47 | Phil Foden - 2022/23

[ninjamonkey]

Night and day difference when he and alvarez replaced Grealish and mahrez. You expect something to happen when he gets on the ball in good positions, you can't say the same for others.

 

[Akira]

His introduction and Bernie's, brought some much needed energy into the team.

 

[super_city_si]

Our best winger by a country mile. either side.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Still not at his best,but getting back there.

He is learning to win the ball back properly too,which was a weakness and is a huge bonus.

 

[DATOIA]

Our best winger by a country mile. either side.

I would even say, that he is the most important player in the attack..

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Was a Mahrez like performance. Did very little other than get the ball, slow us down and pass backwards. Then had his moment with making what was a very difficult finnish look easy. He can impact games far more than what we saw today.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Beautiful finish for his goal, really good!

But he’s got to find Haaland with that cross in the first half, didn’t hit it early or hard enough.

Outside those two moments he was like everyone else where we were dead disjointed.

 

[shroom]

really featured his right foot more than usual today, seemed like ... and it looked decent

 

[WallyA]

He's actually really good at finding space in the box to score goals.

As much as people didn't like the false 9 last year, Foden did score a couple of good goals similar to today last season just being in the box.

Yes our best winger, but his best position is one of flexibility where he can be central or drift wide if need be, which is definitely as the #10.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Was a Mahrez like performance. Did very little other than get the ball, slow us down and pass backwards. Then had his moment with making what was a very difficult finnish look easy. He can impact games far more than what we saw today.

Very little other then score a goal and help set up the first goal.. sometimes that’s enough. He was integral to our win today and he doesn’t always need to be influencing the game throughout.

Haaland sometimes only touches the ball twice and scored twice. Which wins us the game

 

[ninjamonkey]

Been saying this for months now but he's going to suffer with Pep moving him every week, happened to Bernardo when Pep changed his role every week and will happen to anybody else too. he's out best wide player, he should not be moved to accommodate others. Get the best players in their best positions and then fill in the gaps.

 

[vincent]

Been saying this for months now but he's going to suffer with Pep moving him every week, happened to Bernardo when Pep changed his role every week and will happen to anybody else too. he's out best wide player, he should not be moved to accommodate others. Get the best players in their best positions and then fill in the gaps.

Maybe… but perhaps our manager knows what he is doing.

 

[Blue and true]

Not enough is being said about his finish today. It was exquisite.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Been saying this for months now but he's going to suffer with Pep moving him every week, happened to Bernardo when Pep changed his role every week and will happen to anybody else too. he's out best wide player, he should not be moved to accommodate others. Get the best players in their best positions and then fill in the gaps.

I get what your saying,but Foden is an intelligent football player and will adapt to position changes ....being two footed helps.

Also,it is a complete nightmare for opposing managers to guess where he will be playing each week which makes their tactical approach very very difficult. Pep likes to confuse oppentents and has to anticipate breaking down well stocked defences each game,...using a multi talented player like Foden in different roles can only help in this regard.

Eventually, Foden ,who,all his life ,has played centre mid...Will end up,,in deep central midfield ,controlling games...he is not yet mature enough to do so at such a high level.That will come.

Pep himself has said as much,I can't find the quote but it was made just over a year ago...

For now,the switching of positions is part of his footballing education,and we are gaining the benefits of his speed of thought,movement and obvious eye for goal.
It is in the later years we will see Foden develop into a complete central
midfield maestro......imo.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Was a Mahrez like performance. Did very little other than get the ball, slow us down and pass backwards. Then had his moment with making what was a very difficult finnish look easy. He can impact games far more than what we saw today.

With respect..I think you are missing the point.Pep sets up his attacking players to engage in ball retention.Its not what every fan wants to see but is central to his philosophy...keep the ball.not every pass has to be forward.be composed and find a Blue shirt.When the moment arises to attack and step up a gear,do so with lightning quick reactions..clinical devastating speed.
It can't be gung ho every minute ,....at least not under Pep.
It's a long 90 mins and a long season.keeping the ball and conserving energy is important,if not great to watch.

I actually enjoy the slow ,pass to feet stuff,..,knowing full well it lulls a defence into a sense of comfort.....before the lightning strike.

 

[City_Sean]

Not enough is being said about his finish today. It was exquisite.

100%. I think he's slowly getting back to his best. Thought he was the best of the attackers yesterday, things always looked like they were going to happen when he was on the ball.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Not enough is being said about his finish today. It was exquisite.

& a nut meg.

 

[DATOIA]

Foden isn’t Bernardo, he is truly versatile player and can play 5 different positions at same level

Bernardo isn’t as good as a winger as he is as a CM

But Foden can be lethal as a LW (Whole 20/21 season), super effective as a RW (Liverpool Away game 2021, and etc.), very creative as a LCM or RCM (Match-winner assist against Atletico), False9 (2021 / 2022 season)

So Pep is doing it right

 

[asahartford1]

Been saying this for months now but he's going to suffer with Pep moving him every week, happened to Bernardo when Pep changed his role every week and will happen to anybody else too. he's out best wide player, he should not be moved to accommodate others. Get the best players in their best positions and then fill in the gaps.

You perhaps don't know this but Foden played at every level for City in midfield until PEP moved him to the left wing. So perhaps he's not that daft after all.

 

[ninjamonkey]

You perhaps don't know this but Foden played at every level for City in midfield until PEP moved him to the left wing. So perhaps he's not that daft after all.

Yes I'm aware, not really seeing the relevance of this with regards to what I said though. His best position right now for us is undoubtedly left wing. I also didn't even remotely begin to suggest Pep is daft, he's just not perfect, he makes mistakes like anybody else, I even included a very similar one to the mistake I believe he's making with Phil in Bernardo a few years back. With hindsight we can all see his form dipped when he was playing a different role every week and we all saw the huge improvement once he was getting games in the same role. I'm pretty sure Bernardo himself commented about a lack of rhythm at the time.