We have been linked with this player before Sandro Tonalia was banned until late next August from playing for Newcastle, because of his illegal betting.
And now a report in the Northern Echo suggests that Newcastle will indeed go after Manchester City’s 27-year-old England International Kalvin Phillips in January.
And it could even be a permanent deal – or a loan with an obligation to buy next summer, to help with the FFP rules.
Recently Pep Guardiola made statements – as follows – that he was not scared to sell Phillips to a Premier League rival like Newcastle.
“Would I stop a player from joining a rival? Never, ever,”
“I give my opinion to the club, and they decide if the transfer suits both sides and the player. Why? I think blocking a move means you are a small club.”
“Big clubs, they don’t care, they make decisions for the benefit of all three parties – players and both clubs and agents sometimes.”
“Really, it is not a problem. They want to go to Chelsea, United, Liverpool whoever. What is the problem?”
“They are happy to be there, the club is happy with the transfer, and the other club is happy with the amount of money they spend.”
“It’s fine.”
The number one priority at Newcastle in January is to bring in a central midfielder and it now looks like the number one candidate is Phillips.
News today that Elliott Anderson may be out longer than anticipated with his back in jury and well into next year before he can return – it seems his back injury is long term.
And at the moment we have 10 first-teamers injured with about half of them being long-term.
And Phillips has also been told by England manager Gareth Southgate that he must play more games if he is to make the England squad for Euro 2024 in Germany next year.
It also appears the lad seems very keen to get on the Newcastle train – destined for greatness over the next several years, under the new owners.
Phillips has not started one league game this season for City – so he’s really out in the cold in Manchester.
We have to hope that Dan Ashworth and his staff can bring Phillips in early in January, because he has a job to do at Newcastle with Tonali out for the season and Anderson out long term.
Manchester City have put a price of £50M on him but they only paid £42M to Leeds on a six-year contract in July of last year: we are sure a decent deal can be agreed with City.
We hope a decent deal can be agreed with City.
🙂
What do you think about this?
166 comments so far
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:31 PM
Comment #1Adam – your argument is flawed though. Phillips is training every day so he’s as fit as Dummett and Lascelles are in your example. And none of the England players are training regularly with each other. It’s not as if he’s missing out building an understanding with fellow England players and the England style of play.
Your point of a player slotting in because they already know the tactics is important though. Who knows the England tactics better out of Phillips, JWP, or Longstaff?
Adamn_92
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:35 PM
Comment #2TDS
Sorry I maybe didn’t make my point clear. I mean Dummett and Lascelles, it’s easy for Howe to think they’ll do a decent job when called upon. As he see’s them train everyday and they know the tactics inside out. Phillips will be training everyday, but not with Southgate. So he doesn’t see him train regularly or get the chance to tactically train him daily. So he picks him based on past matches for England, compared to Howe picking Lascelles and Dummett based on past performances, everyday training assessments, everyday tactics training and he he can be more sure that they’ll do a job for him.
So Southgate doesn’t have the same luxury of picking players based on regular training and seeing them daily. He can however, pick them based on their current form and being able to assess them weekly when they play for their clubs. Something he can’t do with Phillips as Phillips doesn’t play. Which is why I think it makes far more sense to pick players who are performing regularly, rather than ones who had a good game for you a few months ago but haven’t kicked a ball since.
martoon
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:35 PM
Comment #3Just catching up and it was a shame to see JohnJ leaving the blog – he is a real gentleman and hopefully he will reflect on his decision after he has calmed down.
I think as well as agreeing to ignore the trolls we should also have a gentleman’s agreement between ourselves that no matter how much of a slanging match you get into with another blogger you NEVER EVER bring any other family members into your argument!!
Adamn_92
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:36 PM
Comment #4Also considering Pep said Phillips couldn’t grasp tactics well, I’d say probably JWP or Longstaff would get the England tactics better 😀
Adamn_92
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:37 PM
Comment #5I’d be underwhelmed if we signed Phillips. But I trust Howe and the board so if they bring him in, i’ll be hoping i’m proved wrong and i’m soon saying how wrong I was and that Phillips has been brilliant for us.
