Player Watch - Ashley Phillips

[BorjeSpurs]

 

[Fergus]

What I particularly like about this loan is that Ian Foster may not have previous Championship experience but is a very technical coach with a solid track record of working with younger players in England age-group teams. Ashley should thrive under him.

 

[superted4]

You don’t realise what a unit he is until you see him playing!

 

[garyhopkins]

Be a massive test for him there in a struggling side that leak a lot of goals

sounds like he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile

I have to disagree with the assumption that Plymouth are struggling; they've actually been doing really well and are adapting to a very competitive league. They were the bookies favorites for relegation and probably have the lowest income/wages in the league. Yes, they are only 8 points from the drop, but they're also just 10 from the play offs.

The last few years the owners have looked for a philosophy that will improve the club slowly year on year and have done so under Ryan Lowe and Stephen Schumacher who were eventually poached by bigger clubs. They have some talented youngsters (Whittaker being the standout this season) and the times I've watched them they always put in a shift.

Admittedly they have let in a fair few goals but most of their games are tight affairs; hence their goal difference of -2. In mitigation their excellent first choice goalie (Cooper) has been injured most of the season. I've no doubt that under the new manager (Ian Foster) Phillips will improve their defense and should get plenty of games.

 

[C1w8]

 

[philll]

A little post-signing interview on Argyle's channel (30-ish minutes in if the timestamp doesn't work):

 

[Fergus]

You don’t realise what a unit he is until you see him playing!

I suspect he was weaned on Desperate Dan's favourite Cow Pie.

 

[spursyido1]

Plymouth conceded from a corner with ball hitting Phillips a bit unsighted and bouncing into Cardiff players path. Hopefully doesn't get him too down

 

[DiMaggio]

Not great from Phillips but he'll hopefully learn from that.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Haven’t seen the goal but MOTM last week and minor mistake(?) today is all part of the experience we want him to have.

 

[Fergus]

Not great from Phillips but he'll hopefully learn from that.

It doesn't seem to have got to him. He's had a very steady first half.

 

[Fergus]

Just headed a good Cardiff corner clear for a throw-in.

 

[Fergus]

Just made a brilliant last ditch block.

 

[yojambo]

Just made a brilliant last ditch block.

Gave a Romero - esque fist pump afterwards as well lol

 

[Fergus]

Flawless performance today despite the unlucky deflection off his chest for Cardiff's goal. Calm, composed, positionally aware, made a goal saving block. I think Argyle will be well pleased with him.

 

[Mate]

I agree with McInally. The boy is going to be a superstar

 

[Fergus]

Now I've seen the replay, he also started the move for Argyle's third goal.

 

[DiMaggio]

Had a decent match in the end, didn't let his mistake effect him. This loan will do him the world of good

 

[thehipster]

Do you think he’s gone there because the coach has a similar philosophy of playing out from the back?
Ange is going to want AP to be confident and comfortable playing football a certain way…and I’m just curious as to whether Argyle are the choice of loan because of their ambition to play football from deep?

 

[Coolpudge]

Do you think he’s gone there because the coach has a similar philosophy of playing out from the back?
Ange is going to want AP to be confident and comfortable playing football a certain way…and I’m just curious as to whether Argyle are the choice of loan because of their ambition to play football from deep?

I would hope so. I think with more established players that go out on loan they’re going to get some game time and exposure. Someone like Rodon at Leeds for example. Spurs probably hope he plays well and that either Leeds decide to buy him in the summer or another team see how well he plays and decides to buy him. For players like Phillips the idea surely is to go and develop and then come back to Spurs. They would look at the club and the manager they’re sending him to a lot more for Phillips and Devine then they do for Rodon or Reguillon. If Plymouth just want their central defenders to knock it long to the big man up front that doesn’t help him play for Spurs. They have to consider the style the manager wants to play.

At least I hope they do anyway.