He was to be Guardiola’s next GREAT midfielder, but he VANISHED

[@flapjack34]

Easily the most consistent KZbinr we have on the platform, I’ve never watched a bad video from bro.

[@silvesta5027]

HITC sevens and Maqwell are great too, but Adrian is my 🐐. I genuinely couldn’t ask for more from a football youtube channel

[@TheOnlyTaps]

This 💯💯💯

[@_viresh_]

Half of his vids are average how low are your standards😂😂😂😂

[@TheOnlyTaps]

@@_viresh_ and yet you're also watching and commenting like the rest of us.

[@12thMandalorian]

@@silvesta5027 used to love HITC Sevens but that dude is far to politically that I unsubbed

[@sh2157]

Phillips is from my city (Leeds). Unfortunate that he's going through a rough patch as he's a top, top lad who has stayed very humble despite his success.

[@pedropierre9594]

I remember seeing his transfer and thinking “ that man will not start over Rodri “

[@DharmendraYadav-nh5qq]

Man rodri is on levels above any defensive mid in current scene. Taking his place is almost impossible.

[@christiangayle8969]

Not so much about starting over rodri but it’s how incompatible he is with the system city plays

[@justsomedude759]

​@christiangayle8969 i agree with this being the better argument that fighting against rodri for a starting position. Kalvin phillips was never going to be a regular starter even when rodri's not there.

[@justsomedude759]

​@christiangayle8969 i agree with this being the better argument that fighting against rodri for a starting position. Kalvin phillips was never going to be a regular starter even when rodri's not there.

[@justsomedude759]

​@christiangayle8969 i agree with this being the better argument that fighting against rodri for a starting position. Kalvin phillips was never going to be a regular starter even when rodri's not there.

[@thejungwookim]

The issue with Phillips is that he should've spent his first season in a City kit learning how to play the Pep way, as Grealish struggled but slowly learned to do so. If Pep doesn't trust a player, he won't bother using him until he's ready.

[@JamesCM86]

Was he even given a chance?

[@karmaascendant3936]

@@JamesCM86pep’s not gonna deploy a player if they can’t meet his training standards. He said Nunes this season doesn’t have a good enough first touch so he’s on the bench

[@archaicrapture]

​@karmaascendant3936 Nunes was a panic buy. I don't think he fits in the Man City team. He's good but the games he has played are [meh]. This goes for Paqueta too.

[@archaicrapture]

​@@JamesCM86Nope. He wasn't. Phillips is very different from Rodri. The closest comparison would be Rice. This season's starting 11 + Phillips would be great for offense since that's their play profile.

[@yoditan]

I remember when Man City bought him thinking he was never going to be a starter for them with the midfielders they have. But he isn’t even getting to play when players need a rest or play much as a sub. Liverpool, Man U and West Ham were interested in him and he would have probably gotten game time had he gone to one of them. Instead he’s wasted 1.5 season of his career.

[@tusia3899]

No chance a Leeds born player would go to Man United when he had other options I think. But he should have gone to Liverpool and at least have a go at starting games

[@fatdaddy1996]

He would have been excellent for Arsenal!

[@madridfan89]

The man city version of Danny Drinkwater

[@TheOnlyTaps]

Yup 💯. And City's actually had a lot of them coz even before Pep they used to always sign a random good player from within the league that would never end up actually playing much. Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair for example. Doing well at their sides but then once they made the jump up either couldn't establish themselves or were just far behind in the pecking order to cement a starting spot.

[@pendafen7405]

Asset stripping, pure and simple. "I don't want him but I don't want anyone else to have him either." They did the same with Grealish, who's declined in form and isn't the same player he was.

[@khalil42]

drinkwater 💀

[@zapre2284]

Basically

[@crystallan21]

Phillips isnt good in the tight spaces,and Pep hates that

[@pendafen7405]

Kalvin's background tells you why he won't leave City for the sake of his reputation and his game. Poor lad grew up starving in relative poverty, and at City he's getting megabucks. He'll do nothing and collect his cheque for as many years as he can, like Scott Carson does, if it means never going back to that life and putting his family back there. Who could blame him? It's not even about a ball game of 90 minutes at this point, it's about financial security and nothing more.

