, he wouldn't find it hard to do it with another (Koch and Struik aren't for that role) Forshaw is the closest but only 70%, so it's proving harder than thought.

They are hard to find (Kante) but i'm sure Bert could mould another cheap option if the monkey with a pin could find one, hopefully Bert spots something first that he feels he can work with.

Welcome to MOT Kennyb

I believe Forshaw has to start v Manure, Klich & Koch were nowhere to be seen with no outlet whatsoever for our CB's to play the ball to in the first-half. At least Adam will come looking for the ball instead of hiding as our non-existent midfield did against the toffees. This season, the opposition don't need to work the flanks, they just drive straight through our spineless midfield.

Pascal is an excellent CB even though he was poor & left exposed vs Everton, I'm still unconvinced with Koch, needs to show more fight & aggession imo!

[Byebyegeegee]

H'mmm yes that's now got me worried because i wasn't really panicking about Kalvin leaving if we could get 80m for him.
KP is absolutely pivotal to our team, before Bert arrived i didn't particularly rate him until Bert moulded him into the player he has become.

KP's position is all about reading the play, breaking oppo's down and distribution (plus some), i've always been of the opinion if Bert did this with KP, he wouldn't find it hard to do it with another ( Koch and Struik aren't for that role) Forshaw is the closest but only 70%, so it's proving harder than thought.

They are hard to find (Kante) but i'm sure Bert could mould another cheap option if the monkey with a pin could find one, hopefully Bert spots something first that he feels he can work with.

Whilst I think I’ve already worked you out for what you are and I don’t particularly want to encourage you but can I ask why you insist on calling Marcelo Bielsa Bert? Just intrigued that’s all!

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Koch and Struyjk are getting better in the role but it does take time - something fans don't seem to appreciate - to learn a new role. Forshaw is limited in the position and I don't think Bielsa sees him playing there apart from when there were no other options.

The key is Bielsa being able to mould the player. If we'd been offered £250k for KP prior to Bielsa's arrival I think we'd have taken it and likely KP would have gone on to have a fairly mediocre career as a box to box midfielder with poor shooting technique. If we'd bought O'Brien then maybe he'd be well on his way to being that player, likely the reason why Huddersfield tried to extort a king's ransom for him but without Bielsa how good a player will O'Brien become?

I thought that Koch played DM for the German national team ?

[weasel]

I thought that Koch played DM for the German national team ?

He does but was a defender for his club so h was actually learning with the national team so they must see something similarin him to what Bielsa sees. Plus without breaking down the exact way Germany play the role could be played in a totally different way.

[William]

I would sell KP.

Not doubting his talent or our need for him but we can't depend on him to be fit.

11 games missing already.
Gets injured on average twice a season plus suspensions.

Squeeze £60M+ out of someone and reinvest for the new season.

[Kennyb41]

Welcome to MOT Kennyb

I believe Forshaw has to start v Manure, Klich & Koch were nowhere to be seen with no outlet whatsoever for our CB's to play the ball to in the first-half. At least Adam will come looking for the ball instead of hiding as our non-existent midfield did against the toffees. This season, the opposition don't need to work the flanks, they just drive straight through our spineless midfield.

Pascal is an excellent CB even though he was poor & left exposed vs Everton, I'm still unconvinced with Koch, needs to show more fight & aggession imo!

Thankyou very much 1964, glad to be here, the posters here are a helluva lot more knowledgeable than them tsb thick fckers, wish i'd found you yonks back.

Bert? Short for Alberto, and i just find it quicker to write than Bielsa, although i do suppose i could just put MB, my Grandad was also called Albert so i'm quite fond of it, there's no offence intended.

[Orange Box]

Thankyou very much 1964, glad to be here, the posters here are a helluva lot more knowledgeable than them tsb thick fckers, wish i'd found you yonks back.

Bert? Short for Alberto, and i just find it quicker to write than Bielsa, although i do suppose i could just put MB, my Grandad was also called Albert so i'm quite fond of it, there's no offence intended.

You insinuated I was a TSB member in one of your early posts.

[Kennyb41]

I apologise if you're not.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

He does but was a defender for his club so h was actually learning with the national team so they must see something similarin him to what Bielsa sees. Plus without breaking down the exact way Germany play the role could be played in a totally different way.

Thanks for clarifying Weasel

[Orange Box]

I apologise if you're not.

Not an apology though is it?

Your basis for doing that? You must have read all my previous posts to arrive at that subjective comment.

[Kennyb41]

Not an apology though is it?

Your basis for doing that? You must have read all my previous posts to arrive at that subjective comment.

Look just block me if you want i really can't be arsed engaging with you (which is totally not me, so you're obviously boring me to high heaven) and your oh so obvious provocation.

[1964white]

Everybody have different opinions.

Please can we respect & be nice to one another.

[1964white]

Thankyou very much 1964, glad to be here, the posters here are a helluva lot more knowledgeable than them tsb thick fckers, wish i'd found you yonks back.

Bert? Short for Alberto, and i just find it quicker to write than Bielsa, although i do suppose i could just put MB, my Grandad was also called Albert so i'm quite fond of it, there's no offence intended.

Glad you are enjoying MOT our members are a decent bunch.

Albert was the most exciting player I saw at ER as a kid back in 1963/64

[Kennyb41]

I'm jealous 1964, no one can hate scum more than me, but George Best is in my top 5 greatest of all time scum or not, and i don't mean just football.

So this will do for me...

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/11/3 ... t-the-top/

[1964white]

I'm jealous 1964, no one can hate scum more than me, but George Best is in my top 5 greatest of all time scum or not, and i don't mean just football.

So this will do for me...

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/11/3 ... t-the-top/

Fantastic player, Kenny

Saw Best, Law, Charlton, etc play several times.

George often struggled against Leeds as Paul Reaney (what a character) generally marked him out of the game