47 | Phil Foden - 2025/26

[Earlyriser]

Of course I want him to succeed but I'm fed up with hearing he needs rest.. he's hardly played at all in the last few months

 

[bluethai]

I think he was getting better before the sub, but overall still below par.

 

[jacko74]

Looks like the curse of our very finest and most promising academy players failing to fulfil their potential strikes again... Paul Lake, Michael Johnson and at this rate it looks like we'll be adding Foden to the list.

 

[stablemcfc]

Felt like he spent most of his time on the pitch facing our own goal, with his two hands out expressing his desire for someone to pass it to his feet.

Then the few times he did receive it, just immediately played it back to whoever passed it to him and then jogged off somewhere else.
When he was at his best it felt like he'd take it in, on the turn, and drive at the defence.

Hard to see the solution currently. He isn't a winger, and he isn't our best number 10. He hasn't got that Bernardo/David Silva ability to dictate a game either.

 

[decmancity]

Looks like the curse of our very finest and most promising academy players failing to fulfil their potential strikes again... Paul Lake, Michael Johnson and at this rate it looks like we'll be adding Foden to the list.

Hes surpassed anything that anyone could have dreamt of and he’s one of the best academy products in recent memory anywhere in world football.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

Looks like the curse of our very finest and most promising academy players failing to fulfil their potential strikes again... Paul Lake, Michael Johnson and at this rate it looks like we'll be adding Foden to the list.

He's a three-time Player of the Year......

 

[uwerosler28]

That was a seriously concerning performance never mind form he didn't even look to have the ability or physicality to do anything against a championship side.

 

[waspish]

He needs more game time really which he isn’t going to get! When of the ball on the ball he is poor it’s big worry! If he doesn’t get picked for England he will have the first few months of the league I reckon let’s hope he come back refreshed!

 

[CΛL]

Looks like the curse of our very finest and most promising academy players failing to fulfil their potential strikes again... Paul Lake, Michael Johnson and at this rate it looks like we'll be adding Foden to the list.

He already did fulfill it lad, Johnson did fuck all, terrible comparison

 

[sk3ptical]

Struggling against a championship side.

Time to move on.

 

[Jimmieblue]

Hope he’s alright, obviously got stuff going on.

 

[denTTony]

Another anonymous performance, no surprise he was hooked

 

[yeseye]

Think he’s burnt out tbh.
Hes played a hell of a lot of games for his age tbf.
The same happened to Sterling also although a bit later in his career.

 

[jimharri]

He needs more game time really which he isn’t going to get! When of the ball on the ball he is poor it’s big worry! If he doesn’t get picked for England he will have the first few months of the league I reckon let’s hope he come back refreshed!

Not sure how he's going to get that increased game time. On current form, he's not worthy of a place in the team.

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

Not sure how he's going to get that increased game time. On current form, he's not worthy of a place in the team.

Sadly agree.

But the more daunting question is if he can't do it vs a Championship side, what is his level now?

I wouldn't like to be Viana and Pep making that decision.

 

[K-Bo]

Confidence in the toilet, giving him minutes feels pointless right now. Not going to WC, should take the summer to train and get back on it.

 

[jimharri]

Sadly agree.

But the more daunting question is if he can't do it vs a Championship side, what is his level now?

Would a move away possibly be in his best interest? A fresh start? I know most of us (me included) wouldn't want him to go; a local lad made good, living the dream etc etc. But I did say "in HIS best interest". He looks jaded, like he's out of love with the game. Would a new environment maybe reignite his passion for the game?

 

[ZoneMCRR6]

There’s a lot of debate in this thread about Foden, but I think people are overcomplicating it.

For me, it’s not about motivation, ability or physicality. The issue is more on the cognitive side; reading games, dictating tempo, and being the player everything runs through. Pep hints at this in interviews as well.

Last season and earlier this season, it became clear he’s not quite at the level of De Bruyne or David Silva, even Bernardo, in terms of controlling games and making the team tick in a possession heavy system. Because of that, his confidence has taken a hit, and now he looks a bit lost in matches.

It’s not that he lacks ability; far from it, but he’s not a natural fulcrum in this kind of setup, and that’s where the dip in form comes from.

Honestly, a move or a different system might help him. Something a bit more vertical where he can play as a pure 10 and focus on final-third impact rather than dictating and positioning. He’s still got loads of quality, just maybe not suited to being the main controller in this system.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Looks like the curse of our very finest and most promising academy players failing to fulfil their potential strikes again... Paul Lake, Michael Johnson and at this rate it looks like we'll be adding Foden to the list.

Daftest post of the year so far that.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

Looks like the curse of our very finest and most promising academy players failing to fulfil their potential strikes again... Paul Lake, Michael Johnson and at this rate it looks like we'll be adding Foden to the list.

He’s hardly in the MJ category. He’s won the fucking lot, and was voted the best player in the country.

As for the here and now, I’m just genuinely sad to see it.