It means nothing Doc, he did say Leeds Utd were in his heart, but he is also saying how he supported city because his dad played for them. We may have had our chance years ago when he was starting off his carreer. But we could never give him what city can.
Then he should go and he probably knew it months ago. He sacked his agent and i wonder if he teamed up with his mates jack grealish agent. There was a reason he dumped sharp it was planned months ago.
Anyone could though imo. I think we should sell him and Raph now, so we can reinvest in other players and have the players who want to stay ready for the start of the season. It could weaken the present side, but I'd rather have players who want to play for the shirt than ones who want to play else where.
This player of the year thing is a bit of a nonesense in my view... an online poll dominated by Leeds fans excited at having a player picked for england. He has done well for England and despite what some of our fans on here think is in my view a top footballer. That said, Grealish comparisons aren't direct ones in my view...there's usually a premium for attacking talent. Personally, I think 60m is a fair price in the current market.
Man City are just waiting for the last round of international fixture to be played and then I'd expect them to come calling for Phillips. City will more than likely be happy to strike a deal at somewhere around the £60M figure and that will be that. It's a good deal for both clubs
Maybe we could ask for De Bruyne as part of the deal. A bit like when old red nose asked about cantona when we were looking for one of their players.
I agree to a point about his flexibility but rate him higher than you. I see him as a pure DM and think his ability to read a game, break up play and then distribute gives him a fairly specific and quite rare skill set. Actually think he'd suit liverpool's style more than city's but think he'd do a good job anywhere in a team that plays a single dm. Less convinced in sides (like Marsch and Southgate prefer) with 2 pivots as i think you lose some of what he does best. So think he's 'worth less' TO US under JM than under Bielsa. All about opinions isn't it!
I keep hearing all this about him being a Leeds fan but despite being born in Leeds his dad signed for Man City the same summer. So he grew up with his dad playing for City, I've seen several pictures of him as a kid in a Man City shirt, never seen him in a Leeds shirt.
Have we fallen behind Wolves or is it just lazy journalists again, 7 teams interested, Wolves finished the highest, so he must want to go to them, bollocks. Diaz, doesn't excite me one little bit, hope we have our sights higher, prefer Gelhardt anyday. Bookies probably right with their assessment but they need to include Everton and Southampton to, quite a few times, there are teams down there you wouldn't expect, I have a feeling that could be Leicester next season. Roca has to be worth a shot at the price.
Also difficult to be critical of him for wanting to progress his career. He saw at first hand last season the lack of ambition with the owners that almost ended in a car crash. Maybe if wed progressed on the field we might have kept him and Rapha
I think Davis cost us 100k from Morcombe. Can't see us getting anything for him. The amount of released players is massive.
I'd say El Loco lived up to his name. Squad too small Refused signatures Signed crap Overtraining leading to injuries Refused to alter takings even though we were taking a hiding each week Phillips was well on the way to becoming an England player long before Bielsa.
The thing is I think this league is finally becoming competitive. A few years ago you could guarantee to relegation candidates the day the previous season was over now all you need is the right coach and you can go from bottom half fodder to Europe contenders in 2 years. Just look at Villa they were struggling massively with Dean Smith then Gerrard kicked them up the arse. Same with Newcastle and Howe.
The thing about Villa and Newcastle , they've brought in two managers who know the PL inside out. One as a player, one as a coach. . Just hope our lad is a quick learner because we always seem to opt for players and coaches who have no pl experience
