Albania v England - Sun 16th Nov, 17:00 | World Cup Qualifier

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Seems they’ve travelled straight back.

With such a big gap til Newcastle, guess they’ll be off to the sun tomorrow for a couple of days.
 
First post, so try to be nice everyone.

Having a read through the thread I do think people need to relax a bit about Foden. He'd missed 3 squads prior to this one so I'm not sure it was realistic to expect him to suddenly come in and be the starting number 10. If you read Tuchel's comments from the press conference he was more nuanced than the headlines suggested. He specifically said "at the moment" when he talked about Bellingham/Kane/Foden not playing together and the 10 being between Bellingham/Rogers. He also specifically noted that Foden has been playing as an 8 recently and said that he could be considered an option there "in a few months".

Now I didn't watch either match but based off what I read Foden seemed to play pretty well in two different roles, and I note that he played deeper against Albania, which would suggest that Tuchel at least likes the idea of him there. More important probably will have been how he did in training and that's something none of us can have any idea about, but if he trained well then you can be sure Tuchel will have noticed it. I'd guess that he's probably in a better position with regards to his place within the squad/team at the end of the break than he was at the start and there's potentially 50 games left this season for Phil to make his case: that's a hell of a lot of football to be played.

We all know that Southgate tended to have a number of 'undroppables' and it ended with him screwing Foden a bit because he was the one moved around to accommodate. In 2021 he was brilliant playing off the left for us but Southgate shunted him to the right because he didn't want to drop/move Raz, in 2024 he was shunted left because Southgate didn't want to drop/move Bellingham. On the evidence so far I'd say Tuchel is not someone who would have any issue dropping Bellingham, Rogers or one of Rice/Anderson if he thinks Phil is a better option and he's clearly not a huge fan of Bellingham's behaviour, which will work in the favour of all the other options.
 
bridgeno1 said:
You putting Foden above Gazza? Scholes? Lampard? Gerrard? Come on now.
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All those 3 players were very different from each other, and were hyped massively by the media - City players generally don't get hyped! Foden is very different again and imho - and I suspect many Bluemooners - in his own way is at least as good if not better than all those 3.

Problem is that, in order to get the best out of him in the present England set-up, he has to be in a forward-midfield position, and that doesn't fit with Kane in his best position. Putting him elsewhere leaves Tuchel looking like his predesessors: squeezing the best players into an 11 but without putting them in their best positions.

I applaud Tuchel for not doing this: keep putting round pegs in round holes!
City fans will realise that Kane must start: his goals record is fantastic and he is a great player who must play in his best position or not at all. Also, when Tuchel was appointed, it coincided with Foden recovering from:-

a) Misuse in his international career by the previous manager - he'd never achieved anywhere near his best level at FULL international level (he was the main man at youth and U21's), and
b) Having his only poor season to date, when, by his general standards of the previous 6 years, he lost form for the first time, and thereby dropped down the rankings as several other midfielders came to the fore.

I'm very happy with how he is being used currently. If you don't see Phil's brilliance for England at the world cup, hopefully you'll be able to enjoy it for another 8-10 years with City.
 
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Feels like everything with Bellingham is forced, trying far too hard, trying to do it all himself, attempting the wonder goal, must beat several defenders and do it all alone.

There appeared to be little control to his game - it's all very frantic and helter-skelter.

He needs to realise it's not a one-man show and he has team mates. Try and get them involved. I've read off the pitch he's very sensible and mature. But on it, his game is anything but.
 
Dionysus312 said:
First post, so try to be nice everyone.

Having a read through the thread I do think people need to relax a bit about Foden. He'd missed 3 squads prior to this one so I'm not sure it was realistic to expect him to suddenly come in and be the starting number 10. If you read Tuchel's comments from the press conference he was more nuanced than the headlines suggested. He specifically said "at the moment" when he talked about Bellingham/Kane/Foden not playing together and the 10 being between Bellingham/Rogers. He also specifically noted that Foden has been playing as an 8 recently and said that he could be considered an option there "in a few months".

Now I didn't watch either match but based off what I read Foden seemed to play pretty well in two different roles, and I note that he played deeper against Albania, which would suggest that Tuchel at least likes the idea of him there. More important probably will have been how he did in training and that's something none of us can have any idea about, but if he trained well then you can be sure Tuchel will have noticed it. I'd guess that he's probably in a better position with regards to his place within the squad/team at the end of the break than he was at the start and there's potentially 50 games left this season for Phil to make his case: that's a hell of a lot of football to be played.

We all know that Southgate tended to have a number of 'undroppables' and it ended with him screwing Foden a bit because he was the one moved around to accommodate. In 2021 he was brilliant playing off the left for us but Southgate shunted him to the right because he didn't want to drop/move Raz, in 2024 he was shunted left because Southgate didn't want to drop/move Bellingham. On the evidence so far I'd say Tuchel is not someone who would have any issue dropping Bellingham, Rogers or one of Rice/Anderson if he thinks Phil is a better option and he's clearly not a huge fan of Bellingham's behaviour, which will work in the favour of all the other options.
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Good points. Personally, I think Bellingham is guaranteed to start. Tuchel won't have the balls to drop him in the US. He isn't Pep, who showed the door to Ronaldinho and benched big names like Aguero when they didn't play according to instructions.

Also, Bellingham is part of the leadership group now. I wonder why Stones isn't in it, given he's one of the most experienced and decorated English players.

 
hilts said:
True but anyone who thinks Gazza didn't have unbelievable talent doesn't know fuck all about football. I love Foden and think he could be great but he doesnt command a teams performance likes Gazza did.
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He was a genius without a doubt. But most players would give their right arm to win half of Phil’s haul.
 
alexmcity said:
Good points. Personally, I think Bellingham is guaranteed to start. Tuchel won't have the balls to drop him in the US. He isn't Pep, who showed the door to Ronaldinho and benched big names like Aguero when they didn't play according to instructions.

Also, Bellingham is part of the leadership group now. I wonder why Stones isn't in it, given he's one of the most experienced and decorated English players.

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It's embarrassing how much arse Kane is kissing. Fodens problem is his pliable character, Sweep had the same issue he was easier to sustitute than other players.

When Kane says leaders I most definitely see the word clique.
 
mexico1970 said:
It's embarrassing how much arse Kane is kissing. Fodens problem is his pliable character, Sweep had the same issue he was easier to sustitute than other players.

When Kane says leaders I most definitely see the word clique.
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This.

Tommy thinks Johnny Boulders is the natural heir as Captain. Yet his name isn't there. Real Madrid, Arsenal, and a soon to be dipper along with a Bayern player. Only 2 have them have experience winning trophies. Stones has won more than all of them.
 
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mexico1970 said:
It's embarrassing how much arse Kane is kissing. Fodens problem is his pliable character, Sweep had the same issue he was easier to sustitute than other players.

When Kane says leaders I most definitely see the word clique.
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I wonder whether the players voted or Tuchel selected the "leadership group".

It's obvious it includes the players who are seen as stars or key players.

Foden should show he's good enough to start. In other words, he should have the best season amongst the midfielders. Even this wouldn't guarantee a starting place but at least it would guarantee that he's in the squad. Because right now even this isn't certain. Palmer will be back and if Tuchel sees Palmer as another No 10 together with Bellingham and Rogers, then Foden has a lot of convincing to do. He has no choice but to be brilliant this season.
 
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