47 | Phil Foden - 2025/26

Ric said:
Something is clearly amiss with him. It’s sad to see him regress like this, and hope he gets whatever it is sorted and rediscovers his old magic. On current form it looks like there’s no chance of him going to the World Cup, sadly. Maybe the summer off will do him good though.
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Yes I think that’s correct. I had thought he might get a place just because Palmer and Rodger’s form had dropped off a cliff too. However, it would be better if he had the summer to recover from whatever is impacting him.
 
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Blue Elvis said:
The drastic loss of weight clearly shows there is a physical problem he is dealing with. We can only speculate what that is.

He no longer has the energy he once had and that is impacting on his ability to play like he used to.

I am sure Pep knows exactly what the issue is and he is constantly saying that Phil will be back as the player he was.

He needs the summer off to recuperate .

In the meantime he deserves our support not the persistent criticism he seems to be receiving from many on here.

He is one of our own and needs our backing at this time.

Get well soon Phil.
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The only problem with this view which i have heard often is that if he is physically or mentally unfit then he shouldn't be in the squad or definitely not on the pitch.
Its all very frustrating for everyone tbh.
 
Expensive medical treatment cannot rebuild Phil Foden...sufferers are the last people to ask...ibs/d fibro are the symptons...not the cause.

Phil's gotta bin everything.
 
jacko74 said:
MJ was still being acclaimed as being the most naturally talented City academy product since Paul Lake.

Just because Foden has won lots of medals as part of a successful and dominant side and had one outstanding individual season doesn't mean he's fulfilled his potential.
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He’s clearly not in the MJ category.

But whether he’s fulfilled his potential/achieved his ambitions sort of depends what they were.

If it was winning everything - then he’s done it, clearly.

If it was being the stand out player, heir to many of our best, and a key player for the national team - what many thought he would be - then he’s hasn’t achieved it on a consistent basis, yet. At times, but not consistently.
 
I’m a firm believer that he’ll be back to his best soon, when who knows.

If something is not right with him he’s at the best place as City will make sure he’s getting what ever support needed physical/mental.

I hope he doesn’t make the England squad and gets the summer to relax. Last thing he needs is idiot football fans that haven’t had the pleasure of watching his brilliance for years criticise him.
 
He looks smaller and more lightweight than he did when he first come into the team

Give him a new contract on reduced terms. Keep him around and hope it all works out for him
 
yeseye said:
What am I in denial of?
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Because if Foden was that unfit, Pep and the medical staff wouldn’t keep putting him in the squad, let alone starting him.

For me, the issue is confidence. He hasn’t managed to become the main fulcrum of the side in the way De Bruyne or Silva could. In Pep’s system, that matters because so much goes through short passing, positioning and decisions

Once that became clear, his confidence dipped, and he often looked lost in games. Then you see younger players like Cherki come in with more personality and natural playmaking instincts, and it probably affects him even more.

It’s not rocket science tbh. What's interesting is many people circle around the main problem here. It's clear what's happened
 
ZoneMCRR6 said:
Because if Foden was that unfit, Pep and the medical staff wouldn’t keep putting him in the squad, let alone starting him.

For me, the issue is confidence. He hasn’t managed to become the main fulcrum of the side in the way De Bruyne or Silva could. In Pep’s system, that matters because so much goes through short passing, positioning and decisions

Once that became clear, his confidence dipped, and he often looked lost in games. Then you see younger players like Cherki come in with more personality and natural playmaking instincts, and it probably affects him even more.

It’s not rocket science tbh. What's interesting is many people circle around the main problem here. It's clear what's happened
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Just say he has an illness that comes and goes? pep isn’t going to not have around the team, play him for a few minutes here or there but mainly not! If you know pep? you should know his character, He wouldn’t just tell him to go home to your back to feeling better! He has to be around the squad to try and keep fit..

Why did he have 6/8 weeks where he looked back then all of a sudden dropped not to be seen?
 
ZoneMCRR6 said:
Because if Foden was that unfit, Pep and the medical staff wouldn’t keep putting him in the squad, let alone starting him.

For me, the issue is confidence. He hasn’t managed to become the main fulcrum of the side in the way De Bruyne or Silva could. In Pep’s system, that matters because so much goes through short passing, positioning and decisions

Once that became clear, his confidence dipped, and he often looked lost in games. Then you see younger players like Cherki come in with more personality and natural playmaking instincts, and it probably affects him even more.

It’s not rocket science tbh. What's interesting is many people circle around the main problem here. It's clear what's happened
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So like the rest of us you have no idea.
Thought so.
 
ZoneMCRR6 said:
Because if Foden was that unfit, Pep and the medical staff wouldn’t keep putting him in the squad, let alone starting him.

For me, the issue is confidence. He hasn’t managed to become the main fulcrum of the side in the way De Bruyne or Silva could. In Pep’s system, that matters because so much goes through short passing, positioning and decisions

Once that became clear, his confidence dipped, and he often looked lost in games. Then you see younger players like Cherki come in with more personality and natural playmaking instincts, and it probably affects him even more.

It’s not rocket science tbh. What's interesting is many people circle around the main problem here. It's clear what's happened
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This is spot on. Imo, Foden's main issue is confidence.

He had 2-3 good months with some excellent performances here and there. But even during these months he wasn't good in big games, e.g., Arsenal away, Liverpool home, Real away in December and soon after the Real game his performances nosedived. Given that the loss of form coincided with Cherki establishing himself and becoming a crowd favourite, those two things might be related.

Currently, he lacks confidence to try difficult things and make mistakes. The Forest game didn't help either.

A goal or two may help him but he doesn't strike me as highly competitive and willing to properly fight for a starting place.

Maybe he needs to work with or change his sports psychologist.

Of course, the main problem might be physiological. If he doesn't make England's squad, the causes for his poor form will be discussed.
 
Manchester_lalala said:
How do you know he’s got fibromyalgia?
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I never said he does ( the thread sped-up whilst i was typing/replying-it matters little what title someone gives his illness...a title aint the root)

What he does have when he's going to play shite is dark eyes like he's got shades on...it's almost like a secret signal that he's recently had a microtrauma.

He needs to drop everything..journal and perhaps buy a horse ( he doesnt need to ride it)
 
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waspish said:
Just say he has an illness that comes and goes? pep isn’t going to not have around the team, play him for a few minutes here or there but mainly not! If you know pep? you should know his character, He wouldn’t just tell him to go home to your back to feeling better! He has to be around the squad to try and keep fit..

Why did he have 6/8 weeks where he looked back then all of a sudden dropped not to be seen?
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He didn't have 6 to 8 weeks where he looked back though. He was a bit like Reijnders - little overall impact but scored a couple of goals.

I'm as sad as the next City fan about his drop in form but he hasn't been good for nearly two years.
 
Maybe he’s missing all the ex players who helped him reach those highs and now can’t cope without them.
 
Not sure what we do. We can’t justify giving him a new deal unless he’s prepared to take a pay cut, which you’d think would be unlikely. So maybe that means giving him next season to earn an extension. But with Cherki around, plus probably 2 new midfielders coming in, how likely is it that he’s given enough of an opportunity to do that? Probably quite slim. His biggest chance is pre-season. He needs to use his summer off to come back in the best condition possible and really attack pre-season. Otherwise I think we have to let him go which is sad to think about.
 
Not sure what Pep was expecting from Phil yesterday. I'd be surprised if he was performing at the level at training to deserve the start
 
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