28-year-old could cost West Ham top seven finish and European glory.

West Ham United’s prospects for a top-seven finish and European glory are dangling by a thread right now.

David Moyes will have to choreograph a comeback from a one-goal deficit against Freiburg on Thursday night if we are to keep our Europa League dream alive, while West Ham have an uphill battle to remain in the Premier League’s top seven, with some really difficult matchups ahead.

Yesterday’s 2-2 tie with Burnley was a complete disaster, and Kalvin Phillips’ poor performance was especially worrying.

Moyes recently conceded that the 28-year-old still needs time to get up to speed, which is acceptable, but the fact that we signed him in the first place is simply perplexing.

We wanted someone to come in and strike the ground running, which Phillips was never going to do. The loan signing of a midfielder from Manchester City may result in significant costs.

The 28-year-old player might cost West Ham a top-seven finish and European glory.
The reason for this is twofold. Number one, he’s extremely slow, and I don’t see him catching up in terms of match fitness until at least mid-April, and that’s if he plays consistently!

Edson Alvarez is by far the finest defensive midfielder at the London Stadium, and he plays an essential role for the squad. Without him, we are simply not the same.

So I don’t understand how Phillips gets into the side on a regular basis.

Second, the fact that Moyes chose him over a striker, a centre-back, a winger, or even a full-back indicates that our roster is hopelessly imbalanced.

We’re overloaded in centre midfield, but Moyes has few alternatives in attack beyond Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, and Michail Antonio.

West Ham are lacking in full-backs, and our center-back’s troubles have been well documented.