The signing of Kalvin Phillips by West Ham United has the potential to be regarded as one of the most regrettable loan acquisitions in Premier League history, following a turbulent introduction to life at London Stadium.
After a prolonged period of limited playing time at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Phillips was released by the club, prompting David Moyes to extend an offer of refuge.
However, Moyes’ pursuit of Phillips has backfired significantly, with the England international enduring a series of disappointing performances since his arrival.
Having not started a Premier League fixture since May prior to joining West Ham, Phillips has struggled to adapt to the demands of the league since his transfer from Manchester to East London.
Phillips has proven costly on multiple occasions this season, notably in matches against Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United.
The defeat to Newcastle was particularly disheartening, as West Ham relinquished a commanding 3-1 lead in the final stages of the match following Phillips’ involvement.
The former Leeds United player’s performance metrics in a West Ham shirt paint a bleak picture. Across seven Premier League starts this season, Phillips has recorded a pass completion rate of 79%, with an average of 0.5 interceptions and 0.4 clearances per match.
Additionally, he has only won 41% of his ground duels while averaging just 27.5 touches per match. Furthermore, Phillips has committed two errors leading to goals and was dismissed in the 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in February.
Despite Moyes’ continued support for Phillips and his call for fans to rally behind him, the player has failed to replicate his previous form since leaving Leeds.
According to West Ham stalwart Michail Antonio, Phillips’ struggles in East London can be attributed to a lack of confidence, a sentiment echoed by many observers.
However, time is running out for Phillips to win over the West Ham supporters. Following his disappointing display against Newcastle, he has been omitted from the squad for the subsequent matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
West Ham’s positive results in Phillips’ absence underline the importance of him regaining the manager’s trust in order to reclaim his place in the team.
While support from fans is crucial, Phillips must elevate his performance levels sooner rather than later to justify his position in the squad.