Tottenham’s Ashley Phillips has not had the best of time over the last few weeks and has come under major criticism for his performances as Stoke City continue to struggle to string results together.
Ashley Phillips was one of the first signings that Tottenham made during the Ange Postecoglou era and the centre-back was considered to be one of the best young talents in the Championship when he made the big move in 2023.
However, the 19-year-old is yet to make his senior debut for the Lilywhites, having spent last season at Plymouth Argyle, where he played a crucial role in helping the club retain their Championship status.
Phillips has got regular game time at Stoke this season, but it looks like he could find himself mired in a relegation battle for the second season in a row, with the Potters struggling to pick up wins of late and falling down the table.
Ashley Phillips criticised for recent performances
Phillips played all 90 minutes in Stoke’s 0-0 draw at home to Watford on Saturday, but despite being part of a defensive unit that kept a clean sheet, the Tottenham teenager was criticised for his showing.
Stoke Sentinel gave the Spurs man a 6/10 for his display and wrote: “Got lucky twice after panicking when he had to deal with long straight balls which can undo the other 89-odd minutes.”
Meanwhile, TBR Football point out that this rating is actually an improvement for Phillips from the two previous ones he got against Norwich and Middlesbrough, which both ended in defeats for Stoke.
The outlet says that Phillips was given a rating of 5.5 against the Canaries and just three against Boro, being accused of ‘ball watching’ in the latter.
Tottenham fans should not write off Phillips just yet
While Phillips might have not set the world alight at Stoke this season, he is still extremely young, and centre-back is one position where experience matters more than most other roles.
Tottenham fans will do well to remember that even the club’s greatest player of the modern era, Harry Kane, struggled to impress during his loan spells and did not show his potential until he turned 21.
However, the problem Phillips faces is that there are a lot of young talented defenders at the club, and with Alfie Dorrington and Luka Vuskovic impressing out on loan, the former Blackburn man’s route to the Spurs first-team could close very fast.