[@jawangnan7150]

he already secured enough money living 100 lifes

[@pendafen7405]

@@jawangnan7150 of course, his money worries are over. People who grow up in poverty, relative or otherwise, never really let go of the fear of lack, though. One imagines Kalvin hasn't let go of his desperation not to be poor again.

[@bluecheese20401]

As a Leeds fan I've so much love for Phillips. I cant blame him for going to city...who wouldn't...if didn't work out...OK fair enough. He needs to leave and find his level. No shame in not making it in the best team in the world.

[@andreastorti6856]

Kalvin was one of mu favourite mid while at leeds and i always thought he was a perfect fit for mancity. I think the big problem was the shift of style that city had from fernandinho to rodri and how also pep changed how he handle the games. Now city wants to be always in control with the ball to a point that i think pep would play bernardo as CB instead of a CB that is not elite with his feet. Kalvin instead fits better a style where he can be the defensive mid that cover a lot of space left by his teammates and set the start of the build up play with a quick counterattack. I feel like if he goes to liverpool or even arsenal he could bounce back pretty fast if he stays healthy

[@moreece1713]

He went to a club that doesn't compliment his abilities, he should have went to West ham or another counter attacking team like Brighton

[@udhaypandiyan754]

adrian just nods his head on the calls bro looking like a gif

[@slyarsenal]

As an Arsenal fan, I can't believe the amount of ignorant fans that don't want Phillips purely judging him on a lack of minutes at City. He's a good long range passer and works tirelessly. He would be a great player for us

[@rafadinhoforlahm]

Him and Rice would be brilliant for you lot. As a replacement for Partey, it’d pretty much complete your team. Find a LB and GK (imo you guys should go for Remiro from Sociedad) and you’re set.

[@catchnkill]

Don't be delusional. Man City will never sell their player to Arsenal again. We are a genuine title contender. They sold players to us because we were a top 6 team. And presented no challenge to them.

[@TheOnlyTaps]

Great watch and coverage as always chief 🙏🏿👊🏿. Not a City fan but i hope Kalvin eventually either breaks into the team or leaves for his own good. Coz i was actually mentioning in another comment who mentioned Drinkwater for Chelsea, City have so many of these players over the years that they collect from within the league but never end up using them much. Reminds me of the Jack Rodwell's, Scott Sinclair's and Wilfried Bony's of the world. Decent players but either couldn't break into the team at City or couldn't seize the chances they got and end up just wasting away on the bench. I feel like for those players sometimes you gotta go on loan or something coz your career will stagnate if you arent careful. Coz even using the team i support Real Madrid as an example we ended up losing a lot of good young talent in recent times to other clubs purely coz they couldn't get games for us and it was a shame but ultimately good for both the club and those players careers. Will be interesting to see how Pep eventually utilizes him tho coz i could see him carving out a Fabian Delph type role if he stays at City sometime down the line, but only time will tell.

[@sususegar]

Nah, it's quite simple. One of the biggest reason he was bought by City was for the homegrown numbers requirement, with Sterling leaving (one HG less) and coincidentally Fernandinho too (need a MF), while he was a rising talent at a relegated Leeds. Simply an inexpensive marriage of convenience - even more so important to keep now that the number of English players at City have shrunk this season. Why do you think they're keeping Scott Carson? He's certainly not the typical ball playing sweeper-keeper Pep likes to have. And now with Gundogan gone (let's just include Palmer too for the sake of HG argument) yet they went and get Kovacic and Nunes, it's clear now even a supposedly fit Phillips has limited qualities for what Pep wants from a single pivot. Heck, even Rico Lewis and John Stones will probably get to play in his position ahead of him. You could say it was injury last season, but he did play a fair number of games in the second half of that season and that should no longer be a valid excuse now. To be frank, no one outside England really has any interest or baffled as to why Pep is not playing him. It's mostly the English media who are still harping on about this because he's English (duh), he's a nice kid, Southgate as a sucker for loyalty still keeps picking out of favour players (see Maguire previously), and he was a key part of the EURO 2020 squad. Sure, he'll get more minutes as the season goes on, but that doesn't mean he needs such a prolonged mental gymnastics discussion like it's some sort of agenda to pressure Pep into playing him more - it's as simple as he's not good enough so he doesn't get more games, even if compared to a near direct peer like Rice. Bet none of these same English media gives a hoot about Nunes or Sergio Gomes not starting more games.

