KALVIN PHILLIPS’ nightmare loan spell continued today as West Ham collapsed amid a late Newcastle comeback.
The midfielder was brought on in the 69th minute with the Hammers leading 3-1 but gave away a penalty less than ten minutes later.
Phillips was trying to clear the ball away before Gordon nipped in front of him and Phillips kicked his leg.
The decision to award a penalty divided opinion, with many feeling that Phillips had no way of knowing Gordon was coming.
Regardless, the penalty changed the tide of the game – with Alexander Isak converting it to make it 3-2.
And it did Phillips’ already low confidence no favours, with the midfielder struggling to make an impact from there on in.
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The England man lost possession five times and completed just four of his nine passes.
Super sub Harvey Barnes went on to hit a late double to ensure the Magpies took home maximum points.
West Ham fans on X couldn’t believe the disastrous cameo – with one saying: “I’d send Kalvin Phillips back to Man City before the clocks go forward.”
Another said: “Can Mark Noble or Kevin Nolan resign and take Kalvin Phillips’ spot in the team please.”
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A third fan wrote: “How do I forgive Pep Guardiola for what he did to Kalvin Phillips? 😞”
A fourth said: “Kalvin Phillips to West Ham could go down as the worst loan of all time.”
But some had sympathy for Phillips, particularly for the controversial nature of the pen, with one saying: “He’s trying to clear the ball & Gordon comes from behind. That is an absolute joke of a decision. @Kalvinphillips couldn’t have done anything else.”
West Ham paid an undisclosed loan fee to bring Phillips to the Olympic stadium and will cover the entirety of his £140,000-a-week-wages until the end of the season.
His move was meant to help him earn a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad at Euro 2024 after not playing regularly under Guardiola at City.
But his poor form for the Hammers is seeing that become increasingly unlikely.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
