We can't because Bernardo has to have a place somewhere in the team, and Pep's easiest option was to hide him in the middle of the field. Which of course costs us twice as much, we don't even have a number ten, we don't even have a winger.
47 | Phil Foden - 2025/26
- Thread starter 01cravend
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CΛL
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Playing the way we did today, and playing him wide right doesn’t really suit him but I can see why Bernardo played more centrally because he’s better off the ball and gets stuck in, which Phil doesn’t really.
Shouldn’t have started him but then again the alternative was Savinho, who showed us why he didn’t start when he came on.
He’s a 10 and that’s where he should play.
Shouldn’t have started him but then again the alternative was Savinho, who showed us why he didn’t start when he came on.
He’s a 10 and that’s where he should play.
Are you being sarcastic or just silly?
Sarcastic? Put Foden in reijnders’ position and we instantly create more chances. Reijnders had the ball many times and used it efficiently once. How can I be happy with that when we’ve seen Foden at his best in the ten position?
We brought reijnders to be a B2B 8 even though we knew defensively he’s shocking (Not his fault). Now we’re pushing him up and he himself doesn’t know what to do with the ball half of the time. He lacks composure at the vital moments.
I’m not writing reijnders off, I’m sure he will play better but we’re sacrificing Foden at the moment for him.
Reijnders can run a lot more than Foden. We are not sufficiently solid with Foden at No 10 in big games away from home right now, as Rodri is not back to his best yet. Also, Reijnders made a great assist. You don't think about the defensive side of the game and Reijnders's ability on the counter.
Reijnders can run a lot but that means nothing if whenever you put yourself about you lose out. In less minutes Foden put in more work than reijnders. He did well for the assist but other than that, he wasn’t great.
View attachment 170159
He's superb on the counter, and we needed that vs Arsenal. What's more, it paid off.
You do realise that these graphics show Reijnders won the ball back 7 times and Phil won it back 4 times?
I would like Foden in the middle, but don't think defensive contribution is the reason.
ninjamonkey
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Worked hard. Today wasn't set up for him to shine. He did what he had to do but there is no reason why that kind of approach cannot suit him well if we go to it again.
He's quick enough, got goals in him and has the ability to beat players, just got to recapture that last part of his game.
He's quick enough, got goals in him and has the ability to beat players, just got to recapture that last part of his game.
The Norfolk Blue
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Was he even on the pitch today? Serves me right for putting him in my FL team.
01cravend
Well-Known Member
Recovery is just picking up a loose ball rather than winning it.
Wasn’t much he could do in the system we played. Next week he’ll start getting you points!
It means he collected the ball back 7 times after it was cleared or won back. Not that he won back the ball
Great week for Phil. Brilliant in the derby, unplayable against Napoli then I thought he ran his bollocks off against Arse. Really good to see that passion and work rate ahain. Hoping it continues. I’m backing him as ever.
Fully agree. Still, it was a bit strange Bernardo "old legs" Silva could last 90 minutes and Foden couldn't. Guess Foden ran with more intensity than Bernardo who ran his bollocks off as well.
Bournemouth Blue
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So many experts on here, why doesn’t the best coach on Planet Earth ever listen to them?
Foden is only 1 week back from an ankle injury, the club will be managing that, while Bernardo is just old, give him a lie in and he'll be fine.