Can Kalvin Phillips smash the championship taboo?

Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips could be handed his maiden call-up to the England squad ahead of two home friendly fixtures against Italy and Denmark at the end of the month.

Three-lions manager Gareth Southgate is expected to have a look at a number of different players. To try and figure out the winning formula ahead of this year’s Euro’s which kicks off this June

The likes of Jack Grealish, Reece James, Mason Holgate, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are also uncapped and vying for a place in the Euro 2020 squad.

Phillips plays in the deep-lying central midfield role for promotion hopefuls Leeds. A position which is currently held by promising 20 year old West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, who is yet to make the role his own.

The Championship Taboo

Each England manager to pick a player from the championship has been met with criticism. Why are fans so reluctant to see a second division player in an England shirt? It might have something to do with David Nugent & Jay Bothroyd. But the landscape is changing as the championship improves year on year.

It’s a question of where to begin, on why Phillips differs to other players who have been called up from the championship.

Only 4 players have received an England call up whilst playing Championship football in the 21st century. They are:

Mason Mount (20 at time of call up, Midfield)

Wilfried Zaha (19 at time of call up, Winger)

David Nugent (21 at time of call up, Centre Forward)

Jay Bothroyd (28 at time of call up, Centre Forward)

The average age of these players is 22, Bothroyd skewing this average significantly. Phillips is 24 years old with 40+ appearances in his last 4 seasons providing he features in 6 of Leeds' final 10 games.

Jay Bothroyd’s call up whilst at Cardiff City marked “the moment that England’s striking talent ran out” according to Alan Hansen. Bothroyd made up a group of 4 Centre forwards including Peter Crouch, Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole.

Nugent on the other hand, can boast an average of a goal a game at international level. Drafted in as a replacement for the injured Darren Bent. He came off the bench on his debut to rob Jermain Defoe of the final goal, in a 3-0 victory over Andorra. The Merseyside native never turned out for the three lions again.

Phillips’ call up would share more similarities with Zaha & Mount’s. The main similarity being their career trajectories at the time of the call up.

Bothroyd’s Cardiff side had a laboured end to the season missing out on promotion in the first round of the play-offs failing to score a goal in either leg. Nugent’s Preston North End side missed out on the play-offs entirely.

Zaha’s palace side earned promotion through the play-off’s with Zaha earning a move to Manchester United at the end of the season. Mason Mount fell at the last hurdle, however he was on loan from Chelsea and did enough to earn a spot in the 1st team squad for the current season.

Kalvin Phillips’ Leeds squad are currently sat in the automatic promotion spots with a 5 point gap between them and 3rd place Fulham with 10 games remaining. Given the way Leeds have performed in the final stages of seasons gone by, they are by no means a shoo-in for promotion just yet.

"Leeds United" by Ungry Young Man is licensed under CC by 2.0

Even if the wheels do come off at Elland Road, Phillips will be playing premier league football next year. Manchester United are the club with the strongest links to the affectionately named “Yorkshire Pirlo”, showing the calibre of player he is.

Bielsa's Influence

Phillips has flourished under Marcelo Bielsa who is among the most highly regarded head coaches in world football. Pep Guardiola calls him “the best in the world”.

His exploits over the years have earned him the nickname “El Loco” in Argentina where he won back to back Primera División titles with Newell’s Old Boys. As well as reaching the final of the Copa Libertadores for only the 2nd time in the club's history. Giving “El Loco” hero status at N.O.B.

Bielsa also shone with the Argentinean national side. Winning an Olympic gold medal in 2004 and was voted the world’s best international coach in 2001.

In Europe, his Athletic Bilboa side reached the Europa league final beating Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United home and away along the way. He also got to a Copa del Rey Final during a rollercoaster tenure in the Basque.

"Marcelo Bielsa" by Martin P. Szymczak is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Marcelo Bielsa brings a distinct play style with him. It revolves around winning the ball high up the pitch. This is achieved by some of the highest and most intense pressing seen in English football.

With the ball, Bielsa hopes to create chances by overloading on numbers in the final third of the pitch by pushing his full-backs on to become Wingers and wingers come into the channel as inside forwards.

This playing style puts a huge amount of emphasis on the deep-lying midfield role which Phillips occupies. To play this role for Bielsa a player must be tactically aware, competent defensively, great work rate to join attacks and stop counter-attacks, be a good decision maker, a good ball player in terms of control ball control and movement.

Phillips is all of those things. But he also brings a bit more to the party, his strength, vision and a range of passing would give top level premier league players a run for their money.

Looking to the Euros

Southgate does have his squad mainstays when picking his previous England squads. Others are playing good football. So how does Kalvin’s competition stack up for the Euro 2020 squad?

DISCLAIMER: Jordan Henderson is nailed on to start for England if fit. For me he doesn't quite occupy the same position as Rice/Phillips and would be better used linking the play further up the pitch as he has done so well for his club this season.

Declan Rice is the incumbent in the centre of a midfield 3, but has been reasonably quiet this year. A hot and cold season for himself and West Ham Football club as a whole. Rice is a bright young talent who has transitioned from centre half on his arrival to senior football. The most astute defensively of England’s midfield options.

Harry Winks is a player which I personally really fancy. He is an intelligent footballer who adds balance to any midfield through his positional sense. But the big sell for Winks is his positivity when on the ball. He never takes too many touches, moves the ball quickly and more often than not forwards.

James Ward-Prowse is another candidate. He has just two senior caps under his belt but the Southampton maestro has played for Gareth Southgate for many years. He was a regular for the England u21's side under the current England seniors boss, racking up 31 appearances for the young lions. Captaining the side to victory at the 2016 Toulon tournament. He was also handed his senior debut by Southgate, so he is a player who is highly rated at St. George's park. It's worth noting that a dead ball specialist might be worth a squad place considering the record 66 goals scored from set pieces at the 2018 World Cup.

Hamza Choudhury might be another who is handed his chance to impress in the upcoming friendlies. He has featured 16 times for high flying Leicester (as a substitute for 7 of them) so far in this premier league campaign. In what is a very competitive midfield too! He's shown off his tremendous ability on a number of occasions, but lack of consistency has been the reason the 22 year old has not started more regularly for the foxes.

Fabian Delph is another who is highly rated by Gareth Southgate. A left-footer offering something slightly different. He is vastly experienced and moving from Manchester City to Everton in search of regular football in his preferred position seems like a good move for the 30 year old. With impressive displays earlier in the season alongside Andre Gomes.

Why Phillips is different?

The style of play in the premier league and that of England is not dissimilar to the brand of football which Kalvin Phillips is currently playing at Leeds United. How often could you say that in years gone by? He is used to having to unlock defences as many teams provide disciplined defensive performances, to put it mildly, when facing Leeds since Bielsa arrived.

"Elland Road stadium" by Jake licensed by CC by 2.0

A major argument against including a championship player, is that they don’t face the highest quality opposition week in week out. However, looking at the success that Sheffield United and Wolves have had in their first season shows that the broadcasting money which has entered the league is having a trickle down effect.

Championship clubs can afford deals for young stars from across Europe now, as well as loan deals for promising young players from premier league clubs. Coupled with the extra money to spend on developing their academy, the standard of the Championship is improving.

Phillips also shone when his side faced Arsenal in the FA cup. Where he put on a clinic in the first half and looked like the best player on the pitch. Mesut Ozil was unable to lay a finger on him all game, although he did have the last laugh.

Could Phillips really be looking at a place in England’s Euro 2020 squad? Would Kalvin be able to cope with the European elite? We don’t know yet but we hope that the upcoming friendlies might help to provide us with an answer.