#47 | Phil Foden - 2021/22 Performances

[hilts]

KDB - Rodri - Bernardo

Foden - Gundogan - Grealish

Sorted!

I wouldn't have gundog there or rodri as one of our best 11 players tbh. We have a bit of a unbalanced squad. Too many attacking midfielders no outstanding lb dm or striker.

 

[eastmanc]

Automatic choice when fit

This all day long.

 

[eastmanc]

He'll play a lot once he's fully fit. I think he'll play false 9 a lot this season in my opinion. Might be the best finisher at the club, currently.

False 9 isn’t Phil’s position, remember him playing there in the first half against Liverpool last season he looked all over the place, second half played a bit deeper he took them apart.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

False 9 isn’t Phil’s position, remember him playing there in the first half against Liverpool last season he looked all over the place, second half played a bit deeper he took them apart.

He did well enough there against Real Madrid.

I still think he's better off in midfield but I don't think you can write him off in any position just because of half a game against Liverpool.

 

[ojeme]

KDB - Rodri - Bernardo

Foden - Gundogan - Grealish

Sorted!

I hope this was posted tongue-in-cheek

 

[ojeme]

He did well enough there against Real Madrid.​

I still think he's better off in midfield but I don't think you can write him off in any position just because of half a game against Liverpool.

He has played there alright but he is not at his devastating best there. When he is coming from the wing, because of his ability to go either way, he is a nightmare to any defender unlike a Mahrez for example (no insult intended, just an example).

My opinion of a best eleven would be:

Ederson
Walker Dias Laporte Cancelo
Rodri
Bernardo Gundogan
Foden De Bruyne Grealish​

 

[Cobra]

I hope this was posted tongue-in-cheek

You’ve literally just posted the same team but with De Bruyne and Gundogan swapped around. And I’d rather play the best midfielder in the world in midfield.

 

[hilts]

You’ve literally just posted the same team but with De Bruyne and Gundogan swapped around. And I’d rather play the best midfielder in the world in midfield.

You play Rodri you need silva and gundog around him which gives us the head scratcher with KDB. It’s what I mean about not being able to put our best 11 players into one team. It messes with the dynamic.

We haven’t even mentioned stones Laporte Dias. Once we signed Grealish we needed to sell sterling/mahrez and invest that money elsewhere. Easier said than done though.

 

[ojeme]

You’ve literally just posted the same team but with De Bruyne and Gundogan swapped around. And I’d rather play the best midfielder in the world in midfield.

Looking at it again I’ll say it’s not bad. My idea is to give KDB enough freedom to roam around the area and allow the guys that have the legs to do the midfield grafting.

And since this is something we have experimented before with good level of success, then I don’t mind us trying it again. When we face the likes of Chelsea, I hope we can do something similar and hope for the best.

 

[Craig]

He has played there alright but he is not at his devastating best there. When he is coming from the wing, because of his ability to go either way, he is a nightmare to any defender unlike a Mahrez for example (no insult intended, just an example).

My opinion of a best eleven would be:

Ederson
Walker Dias Laporte Cancelo
Rodri
Bernardo Gundogan
Foden De Bruyne Grealish​

Very narrow and no striker. Playing our most creative player that far up is a waste of his best talents. Looks good on paper but think we’d still really struggle to break top teams down. No obvious answer though without a forward.

 

[ojeme]

Very narrow and no striker. Playing are most creative player that far up is a waste of his best talents. Looks good on paper but think we’d still really struggle to break top teams down. No obvious answer though without a forward.

It’s not near perfect I admit but I can say that there’s hardly a starting eleven that anyone conjures out of our current crop that would best this one when we are playing difficult games and I say that with all sense of responsibility. Last season we played like this against difficult teams and did pretty well.

The problem with playing KDB deep in midfield these days is that he seems to be less fit compared to previously. Against the likes of Southampton and Brighton that would work well but against a Chelsea or Liverpool away, we would have to be wary of their counterattacking powers.

Last season it was mainly Foden left and Mahrez right which is also narrow but it didn’t hinder us too much. I had hoped Jesus would be that guy to provide that extra danger in stretching teams but on the evidence of the past two league games, I’d rather stick to Grealish and Foden till I’m proven otherwise.

 

[Craig]

It’s not near perfect I admit but I can say that there’s hardly a starting eleven that anyone conjures out of our current crop that would best this one when we are playing difficult games and I say that with all sense of responsibility. Last season we played like this against difficult teams and did pretty well.

