Player Watch - Ashley Phillips

[Tottenhamboy85]

Our pitch looks like an ice rink compared to others. Either they are cutting the grass too short or it's too compact.

I’ve hated our pitch ever since we’ve moved into this stadium.
Players are always slipping over

 

[mark87]

 

[markt]

Great recovery challenge. Our CBs need to do that with our high line.

Been watching Plymouth with interest since Devine and Phillips went there

 

[PCozzie]

 

[Snarfalicious]

Phillips has been really good, but did just give up an own goal. Him and Devine both kind of at fault for the 2 goals, both from corners. You can take the man out of Tottenham…

Seriously, though, he looks like he could be a special player.

 

[spurs9]

Phillips has been really good, but did just give up an own goal. Him and Devine both kind of at fault for the 2 goals, both from corners. You can take the man out of Tottenham…

Seriously, though, he looks like he could be a special player.

Yeah, it wasn't great but he is young and will learn from it.

 

[mark87]

 

[mark87]

 

[Coolpudge]

Sounds like Phillips has been playing well despite the poor run of form for the team so hopefully whoever the new manager is keeps playing him.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

4th choice next season or aim for a Prem loan?

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

4th choice next season or aim for a Prem loan?

Really depend on whether we target a LCB back-up to VdV.

If we sign a LCB, then Phillips would be 5th choice, and likely limited to Cup games.

I trust the team to figure out his path forward.

 

[Scot-Spur]

Think he will end up on loan again.

 

[Yiddo100]

4th choice next season or aim for a Prem loan?

Promotion pushing championship team is what I’d go for, he’s still young and will still have mistakes in his games, better to play a full season as a starter in the championship than risk sending him to a PL team and be on the bench for 6 months.

 

[Reece_Spurs]

4th choice next season or aim for a Prem loan?

Seems a little rash and last ditch for me right now.

To be fair, that could be an unfair opinion as there's no context to why he's making those challenges. Plymouth are 2 points off the relegation spots so maybe thats the reason.

I do like his build and overall athleticism though, seems quick and strong enough and looks fairly composed on the ball so plenty of raw attributes to be a top centre back.

 

[Snuzzy]

4th choice next season or aim for a Prem loan?

4th choice next season surely is and should be Ben Davies

 

[mill]

Both of them on the bench tonight

 

[purplemonkey]

He needs another loan next season. He’s only 18. Game time at this age is crucial really and he hasn’t even nailed down a spot in the Championship yet. Consolidate his experience in the second tier next season or maybe somewhere like the Eredivisie. Maybe he gets a PL or a Bundesliga loan the following season and then we can start talking. Tanganga is a cautionary tale against the risk of stagnation when you keep a young player as back up for the sake of it.

Saliba is the other extreme and serves as a pretty useful reference point. He’s an elite young CB and was always viewed as such even when he was a kid - even so, he didn’t make his breakthrough at Arsenal till he was 21, and he’d clocked up 100 appearances in France and 10 starts in the Europa League by that point. If that’s the benchmark, realistically Phillips needs a minimum of 2-3 seasons out on loan before he can make any real impact on the first team. Being gradually blooded in as a CB never really works because continuity and stability is so important. You’re either ready or you’re not.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Both him and Devine were unused subs in their win against Leicester last night

 

[Cochise]

Out of the side when your team beat the top of the league isn't great for their chances over the rest of the season.

 

[Marty]

Out of the side when your team beat the top of the league isn't great for their chances over the rest of the season.

Phillips has played 16 times in half a season and there are only three games left, this has been a good loan for him.

And Devine has played 12 but did admittedly look a lot better in League One in the autumn than he has in the Championship.