47 | Phil Foden - 2025/26

Lavinda Past said:
I've said similar a number of times. We have to bear in mind that Phil has been in the City 'bubble' since he was four... 21 years.

He's institutionalised at City. He's treated like a king by the club, staff, and fans. He's won everything there is to win, played at every level for his country. Played alongside, and matched, some of the greatest players in world football, at the very top level.

He's only 25. A multi-millionaire. I can't for one second believe that he hasn't thought... What's next? Where's the challenge?

I don't want him to leave, but tbh, if I was in his shoes I'd definitely be giving a big move some serious consideration.
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I'm hoping all the media stuff around Bellingham, Saka and Palmer being better players than him lights a fire under him. He has the talent and potential to win Ballons D'Or and go down as one of the best British players of all time but he seems too happy to just be a cog in the machine at the moment, he needs to look at Haaland and KDB and see the way they dominate games and win them single handedly, to take that jump up to being an absolute superstar. Take, on the responsibility of being one of the most senior and experienced players in the squad, he's not the baby brother any more.

It might take another manager coming in though, he's been hearing the same things from Pep for 10 years now.
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
We need to stop talking about Foden as a promising youngster as his upward curve has virtually plateaued

He'll score more goals if playing further forward, but I can't think of many occasions where he's really stamped his authority on a game.

He seems to be missing Rodri's presence but Foden will never be the David Silva type of player that everyone was hoping for, and if anything he appears more suitable for the Gundogan role.

That's not necessarily a criticism as he can still beat Alan Oakes' all time appearance record, whilst also scoring regularly important goals.
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I see your point ,but David Silva had Yaya Toure and Rodri and the wise old head of Gundog around him...and top class wide players.

This is a particular stage in his career,and what a career it's been.... Outstanding.

We,as fans, should,imo ,cut him some slack,nobody goes to work for years and is brilliant every day..Foden and Pep will sort it out I'm sure,esp as the new additions bed themselves in.
I actually think it's fascinating to watch the whole team have a bit of a struggle,Phil included
It's been a decade of almost non stop success,and when this Mancunian finally hangs up his boots I'm sure the trophy haul will speak for itself...and fans will hopefully concentrate on the magical moments.....and drops in form, for whatever reasons here and there will barely be spoken about.

Footballers are not machines,and the amount of games to be played nowadays,together with the
Ugly heavyweight challenges Foden is having to endure ( with threadbare protection from refs..)
must surely mitigate the lapses in form.

That last tackle from the Newcastle defender when Foden surged into the penalty area,for some reason made me think about Colin Bell and the Martin Buchan challenge which effectively ended his top class career....I read extensively about the challenge and Bell said he could see it coming ( it was a reckless lunge) and that he chose the wrong option which meant Buchan hit his standing right knee,not the left ,which shattered the right. If the Newcastle defender had hit fodens standing leg I'm pretty sure he would have left with a horrendous injury .......it was a wild reckless straight red.......all I'm saying is that we have to appreciate what our gifted players have to put up with,esp as,in this team, there does not seem to be a minder for him,we have no devious hard tackling player to mix it up with the opposition......I'm just happy the lad is still playing top class football and not out for the season .....
If Foden ever put a challenge in like the one he took at Newcastle we all know it would be a straight red.... that's what we are up against....,and fans,imo should appreciate that .
 
dennishasdoneit said:
I see your point ,but David Silva had Yaya Toure and Rodri and the wise old head of Gundog around him...and top class wide players.

This is a particular stage in his career,and what a career it's been.... Outstanding.

We,as fans, should,imo ,cut him some slack,nobody goes to work for years and is brilliant every day..Foden and Pep will sort it out I'm sure,esp as the new additions bed themselves in.
I actually think it's fascinating to watch the whole team have a bit of a struggle,Phil included
It's been a decade of almost non stop success,and when this Mancunian finally hangs up his boots I'm sure the trophy haul will speak for itself...and fans will hopefully concentrate on the magical moments.....and drops in form, for whatever reasons here and there will barely be spoken about.

