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Player Watch - Ashley Phillips

cliff jones

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
4,890
8,887
Think Ange has pretty much ruled out signing a CB in yesterdays press conference, it's either bring Phillips back or wait for the injured players to return.

Could you have signed more centre-back cover at the start of the season and does it need addressing?

Look, I could have had six centre-backs but name me one club that has six centre-backs and has enough depth. It is impossible. I know people say you should have signed one. But how many centre-backs can I have? The reality of it is if all of them are fit and three aren’t going to play and you just have them on your roster. Every club goes into a season with three or maybe four centre-back which we did this year and unfortunately for us three of those four are injured.

I’ve seen clubs lose one centre-back and people call it an injury-crisis and it is because your centre-back pairing is crucial. In the top teams, your pairing is a constant and teams that don’t have those constants you really struggle even when you miss one. We are missing three. Of course, it is going to affect us and our ability to play the way we want to. You can’t have six centre-backs in a Premier League squad of 25.
Did anyone ask him about not signing any LB cover? Or why he doesn't play his specialist RB cover?

I'd leave the young fella,where he is this,season
 

Westmorlandspur

Well-Known Member
Feb 1, 2013
4,020
6,583
Out of our 4 first team CB's the only one who is guaranteed to be here past Summer is VDV (and God only knows what condition he'll be in). We should definitely look at getting a head start and signing one in January if the chance comes up.

Preferably one who can cover both LB and CB comfortably as we're almost certainly losing Davies in the Summer.
Reports are that we will be keeping him as we have a one year option on his contract.
 

SirHarryHotspur

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2017
6,291
9,725
Did anyone ask him about not signing any LB cover? Or why he doesn't play his specialist RB cover?

I'd leave the young fella,where he is this,season
Why don't you write to him and ask, I am sure you will get a reply, Australians are always very polite

Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre
Hotspur Way
Enfield
EN2 9AP
 

ComfortablyNumb

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2011
4,886
7,324
Out of our 4 first team CB's the only one who is guaranteed to be here past Summer is VDV (and God only knows what condition he'll be in). We should definitely look at getting a head start and signing one in January if the chance comes up.
You’re assuming he wants to be here past Summer, but why should he risk his hammies and reputation in such a dysfunctional system.

Unless you’re also assuming Ange won’t be here?
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
33,276
62,213
You’re assuming he wants to be here past Summer, but why should he risk his hammies and reputation in such a dysfunctional system.

Unless you’re also assuming Ange won’t be here?
Ange won't be here, but even if he was I doubt VDV will demand a transfer for that reason. More chance we agree to manage his minutes far better than we have previously.
 

hop22

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2019
150
359
You’re assuming he wants to be here past Summer, but why should he risk his hammies and reputation in such a dysfunctional system.

Unless you’re also assuming Ange won’t be here?

VdV already had those problems while playing for Wolfsburg. He was out for 80 days and missed 14 matches. It‘s him not the system.
 

SirHarryHotspur

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2017
6,291
9,725
Further to the CB situation, in August Ange ruled out bringing in any more CB's during a press conference and making reference to Ash and Luka.
The current situation is unfortunate but virtually all PL clubs would be in the same situation if they had three CB's injured.

Looking at the centre-backs from the outside, last season after Davinson Sanchez left you had three natural centre-backs remaining and other players filling in and now it feels like, in terms of numbers, you've swapped Radu Dragusin for Eric Dier and you're in the same position, was there ever a temptation to sign another natural centre-back?

No, and I don't think we're in the same position. I think Radu is a different proposition for us, and certainly with Archie coming into the group and Djed probably not being in the plans initially, but now in I think we're in a much different position than we were last year.

We've got Ben Davies as well, obviously, who can play at centre back or at left back. But again, I mean, that's the discipline of it. Yeah, we can go out and sign another centre back, but if the right player's not there, I'm not going to do it. It's as simple as that. I'm not, I never have, I never will.

For me, it's about getting the right people in and there wasn't an opportunity for us to bring in someone who I thought was going to add to our group, so we don't do it. We've got Ashley Phillips, we've got young Luka Vuskovic available next year. Two young centre-backs.

I don't want to block their pathway by doing something now. It might look from the outside, like we've got another player, but if that player is not going to be suitable to what we're doing and not going fit in, why would I bring them in and potentially block the path for somebody else.
 
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HildoSpur

Likes Erik Lamela, deal with it.
Oct 1, 2005
11,224
37,187
I think we should keep Phillips where he is and allow him to continue his development with regular games in the Championship with Stoke. With Dorrington now fit and him getting his debut in the last game, we should consider using him as back-up for now. Unless of course we think Phillips is more ready than Dorrington right now then we MIGHT consider recalling Phillips and loaning Dorrington instead but I think I'd rather give Phillips a full season with Stoke.
 

Krafty

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2004
4,924
2,421
Agree with Ange. We’ve got three first Team centre backs, an experienced 4th choice, and anywhere between 1 and 5 highly rated youngsters.

