DAVID MOYES has spoken out about his decision to substitute Kalvin Phillips onto the pitch against Newcastle United.
The West Ham boss brought Phillips on while his side led 3-1 and saw the game collapse just moments later with Newcastle winding up 4-3 victors.
Phillips played his part in the Hammers’ crumbling second half performance with the midfielder giving away a penalty just seven minutes after coming on the pitch in the 69th minute.
The Manchester City loanee’s clumsy, yet controversial, foul kick-started the comeback for the Magpies as Alexander Isak netted the spot kick to inspire a Harvey Barnes double later on.
And Moyes spoke out about his decision to send Phillips onto the pitch during his post-match press conference.
The Scot summed up the tactical tweak in a brutally honest review of just four words, saying: “Obviously, it didn’t work.”
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But he also explained that he felt he had to make the change after noticing Newcastle were having success attacking down the middle of the pitch.
He explained: “I actually thought at that time when we went 3-1 up, Newcastle were there better team and still were.
“I thought an extra midfield player would give us more control in the middle of the pitch. Obviously, it didn’t work.
“We needed a defensive structure that could be steady and see themselves through.
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“We tried to find it by the change [bringing Phillips on]. We tried to find something that would give us more structure and a bit more organisation.
“But I have to say, before the penalty kick, Newcastle missed two big chances in the middle of the goal, so that was the reason we made the change, not because we were thinking we were winning 3-1.
“They had missed big chances and I was trying to make sure we weren’t going to lose and make the change in a positive fashion. We tried to make it at that time, and obviously it didn’t work out.”
Despite an honest reflection of his own decision to tinker with his midfield shape, Moyes made it abundantly clear he wouldn’t be calling out any individual players.
He added: “But I’m not going to say anything about any player. I wouldn’t do that, it would be wrong.”
Phillips has had a torrid time since joining West Ham on loan this January, making a number of high-profile mistakes and getting sent off in his first 11 appearances for the club.
And his poor form has seen him lose his place in the England setup with Gareth Southgate choosing not to call the 28-year-old up for the Three Lions’ recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
Some fans have even labelled Phillips’ time in East London as the “worst loan of all time” with the star struggling to adapt to life in the capital.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
