Gabby Agbonlahor’s recent comments about West Ham’s struggles have sparked a lively debate, particularly his claim that the club’s fans were to blame for Kalvin Phillips’ poor performances. Agbonlahor, who made a name for himself as a sharp-tongued pundit on talkSPORT after a distinguished career with Aston Villa, often weighs in on West Ham’s fortunes.
His criticism of Michail Antonio for hosting a podcast was, in my view, justified. However, his latest remarks about Phillips miss the mark entirely.
West Ham began the 2023/24 season with optimism, but the campaign quickly soured both in domestic and European competitions. The root causes? Manager David Moyes’ failure to adapt and numerous underperforming players.
Yet, one player’s struggles stood out, and it’s not entirely surprising who. Agbonlahor has attributed Kalvin Phillips’ woes to the pressure from West Ham fans, suggesting that their quick criticism made it impossible for him to find his footing. According to Agbonlahor, the fans were quick to voice their discontent after just a couple of games, making it hard for Phillips to settle.
I disagree with this assessment. If a player shows commitment and effort, the West Ham fans will support him. Phillips, however, seemed disengaged and lacked the necessary effort. His stint at West Ham was nothing short of disastrous—playing a mere 319 minutes and making critical mistakes that led to goals against us, including errors in games against Bournemouth and Manchester United.
Phillips’ performance also included a red card against Nottingham Forest and a costly penalty at St James’ Park. Some pundits even suggested he should personally compensate the club for what they viewed as a season-wrecking display.
I firmly believe that Phillips’ arrival was a misstep that cost us a top-seven finish. Had Moyes invested in a striker or winger instead of another midfielder, our season might have had a more favorable outcome. Agbonlahor’s assertion that fan criticism was to blame for Phillips’ underperformance doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
