Kalvin Phillips’ season hit another low on Saturday evening when he found himself embroiled in controversy during West Ham United’s 4-3 defeat at Newcastle United.
The midfielder, who came on as a second-half substitute with his side leading 3-1, endured a nightmare spell on the pitch, contributing to two of the three goals conceded in the final 20 minutes.
First, Phillips was involved in a contentious penalty decision, deemed to have fouled Anthony Gordon, which led to Newcastle’s second goal. Then, he was unable to prevent Harvey Barnes from breezing past him to score the winning goal for Newcastle.
As if his on-field struggles weren’t enough, Phillips faced further scrutiny after the match when a video emerged showing him apparently gesturing obscenely at a West Ham fan who had heckled him, calling him ‘useless’. The incident highlighted the mounting frustration surrounding Phillips’ performances and his perceived decline in form.
“I thought an extra midfield player would give us a bit more control in the middle of the pitch at that time, but obviously it didn’t work,” Hammers boss David Moyes said of Phillips’ failed introduction. “At the time, I felt that they were slightly the better team.
“We were 2-1, we got 3-1 but from that point onwards, we needed to defend well and be stronger and be harder to play against. But hey, we scored three, they scored four, we lost the game. We did a lot of good things, certainly going forward. Our attacking play was very good.”
West Ham manager David Moyes acknowledged the unsuccessful impact of Phillips’ substitution, admitting that he had hoped the midfielder would provide greater control in midfield but it didn’t materialize. Despite the disappointment, Moyes praised his team’s attacking play but lamented their inability to defend effectively.
Phillips’ season has been marred by a combination of poor performances and misfortune. His loan move to West Ham in January was intended to secure regular playing time and maintain his place in the England squad for Euro 2024. However, his form dipped, resulting in his exclusion from Gareth Southgate’s squad for the March international break and casting doubt on his chances of making the final squad for the tournament.
Since leaving Leeds United in 2022, where he flourished under Marcelo Bielsa and earned accolades such as England Player of the Year, Phillips has struggled to replicate his success. A stint at Manchester City saw him struggle for playing time, leading to a loss of sharpness and form.
With a permanent move away from Manchester City likely in the summer, Phillips’ future remains uncertain. While a return to Elland Road has been suggested in some reports, Leeds would need to secure promotion to the Premier League to make such a move financially viable. For Phillips, regaining form and finding the right club to reignite his career will be crucial in the next phase of his journey.