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Published on 2024-01-28 12:30:00
Former footballer Tony Cascarino has expressed his belief that Kalvin Phillips made a critical mistake by choosing to sign for Manchester City.
Phillips, who recently joined West Ham United on loan, has received praise for his positive message and is expected to make his debut for the club on Thursday in a match against AFC Bournemouth.
Cascarino’s remarks reflect the sentiment that Phillips is likely to play more frequently at West Ham than he did at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.
Anton Ferdinand has also expressed the expectation that Phillips will be an immediate starter for West Ham, highlighting the potential of his impact on the team.
Cascarino elaborated on his point by stating that Phillips had proven to be a fantastic player for Leeds in the Championship and the Premier League and had excelled for England in the Euros.
He acknowledged Phillips’ talent and performance but questioned the wisdom of joining a club where he would be second fiddle.
Cascarino believes that the financial stability and extended contract offered by Manchester City do not outweigh the cost of not playing.
According to Cascarino, Phillips’ decision to join Manchester City, where Rodri was already a superior player in his position, was not a favorable career move.
“If we rewind slightly, [Kalvin] Phillips was a fantastic player for Leeds in the Championship and in the Premier League. He was brilliant for them and England, by the way. He had at an incredible Euros, him and Declan Rice were superb in the middle”, Cascarino said on talkSPORT.
He continued, “It begs the question of, ‘Should you go to the biggest club at the time, that were winning everything and be second fiddle? Do you really think that’s a forward way of thinking for your career?’ Because yes, it comes with a lot more money, a longer contract so you’re safe financially but you lose everything by not playing.”
He contended that it would have been wiser for Phillips to join a club where he would secure more playing time. Cascarino added that Phillips’ ability to compete with Rodri for minutes in the starting XI or potentially play alongside him did not materialize under Guardiola’s management.
“I don’t get when players go to clubs and then know that the best player in your position is you will play very little football. I think it’s a bad idea. I don’t think you should do that. I think you should go, ‘You know what? I’ll join a club where I know I’m going to play a lot more.’ Rodri was there, he was always going to be Rodri.”
“He [Pep Guardiola] always plays one holding midfielder. He’s only playing Rodri and I think he’s [Kalvin Phillips] paid a price for it.”
As a result, Cascarino’s assessment suggests that Phillips’ risk in signing for Manchester City did not pay off.
Cascarino’s analysis provides valuable insight into the challenges and considerations that players face in their career decisions, and Phillips’ experience serves as an instructive example for other aspiring footballers.
Read Original article on Manchester City News