The problem with playing KDB deep in midfield these days is that he seems to be less fit compared to previously. Against the likes of Southampton and Brighton that would work well but against a Chelsea or Liverpool away, we would have to be wary of their counterattacking powers.

Last season it was mainly Foden left and Mahrez right which is also narrow but it didn’t hinder us too much. I had hoped Jesus would be that guy to provide that extra danger in stretching teams but on the evidence of the past two league games, I’d rather stick to Grealish and Foden till I’m proven otherwise.

Maybe but Foden on the left is the only one out there who can give us width as he has the pace to go on the outside. Mahrez even provides more actual width wide than Grealish because he can actually score and produce things with his weak foot.

 

[ninjamonkey]

I don't think false 9 is Fodens best position but I do think he's currently our best fit for that position.

Gundogan is needed further back controlling and dictating the game.

Bernardo energy is lost upfront as he spends the game chasing centre half's he's never going to get close enough to tackle or force into mistakes, that energy is needed further back.

kdb in that role negates his strongest attirbute which is his ability to find forward passes nobody else can find, bit hard to do even for him when he's receiving the ball as the furthest man forward.

Sterling should work but clearly doesn't.

Torres has no presence whatsoever, he taps one in or he's invisable all game.

mahrez in theory should be an option, he has great close control and dribbling and he can finish but he isn't disciplined enough to play that role and not play it lazily otherwise he would probably be one of if not our best option.

I've ignored jesus purely on the basis both he and Pep seem to now consider him as a winger. personally I'd still have him upfront for the big games.

 

[MarsLlama]

I don't think false 9 is Fodens best position but I do think he's currently our best fit for that position.

Gundogan is needed further back controlling and dictating the game.

Bernardo energy is lost upfront as he spends the game chasing centre half's he's never going to get close enough to tackle or force into mistakes, that energy is needed further back.

kdb in that role negates his strongest attirbute which is his ability to find forward passes nobody else can find, bit hard to do even for him when he's receiving the ball as the furthest man forward.

Sterling should work but clearly doesn't.

Torres has no presence whatsoever, he taps one in or he's invisable all game.

mahrez in theory should be an option, he has great close control and dribbling and he can finish but he isn't disciplined enough to play that role and not play it lazily otherwise he would probably be one of if not our best option.

I've ignored jesus purely on the basis both he and Pep seem to now consider him as a winger. personally I'd still have him upfront for the big games.

False 9 is sensationally hard to play, Messi could do it because he's Messi. I'm surprised we ask anyone to play there tbh. Even when we win games where we play a false 9, the player himself seems to rarely get any goals or assists and mostly act as a distraction for the centre-backs.

 

[Craig]

False 9 is sensationally hard to play, Messi could do it because he's Messi. I'm surprised we ask anyone to play there tbh. Even when we win games where we play a false 9, the player himself seems to rarely get any goals or assists and mostly act as a distraction for the centre-backs.

Yeah, case in point was playing KDB there in the Champs league final. Since we fucked up not buying a striker again unless Delap is ready then the best options seem stick Jesus back there despite him liking the wings because at least he can occupy centre halves to create space for others. Or play Torres there knowing he’ll often do an impression of the invisible man but is also a very good finisher.

Play our best players where they’re best!

 

[MaskedAguero10]

By the way just wanted to point out a quick observation. I've been watching his cameo closely since he came on and I realise why pep now wants to move phil centrally. Firstly he's seemed to have just calmed down with ball in the sense that he would keep the ball moving and retain possession rather than be aggressive and pass forward and dribble at the defenders at times.

Secondly, and i've seen an article from sam lee on this topic a while ago is that he seems to have now learnt the "la pausa" skill that david silva used the have. If you watch back on around the 88 minute mark after walkers does the thrown in to foden, phil slowed down with the ball, paused for a brief moment causing the defenders to move towards him leaving space vacant behind for walker on the right wing which allowed foden to exploit that and make a pass to him.

He's learning well and think we need to be more patient as he hones his skills for that central position. Still young so still things to learn but he's definitely maturing and what a talent we have on our hands!

 

[mcfc482]

This guy is unreal, needs to play every game

 

[Deleted member 81382]

I know it's only Wycombe but he's such a joy to watch.

 

[Craig]

Almost forget just how good the lad is and can become. Already head and shoulders above the likes of Mount, Grealish and the rest of the England squad. Not including Saka obviously

 

[Legal Alien]

Just said he's nearing Superstar status, he does things that no other English midfielder does and looks effortless doing it. We've missed him.