47 | Phil Foden - 2025/26

ZoneMCRR6 said:
I thought he worked hard and was more up for it. But, in terms of pause, control and IQ of elite playmakers; I didn't see that.

Still he's a great player on his day no arguing with that
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I agree, I don't think he is World Class, he can be a very good player on his day, but what I am yet to see from Phil is him controlling a game like Dave used to do. Picking it up by the scruff of its neck and saying this game is mine and there is no stopping me. Once he starts to do this, a bit like Kev used to do, then I think he can be called World Class.
 
ZoneMCRR6 said:
I thought he worked hard and was more up for it. But, in terms of pause, control and IQ of elite playmakers; I didn't see that.

Still he's a great player on his day no arguing with that
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Id say very few of the so called eite playmakers were dominating top class football matches at the age of 25 yr old ,esp if they'd spent much of their 1st team career B4 then playing in wide roles or advanced attacking midfield roles

There is a reason Foden was known as ' The Stockport Iniesta' from his early( youth) career at City....think about it....

Obviously Pep didn't trust him centrally ahead of more seasoned professionals...until now.

But to get referred to as Iniesta in your early career indicates that those who watched him saw a player with a wide range of passing and the ability to control the tempo of a game ....now he has the chance to live up to that nickname,where it matters, in the 1st team

And let's be honest after playing and watching David Silva Yaya Toure and Kdb ...he couldn't really have better tutors.....
We will see.
 
AirbagsOptionalTheReturn said:
I agree, I don't think he is World Class, he can be a very good player on his day, but what I am yet to see from Phil is him controlling a game like Dave used to do. Picking it up by the scruff of its neck and saying this game is mine and there is no stopping me. Once he starts to do this, a bit like Kev used to do, then I think he can be called World Class.
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They are all different players and its a bit harsh comparing Phil with both Silva and KDB in their prime. Don't forget that Phil is the same age now as the age of David and Kevin when they signed for us.
After his down year, he now has to go on and prove he's worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as those 2. But he's already won PL POTY so at the same stage in their careers he's probably on par
 
Foden is never going to be the metronome of the side. If people realise that, he’ll go up a notch in their minds. He’s not a Silva type of player.
 
BlueTG said:
Foden is never going to be the metronome of the side. If people realise that, he’ll go up a notch in their minds. He’s not a Silva type of player.
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He has just started playing centre mid.
He could easily be a Silva type player...if he grabs this opportunity with both hands.
As I've said in an earlier post,he was an Iniesta' type player for much of his early ( youth ) career...
Now it's up to him ....
I said. on these boards 7 years ago he had the ability to go on and be one of the world's best players....imo I'm slowly being proved right,
We will see

When you talk about a" Silva type player' you obviously mean the 12 years of his City career,?

However as your probably aware, Silva played a completely different role for years at Valencia and different again throughout the whole of his International career with Spain scoring 54 Goals iirc and ending up as Spains 5th highest ever international scorer.

Baslcally chalk and cheese.....

Once folk factor in the ability of top top players to effortlessly move between totally different roles on the playing field they gain a better understanding of their capabilities.
 
I've been a little surprised at certain posters comments about Foden ...mainly after one poor injury ravaged season and largely based upon comparisons with Silva when he's never really played that role ,and then the argument that's he hasn't got a top players passing range.

David Silver wasn't one for spraying balls around the pitch over 50 60 or 70 yards
( Yaya and Kdb were)
Silva had a bloody tremendous short passing game weaving intricate patterns largely from deep central mid.pretty much what Phil did on Sunday with a nod to dictating tempo also.

Going back to Fodens passing range ...I'll concentrate on two examples which most fans have probably forgot.

1. Bournemouth away season before last iirc ..long punt from Ederson straight to Foden in an advanced midfield position but with his back to goal. On the volley with his right foot straight from edersons pass..he sends Erling thru on goal with a brilliant lofted pass which completely split the home defence taking around 4 players out the game in one foul sweep ...utter brilliance.
Haaland thru on goal but blazed over when unmarked.whst a goal that would have been!

And :

2 Spurs away season before last .a match City had to win .and we did 2nil
Foden incidentally had been kicked to bits(pretty much how Silva used to be ) but it didn't put him off his game ..
2nd half Foden again with his back to goal, spots Doku racing away in space down the left wing.
With a nonchalant cross field left foot pass,which was ahead of Doku.but with a little back spin on it so it sat up for him...Dolu draws the .penalty. Haaland scores job done.

These are examples of Foden passing range when playing advanced midfield, ....
 
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David Silva wasn’t a long range passer - but had the ability to easily play one. He did it at Valencia and also for city. Doku was through 2 times yesterday and Foden overhit the pass twice or send it the wrong way. For me he is a scorer not a playmaker. No need to make him into something he isn’t.
 
King Jay said:
David Silva wasn’t a long range passer - but had the ability to easily play one. He did it at Valencia and also for city. Doku was through 2 times yesterday and Foden overhit the pass twice or send it the wrong way. For me he is a scorer not a playmaker. No need to make him into something he isn’t.
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I don't think you have any real idea about the talent of Phil Foden pal.
I also don't think you know enough about football to categorize Foden as a scorer not a playmaker.
Read my post above where I talk about the ability of gifted players to switch positions effortlessly


Let's take Gundog as fairly recent example.
Deep lying no.6 in his early days simply recycling the ball in front of the back 4 keeping possesion
Then a no.8
Then a no.10 scoring goal after crucial goal
Study his City career and then try and pigeon hole him in one position
I rest my case.
 
dennishasdoneit said:
Id say very few of the so called eite playmakers were dominating top class football matches at the age of 25 yr old ,esp if they'd spent much of their 1st team career B4 then playing in wide roles or advanced attacking midfield roles

There is a reason Foden was known as ' The Stockport Iniesta' from his early( youth) career at City....think about it....

Obviously Pep didn't trust him centrally ahead of more seasoned professionals...until now.

But to get referred to as Iniesta in your early career indicates that those who watched him saw a player with a wide range of passing and the ability to control the tempo of a game ....now he has the chance to live up to that nickname,where it matters, in the 1st team

And let's be honest after playing and watching David Silva Yaya Toure and Kdb ...he couldn't really have better tutors.....
We will see.
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We need to stop picking holes with Phil, appreciate him for what he is an absolutely fantastic player with a really great sense for goals when he's on the top of his game
 
Compare Paul Scholes career stats...
782 Games ....169 Goals and ...96 Assists.

With Foden so far ;

366 games.....105 Goals......70 Assists

Stats of course don't tell the whole story but I'd say Fodens are Astonishing for a 25 year old just moving into the ( hopefully) prime of his career.
Exciting times ahead.
 
He's so back. Not getting the space at the edge of the box to have a go himself, but he's picking out some great passes in tight spaces.
 
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