The enigma that is Adam Phillips

For those who listen to the Reds Report Podcast will no doubt have heard Steve, Carlo and Ian talk at length about Adam Phillips and his Barnsley career to date. A player that has divided opinion amongst fans and even manager Michael Duff has bemoaned the midfielders inability to play for a full 90 minutes.

Statistics are huge in football but they never tell the full picture. With 8 goals and 9 assists, Phillips is right up there at the club for goal contributions. With a knack of arriving unnoticed on the edge of the area and scoring with a sweet shot he really has contributed to winning valuable points this season.

However, he does regularly go missing in games with it appearing the reds are playing with only 10 men such have his performances being so anonymous. The fans cannot be wrong if Duff has even come out and said he wants Phillips to make more of an impact in games and take control for 90 minutes?

The three Reds Report contributors decided to make their feeling known on Phillips.

Carlo wrote:

Adam Phillips joined Barnsley in September 2022 with Barnsley having been relegated from the Championship the season before. 9 goals in 35 appearances is not a bad return for the 25 year old with some of the goals deserving some well earned praise and admiration from the Barnsley fans. There has been criticism that – at times- Phillips goes missing during matches. Duff himself mentioned a few weeks ago that he’d like him to work on that side of his game . 9 goals and 8 assists however shows the pedigree that he possesses and whilst you cannot dispute his involvement in cementing Barnsley’s place in the playoffs it’s fair to say that the fans would like to see him more involved .

Steve has stronger views on this subject:

Adam Philips, scored a few decent goals but other than that has done naff all. Has made no significant difference to the team for the last 6/8 games. His “unseen” work off the ball is unseen because there’s nothing too see. Waste of a shirt when there’s better options on the bench, another signing with no interest in the club, at a time when we need drive and passion he shows neither. More life in a tramps vest, get shut.

Here is what Ian thinks of Phillips:

Whilst you cannot deny Adam Phillips goal contributions have gained Barnsley some valuable points this season, we do not see him produce anything like a 7 or 8 out of 10 performance regularly enough. When you see fellow midfielders like Luca Connell and Herbie Kane busting a gut covering every blade of grass, we cannot afford a “luxury” player who make a difference every now and then. Phillips gets plenty of game time but since Duff came out and highlighted the midfielders lack of intensity for 90 minutes, Phillips hasn’t heeded his bosses advice which is disappointing. With two huge games coming up against Bolton, we cannot afford passengers in the side. Is it time to start Luke Thomas with Phillips dropping to the bench? This is where Michael Duff earns his money with decisions like this.

After seeing the statistics and reading our views, do you have an opinion on Adam Phillips at Barnsley? If so, let us know in the comments section.