Moyes shows his hand with Philips feint praise
David Moyes addressed the press ahead of tomorrow’s game against Freiburg, largely sticking to the usual clichés and platitudes.
As expected, he praised everyone from Danny Ings to the fans, including Freiburg themselves. Unlike his typical responses, Moyes refrained from emphasising his impressive European record in East London when prompted about the club’s progress over the last three years.
However, the façade slipped slightly when he was questioned about Kalvin Phillips and James Ward-Prowse. Both had underwhelming performances in the Premier League draw against Burnley and were subsequently substituted at halftime.
Regarding the midfielders, Moyes stated, “I don’t select the England team, but consistent performance is key to earning a spot, and hopefully, they’ve demonstrated that. The England manager has plenty of quality players to choose from, so being considered is significant. Kalvin was among those withdrawn against Burnley, but he’ll remain focused, and I’m confident things will improve for him here.”
Moyes shows his hand by damning Kalvin Phillips with feint praise
It seems Moyes may have subtly implied that Phillips might not make the England squad. This could be awkward for Moyes, who likely sold the loan deal to Phillips under the promise of regular first-team football and maintaining his place in the national team.
Deciphering Moyes’ press conferences can be challenging. Unless he’s particularly agitated, the Scotsman excels at delivering vague responses. However, reading between the lines, it seems doubtful that Phillips will start tomorrow.