Fingers crossed that’s the case if it happens.
cleveleysbob
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:38 PM
Comment #6Clint, from previous.. Agreed mate, I absolutely defend the right of anyone to criticise a particular performance or player if something’s been “off”, but to turn on the team, manager or Style of play overall due to one bad performance is, as stated, “bonkers”. 😀
Hibbit
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:40 PM
Comment #7what about the chelsea cat and a bit later on the tavern in s/s both very different but both good nights out back then
cleveleysbob
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:44 PM
Comment #8On Phillips, can’t say I’m impressed or bothered. I’d personally prefer Onana from Everton.
However, the Club have a huge amount of leeway with me, so if they “choose” Phillips over anyone else, then I’m happy to agree with their superior knowledge and get behind the lad.
Not much further to add, except I’d rather see a young striker and a young Schar coming through the door than a DM right now. Just my opinion. 😉
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:44 PM
Comment #9Martoon @3 Does that mean I cannot say “thank you” to Mrs. Martoon for putting the Rabbit and The Dutch Bulldog up on Sunday?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:45 PM
Comment #10and you of course
martoon
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:46 PM
Comment #11Sir Pugalot@9 – I’ll make an exception as she’s your sister 😆
martoon
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:48 PM
Comment #12Sir Pugalot – you can slag me off as much as you want as I’m on the blog 😉
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:49 PM
Comment #13Adam – but I’m sure Southgate (or one of his team) can go to Man City to see Phillips train. They can also run tests on him to assess his fitness and/or ask Man City to share their test results on him too. This was much harder decades ago because they didn’t have the technology to run that level of tests. Some players not playing wouldn’t be professional enough to maintain fitness.
martoon
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:50 PM
Comment #14On topic – I’m undecided on KP – he would be great if Eddie could get him to reproduce his Leeds form but I don’t think he’s worth anywhere near £50m on current form!
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:51 PM
Comment #15martoon,
I think you’ll find that appeal falls on deaf ears and not really sure at all why you’re directing that at the blog.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:52 PM
Comment #16TDSarf,
Surely you appreciate the difference between being fit and match fit.
cleveleysbob
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:53 PM
Comment #17Hibbit, I mentioned the Chelsea Cat, and of course the Tavern was a rebrand of “the Latino” after the gambling reform shut down all the casino activity.
My 1st date with my Mrs was to go and see “Hair” , the controversial musical that was on at The Theatre Royal, 2nd date was a night @ The Chelsea Cat in Shields. Start of our long distance relationship via Worswick Street Bus Station, neither of us could drive back then. This would have been latter part of 1970 or 71. I don’t exactly remember which year, but don’t tell the Mrs.!! – 😆 😆
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:53 PM
Comment #18If KP signed for us the GS probably wouldn’t pick him!
check the toastie
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:53 PM
Comment #19The squad and first team can clearly be improved.
Man City set the standards, and over the Klopp years Liverpool have too.
Thats were we need to get too. Happy being patient but we cannot just think the current players are taking us to champions league finals or premiership titles. This is what the owners want i believe.
We are trying to recruit technically excellent players who can keep possession without fuss. It has showed against Dortmund that without Isak, Botman and Tonali we lacked poise.
Fair play to Schar as he has been unreal since Botman’s departure.
We are half the side without Bruno. Neves would be good to help him out. Hopefully lads come back from break fresher and more lively.
Our next run of fixtures are proper tough. Will be happy if we are 7th on Jan 1st.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:56 PM
Comment #20Cbob
Agreed mate!
Constructive criticism is welcome, self-destructive criticism, not so much, hey?
Navel-gazing is a bad look!
😀
Re: the banner post!
It’s nice that the local press likes to ‘suggest’ over and over, ad nauseum, about KP!
So long as clicks are garnered, yay!
Lack of football fortnight always creates a dirth of meaningful craic, hence, regurgitated ‘stories’ to fill the void, build aggro between fans and generally cause division.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:56 PM
Comment #21To touch on what cbob said about there being nowt wrong, the minute things have gone a bit Pete Tong the third striker brigade have come out in force. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but mine is, what would a third choice striker have achieved last Saturday, the performance was poor throughout the whole team due to them being dead on their feet. It’s Wilson that needs to stand down, our top scorer, there’s no point in getting a third striker standard guy just to make up the numbers.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:59 PM
Comment #22I’ll be happy if we are 8th in January and no more than 8 points adrift.