[@JamesCM86]

Yeah, they bought him for the home grown requirement. He was never going to play

[@nigl2807]

@@JamesCM86 Makes a lot of sense. Find it a bit weird they didnt just spunk money of a promising younger player instead who would fit them better.

[@sususegar]

@@nigl2807 if City want to buy promising young players, they would and they have done that many times - Sterling, Stones, Alvarez, Nunes, Doku. English players get all the attention from the media for obvious reasons, and their price is more inflated for their HG status. It's not that complicated, these English media are just making a lot noise for the sake of it. Even when Grealish and Stones played more in their first season than Phillips does now, the media still managed to find shit to bang on about.

[@wizardeejay]

I'm sad for him, I hope he can find his form and happiness again. I had so much hopes for him coming as #4 for City same as Kompany

[@AK-lq8ig]

He was never meant to be a great midfielder just a back up for Rodri. The problem is City have moved to an even more technically demanding style which Kalvin is unable to perform. No hard feelings wish the best of him in the future.

[@pendafen7405]

6 months on from the treble, Grealish is now all but permabenched by Doku. At least he's got Phillips to kiki with on the sidelines. Wouldn't surprise me if Jack is quietly moved on a year or two before his generous expensive contract expires (2027-8) or when he ticks over into his 30s, perhaps offloaded to one of the City Group clubs such as New York, Melbourne or Palermo. He's good, better than Kalvin, but he's ageing, he's wrecked his stamina with substance abuse across years, and he's not up to Pep's consistency standards either.

[@louishogarth8315]

He wont go to Australia or Palermo mate Jesus

[@pendafen7405]

@@louishogarth8315 well, at least you sound sure. Presumably you have insider information on the matter.

[@friedrichnietzsche2557]

😂😂😂

[@louishogarth8315]

@@pendafen7405 so he’ll go to Sunday league level or championship straight from City? Don’t think so

[@pendafen7405]

@@louishogarth8315 as I said, you sound convinced by him at least, so I guess you don't need to worry about it, do you? We'll see what happens in time.

[@aryannautiyal9362]

Hey Adrian, great job as always!! How about a video on Van de Beek?

[@olamideoladoyinbo8220]

Take care Adrain and another quality video🎉🎉

[@JamesCM86]

He just needs to move to a club that will play him. It’s not that serious

[@T3J]

adrian you are the literally the goat my brother

[@chip0109]

Wake up babe, Adrian just posted a video. ❤❤😂

[@morgancarvalho4408]

Reminds me of the renato Sanchez situation. Amazing season with benfica and won the euro with Portugal, moved to a bigger saide and since then has been underwhelming, either bad moves or injuries, but nothing to do with his attitude. Sometimes moving up is the obvious choice but not the best choice. Kalvin is quality but I think he needs a fresh start. I could see him in so many teams it's ridiculous, maybe not outside england but who knows. Ac Milan? Even Man UTD? Or some team a bit lowe, Brighton, west ham looks good for him to bounce back.

[@Paulo.1984]

Good analysis. But don't you have Portuguese background? You kept saying Mateus Núñez, he is Mateus Nunes, Amos got it right strangely enough. :)

[@TheKalaxis]

Anyone who ever compared this guy to Pirlo needs to apologise for insulting Pirlo. Form (Phillips at his peak) is temporary. Class (Pirlo in every game) is permanent.

[@abrahamsneo7783]

Hopefully he gets the move in January tranfer window

[@bathcat3759]

As a City fan, this one hurts. He just isn’t good enough. Simple as that. Pep doesn’t trust him, and he hasn’t been able to give Rodri a rest or even start the meaningless games. He’s been a failure signing. He’s a nice guy, so I’m rooting for him, but the good news is we can go into the market and get someone new. I’m excited about that

[@Energize.Uplift]

I disagree mate. He hasn't even been given a chance to prove himself. How can we even know if he has been a failure or not when Pep doesn't give him any opportunities. He was excellent for Leeds and is equally excellent for england, albeit in a slightly different role. He should be given a proper chance to prove himself.

