Interesting article here from The Athletic on Dan Phillips. https://theathletic.co.uk/2065123/2020/09/16/daniel-phillips-watford-carabao-oxford/ It seems that Trinidad & Tobago are keeping tabs on him with a view to a call up later this year, covid permitting.
Haven't actually been able to watch him live so far as didn't pay for the Spurs/Oxford games and don't remember him touching the ball against Boro. Anyone that has seen him properly this season or for the u23s think he has the potential to make it at this level? The impression I've got is he might be useful as a hard-working player to come and rough up a midfield but maybe lacking in technical ability. Would that be fair?
A little unfair in your assessment @WatfordTalk He's played barely any minutes for the 1st XI and come into a side with almost zero cohesion so is still very much finding his feet at that level. He is also short of football after missing a lot of last season with a bad ankle injury. For the U23s in the past couple of seasons I've seen him play in a number of midfield roles; deep lying in a diamond, part of central midfield in 4-4-2 and central in 4-3-3. At that level, and it's important to make that distinction, he is able to break up play, win possession and drive the team forward with either a pass or, less effectively, carrying the ball, and can make intricate passes around the opposition area with cute through balls. He shields the ball well and never hides from receiving it. When he has found himself with scoring chances he has generally shown calmness and places his shots rather than blasting away in a panic. He also looks like a player who leads, inasmuch he is very vocal both tactically and with encouragement. As has been mentioned by one or to others, he's also a unit. Now he's stepped up against more physical and stronger players he's finding holding onto the ball a lot harder so his decision making will have to both improve, as in when to hold the ball and when to pass, and also has to be be quicker. That will only come by playing. In the minutes he's had for the 1st team he's been prone to late and bordering on reckless tackles early in his minutes on the pitch. I think this is partly down to trying too hard initially and also not being up to speed with the level of football. Personally I think he should sit in front of the defence at the moment and let players like Quina, Sema and Joao Pedro be the ball players in midfield and going forward. In the 2nd-half against Oxford, once Chalobah had been subbed and Oxford were pushed back a little, he was adept at picking the ball up from deep and switching play quickly to Stevenson with some nice mid-range passes. He also kept it nice and simple with shorter passes to the players I mentioned previously. In the 1st-half he struggled with a crowded midfield and a quicker tempo to the game and I think this was in part because the midfield (himself, Chalobah & Quina) was sitting too deep and unable to link with Perica & Sinclair. More often than not there was no out ball for anyone so we surrendered possession easily meaning we couldn't attain a decent shape to allow ball retention. He's definitely one to persevere with but also needs to be shown patience. He will make mistakes and it's how he reacts/learns from those errors as to how he progresses, but I think Ivic could well be the perfect coach for him.
Thanks for the excellent insights @The Recluse. Would be great if we can get a youth player or two established in the side, would it be right to think we haven't had that since...Sean Murray? Watching the highlights from his appearances and he certainly doesn't seem shy about giving out instructions to more senior players which I think is a good sign, I also liked how he was first to run over and congratulate Bachmann after the shoot-out win.
For me against oxford, he looked like he had all the raw ingredients. He is strong, can pass over short and long distances and has a decent engine. He is very raw and tends to overcompensate using his not inconcequential frame. He needs minutes, and will probably get them this season. He could be a very good asset going forwards with a bit of luck.
He looks pretty awful apart from kicking people. However, he isn't worse than chalobah so it's a yes from me.
Fantastic isn’t it. A player who is not afraid to kick lumps out of people to let them know they are in for a game. I’m delighted he’s that type of player.
Not sure what is happening with him but I imagine he will continue in the development squad or go out on loan.
Makes sense. This is the guy that Leventale said that Gino had taken a personal interest in his development. Like Mickey to Rocky. To try make Gino look good for some reason. 1 year deal.
Scored a 94th minute goal in the League Cup against Crawley, incredibly Crawley then equalised, but he then netted in the shootout to help Gillingham progress. Seems to be doing very well so far!
Is he injured? Has started every game for Gillingham, but not even in the squad last night. Suspension?
Yes - picked up a knock . https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2021/august/report--afc-wimbledon-1-1-gills/
