In a less-than-ideal initiation into West Ham United, Kalvin Phillips, on loan from Manchester City, handed Bournemouth a goal just two minutes into his debut. The England international, sought by David Moyes for his stellar performances at Leeds United, faced a disastrous start as Dominic Solanke capitalized on a defensive lapse to put the Cherries in the lead.
Deployed in midfield between Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek, Phillips, aiming to secure more playing time ahead of Euro 2024, failed to detect Solanke’s presence, leading to a costly turnover. The box-to-box midfielder’s confidence seemed to be waning, evident in his limited appearances under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City before joining West Ham on loan.
Despite Phillips’ recent struggles, Moyes expressed his confidence in the player, stating, “His pedigree over the years has made me feel he’s a player I’d like to have at the club.” The loan move aimed to rejuvenate Phillips, who, despite being part of City’s Treble-winning squad, faced limited opportunities, making only 21 appearances across competitions.
While Phillips boasts 31 international caps for England and played a crucial role in their Euro 2020 journey, his West Ham debut raised questions about his form and adaptation to Moyes’ setup. The midfielder’s trajectory from Leeds to a £45 million deal with City, and now a loan spell with West Ham, reflects the ups and downs in his recent career.