[@karmaascendant3936]

@@Energize.Upliftsure I might be talking about bit part appearances but I’ve never even been satisfied (6 or 7/10) performances when Phillips is on the pitch. I’ve been far more impressed by Academy graduates and other newer players like Gomez in terms of how seamlessly they can fit than I have been by Phillips. He doesn’t make angles for passes with even half the ease that Rodri does and when he does come on City’s build up structure completely changes and it’s for the worst. Phillips was never a guy who could be elite under pressure. His best attribute was long passing

[@bathcat3759]

@@Energize.Uplift I understand that perspective. But let’s be honest, if he’s never getting a shot after a year and a half, even tho there have clearly been times where Rodri certainly needs a rest, he still hasn’t gotten Pep’s trust to come on. What does that say?

[@tusia3899]

​@@bathcat3759clearly his performance in training isn't up to Pep's standards. We can agree with him or not, but Pep isn't exactly the manager to give players opportunities if he doesn't trust them

[@mg_phopla]

Thank you. I think most of the people commenting have never seen him play for Man City and they make their conclusions based on what they see when he played for Leeds and England. From what I've seen when he plays, few league and cup cameos, I completely understand why Pep benches him. Maybe he should get more minutes, but i'm not suprised he's getting benched so much.

[@JL29738]

I saw this transfer and thought to myself, this guy is an idiot if he thinks he’ll end up getting playing time. What a way to ruin a promising start to your career.

[@theqaz1828]

I was expecting this to be about Jack Rodwell from the introduction. Phillips is still a good player and will probably be fine once he leaves City

[@J0goBonit0]

Excellent videos as always Adrian! You are inspirational, I hope to one day make great content like you!

[@Jermaines69]

Good players can stand out in decent teams but on good teams they become just another player. Jack Grealish would be him without all the chances he’s been given

[@mikexstad1121]

Tbh I think they bought him without ever intending to play him. Probably just make the English player registration requirement

[@pendafen7405]

Asset stripping, pure and simple. "I don't want him but I don't want anyone else to have him either." They did the same with Grealish, who's declined in form and isn't the same player he was.

[@nigl2807]

Why does Southgate keep picking him despite him hardly playing at all?.

[@Aflaminglama]

Phillips never seemed like a decent fit for City. Not surprised it ended up being such a disaster. Injuries notwithstanding the guy just wasn’t good enough on the ball.

[@bartellconstantin6747]

Am a City fan but lets leave Kalvin aside, Sergio Gomes has been quite unfairly used

[@jacobalexander4167]

Damn, that's crazy because I thought he had huge potential coming from South America like alverez

[@bimanatawilaga7509]

​@@jacobalexander4167 he is spanish, La Masia product, and bought from Anderlecht But yeah, thought this season will be his time to shine since they already move Joao Cancelo out.. but seems still hasnt given the chancd yet by Pep

[@jacobalexander4167]

@@bimanatawilaga7509 my bad, I thought there's was another midfielder, city signed from South America too?

[@TheOnlyTaps]

​@@jacobalexander4167I think you're thinking of Perrone 👊🏿

[@jacobalexander4167]

@@TheOnlyTaps yes that guy! Where the hell is he? Is he lost I'm city's bench or he's out on loan

[@Maj1794]

Hope he'll bound back

[@alfie6098]

"Another Yorkshireman in Haaland" 😂😂

[@matthewmaayen1088]

One answer : rodri

[@zapre2284]

Another example of how the money clubs ruin any half decent English player. Think Rodwell and Delph at City, and Wright -Philips at Chelsea (Ironically after leaving City before the oil money)

[@MrGts92]

I felt when he signed for City, that it was mainly due to his nationality and that he didn't have the ability to make that midfield. Sad to say, I was proved right. English players in that level of a technical team, who have come from outside City's academy, do not do as well and have inconsistency compared to their foreign counterparts. The only one who has proved an exception is Walker. Every other English player that was signed, has been dropped at some point due to poor performances more than once and been forced to re-evaluate themselves under Pep. The latest being Grealish...again. He might have been part of the treble team, but with Doku just looks streets ahead.