We buy another first team candidate - it blocks the pathway for the youngsters. We buy another one for the future and they are caught in the ‘too inexperienced to play, but needed just in case so don’t get out on loan’

With Ashley, he’s probably got enough experience but another half season will be valuable. If we did recall him then Dorrington should go out on loan to get match experience
 

jpascavitz

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
2,331
8,608
Agree with Ange. We’ve got three first Team centre backs, an experienced 4th choice, and anywhere between 1 and 5 highly rated youngsters.

We buy another first team candidate - it blocks the pathway for the youngsters. We buy another one for the future and they are caught in the ‘too inexperienced to play, but needed just in case so don’t get out on loan’

With Ashley, he’s probably got enough experience but another half season will be valuable. If we did recall him then Dorrington should go out on loan to get match experience

I agree as well. I do wonder if the right player became available if Ange would change his stance on short-term loans for the rest of the season. For example, is it more beneficial to keep Ash out on a good loan with lots of game time rather than to cut it short so he can be thrown to the wolves for a few weeks until we get healthy again? After he rots on the bench or plays for the u21s?

I'm not a huge fan of short-term loans but think Jan is where it can become necessary, Like Timo was last year. If a LB/CB combo came available for a 6 month loan, I would certainly consider it so that Phillips can continue to gain experience that could help his career a lot more.
 

EQP

EQP
Sep 1, 2013
8,430
31,802
I think we should keep Phillips where he is and allow him to continue his development with regular games in the Championship with Stoke. With Dorrington now fit and him getting his debut in the last game, we should consider using him as back-up for now. Unless of course we think Phillips is more ready than Dorrington right now then we MIGHT consider recalling Phillips and loaning Dorrington instead but I think I'd rather give Phillips a full season with Stoke.

Phillips is ahead of Dorrington as things stand and IMO, should be brought back to step in as CB cover.

Until we know the full extent and timeframe set for Romero, Davies and VDV's recovery, I think the smartest and safest option is to recall Phillips, while also involving Dorrington in the 1st team training.

Also, keep in mind, Dorrington just recovered from hamstring surgery earlier this year and is still working his way back to the level of impressive performances from last season.


Sat 7 September 2024

Alfie Dorrington set to be eased back into action over the coming weeks
Gold replied to a fan who asked him when Dorrington could be returning to action, as Spurs are a bit short of numbers at the back, particularly in the Europa League.

“Alfie suffered two hamstring injuries last season that hampered his development,” began Gold.

“He’s only just returned to training following the second injury in May, which required surgery, and is yet to play this season.

“He is expected to be gradually introduced back into matches as this month progresses before hitting his stride again in October as the games come thick and fast.

“He may well end up getting minutes in Europe with the lack of cover in the months ahead.”

 

$hoguN

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2005
27,901
38,555
Think Ange has pretty much ruled out signing a CB in yesterdays press conference, it's either bring Phillips back or wait for the injured players to return.

Could you have signed more centre-back cover at the start of the season and does it need addressing?

Look, I could have had six centre-backs but name me one club that has six centre-backs and has enough depth. It is impossible. I know people say you should have signed one. But how many centre-backs can I have? The reality of it is if all of them are fit and three aren’t going to play and you just have them on your roster. Every club goes into a season with three or maybe four centre-back which we did this year and unfortunately for us three of those four are injured.

I’ve seen clubs lose one centre-back and people call it an injury-crisis and it is because your centre-back pairing is crucial. In the top teams, your pairing is a constant and teams that don’t have those constants you really struggle even when you miss one. We are missing three. Of course, it is going to affect us and our ability to play the way we want to. You can’t have six centre-backs in a Premier League squad of 25.
He is talking sense. This also doesn’t reference Dorrington who could well get minutes for us.

Romero, Van de Ven, Dragusin, Davies, Vuskovic, Phillips, Dorrington before even getting to lower age groups where there is clear talent is an embarrassment of riches we don’t have elsewhere. If we are spending money in defence do it for a LB.
 
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UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2003
10,363
13,485
Out of our 4 first team CB's the only one who is guaranteed to be here past Summer is VDV (and God only knows what condition he'll be in). We should definitely look at getting a head start and signing one in January if the chance comes up.

Preferably one who can cover both LB and CB comfortably as we're almost certainly losing Davies in the Summer.
Why are we losing Davies?
Last week it was being reported we were giving him a new contact, he’s our Mr Versatile on the left
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
33,276
62,213
Why are we losing Davies?
Last week it was being reported we were giving him a new contact, he’s our Mr Versatile on the left
I didn't see those links. I'd be more than happy to keep him, but I assumed because his contract was up and he's currently 4th choice he'd probably be offski.
 

funkycoldmedina

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2004
2,937
9,797
Of all our current loanees, Phillips is the one I'm most excited about, it's impressive to be this good in his role at his age and the championship is great place to learn your trade.
 

Adam456

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2005
4,591
3,454
Interestingly he was benched today and not even brought on as a sub (and they lost 2-0 to 10-man Sheff Weds)

Could just have been rested of course but I wonder if we have already given them notice
 
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