Kalvin Phillips’ fall from grace has been swift and dramatic. The England midfielder, once a hero at Euro 2020, now faces the very real possibility of missing out on Euro 2024 altogether.
Following a frustrating stint on the bench at Manchester City, a loan to West Ham in January 2024 seemed like the perfect solution. However, things have gone spectacularly wrong. Phillips has been error-prone, most recently conceding a costly penalty in West Ham’s 4-3 defeat to Newcastle. This wasn’t a one-off; his overall performances have been sluggish and underwhelming.
Even West Ham boss David Moyes struggled to defend Phillips, admitting the decision to bring him on against Newcastle backfired. The statistics further illustrate Phillips’ struggles. His WhoScored rating of 5.82 is the lowest for any Premier League player with over five appearances in 2024. His passing accuracy has also been shockingly low.
Phillips’ woes extend beyond his on-field performance. West Ham fans have become increasingly frustrated, with Phillips recently caught making an obscene gesture towards them after the Newcastle game. This, coupled with his poor form, has seen him left out of the England squad for the March internationals. Regaining his place for Euro 2024 now appears a daunting challenge.
Phillips nightmare in claret and blue
The confident, dominant midfielder who starred for Leeds and England at Euro 2020 is a distant memory. His West Ham loan has been a disaster, jeopardising both his club career and his international future.