DrGloom
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:59 PM
Comment #23I guess we’ll loan out Ashby again next year as it doesn’t seem EH fancies him and hes struggled for game time at Swansea although recently starting games.. shame but that’s probably the one bad buy we’ve made (albeit , a relatively cheap mistake)
Adamn_92
Nov 15, 2023 at 12:59 PM
Comment #24Check
Don’t think anyone disagrees with that. My point was more when people say so and so isn’t good enough. This squad is good enough. That’s why we are where we are and when we don’t have loads of injuries, we’ve already shown we can beat the best of the best.
We will obviously continue to improve each season in terms of players, that’s the only way forward and what every club look to do. But just don’t agree when people say Longstaff for example, or Burn etc etc aren’t good enough. They’ve already shown that they are.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Comment #25So that begs the question given how much we bang on about FFP, are they going to make Wilson, on probably £100K pw, a third choice striker?
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:02 PM
Comment #26DrGloom,
Are we sure that Eddie H doesn’t fancy him, it might have been the plan to send him out on loan all along, we’ll just have to monitor his progress I guess.
Adamn_92
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:03 PM
Comment #27Raj
I reckon we’ll be somewhat limited by FFP for at least another season or 2.
Then, when all commercial deals and revenues have been improved (and if we’re in Champions League regularly), we’ll not be that restricted anymore.
I also think the next season or 2 is probably when we’ll start wheeling and dealing a bit more. We’ll be consistently adding quality players, which means some players will also be moved on to bring in extra money and clear up squad places.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:04 PM
Comment #28Jail, he can but try.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:05 PM
Comment #29Adamn_92,
Exactly, we’ve beaten every team since Eddie H took over bar Lpool, I hope to Gawd that’s on New Year’s day.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:07 PM
Comment #30It goes without saying though and no-one ever has, a gentleman’s agreement is already in place, the only person not respecting that is best completely ignored.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:07 PM
Comment #31Raj – I think those are old fashioned terms now. I don’t see any reason that a modern professional club can’t keep a player fully fit and ready to play even if they’re not starting matches.
It used to be said that a player needed a few games to get up to speed because training wasn’t enough but I just don’t see why that would be the case any more, certainly not for the top clubs. That was my point about Lascelles and Dummett coming in and playing very well from the start too, if they can do it then why not Phillips?
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:14 PM
Comment #32TDSarf,
Fit enough to play but not completely in their rhythm, different players react differently but generally it takes a player not getting regular starts a couple of games to get back in to his stride.
Davas
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:29 PM
Comment #33Not sure a club would (or could) allow personal fitness data outside the club. As Raj said, there’s match fitness to think of too. EH has to work with the squad he has whereas GS can bring in players that are actually match fit because they play. I saw quite a few reports saying Maguire and Phillips both looked rusty in previous England games.
Adamn_92
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:29 PM
Comment #34TDS
I already explained the difference between Phillips getting in the England side and Dummett and Lascelles getting into our side.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:32 PM
Comment #35Raj – agreed, different players react differently. Some players would lose their level of fitness quicker without matches but the most professional players keep themselves honed and ready to play. If Phillips is still being selected for England and playing well, I think we can assume he’s a top professional who keeps himself match fit.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:33 PM
Comment #36Dr G
i’m with Raj in Ashby. Doubt Eddie is about to bin him… he’s a kid, learning to fit.
Looks a decent player.
Plenty start their careers being loaned out.
Kane being a prime eg.
Fenham to Chalfont
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:34 PM
Comment #37What’s the fittest out of the below…
An Eddie Howe fit player?
Or
A butchers dog?
Or
An armchair sports person?
Joke aside, I think our squad of players have to be the fittest squad in European football surely, I’d be surprised if there is another squad fitter than NUFCs out there?
Adamn_92
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:36 PM
Comment #38Against Italy, depending on what site you look at, Phillips had a rating as low as 4 and as high as 6, with pretty much every rating saying he looked clumsy and rusty due to lack of game time at Man City.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:36 PM
Comment #39Lot’s of people agreeing with me today, I must be having one of my rare bouts of talking sense 😀
(TDSarf excepted 😕 )
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 15, 2023 at 1:37 PM
Comment #40My phone has just updated and it’s gone all cartoon like 😕