Footballers are not machines,and the amount of games to be played nowadays,together with the
Ugly heavyweight challenges Foden is having to endure ( with threadbare protection from refs..)
must surely mitigate the lapses in form.

That last tackle from the Newcastle defender when Foden surged into the penalty area,for some reason made me think about Colin Bell and the Martin Buchan challenge which effectively ended his top class career....I read extensively about the challenge and Bell said he could see it coming ( it was a reckless lunge) and that he chose the wrong option which meant Buchan hit his standing right knee,not the left ,which shattered the right. If the Newcastle defender had hit fodens standing leg I'm pretty sure he would have left with a horrendous injury .......it was a wild reckless straight red.......all I'm saying is that we have to appreciate what our gifted players have to put up with,esp as,in this team, there does not seem to be a minder for him,we have no devious hard tackling player to mix it up with the opposition......I'm just happy the lad is still playing top class football and not out for the season .....
If Foden ever put a challenge in like the one he took at Newcastle we all know it would be a straight red.... that's what we are up against....,and fans,imo should appreciate that .
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Oh yes I agree with every word and having already scored 100 goals and almost halfway to beating Alan Oakes' appearances, his achievements are phenomenal.

I just feel that in his old role he'd be far more involved with City than with England, essentially because his club team mates were better coached,.and we didn't suffer from Bellingham's selfishness or Kane following the ball like a nine year old and cramping Foden's space.

However since Rodri's injury he's not even missing chances (aside from last weekend) and we're trying to shoehorn him into something that he's either not suited or not capable, and some games seem to just pass him by.

In other words I'd rather him be further forward and scoring/missing/creating more chances.
 
youngbob said:
During the 23/24 season it really seemed like he was thriving as the player who took control of games and bent them to his will. I lost count of how many games he won us basically on his own, both with and without De Bruyne.

Last night is the sort of game he would have stamped his authority on 18 months ago, two years ago, and taken it away from Leverkusen. But we're only seeing the odd flash amidst a lot of dismal games where he fades out quickly.

I wish he'd just be open now about the problems he's very clearly still experiencing. It's all vague references to off-field matters but that's where the answers end. If he needs time then he needs time, but he needs to let us in.

I'm not usually ITK by any means but I've heard from different people (who aren't connected) about it being digestive issues. There were mentions of him having mental trouble in the media and that other City lads were worried.

But that's basically been it. He's improving a bit from last season but he still looks like he's not enjoying his football like he once did. If it's physical ailments, if it's mental issues, if it's the pressure of performing, he needs to speak out.
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Good post. Would hate for him to leave because he’s blue through and through but can’t help think he needs a new start somewhere maybe in Europe for a top club or stat here under a new coach here.
 
Gorbachev said:
I said based on how human beings typically base themselves after such success, most have to move away to start a new challenge because they become lost or fatigued within the surroundings they are within.

Their success almost becomes a barrier and burden to more success. Its the climbing to the top of Everest. Where do you go.

Not everyone can be a one club man and perform at the top level for 15 years.

Foden may prove otherwise, but from my perspective he looks a player that needs a fresh start somewhere.

I don't want him sold by the way...
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Hmm.
 
What a time to get your shooting boots back Phil, saved us from utter embarassment today.
 
Pep needs to find the right system that allows Cherki, Phil and Erling to play from the start. Erling needs Rayan's ability to find him and Phil finding lovely gaps to do what he does best. A natural goalscorer and looks very close to being back to his best.

A lot depends on if Rodri can play alongside Nico to give them insurance. For me today Cherki for Bernardo and hopefully sooner than later Rodri for Tijjani and we'd be pretty much ok.
 
Gorbachev said:
I knew you would lurking.

Credit where credit is due, he got us the winner today.....albeit against a side likely to be relegated.

Outside of the goals he and the rest of the team were utter gash.
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I'm not lurking matey. Like all men of my age, I'm rarely right but when I am I like to revel in it!
 
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