I ask just one question. At the beginning of the season; if someone told you that Nat would be our defensive mainstay for better part of the season, how many would thought we would still be in contention for CL spots?
None.
In his own limited, average, mediocre, way; he has defied all odds and expectations.
All you should say is, well done lad, keep up the good work.
Not upset, and not calling anyone idiots, but this is exactly what happens. Whenever he makes a mistake like sunday or vs Madrid there are countless people who say it didnāt happen and there was nothing he could have done better.
Obviously thatās going to be challenged because theyāre blatant untruths.Maybe we should praise all players all the time regardless of performance.
Surely not but we should refrain from pitting one player against another above all if they are our only options left forming a partnership.
I know itās difficult and in the past I have fallen into that pit that Hendo vs Gini debate was horrible and full of untruths (even lies), half truths and very little reality to what each player brought to the side and debate.
At the moment itās not Nat Vs Rhys itās Rhys and Nat holding the fort!
This inadvertently happens when Phillips gets all the credit regardless of how he plays whilst the 20 year olds heās playing with get pilloried if they make a mistake, and sometimes even when they donāt.
I know Iāve fallen into these pits before, I try very hard not to now but eventually you just can not help it. Itās the one too many syndrone.
I havenāt read all the posts but not seen anyone getting upset, for me itās like praising Fat Sam and making out heās like Klopp or Pep when heās nowhere near. If Nat played for one of our rivals we would be laughing at him on here everything he does seems to be hard work and heās got away with a good few barges into the backs of players when jumping for headers. Burnley would be a good club for him.
He has come in and has done ok.
Good for him
Our season has been awful due to injuries and more so to do with the drop off further up the pitch than in defence
Blatant untruths or just a difference of opinion? I think when you evaluate a playerās performance you should take into account the circumstances and the relative ability of that player. Iām pretty sure thatās what the people who like him and defend him are doing.
I couldnāt quote your other post where you make reference to Rhys W getting pilloried, rather than Phillips, for mistakes. I havenāt seen this but Iād say the same applies to him. We should expect nothing from these lads other than maximum effort and commitment.
Suggested centre backs for 21/22 season:
Virgil
Konate
Gomez
Phillips
Maybe even Rhys Williams to stay and continue his development.
New well deserved contracts for Virgil and Phillips. Yes Nat lacks pace but overall I think heās done really well and would have no problem with him partnering big Virgil in some games next season.
Matip is a tricky one as heās a good player but rarely fit so maybe cash in if Virgil and Joe both fully fit in time for new season.
We shouldnāt be looking to keep Nat as he has been in the limelight this season and surely has attracted some interest. Itās the opportune moment to try and sell which would benefit the player as well.
Heās 30, on a big salary, and trying to get over chronic injury problems. I donāt think there is any chance of cashing in.
Yeah, true. I didnāt think thereād be any takers for Lovren though apart from the Italian clubs and their typical loan deals with option to buy
I seriously hope we start the season with another one (someone good enough to be third choice), as Gomez wouldnāt feature as much as expected and weāll actually be doing the same mistake that we did this season.
When itās such a basic error as Unitedās first the other night, and the player himself has admitted he misjudged it and was slow to react, yet some are insistent that thereās nothing he could have done, it leans more towards an untruth.
Nobody is bothered about the mistake, it happens, its just bewildering to see the mental gymnastics on display rather than admitting Nat was at fault for once.
Charming. Itās absolutely not true. Heās not on the pitch to take up space and expect absolutely everything in front of him mopped up and sorted so that he can get the deck chair out. Like it or lump it the CB also has a job to do, not just the people in front of him and that job includes doing his part if anything gets through the rest of the team.
Probably would not have said a thing about Phillips but all the complete inaccuracies, fawning and absolute insistence that everyone but him is to blame on here is weird.
Only here could we have a lad who comes into the team at a time of adversity and exceeds expections, and fall out over it
SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVENāT SEEN THE THIRD SEASON OF TWIN PEAKS:
That particular scene and quote often comes up when I see us bickering over small details here. 
I thought I have wandered into the TV Thread.
Iām no tactician, manager, technical person, but Nat Phillips does what it says on the ā boxāā¦ defends, and helps out as much as poss, he may not be a Virgil, but boy have we been grateful for his work rateā¦
Nobody has said he isnāt to blame, but Iāll tell you this the coaches in their after match analysis and again as Klopp said will be looking in to how Fenandez ended up with ball in our box with so much space. Nat will not need to be coached but will himself make sure he his alive to the situation/clearance so it doesnāt happen again ā¦ which can never be a certain.