One Sky Sports EFL pundit didn’t name Phillips in team of season – chose Forest man instead
Andy Hinchcliffe was the only Sky Sports pundit to not name Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips in his team of the season.
Keith Andrews, Don Goodman, David Prutton, Gary Weaver, Scott Minto and ex-Sheffield Wednesday defender Hinchcliffe have made their picks for the Championship team of the season in the latest Sky Sports EFL podcast.
Phillips, 24, has been a stand-out player in the league this season and has even been tipped to earn a call-up for England.
However Hinchcliffe failed to vote for the Leeds midfielder, naming Nottingham Forest’s Ben Watson instead.
When told to explain his thinking, Hinchcliffe said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Kalvin Phillips but the season that Forest have had, no one expected them to be challenging for the play-offs, let alone be in the picture for the top-two.
“A huge part of why they’ve been successful this season, why we’ve seen the best from Ameobi, Lolley and Grabban is down to that role that Ben Watson plays in central midfield. He has such a huge influence on the team.
“He screens the back-four incredibly well. It’s just purely on what I’ve seen from Forest as a team this season.”
Fair enough, Watson has done well for Forest. But are people calling for him to earn a call-up for England? Is he a crucial cog in a team that’s top of the Championship table? Is he anywhere near as good as Phillips? Absolutely not.
Phillips has been the best player in the league this season. Watson hasn’t.
Hinchcliffe’s vote was wasted because everyone else picked Phillips but it’s still baffling that the Forest midfielder was chosen.
In other Leeds United news, Mateusz Klich has suggested there was frustration with one Leeds team-mate in one match this season.