But after his comments over the weekend, he many want to avoid but Everton fans and Manchester City supporters too. That's because his somewhat outlandish views on Toffees' young midfielder Ross Barkley haven't gone down well at all.
For quite a mild-mannered pundit in general, he was scathing of the element of the Goodison Park faithful who don't especially rate the player, complaining about his inconsistency and ineffectiveness when it matters by claiming he "hates the people who don't rate Ross Barkley..."
https://twitter.com/Barryfrom/status/851121994359853057
https://twitter.com/Knowlesy1/status/851171951158669314
https://twitter.com/Dom_EFC/status/851158405154820098
https://twitter.com/Drawski5/status/851305869975445506
But worse was to come when he compared Barkley, a player of obvious talent but someone who takes 12 touches of a football when one will do, to Manchester City and Belgium maestro Kevin de Bruyne. This statement was met with derision and mockery in equal parts as being somewhat wide of the mark.
Poor Phil...
https://twitter.com/WeLoveManCityFC/status/851121964882292737
https://twitter.com/a_stann/status/851120255137198080
https://twitter.com/ffsFella/status/851119832565260289
https://twitter.com/MCFCTone/status/851152343278264324
https://twitter.com/pdillan1/status/851124181269979136
https://twitter.com/Smith15D/status/851121120686342144
https://twitter.com/matt_kindon/status/851119959329710080
https://twitter.com/MacRitchieCalum/status/851119923732656129
https://twitter.com/SilkyIlkay/status/851119739258761216