[@hugolouessard3914]

We could really use him at Liverpool. We should consider buying him, although I wonder what price Man City would ask.

[@thegent2716]

This issue with Kelvin reminds me of Mahrez, but minus the injury part.

[@Ledoux26]

Bro we need a Olympiacos Vs Panathinaikos derby review

[@JonasFilberg]

He hasn been given a chance

[@flyingaviator8158]

Where should he go next? What team fits his style?

[@encorefootball]

Fulham

[@konzza]

As a Chelsea fan, who gladly would had kept Kovacic around. I think it's wild that he is ahead of Phillips in pecking order.

[@ckromuluss11and89]

only man who thinks he is worth anything is southgate, and that alone says alot

[@DaroriDerEinzige]

Maybe FC Bayern should look into that matter ;)

[@akankubayi1507]

Need a Liverpool analysis

[@timeslikethese52]

completely forgot about this man

[@barca-vibe]

Tbh he was recruited to rest rodri..but rodri plays almost every match..that made kalvin lose his level lack of playtime..

[@gw7120]

Homegrown quota that lad and msot english lads that City want to buy , english players arent pep style right 🤪

[@Asshat237]

WTF? Next great city midfielder??? It was obvious he was coming in to be Rodri's backup. It's quite possible he is still a very good player, but he is on a team where there is a GREAT player already in his #6 position.

[@10lauset]

Cheers.

[@zxcxzxc]

I don't think he's good enough on the ball but whether he's fit or not is another question

[@Ricoleary]

Great fan of your work but not a huge fan of two ads to start the vid then another two ads 2:16 in 😮🙄

[@boisesoccer]

Rodri's Victim 😱😱😱

[@jordannelson7248]

I don't see how sitting on the bench and watching your mates play games and win trophies is good for a player Kalvin phillips "won the treble" in the same way the kit man did, by a technicality

[@niamh9500]

He will get game time… when city are in league 2

[@archipiratta]

Man Utd should take a chance on ghis guy. You never know!!

[@akankubayi1507]

Need a Manchester United analysis

[@encorefootball]

Fulham loan deal in January

[@kc270352]

i think his been very unlucky with injuries, plus his competing with one of the best holding midfielders in the world, but then again even when Rodri isn't in the team, he still cant get in the team, now that Stones plays in that position now, he should leave city

[@FormerPessitheRobberfan]

He's not unlucky. He's just not good enough. Rico Lewis outperforms him in the double pivot role. Kalvin is our worst player.

[@kc270352]

@FormerPessitheRobberfan yeah man, most likely gone in January

[@abcdefgh-hy9op]

Nah he was bought to fill a quota

[@aisosaihama]

9:10 do city fans consider Alvarez world class? No doubting his potential but if hes world class, how many world class strikers have Liverpool had in the last 10 years then?! 🥶

[@nishchaychauhan8814]

Alvarez is wc.

[@aisosaihama]

@@nishchaychauhan8814 isn't this his first season in the prem? I'm not arguing with you but what's your definition of world class? Maybe I'm judging too harshly

[@ahkwaheart]

​@@aisosaihamaworld class is being top 10 (with few points of leeway down, if anything is up for debate) in your position, regardless of your involvement in the "premier league". Alvarez is currently a top 10 striker.

[@aisosaihama]

@@ahkwaheart okay, that's fair, it's not how I see it but that's actually pretty valid. My issue with that though is it doesn't give enough credit to what it means to be top 10 in your position, in a top league, over a sustained period of time. Form is temporary, class is permanent type thing, so to me Alvarez is in the top form part now, he'd need to at least do this for another season or 2 to be undeniably class, if that makes sense?

[@mg_phopla]

@@ahkwaheart and what is a world class midfielder? top 20?

[@vice0774]

The truth is pep killed philips career so rodri would not have a player with the potiential to be better than him.

