Souness and Pardew Debate Phillips’ Premier League Credentials
Kalvin Phillips, the England midfielder who joined West Ham on loan in January from Manchester City, is facing scrutiny over his Premier League credentials. Graeme Souness, a former footballer and current talkSPORT host, believes that Phillips still has to prove himself as a Premier League player. This comes after a disappointing start to his time in London.
Phillips’ move to West Ham has not started well. In his first start against Bournemouth, he made a costly mistake by giving the ball away for an easy goal with one of his first touches. And in his second start against Nottingham Forest, he was sent off, adding to his woes.
The 25-year-old midfielder joined Manchester City from Leeds in 2022 for a hefty fee of £42 million. However, his time at the club has not been fruitful, with just 31 appearances to his name and reports of tension between himself and manager Pep Guardiola.
Despite his struggles at Manchester City, West Ham saw potential in Phillips and were eager to bring him on board. This is largely due to his impressive performances for the England national team, which earned him the title of Three Lions Player of the Year in 2021.
Alan Pardew, a former manager of West Ham and talkSPORT host, expressed his doubts about the success of Phillips’ move to West Ham. He believed that the midfielder has not lived up to expectations and has struggled to find his place in the team. Pardew acknowledged Phillips’ talent but questioned whether West Ham was the right fit for him.
Souness, on the other hand, disagreed with Pardew’s assessment. He raised doubts about Phillips’ quality as a Premier League player and questioned the significance of his performances for England. Souness dismissed England’s matches as “Mickey Mouse games” and argued that Phillips still has a lot to prove at the highest level.
The debate between Souness and Pardew highlights the differing opinions on Phillips’ abilities and his suitability for West Ham. While Pardew believes in the midfielder’s potential, Souness remains unconvinced and demands further evidence of his capabilities.
It is clear that Phillips’ time at West Ham has not gone as planned so far. However, with his talent and determination, he still has the opportunity to turn things around and prove himself as a top player in the Premier League. Whether he can rise to the challenge and silence his critics remains to be seen.