Player Watch - Ashley Phillips

[Tucker]

Just looked up Thelwell on Wiki. Sounds like he had a crazy life:

Personal life[edit]​

Whilst on loan at IFK Hässleholm, Thelwell lived with fellow Spurs loanee Peter Crouch. During this period, Thelwell was in a brief relationship with a woman named Camilla.[21]

And now she’s Queen.

 

[1971 Spur]

Ange played MVDV after 1-2 training sessions so he has previous. Now, he wanted Micky for some time by all accounts and had a fair idea of his ability but he had no issue throwing him in. If he think Phillips is ready then he'll play. If not then he'll most likely go with PEH.

 

[philll]

Ange played MVDV after 1-2 training sessions so he has previous. Now, he wanted Micky for some time by all accounts and had a fair idea of his ability but he had no issue throwing him in. If he think Phillips is ready then he'll play. If not then he'll most likely go with PEH.

Phillips has been on our bench several times and Ange doesn't seem the type to play games with that sort of thing so if he's included in the matchday squad it's because Ange already thinks he's up to the task if he needs to be called upon.

 

[fletch82]

There's no arguing that in terms of like-for-like Phillips is more suited to replacing VdV as he's tall, pacy, and comfortable on the ball.
Davies isn't getting taller or quicker anytime soon.

As I said originally, he still has to show he has the intelligence and awareness of the position at the highest level (which should be apparent training against the likes of Son etc this week) to be picked over a senior player and Ange is best positioned for that shout over some middle aged man sat in his pants behind a keyboard.

 

[SpainSpur85]

Didn't he go out on the pre season tour? He'll have done a lot of sessions with the first team by now, so as long as he understands and can do what Ange wants, I think he'll play. I don't think Ange gives a shit if you're 18, 28 or 38, as long as you can do what he wants.

Was it Poch who spoke about Bielsa coming and checking his legs one night? There's a training clip and I'm pretty sure Ash definitely passes the leg test, they're massive!

 

[Misfit]

There's no arguing that in terms of like-for-like Phillips is more suited to replacing VdV as he's tall, pacy, and comfortable on the ball.
Davies isn't getting taller or quicker anytime soon.

As I said originally, he still has to show he has the intelligence and awareness of the position at the highest level (which should be apparent training against the likes of Son etc this week) to be picked over a senior player and Ange is best positioned for that shout over some middle aged man sat in his pants behind a keyboard.

I feel personally attacked

 

[mil1lion]

If the youth teams are all aligned with the senior in playing style he should be ready

 

[bubble07]

I do think he should start v wolves instead of players like Davies Emerson hojberg etc. If he is deemed not ready after that game then we opt for more experienced players v villa and city

Think if you had to hand pick an opposition team to make your debut its probably wolves. Obviously every team poses attacking threat but wolves seem to pose the fewest

 

[McFlash]

some middle aged man sat in his pants behind a keyboard

Bold of you to assume that I'm wearing pants.

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

I do think he should start v wolves instead of players like Davies Emerson hojberg etc. If he is deemed not ready after that game then we opt for more experienced players v villa and city

Think if you had to hand pick an opposition team to make your debut its probably wolves. Obviously every team poses attacking threat but wolves seem to pose the fewest

Emerson will surely be starting LB. Unless Porro is out, in which case not a clue. Could be a Davies, Phillips, Dier, Emerson B4

 

[SpursSince1980]

Tomorrow's presser will reveal a lot. My guess is that Porro is fine to start. Emerson will cover LB. Then it comes down to Ange's confidence in Phillips to play alongside Dier, or if he brings Emerson to place RCB and a surprise pick for LB. EG, Bryan. Who knows?

Wonder if he will also err on being slightly more combative in midfield, by including PEH to play with Sarr, Biss. Gives the defense more cover. Then if Madders is fit, and the game is tied, or we're winning - bring him on after the 60th minute.

Can't imagine the headache he had figuring out what to do. But, guess that's why he earns the big bucks!

 

[JW72]

Bold of you to assume that I'm wearing pants.

Your username should be a clue

 

[bubble07]

Emerson will surely be starting LB. Unless Porro is out, in which case not a clue. Could be a Davies, Phillips, Dier, Emerson B4

Jeez didn't know about porro

 

[SpursSince1980]

Jeez didn't know about porro

But Porro I think was in the recent training videos.

 

[jordibwoy]

Didn't he go out on the pre season tour? He'll have done a lot of sessions with the first team by now, so as long as he understands and can do what Ange wants, I think he'll play. I don't think Ange gives a shit if you're 18, 28 or 38, as long as you can do what he wants.

Was it Poch who spoke about Bielsa coming and checking his legs one night? There's a training clip and I'm pretty sure Ash definitely passes the leg test, they're massive!

He did not. We were reported to have been close to signing him at the end of the Australia tour but then Blackburn pulled the plug hoping to invite other clubs to bid which delayed his signing towards the end of our tour (possibly after, exact date is fuzzy in my memory)

 

[carpediem1906]

Rather lose w him starting and giving him baptism of fire than watch that same old defence of the past 3 seasons again please

 

[wrd]

Rather lose w him starting and giving him baptism of fire than watch that same old defence of the past 3 seasons again please

I agree, we should see the season for what it is and make decisions for the future. Trying to play it safe is no guarantee of success going forward.

 

[mil1lion]

Time to start building his experience now. We're going to suffer anyway but at least we would develop a young player with a future rather than see an old guard go out with a whimper.

 

[Joely]

It's a difficult one and suppose a lot of it comes down to what Ange sees of Phillips in training. Keeping in mind his age and playing so few games at Blackburn, totally understand being vary of throwing him in especially when currently he won't have either Romero or VDV next to him and instead likely be lining up next to the likes of Dier and Davies who are not exactly great CB's.

Mentioned it in another thread, from the limited clips I've seen of him, looks to have the natural characteristics that are more suited to the way we play however have no idea how ready or not he is to step into playing at this level. Again, believe a lot of it would come down to what Ange sees in training and sure the last thing he wants is to throw him in if he is not ready and knock his confidence if things were not to go well.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Time to start building his experience now. We're going to suffer anyway but at least we would develop a young player with a future rather than see an old guard go out with a whimper.

Agree although just a shame our next few fixtures are so tough as if he isn’t near the level we need yet it’ll knock his confidence and development instead of easing him in during easier fixtures and next to a top defender rather than Dier or Davies.