[@ackelkelz6097]

Do a video on girona fc

[@sidikitraore7746]

the same thing is gonna happen to matheus nunes

[@Kevo193]

Was he actually seen as the next great Pep midfielder?? Lmao please he’s English. There are academy players in France and Spain that have more quality than Philips

[@Luis-kv8zc]

Only City can spend so much on players just to bench them. Like the snake himself, Nunes, who was once a rising star for us is now just rotting on the bench of City. Well spent 50-60 mil...

[@silvesta5027]

It’s upsetting as a fan seeing very talented players just - barely get played under City. But it goes to show how crazy their squad depth is Other teams have had similar cases. Van de Beek cost United 40 million and he’s been benched ever since. Ziyech was around 33 million and it was a similar story for him at Chelsea

[@TheOnlyTaps]

​@@silvesta5027So true. It basically comes with the territory with how much spending power a small handful of clubs have. Coz back in the day the talent would be much more scattered. These days (the past decade or so) a small group of clubs can basically hoard stars and have them rot on the bench. But it's not even intentional coz clubs want the depth and they can afford the depth so as a player sometimes you'll take the gamble on yourself, sometimes pays off sometimes you end up not playing.

[@Luis-kv8zc]

@@silvesta5027 you say this but teams like Barca and Real Madrid still do it smart. Most of their bench are either 10 mil or free bc they're youth products. Whenever you do see a superstar on the bench that's bc they're GOING to play. For example, Modric is getting on in age and Camavinga IS an important player that competes for his place in the squad with Kroos, Jude, Fede, and Tchouameni (he often starts as well) Real Madrid doesn't have a crazy def bc they blew $200 mil on them. They did everything with skill and planning, not with fuck tons of money

[@sususegar]

@@TheOnlyTaps contrary to what you think, talents were not more scattered across the league "back in the day". But it is the fact now, today, as there is more money across the league compared to the likes of clubs below the top 3-4 of Serie A and La Liga. You can even see that in the quality and diversity of managers below the top 6-8 now compared to say 15-20 years ago. I wouldn't fancy the Villa, Spurs or even Newcastle of back then to beat the current Brighton or Newcastle.

[@TheOnlyTaps]

@@sususegar Oh 100% agreed. I just meant scattered in the sense that players wouldn't necessarily always end up at the big club's to go sit on bench. Coz watching Serie A in the 90s for example every team would basically have at least one or two massive names as well as La Liga in the early 2000s my word for example the striker's that would be spread around. Nowadays we pretty much know the top goalscorer will come from Barça/Madrid/Atléti etc without fail. I guess that's where I was getting at with regards to that that it may have been easier for some players to just stay and ball out at clubs and usually only end up going to that small concentrate of clubs later on in their careers if ever.

[@hardingryan42]

Was only every singed as a back never a first team player but possibly not actually good enough for man city

[@SuperCityMCFC]

You can't get every signing right

[@ackelkelz6097]

Where is girona

[@sheva_sd]

He needs to join Juve !

[@ZeniWorld11]

is it because man city have to make a english quota ?

[@olliemac32]

City season ticket holder. He’s nowhere near good enough to play for City. When they have the ball, he’s too deep and when they lose the ball, he’s too far up the pitch. Absolute garbage and that documentary… awful.

[@CyperN077]

You should have had used a milk carton. It's sad really . It's crazy. I hope you really does bounce back and refuse his abilities that are clearly within.

[@1stmaterayleigh500]

Kalvin for Bayern Munich

[@sigben-shorts]

bad move could've went to a better club

[@cityslacker6221]

I invite anyone to go watch some of the compilation videos that City regularly put out. Whenever they show some of the rondos, Kalvin looks slower and less technical than our academy players training with the first team. He literally doesn’t have the skill to play for Pep.

[@langletprolet8378]

Just all the more reason to question why signed him in the first place

[@cityslacker6221]

@@langletprolet8378 tbh, I don’t worry about questions like that. Not every signing works out, and hopefully we can recover some money for him.

[@skrsundar1014]

Genuinely i feel Pep hasn't given him enough chance.

[@pedropierre9594]

Pep sees him train almost everyday, you doubt his judgement ? I dont

[@JamesCM86]

@@pedropierre9594lol, you think this is a decision based on training? So silly, Pep never intended to play him

[@jacobslater6787]

porky phillips